The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-13

The Southern Pacific Railroad Company
is now intriguing at Washington to defeat
the appropriation of $4,000, 600 to improve
the harbor at San Pedro. 1t is immaterial
to this company that Los Angeles is en-
Enthusiastically in favor of the project and
has Endorsed it heartily in great repre-
sentative public meeting. 1t would be
equally immaterial if the whole State Of
California voted in its favor. The improve
me MT is not desired by the Southern Pacific,
and it will use its immense influence to kill
il. The Southern Pacific does not want
harbors. 1t would prefer that California
should be without these adjuncts and helps
to ocean commerce.; but rs they do exist it
would prefer that they should be owned or
controlled by the Southern Pacific The
State was designed by Providence and Con-
gress to be garden property for the railroad
company and the population mere aXpayerS
to its Golfers. A harDor at Santa Monica
would suit President HuntingtOn's views Of
the promotion OF commerce better. lie Is
said to have prevailed upon Senators Frye,
Dolph and Jones, who are members of the
Senate Commerce Committee to work for
him, and to do any slde-tracking advisable.
Senator FELTON, is angry at the DEVELOPMENT
Of opposition. lie is reported as saying 10
a correspondent, 1T seems that whenever
California is about TO secure some legisla-
ton of real benefit the State is always
suit of all this may be the loss Of deep
water harbor, both at San Pedro ana Santa
Monica. Of course the Southern Pacific,
which resents the insinuation that il is in
politics, will Jubiate over this evident proof
Of its Unsuitable monop0listic greed and the
influence il can use to crafty it.
Probably the United States is much less
in danger of war than any other power on
earth, and. therefore, we may take our time
in the selection of small-bore military
rifle, and its accompaniment Of smokeless
powder. The Ordnance Department is,
however, on the eve of coming TO a deci-
sion, and it is said the preference lies toward
the adoption OF rifle OF so caliber, carry
Ing bullet OF 230 grains, and requiring 80
grains OF smokeless powder, which is prac-
tIeRlly only modification Of guncotton and
nitro-glycerine. AT all events, that is the
composition Of the British eordte, with
camphor added in the mixing From the
fact that we are late in the field and have
the full benefit Of the experiences of other
countries, we ought to have the most I'M
proved weapon aud the most effective am
munition. The range Of the rifle will be
somewhere between mile and a half and
two miles, and the penetrating power such
that the bullets will pierce bones in clean
bored holes, and go through several bodies
in line. Verify the next war will give the
surgeons something TO do In dealing with
new forms of wounds, but il Is not likely TO
be fought out on the North American con-
tinent. Unfortunately, enough Of fighting
goes on IN South America to save the New
World from any conceivable reproach OF be-
ing TOO pacific.
The Argentine Republic has acquired
cruiser from the EIswick firm with tom
mage of 5000 and speed said 10 be tested at
% knots per hour. TEiS would be remark
able cruiser il it kept up to its steaming