The San Francisco call., 1895-12-22
INTERESTS THE COAST.
Cutter Contract for SeattIe-Sac
ramento's Weather Bureau
Remains.
Mail Service in Hum boldt-Santa Bar.
bara's Port Point Reyes
Communication.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 21.-Bids
for two cutters for service on the Pacific
Coast were opened at the Navy Depart
ment to-day. One bid was by the Union
Iron Works. $500, 600, which was rejected
because Congress had appropriated only
$200, 900 for this boat. Eastern firms will
now be given chance to secure this con-
tract. For the $4,000 vessel Mahan of
Seattle bid lowest and will be awarded the
contract.
The Chamber of Commerce of Sacra-
mento wrote to Senator Perkins and Rep
resentatlve Grove L. Johnson few days
ago, stating that an effort was about to be
made to consolidate the weather bureau of
Sacramento with the San Francisco office.
The services Of Observer Barwick in getting
crop statistics have been SO valuable that
protest against the change was made by
the chamber.
Senator Perkins and Representative
Johnson took the matter in nand and the
result is that Chief of the Weather Bureau,
Professor Moore, has stated that he will
not countenance any proposal to remove
the Sacramento Office to San Francisco.
In consequence of the discovery of rich
diggings at the head of Cooks Inlet appli-
cation has been made by the Pacific Steam
Whaling Company for an extension of
mail service from Orca to that point. The
matter was brought to the attention Of
Second Assistant Postmaster-General N Neil-
son, VINO has given an encouraging reply.
Mr.. Nelson informed Senator Perkins on
Friday that the Postmasters of Brceand
and Upper Mattole, Humboldt County,
have been instructed to invite bids for mail
service between the two places. The SER
vice will be tri-weekly.
Santa Barbara is trying to be made a
port of entry. A bill was introduced in
the Senate in October, 1898, by Senator
Perkins, asking for an appropriation of
$50, 900, or SO much thereof as might be
necessary to open the western end of the
tidal canal in Oakland harbor through the
isthmus into the estuary of San Antonio
Creek, so that the full ebb and flow of tides
may pass to and from between the estuary
and the eastern limit of the tidal basin, as
now constructed. The effort to have this
work done was to be resumed at the pres
ent session, and Senator Perkins called
upon gadier-General Craighill, chief of
engineers. regarding it. He was informed
plan under which improvements in Oak
land harbor are now being carried out, and
it is within the province of the War De-
partment to expend on it so much OF any
general appropriation for Oakland harbor
as the conditions of the improvement war
rant. A special bill, therefore, would be
necessary.
The Merchants Exchange of San Fran
cisco has informed Senator Perkins that
the Government contemplated discontinue
ing the telegraph service between Point
Reyes and San Francisco by abandoning
the line or turning it over to telegraph
or telephone company, thus doing away
with the free service. The secretary of the
exchange wrote that such action would be
looked upon by merchants and ship
owners as a direct blow to Pacific Coast
commerce. Senator Perkins and Congress
man Loud called on Professor Moore, Chief
of the Weather Bureau, in regard to this
matter, and to protest against the abolition
of the service. Professor Moore said that
under no circumstances would he consent
to a discontinuance of the service, and
recommended that an effort be made TO in
crease the appropriation sufficiently to
build house at Point Reyes for the signal
service observer. Congressman Loud will
endeavor to secure an additional appro-
priation Of $1,000 for this purpose. and will
urge its necessity before the committee OF
the House.
Hit introduced bill to-day to carry
into effect the recommendations of the
International American conference by the
incorporation Of the International Ameri-
can Bank. Cornelius N. Bliss Of New
York, T. Jefferson Coolidge of Massachu-
sets, Andrew Carnegie of Pennsylvania,
John F. Hanson of Georgia. Charles R.
Flint of New York, Enoch Pratt OF Mary
land, H. G. Davis of West Virginia, P. D.
Armour of Illinois, Morris M. Estee OF
California, James s. Clarkson of Iowa and
Charles III. Turner Of Missouri are desig-
mated commissioners to receive subscrip-
tions to the capital stock, and to exercise
such other powers and perform such other
duties as are by the terms Of this act i'm
posed upon them.