The morning call., 1891-06-13

EDITORIAL NOTES.

The Orin0co River, which is looming up so
conspieuously in the Venezuela boundary dis
pute, drains an area OF al least 100000 square
miles belonging to Venezuela and Colombia In a
course Of about 1900 miles. II is easily nayiga-
bic for steamers for nearly 500 miles, and as the
lower Fart Of lis course lies in the line of the
trade-Wihds sailing craft are able TO make their
way slowly upward against its GU rent The an
uual Durdation is so extensive as 10 lay the
country under water in some places for scores
OF miles inland. Its trade in The future is I'M
dOubtedly going TO be immense. Under the cir
Cumstancrs the belief that the future great
ness and undislurbed autonomy OF the Western
Hemisphere drmanded that The mouth OF great
American river like the Orinoco should not be
controlled by foreign maritime and CONNER
cial power" viii he shared by those who believe
in tie strict observance Of The Monroe dOctiine
and d nervy foreign policy
The Government is paying Mckinley prices for
Indian supplies. The contracts recently award
ed, amounting to over 100000, call for blan-
kets, clothing, wooden and woTsted maDufac-
tnfes, calico. hardware, household utensils,
agricultural implements, provisions and grain.
AS General Bussey sums up the result " For all
manufactured goods the prices were as low or
shade lower Than last year; for beef, -four and
other agricultural products the prices were
somewhat higher" Willie the farmer and me-
ehanic are enjoying greater prosperity and still
brighter prospects under the influence OF the
new tariff, all manufactured goods, including
woOleBs, cOlIOnS, boots and shoes leather, iron
and steel and hardware OF every description, cost
the Government little less than last year.
The 12-Inch gun just completed at the Water
Ylet Arsenal Is intended for coast defense, and
with the 12ncn mOrtars now being constr ucted
will mark a credtabe step in carrying out the
policy outlined by the Board on FOrlifcaliOns.
irttf hal will a
thiTy-twO inches Of iron at the muZZle, and at a
distance Of two miles il can penetrate twenty
inches Of the metal. Unlike the big guns that
viii follow it. the lube and jacket fOrgngs were
purchased at La CreuZot, France. American man
ufacturers have now demonstrated their ability
to turn out the largest forgings required by the
Government. A 12-inch steel sea-cOast mortar,
the first OF seventy-four ordered by The Govern
menf. has also been completed at The Waleryliet
Arsenal.
The largest and handsOmest library building
In the world is rapidly approaching completion
at Westinghouse magnificent stone structure,
nearly 500 feet long and over 800 Wide. Ii will
cost sc, 100000 In the center Will be the great
public reading room, 100 feet In diameter, and
around this viii be iron shelving 10 hold $780,
600 books. 1t is estimated that these shelves
viii accommodate all the books In the Congress
sionaI Library and all reserved in the next thirty
VIII still be room In the big structure for $780,
600 more books and papers.
Heretofore unqualified aspirants for admission
TO the West Point Military Academy have jour
neyed to that Institution in shoals only TO be sent
home again after Notifying and troublesome
experience, leaving The academy short OF stu
dents. To avoid This condition OF affairs Super
intendent Wilson is In favor Of a system OF local
examinations, conducted by army officers at GER
tain points, examination papers being furnished
them under seal, the answers Of candidates for
appointment being forwarded 10 West Point to
be passed upon by the Academic Board.
Instead Of HE tariff policy OF President Harri-
sons Administration diminishing our foreign
commerce, as The free-tTaders confidently pre-
dicted, the autumn export trade promises 10 be
the largest on record. All the great European
steamers sailing from New York have their
cargo capacities engaged months ahead.