The morning call., 1892-08-15

a noun ain.
Let any one of statistical patience take
reckoning of the passenger traffic between
San Francisco and Oakland. Alameda and
Berkeley on Sundays and the other six
days Of the week and make rigid compari-
son with such cities as New York and
Brooklyn and New Jersey or Philadelphia.
Let him answer the question whether there
is any example in American civic history of
such pOpulous centers as are in touch
across the Bay OF San Francisco being en-
tireiy In the grasp OF the ore Southern Pa
cine railroad Company for ferryage. parcel
aad wagon transportation and tolls? That
there should be no competition across the
bay in this traffic is almost iDexplIcabe.
No New Yorker could believe 1t possible,
and II he were convinced by demonstration
he would say the people wh0 submit 10 snch
domination arc lot OF slaves. with the
enormous traffic that crosses the bay the
ferTyage ami railroad service TO any point
within Oakland. Alameda or Berkeley
should be NO more than five or seven cents
each way, and two or three opposition COM
panies on these terms might go into buSi-
ness on this basis with prospect OF good
profit Facilities on this side of the bay
are obtalnabe without difficulty, and il is
certain that the Southern Pacific has not tie
title to an acre of land on the Oakland side
along the unimproved water 'front.' unless
II is aided thereto by traitors to municipal
inter SITS IN the city OF Oakland aud by cor
rupt courts. California has dreamy cli-
mate, but the Southern Pacific has studied
the methods Of making dreams realities.
The arrival of a steamer round the Horn
with goods for some hundreds of San Fran
cisco merchants recalls the fact that some
Of our business men have been figuring upon
the establishment of a line of cargo steam
ers by the Straits of Magellan route with a
speed Of 10 knots an hour and a cargo-car-
rying capacity Of 5000 tons. The estimates
obtained from English shipbuilders show
that there would be immediate profit in the
enterprise could the ships be built in Eng
land and allowed TO ply between American
ports. But this Is out OF the question, under
the navigation laws and our now generally
accepted protection policy. Freedom to ves-
selS OF ali nations TO navigate between port
and port would kill the Southern Paeifc's
grinding tyrannieai monopoly within
month, but unfortunately it would hurt
other interests also, and the nation is not
prepared TO permit that. Then comes the
question what the Cramps or other ship
builders can do. If American ship-builderS
could provide steamers within 10 per cent
Of the English figures, il would at once be
profitable to embark IN this business OF reg
ular steamer trans sportation round the
Horn, end huge volume of tFado might be
set up from the ports OF the Californian
Tie day is certain 10 come when this steam
ship trade will be great reality. 1t could
not ne stopped by a hundred times the
power and corrupt influences OF the South
ern Pacific were the Nicaragua canal
Verltable, untTammeled waterway.
Probably all nations with any preten-
siOns to the posses ssion of naval force will
respond In some measure to the invitations
Of the United States 10 commemorate the
fourth century of Columbus discovery by
naval review. France at least will send
few Of her fine ships, and Italy might
allow one of her eViathans of displacement
and heavy artillery To cross the Atlantic, as
chanSe from cruises in the almost tidelass
waters oil the Mediterranean England
also VIII not object TO be represented hand.
somelY, but might not care TO send her
14,0O0-ton yes-eis of latest construction 10
attend a comparative parade of fighting
strength at sea. Germany has few avail
able vessels, although some of her iron-
cladS are as unSymmetreal as iron tubs
can be, and even Russia. which never can
have quarrel with the United States,
could contribute a few respectable iron
clads. The review will be fine spectacle
OF pcnicking exhibition of modern war ves-
sells on the weitering wave. but New York
will have the advantage of it and not Chi
cagO.
Sir +. Roberts. who proposed to interview
the Ameer of Afghanistan, accompanied by
an army as an escort, is in current opinion
the ablest general that England has. In
personal preferment at hume he has been
eelipaed by another soldier of Ireland, Lord
Wolseley. but that does not discount his
real merits in the eyes of the nation The
Ameer has snubbed Sir Frederick very posi-
lively by refusing to meet him on account
OF having business on hand with a tribe
which be proposes to starye out of existence
with the assistance of next winter. This
Of course, means playing into the hands IF
Russia, which would rather not have Sir
Frederiek's opposition. The result of all
this intriguing may be foreseen. Afghan
istan viii be absorbed by Russia and then
Russia and England will have no buffer be-
tween them-only frontier. Some time
1ght Is certain 10 occur on the frontier.