The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-20

1t has been reported on former occasions
that Palmer's Shipbuilding and Steel Com
pany Of JarrOw, on the Tyne, England,
were ut 10 establish a branch Of their
business in the United States. The rumor
now current. that the firm will bring over
their plant and set up works in a certain
port Of the United States, is possibly moth
ing more than an echo of former stories,
but il need not occasion surprise If it is
true. The fluctuations Of trade on the Tyne
are such that at times there are scarcely
any contracts on hand al Jarrow, and at
other times there is extreme pressure. Sir
Charles Mark Palmer, the head of the firm.
IS very enterprising capitalist, and not
lacking in new ideas. He it was who fist
employed steamers to convey coal from the
Tyne TO the Thames by building the famous
John B0wes. The firm is principally en-
gagged ShipbuIlding and has generally on
the slips few large commercial ships, and
frequently one or more vessels of war. OF
late a steel plant has been added, and there
has been an intention of carrying on the
manufacture Of heavy ordnance, machine
guns and projectiles
The great rival of the Palmer works is
Elswick, higher up the Tyne. The latter
has 1900 TO 10000 men constantly employed
in the coBStru tion Of hydraulic machinery.
bAA4NA EAiAAo VI tnssilCcs bl- guns. iiidGlitut
ordnance, projactiles and war-vessels-from
light and swift craft like the Piemonte,
with powerful firing guns, to tie Vic
toria, heavily armored and equipped with
1l0-ton guns. But although not employing
such large force Of worKmen Palmer has
the unique popularity in enterprise of at
tempting to DO everything for himself The
iron ore, smelted IN the furnaces on the
spot, Is obtained from the company's own
lIQnSfDnp EffS. the POal from ha
company collieries, and foTgings and en-
gines are made at the works for the vessels
In hand All other firms prefer not to carry
so heavy burden of responsibility. If
Palmer does come to this country it is GER
taInly improbable that he will abandon
altogether the business which has been con-
Quoted for so many years with such success
on the Tyne. If that were TO occur, jar
row, an incorporated town of Soma thou
sands of Inhabitants, would have its very
existence threatened. for its well-beug de-
ponds upon the adjacent factory. 1t rose
with the works and it would died with them.
Seeing that this country is committed 10
rugramme of shipbuiding and bg-gun
construction, 1t Is not Improbable that
Palmer considers the moment npportune 10
give America the benefit of his ripe expert
ence. If disappointed in this direction he
might succeed in the launching of COM
mercial vessels.
SO the song birds of Europe are already
with Us, and apparently thriving. 1t is a
great and perhaps a daring--step to at
tempt the acclimatzatiOn of birds, seeing
the miSfOrtunes with which the country is
afflicted through the Introduction of the
sparrow; but. whether for evil or good, the
deed has been done. and the results must be
awaited with patience. The society which
exists in Oregon for the introduction of use
fnl foreign birds liberated in 1889 300 pairs
OF massachusetts or mavis, as they are
vaTiOnsly callPd-skylarks. nightingales,
linnets, g0ldfinches, bullinches, chafInehes.
black starllngs, red-brcast robins. green
hncheS, gTosbeaks and singing quail. OF all
these II only the thrusheS, the skylarks and
the Dightinl,ales survive and multiply, the
population of the Pacific Coast may Well
be grateful. But the report is that
to their new environment. and are
spreading in all directions. Rural
lie viii have new pleasure when the sky
lark sings at heavens gate with the first
pale streaks OF the dawn, and Is followed In
clear liquid notes of extraordinary variety
and sweetness by the high perchug thrush
The nightingale is a concert Ia itself when
II begins 70 tTili on moonlight night, and
keeps up its song Of love far into the small
hours. The birds mentioned are nearly all
migratory, and they viii soon find out the
way TO California and Mexico, so that al
though Oregon has the honor OF introducing
Them 1t cannot by any possibility keep pos
session of them. The orchardlst need be
under no apprehension that his fruits VIII
suffer. Some of the birds may take peck
at cherry or pear, but they may in gem
erai be expected TO do splendid service in
keeping down insect poets Birds of this
description are greatly needed in California.
Acclimatizers in Europe have tried to in
troduce our gay-plumaged hummipg- BIRDS
m
little success temporarily. 1t cannot be
that Europe is too cold, for various species
of humming- bird are found from Canada
down to TERRA del Fuego. and the south of
France. and Italy and Spain should afford
enough OF flowers and insects for their deli
cate palates. Once liberated in good condi-
ton they ought to thrive, as far as man can
Judge, but thus far the attempts made have
Jailed. The sea voyage across the Atlantic
IS very serious hindrance. To give the
humniDg bird its proper food vessel
would have to be converted into a flower
garden OF no tiny dimensions, and that,
even in the finest weather, is well nigh i'm
possible. The humming-bird is dlstinctyely
American. and nowhere in the world of
birds can the exquisite brlliancy and gor-
geous flashing hues OF Its plumage be sur
passed. Yet somehow Ii has not captvated
the poet so much as lark soaring in the
sky and melodiously filling the air with its
strains OF unprecedented art"
The Am erican Museum of Natural His
tory, New York, now has possession of the
famous chronological collection made by
the late Henry Edwards. Mrs Edwards
has received $4,000. the very moderate
price at which the collection was offered.
vi this amount the museum trustees paid
$4,000 and the scientific and other friends of
MI. EDWARDS subscribed the remainder
thus has passed away untitled the oppor-
tunity which California possessed of becom-
ing owner If a treasure of natural history.
formed on this coast 10 great part and to a
great extent illustrating its insec. life. The
Academy Of Sciences had fair warning that
the collection was in the market, but no
step was taken. either by the Academy
itself or any of its friends. There ara