The morning call., 1893-03-09

The first steamer of the North American
Navigation Company on the Panama route
sails to-day under the American flag and
American ownership. 1t is too soon to
shout victory over the whole field where
hard fight has been fought, but the st.
Paul's departure with full cargo is good
omen for the new venture. Freight has
been offered far beyond the available ton
mage, and the other steamers will not re-
quire to drum up the city for cargo. The
company and also the Traffic Association
may rejoice at this prOpitiOus opening OF
better times for trade. Seattle seems anxious
that it should share in the new facilities
TO develop trade. Perhaps the company
may eventually give attention to the claims
of Puget Sound, but 1t has enough on hand
for the presents
Russian eXiles continue to have hard
lot in Siberia. Punishment to that land of
despair has never had much CLEAN of hope
for any victims, but it is more in the journey
than in the residence that the horrors APP
pear. But what excuse is there for marching
chained gangs across a snow covered cUun-
try? Surely the season should be more
hospitable for long marches. 1t is reported
that nearly 300 prisoners have persisted on
the way to Tomsk during a sno wstOrm.
Japan has sent another cruiser, the Nam
iva, to Hawaiian waters, thus evincing
protecting interest in the 1900 japanese
who are working out labor contracts on the
Islands. 1t is also a proof that Japan as
pres to be a naval power in reality. The
Naniwa is the type of vessel after which
our own Charleston was modelled. She
was built on the Tyne by Armstrong about
eight years ago and was then considered
more formidable vessel of her class than
any that had been designed for other cOun-
tries. Her armament was heavy in rifled
guns that could be handled aud her speed
could be raised TO nineteen knots per hour.
A japanese crew took the cruiser out to
Japan-an advance in navigating capacity
on the part of the Mikado's subjects which
indicated considerable progress. But the
japanese now aspire to do more than that.
They will build their own ships.
Mr. George B. Tolman, who Is interested
in the construction OF a railroad from
point near Firebaughs on the San Joaquin
To NallecitOs Valley in San Benito County,
joins issues with Major Heuer on the point
that the San Joaquin is not navigable above
FirebaughS. He believes that il the Gov
eminent entered upon the matter with de-
termination the river could be made nGvi.
gable for steamers almost the entire year
up to the headwaters. This could be eff.
fected by contning the water TO the main
channel instead of letting il spread out over
many courses and windngs. Major Heuer
does not profess to have n ade an exhaustive
examination Of the headwaters, and Mr..
Tolman may be right. The value of navi-
CATION well into the interior for light
draught steamers Is hardly to be overesti-
mated.
Speaker Davis of the Tennessee House of
Representatives stood upon the order of his
going after the ignominy OF being disbarred
for loose dealings with a client and has been
voted out of the chair. A Speaker is usu-
ally selected because of the strength of his
party qualifications. and it is not desirable
he should add to them any attributes that
have caused him TO be dis graced in the eyes
Of the law.
New York has had the incident OF an
earthquake to warm people up in very cold
weather to The fact that there is much I'M
stable on this earth besides the gold market.
The temblor had the i'll grace TO come at
time when quiet people are soundly oblivi-
Gus in the depth of first nap. aud it no
doubt scared most Of them ont OF the COM
fort OF sleep for the remainder Of the night.
Houses were shaken for a few seconds, but
no damage Of any moment occurred. The
disturbance was as gentle as If it had oc-
Cured in California.