The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 24, 1902, Page 4

4 - . The= ke Call MONDAY....... eesseess... FEBRUARY 24, 1902 JOHN D. SPRECKELS, Proprietor. s Address 411 Communications to W, B. LEAKE, Manager. MANAGER'S OFFICE.......Telephone Press 204 PUBLICATION OFFICE...Market and Third, S. F. Teleph. Press 201. EDITORIAL ROOMS 217 to 221 Stevemson St. Telep Press 202. Delivered by Carriers, 15 Cents Per Weel™ Single Copies, 5 Cents. Terms by Mail, Including Postage: DAILY CALL (including Sunday), one year.. ..$8.00 DAILY CALL (including Sunday), 6 months. 8.00 DAILY CALL (including -Sunday), 3 months 1.50 DAILY CALL—By Single Month . 65c SUNDAY CALL, One Year.. 1.50 WEEKLY CALL, One Yea: L9 are orized to receive subscriptions. Sample copies will be forwarded when requested. Mail subscribers in ordering change of address should be particular to give both NEW AND OLD ADDRESS in order to insure a prompt and correct compliance with their request. OAKLAND OFFICE. C. GEORGE KROGNESS, Manager Foreign Advertising, Marquette Building, Chicago. (Long Distance Telephone *‘Central 2619.%) <+..1118 Broadway NEW YORK CORRESPONDENT: €. C. CARLTON.... «++.Herald Square NEW YORK REPRESENTATIVE: STEPHEN B. SMITH........30 Tribune Building NEW YORK NEWS STANDS: Waldorf-Astoria Hotel; A. Brentano, 31 Union Square; | Murray Hill Hotel. WASHINGTON (D. C.) OFFICE....1406 G St.,, N. W. | MORTON E. CRANE, Correspondent. | BRANCH OFFICES—3527 Montgomery, corner of Clay, open until 9:80 o'clock. 300 Hayes, open until 9:30 o'clock. 633 McAllister, open until 9:30 o'clock. 615 Larkin, open until 9:30 o'clock. 1941 Miscion, open until 10 o'clock. 2261 Marker, corner Sixteenth, open until § o'clock. 1096 Va- | lencia, open until ® o'clock. 106 Eleventh, open untfl 9 | o'clock. NW. corner Twenty-second and Kentucky, open until ® o'clock. 2200 Fillmore, open until 9 AMUSEMENTS. | Central—*“The Corner Grocery." Alcazar—"*The Head of the Family.” Columbia—*Way Down East.” Orpheum—Vaudevilie. Grand Opera-hous: Fischer's Theater. Californ! “Shooting the Chutes.’ Tivoll—"The Serenade.” Chutes, Zoo and Theater—Vaudeville every afternoon and evening. Metropolitan 25 *‘A Midnight Bell.” Hall—Hofmann Evening, Tuesday, Febru- oy Metropolitan Hall—Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Febru- ary " Oakiand Racetrack—Races to-day. | AUCTION SALES. By William G. Layng—Thursday, 27, Horses, at 721 Howard street. BUSINESS STILL BRISK. February TORMS and generally inclement weather con- S tinue to interrupt trade throughout the coun- try, but in spite of this common midwinter drawback business is reported in exceptionally good The bank clearings, it is | true, show a slight decrease compared with the same time in 1901, but it was only 1.7 per cent last week, and considering the stormy weather and interruption 1o traffic by rail and water was hardly worth men- | tioning. There was only one significant loss, and that was at Philadelphia, 22.2 per cent. San Fran- cisco gained 28 per cent over 1901, Chicago 25.3, St. Louis 208 and Kansas City 298 New York lost 5.8 per cent The consumptive demand of the country showed no abatement. There was the same familiar call for all sorts merchandise everywhere, the West and | Northw sending 1 the best reports, as usual, though the East reported an active demand for dry goods. ited somewhat by the advance in cotton, which rendered sellers less disposed to meet buyers. The call for woolen gcods was active, but shipments footwear showed a tendency to decrease, though they are still 8 per cent ahead of last year thus far this season. Hides are weak throughout the coun- try, but this is really the only important staple ex- hibiting weakness at the moment. iron shape almost everywhere. of The firmness in and steel continves and pigiron has again ad- ed in spite of the opposition of the conservative elements, who fought the advance. The smaller mills are buying freely, and this may cause a further rise. Structural mills are generally sold up to Sep- tember, showing remarkable activity in building and | railway construction throughout the country. Gen- cral briskness in the heavy hardware trade is addi- tional testimony to ‘this effect. Railway earnings show a falling off of 2.5 per cent thus far this month, but this is wholly due to the great storms here and | there, which are especially felt by the railways. Prices for perishable goods and general farm products con- tinue high and some of them have still further ad- vanced, Gairy products in particular. Eggs are so scarce that San Francisco is shipping them to Chi- cago, the Territories and Puget Sound in such quan- tities that our local market remarkably well cleaned up for this time of the year, and very strong, Nevada is also drawing on California for hay, and as Honolulu is also in this market for the same pro- duct the price has been kept up very well in spite | of the recent copious 1zins. The Southern States are enjoying more activity in cotton than for many months, -znd if the present inquiry continues every bale produced will be needed. Thus it will be seen | that the consumptive trade of the country is remark- ably active for midwinter, and the gratifying feature of it is that it is in those lines which put money into the pockets of the farmers, on whose prosperity that of the whole land depends. Wall street continues quiet in the main and would have been without feature last week had it not been for the bombshell dropped into it by President Rooseveit in the matter of the merger of the North- western railroads, which caused a flurry for a day or so. But this was merely a flash in the pan, the inci- dent of a day. As far as California is concerned the rain of the latter part of the week practically put the State on ivet. It touched regions where it was most need- «d. giving the south and San Joaquin Valley the long- desired wetting. Good crops are now almost as- sured all over the State, and with the usual spring is ve | 1abor. THE SAN F -TILLMAN'S CLIMAX. Y assaulting with blows a fellow Senator upon B the floor of the Senate chamber during an { open debate Senator Tillman carried his vio- lent career in that body to a natural and perhaps in- evitable climax.- His -strange apology made after- ward aggravates rather than diminishes the offense. Beyond that outrageous assault he cannot go. He has reached the end, and either the Senate must ex- pel him, his State repudiate him or his fellow Sena- tors, for the preservation of their own dignity, force him to such a reform of manners and language as will render him a fit associate of gentlemen. In some respects the Senate itself is responsible for the worst part of Tillman’s offensiveness. It has tolerated words from him which should never have been tolerated and has encouraged him to go from bad to worse in his career as a bully. In the very debate which led up to the fight on the floor of the Senate, Tillman had said to the Republican members of the Senate: “Politically, you are the most in- famous cowards and hypocrites that ever happened”; and we are told in the reports that the statement was greeted with laughter. For a long time past the same sort of reception has greeted his insults. The man has been permitted to say what he pleased, and even encouraged to go further and further until at last he has lost all sense of Senatorial dignity or per- sonal seli-respect and has come to delight in making a blackguard of himself in every debate in which he | takes part. With the exception of the toleration shown him by the Senate Tillman has no excuse whatever for his conduct. In his apology to the Senate he said: “I have always esteemed it a high honor and privilege to be 2 member of this body. I had never had any legislative experienc$when I came here, and my pre- vious service as Governor of South Carolina for four august assembly with that dignity and regard—proper regard, I will say, for its traditions and habits and rules—that is desirable. I have been here seven vears. I have in that time learned to judge men with a little more catholicity of spirit than I did when I came here. I have found a great many persons here in whose personal integrity and honor and regard for their obligations as gentlemen I have implicit confidence; but I have seen so much of partisanship, I have seen so much of what I consider slavish sub- mission to party domination, that I confess I have felt somewhat at a loss how to judge men who in one respect seem to be so high and clean and honorable and in another appeared more or less despicable.” That is the Senator’s explanation and excuse. It is not only a slur upon his State and upon the Sen- ate, but it is absolutely invalid. There is nothing in the office of Governor of South Carolina that unfits a man for showing ot feeling a proper regard for the United States Senate: Tillman’s predecessor in the | Senate, Wade Hamptcn, had himself been Governor of South Carolina, but had not acquired there any- thing of the insolence and offensiveness which have characterized Tillman. There is, in short, nothing in Tillman’s past career nor in the environment in which he was raised that serves as an explanation of his conduct. His par- ents were wealthy enough to give him the advantages of education and right training and they did it. As 2 boy before the war he had for a governess and pri- vate tutor in his father's home a sister of Chester A. i Arthur, who afterward became President of the United States. The war swept away his father's for- tune and young Tillman had to begin life for him- self ‘without ‘a2 college ' education.. “He' became - a* farmer and for a time plowed his fields by his own For more than twenty-five years he was a working farmer, but during that time was a diligent student of books and is said to have acquired the finest private library in his State. The revolt of the “plain people” of South Carolina against the old aristocracy brought him into politics and his success was immediate. Up to that time there was rfothing of the bully or the blackguard about him, and he gave promise of becoming a leader of whom his State might be justly proud. Unfortunately he found in his first political cam> paigns that the constituency to which he appealed delighted more in invective than in argument. He began by denouncing the aristocracy of his own State and since then he has gone rapidly from bad to worse. Had the Senate rebuked him emphatically and firmly at his first gross breach of dignity and decency he might have been checked in a career that has brouglit himself into infamy and his State into disgrace. Now the climax has come. It remains to be seen what the Senate will do about it. If it act properly Tillman will either reform utterly or his career in the Senate will be short Sir Robert Anderson, chief of the British detective service, is quoted as saying recently that so far as the police are aware there are not more than seventy dangerous professional burglars in the kingdom; and- it remains for the public to decide whether that means that the police have been vigilant enough to suppress most of the bad burglars, or that they have not been vigilant enough to spot them. D upon his time and his energies, Mr. Carnegie has interested himself in the controversy con- cerning the isthmian canal route and has declared strongly in favor of Pznama against Nicaragua. In a letter to Senator Platt of New York on the subject he announces that he once subscribed $10,000 to a fund got up to test’ the Nicaragua route, but was satisfied from a report made by General Ludlow that the enterprise “was not to be thought of as a rea- sonable undertaking.” He further claims to have read every official report that has been made on the subject, and says: “All have confirmed my opinion that instead of $200,000,000 it will cost $400,000,000, and will vot be a serviceable canal when finished.” In the course of his letter Mr. Carnegie states in detail some of the objections which his examinations have led him to conclude to be valid against the Nicaragua route. ' He says: “It has curves of 4000 feet radius; the Manchester canal has nothing under 5000 feet, and yet tugs are required fore and aft of every vessel that tries to pass around these curves,” THE CANAL QUESTION. ESPITE the claims of various philanthropies showers we will turn out an abundant harvest. Everybody feels the beneficent effects of this rain, which was a veritable tonic to agriculture and com- merce. The city itself was never more prosperous. Popu- Jation is increasing at a rate which has not been ap- proached for a quarter of a century and lofty buildings In another place he says: “The commission esti- mates the increased cost of operating the Nicaragua canal at only $1,300,000 more than Panama. This is merely for operating, but what of maintenance? That is a far more important point, and the longer distance cf the Nicaragua route will of course entail more replacement and repairs and liability to disas- are shooting up on all sides. This will be a big town, j ter.” By way of a' third objection he says: ‘“Sena- indeed. in two or three years more if the present rate of growth continues. From the foregoing it will be scen that nobody has cause for worry anywhere in the United States. We are still on the crest of a wave whose shore is yet 0 be descried on the horizon. ' tor Morgan and our Southern friends believe that the Nicaraguan route is shorter than the Panama, but in this T think them. mistaken. The commission gives: thirty-three hours for the passage. This means day- mght only—nearly three days. It will be found im- years had unfitted me in a measure to enter this | RANCISCO says: “T have had considerable experience in navi- gating canals in handling our ore shipments, and I wish to ‘go on record as assuring Semator Morgan and his friends of the South as well as the North that they will be more benefited by the Panama canal than by the Nicaragua.” Such statements coming from a business man of Mr. Carnegie’s standing, based as they are upon ex- aminations carefully made, are entitled to consider- able weight with angress and will undoubtedly have it. On the other side there will be just about as strong a presentation of arguments from the advo- cates of the Nicaraguan route, for . Mr. Carnegie is mistaken if he supposes, as his letter implies, that the Nicaragua route is supported mainly by Senator Morgan and “his Southern friends.” The question should not be a sectional one, yet if it were made so it would be found that the West favors the Nic- araguan route and has valid reasons for doing so. No section of the country, however, looks with any favor upon a prolonged controversy over the two routes. Either one would satisfy the majority of the people. Such arguments as that put forth by Mr. Carnegie emphasize the need of getting the question out of Congress and submitting it to the President with power to act, so that argument may be ended and action begun. Congressman Wheeler’s speech against paying re- spect to Kings and visiting Princes was about the most foolish that has been made in this Congress, and it is an illustration of the amount of common sense in the House that it has received more atten- tion from the members of both parties than any tother speech. It seems to be the rule in the House that the biggest fool gets the most reputation. v of Congress are | LOOKING EASTWARD. among the cur- WHILE the Democrats redts of politics, making no apparent ef- drifting aimlessly along fort to decide upon a course of action for the party, there are impatient souls in .the South fretting at the inaction and inclined to assume the leadership themselves. One of these is Mr, McAllister, 2 mem- ber of the Mississippi Legislature. Wearied of wait- ing for the national leaders of his party to decide something, he has turned away from the affairs of his State and invited his colleagues to undertake to formulate a national policy for the Democracy of the South to follow. For that purpose he has introduced into the Mis- sissippi Legislature a resolution declaring that the Democrats of the South are willing to co-operate with the Democrats of the North and the East in the adoption of a platform and the sefection of a candidate, “to the end that the party may present an unbroken front at the next Presidential election and that better commercial relations may be promoted between the two sections.” It hardly seems right that a State Legislature should neglect State affairs to do politics for Democ- racy, but that is a matter which concerns only the people of Mississippi. If they like it, outsiders have no right to complain. It seems they do like it. One of the leading papers of the State says: “The reso- lution sets forth the true status of the case. The Democratic party must make alliance with the East. It cannot hope to win the West any more. This thas been tried, and it has been found to be a horrible failure. It is right and proper that the South should lead off and show to the East that it wants to get back to its old moorings, as the South was the one which took up the aliiance with the West. ' No one who reads the McAllister resolution, and who has any knowledge of the true status of the case, will take issue with it for one instant.” So the Mississippi plan is to go back to the East and ask Eastern Democracy to kill the fatted calf. It has found in the alliance with the West nothing to feed on but the husks of Bryan's eloquence and nothing wherewith tc clothe itself but the rags of tattered banners inscribed with the legends of free silver. It longs for better food and more clothes. It is to be noted that in turning away from the Western alliance the South would not be forsaking a fond wooer. Bryn carried along with the South- ern vote in 1900 only four Western States, and their votes counted for little in the electoral college. In fact, the West shook the South long ago, and there is nothing for Southern Democracy to do but to get back East as quickly as it can. The McAllister reso- lution may be impertinent to Mississippi legislation, but it scems to be good sound sense for all that. HILE most of the resolutions adopted by RIGHTFUL CONDEMNATION. W the State convention of, the League of Iroquois Clubs were naturally of a partisan nature, there will be general gratification in that which declares: “We condemn and recommend the defeat of the Assembly amendment to the State con- stitution known as Assembly amendment No. 28, to be voted upon at the next State election, abolishing various commissions and ereating one commission clothed with extraordinary powers.” As this is not a partisan issue it is liable to be over- looked by the people when once the party cam- paigns begin. It is, theréfore, all the more important that public sentiment on the subject be formed before the campaign excitements hold popular attention to strictly partisan questions. The amendment ought to be condemned at every political gathering that takes place in the State. A resolution similar to that of the Troquois Clubs should be included in every utterance of any political party, so that the people may not overlook the importance of defeating it on election day. The amendment is absolutely vicious.. It has not one redeeming feature. If enacted it would estab- lish in the State a commission with something like autocratic power over a large variety of matters, many of which are of strictly local concern. It would put five men in control of rates and regulations of railways, sleeping cars, express companies, tele- graphs, telephones, water, light, banking and insur- ance companies. Those five men would hold office, one for two years, oue for four, one for sik, one for eight and one for ten years. The successor of each would hold for ten years. The first set would be ap- pointed by the Governor. It can hardly be necessary to point out to intel- ligent men what the passage of such an amendment would mean to California. The scheme is an utterly unjustifiable one. The corporations, however, are back of it and are going to make a strong fight for it. Therefore the public must be warned of the danger. No political convention will do its duty at this time if it fail to chdemn the scheme emphatically and resolutely. et —— Kk - Senator’ Depew recently delivered a speech with- out telling a single anecdote, and the opinion is grow- ing in the EWst that his newly wedded wife is a re- 85 i practicable to ‘pass thfough at night” Finally, he ; former of the most drastic kind. CALL, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1902 | been planned the past week, each host DEBUTANTES BRIGHTEN LENT - WITH SMILES A ND READY WIT e HO but debutantes, bubbling ] over with girlish enthusiasm and genuine delight, could ever think of so many enjoyable things to do when society is supposed to be at a standstill and wrapped in sackcloth and ashes? They are not en- tertaining—dear, no—and you must not call it a ‘tea”—but it is wonderful what good times girls can give their friends in their cozy drawifig-rooms, chatting every guest into a seventh heaven of serene content with that enchanting little way of theirs. Meanwhile the enchanted— what does he do? He gazes sidewise from under his drooping lids toward the one who from his point of view is most fas- cinating and sinks intaq a rapture so pro- found that nothing short of being abrupt- ly asked how many lumps, or if he will take rum in his tea, serves to rouse him into a realization that when doing society Yyou must never think. The next day, however (and there Is always a next day when charms are re- membered), the young men bestir them- selves ‘and arrange some entertainment for the fair ones., Various excursions have trying to eclipse his predecessors in orig- inal ideas. The rain has played sad havog Wwith other people’s affairs for a number of days. I have in mind a charming luncheon to be given on Angel Island for a number of young ladies and their chap- erones with some of the most interesting army officers as hosts, but the affair has been twice postponed on account of the inclemency of the weather, and the week before ug looks no more promising. . oo Apropos of delightful entertaining. I must say a word about the elaborate din+ ner Sam Crooks gave at the California Hotel Saturday evening, followed by a ccaching party. One of the handsomest banquet rooms was specially decorated for the occasion, and the twelve guests were seated at one table with the sweet- est of flowers and favors. Everything 4 i | TENDED MISS KATHRYN WHO IS PLANNING AN EASTERN TRIP. Photo by Genthe. from Stanford yesterday afternoon, after availing themselves of invitations to the scphomore cotillon. These Wwho went from San Francisco were: Miss Georgia Spleker, Miss Kathryn Robinson, Miss Flizabeth Mills, Miss Mabel Watkins Miss McCabe, Miss Elsie Sperry, Miss Flizabeth Foulke,y Miss Bessie Wilson, Miss Flossie Yates and Miss Gladys Mer- ril. They were all very glad they went down, and wouldn't have missed a dance for anything, besides those college affairs are always such immense successes. The Freshman Glee is also behind us, but the junfor promenade and senlor ball will come later on. The admiring friends of Miss Kathryn Robinson cannot bask in the sunshine of ker presence any longer this season. She is getting ready to go East for an ex- tended trip, visiting cousins in Kentucky Before coming back Miss Robinson wi|, do Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky anq - Louisiana, and “if you have tears pre pare to shed them now” for those she will leave in her trail—the victims of the dangerous lightnings of her eyes. After her departure soclety will have to get used to seeing Miss Herrm without Miss Robinson. They are called “the two Catherines,” and their devotion and gen erous consideration of each other is beau tiful. They are much alike in style, tem- perament, frankness and popularity, o5 e Speaking of the popularity of these de- butantes, I ought to confide a new story about Katherine Herrin that is amusing her friends. At a recent Sunday after- noon tea she was surrounded by the usual coterie of men. When she went home the entire group obtained her consent company her, which departure sa prived the tea of practically all the eli bles. The happy debutante was quite un- conscious of her drawing power. She was simply having a good time. A few mo ments later the enthusiastic Katherin. reached her home and burst into drawing-room, presenting the several ad- ROBINSON, E — b was perfectly appointed and pleasant in every detail. After the gentlemen had finished their cigars two brakes with spiendid horses awaited the party and a pleted the evening. moonlight drive in the bracing air com- A number of very tired girls came back - 4 miring guests to those already awaiting her, adding, breathlessly: “Collins and Brower will be here on the next car!” SALLY SHARP. L e B e Y JAPAN IS FAST BUILDING UP ITS .NAVY AND WILL SOON TAKE RANK AS A FORMIDABLE SEA POWER Armorplate and Steel Mills Are Improvemznts Projected, an Ordnance Factory Is in Full Bast and the Navy Personnel Equals That of the United States. WO second class cruisers have been laid down at the I Kure and Yukosuko dockyards in Japan. They are named Niitaka and Tsushima. and have been designed oy Chief Constructor Satow of the Japanese navy. Some of the material for the construction of these vessels has been ordered from abroad, but the work will be done en- tirely with native labor. The design of these cruisers is an improvement upon vessels of similar types in other navies and excessive speed has been sacrificed for heavier armament and coal endurance. They are 334.5 feet in length, 44 feet beam and displace 3420 tons on 16.5 feet draught. The motive power is triple expansion vertical engines of 9500 horsepower, driving twini screws calculated to give a speed of 20 knots, and the armament consists of six 6-inch, ten 3-inch and four 2%- pounders. The armored deck is 2% inches thick, the bunker capacity is 600 tons and the boilers are of the Niclausse type. The Hashidate, a cruiser of 4277 tons, was the first vessel of considerable size built in Japan. As a matter of fact the ship was constructed in France simultaneously with the Itsu- kushima, which latter ship was launched at La Segore in 1891, but the Hashidate was shipped in sections to Japan, there to be erected, launched and completed. The Japanese have taken théir time in familiarizing themselves with modern navy building and ordnance, and with the dockyards now equipped have already built seviral torpedo-boats and will now bufld the two cruisers above mentioned. The ordnance factory Is turning out guns of all callbers, and with an armor and steel mill, which is to be ¢ompleted in a couple of years, the Japa- nese navy will be entirely independent of foreign assistance. The personnel of the Japanese navy and that of the United States is about equal in number of officers and men, bat Japan has now four admirals against one in our navy. . . . Twenty-seven vessels are in course of construction for the TUnited States navy, on which $16,500,000 has yet to be paid for armor and $13.768,000 for armament, making a total sum of $30,268,000 to be appropriated during the next three years. The list includes eight hattleships, six armored cruisers, four moni- tors and nine protected cruisers, the latter embracing six of the Denver class contracted for in December, 18%9. Of the eight battleships only three, namely the Maine, Missouri and Ohio, are likely to be completed within two vears, while the five battleships, armored cruisers and protected cruisers are making’ very slow progress and are not likely to be completed within a year of contract time. The four monitors, que on delivery one vear ago, may be finished before 1903. A naval station at St. Thomas, one of the Danish West India Islands, s projected by the Navy Department when the United States shall have taken possession of the group.; The strategic value of these islands is the sole reason for acquir< ing them, but there is some uncertainty about their value for a naval station. The United States ship Monongahela had a rather rough experience at St. Croix in November, 187. when a tidal wave caused by an earthquake carried the ship over a number of warehouses, landing her in one of the streets iu the town of Frederickstadt. A receding wave lifted the vessel and landed her on a coral reef, from which the Monongahela was launched after several months of labor and much expense. Only five lives of the ship’s company were lost. The Mononga- hela is still in active service as a training ship, her engines having been taken out fifteen years ago, and she- depends now solely upon her sail power as a means of propulsion. The London Engineer of January 24 refers in uncompli- mentary terms to the six cruisers of the Denver class in course of construction for the United States navy. They are denominated as ‘“political ships” and as “humbug ships,” be- cause their designed speed of 165 knots is far below that of somewhat similar types in other navies. The Engineer goes on to say that the patriotism of American shipbuflders is de- pended upon to make these ships steam as high as 19 knots, which is still below the speed of vessels of that class in Ger- many, France, England and Japan. This criticism is hardly a fair one, for the vessels with which comparisons are made vary widely as to tonnage, armament and coal. The American ships were designed to carry good batteries and have a fair, reliable speed, while in the forelgn vessels of less tonnage excessive speed is aimed at and efficiency of fighting issacrificed. The experiment of crowding a ship with machinery, making it practically a floating machine and boller shop, has been tried in our navy and proved unsuccessful. The Columbia and Minneapolis, as well as the Cincinnati and Raleigh, are such examples, for their phenomenal speeds of 22 kmots for the first two named dwindled down to 18 knots in actual service, and the estimated 19 knots of the Cincinnatl and Raleigh sim- mered down to about 16 knots under the most favorable con- ditions. It is entirely unlikely thaf the forelgn high-speed cryisers make a better showing. All these paper speeds, rang- ing from 20 to 24 knots, are deceptive. They are rarely hon- estly earned on the trial trip and never reached after entering the service. For this and, many other reasons the Denver class promises to become 'a valuable addition to the navy, as the vessels will make good fighting ships, have fair speed and a reserve power that will make them far more reliable than those of fancy speed, in which deterioration of machinery and boilers speedily reduces their efficiency far below that of the less pretentious craft. . . . The British Navy League is untiring In its efforts to im- prove the material and personnel of the empire’s navy and it has accomplished some good results. The Admiralty has been forced into retiring a number of obsolete ships, the names of which only swelled the list of the effective navy, but were only a source of expense and tended to deceive the public. During the last few weeks six ‘“‘death traps” have been stricken off the efficient list. They are all ironclads and in- clude the Temeraire, Agamemnon, Ajax, Orion, Gorgon and Hecate. There are eight more ironclads doomed to early re- retirement, including the Inflexible, Superb, Alexandra, Dread- naught, Sultan, Hercules, Monarch and Hotspur. Two of the three 16,500-ton battleships building for the British navy are to be fitted with Babcock and Wilcox boflers, and the third is to have three-fifths power of these boflers dnd two-fifths of the Scotch cylindrical type. Only three lieutenants in the British navy have been pro- moted to the quarter deck from the lower deck during the past sixty years. They are James Webber and R. A. Cathie, who earned distinction in Egypt and are “jubilee memorials,™ and the third, W. Sims, was a gunner at Ladysmith, where his heroic service brought to him the deserved promotion. The promotion, however, stops right there, and they will remain lieutenants during their subsequent service. In the army gon- ditions are different, for over 6000 enlisted men have been raised to commissioned officers and many have attained high ranks. In ‘the United States navy two gunners who entered the service as enlisted men have been raised to the grade of ensign, and they are in the line of promotion and may reach the rank of captain. They are H. B. Soule and Francis Martin, and were commissioned July 3, 1901 .medwm. ANSWERS TO QUERIES. McKINLEY—F. Q., City. President Mc- | Kinley was shot on the 6th of September, 1901 FIELD MARSHAL—A. O. R. T. C, Cal. Question as to highest rank in the German army was published in this de- partment on the 13th of January, 1902. DICE-SHAKING—A. §, City. If in shaking poker dice, Eastern style or Cal- ifornia style, A shakes five fours and B five fives they do not tie, but B wins. A TIE—Goo, City. If in a game there are two prizes and two out of the four players tle on points, these two either cut cards, shake dice or draw straws, the winner taking first prize and the other the second. prize. POLICE OFFICER—P. H. F., City. 1f you “want to try and get on the police force of San Franciseo™” apply to the Civil Service Commission in the City Hall for an application blagk. There you will be given all the information you may desire. ARTIFICIAL EYES—T. H, City. If a person has become blind of one eye, but the motive muscles of the eyeball are not injured, artificial eyes are made that may be made to move the same as the hatural onés. If the muscles have, as is often the case, become Set, then the eyeball carry- ing the artificial eye will not move. LEAP YEAR-—Subscriber, City. The next leap year will be 1904. The year 1396 was a leap year, but 1800 was not. If a year were exactly 365% days we would have a leap year every four years, but as this is an excess of 11 minutes and 10.3 geconds every year this excess {s com- pensated for by dropping the leap year at the beginning of three out of four centu- .ries and thus equalizing the time gained through the century. MANILA EARTHQUAKE—Enq., City, ! The great earthquake in Manila, P. L, oc- curred September 16, 1862, and lasted one minute and a half. This was fol- lowed by five shocks at intervals between 8 o'clock at night and 4 o'clock of the morning of the next day. The oldest church, with walls four feet in thickness, buflt 300 years before, was shaken to pleces. The majority of the inhabitants lived for two days on the water. The shocks were followed by the eruption of volcanoes at Albay and Taal. SOLDIERS' RIGHTS—H. G., City. Sol- diers who served in the Civil War and those who served in the recent war, if they were in the army for ninety days and were honorably discharged, are al- lowed to take up public land, with the ad- vantage of having six months’ time after declaration before commencing to reside upon the land, and the right of making final proof before the end of the usual five years. In case of the death of a party entitled to make such entry his widow or his minor children are entitled to the ben- efits that would have acerued to him. For information relative to taking up lands apply at the land office of the district in which you would like to take up a home- stead. May Eat Meat W1 h the Prince. Herman Ridder, who is getting up the dinner to be given by the Staats-Zeitung to the American press in honor of Prince Henry, to which 1400 invitations have been sent out, said yesterday that what might have been a serious obstacle to its suc- cess had been removed by Archbishop Corrigan. The dinner is to be given at the Waldorf-Astoria on Wednesday, Feb 26. Wednesdays in Lent being fast days Roman Catholics are forbidden to eat any meat. When Mr. Ridder and his associ- ates were reminded of this they appealed at once to the Archbishop] who is in Ber- muda, and yesterday word was received that the Archbishop had granted a special dispensation to Catholics attending the dinner. This will allow of the eating of meat or fish, but not of both. Mr. Ridder was authorized by the Arch- bishop to announce the granting of the dispensation in the invitations or in any other way he might choose. The dispensa- tion is one granted for state occasions, but 18 an unusual one hgre. Mr. mdde:.' expressed himself yesterday as being much gratified at the Archbishop's action, which virtually recognizes the dinner as a state function. The Archbishop has also accepted an invitation.—~New York Sun. —————— HOTEL DEL CORONADO, choicest Resort in the World, offers best living, e}::'.: boating, bathing, fishing and most ments, E. S. Bablock, manager, Corenado, Cal. PERSONAL MENTION. L. A. Spitzer, is at the Grand. J. M. Welll, a merchant of Mo., is at the Palace. Dr. M. C. O’Brien of New York Cit: registered at the Palace. : Rev. George V. Leech of Washin D. C., 1s a guest at the Russ. . W. H. Haw of Eureka, County Clerk Humboldt County, is at the ng Ho:nej]‘ J. Rothschild, a merchant of is registered af the Grand with M s Ex-State Senator W. F. Prisk of Grass Valley is at the Occidental with his wife. k&l:;m I‘J.NWu!;bnrne. 2 manufacturing r of Ne g 'w York City, is staying at S. H. Friendly, Mayor of Eugene, Or & regént of the on _State Uni- :nrslty. is one of the ivals at the Pal- ce. R. B. Marshall of the United States Geographical Survey is registered with his family at the Occidental from Wash- ington, D. C. Erastus Young, auditor of the U: Pacific Railroad, with hndu\numznli: Omaha, is at the California with his son, David L. Young. Judge 8. A. Kellogg of Plattsburg, N. Y., is heading a party of tourists who registered at the Palace. The party cludes Mr. and Mrs. Willlam B. Rogers, Mrs. Edward Slade, Miss Emmons, H. 7. Kéllogg and William A. Russell, —— Ex. strong hoarhound candy. Townsend's.* an attorney of San Jose, 8t. Joseph, —_———— Cal. glace fruit 50c pe~ b at Townsend's.* —_—— Townsend's California glace fruits, 50c a {ound, in fire-etched boxes or Jap, bas- ets. A nice present for Eastern friends. 639 Market st., Palace Hotel building. ° ———— Special information supplled daily to business houses and bvublic men by the Press Bureau (Allen's), 510 Mon'- gomery street. Telephone Main 1042. * —_——— California is producing daisies a foot in circumference. —_— What you pay for extracts is important, but what you get i3 ten times more tmportant. Bur- nett’'s Vanilla costs more because it's worth more.