The San Francisco call., 1898-04-23

c. Merriam, commanding the Depart ment of California, will visit the forti- fications In San Francisco harbor. The trip to Angel and Alcatraz Islands will be made in the Government steamer Mcdowell.
 The general will be accompanied by Major Thomas H. Barry, adjutant gen. eral Department of the Columbia, and Major Edward Field, acting adjutant general, Department of California. Colonel Marcus P. Miller, Third Ar lery, will join at Angel Island and Cap tain Sedgwick Pratt, Third Artillery, will join at Fort Mason, whence the party will proceed to the Presidio, where the boat will be met by Lieuten- ant Colonel Louis T. Morris, Fourth Cavalry, at the Presidio wharf
 General Merriam and his party will be driven in carriages to Fort Point, where the 10-inch, 15-inch and S-inch muZzle-lOading guns; the 10-inch and 12-inch breech-loading guns, and the three pneumatic dynamite guns will be inspected for the first time by the new department commander.
 No military display or review will be made by the troops stationed at the posts in honor of General Merriam's visit and the prescribed salute of thir- teen guns will not be fired.
 Before his return to Vancouver Bar racks Washington, which will be in few days, General Merriam desires to familiarize himself with the defenses ot the Golden Gate. Major Barry will re- turn with him to the Department of the Columbia.
 A board of army officers, to consist of Major Frank W. Hess, Third Artillery; Captain William E. Birkhimer Third Artillery, and First Lieutenant William G. Haan of the same regiment has been appointed to convene at Fort Baker next Tuesday to examine and re- port upon the merits of a device to De submitted by First Lieutenant Charles w. Foster, Third Artillery, for me chanically solving the values of zero in range tables for Pinch breech-lOading rifles and 15-inch smooth bore guns.
 General D. W. Flagler chief of ord nance, U. s. A, has called the attention of General Nelson A. Miles to he fact that in firing seacOast guns with brown powder particularly in rapid firing, there is danger of the cartridge being ignited from the heat of the residue in the gun unless the chamber is thor oughly sponged out with a wet sponge before reloading. He recommends that in continuous firing with seacoast guns using brown prismatic powder the pow der chamber must be thoroughly wiped out with a wet sponge before reload ing.
 Colonel Marcus P. Miller, Major Ed ward Field. Captain Sedgwick Pratt and First Lieutenant Eugene T. Will son, the board of army officers appoint ed to formulate a fire-control system for the artillery stations in San Fran cisco harbor, have been in session at department headquarters for the past few days. It is understood that the torpedo and submarine mine material contracted for is being delivered, and that the engineer department will shortly have the harbor and coast de- lenses in excellent condition.
 Yesterday General Merriam ascer- tained the quantity of clothing in the depot quartermasters stores. He re- marked after the inspection that the supply on hand was sufficient to pro- vide good uniforms for 1000 men, The general has not been advised whether the volunteers to be called for will re- ceive their clothing from their respec- tive States or from the United States.
 Lieutenant-ColOnel Wallace F Ran dolph, Third Artillery, who was recent ly directed to proceed to Chickamauga Park, left the Presidio yesterday for his new post Of duty.
 The suspicious character arrested at the 10-inch disappearing guns on the Presidio reservation day before yester- day was held at the guard station un-