The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-08
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

"The new cruiser Columbia Is to be provided
with protective wall OF cellulose, which is to
be packed against the SIDES OF her hull" said a
Mare Island official who has just returned from
the East, yesterday. 1.-THE material to be used
consists of the ground fiber from The outer shell
of the cocoanu, after the fiber has been treated
for the removal of all glutinous matter. While
cellulose affords but little resistance to the
penetration OF projecliles, 1t possesses the re-
markabIe quality OF expanding very quickly
when molstened. Any hole made by shot in
the side OF q vessel would be Immediately
closed by the expansion Of the cellulose and
the inflow of water would thus be prevented.
Some objection has been made to the use OF the
material because OF its alleged unhealthfuness
and for various other reasons, but inasmuch as
forty vessels of the French navy have been
fitted out with this novel sort of protective
armor, and as it has been introduced In other
navies as well, it is thought that The proposed
experiment on The Columbia is well worth try
ing"
E"The Tbird-avepue cable road of New York
City is now putting in system OF apparatus by
means of which IL will be possible to signal or
telephone from practically any point on the
road TO either OF the power stations" said 7. j.
Simpson OF the city mentioned yesterday. "At
the intersection of every other cross street man.
contain an electrical apparatus known as the
automatic which Is connected with the
cable running between the tracks to the power
stations. Each of these manholes is numbered
and has plug switch by means Of which a
portable telephone can be thrown into the cir
cult If desired. Gongs In the power houses
are among the signals. When an emergency
arises which necessilates the stopping of the
cable. conductor goes to the nearest manhole.
lifts the handle of the automatic and replaces
the cover. In this manner The number OF the
box is transmitted to the power stations, where
it Is printed by an instrument resembling a
sloek-ticker. Instantly the wrecklng wagon
starts out for the locality where the Indicator
locates the trouble. This wagon carries the
portable telephone used In communicating
with the power.houses. After the trouble has
been remedied the automatic Is again used TO
signal the engineer-one stroke Of the gong
meaning TO stop the cable. TWO strokes to 90
easy, three strokes to 90 ahead all right and
four strokes stands for fire."
81 see that Walter Raymond. the head Of the
firm OF Raymond Wbitcomb. which has
brought so many thousands of excursionists to
California. is going to enlarge bis hotel ven
tures,n said G. B. Wilson, a Mexican Central
Railroad official. at the Palace yesterday
Last year this firm was paid over 81, 600 900
by the American people TO take them 10 the
Worlds Fair and other places and / presume
Whtcomb Is now seeking profitable field for
his profits. He recently went TO the City
of Mexico 10 consult with a syndicate Of
capitalists, who propose to build a grand
hotel in that City II he will under
take the management of 1t. Mr.. Raymond
takes no partners In his hotel enterprises,