The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-11-18

everything prepared for its operation at
an expense of $4,000. 1t would not ex-
coed $50, 900 at the most. | will agree TO
place the cable in operating condition for
$4,000.
''Such a cable would be benefit to the
people of the coast, the United States
and the whole world. l think the simple
presenting Of the matter to Congress will
insure the construction of the cable. / do
not believe there would be a dissenting
vote in either house.
1.-THE p int / make is that it should not
be private enterprise but Government
one. l do not want the cable laid for what
can be made out of it on the salvage of
vessels, though it would pay for itself
perhaps in single season. Such line is
humane project. 1t means the saving of
life as we'll as of property. IL would be
invaluable to the weather bureau.
II had the measurements made in the
photographic Office and obtained all the
necessary information prior to drafting
the resolution. which | was not suffered to
present to the Nicaragua canal conven-
ton.
"The Farralones are the most distant
points at sea from the mainland in the
vicinity of any large commercial center on
the whole coast of the Unitdd States.
They are peculiarly and advantageously
situated. They would form the only sta
ton removed from the influence of the
land where information concerning the
course of the wind could be obtained. The
reason that the Weather Bureau is I'm able
to predict storms here with the certainty
that obtains in the East is for the want of
just such station.
New York would give millions of dollars
if site for station such as the Farallones
affords could be found twenty -four miles
out from Sandy Hook, the exact dis
lance of these islands from Point Lobos
'.Not a ship enters the Golden Gate
which does not. come within hailing dis
lance of these islands. The commerce of
China, Japan. Australia and Hawaii
passes by the Farallones. A thousand
ships year lay their courses close by the
islands.
''Some day a vessel carrying perhaps
1000 or 1900 passengers will be wrecked on
the rocks which skirt the islands. With a
cable it would be but an instant's warning
before rescue was sent. AS it is now
passengers might reach the islands only to
VIC VI NuDIONAmOo tnI0O WCCko
elapse without communication between the
Farallones and San Francisco. The light
house carries provisions for three men for
three m onths. How long could 1000 people
subsist on that meager store?
"The fog sometimes surrounds the en-
trance to the bay for days at time, and
the view to the seaward is completely shut
off. No warning of an accident under ex-
listing circumstances could reach us.
"Then there are the commercial inter
ests to be considered. There have been
instances where ships have been becalmed
off the Farallones for three weeks at
time. They have been given up for lost
after being so long overdue, and q corner
in the merchandise which they carried
was the result.
''Since l have been on the coast wreck 9
have occurred on these islands. in which
| the property lost exceeds million of dol
| lars. and many lives have been lost.
Sometimes days have elapsed before the
wrecks went to pieces. With cable the
salvage would have been great. Suppose
the New York instead of being wreck ed
off Point Bonita had struck a rock near
the Farallones, how would her passengers
and crew have Jared?
"a good tug can make the run to the
| islands 10 two hours. With a cable the
news of disaster would reach US in
stantly, and tugs would have steam up
within five minutes after the announce
ment, ready to go to the relief of the
wrecked vessel"
Mr. Holcomb has little doubt that Con-
gress viii pass an act providing tor the
cable. LII not, franchise will be asked
for and private line will be built. He
thinks that the Merchants Exchange would
| in that event lay cable, but declares that
If it would not he would himself.
MIR. Holcomb is indignant that the Mica
ragua canal convention would not give
him a hearing. He asserts that il his
resolution had been adopted. backed by
the Influence of the many important bod
les which met in that convention, Con-
gress would have made the necessary