The San Francisco call., 1898-07-22
Fast Boat to Connect
 With Valley Road.
ANOTHER TRANSPORT HERE
THE ARIZONA PURCHASED BY
 THE GOVERNMENT.
News From the Whaling Fleet-A Poor Catch Reported-Steamer Alexander Had a Mar
 row Escape.

Another link has been added to the Valley road. San Francisco and stockton are now joined by the handsomest. tast- est and best equipped river steamer ever built in California. She is the H. J. Cor coran, built especially by the California Navigation and Improvement Company to connect the San Francisco and san Joaquin Valley road and this city Speed and comfort have been combined, and when the engines are down to their pear ings the run will be made in from i've to five and a half hours.
 The new steamer arrived in San Fran cisco yesterday morning on her lmuai trip. She took longer than was expected in getting here as the wood in the rudder swelled and made steering difficult. She did not get away on her return trip until g a. m. in consequence, but in future will leave daily at $ a. m. sharp. No expense has been spared in the fitting out Of the new steamer and everything in and about her is Of California production. The hull was built at the Navigation company yards. the engines by the Globe Iron Works. boilers by the Risdon Iron Works, while the handsome ornamental glass doors and windows were designed and made by Harold Gage of Stockton.
 The name of the steamer was to have been the Arrow, but the directors had a quiet talk among themselves and came to the conclusion that the vessel should be gwen her present name in honor of the man who has done so much toward mak- ing the California Navigation and Inn prOvcment Company what it is, one of the foremost river transportation companies in the United States. MT. Corcoran is the general manager of the company.
 The Corcoran is 210 feet long, B feet broad. and with her 400 horsepower is expected 10 make 20 knots an hour. She is furnished with a million candle-power searchliGht, and Is fitted throughout with electric lights. The StateroOmS are fur ushed with the Turner bunk, a Califor- ua patent, and the blankets on the yes sel were turned out to a special order by the Stockton WOolen Mills. Sne has 62 staterOOms and can accommodate over 2l0 passengers. Besides these there are six rooms, which are for use in the day time. and are called 'lOunging rooms" These are handsomely upholstered and vacy.
 The officers of the H. J. Corcoran are: Captain McMurtry, late of the J. D. Pe- ters; Pilot Potvin, late of the Mary Gar ratt; J. Roe chief steward. late of the T. C. Walker, and Purser McMann. late with Nells-FargO & Co.
 The United States steamer Arizona, purchased by the Government for transport arrived from Puget Sound yes terday. in charge of Captain John Barne- son and Captain w. w. Robinson quar- termaster United States army. In order to avoid complications there was a great deal of red tape in purchasing the Ari, zOna. First the Guion line, for whom she was built. turned her over to the Northern Pacific Railroad Company which had her under charter. Then the railroad turned her over to the North Pacific Steamship Company Gan American con- Cern), and then eX-Secretary of War La pleted the bargain, and the steamer was turned over to Uncle Sam. The size of the Arizona can be gathered from the following comparisons: