The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 27, 1899, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1899. —— MONDAY.. JOHN D. SPRECKELS, Proprietor. S = Address All Communications to W. S. LEAKE, Manager. PUBLICATION OFFICE Market and Third Sts., s F. Telephone Main 1868 EDITORIAL ROOMS..........2IT to 22| Stevenson Street Telephone Main 1874 DELIVERED BY CARRIERS. 15 CENTS PER WEEK. Single Copies, 5 cents. Terms by Mall, Including Postage: DAILY CALL (including Sunday Call), one year. DAILY CALL (including Sunday Call), 6 months L (including Sunday Call), 3 months. ALL—By Single Month. 908 Broadway OAKLAND OFFICE... NEW YORK OFFICE.........Room 188, ‘World Building DAVID ALLEN, Advertising Representative. WASHINGTON (D. C.) OFFICE......... ....Riggs Houes C. C. CARLTON, Correspondent. CHICAGO OFFICE ...Marquette Bailding C.GEORGE KROGNESS, Advertlsing Representative. BRANCH OFFICES—527 Montgomery street, corner Clay, open untll 9:30 o'clock. 387 Hayes street, open until £:30 o'clock. 621 McAllister street, open until 9:30 o'clock. 615 Larkin street, open untli 9:30 o'clock. 1941 Mission street, open untll 10 o'clock. £291 Market street, corner Sixteenth, open until 9 o'clock. 2518 Mission street, open untll 9 o'clock. 106 Eleventh street, open untll 9 o'clock. 1505 Polk street, open untll 930 o'clock. NW. corner Twenty-second " @nd Kentucky streets, open untll 9 o'clock. MENTR ( 1 T Left Behind Me. . or the Magic Kiss.” le. cross the Ocean.” Ellis Opéra Company, Monday even- nka, the “Lady of Lions.”” 2 and Ellis streets, Specialties. . Hero of Manlla,” Monday evening, | Friday evening, March 3. rt, Tuesday evening, February 28, g Recitals, Thursda y evening, at 13 By G. H. Umbsen & Co.—Monday, February 27, o'clock, Real Estate, at 14 Montgomery street. BUSINESS BRISK AGAIN. ‘\ HE blizzard in the East having subsided busi- T1:<~< :s resumed its normal proportions. This | is shown by the bank clearings, which ex- | hibited a gain f the week of 37.7 per cent over | the same week in 188. Baltimore showed an | increase of 120.5 per cent and New York onei of 48 per cent. Pittsburg, the seat of the iron | made a handsome gain of 88 per cent. | s of importance recorded a Ioss—San‘ ee ¢ o, 23.7 per cent; Kansas City, I1.5 per cent, an Orleans, 2! The loss in San Francisco | was doubtless due to the prolonged dry \\'eather,f | nders merchants cautious and disinclined to ke any new ventures until they see favorable head. | ng the cheerful showing of the bank ex- | s there is the exhibit of failures, which were | st 233 for the same week in 1898. So, as | two barometers of trade are concerned, business is making a fine exhibit. But there seems to be an incipient lull &head. What it will amount to it is impossible to say now. It o ount to anything and it may assume | visible proportions. It is a threatened check to our ynsequence of the rise in prices in | some commodities. This is already apparent in the | iron trade, prices of which are up to the parity of | ign markets, and some of the business which we | enjoyed has gone abroad in conse- | OQur domestic demand for iron and is immense and may be sufficient to ket active even with a loss of some for- | eign business, but if it should not then a slight shad- | ing in quotations would doubtless bring the foreign k again. No anxiety on this score is the manufacturers, especially as the works crowded with orders reaching months ahead. which r unde time: not v export trade in ¢ for: 1iave hitherto quence of this. steel, howev keep the m demand ba shov are still In any event, however, the American merchants will not let the foreign trade slip out of their hands if they can help it. Already the boot and shoe manu- cen time by the forelock and are Other lines ers have tal cents to keep the trade. may have to follow. Wall street showed some weakness during the there was a pronounced disposition to raid irket, but values made no serious break. The s probably the regularly recurrent reac- fter a marked advance. The local situation is quiet. Business is fair and 1ts are not complaining more than usual, but it I p. The continued dry weather, while not t far alarming, is sufficiently protracted to render everybody economical and careful about the Tt ion has got to the gambling point. If it rains within a few days the State will probably harvest a very large crop of grain, which means mil- lions to it; but if the rain holds off a fortnight longer it will come too late for some important districts, and it is here that the gamble lies.. The dry weather hav- ing apparently become chroni¢c nobody has felt like spending any more money than he can possibly help, and this makes trade dull all over. We do not need a great deal of rain to mature the grain crop, but we reed some very soon. The principal fluctuations of late have been in the eating line. M#éats of all kinds have gone up, and cured provisions have advanced in sympathy with the raw goods. To cap the climax the humble codfish has suddenly become scarce all over the United States and has gone up in a regular mining-stock way, to the dismay of housckeepers. Every few days some eatable or other goes up and it is beginning tq cost | something for board. Real estate feels the effect of the dry weather and | is dull, both in city and country. It is still a good | asset, however, and easily commands loans at the old | rates. Money continues plentfful and collections are up to the average at this season of the year. There have been no large failures for some time and the | small ones are -not numerous. Local business is | helped along by Government orders for the Philip-{ pines and the down-town streets exhibit their usual | activity, so we are in pretty good commercial shape: after all. the mercha ks ST future, Nobody would in any measure weaken the Na- tional Guard, yet there seems to be in connection with this branch of the public service more soft snaps than are really necessary. The contributor to an evening paper who styles his department “On the Margin” should be more spe- cific. Lunacy has a margin. Assemblyman ]ohr;:mI has more tears, on tap than any other man in public life. . | consideration the monopoly has been a heavy burden | mercial expansion has been most notable. From the A BURNING CONTRAST. HEN Great Britain desires to produce an im- pression upon our country in favor of a com- mercial alliance to protect the “open door” she is informally represented by a statesman, such as Lord Charles Beresford. The position of an un- official representative of British diplomacy is far in- ferior to that of a Senator of the United States stand- ing for the restricted sovereignty of California, cov- ering a territorial area that exceeds the area of Great Britain and Ireland by 73,141 square miles, and for a republic with jurisdiction between the Atlangic and the Pacific on this continent over more than three million square miles, or fully twenty-six times the extent, with double the population, of the British Isles. When these facts are observed by the 119 members of the Legislature at Sacramento we invite them to institute an intellectual and moral contrast between Dan Burns and Lord Charles Beresford, so that the comiplete degradation they are expected by the railroad to at- tach to the State may be fairly brought home to them. But it is not essential for the legislators to limit themselves to this startling comparison or to the sense of humiliation that it must excite in all proud and in- telligent citizens. We have equivalents for Lord Charles Beresford in California: The Call has al- readys shown the distinction, in qualifications and character, between Dan Burns and Ulysses S. Grant and the other candidates among whom more than thirty votes have been distributed. Suppose the list be extended so as to include such men as Chief Justice Beatty, David Starr Jordan, W. W. Morrow and A. P. Williams, whose names are indiscriminately se- lected, and as to cach one of these gentlemen a comparison be made between him and Dan Burns, comprising every element, including honorable party service, that can legitimately enter into a candidacy for the Federal Senate. What would be the inevitable result? The Call has asked that one single reason, apart from monetary contribfitions, subserviency to the railroad and association with corrupt municipal politics, be assigned for the election of Burns, and the question is met with dead silence. Now let the tests already indicated be applied, and every voter in the State will see whether there can be any palliation even for a deadlock fastened upon the people by such a man. The low standard for inferior public officers applied of late years, especially in a few of the Middle and Western States, is treated at the East and in Europe as proof of political degeneracy. When a man, intellectually and morally deaf and dumb, without a pretense to the favorable consideration of a great party, and in a State producing the best type of man- kind, because he is backed by a railroad, can not only force himself into the prominence of an aspirant to leadership in the highest national council, but hold a Legislature for weeks in an iron grip, the demand of the people becomes irresistible for complete vindi- cation by the prompt election of a Republican, a statesman and a gentleman. d writ of mandate issue commanding the Board of Supervisors to grant to the Mutual Electric ght Company a permit according the same rights d privileges as are conferred upon the San Fran- cisco Gas and Electric Light Company promises to put an end to an oppressive monopoly and open the way for a competition that will be of great benefit to the community. The decision is the outcome of an action brought some time ago by the Mutual Electric Company to annul a contract for lighting the streets which was awarded to the rival company, the plaintiff alleging that as the Supervisors granted the San Francisco Gas and Electric Light Company the privilege of running overhead wires in, certain parts of the city, while denying the privilege to other companies, the | privileged company enjoyed a virtual immunity from competition. In that suit the Judge decided some weeks ago that no legal contract could be awarded | unless the several bidders had equal privileges, and the mandate issued on Saturday is in accord with the law thus declared. The decision is in harmony with the plainest dic- tates of justice. The grant to one company of privi- leges denied to competitors is virtually the establish- ment of a monopoly. In the particular case under BREAKING A MONOPOLY. UDGE SEAWELL'S order that a peremptory | upon the municipality and upon the people. It has been estimated that in the item of public lighting alone there has been a loss of thousands of dollars yearly to the municipal treasury by reason of the special privileges granted to the San Francisco Gas 2nd Electric Light Company, and of course there has been a further loss to individuals, who have had to pay exorbitant rates because competition was shut out. As the case stands under Judge Seawell's order ifi the San Francisco Gas and Electric Light Company | is permitted to maintain any longer overhead electric | wires in any part of the city the same privilege must | be accorded to the competing company. In other | words the Supervisors have no authority to discrimi- | nate in favor of one corporation against another. This will enable the Mutual Company to compete with ‘ the rival company in all parts of the city, and there will be cheaper lighting not only for the municipality j but for private parties. | The decision will probably be far reaching in its results. It puts an end to one of the methods by i which corporations, through the agency of compliant | Supervisors, have been enabled to shut out competi- | tors and hold a monopoly in the city. Under the rule | as laid down by Judge Seawell that practice will be | broken up. No special privileges can be granted hereafter to favored companies. Public privileges granted to one must be granted on equal terms to all. | It will be gratifying of course to have all overhead electric wires removed from our streets. They are a nuisance.and a danger. So long as one lighting com- pany is permitted, however, to erect poles and string them with wires others must have the same privilege. No other course is in accordance with justice, reason, | law or expediency. ! OUR TRADE W?I'H GERMANY. HILE the pleasant relations long existing be- | tween the United States and Germany have been subjected to some strain of late by reason of the antagonism of the German Agrarians to Amer- ican farm products and the hostile attitude taken by many German newspapers toward. the United States during the war with Spain, it appears the commerce between the two peoples has gone briskly forward and | increased as if there had been no friction whatever. A recent publication of the Treasury Bureau of Statistics shows that our trade with Germany, both import and export, has been advancing steadily for the last ten years. A decade ago 10 per cent of our imports were from Germany, while now over 13 per cent come from that country, and the export trade has increased in an even greater degree. It is within the last year, however, during which the sentimental friction has been greatest, that the com- statistics given it appears that in the last half of the calendar year 1807 our exports to Germany were $32,- 632,122, and in the last half of the calendar year 1898 they were $40,615,770, an increase of nearly 25 per cent. Our exports to Germany in the last half of the heavy export year 1897 were $77,132,053, and in the last half of 1898 they were $85,903,120. It is to be noted, moreover, that even in meats and breadstuffs, against which the Agrarians have directed their strongest efforts, our exports to Germany have increased. In salted or pickled beef the exportations increased more than 25 per cent in 1808 over 1897. Exports of bacon increased 25 per cent, or nearly 10,000,000 pounds; those of hams increased from less than 5,000,000 pounds to nearly 12,000,000 pounds; those of pork, fresh and salted, from less than 3,000,- 000 pounds to nearly 13,000,000 pounds; those of lard, from 205,000,000 pounds to 238,000,000 pounds; while in fruits and nuts the exports of 1808 were nearly 50 per cent in excess of those of 1896 and but slightly below those of 1897. It is evident from these statistics that trade is not affected by sentimental considerations or by tempo- rary controversies. The Agrarians may denounce American meats and fruits, but the masses of the German people continue to consume them, and the commerce shown to be so rapidly increasing may eventually reach proportions hardly inferior to that we now carry on with Great Britain. THE POSTOFFICE BUILDING. C ington as a bearer of good news. He talks cheerfully of everything he saw or heard at the national capital except the blizzards, and being now safe from them in the sunshine of California his views of things are bright and optimistic. He reports the California delegation to be “solid,” and expresses the belief that with the continuance of the unanimity of sentiment which now exists we will be able to obtain for California interests the recoggition they merit from the Government. As an evidence of what has been accomplished in that direction he points to the fact that the river and har- bor bill carries with it appropriations for California of $1,250,000, the largest amount granted fog improve- ments in the State for many years. Mr. Kahn furthermore confirms the report given out some time ago that the President has planned a visit to the Pacific Coast during the coming summer or fall, and will undoubtedly undertake it unless some emergency now unforeseen and improbable should in- terfere to prevent. The most interesting report he makes, however, is that relating to the long-delayed construction of the Postoffice building. We are told not only that the work of erecting the edifice will begin speedily, but that the structure itself will not be the barrack-like edifice that it looks in the drawings which have been On that subject Mr. Kahn is quoted as ONGRESSMAN KAHN returns from Wash- sent out. saying: “Before leaving Washington I received most posi- tive assurances from high officials that the construc- tion of the new Postoffice building would soon begin and be prosecuted with energy from now on. Before the end of the year the first story of the building will be up. The appropriation for the building is $500,000, and the supervising architect of the Treasury says that, while no radical changes could be made in the plans which have been heretofore approved, the wishes of the people of San Francisco would be re- garded as far as possible and such changes made as are compatible with the architectural beauty of the structure. The architect pledges his professional teputation that the Federal building now being erected in San Francisco will be one of the most im- posing structures in America. As provided in the original specifications nothing but California material is to be used in the new Postoffice. Granite and marble will both be used. Some revision has been made in the specifications, which were about completed when I left the capital, and proposals for bids will probably be advertised within a week. Then as soon as Con- gress adjourns and the half-million appropriation is available the construction of the building will be pro- ceeded with and continue without cessation until fin- ished.” It is to be hoped the architect who stakes his repu- tation that the building will be one of the most “im- posing” in America did not mean it is to be a case of imposing on the city, as it looked like at one time. We have waited so long for the structure that the people will be glad to see the work begin under any ircumstances, and if it proves to be a really noble edifice there will be something like a festival among the citizens when it is completed. B ] Another batch of sailors have arrived in port with tales of the suffering they endured during the voyage. They have made their complaints, and they will ship the first chance they get, leaving the complaint to take care of itself. Such is the usual course. President Zelaya down in Nicaragua does not seem to like the people of the United States, and while they do not care much about him one way or another, the feeling of distaste will become mutual if he gets any fresher. Just because a babe happens to be born at the Re- ceiving iiospital is no reason for fastening upon it the name of Thomas Demosthenes Maher Smith. fven a portionless infant has some rights. A man who tried to commit suicide, but missed his leart, says that for some time he had been practicing with haystacks for targets. Evidently he misjudged the size of his heart. Notwithstanding the poppy has not the honor of being the State flower, its privilege of blooming in golden profusion has been in no measure curtailed. AT T Probably no man was ever yet elected United States Senator on the threats of his backers to shoot the opposition if it did not stop opposing. U s It is difficult to figure out where the Filipinos ex- pect to reap profit by burning Manila. So far they have reaped little but hasty burial. No eculogy delivered over the sort killed ‘the soldiers in Cuba can induce the public to believe it a wholesome article. Johnson of Indiana may think he is a Republican, but the basis of his faith is something no man of or- dinary perception can discern. St e It might be judged from casualty reports from Manila that the Filipinos are limited to the use of blank ammunition. Doubtless a deadlock is a nuisance, but there is a wise precept teaching that of two evils the less should be chosen. 3 Bob Burdette is about to marry a rich widow. It is hard to think of Burdette as serious, but this is no joke. Senator Simpson’s burden seems greater than he can bear. Sometimes a burden is vulgarly known as a load. i X of beef that! IN MEMORIAM: DAN O’CONNELL. Pastoral poet, lyric, always young! As showery weather upon dark brown heath, Or earliest bird tones springing at a breath, To meet morn’s music, shalt thou g0 unsung? d T..e chimes that never yet were sung Are rung for thee in those far realms above, ‘Where, as ’tis understood, all things are love— Thine, above all, for everything that swung In nature’s cradle, genial, jovial guest And host, cajoying earth’s life as it went— To thee, farewell! And may thy soul go on On easier paths than it did tread upon In this dim sphere. Thou'rt reckoned with the best That ever fingers to a pencil bent. No, Dan! Februray 25, 1899. 0090090000 ROBERT DUNCAN MILNE, ® 0-0-0-0-90-00-000-0-0-00-00-0-0-90-0- THIRD SESSION OF ST, PATRICK'S DAY CONVENTION Perfecting Plans for ‘the 17th. THEATER SECURED FIRST REHEARSAL OF THE GRAND VOCAL CHORUS. TIVOLI Governor Gage Will Preside at the Robert Emmet Celebration at Metropolitan Temple Next Saturday Night. Delegates to the St. Patrick’s Day Con- vention of 1839 met yesterday afternoon at Red Branch Hall, 220 Mason street, to perfect arrangements for the grand cele- bration on the afternoon and evening of March 17. Added to the usual attendance was the following delegates from the Ladies’ Auxlllur¥, Ancient Order of Hi- bernians: Miss H. Fitzpatrick, Mrs. J. J. Donovan, Mrs. H. Mulverhill, Mrs. J. J. Moran, Miss Josephine Dillon, Mrs. J. H. McGinnis, Mrs. enr% Healy, Mrs. E. Butters, Mrs. C. B. Flannigan, Mrs. A. Kerr, Miss K. Leahy and Miss M. Foley. The following communication was re- ceived by the convention: SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25, 1599 To the St. Patrick Day Convention of 159 —Gentlemen: On Saturday evening, March 4, the Knights of the Red Branch will Ive an entertainment at Metropalitan Femple In commemoration of the 121st an- niversary of the birth of Robert Emmet. The proceeds will be given to the Ninety- eight Centennial and Monument Association 1o enable it to make up the amount which they promise to send to Ireland. Gov- ernor_Gage will preside on that occasion, and Mayor Phelan will deliver the ora- tion. Under the circumstances it is desirable that & full house should greet the chief executives of the State and city who come to co-operate with us in honoring the memory of Emmet's crowning sacrifice. Each person should feel a personal interest and pride in showing, by his presence, that our devotion to Emmet’'s memory is. not weakened by_time, but is still fresh and green in the hearts of his countrymen. We confidently rely on your co-operation to make. this event a success. Yours re- spectfully, Jeremiah Mahoney, Richard C. O'Connor, Daniel C. Deasy, Committee of *83 Centennial and Monument Assoclation. The general admission to the Emmet en- tertainment will be 25 cents, with reserved seats at 50 cents. : Chairman Broderick of the St. Patrick’s day executive committee reported the Tivoli had been secured for the afternoon entertainment. The programme had not been completed in detail, but, aside from the oration and poem of the convention, would consist of an appropriate comedy of about an hour’s duration, with specialties by the principal members of the Tivoll stock company. The tickets of admission will be at the usual prices, 25 cents gen- eral and 50 cents for reserved seats. These tickets will bear the seal of the Youths' Directory and will be sold at ten different places in the city. For the grand evening entertainment at Mechanics’ Pavilion 10,000 tickets will be %rlnled, bearing the seal of the Youths' irectory, and they will be sold at the Pa- vilion box office and by the members of the convention. Different organizations desiring tickets will procure them under the above ruling of the convention. This arrangement was agreed upon to guard against the mixing of the day and even- ing_tickets. No reserved seats will be sold for the Pavilion, 25 cents being the admission to all part of the auditorium. The committee on music reported that Bennett’s Band had been engaged for the evening. It is composed of the same musicians that were in attendance at the Irish Fair. The prlnc(l}pal pieces of music so_far chosen were “‘God Save Ireland,” “Killarney, “Dear Little Shamrock,” and Professor McKenzie's “My Own Lit- tle Boy,”’ dedicated to the Youths' Direc- tory. e melodies will close with the “Star Spangled Banner” by the entire audience. The rehearsals of the grand chorus of 500 voices are progressing and bi' the 17th all will be ready. Professor McKenzie desires all singers to call upon | him at 524 Eddy street, and to meet for | practice at St. Joseph's Hall, Tenth and | Howard streets, Wednesday evening. The | stereopticon views for the evening will be | unusually interesting. Lights for Precita Valley. The Precita Valley Improvement Club is gradually accomplishing everything it has outlined for the betterment of the | district. An assurance was given by the | city officials that Bernal Park would be | placed in a *park condition” during the | present fiscal year. Following this the gas | | company notified the property ownersthat | | mains would be laid on Folsom street and | | Precita avenue immediately. Light woule be avallable for the houses and Streets as soon as_the work was finished. Not to be | outdoné in generosity the underwriters signified their intention of reducing the | rates on all policies within the "area | covered by the fire protection. The Bryant street sewer ‘“ghost” that has been a source of annoyance to the club and the residents for a number of yvears will be abated by reletting the contract to a man who will make the connections with the Army street sewer without further loss of time. Spoke of Higher Womanhood. At the lecture-delivered before the Theo- sophical Society last night in the building of the Academy of Sclences, Mrs. H. H. Somers spoke on the subject of “The Higher Womanhood.” Her remarks were | concise and to the point, and the handling of her subject showed great study and re- search. California Limited, Santa Fe Route. Leaves Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Elegant service. Vestibuled sleepers, obsarvation cars. Harvey's Dining Cars through from California to Chicago with- out change. Get full particulars at company’ office, 628 Market st. . —_— e «“Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup” Has been used for fifty years by millions ot mothers for thelr children while Tecthing with perfect success. It soothes the chiid, softens the gums, allays Pain, cures Wind Collc, reg- ulates the Bowels and is the best remedy for Diarrhoeas, Wwhether arising from teething or | other causes. For sale by Druggists in every grt of the world. Be sure and ask for Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup. Zic a bottle. —_— e——— HOTEL DEL CORONADO—Take advantage of the round-trip tickets. Now only 380 by steamship, including fifteen days' board at hotel; longer stay, $3 per day. Apply at 4 New Montgomery street, San Francisco. e ACKER'S ENGLISH REMEDY WILL STOP a cough at any time, and will cure the worst AROUND THE CORRIDORS F. C. Stettler of Dayton, Ohio, is at the Grand. W. S. Berdan Jr. of Portland is at the Occidental. ‘W. A. Murphy of St. Occidental. A. N. McClure, U. 8. A., i3 registered at the Palace. ‘William 8. Clark of Eureka is a guest at the Grand. Daniel Healy of Sacramento is a gues: at the Grand. L George J. Cote of St. Louis is staying at the Palace. J. T. Campbell of St. Louis is a guest at the Occidental. H. G. Smith of Mexico arrived at the Grand yesterday. Attorney W. F. George of Sacramento is at the Grand. Ambrorio Yriondo of Mexico is a guest at the Occidental. E. F. Kellner from Arizona is regiscered at the Occidental. R. E. Jack, a banker of San Luis Obis- po, Is at the Palace. C. R. Baxter of Grand Rapids, Mich,, is staying at the Grand. E. C. Merritt of Santa Rosa Is regis- tered at the California. Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Mason of San Jose are staying at the Lick. Rohert Weiss of Budapesth, Hungary, is a guest at the Palace. W. D. Duke of Nevada is registered at the California yesterday. Mrs. F. K. Fox of Washington, D. C., is at the Lick with friends. James Simpson, a lumber merchant from Eureka, is at the Lick. Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman of Portland ar- rived at the Palace yesterday. E. C. McClellan, a civil engineer from Visalia, is a guest at the Lick. J. Dempsey and daughters of Michigan have taken apartments at the Palace. H. M. Mclntosh, president of the Pro- duce Fruit Company of Chicago, is at the Palace. J. E. Calley, a merchant of Nevada City, city for a few days. Mr. and Mrs. A, D. Pierce Jr. of Bridge- port, Conn., are among the recent ar- rivals at the Palace. Theodore C. Marceau, the photographer, returned from his European trip last evening and is at the Palace. NEWS OF FOREIGN NAVIES. There are fifty-three various types of ‘water-tube boilers in use in merchant and naval steamers of the maritime nations. Paul is at the A contract for a palr of twin-screw en- gines of 30,000 horsepower has been given by the British Admiralty to Humphrys & Tennant. They are for one of the eight 14,100-ton armored cruisers about to be bullt, and will be the most powerful en- gines yet put in any vessel. The distinguished Mitsul family contem- plates establishing a large ship building plant at Kyusha, with a capital of $15,~ 000,000, for the purpose of building war- ships for the Government. A foreign ship building company, it is said, has joined the Mitsul house in the undertak- ing. The torpedo-boat destroyer Bittern, built at the yard of Vickers, at Barrow passed through a three hours’ trial on January 2. The boat was down to a mean draught of 6 feet 9% inches and made 30.403 knots with 220 pounds of steam, 39% revolutions, developing 6659 horsepower. The contract called for 6000 horsepower and 30 knots. The encouragement offered by the lead- ing naval powers to shipowners having their vessels constructed in a manner to meet the requirements of auxiliary cruis- ers is a very ancient idea, and was formu- lated by Henry VIII, the father of the British navy, and dates about 350 years ago. Merchant ships built so as to be suitable for war purposes were to receive 12 shillings a month when taken into service, and were also exempted from cer- tain duties. Drydock building is rapidly increasing in the Orient, one having recently been com- pleted at Kure Naval Port, Japan, which will accommodate a 15,000-ton ship. At Kalochou, the new German territory in China, the Germania Works of Mr. Krupp is said to be likely to get the contract for building a dock able to take in the largest German battleship. The scheme has not yet béen officially announced, but the cost of the dock is Included in the sum of $2,125,000 granted for Kaiochou for 1899. An engineer in the Swedish navy has in- vented a method of steering torpedoes by means'of the X-rays. The invention con- sists of two small apparatuses—one a gen- erator and the other a recelver. The re- ceiver is placed in the torpedo, and by a simple arrangement the steering is con- ducted by the operator on board ship | or elsewhere, who retains possession of the generator. It is stated also that the | invention can be adapted to_other pur- poses, such as signaling. etc. No connect- ing wire is used, but the exact particulars of the construction and working of the instruments are kept a secret for the | present. i General Caprivi, ex-Chancellor of Ger- mény, who died February 6, this year, was chief of the Admiralty from 1884 until 1889, having succeeded General von Stosch. Neither of these generals knew anything about nautical affairs, but the German navy in its infancy was held of secondary importance to the army, and the Emper- .or's idea was to engraft military disci- pline on the young navy. Caprivi’s admin- istration was a success; he instituted training squadrons and he created a large and finer torpedo flotilla than belonged to any other naval power, his idea being that the German navy should be chiefly for home defense rather than for distant ag- gression. This policy did not meet with the approval of the young Emperor, and Caprivi was advanced to Chancellor, and Rear Admiral von Heuener was made Minister of Marine, and the navy has since then been under the control of naval officers and is no longer looked down upon. DR. JORDAN SET RIGHT. Editor of The Call: In The Call of to- day (Saturday) is a note from Stockton of a story I told as to an American envoy in France and a cuspidor. The story is true, but _the reporter has located it with the late Peace Commission, which is his addition. T?Ei islcldemkto%l: pg:;:: ste‘verfl ears ago. N make e ection ¥ o % DAVID S. JORDAN., cold in twelve or money ref At Owl Drug Co. worth while. . Stanford University. Feb. 26, 189, accompanied by his wife, is in the | CALIFORNIA'S FRUITS AT THE BIG EXPOSITION Oscar Polack Gives Good Advice. SHOULD EXHIBIT AT PARIS SAYS SHIPPERS MUST AVOID FALSE LABELING. The State’s Products Able to Stand on Their Own Merits—Germany May Be Induced to Re- move Restrictions, Oscar Polack, a hea: perter of California prfiucfifl: Gl is annual visit to this State for the pur- Pose of negotlating large purchases ot fruit for shipment to Germany. Mr. Po- n‘ck is enthuslastic over the projected dis- play of our products at the Paris Ex- Pposition next year, and is desirous of see- 1}:;; tkem exhibited on an zlaborate scale. e has just returned from u tour of ob- gervation throughout the Santa Clara and San Joaquin Valleys and was at the Pal- ace yesterday. He left on a similar mis- sion to the southern part of the State in the afternoon. When seen before his de- parture, Mr. Polack said: ‘I hope that the California exhibitors at the Paris fair will take a lesson from the Hamburg Exposition of 1897, and see to it that no paitiality be shown to any one exhibl_tor. At the latter exposition thas commissioner from this State took it upon himself to recommend one firm to intend- ing purchasers. This is a manifest in- justice to the other firms who have goue to the trouble and expense of exhibiting their goods. Let the exhibitors co-operate to make a grand display, and let the merit of each be an incentive to those who wish to buy. Let not one firm benefit by the recommendation of the commissioner, but let all have an equal chance. “I would suggest that the commissioner establish_a bureau of information at his headquarters and that exhibitors, In addi- tion to glvlnfi away samples, also dispose of small packages of the products, which | I am sure will find ready sale, and by that mcans help to liquidate their ex- penses. “I belleve that a proper display will have the effect of assuring a brilliant fut- ure for this State’s products in foreign marts. “California growers should also see to it that when they export their goods there should be nothing misleading in the labels. There appears to be a laxity of method in the labeling, ‘prime’ and “‘fancy’ being used indiscriminately, and ‘choice’ being applied to fine yeliow apricots, for in- stance, as well as to the black and poorer | grade.” Then, too, they should guard | against having their cases branded as I saw some once in a Hamburg warehguse. On one end of the case was printed ‘Ital- fan prunes, while on the other end read “Fancy California prunes.” They came from a New York firm and had been put up by the Vancouver Packing Company OF Vancouver, B. C. I took them to be Oregon_prunes from the thick skin and large pit, but the flavor was good, though slightly acid. This conflict of labeling should be stopped, for it tends to shake confidence in the shipper. %I think that by concerted action on the part of California shippers the recent re- Striction placed on their fruit by the Ger- man Government could be modifled, if not Témoved entirely. 'This decree in regard to infested fruit is very sweeping and makes no distinction between the dead and the live scale. That is why it ope- Tates so harshly against this "country. ‘e are well aware that the scale, if it exists, is utterly destroyed by the dryin or dipping process, as in the case o runes, But Germany has not provided or this and consequently the shipper suf- fers. France has adopted similar meas- ures and Switzerland, I am sorry to see, rohibits any California fruit “enterin ts boundarfes. United States Consul Germain for Switzefland could not pre- vent the passage of the drastic law, though he made strenuous objections. “In regard to the late shipment of pears to Hamburg from this port, which precipi- tated the exclusion by Germany of fruit infested with the so-called San Jose scale, 1 regret to say that it was first discovered by the authorities in a shipment to me. second consignment suffered the same fate and I hope that the steps taken by the Regents of the California University to secure Federal inspection will result successfully. R “To avoid unpleasant difficulties the goods should be properly cured, as the trip to Europe is so long that fermenta- tion is quite likely to occur if they are not originally in proper condition. I must in- velgh also against the mixing of French and California prunes. The industry of this State has nothing to gain by this questionable practice and will probably lose in thé long run. “In regard to this year's California crop I believe it will equal, if not surpass, that of last season, though I have found the country pretty dry in my visit throughout the interior. = Still with irrigation, which has already commenced, a great deal will be accomplished. This year I anticipate that Hamburg will require one thousand carloads of fruit, principally prunes, and ‘Antwerp and Bremen will each take a similar amount. Prices will robably Tule as In 1897, though a great deal wiil depend on the ‘crop. = France has a light crop of very small prunes this year and the large California prunes will -he in grefl.t demand in foreign markets, and this act may have a tendency to -elevate prices.” B — A souvenir of our Golden State, Old Mis- sions in California, fire-etched on boxes of Townsend's California Glace Fruits, 60c pound. 627 Market street, Palace Hotel. * —_——————— Special information supplied daily to business houses and public men by the Press Clipping Bureau (Allen’s), 510 Mont- gomery street. Telephone Main 1042. ¢ Probably the most inflammable among substances which are not spontaneously inflammable is phosphuretted hydrogen (PH3). The heat of a thin glass tube con- taining boiling water is quite sufficient to ignite this gas. 00000030000 0000000 Wells, Fargo & Company Respectiully inform the busi- ness as well as the general ¢ public that on MONDAY, February 21, 189, 3 THE EXPRESS Will be ready for the conduct of business in THEIR NEW BLOCK, o o L] o o (] o (] 00000 00 o o0 Bounded by §econd, Mission, o New Anthony and Cheney ~ © 0000000000000 0000000000000000000 Y { S— 0 : ) Strleis. 3& H. W. TITUS, o 4 General Agent. o C0000000000L00000