The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-17
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
The Ohio Election QusstiOn-DOubls Ra.
tiOnS for Indians appointments.

WASHINGTON Oct. ia Star special
from Columbus, Ohio, says: Democratic
success In the legislative elections this fall,
it is generally conceded, would mean the
enactment of law providing for choosing
Presidential electors by Congressional dis
tricts. This would practically throw Ohio
into the Democratic column in the Electoral
College, rs by the present system of dis
tricts, which would, OF course, be retained.
fifteen of the twenty-one districts are DEM
ocratic. So it is plain that there is more in
the Ohio campaign than the election OF Gov
ernor.
RATIoNs FOR INDIAN SOLDIERS.
A rather curious question of administra-
ton has been brought to public attention
by the report of General Merritt command
ing the Department of Dakota. General
Merritt complains that the enlistment of
Sioux Indians as soldiers in the regular
army has been interfered with by reason of
the action of the Indian Bureau in refusing
to issue rations TO the Indians who have en-
listed as soldiers. As the report is sup
posed to be dated about the 1st of July, the
Indian Bureau officials believe that this
fact accounts for the failure OF General
Merritt to state that about month ago
directions were issued TO the Indian agents
TO distribute ratons to the Indians enl1sting
as soldiers the same as If they we're still on
the reservation and not drawing pay and
subsistence from the Government as SOL
ders. Mr.. Belt, Assistant Commissioner,
who was at the time the question was
preached by the War Department the Act
ing Commissioner of Indian Affairs, op-
posed this system of double pay to the Indi-
ans, but Secretary Noble concluded that
rather than put any obstacle In the way OF
the War Departments recruiting soldiers
frgu IND pf
should be allowed for the present, and
directions TO that effect were sent to the In
dian agents under date of September 10TH
NOTICE To MARINERS.
The following notice to mariners has been
issued:
Notice Is hereby given that on and after De-
cember l, 1891, duIing thick or fogey weather,
a atweIye.iucn steam. whistle will be Sounded al
the Hight station in course OF construction on the
northwest side of seal Rock, St. George Reef,
Cal.
The Characteristic OF the signal will be blasts
Of five seconds duration, separated by silent In.
teTvas Of tliIty-hVe seconds The station con-
slsts Of an oval masonry pier, with square
pyramidal tower. The pier is built on tue rock
10 The height OF sixiy-slx feet above mean high
water. and the tower stands on Its easterly end.
lie fog-signal apparatus Is situated within the
pier. The geographical position OF the station,
as determined by the United States Coast and
Geodetlc Survey is: Latitude north 4lo so o9",
longitude west 124o 22f A.. Distances ana
magnetic bearings Of prominent objects, as
taken from the United States Coast and Geodelic
Survey charts Nos. COZ and 635. are: CheteO
anchorage, north 13 nautical miles; Prom0ntOry
Rock, Point 81. George, west-nOrlhwest "a west
G3s nautical miles; Southwest Seal Rock, st.
George Reef, southeast by east, II nautical
miles. The light is not ready for exhibition. Due
notice OF It's establishment Will be given.
By order OF the Lighthouse Board.
NEW RAILROAD ENTERPRISES.
The Bureau of American Republics has
received interesting advices of railway de-
velopment. In Mexico, on the morning of
the 10Th of September, active work was COM
menced at TOrreen on the extension of the
International Railroad Of Mexico to connect
that city with Durango. The day was Sc
lected by the President of the road, 0. K.
huntington, in honor of the birthday OF the
President of the republic. The ceremony
of driving the first spike was witnessed by
large number of inhabitants of the sur
rounding country. Immediately after the
regular operations of track-laying were vig-
orousy prosecuted. This line will complete
the connection between Durango ana the
interior counties of Mexico, and opens ur
to traffic very fertile portion of the re-
public. The road will be 156 miles long,
and 1t is expected that cars will be running
through to Durango in less than two years.
REPORTS OF NATIONAL BANKS.
The following is brief abstract OF the
reports Of the two national banks Of San
Francisco, giving their condition at the close
VI FlludS, pSptCiubSi Nv
sources, 50, ~, ,499 %, the principal items Of
which are: Loans and discounts, Sc, 49,
392 80; due from approved reserve agents,
S274,273 so: due from other national banks,
S145, ,755 40 from State banks and bankers,
S5SS,54S 56. The main items of the labili-
surplus fund, SS00,000; undivided profits,
S2l7, 715; individual deposits, S4, lao, 696 40;
reserve held, 36.7S per cent.
THE PosToFFICE SITE.
The Postmaster-Gen has sent the fol-
lowing reply to the protest of the San Fran
cisco Chamber of Commerce against the site
selected for the Postoffice in that city: 81
have the honor to acknowledge the receipt
OF your telegram protesting against the site
selected for the new Postoffice Building and
beg to say that the same shall be laid before
the commission" 1t is known that when the
matter is presented to the commission Sec
retary Foster will favor the retention Of the
site selected
LAND CASES DECIDED.
The Commissioners decision is affirmed
in the case of b. f. Lankford VS.. Ludwig
A. Reeg, involving land in the Independence
District, California Secretary Noble denies
the application for writ OF ceItiorari filed
by Lewis X. Mead, praying that the record
In the case of Lewis Frederick be verified
to the Land Depar ment. The land is in
tue Visalia District.
PENSIONS GRANTED.
Pensions have been granted to the follow
ing Calitorniaus: John w. Shirley, Charles
Hoffman, Jacob Conrad, Thomas McKenna,
John Garrett, Frank Miller, Orange q. Hay
ward, Andrew Creeks, Nelson L. Carle,
Madison Lovett and John Berger.
PERSONAL MENTION.
Sergeant Christopher Dunn, Whipple
Barracks. Ariz., has been placed on the
retired list
Edward r. Taylor and Edward ID. Taylor,
of san Francisco. are at the Ebbtt House.
FREE POSTAL DELIVERY.
The Postmaster General has issued a
stltement showing the number Of towns in
which free postal delivery was established