The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-14
EDITORIAL NOTES.

The first attempt 10 this country to make
nickel steel for armor proven SO successful at
Pittsburg that Secretary Tracy is very much
giafihed at the success attained. The expert
ment was made with nvetOn heat in Bessemer
converter, and the tests gave surprising results
the ultimate tensile strength having been raised
by the nickel alloy TO almost double the limits
reached in the best grades of boi,er-piate steel.
In fact, II was demonstrated that the desirable
qualities OF hardness, strength and elasticity
were combined in a wonderful degree In a metal
Of great ducfiliiy. The new alloy is likely TO en-.
ter into he construction of only armor plates
guns and projectiles, but the huls and engines OF
ships as well, the metal being much freer from
both cOrrosiOn and fouling. Armor plates Will
soon be made OF steel and this nickel steel and
Tested in comparison with the two French plates
fired al In the recent armor trials at Annapolis.
The years commerce on the great lakes shows
a remarkable Increase. During the season OF
1889, 234 days in length, there was locked
through the 500 Canal more tons OF freight than
passed through The SueZ in The whole year, and
ibe volume OF this traffic this year is greater by
nearly 1.0o00o0 tons. The ore trade has in
creased phenomenally, the bulk of the Lake Supe-
ror output reaching nearly $500, 900 tons At
Cleveland, Ashtatula, Fairport, Buffalo, Erie,
Sandusky, Toledo and Loraiu whence all the
coal is shipped and where the largest part of the
ore is received. there are nearly sixteen miles of
dOckage, more than half OF which is monopozed
by The ore traffic. The facilities for loading are
such That vessels have been filled with $500 tons
In TWO hours, and lie best record for unloading
Is 26OO tons OF ore in seven hours. In fact, the
lake commerce more than any other shows what
American enterprise and skill can accomplish.
Among the bills introduced in the Senate yester-
day was one to establish board for the advance.
ment Of the interests OF the merchant marine
Recent events and official reports have demon
sirated tie necessity OF some such action to
develop Tie commerce OF this country. Last year
our foreign exports and imports combined
reached 81 .4S7 1913 OPT, and for want OF special
encouragement our steamers carried only ISL
per cent Of all our foreign exports ana imports
and our sailing craft only 6.45 per cent The
reciprocity clause OF the Tariff Bill, the Shipping
Bill and the measure above mentioned are In
keeping with The announced determination Of the
administration 10 advance American commercial
ana shipping interests.
1t has been the prevailing belief that the
memoirs OF Talleyrand, pronounced the "most
subtle, shrewd and unprJnclpIed'' OF all modern
diplomatists, would make some sensational dis
closures, but The Due de Brogilc the editor, pro-
nounces them dry and embarrassing, being
almost wholly devoid Of personal gossip They
are declared to be Of a political character and
Talleyrand's desire to defer their publication is
attributed to considerations Of state. Neverlhe-
less. when their contents are revealed they will
throw light on some OF the very stirring events
OF his time and provoke extensive discussion
1t is remarkable what effect the despo tic and
military measures OF the great powers have
upon immigration into the United states. The
Cleveland Leader, in commenting upon the fact
that this years foreign contributions TO the
countty's population viii show an Increase of
$4,000, declares that labor and wages are seri.
ously affected by every important political move
mOht In EurOpe