The morning call., 1893-03-12

OF the contract
The fire at Boston brings out once more
in startling clearness the oft-ascertained
fact that freproof buildings only exist in
the imagination. When a strong confa-
grafton gets under headway the alleged fire.
proof qualities of the most solid structures
somehow disappear There always is some
woodwork to feed the flames Iron, al
though non-comhustible. conducts heat
very rapidly to substances that are, and
stone will assist in the transmission of heat.
But independently OF the materials of q
building the manufactures or the stock
kept play a great part in determining the
nature of fire. The strongest vessel of
steel will be burned to a shell if cargo of
coal gets on fire. and so will a building
which incorporates all the structural pre-
erect high buildings may be carried too
far. II was in the upper stories of a high
building that this Boston disaster broke
out and the loss of life was due in great
part to the height rendering escape very
difficult.
The maudlin legislation at Sacramento
processing to release prisoners upon their
parole. enabling them, if 80 minded, to
resume a nefariOus career. does not receive
encouragement from the exciting burglary
episode at Oakland. An officer lies in a
critical condition, as the result of pistol
shot fired by a crook who only recently was
under detention al Folsom prison for grand
larceny. He shot the officer in the most
unprovoked way in the effort to escape, and
he would have got clear off but for another
policeman, who saw him dash out of the
doorway with pistol smoking in his hand.
This policeman promptly sent couple of
bullets after him and lie dropped dead. 1t
was undoubtedly this burglar who wounded
Cashn. The companion depredator escaped.
1t would be no surprise II he also were an
old hand at felony, as burglars seldom
begin their career by bold work at the out
set. The security Of parole from such
characters is not worth much.
Sportsmen who do not shiver at danger
aud are properly equipped to keep the cold
out may find adventure worthy of their met
tie on the Spokane Reservation. Wash. The
mountain lion has made its appearance in
formidable numbers and the cattle and
horses are disappearing at rate discour-
aging to stockbreeding. 1t is said that 80
per cent Of the half-starved stock has been
eaten, and when food is scarce the puma
will doubtless seek other quarry elsewhere
No other part of the country enjoys the
sport that may be obtained on the Pacific
Coast.
Having provided for the wants of the pub
lie at Santa Barbara the agents of the trans
from their labors at Monterey. The
amount of consideration accorded the pub
lie is measured by the lower terms given by
the competing northern railroads from CHI
cago to Pacific Coast points. A charitable
hope is expressed that there will be no war
on rates. That is one of the wars from
which relief instead of devastation and debt
may be expected. Very few have occurred
on this coast.
Although Hawkins the prize-fghter, and
his abettors have been discharged and
there is apparently no one to blame for the
recent fatality in the ring, the passage OF
the bill against priZs-fghting at least
strengthens the hands of the police as re-
CARDS all encounters in the future, and II
viii not be so easy to escape responsibility
next time a mhatant is knocked ont and
his body sent to the undertaken The police
will now have explicit authority for inter-
fering whenever brutality and bad temper
are the characteristics of a slogging match.
1t may be hard to define what legitimate
boxing is, but when the law says so the
effort is worth trying.
The Territorial Legislature of Oklahoma
has distinguished itself from commence
ment to finish but especially at the finish.
by indeeorum and rowdysm. Not much
wisdom appears TO be entOmUed in tie laws
which have been formulated in rough and
ready fashion. but chain of evils through
hasty WORK might improve the next efforts
of the legislators. A proposal to repeal an
antl-gamblng law seems TO have turned
the members loose on the floor. They
almost came to blows and they called one
another liars. All of which is bad conduct,
even in Territory. Good government and
moderation will come in time.
Newnes' new paper. the Westminster
Gazette, is a restoration of the Pal Mall
Gazette in its old form of radicalism, cul-
ture and Independent criticism. Item bodies
sundTy fresh features, such as publishing a
serial novel by MIR; Justin Mccarthy, NIP.
the paper is light blue, like ducks egg.
This is not OminOus of failure as in cricket,
for Newnes has turned everything to gold
In neWspaper enterprise.