The morning call., 1893-06-23

operating expenses must be at as low a
figure as is conceivable for efficient man.
agement, and the risks from such disasters
as storms or floods are practically NIL. Rh-
pairs can never be more than very mod
crate percentage.
a scarcity of hay in several countries in
Europe is telling very seriously upon the
fiocks and herds of agriculiprists. There
is not only failure of hay for winter
feed but scarcity Cor present use. and
the pasture is dried up and contains little
sustenauce. Farmers have their stock
starving and are compelled to sell at any
price to the butcher. In London the ON
nibus companies are paying famine prices
for fodder, and contracts are being sought
for supplies in Australia. North Holland
seems to be in great straits for ordinary
drinking water, which is being sold by
the pail. In parts, of Germany hay has
risen in price to 50 so per 112 pounds.
With such figures farmers can only get
rid of their stock as fast as they can.
Countries which have a surplus of fodder
or grain substitutes have an inviting OPP
portunity TO sell in an exceptionally de-
pieted market Those who predicted that
the great activity of sun spots would rem
der 1t a strange year in mete Orology begin
to find that iacts doyetail Into their
theories.
Storms in the Western States have to be
reckoned with as terror of lite and, still
worse, as a destroyer. California hardly
realizes the blessing it enjoys in immunity
from cyclones and extremes of any kind in
weather. One of the periodic fierca blasts
has just deva stated small tract of Kansas
six miles long and half a mile wide.
About thirty dead is the estimate, besides
number of injured. and large number
of houses are wrecked. With all its ad-
vantages in rich soil and heavy crops,
induce settlers to boast of Kansas as a
paradise. The proper prohibition for
this State would be one which banishe ed
cyclones.
Suicide and insanity seem to be epidemic
in Hungary. The explanation is that the
people are driven crazy by drinking bad
wine, or rather liquids which are innocent
of grape juice. and are mere connections.
1t is not probable tina: they are positively
poisonous, but as they must be cheap they
are no doubt vile enough to account for
eccentric vagarieS of the brain. The
vines have been wasted by the phylloxera,
but people go on drinking something.
The Mohammedan pilgrims at Mecca
are melting away like snow in the sun
From June 10 to 20 there were $50 deaths
from cholera. This is a truly frightful
gathering in of victims, compared with
which last years occurrences in Hamburg
are not very CHASTITY. There must be at
least as many down with the disease in
various stages as those who succumb. and
the waliing condition of the holy city. even
with fatalism the belief of all. must be
horrible. IL 1t be at all possible, IL would
lie prudent thing TO stop travel to Mecca.
Reports from Russia are not alarming. but
that unfortunately is not proof that the
cholera is not virulent there. 1t is the
habit in Russia to suppress and gloss over.
One of the officials removed In the Puget
Sound region is bluntly emphatic in his
denial that he was concerned in the snug
Cling of opium or of Chinese into the
United States. For the Information of
people who DO not know the facts he pro-
nouuces the person who inspired the re-
port common liar. While generating
himself from any association with contra
band, nobody is convinced that there was
not great deal of it systematically con-
nived at by some persons.
Apart from the question of harbor
wanted by the Southern Pacific at Santa
Monica the visit of the SUBJ committee of
the Senate Committee on Commerce to the
Pacific Coast should do some good. The
committee is to inquire into river i'm
proyements. projected, accomplished or
possible. Aid from Congress is sadly
needed to remove ObstructioDs and to
deepen the channels of the Sacramento and
San Joaquin. They can be made available
for navigation up great part of their
course aud they should obviously be i'm
proved to the full extent practicable.
Grants for such work seem to be obtaina-
bic in the East with happy facility, and a
little pressure and energetic representa-
tons should give California her fair share
OF attention. 1t is national work which
should be done by the nation.
These are the times that please the lum-
her merchant, although they may try the
Pacific Mail. Lumber is going to Central
America at rate of So instead of S24 per
thousand feet and the shipments have in
creased enormously. The Central Ameri-
cans get supplies at a low figure compared
suit of competition in transportation and
the enterprise Of the North American
Navigation Company.
The president of the State University
of West Virginia has filed with the re-
gents document about the status of the
professors he regulates quite modest and
mprehensble. There are seventeen of
them. and he charges all with insubordina-
tion and incompetency and recommends
that they be discharged. The indictment
is incomplete. 1t neglects to say anything
complimentary about the presidents own
competence. but the regents have known
him eight years. and when the heat engen-
dered cools down they will consider the
point.
The Sultan of Turkey has presented 10
the President through the Turkish Minis
ter a massive medal of gold spangled with
a wreath of diamond in commemoration
Of Columbus discovery. The medal is
about four inches in diameter A cameo
inserted illustrates the landing, and there
is an inscription in Turkish. 1t is not re-
garded as personal gift and as state
property will he treasured in some accessi-
BILE place such as the national museum,
where the public may see it. The Sultan
is not wholly dsinterested in America
now that Mohammed Webb has opened a
propaganda.
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.