The morning call., 1893-02-14

Russell in old age were almost Incapable OF
oratory. The last public speech OF the lat
ter was In so low a tone that nobody heard
it. ard he had forgotten II himself when
asked to recall il. In a condensed column OF
report the Ministerial proposals are only
indicated vaguely. Assurances are given
of the preservation of imperial unity, doubt
less by retaining Irish representation at
Westminster, while creating an Irish Par
lament in Dublin; minorities are to be safe
guarded. and an adjustment OF financial
changes is to be made. But the methods by
which all this is to be accomplished will be
the ground of battle. The secret OF the Dill
has been kept to the last, recent digest
teegraphed being only imaginary. Should
Gladstone fall in the fray he is not likely To
grid on his armor again.
Mayor Ellert wonders why prisoners In
the County Jail, on Broadway, do not work
their way clear Of rotten building by
scraping out an exit with spoons. Ii spoons
are no: at hand they might use their toe
nails. Down at Los Angeles the jail IS not
adsmantine, either. No fewer than eleven
prisoners worked their way to freedom on
Sunday night, and are still enjoying the
blessings Of liberty. A model material Ior
the safe keeping Uf criminals in cells would
be nickel Steel Masonry blocks are also
difficult to bore through, but bricks and
adobe are only as so much putty.
The tale of suffering that comes from
Tennessee reminds good Americans that
there is starvation at home as well as in
Russia. Those who were so philanthropic
last year as To send ShipOads Of provisions
to fanished Russia will hardly need to be
reminded that charity has serious duty in
one State of the Union. Unless there IS
prompt assistance many farmers and Their
families have death by starvation in pros
peet
On three o3 the Northern railroads
the Great Northern. the Union Pacific
and the Northern Pacific - rates have
been chopped considerably between Chi
cago and the Pacific Coast. This means
the encouragement Of trade for Washington
and Oregon and possibly California may
derive little benefit, but not II the South
ern Pacific can help il. A few more steam
ships north would assist in relaxing the wise
like grip which holds California down. The
expansion of coast steamship trafhc IS
necessity of the time, both north and south.
Mr.. Leeds is now In New \ ork endeavOring
to arrange some details of a full and
definite plan with the Panama Railroad
Company for steamship traffic. Should all
be arranged satisfactorily there Is a pros
pect Of opening up traffic all along the
coast and Of using the Sacramento and San
Joaquin rivers to convey goods at cheap
IhltS mo lIt iHttIitl. w EIN Tic lihClH
thus made available, as undoubtedly they
could. be, few lateral distributing rail-
roads would soon be constructed.
Jurors in San Francisco are to be pitied.
but doubtless they would rather be excused
from serving than commiserated with.
In order to escape from serving they are al
most tempted to form the most frightfully
reprehensible opinions about everything.
hot 3, a-,af ma
be considered too dangerous by one side or
the other. The tax that jury excuses put
upon community is oppressive, Tor In
order to get twelve men a hundred or more
are dragged into court. II is better to APP
pear than to be recalcitTant. for 4 heavy fine
and service added are not calculated to
s)othe the feelings already outraged. Thir-
teen good men and true are under summons
10 explain their absence 10 the United
States District Court
a goodly slice of the Mojave Desert is to
be tarned into garden by irrigation. Capt
ta!ists are to lead water from the moun-
tains of San Bernardino and render tract
of 100000 acres fertile. Only water is
needed to make the whole desert bloom and
bloom il viii some day. Famous crops will
be obtained in a region where the sun Is
always powerful.
The mere fact that the City Of Picking did
well under sail, having good sail area on
her four masts, hardly warrants tue cOnclu-
sion that steamers should have sufficient
canvas for emergencies. When a steamer
is forging ahead at sixteen or twenty knots
an hour there is hardly breeze that blows
of any value to her except on the quarter.
A gale Of twenty-five miles an hour dead aft
scarcely gives n pressure Of five miles an
hour to a steamer making twenty knots an
hour. Such a wind ahead, if there are
masts and square yards, is serious him
dTance. Slow steamers may be helped by
sails, but not crack liners. Undoubtedly to
train seamen sails and rigging are necessary.
but sailor should get his education as boy
and man on a sailing ship. All first-class
steamers viii in future have double propel-
lers and numerous bulkheads. AL accident
to one shaft or one set of engines would only
partially disable the vessel Total disable
meut would be very rare if we are TO place
any faith in the doctrine of probabilities