The San Francisco call., 1896-03-02
ARMY AND NAVY NOTES.
Additional Contracts for I'm.
provements at the
Preside.
THE BICYCLE PRIVILEGES.
Powder Tests With a I2-inch Rifle.
Progress of Work on the
Oregon.

last wednesday,. The explosion SnOOk
houses in the Western Addition and caused
the people dwelling therein to inquire as
to the cause of the disturbance. The regu-
lations permit the use of army cannon for
powder tests. These experiments with
high grade powder manufactured at Santa
Cruz are made under the supervision of
Colonel Babbitt of the Ordnance Depart
ment. The twelye-inch breech loading
rifle carries proiectile weighing 1000
pounds, and the charge of powder must
give to the projectile a muzzle velocity OF
2100 feet per second. Two upright wire
screens are placed in the line Of fire suti-
cient distance from the gun to withstand
the force of the explosive blast. AS the
projectile passes through the wire of each
screen a chronograph registers to the
smallest fraction OF q second the time OF
contact. 1t is possible, therefore, by the
magnet to measure accurately the time
the projectile takes to pass from the first
wire netting to the second.
To conform to the requirements of the
Government the powder must not only
give the velocity mentioned but must i'm
part it without imposing greater pressure
than $4,000 pounds to the square inch OF
the bore. A cylinder filled with neutral
force, or the pressure.
Monthly review, inspection and muster
of all the troops in the Department of Cal
ifornia took place last Saturday. The re-
view and inspection at the Presidio were
thorough. AS the three arms of the serv-
ice are fully represented there-artillery,
infantry and cavalry-and as the station is
one of the first rank in military circles of
the United States, General Graham, the
post com mmander, requires that the lnspec-
ton shall be conducted so as to fully con-
form to the letter and spirit of army regu-
lations.
Colonel A. S. Kimb ball. chief quartermas-
ter, Department of California, has awarded
additional contracts for Preside improve
ments. The bids were opened few days
ago and the awards made last Saturday.
The improvements are:
!. Laying new water main and extending
the water pipe OF the fire system.
=. Extending the sewer from the new bar
racks.
3. Extending and constructing drains south
OF Fort Point road.
4. Constructing a road in front of new bar
racks.
5. Constructing drains and ditch for protec-
ton OF stable site.
G. A. Warren was the lowest bidder on
all propositions except No. 1. On the four
the aggregate of Warren's bids is $7740.
William H. Healey gets No. at S2294.
The allotments made for quarters and
barracks for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1886, has been exhausted. When the
money appropriated is allotted in Wash
ington an expenditure of 60 per cent is
only authorized, so that 40 per cent may be
reserved for emergency. Out OF this re-
served 40 per cent General Batchelder, the
chief quartermaster of the army, may
allow from $50, 900 to 100000 for Preside
improvements during the last three
ho of
ball has sent to General Miles and the
| chief quartermaster plans for the new
Preside. A map illustrating the changes
recommended was published in The CALL
three months ago, at the time the report
was forwarded to Washington.
General Batchelder served many years
in this department and is familiar with
the importance of the Preside as mill
tary reservation. He will not retire until
July q next, so, therefore, he will be In
Office to pass upon the disbursement of the
reserved 40 per cent of this fiscal years
appropriation for quarters and barracks,
and also on the allotment of go per cent of
the allowance for the next fiscal year.
Unless there is an extraordinary de-
parture from established military rights
General Batchelder, upon his retirement,
will be succeeded by Brevet Brigadier-
General Charles G. Sawtelle, the officer
next in rank in Washington. General
Sawtelle has an un blemished and brilliant
record of more than third of century.
covering the periods of the Rebellion and
several Indian wars. He graduated at
West Point in 1854, being a classmate of
General 0. 0. Howard. He was promoted
Brevet Brigadier-General of the United
States army on the recommendation of
General Sheridan, approved by General
Grant. At Chancell orsville he was pro-
NOTED for meritorious conduct.
C4l,~
field, son of General Schofield (retired),
has been referred back to the Examining
Board at the Presidio. This action, taken
by Secretary Lamont, is due to the discov-
cry of new evidence. A few weeks ago the
board, of which Colonel S. 3. NJ. Young is
president examined Lieutenant Schofield
for promotion, and the examination dis
closed the fact officially that the appli-
cants hearing was defective. The ques-
ton now comes up whether this disability
was Incurred in the service or whether he
was slightly deaf when the Board of Army
Surgeons passed him.
In the light of an occurrence at the Pre-
sidio last Saturday, the post commander
may be constrained to abridge somewhat
the privileges formerly extended to bicy
Gle riders. According to the report made
by the surgeon at the Presidlo Hospital to
General Graham, this is what took place
Saturday morning on the grade of the
hospital road:
Mr. Hamilton of Oakland, mounted on
bicycle and going down the road, at
tanned greater speed than he desired. In
an effort to slow down he lost the pedals
and the speed increased. Seeing two
soldiers in the road he swerved to
one side to avoid collision. at the
same instant Lyon, one of the soldiers,
swerved in the same direction to escape
the wheel Collision ensued and Lyon
was knocked down. He was scratched
ana bruised but not disabled. Re-
covering his balance. but not his temper,
he started in hot pursuit of the Oakland
wheelman. The latter seeing the indig-
nant pursuer fled, and to accelerate his
fight abandoned his wheel. The soldier
.overhauled the Oakland sprinter. No
blows were exchanged at the meeting, but
high language was used. The doctor in
officially reporting the matter to General
Graham could not say that the soldier
used profane language, but he was sure
that the talk was loud. Moreover the
soldier in his wrath seized the wheel, and
with terrific force hurled it down an en-
bankment.
About this time the surgeon intervened
and began pouring oil to allay the fric-
ton. Hearing both sides OF the contro-
versy and deeming each participant blame
worthy in some degree, he finally decided