davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
THE NEW CANAL BILL.

The telegraphic report of the bill pre-
pared by the subcommittee on the Mica
ragua canal of the House Commerce Com
mittee gives very meager particulars, but
they seem to apply admirably to the situ-
alton. The measure has first to receive
the approval of the full committee before
submission to the House, ana it may re-
ceive important changes. In its present
form it is evidently the product of very
careful study and undoubtedly was drawn
to avoid the evil consequences which have
arisen from Government aid of railroads,
while at the same time it secures control
ofthe canal by the United States, and yet
avoids the proposition OF Government
ownership.
1t provides for the reorganization of the
Maritime Canal Company and authorizes
it to issue $100, 100000 in bonds, Of which
s., 900, 900 shall be held. by the company to
reimburse it for its expenditures already
made. The Government guarantees the
bonds and protects itself by an issue of
$100 ,000, 900 in shares, to be held in the Ma
tional treasury, and erects additional Sc
curity by requiring first mortgage, by
appointing ten of the fifteen directors and
by requiring that the net earnings of the
canal shall be placed in a sinking fund for
the extinguishment of the bonds. These
are to bear interest at per cent. The
length of time they are to run is not men
toned in the telegram.
The scheme for the protection of the
Government seems ample, and at the same
time the company and the governments of
Nicaragua and Costa Rica have representa-
ton through the five directors allotted to
them. AS we are to have ten directors the
political as well as the commercial inter-
ests of this country will be completely
guarded, as well as those of Nicaragua and
Costa Rica. No such scandals arising
from construction as were disclosed in the
operations of the Credit Mobilier and the
Contract and Finance Company will be
possible, as the bill provides that the canal
shall be constructed under the supervision
of the War Department..
1t is curious to note the effect which the
fight over the railroad funding bill must
have had in the framing of this bill.
Every one of its provisions aimed to secure
the financial interests of the Government
and the commercial interests of the coun-
try seems to have been the direct product
of the wisdom acquired from the errors
committed in subsidizing the overland
roads. Whatever may be the fate of this
bill it is consoling to reflect that the fund
ing bill struggle has had an educating eff
feet of so conspicuous value.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
PERSONAL.


Ell Hull of Napa is in town.
DR.. A. H. Bailey of Santa Cruz is in the City.
Judge J. w. Davis of Tulare arrived here yes
terday.
William Otto, business man of Eureka, is
in town.
John Hood, merchant OF Santa Rosa, is at
the Lick.
Robert W. Pattin, the capitalist, is at the
Cosmopolitan.
X. Casper, an electrician of Nevada City, is
here on q visit.
Tom A. Gorrie, one of the pioneers of Butte,
Mont, is on q visit here.
Samuel H. Row of Michigan is at the Occi-
dental, accompanied by his wife.
A. G. Jackson. an extensive landowner of
North Dakota, is at the Cosmopolitan.
7. B. Jackson, mine.owner of Sonora, Tuol-
umne County, is at the Cosmopolitan.
E. c. Farneswor.h, an attorney of Visalia, ar
rived here yesterday. He is al the Lick.
A. S. White. general manager of the Erie
Dispatch line, left last night for the East.
]. Riddin, manager of the Chicago Copying
Company, is stopping at the Cosmopolitan.
John Glasson, who is interested in electrical
works, mining and other things at Grass VAL
ley, is at the Lick.
John Mackey, superin tendent of the Haggin
horse ranch, near Sacramento, arrived here yes
terday and is at the Lick.
c. H. Dunbar, clerk of the Supreme Court of
Utah, has arrived here on pleasure trip and
will remain several weeks.
Ex-Attorney-G General Robert NJ. Clarke of Ne
vada arrived here yesterday from his home in
Carson and is at the Palace.
T. NJ. Schumacher, general freight agent of
Union in laft 1ac oh
on trip to Southern California.
W. M. Messay, Charles Kilburn and Miss Kill
burn, OF Guatemala, arrived here on the City
of Sydney yesterday. They are at the Grand.
The Rev. DR.. Canon Goode of Nanaimo, B. c.,
who has been on q visit to Santa Rosa and
Petaluma, has returned here, and is at the Oc-
cidental.
DR.. James J. Clark, leading medical prac-
tltioner OF Washington, D. c., was one of the
arrivals here on the steamer Sydney by way of
Panama, yesterday.
Mrs. c. Lippincott, wife of the noted Phila-
delphia book publisher, is at the Palace, ac-
companied by Miss Lippincott and Miss Stur-
geon of the Quaker city.
Manuel Gonzales, one of the wealthest and
most extensive coffee-planters of the Guat-
emalan republic, arrived here yesterday on the
City of ydney. He is at the Occidental
John L. Sullivan, the famous ex-ehampion
OF the globe in the fstic arena, Paddy Ryan,
Eugene o Rourke and Parson Davies, also men
of renown among fighters, left on the steamer
Queen yesterday for Portland.
Will A. Peairs of GAINESVILLE, Ohio, who rep
resents a widely advertised patent medicine
aud who has travelled extensively over the
world, visiting numerous out of the way
islands, Africa and other countries, arrived
here yesterday. He is TO sail across the Pacific
again soon.
Professor G. II. Gilbert of the department of
zoology in Stanford University and r. C. Nc
Gregor, C.. j. Pierson and E. c. Stark, students
of the university, returned yesterday after sew
eral months in Panama and Colombia in col
lecting geological specimens They secured
many rare and curious things and are highly
pleased in every way with the result of their
frin
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
VANDERBILT COMING.

Although Cornelius Vanderbilt and
Chauncey M. Depew announce that their
visit to California will be for pleasure only,
it is not forgotten that this is an unusual
time of the year for private-car pleasure
trips to. California, that as member of the
reorganization committee of the Union
Pacific it is difficult to see how Mr.. Depew
can be spared at present unless for some
urgent reason, that the prosperity of the
Union Pacific is an important considera-
ton for the Chicago and Northwestern
road, that the traffic of the Union Pacific
and consequently of the Chicago and
Northwestern has been seriously injured
by the diversion OF traffic from the Central
Pacific to the Sunset route of the South
ern Pacific, and that ther is current be-
lief in Washington that the Vanderbilt
and Gould interests stand ready to bid on
the Union and Central Pacific il the Gov
ernment offers them for sale in foreclosure
of It's mortgage against them. These form
an interesting series of condolences.
1t seems quite likely that the railroad
situation in the West has recently come to
be better understood in the East than
formerly and that the possibilities for de-
veiopment in this region might have be-
come alluring to railroad owners who
understand the science of using railroads
for that purpose and hence for prospective
rather than present gain. Mr.. Depew in
genuously declares that as member of
the reorganization committee of the Union
Pacific he wants to see that it is in posi-
tion to compete fairly with the other trans
continental lines, and it is difficult to see
how fair competition can exist under the
diversion plan of the Southern Pacific.
His remarks about there being already
more overland lines than can prosper with
the volume of traffic which they have
have to be read in the light of his interest
in the Union Pacific and Mr.. Vanderbilt's
interest in the Chicago and Northwestern,
MOTTO mention perfectly natural disin-
clination under the circumstances to set
too high value on the aided roads.
Whatever may be the pleasure which
these gentlemen may extract from pri-
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS.

SOMETHING ABOUT THESE LONELY IsLETs IN THE
PACIFIC \
To the Editor of the San Franeisco cnu--srRs
On reading in THE CALL the narrowing details
of suffering and privatlons of the wreckedj
crew of the Matte T. Dyer on French Frigata
Shoals, thought it would not be amiss at this
time to give future navigators in those dam
gerous waters some ideas regarding this reef,
and group of islets. Having made several vow.
ages there, surveying the group, inspecting,
the guano deposits, etc., feel competent to re-.
port fuller information that is usually found
either in Bowditch or the charts
These islands are about twenty-seven miesl
farther west than the old charts place them
and have been the scene of some twelve or fif-
teen wrecks. The reef and shoal are crescent
formed, open to the southwest, inside of which
there is a lagoon of still water and good an
chorage, as they are located in the northeast
trade winds The outside reef is steep, too, ris-
dash heavily on this outside barrier and either
in the night or day, with good lookout, can
be seen Jour miles away. Two or three miles
inside of this line of breakers and also form&
ing crescent are sixteen islets Near the cenA
ter OF the whole inclosure to the.south standsi
an isolated rocky islet, about $50 feet hight
and somewhat resembling ship under fulh
SAIL
1 left some twenty-five Hawaiian natives oneA
summer on these islands, where / erected q
cabin, dug well ten feet deep and set whal-
er's trypot. The following winter / returned
and found the natives fat and lazy In the
meantime they had captured about 1000 hair
seals, 800 pounds of seal OIL quantity of
shark's-liver oil and sharks fins, which at that
time brought % cents per pound among the
Chinese, together with good lot of wreckage
from the unfortunate vessels lost there.
The waters abound with excellent fish of
many varieties. The food supply is on an In.
exhaustible scale, green turtle, wild fowl and
their eggs being found without limit
Hthe wrecked mariners had taEen a little
more time in looking around they would have
found it a very cheap boarding-place during
these times of depression. Probably the Gov
ernment would have sent the Charleston for
them in time for the next election.
r. BROOKS.
VacavilIe, March 49, 1896
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
OUR HARB0R DANGERS.

The subcommittee of the San Francisco
Chamber of Commerce which had charge
of an investigation of the dangers repre-
sented by the hidden ROCKS of the harbor
has made report filling pamphlet, but
the soul of it all lies in this paragra phi:
"1he reason for this helpIessness of pilots
to save vessels from these treacherous
rocks is found in the peculiarly thick fogs
which beset the entrance to this harbor,
and the peculiarly uncertain but strong
currents which continually sweep through
the bay and its approaches" That is to
say, it is not simple question of hidden
rocks, which careful navigation might
avoid, but one of concurrent conditions
which make the rocks dangerous.
Invariably the first sign of fog occurs
in the channel connecting the bay with
the ocean. The foghorns are often blow
ing while the sun shines in San Francisco.
These fogs hug the water and are all the
more dangerous for that reason. As the
channel is very narrow for the immense
volume of water that the tides urge
through it, and as its sides are so irregu-
lar as to make innumerable bewildering
eddies and cross currents, the flow is swift
and exceedingly complicated. For hardly
any two successive days is it alike, as
the varying winds which sweep up the
channel introduce an element of uncer-
tainty and render an exact knowledge of
the currents impossible.
In avoiding the sunken rocks in thick
weather the vessels incoming and outgoing
necessarily crowd as much as possible into
the center of the channel. In the absence
of rocks there would be greater freedom.
To be within mile of one of these con-
cealed dangers is to run the risk of a wreck.
This explains the numerous collisions
which occur. Hence the rocks are indi-
rectly as well as directly dangerous. The
danger is multiplied by the fogs and tidal
currents. The fact that nearly all the
wrecks which have occurred resulted from
combination of these conditions should
afford sufficient reason for the prompt
removal of the rocks.
The local weather-office recently sub
mitted, or announced that it was prepared
to submit, to the Washington authorities
a plan for foretelling fogs. 1t should not
be a difficult meteorological problem and
its adoption would be of great service to
local navigation. 1t often happens that
fog appears suddenly and entraps vessel
in the channel, and that the pilot might
have waited if he had known beforehand
that fog was expected. But this sugges-
ion-should not make Us lose sight of the
main fact that were it not for the hidden
rocks the fog would not be SO dangerous and
that the removal OF them would reduce the
need of fog predictions.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
CURRENT HUMOR.

Visitor-Well. Freddy, how many brothers
have you?
Freddy-I have one, but my sister Stella has
two.
.tWhy, how is that? Who are they?"
"Me and my brother.' - Philadelphia In
quirer.
Bobby-Popper, what makes them call hard
times "a rainy day." and talk about laying up
something for rainy day?
Mr.. Ferry-It is called that, my son, because
on rainy day there is no dust in sight.-Cin-
cinnati Enquirer.
S. Peter-Who is that kicking up that row
over there?
Angel-Oh, it's that free silver man who
just came up. He refuses to play on gold
harp. He wants a silver one.-Texas Sfftlngs.
Criticus-I don't believe there's much differ
ence between genius and insanity.
Struggling Author-Oh, yes, there is; the
lunatic is at least sure of his board and
clothes.-Chips.
"You are well fitted for the position, but
should prefer a married man."
"Perhaps we can arrange that. I see you
have daughters."-Life.
spratts-Miss Elder is much older than I
thought.
Hunker-Impossible!
Spratts-Well, I asked her if she had read
"Esop's Fables" and she said she read them
when they first came out.-Home Journal.
Mrs. .Brownslow-Now, Tommy, go and kiss
your uncle. or mamma will cane you.
Tommy (after long look at his surly old
uncle)-Cane me, ma.-London Tit-Bits.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

John McDonough, pioneer of Cascade Locks
on the Columbia River, where the United
states Government is cutting wonderful
canal through the rocks, is at the Lick.
Cascades, or Cascade Locks, as it Is also
known, is the place on the great river OF the
West known to the traveller Captain Bonne.
vile and the intrepid men who followed
him, by the Indian name of Wishram.
1t was at this place that the hordes of indians
on that part of the frontier swarmed and ex.
acted tribute in the form of tolls for allowing
travellers to pass. There was no escaping the
Indians at this place and they used the advan-
tage for all it was worth
Every reader of Washington Irving's story of
the exploits of the brave Bonneville will
remember the fearful rapids at that
place. 1t was to make q way through
the long stretch OF rocks for steam
boats and thus extend navigation up the
mighty Columbia that the Government began
work good many years ago. Different con-
tracts were given and large sums were ex-
pended, but the work REQUIRED to be done was of
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20

such herculean character that in all the
years it has not been finished. However, the
situation is different now. Daylight is be-
ginning to dawn.
s'We begin to see the end of the long battle
against the rocks" said Mr.. McDonough last
evening. "The last contract was given by the
Government. to J. G. and 1. N. Day of San
Francisco for 81 500, 900, the canal to be COM
pleted in three and half years. The work is
pretty well on now.
''The open way in the rocks. which is known
as the Cascades shipcanal, is ninety feet wide
and three-quarters of mile long. 1t has enor-
nous steel gates in it, run by hydraulic power,
and transcending in size and cost anything be-
fore known in the world.
"Each great gate is ninety-seven feet high
and nfnety-two feet wide and cost $4,000.
Even in Europe so long inhabited and with SO
many canals, there is nothing like them. AS
soon as this canal is completed steamers can
go up the Columbia as far as The Dalles
'sWhen the Cello Rapids, three miles above
The DaIles, are improved, the great river will
be open to Lewiston, Idaho, 1900 miles above
Astoria, which is at the mouth. All the grain,
wool and other products Of the Palouse and
other adjoining counties may then be
brought down the river on steamers.
'This means great deal for people who live
in the valley OF the Columbia and contiguous
to it. Besides this Eddy, Hammond d Co. are
now pushing the construction OF their rail-
road and have 500 men at work grading the
first ten miles of it from Astoria. The town
aforesaid the night before I left voted terminal
facilities for the road, which is to run from
that city to Portland. 1t begins to look bright
in that part of the country"
Mr.. McDonough is here for the treatment of
his eyes, which have been weak for some time.
He raised the famous horse Tim Murphy who
has made such important winnings on the
tracks here. Mr.. McDonough has had more or
less to do with horse and cattle growing ever
since he settled in that great livestock region.
He will be here several weeks. --- =
George w. Fitch, who is connected with the
business department. of the New YORK
cartoon weekly, Puck, IS at the Grand.
Mr.. Fitch was formerly a writer on
Puck. Later he had charge Of the papers ex-
hibit at the Chicago Exposition. He is here
for brief stay and will soon leave for South
ern California.
'I think the greatest cartoonist in the world,
now" he said, sis probably w. A. Rogers of
Frank Leslie's. Since the death of Joseph KEEP
pier of Puck and of Mr. Gillian of Judge don't
think there is anybody equal to him.. He was
formerly on Puck, and l don't suppose our peo-
pie would have consented to part with him
had it been foreseen that Mr.. Keppler would
die.
"I have been surprised to see what an inter-
est California takes in comic papers, such as
ours. San Francisco is big city, with big
broad-gauge ideas, and don't much care one
way or the other what anybody may think of
her, And that's the reason like it."
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
LADY's WAIST WITH YOKE FRONT

delightfully."- simple waist suitable for the
plainest OF gowns, and yeta good foundation
for elaboration in the shape of fancy waists is
shown here.
1t is made with fitted lining which buttons
IN the front. The full front also hooks inyisi-
bly, in front, the yoke fastening on the left
shoulder and armsize. The back is seamless
on a tight lining, with tine gathers at the
waist line.
AS illustrated, it is of blue serge, with trim
mings OF black and gilt braid and gilt buckles.
brown mohair gown had yoke of embroid-
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
PARAGRAPHS ABOUT PEOPLE.
Sir Arthur Sullivan receives $500 for
single song.


Sir Arthur Sullivan receives $500 for
single song.
Mark Twain has become so used to Eastern
customs that he says he cannot avoid salaam-
ing door at present
Mary Anderson Navarro has declined an offer
of more than 500 900 for brief series of dra-
matte performances. She says she is done with
the stage forever.
Mr.. Gladstone usually has three books in
reading at time, and changes from one to an
other as he thinks his mind has reached the
limit OF absorption.
The late William Boyne of England spent
upward of sixty years in collecting more than
80 900 coins. These are all to be sold at
Southebys, in two patches.
Ruskin's profits in his books for the last ten
years represents nearly 100000. AS a writer
OF what might be called art fiction Ruskin is
still beloved by the English.
Bismarck has been paying 900 marks q year
out of his own pocket for thirty years to three
soldiers who lost their eyesight at Koniggratz.
The total amount he has paid to them is 81 900
marks.
The poet Cowper's beautiful garden in Buck
inghamshire, England, was recently sold, with
some adjoining property, for $240O. The sale
was by auction. The purchaser was a butcher
who has occupied the land of recent years.
Lord Leighton was not rich man when he
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20

cred batiste over pink silk, bright Dresden rib
BON furnished the belt and collar and finished
the edge of the yoke.
A silk waist of half-inch stripes of black and
pale-green had the yoke cut crosswise, the
stripes running up and down for the blouse.
A pleated ruffie of black chiffon. three inches
wide, depended from the yoke.
Wash dresses made after this model are
sometimes unlined, except the top of the
blouse, depending from yoke of lining which
fastens in the center front. the blouse is
sewn to the yoke itself and buttons under the
arm.
waist of embroidered batiste was made
over green silk lining. Blue ribbons made 1t
very striking looking garment
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20

vate-car trip to the coast. they cannot
keep their eyes closed to the possibilities
for development which exist, and which
could be made effective. In any event,
this will be an excellent opportunity for
our people to inform them concerning
many things of which they must be ignor-
ant. With their enormous machinery in
the East for assuring the settlement of
California they might be an exceedingly
important addition to the developing forces
of the State
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
NEW CUBAN STAMPS.

The first issue of Cuban stamps was made in
New York City last week and were eagerly
purchased by collectors. The stamp shown in
the cut is twice the actual size, the original
being trife longer than our two-cent stamp.
They were printed by the New York Bank
Note Company, in denominations of 2, S, 10
and % cents. All are Of the same design, but
differ in color.
The design is a shield with a rising sun occu-
pying the upper bali, palm tree in the lower
right corner, and bars intended to represent
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
Prosperity in Sugar Beet Culture.

Ten new sugar factories in California would
mean more for the prosperity OF the agri-
cultural interests of the State than any other
industry we have. And this prosperity would
not be confined to the agriculturists, but
would permeate every branch of business and
trade in the State. Every Californian should
lend his influence, his voice and his vote to Sc
cure the permanent and widespread benefits of
any and every encouragement to the beet-su-
gar industry.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20

the blue and white bars in the Cuban flag In
the lower left corner The key, with the land
scape depicted in the stamp, make up, with
the other features, the escutcheon of the Gu
ban revolutionist party. Two-cent stamps are
brown, 5-cent blue, 10-cent orange and 25-
cent green. The Cuban cent is equal in value
to our cent
In case the Spanish power is overthrown in
the island the stamps will be adopted as the
national stamp. They are now of no practical
service excepting in certain parts of Cuba
where the revolutionists are in power, and
own
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20
CALIFORNIANS IN NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, N. Y, March 19.-Among re-
cent arrivals are: H. Azendt and wife, l. w.
Goldman and wife, the Misses Goldman, Muir
ray Hill; B. Price, Jr., Morton; J. Rosenthal
Miss B. Rosenthal, Tendome; K. Howard,
Plaza; c.. Griffith, Brunswick. Wager Brad
ford, Mrs. Bradford, NJ. Cooper and Mrs. NJ
Ginsberg were among the passengers who
sailed on the steamship St. Paul for Southamp-
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20

Observation-Disclosures is perfectly dry, soft
and mild, and is entirely free from the msts COM
mon further north. Round-trip tickets by steam
ship, including fifteen days board the Hotel del
Coronado, $50: longer stay 80 so per day. Apply
New Montgomery ST., San Francisco.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20

"What is there to see at the theaters to-
night?' asked the man from the country. His
city friend sighed. ga large hat, with four
ostrich feathers, an enameled buckle, cluster
of roses and several jeweled hatpins,p he said.
"Be sure and take your opera glasses, for then
you can distinguish the minor details of the
trimmings. New York Tribune.
The San Francisco call., 1896-03-20

When Congress takes up the Nicaragua
canal bill it will have on its hands good
thing and the people will begin to sing
"Push it along"