The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-16

Liverpool will take all that arrives. 1t is,
however, quite likely that Huntington has
visions of trade with Mexico and Central
America, both in passengers and freight
If he cannot have possession OF the Tehuan-
tepec Railway, which President DiaZ will
not let slip through his fingers. he can at
least use the road on equal terms with
others. San Francisco must study this
movement carefully. 1t should put forth
strenuous efforts to build up and retain the
Central American trade and all the traffic
connections across the lsthmus of Panama.
The proposed new line of steamers 10
Panama is a necessity to the development
Of our trade.
A schooner yacht. called tia Miranda, is
Is about to start from New York to San
Francisco on long voyage, either round
the Horn or by way of the Suez canal. The
trip should prove enjoyable even at this
season. With a few such yachts in San
Francisco Bay, owners fond of racing and
cruises would be able to do something more
than dodge about in quiet waters on Satur-
day or Sunday and make all snug at sun
down.
Surely it Is time few more iron and
steel works were started In the United
States, il only Government contracts are
the chief prizes. The navy calls for
manufacture of 6700 tons OF nickel-piated
and Harveyized steel armor-plates, and the
only firms that fave bid are Carnegie's and
tho Bethlehem. Having the field clear TO
themselves these two firms may easily agree
upon basis of prices profitable To both.
They actually ask from S525 to $3.50 per ton
for nickel steel and from $575 to S675 for
the other variety. TO put hole through
armor at that price is like throwing money
into the sea. The cost is not so much In
producing steel By weight. but in shaping
the plates. But there need be very little
secret about the machinery necessary for
this purpose. No wonder the Pennsylvania
ironmasters get rich on these prices. Were
it possible to announce a given programme
OF navy ship-buildlDg during a number OF
years. say from $4,000 to 80, 600 tons, other
capitalists would enter the field.
Matters have come to pretty pass when
a commission on legislation is proposed. to
meet three months before the Legislature
assemblies, and each member to be paid $3.50
month. Senator Mathews. the parent of
the idea. proposes to have one member from
each Congressional district appointed by
the Supreme Court. What guarantee there
would be that the drafting of bills would
show any Improvement on the present
method does not appear. The manufacture
of bills in this fashion would be a novelty
in legislation. Perhaps Legislators would
have scant respect for work they did not
produce themselves. and the public might
be Skeptlcal.
The story telegraphed from Paris about
the meeting between Charles de Lesseps
and his father, Count Ferdinand, is pathetic
in the extreme. There was the son, in the
custody of detectives, obtaining by courtesy
an interview, aud there was the father in
feeble dOtage, still habblng about complet-
ing the Panama canal, and utterly unaware
of the disclosures with which France and
the world have been ringing. The poor old
man is not likely ever TO realize what has
happened He will be allowed to slamber on
until life's thread is snapped.
The hunter in California has two good
ways Of earning living. He has bounty
for coyotes. and, II INSCRIPTIONS, may hunt
the willy depredatOr in Mexico and Arizona
and palm off the trophies of evidence as
| Californian. But there Is also employment
| for the gunner in the marshes and plains OF
the Sacramento in bringing down canvas
| back, mallard, sprig, teal and widgeon. be-
| sides geese, gray or white. According to
| one hunter, who has bagged thousands of
| birds this winter and who would like 10 see
| the season extended TO April ], he obtained
| from 81 80 to SIS 30 for canvasback ducks
| per dozen; 81 30 TO So 80 for maIlard !;
! sprig, SO 50 TO S4 so; teal, 81 % TO So 80 /;
widgeoD, 81 IS to 50 50; gray geese. 81 80;
white geese. 81 % TO 81 80. The freight by
| express 20 San Francisco was IS cents per
| 100 pounds. which would represent thirty
| five mallardS or canvasbacks. The canvas
| back and mallard are by no means scarce in
| the Sacramento Valley. This hunter de-
scribeS flOckS several miles long and two
hundred yards wide. Sport becomes
! slaughter with so much abundance.