The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-05-07

@4n.rrv Hale has issued a warning TO
..s.gre ss that increased military eX-
enses invite a deficit. The cutting
down of the naval programme may dis
please Hobson, but it will be applauded
by citizens who realize that the financial
resources of a people constitute the real
sinews of war.
The American car engaged in the au-
tomobile race from New York to Paris
has reached Alaska by steamer, and VIII
push its way to the end of the American
run, part of the distance on sleds. The
race is a sort of mixed proposition that
puts to test the nerve of the chauffeurs
as well as the material in the machines.
The announced determination of the
Canadian Pacific railway to build an
other line to the Pacific coast is evidence
of the increasing competition among Ca
madam carriers for the trade of the
growing wheat section. Canada will
eventually be gridironed with rails, lead
ing to the Atlantic and Pacific sea-
boards.
The Senate committee on interstate
commerce has decided to- extend Tor
twenty months the time in which the
s'coal roads" can dispose of their coal
mines and thus place themselves within
the pale of the railroad rate law. This
will be generally acceptable, as the diff
culties incident to the readjustment are
many and perplexing.
The Milwaukee steamer Fred Pabst,
which was valued at 100000 before she
was struck and sunk in st. Clair river,
last fall. has been sold to the wrecker
who raised hr for the sum of $1,000. This
shows not only that a ship must be kept
af1oat 10 maintain her value, but that
wrecking masters can sometimes secure
a good thing" in a comparatively short
time.
Fatal injury was caused by panic
in a hall at Bloomington, Illinois, FOL
lowing an explosion which in itself did
less damage than resulted from the crush
at the inadequate exits. The matter
of exits should not be ignored in provid-
ing for the safety of assemblages IN
public halls. Facilities for escape with
out panic are quite as important as fire
PROBING.
Plans for the construction of an addi-
tional subway in New York city, to cost
S6O.OOO,O0O, have been approved ny the
board of estimates. The money spent
in New York and vicinity for bridges,
subways. and tunnels, during the past
ten wears. reaches an aggregate COM
parable with the estimated cost OF the
Panama canal This is an era OF great
undertakings.
The president of the British Olympic
Association has appealed for funds with
which to pay expenses of the Olympic
games in London, next summer. Ihls
does not comport with the views OF GER
tain oarsmen in England who barred the
Vesner crew of Philadelphia because 1t
made a visit to the Henley regatta On
contributed funds, and embraced men
who earned their living with their hands.
Rear-Admiral Thomas's views as to
tbe public's interest in the navy are
justified by tie widespread popular IN
terest in the movement OF the Heet when
made the long voyage to the Pacific
oceau nv way of the Straits of Magellan.
This interest is worthy of cultivation,
and everything concerning the warshlps
sbould be given out, except where pub
lication would be Incompatible with pub
lie interest.
The first of the Italian experiments 1ol
the testing of reinforced concrete as
nrotection for warships has proved un'
satisfactory, but Sig. D'Adda says that
on account of insufficient preparations II
was not fair trial. AS Italy mas MOI
facilities for manufacturing iron ano
steel as cheaply as her neighbors, she Is
5isnosed to make the most of concrete
and will not give up the idea until con
WINGED that it is impossible.
=
One of the most widely practical sug
gestions that has yet been made IN re
gard to the utilization of wireless tele
GRANNY in navigation is that of Senator
Delhaye of the French Academy O.
Sciences. who proposes the simultaneous
transmission Of signals at noon and mid
night. Greenwich time, for the guidance
of ships at sea. This is interesting, bu
the fact that wireless telegraphing i
difficult during the day may interter'
with the proposed noon signaling.
The House committee on naval affair
endorses a popular view Of the necessl
ties of the naval situation by providing
for the construction of a naval station
with repair dock at Pearl Harbor, Ha
wall. This station will be a sort o
halfway house at which the ships of tn
United States can stop for repairs Will
on their way back and forth across tn
Pacific ocean. In the event of war il
the Orient, ''lame" ships will have
shorter course to limp over toward help
when the naval station is established.
a writer in the April number of th'
Contemporary Review refers to won
derful weapon of war which can impair
by the application of electricity an initia
velocity of $4,000 feet per second, anC
send missiles to distance of 300 miles
This would enable nations to "open up
on warlike neighbors without stirring from
their doors, and would thus save mucl
weary marching for the soldiers. Blu
perhaps the contributor to the Review
may De overestimating the efficiency o.
h.