The San Francisco call., 1896-03-31
OF INTEREST TO THE COAST
Liberal Appropriations Made for
Carrying Mails to the
South Pacific.
It Is Certain That the Improvement
of San Pedro Harbor Will Be
Provided For.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 30.-The
Postoffice appropriation bill reported to
the Senate to-day contains this am end
ment: additional mpensation to the
Oceanic Steamship Company for trans
porting mails by its steamers sailing from
San Francisco to New Zealand and New
South Wales, via Honolulu, all mails made
up in the United States destined for the
Hawaiian Islands, with the Australian
colonies, New Caledonia and islands in
the Pacific Ocean, $4,000, provided that
said additional sum, with the sum now
paid, shall not exceed 81 per mile, as au-
thorized by the act OF March 3, 1891, en-
titled An act to provide for ocean mail
service between the United States and for
eign ports, and to promote commerce
Senator Davis to-day introduced bill
providing for a delegate in Congress from
the Territory of Alaska. The bill appro-
PIRATES $4,000 for expenses of the election.
Representative Johnson to-day intro
duced a bill requiring the Secretary of the
Interior to purchase and make free the
following four roads which pass over
Yosemite National Park: The road of the
Great Sierra Wagon Road Company, the
road OF Big Oak Flat Turnpike Company,
the road of the Coulterville and Yosemite
Turnpike Company and the road of the
Yosemite Stage and Turnpike Company,
for such prices as may be fixed by COM
mission of three engineers, TO be appointed
by the Secretary OF War. The Secretary
of War under the bill is authorized to
appoint three engineers from the regular
army for the purpose of valueing and ap-
praising each of the four tollroads, and
after such commission shall have
determined the true and fair valuation of
each of said roads shall make a report to
the Secretary of the Interior, who shall
session, together with copies of the written
consent of each of said companies as may
have given the Government such consent,
and who have accepted the valuation OF
their property as reported to the Secretary
of the Interior by the commission, to the
end that Congress may make the necessary
appropriation for the payment of the
same.
Representative Hilborn to-day intro
duced a resolution appointing j. G. Boat
m an of Oakland clerk to continue the di-
gesting OF claims.
Representative Johnson introduced
bill increasing the pension of Charles
Wood of California.
Representative McLachlan was asked by
THE CALL correspondent to-day what he
thought the Committee on Rivers and Har-
bors would do in relation to the improve
ment of the harbor of San Pedro. He
said:
"I have strong personal assurances that
San Pedro will get all we have asked for,
namely, $500, 900, and also that an addi-
tional appropriation will be made for the
survey of the inner harbor to deepen the
same to twenty-five feet at low water
tide and extending it back to Smith
Island. This i'm provement of the harbor
will admit the largest vessel on the Pacific
Coast"
McLachlan was asked if Santa Monica
would receive any appropriation. He said
that all his efforts were centered on San
Pedro, and at present he had no other pro-
iect in view and he could not see
how Santa Monica could receive any
appropriation as the engineers had
never reported favorably on this project.
McLachlan is highly elated over the pros
poets. and said: This improvement will
be made on continuous plan. If the
river and harbor bill becomes law it
will be the largest appropriation ever
given to Southern California. l hope the
overzealous friends of San Pedro wilt not
spoil the good work we have tried to ac-
omplish.''
Santa Monica will get $780, 900, as hereto
fore stated in THE CALL.
The special postotfice service between
Riverside and Armada. Riverside County,
Cal, will be discontinued after April 30.
Representative Loud to-day succeeded
in amending the sundry civil appropria-
ton bill by increasing the salaries of su-
perintendents in the life-saving service
from $500 to $500 per annum. This was
their salary up to few years ago.
Mrs. T. ]. Geary, wife of ex-Congress-
man Geary of California. arrived in Wash
ington tonight and is at the Norman die
Hotel.