The record-union., 1899-11-30

takes made in that regard in the matter
of transportation. After all these years
of effort the editor is asking himself
if it is not a fact that there must be
monopoly or nothing? He cannot enter
into an argument against private own
ership and private control, with the
inevitable demand upon the farmer OF
all the traffic will bear" with anything
like the vim of ten to twenty-five years
ago. Then he argued that the land
owners always had credit, and that
credit was money, and hence that they
should own the water and the means
of transporting the water, but the ex-
perience of the last ten years is brought
into evidence to prove that the people
are not capable of handling such enter
prises in their own behalf. When. how
ever, capital once becomes interested
in such things, the Sun will go into
no schemes for robbing it CT any just
return. No clamor has made 1t enter
on any abuse of the transportation
companies beyond a just criticism, and
when private water companies take
control it expects to maintain the same
impartial position. Hence it is sbat 1t
has SO long begged of the people to start
out right. OF course, water in i'ri-
vate hands is better than no water, and
it may be better to go in on the lines
OF encouraging private capital, and the
way to interest private capital is to IN
sure it big returns but the Sun" shall
cling a little longer to the rights of the
people to own and control the water;
shall hold that because some mistakes
were made the whole idea Of public
control and ownership should not be
given up. The "Sun" seems at this time
to be more nearly alone in this position
than it really is-the other side has
more money and can make more fuss
but there is yet hope.
IRISH WITH BOERS.
Tulare Register: 1t is told boasting-
ly that Irishmen are fighting side by
side with the Beers, and it is perfectly
well known that from one-half to one
third of the British soldiers fighting
against the Beers are Irishmen What
for do these Irishmen so readily enlist
to fight Irishmen in cause in which
both sides stand to lose? Is there
deep laid scheme at the bottom of it all
to exterminate all the sons of Erin who
have not emigrated to America? 1t
would seem to be a good time for Irish
men to remain at home and hoe pota-
toes.
ARTILLERY BATTLES.
San Jose Herald: A great deal has
been reported about terrific artillery
battles during this South African war;
There is a prodigious amount of noise
and a great expenditure of villainous
saltpeter, or whatever else enters into
the composition of smokeless POWDER
but, as a rule, there is very little harm
done. The improved appliances of de-
struction do not make war 50 deadly as
was expected.
The reason is not far to seek. With
every improvement in firearms the COM
batants keep further away from each
other and waste their ammunition on
the air. These artillery duels at Lady,
smith and elsewhere are like a French
duel with pistols at forty PAGES. They
are bombarding at ranges Of three or
four or five miles.
The same thing is noticeable in naval
warfare. In 1872 ships got within a
cables length" or pistol shot" before
opening fire, and then closed and
boarded. The flight with Cervera's
squadron was carried on at ranges Of
one to three miles, and although we
peppered the Spaniards well, only about
3 per cent. of our shots took effect.
This style of fighting makes war more
expensive in money than in life, and
that is what is likely to drive war out
of fashion as improvements in arma-
ment continue.