The morning call., 1890-09-21
THE CALLS
QUERY COLUMN.
A Brief History of the Frigate
Independence.
Anthony Burns Ri t-Opal and Moonstone
Tariff Rates-April FOOLS Day
Political Questions.

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view TO aid all seekers after knowledge of gen
eral interest.
Catch questions will not receive any attention.
No opinion will be given In this column regard
Ing The reliability or character OF any person or
hrms in this city or elsewhere.
Questions, answers 10 which are in the nature
OF an advertisement. Will not be answered.
Every inquiry must have the true and full
name oil the sender, as well as the correct resi-
dence. Any inquiry that has not the
rect name and add ress of the sender will
be treated ms IL il was not signed, and the
writer need not expect an answer.
72EcEIvING SHIP INDEPENDENCE-F.
tsTA D., City. ~ James Fenimore
INV Cooper, in his Naval History of the
United States" has this: The Guerrero,
A, the first frigate that had been put into
the water on the seaboard by the American
Government since the year 1901, was
launched at Philadelphia on June 20, 1914
1t was intended that the Independence, a.
should have gone off the same day at Boston,
but she stuck on the ways. She was got
safely into the water on the Goth of July,
however and was the first two-deck ship
that ever properly belonged to the American
Navy, the America, IA, having been given
to the King of France while yet on the
stocks. (2) 1t is remarkable that the O. c.
has been unable to find any record that this
frgate of olden time, the oldest afloat with
the exception of the Constitution, built in
1897, and now dismantled at Portsmouth, n.
H., has ever participated in a battle. Com
m0dore William Bainbridge, who gave up
the command of the Constitution after her
brilliant victories for that of the navy-yard
at Boston, and, according to one authority con-
suited superintendent the construction of the
Independence, remained on shore duty until
after the conclusion of peace with England,
but in 1915 was appointed to the command
of a squadron Of twenty sail, the Independ-
ence, ship of line, bearing his flag. This
force was intended to act against Algiers,
then at war with America, but peace was
concluded before the fleet reached the Medi-
terranean. Thereafter the Independence is
found at various periods doing peaceful duty
in the Mediterranean, Brazilian, Home and
Pacific squadrons, of which latter she was
the flagship in 1S46-4S, during the war with
Mexico. Under command of Captain La
valette she sailed from Boston. with orders
for the Northwest on the Goth of August,
1916, wearing the broad pennant as flagship
of Commodore William Shubrick. She
reached her destination on the 22d of Janu-
airy, 1S47, and Shubrick superseded Stockton
in command. The Independence was the
flagship of the squadron which compelled
the peaceful surrender in October and
November, 1916, of Guaymas and Ma
zatlan, but the only guns fred were
fifteen by the Independence to salute the
stars ami stripes after the surrender of MAJ
allan. She saw other service in the war
with Mexico, but was in no battle. She had
been RACED to 54-gun ship when in 1855 fl
in the Brazilian Squadron; was for four years
more, after the war with Mexico, in the Med
iterranean. but in 1858 reappeared in the
Pacific Squadron. She was reported in
special service rs a receiving ship at Mare
Island on the 10th Of January, 1861, by the
committee appointed by Congress to report
amDnp nthpr subjects tlt sDlpS Of the
United States, where stationed, i'll what
command and under what orders, composing
the whole naval force of the country on the
date named. She was on such special SER
vice some years before, all through the War
of the Rebellion and ever since and is now.
RATE OF DUTY-D. C. r., Lakeport, Cal.
The duty on the articles you ask concerning
is as follows: Champagne, half-pint to one
pint bottles, SIS so; one pint to one quart.
81 per dozen; still wines in casks. 80 cents
per gallon; in bottles, 81 60 per dozen cloth
ing and combing of wool, value 80 cents or
less per pound, 10 cents per pound; washed
WOOL 20 cents; carpet woods. value II cents
or less per pound, 2h cents; value over II
cents, 8 cents per pound; carpets, 45 cents
per yard and so per cent ad val
orem; mats, screens and rugs. 40
per cent; cloaks and ladies' garments,
45 cents per pound and 40 per cent;
wooden rags. shoGdy, waste, 10 cents per
pound manufactures of wool Gn whole or
in part, valued at not exceeding so cents, 50
cents per pound and 80 per cent; valued
at above so, 30 and 40; flannels, 10 to 35 per
pound and 80 to 40 per cent; knit goods, 25
per pound and 40 per cent; shawls, above so
cents per pound, 50 cents per pound and 40
per cent; cotton thread, 10 to As cents per,
pound; cloth, to cents per square yard.
and ON one valued at Is cents or over per
square yard, 40 per cent; damask,
40 per cent; clothing, So; embroideries,
40; handkerchiefs, hemmed, 40; knit
goods, shirts, 35; stockings and hose, 40
40; velvet cotton, 40 per cent; hemp and
manila, S25 per ton and % per cent for man
utactures Of which flax or hemp is the chief