The morning call., 1893-03-27

AtGOtuuE 70 MF. MATSQen manson, VINO
is well acquainted with our river systems
there are tributary to Suisun Bay 1900
miles of navigable river channels, which
might be utilized in aiTording transporla-
tion to the interior. These facilities are
mostly neglected at present. The exuendi-
ture on these rivers in various ways amounts
to at least SIS, 600. coo, but of this the Fed
eral Government. which ought to improve
the navigation on a general system, has con-
tribnted considerably less than So. 900. OOO
California as a State has contributed S.. co.,
C00, and the remainder. about Sl1 ,0O0 000, has
come from private individuals in levee-
making, dredging aud irrigation. with no
special design in view as to the improve
ment of the navigation. Mr., Manson urges
the advisableness of a uniform system in
reclamation, embanking and drainage
work.
In a paper which he read in 1888, Mr.
Manson made a very shrewd remark as TO
the value OF the San Joaquin and Sacra-
mento rivers in their effect on transporta-
ton generally. He pointed out that they
should not merely be credited with the
actual amount of freight they carried, but
with what they caused the gross volume
OF freight TO be carried for" 1t is the right
way to look at the subject. II these rivers
and their tributaries are utilized by steamers
or shallow draught and fat bottOmed barges
a great stride would be taken toward fore
ing reasonable terms in the accom- m modation
of the interior by rail as well as water. A
tiat-bott0med barge is not to be despised in
cargo capacity. Pittsbnrg is accustomed to
send cargoes of 10000 tons of coal to New
Orleans in barges lashed together and taken
down the Ohio and Mississippi by a stern
wheel steamer in front and another In rear
The draught is not more than twenty
Inches, and some of the barges do not per-
haps draw more than ten inches. In sim
liar way, although our rivers are narrow
heavy oarg0es of wheat and merchandise
could be moved on the Sacramento and San
joaquin.
A total eclipse of the sun occurs on April
16 under exceptionally favorable circum-
stances as to duration. The astronomical
world is conVerging upon the different points
advantageous for observation. The Lick
Observatory is to be represented in Chile;
Harvard at Arequipa in Peru, and vnrious
expeditions have selected locations in
Brazil and Africa. The stations are so
widely separated that the observers will
have intervals of hours to record changes
in the appearance of the suns YaporOus
envelope, and the comparison of photo
graphs taken in Chile, Brazil and Sene-
gambia for this and other purposes will be
OF absorbing interest and value. Photog-
rapby has now been carried to so high
degree OF accuracy and reliableness that
wonderful results may be expected from ex-
posures during the period of toiaty. In
Brazil the time is four minutes foriy-three
seconds, an unusually favorable eclipse.
The period was still longer in 1888. To-
tallty cannot last at any time more than
about eight minutes. We may at least ex-
pect some little addition to our know edge
Of solar physics and corresponding light
upon terrestrial history
HippophaGy was a necessity during the
siege OF Paris, and had there been moro
horses to devour the Germans might have
been kept at bay a little longer But the
taste for horse flesh has evidently become
genuinely appreciative. There are $50
butchers in the business. and at thu cheaper
restaurants the meat Is sometimes called
beef, and at other times chair de cheyal
according to the pleasure Of the customer
The horse steak is probably quite as nutri-
tious as strlngy vache sroiD, and an ex-
pert cook cODvlnces the most fastidious
that he has good dish before him, No
fewer than 10000 horses are disposed of In
year.
Two sergeants in French regiment were
recently ordered to fight duel by their
colonel, who heard that they had quarreIed
over trivial affair and had become friends
again. The officer insisted upon the repara-
tlOh Oh tne SWORD. During the encounter
one OF the combatants slipped and fell on
his adversary's sword point. Death re-
suited Immediately. Honor is satisfied ac-
coiding to this bumptious coIonel's notions
but at frightful cost.
Is it the fact that the wages of agricultural
laborers in tie United States only average
S282 year. presumably with board and
lodging added? That is the figure quoted
by the English Royal Commission on Labor
in blue-book just issued. 1t seems
small reward for the heavy toll of the
farm. but the average quoted for other
countries is very much less. For Great
Britain it is $50. France SIPS. Holland
500, Germany $50, Russia $50, Italy $50
and India $50. Tue latter figure is surely
much too high, as Hindoo mill operative
only receives few cents per day.
rupee. supposed to be worth at par two
shillings, or about fifty cents, is only worth
In Europe about thirty cents gold value. 1t
is still, however. about as valuable in India
as ever 1t was, gold not being in use there.
Officials who require to make payments for