The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-12
telsgraphy when the Alabama was fitted


The Olympia. built at the Union Iron
Works in San Francisco. seems destined
to eclipse every other vessel in the new
navy In point of speed. She has just re-
turned from her builders trials in the
Santa Barbara Channel. and her achieve
ments are brilliant. Her speed is classed
at 20 knots. and she actually exceeded this
at maximum by 1.26 knots, and main
tanned an average against heavy sea and
high wind of q knots. all but fraction.
This beats the famous New York, built
by the Cramps, all hollow. II Is true the
Olympia Is much smaller vessel, but her
engines ton for ton are doing better work.
This is a sure indication that the work
manship has been admirable in finish and
thoroughness. When the official trials
take place, after the machinery and hull
are in apple-pie order, it will be no sur
prise ii the Olympia exceeds 2l.50 or makes
~ Knots, In which case the premium of
$4,000 for every quarter of knot in ex-
cess will prove handsome reward.
The progress of beet gro wing and the
manufacture Of beet sugar is such 10 this
State that the supply will soon be equal to
the local consumption of sugar. This as
sumes that the bounty will not be red uced
or abolished. The protection of this in
dustry has encouraged farmers to grow
crops Of beet, and a continuance of this
helpful policy will doubtless induce many
cultivatOrs to give up the growing of
wheat, which is often Improbable. and
Try the growth OF roots, which will rarely
fail to yield good return. 1t is not essen
tlal that there should be great heat for the
beet crop. 1t seems to be rich in saccharine
qualities In very temperate If not cold
countries. Southern California is success.
full 10 this cultivation, but the northern
part Of the State would answer probably
just as well. The time must come when
very little wheat will be grown in this
State. for the reason that the soil is too
valuable for other products.
The little observatory established on
Mount Blanc by M. Jansen of Paris has
been Of use In ests blishng one fact in solar
physics. Mr.. Jansen has determined that
in the corona no oxygen is present This
radiant halo of the sun is composed priI-
cipally of hydrogen and some element
which the chemists cali helium. but which
has not yet been discovered on the earth.
Besides these constituents vapors of other
elements ale shot up from the main Dody
of the sun into the corona, and among
them are calcium, iron. titanium and mag
nesium. NJ. Jansen maintains that the
envelope of hydrogen is fortunate for the
purposes of radiation. and that the absence
of oxygen in the corona tends to keep this
envelope from changiDgits condition. Some
day when the sun cools sufficiently water
will be formed, but that seems to be mil
lions of years ahead. We really begin to
know little about our great luminary.
N. Rochefort is to have the benefit of
amnesty. which may be taken as not alto
gether compliment, as it indicates he is
comparatively powerless to affect the
course Of events in France. He edits his
paper from London. and thus enjoys
material advantage. He may say what he
pleases without running the risk of being
challenged Any fighting with pistol or
sword on British soil would end in NJ.
Rochefort going to jail to cool off. Yet il
is only generation ago since the duel was
abandoned as unnecessary to give honor
Solatium.
A young anarchist asserted his prin-
cipes In London recently by thrusting his
hand through a jewelers. window and alb
stracting tray of valuables. He shrieked
out some shibboleth about liberty and
property in common when arrested, and
perhaps considered himself martyr. In
this belief he is probably confirmed tr flr
harshly, for he has been sent to Jail for the
not too long period Of eighteen months.