The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-15

~ ,%ASJlT 49,
MY fine fellow. you have killed one Of my sub
Jects-take drink"
the defenseless. He actually hoped that
every soldier would follow the example on
similar occasions. The civilian is on every
occasion to be at the mercy of the army, and
a soldiers crimes are to be accounted
worthy OF honor That is the prac-
teal import Of his Majesty's sense
less speech. No wonder the officers
OF the regiment tried % keep this sensational
episode secret, but it is now divulged and
Germany Will not relish so astounding an
exhibition of Stiffness and imDrudence. The
way 10 get promotion in the German army
is TO kill q citizen. The Emperor called
upon the officers to drink the health OF this
valiant sentinel and they did, but we can
well imagine that some of them regarded
the wine as vinegar when imbibed IN honor
Of toast so outrageous. AS usual his
Majesty made liberal use of the first per-
sonal prOnOun. His egolism is never disco
ciated from comedy, but unless he calls
halt the German people will get tired Of the
comedy.
The steamship companies make up esti-
mates on the traffic probabilities Of the
year with almost as near an approach to
accuracy as farmers attain in computing
their harvest. The farmers estimate is con-
tingent upon weather and his own foresight
and prudence in being "early." Tho other
is founded upon the general tide level Of
prosperity, AID the not erroneous SUPPOSE
ton that while prosperity lasts most people
OF normal human depraylty enjoy u holiday
measured by weeks or months, and forget
politics, the virtues of holding office on
boss tthing and the monoton0us grind of
life, to which nature has pred stined the
herd 10 be overwhelmingly subject. This
year the steamship companies estimate that
At least 100000 cheerful purSe-laden
Americans viii cross the Atlantic in
quest OF recreation and sightseeing.
In passage money alone this repre-
sentS t0leTRble harvest 10 be reaped
by the shareholders of the companies but
this sum total is mere feabte compared
with the enormous drafts which Americans
d!sburse on their trave in Europe.
The American is sometimes sneered at by
the Sedate residentsof the oft-twitted efTete
countries Of Europe, but never on account
Of his money. he is looked upon as a
prOdigal except in the one matter of tips,
not receiving which the walters are apt to
growl aud take revenge in the unconscion-
able slowness of their movements but
otherwise the American is a most welcome
guest, and he Is the mainstay of many IA
hostelry, specially designed for his accom-
mediation on high scale Of outlay. Every
year, in tourist expenses alone, America
benefits Europe 70 tie tune of about one
hundred million dollars. But as estimates
OF this nature are guesSwOrk il is quite Dos
sible that the expenditure is greater by an
additional fifty million dollars. Per contra
there IS considerable expenditure by per-
sons arriving in this country. The estimate
OF westbound passengers crossing the At
iantie this year is 600,C00. very large pro-
portion of whom are immigrants who will
permanently settle in the United States.
So that they are Of the right stampOf integ-
rty and independence they weaken the
countries they leave and add strength to
ours.
The Atlantic passenger trade next year
will swell into abnormal proportions. 1t is
the year OF the Chicago exhibition, and it is
certain that vast numbers Of Europeans
Will be attracted to make acquaintance with
America, if only for the privilege of seeing
the great metropolis OF the west en- fete.
New ork ard Chicago are known To every
European as tyres Of transatlantic prog
ress, and visitors have an opportunity Of
seeing both advantageOusly in an exhibition
year Chicago has enough of task on hand
to provide hotel accommodations for the
lnrush. but, II any city can satisfy q multi
tuGe or strangers, II is equal to the Occa-
sion. much more serious question for
Chicago Is TO make certain that the water
supply is uncOntaminated by sewage. Any
unusual outbreak Of fever would scare away
visitors in panic and if rumor once got
started that the city is unhealthy, explana-
Tons would never quite undo the harm.
Early in the spring of 1892. two new
steamers of tie Cunard Company will be
running between Queenstown and New
York. These are expected 10 be the finest
passenger vessels af1oat, and that is saving
good deal when We consider what sort of
ocean palaces the crack steamers OF the
White Star, the Inman and the North Ger
man Lloyd are In comfort, and the punctu-
ality of their trips. In the Atlantic trade
the Cunard Company has been distanced
by competitors. although the Etruria and
tie mbria, with their old-fashioned conf
pound engines and single prOpellers,
do marvellous work, and are not more
than day short OF the voyages made
by the fastest greyhounds. Next year,
however, the CunaId Company may
resume its supremacy, and will probably
take care not to fall behind again. But
in these matters there is no finality. The
gain now inclines to ore side and then to the
other. 1t is an assured fact that the White
Star Company Is inclined To beat even the
new Cunarders, Harland 81 Wolff having
under construction at Belfast two vessels
hour faster than the Clyde steamers. With
steaming powers equal TO % knots per hour
or fully . English miles, the voyage be-
tween Queenstown aud New York becomes
only an affair Of five days, an Improvement
on the land journey between San Francisco
and New York.
The greatest secrecy has been maintained
by the Fairfield Company on the Clyde as TO
the plans OF the new Cunard steamers
which are to astoniSh the shipping world.
but information does leak out, and the SUBJ
joined particulars may be relied upon as
facts: The steamers have five decks and
they are divided loDgitudinally by water
tight bulkhead, and also transversely by
numerous bulkheadS. Two or three of the
compartments may be filled with water
without danger to safety. Provision is made
for water ballast by double bottom. All
the plates arc OF steel. Those at the keel are
an inch thick and those on the bilges from
seVen-eIghths to three-qnarters of an inch
thlcS. The propeller shafts are carried 10
the stern inside the hull, as in the Teutonic.
so that the shafts are not exposed outside
There is therefore no danger of an accident
similar to the one which befell the City of
Paris. 9The total length Of the steamers Is
eco feet, Just so feet short of the Great
Eastern. The beam Is 90 feet and the ton
mage 4,000 The engines will Indicate
10000 horsepower, as compared with 10000
on the Teutonic and Majestic, and they are
expected to give speed of at least q knots
per hour. This speed is indeed guaranteed,
The two sets Of engines for each vessel are
Of the three crank-tandem type. Over the
cranks are arranged the low pressure