The morning call., 1893-07-13

forts OF the Golden Gate are named and
provided with the right batteries. But it
is question of furnishing the station
with every requisite in the plant needed
for building and repairing and with every
description of stores necessary at sea. 1t
is good and advisable policy to render it
independent of the Atlantic stations.
Events are proving strong reminders of
duty in this direction. We need more ves-
sells OF the cruising type on the coast
ready for emergencies, such as have broken
out in Samoa and Hawaii. The head
scratching and planning to get vessel to
Samoa Is little humiliating. At any time
there might be mplications'in Chinese or
Japanese waters of far m"re Importance
to The United States than any conceivable
probable situation in EurOpe, where
United States squadron Is principally or
namental. This country should never be
weak In the Pacific.
The misunderstanding between the
French and English in Newfoundland is
The breaking out of an old sore which was
in process of healing, but had by no means
closed. The French have their islands of
st. Pierre and Miqrelon, from which so
much codfshing is conducted, but they
have also the French shore, which s
vaguely described, and in the i'm a 81 alton
Of the Observation-Disclosures is little better
than geometrical line-length without
breadth. The question Of procuring bait
occasionally crops UP ard now dispute
abaut Holsters and customs duty has
arisen. Unless treated deiicatey the
situation may easily become bellicose,
esnecially when the captains of war yes
sells are scowling at one another on points
OF honor. France is probably in no mood
to beRracious to England, with whom she
has sUhdry disputes to irritate her, as in
Egypt and Siam. But diplomacy may be
trusted to find some way cut of the
trouble. but how TO propi'iate Newfound-
land is an endless puzzle. The colony
would like to be free.
Cholera is playing havoc at Alexandria.
in Egypt. and at Moscow. For weeks it
has been in France. and it is not likely
that it can be kept from spreading to other
parts of Euro. O. From Alexandria it is
pretty certain to travel TO Italy, Greece
and Turkey, and very likely Morocco, AL
geria and Spain. The d sease has passed
beyond control in Mecca and the adjacent
ID Sea littoral. This is only the Begin
ming of summer. and the possibilities of
the epidemic spreading are very serious.
Most of the countries in communication
with America are entirely on the alert and
at our Atlantic ports the attitude is conf
IDENTIFY defiant. Medical men and sani-
tarians know what thew have to deal with
and are better prepared than at any former
period.
The Davie Transportation Company
finds that Oakland harbor is not as deep
as the bay off Goat Island. 1t would be
the better for being dredged. This is work
for the Federal Government, and Uncle
Sam should hustle about AID get it done,
but the methods of engaging Uncle Sam
IN uther business than the particular duty
wanted are numerous, particularly on this
coast. 1t will not do to depend upon the
engineers. The Rosalie must make the
best Of it in the meantime and get a COM
RAMON ferry steamer just as good and fast.
The Los Angeles Times notes the arrival
at Redondo Of the G vernon Ames, five
masted schooner of 100 tons register, with
a cargo capacity of 5000 tons. This vessel
ls on as economical plan as it is possible
TO employ in sailing ships she only needs
sixteen of crew, and very seldom will
any IT these require TO go aloft, her sails
being easy to manipulate from the deck.
Each mast is rugged precisely alike. There
are five boomsails. five gaffsails, five head
sails and four stavsaIIs Unless the bon
nets are set in Zephyr-like tresses, or some
OF the devices of yachts in ballOon-sails
are trieG. no additional canvas can be
spread. With engines 20 hoist sails and
anchors, a vessel so rugged gives seaman
what he rarely has enough of-leisure-
except when the handling of 2.000,00 feet
of lumber ia under way
The Southern Pacific has reduced the
art of begging to a fine point. 1t is about
to carry a line to Pomona, and its agent in
advance has intimated that the town
should pay for the right of way. The in
tlmation that help would be gratefully ac-
snd 6ao tod 4,
directors of the Board Of Trade; who are
appealing for the requisite funds to ap-
paase the appetites of the company. Mr..
Huntington is at Los Angeles smiling at
the good work.
The comet which has suddenly blazed
into prominence on the horizon in the
evening is seemingly a celestial visitor OF
considerab Bile rank. with very stiff train
and mighty pace. 1t comes out OF space
travelling at the rate of fifty miles
second or 1920. 900 miles day. and as it
gets to periheliOn and bursts into radiant
splendOr, it may be recognized by the as
iron omers as an old wanderer, come back
on its path after many years of invlsi-
bility. or pronounced new arrival from
the starry depths heretofore unknown.
Possibly it has been round the sun and is
retiring. Science is we'll prepared t.
make good use of its lus'rous Lille history
and physical constitution. and it will not
depart without leaving some addition to
human knowledge of cosmic wonders.
1t is stated that the Congressional CON-
mittee which was to investigate the
merits of San Pedro and Santa Monica for
harbor purposes will not come to the
coast this year on account of the extra ses-
sion. AS far as this question is concerned
personal INSPECTION is wholly unneces-
sary. The United States engineers have
reported repeatedly in favor of San Pedro.
But the Southern Pacific wants to beat
that proposal. The committee might have
studied Other questions Of navigation in
the rivers of California. But here again
the Southern Pacific is opposed to I'M
provement.
No fault can be found with the nickel
steel armor manufactured by the Carnegie
Frick Company, which has just been tested
on the Potomac. although it was not so
| super-eXcellent as to earn premium.
But it ought to be admirable armor at the
price. Steel is not go costly or special
plates OF great thickness so difficult to pro-
dnce as to warranta price OF $572 ton.
No wonder Andrew Carnegie struts about
with millions and finds time to expatlate