The morning call., 1892-05-23

1he transfer OF Two crack 1uman steamers
TO the United States in the sense that here
after they are to fly the American flag may
now be considered transaction closed. But
it suits some one to hint that the British
Admiralty are chagrined at the notion that
vessels they had subsidized for war pur-
poses, when the occasion should arise, have
been handed over to foreign owners without
leave being asked. 1t is also said that the
Admiralty are strongly inclined TO put an
embargo upon the transfer. ard may for
cibly appropriate the vessels. This may be
set down as undiuted newspaper invention.
What use would such vessels be 10 the Adj
miralty, SuppOsing they were acquired for
patriotic purposes and precautions? EX-
Cept in war time. they would be VeTitable
white elephants, costly and useless. They
would not even be Of much account as East
India transports. The Inman steamers are
good as scouts and little else during war
time, and perhaps dozen sucn steamers
would be more profitable investment than
two CT three battle-ships, which cost per-
maps greater amount But were such
steamers kept exclusively for periods OF
war What guarantee would there be that
when required they would answer demands
as 10 speed and equipment? They would
be unemployed and would 90 to rust Ike
old anchors. 1t was simply the great speed
OF the Imam liners that tempted the Adj
ulLhlE 10 CDuulblUndIf DdERhlU lOI lDeI
services when needed, and within a very
short time there will be no lack Of such
vessels. There possibly is some intention
Of asking Congress 10 place the converted
steamers IL the same relationship to the
navy Of this country that they occupied to
England under the British flag.
During his Imprisonment for the killing
OF NJ Abeile. Mr.. Deacon will have no rea-
son to complain Of harsh treatment from his
jaieTs. His punishment IS little more than
compulsory residence in decently furnished
apartments, where he is free to receive bis
friends at least three days a week, and can
take his meals as ordered by himself ana
cooked by the chef he prefers Besides
these gracious concessions, which make the
terrors Of Jail life faTcca Mr.. Deacon has
presumably the liberty 30 read the journals
and write letters very much as he pleases
and he is promised uIlrestOratiOn to liberty
in four months and hall All this goes 10
show that French sympathy went very
much with him IN shooting the hagrant dis
turber of his domestic peace. Had he not
called IN a clerk to take notice of events be-
fore he acted, and had he only fred one
shot, instead Of three, the jury would
probably have acquitted him; but there was
a good deal Of business method in the man
ner of reminding II. Abeille that he was
trespassing, and the verdict must have
taken all this into consideration. Altogether
Mr.. Deacon has no great reason IL lament
the course of justice in France.
1t is announced that Florida is this year
to attempt to reach the English market
with oranges bef.re any of the Mediter-
ranean countries are ready with a supply.
The mover in this enterprise is Mr.. L. l..
GOOdsel. Two steamers to sail direct to
England have been chartered for the trade,
and il is calculated that the total cost of
freight from the orchard to the room of
sale will be 80 cents per box. Florida really
has a good chance Of succeeding in this
trade, for apparently the absOTptive capa-
city of the British Isles for fruit of every
kind has by no means reached the point Of
saturaton or glut. California may also
reach the market with oranges. provided
the railroads give the requisite assistance
in quick transit and moderate rates. Both
the railroads and the producers should be
cOntented with modest rewards, the ten
dency in England being toward low prices
and large sales, and the countries that meet
these requisites are favored.
There is one outlet for the oranges OF
California which should promise well in
good returns. IL is hardly creditable to the
spirit of our merchants and fruit-growers
that in our grOcerY-stores KeilleT's MARINA
ladc should have leading sale at double
the price it is obtaina bic for in England.
IL could be made as cheaply here as in
Britain, and in place of having a British
commodity thrust upon us in the produc-
ton Of which we ourselves should excel,
there ought to be an export of marmalade
from California, as well as a large sale of
every description of jelly and jam. Except
IN the southern countries OF Europe the
orange is an imported fruit. Here we have
an enormous area OF land adapted for fruit
culture, and the orange is brought to per-
lection all the way down the coast from
S0noma 10 the Mexican border. 1t cannot
be urged that the price OF sugar is any him
dranee to the development of a marmalade
trade. 1t is about as low in price in Amer
lea al anywhere.