davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
BRITISH FRiENDLINESS.

T did not need the declarations of London news ! papers and the statements of members ot Par liament to assure that the Government and the people of Great Britain would be the side of the United States with sympathy-and perhaps with ac- ton if the need came-in case of war with Spain For years past evidences of desire for friendly re- lations with the United States have been abundantly shown through all channels of communication in Great Britain, and we have long known that an all liance with is the desire of British sentiment and the aim of British diplomacy.
 Perhaps the most striking illustration of this wish for continued peace and friendly relations with the United States on the part of the British that has yet been given was in the striking contrast between the manner in which the British Government received the Venezuelan ultimatum from the United States and that with which 1t met the implied possibility o German interference in the affairs of the Iransvaa To our peremptory demand that the Venezuelan boundary be fixed by arbitration Great Britain yielded promptly and gracefully as she could But the publication of the Kaisers letter to Presl dent Kruger was immediately followed by the nasty mastering of the famous flying squadron and de- nonstration in force of readiness of the empire to fight if fighting should be necessary.
 The change in the tone of British sentiment from what 1t was in times past is due to two causes. In the first place the United States has now become one of the greatest nations on the globe and in the very nature of things those who thought lightly of us in the days of our comparative weakness are disposed to have more respect for us now In the second place Euro pean conditions have changed.
 Confronted by the strong alliances recently formed by the great military powers of the Continent Great Britain no longer feels so safe she did in her Splendid isolation" Her commercial interests re- strain her from running the risk of by joining either of the two Continental combinations, and yet she desires an ally somewhere. It is matter of course therefore that she should turn to America. Friendship with is her almost necessity of the situation.
 It has not yet become to interest to recp' O. cate this desire for an alliance, and it may never be so notwithstanding the fact that the present British policy of maintaining the Chinese empire intact with ports open to trade with all nations equal terms is one that will work for benefit. At present we care very little about China, and, feel quite able to safeguard interests there without Britains help. In the meantime, however the change in the tone of British sentiment and in the aim of British diplomacy is notable factor in the inter national relations of the world and may be proved by results to come one of the most important devel opments of the century.
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
COINAGE AND CURRENCY.

C NICE our answer to the free silver advocate
 in explanation of Mir. Bryan's statements about AD Mexico many other inquirers have asked fur ther about the relations of prosperity and per capita circulation.
 Mr. Bryan reported condition of great prosperity in our sister republic. At home he points to def- cent circulation per capita restraint upon pros perity Nne-tenths of the advocates of free silver are such because they told that the country wants more money per capita and free silver will supply it.
 Again we ask in what free silver country is there large circulation of money per capita?
 Mexico has per capita circulation of gold 4I cents silver & 54 total of S4 o5. If her superior prosper ity is related to her volume of currency the conclu- sion would be irresistible that prosperity is greatest where the volume of money is the least
 The four gold standard nations, the United States Great Britain Germany and France, have an average per capita circulation of $I4 43 in gold and s 22 in silver or a total of $21 o5 of the two metals
 Mexico, Central America, South America and China have average per capita circulation of gold 4I cents. silver S2 3o
 This demonstrates that under free coinage gold is not appreciably present and silver has very low circulation less that half that of the gold standard countries.
 One is unable to comprehend how Mexico can be quoted to sustain Mr. Bryans contention that large per capita circulation is a necessary condition of prosperity and that per capita. being too small can only be increased by free coinage
 Tn every country in the world the gold standard is now associated with large volume of money and
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
THE FERRY DEPOT SCANDAL,

HE ferry depot scandal increases III magnitude
 and scope with the progress of Inc Cail 5 li-
 vestigation. Traces of crooked work are dls- covered in each department where the contracts are examined and the work and material compared wlth the specifications It appears at present as II every item of construction might be more or less tditeu with evidences of corruption ot some sort III idot the scandal seems be about as big as the Ouiane itself and to pervade every section o rom turle to foundation-stone
 From facts gathered by The Call it appears the State pays for terra cota arches to sustain the flooring pays for terra cotta arches to sustain the flooring but aets a flooring of expanded metal; pays for wainscotine of enameled brick, but gets marble slabs instead; pays to have the outer walls of the building of Roman pressed brick but gets common brick; pays for oak in the interior finish but gets pine pays for Mo- 22 galvanized iron but gets No 26 Tn each and all of these changes of material from what the contracts as let call for there has been money saved for somebody, but evidence that any of it has been saved for the State.
 It is not alone by changes made Tn the material o the building that jobs have been apparently per petrated for the enrichment of obbers the expense of the people. It appears that where no alteration was made in the quality or kind of the material called for other means were devised to accomplish profit for the thrifty Thus it appears that for the doors which a contractor put in for $557o the State paid over $oooo. Other schemes of a similar nature were carried out showing that the manipulators of the contracts knew more ways than for conveying public money to pockets where they thought 1t would do most good.
 It must be borne in mind that the disclosures thus far made by The Call do not by any means represent the whole of the crookedness likely to be found in the construction of the depot. We have published the facts from day to day have gathered them
 .~,a1, tigation conducted with the rigor of the law can fully search out the whole extent of the seeming frauds That investigation 1t IS the duty of the Grand Jury to make and it should be made at once
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16

reached the following great velocities. A l2-inch 710-pound shell, 2749 feet per sec ond; an S-inch shell, weighing 192 pounds was fired with a velocity of 2Si7 feet per second, passed through a steel plate 10 inches thick. and the shell had still a velocity of 700 feet remaining after pass ing through the target. A 6-inch shell of SS pounds attained a velocity of 2SS0 feet, and AT inch of 45 pounds reached 259S feet. The weight of the new powder charges is approximately about one-half that of the usual weight of ordinary brown powder, but its efficiency is such as to increase the initial velocity of the shot 20 to 30 per cent. The advantage de- rived from this smokeless powder besides that which its name conveys, is greater power and ability to store double the quantity hitherto carried in the magazine and thus materially increasing the effi- ciency of the ships battery. It is further claimed for the Russian smokeless pow der that it is absolutely smokeless, and its combustion regular and slow.
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
& /. s:s ACCOMPLISHMENTS: B: 2: 4 SUNSPOT VISIBLE TO THE NAKED EYE s


enlarged considerably, it was visible 10 the naked eye on February F, and dis appeared near the west limb without much decrease in size. On March ,, when it's return was again due, the suns disk was visible only through layer of thin cloud, and while pair of small spots on the very center of the disk (the best posi- tion for visibility were quite distinctly seen, on the east edge where this group was expected to reappear no marking of any kind could be discerned. On the day following, however, the large group in the illustration was a days journey, ac- cording to the rate of sun spot travel, in- side the east limb, and just in the same area as the eruption visible in February. An uncertainty then exists to whether the solar atmosphere, which always aims the spots near the limb had rendered t undiscernible when aided by the effect of foreshortening, and still more by the cloudiness of the day, or whether the entire disturbance occurred be- tween the moons of March and March 6. It is satisfactory to know that some of the institutions devoted to solar ob- servations are likely to possess the re- quired information as such an extensive eruption in twenty-four hours would be very remarkable during this year of the solar cycle, when the sun storms are supposed to give place to a comparative calm. The oval group in the illustration is the chief subject of discussion, though some of the single spots are also identi- fable provided they have not been formed since March 5. If such be the case, the reported auroral display in Eastern skies on the night of March 2 will gain renewed interest as it is we'll established now that magnetic disturbance, auroral displays and sun storms often occur simultaneous ly In ,ne illustration the entire group is represented on a scale suitable to a solar disk one foot in diameter, the oval group being more than 50000 miles in length. and the disturbed area, which ex- tends north and south of the suns equa- tor, being nearly one-fourth of the suns diameter in length.
 ROSE O'HALLORAN
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
NEWS OF FOREIGN NAVIES.

@ 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 q 6 6 z 6 6 q q . 6 @
 The torpedo boats ordered at Schichau by Japan are one torpedo boat 15o feet length. 125 tons displacement, twin screw and 29 knots speed; also, eight boats, single screw, 12S feet length, S2 tons dis placement and of 25 knots speed.
 The cruiser Terrible, sistership to the Powerful is about to be sent to China; the battleships Revenge, Victor1ous ana Rerfeur of l4 150. 14900 and 1O,50O tons have already passed Suez toward their destination to re-enforce the British squadron in China waters.
 Italian ship builders are making good records as to expedition to work. Ansaldo, at Sestri Ponente, on the Bay of Naples, laid the keel of the armored cruiser Gari- baldi No. on July 25, 1893, had the launch on June 7 1895, and the ship was fin- ished April IA, 1896. The Cristobal Colon now owned by Spain-was begun Sep tember 25, 1895, launched September l6, 1896, and had her final trial April N, lSg1, making only 19 months of construction Orlando Bros. at Leghorn began the St. Martin November 23, 1893, launched her May 9, 1897. and are now completing the trials. Failure of the Government delayed the construction of the ships. The three ships are identical in all details and are of 6S40 tens displacement.
 The French Ministry of Marine gives the following figures of the personnel of the principal navies: Germany, 995 officers. 20 .615 sailors; Great Britain, 3019 officers, 60 .155 sailors; Austria, 795 officers, 1.9S7 sailors: Spain, 1345 officers, 14,000 sailors; United States, 121S officers, 12,000 sailors; France. 2329 officers, s336 sailors; Italy, 10eS officers, 23500 sailors; Japan, 69S ofi1- cers, 9421 sailors; Russia, 1542 officers, SS,- GOO sailors. This list is somewhat inac- curate so far as the United States is con- eerned where the number of seagoing commissioned officers on the active list is 1267. not including 61 naval cadets who have graduated. The Japanese navy has 11sO sailor officers alone. and in the Ger man navy about coco men classed in the French list as sailors are In reality dock yard mechanics.
 Steam trials of the British cruiser Dia- dem are still in progress, and about seven have taken place up to February 10 under different conditions. The full power trial under maximum power took place Janu- ary 2s, and lasted eight hours. The fol- lowing chief data of this trial interesting to naval officials and marine engineers are given: Total heating surface of boil CTS. 40 .555 square feet; total grate surface. 1440 square feet; steam in boilers, 245 pounds; air pressure in stoke hold, none; horsepower developed, HISS; coal in pounds, per horsepower per hour, TIT. The weights of machinery, etc, are: Pro- polling machinery, 575 tons; shafts and propellers, 112 tons; boiler room weights. 750 tons; auxiliary machinery, s tons; total weight, 1920 tons. The contract horsepower, 16.5oO. was exceeded by 6Ss.
 Tests of smokeless powder in the Rus sian navy have proved highly satisfactory, and shells fired with this powder
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
soa e ooauoooun0o un 0o ono Q . s " S \" '" "
 MIGRANTS "WHO FEARS TO SPEAK OF W?


,ar;ences. Growth of dignity ire o,,ertIv destroys the fine enthusiasm of Youth. Time blunts ,,er1, Ieorrad Sn+ Professor Ingram IS very ledrneu put I He Io is Latin philologist and a Shal.esDearean expert, ana ne mas WIlt- sn,s N History of political economy that has been translated into elsno HT, nr opGaii Ia1 innsneees nan and the Japanese. pr. In lalg H,orlss are as familiar to the stu gran gran of Continental Europe as 10 those of Trinity. o,- op Ninetv-eight. 1. +ba Memory of the Dead, runs as Iol- lows: o,.ht7
 Who bushes at the name ,.,s fata when towards mock the patrlot Ao'o' Who hangs his head for shadne' a 11ess % ali a knave or half slave'
 who slight his country mus, R,t a true man. like you, tnah'
 Will fill your glass Wltn us' We drink the memory of the braVe'
 The faithful and the few SoYne lie far off beyond the Wa'e'
 Some sleep in Ireland, too
 All all are gone-but still lives on'
 The fame of those who died All true men like you men,
 Remember them with prlue' Some on the shore of distant lands
 Their weary hearts have lald' d. And by the strangers heedless naiiH'
 Their lonely graves were Iiiau1, ,, But though their clay be far aWay'
 Beyond the Atlantic foam, In true men like you. men,
 Their spirits still at home- The dust of some is Irish earth
 Among their own they rest .,., And the same land that gave them then pii'n Has caught them to her breast; And we will pray that from their clay Full many Q race may start Of true men like you, men,
 To act brave part. They rose in dark and evil days
 To right their native land; They kindled there living blaze
 That nothing can withstand. ,4 Alas that might can vanquish rlght-
 They fell and passed away; But true men like you, men,
 Are plenty here to-day
 Then here's their mem'ry! may 1t be
 For us guiding light,
 To cheer our strife for liberty
 And teach us to unite! .,,, Through good and i'll, be Ireland sthi' Though sad theirs your rate; And true men be you, men.
 Like those of Ninety-eight!
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
COLLECTED IN
 THE CORRIDORS.

s. c. Magill. U. s. N, is at the Palace. J. D. Bradley of Merced is at the Lick. H. z. Osborne is at the Palace from LOS Angeles.
 c. c. Royce of Ghico is a guest at the California
 Dr. s. P. Paul of Petaluma is staying at the Grand.
 R. M Brown of Woodland is a guest at the Baldwin.
 Mir. and Mrs. Jacob Bates of Boston are at the Palace.
 B. F. Griscom of New York is a guest at the Palace.
 A. W. Forbes of St. Louis Is at the Pal ace with his wife.
 L. R. Payne is at the Occidental from his home in Fresno.
 F. Wolff. ship builder of Portland, Or. Is guest at the Grand.
 c. D. Smalley of Findlay, Ohio, is at the Occidental with his wife.
 W. S. Timing. an attorney of Martinez, is guest at the Grand.
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
suNsPoTs MARCH 10, Ii A. NJ.

weeks; and while unseen, the conflicting currents of vapor on the solar surface may change it's aspect beyond recogni- tion. or even change its position slightly, and thus baff1e the chief clew to fdenti- fication group of spots of more than average size appeared inside the east edge or limb of the sun on the 14th of last January, and when central on the disk it was found to extend from about nine to thirteen degrees south of the solar equator. Its rossible return was looked
 for. and when the rotation was com pleted. a group was observed nearly in the same tract of sun surface. Having
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
WAR CONTRACTS AND THE PACIFIC
 COAST.

( ENATOR PERKINS has rendered a timely
 service to California and the Pacific Coast by making fo'mal protest to the authorities at Washington against the granting of all contracts for supplies to Eastern manufacturers It seems that this is what Is being done in the expenditure of the emergency fund recently appropriated for defen- sive purposes and according reports 1t has been carried so far as to give to Eastern firms contracts for constructing gun carriages to be used in the de- lenses this coast.
 In discussing the issue with the special correspond ent of The Call at Washington the Senator pointed out that Californian manufacturers can supply the gun carriages desired and also smokeless powder ac- cording to the Government formula at prices as low Ii not lower than are now charged by the con- tractors in the East. By giving orders for such supplies to local manufacturers the Government would save at least the cost of transportation the continent to California even if saved nothing else.
 Over and above the cost and economy involved in the question ot where the military supplies for this coast shall be manufactured there is the further mat ter ot military expediency which merits considera- ton. In case of war with power strong enough operate on both oceans-and all great nations are strong enough for that-there would be war on the Pacific as well as the Atlantic coast and the Gov ernment would need plants capable of furnishing war supplies on this well on the other side of the continent It should therefore be the policy of the nation to build up such plants here we'll there Pacific Coast factories should be made the supply points of all war material, military and naval needed for the defense of the Pacific Coast
 It is evident from the vgor with which the Senator made his protest that he has reason to believe avoritism IS being shown to Eastern firms. If this be so he should be joined in his fight for fair play by the entire delegation from all the Western States 0,,r {o~fOr terial as any of those in the East None of them have been detected furnishing supplies as defective the Eastern shrapnel recently tested at the Presidio This being so 1t is but right the Government should give them at least fair chance to bid on contracts that to be awarded.
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16

free coinage with small volume, of which gold IS scarcely perceptble fraction
 We do not intend to impeach Mir. Bryans sincerity when he says: My observation as well as my req son leads to believe that the use of silver has been of material advantage to Mexico, and l am more than ever convinced that the best interests of our own people demand the immediate restoration of the free and unlimited coinage of gold and silver at ratio o 10 to without waiting for the aid concert of any other nation"
 His premise is the condition of Mexico. By what logical process he draws therefrom his conclusion is mystery.
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
THE PURCHASED CRUISERS.

HE Naval Department has lost no time in
 making use of the money voted by Congress to
 provide for national defense and already ne gotiations have been completed for the purchase from Brazil of two cruisers constructed by one of the best ship building firms of England One of these cruisers, 1t is announced, is sufficiently equipped to put to sea and make the voyage to this side of the Atlantic at The other will be made ready quickly as possible and sent over to join her mate and take her place in our navy.
 The purchases were made hastily of necessity If with Spain it imperative that they be placed under the American flag before hosttes begin The lesson of the damages which the British Govern ment had to pay for the destructive work of the Ala bama made deep and lasting impression on the minds of the statesmen of that country and they are not going to be caught in similar case again
 By the neutrality act passed by Parliament as sequel to the payment of the Alabama damages pro- vision IS made for just such emergencies as that which has arisen. If either Spain or the United States buys unfinished ship in England they must get away from that country before war begins The delivery, arnng and fitting of such vessels in any British port after has begun is prohibited and attempt to violate the law would result in for feiture of the vessel to the British Government
 It will be that if war is as imminent as now appears the Naval Department has acted none too hastily in the premises It is case of now or never so far getting ships built in England is concerned The Amazonas, being completed and ready for sea- is safe enough for if war should break out to- morrow, but the other in that contingency would be compelled to remain where she s or at least to get away from England before she could be outftted as a vessel. Such IS of the results of making John Bull pay the piper for the merry sea dance of the Alabama.
The San Francisco call., 1898-03-16
ADVERTISEMENTS.

When the children are hungry, what do you give themi Food.
 When thirstyf Water.
 Now use the same good common sense, and what would you give them when they are too thinl The best Informing food, of course. Somehow you think of Scott's Emulsion at once.
 For a quarter of a century It has been making thin children, plump; weak child ren, strong; sick children, healthy.
 soc. and sI.oo, all druggists.
 SCOTT BOVINE. Chemists, New YorA