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ASTORIA. OREGON:
I. C. IRELANI Editor.
SATURDAY M ahcji 1, 1879
Xr. Lamar and Stanley Mathews
Insuring Life.
If a physician should advertise
in the newspapers that he "vvas pre
pared to prevent the introduction
of contagious or infectious diseases
into the United States in return
for a moderate fee, he -would im
mediately be set down as a charla
tan of the most impudent stripe.
If five or ten physicians should
ask from congress an allowance of
fifty thousand dollars a year, in re
turn for their services in suppres
sing or regulating the ravages of
the yellow fever or Asiatic cholera,
wherever these dreaded plagues
should make their appearance,
they would be hooted out of the
lobby as lunatics, and ostracized
as quacks by the entire medical
faculty.
The epidemic of last summer,
and the impatient folly of that class
of persons who look to government
for relief from ills which heaven
inflicts, have inspired two bills
that are now before congress.
One is Mr. Lamar's bill to establish
a department of health. The
other is Mr. Stanley Mathews' bill
to prevent the introduction of
contagious or infectious diseases
into the United States, and to es
tablish a bureau of public health.
The two measures are very much
alike, and equally deserve atten
tion. A department or bureau of
health, with all that the name im
plies, might be a very desirable
thing. If it were in the power of
congress, or of a constitutional
convention, or of any gathering of
pnblic spirited citizens, to confer
upon a body of medical men. full
authority to arrest at the frontier
any epidemic that might threaten
to invade our households, together
with ample jurisdiction in all cases
pulmonary turberculosis, diptheria,
or t3rphoid fever, and discretionary
powers wherever the measles, the
cerebro-spinal meningitis, or the
several varieties of infant colic are
prevalent, nobody would object to
legislating on the subject from now
to the first of April.
If a simple majority vote were
all that was necessary to prevent
the introduction into the United
States of contagious or infectious
diseases, we should be aniens: the
first to urge the passage of a law
to that effect. But, unfortunately,
the science of government has not
reached that perfection. Congress
is powerless to control the angel
of death by legislative enactment;
a,nd the legislator who proclaims
the contrary is a simpleton.
The fallacy which underlies
propositions of the character of
Mr. Lamar's and Mr. Matthews'
is the old fallacy that a man with
an official title and drawing a
monthly salary from the treasury
can do that which the same man
in private life cannot do. It is a
slight modification of the ancient
superstition that the King's toucli
was a specific for certain maladies.
As fast as a medical knowledge
is extended and enlightened we
shall have new safeguards against
pestilence. All the bills which
Mr. Lamar and Mr. Matthews can
draught, and all the votes which
can be recorded, will not hasten
the process.
Mr. Lamar's measure will proba
bly be the first to be disposed of.
Mathews1 bill makes the health de
partment a bureau of the treasury,
with a director-general and a board
of seven members, the amounts of
whose salaries are modestly left in
blank, to be determined by the
collective wisdom of congress.
Otherwise the two measures are
nearly identical.
The possibility of another pesti
lence like that which visited the
south last summer is bad enough,
without entailing upon the countiy
the evils of red tape, official old
fogyism, and political jobber', for
which either of these absurd bills
opens the door.
The Game of Chess.
Astoria has been playing the
part of pawn in the great game of
chess between Portland and the
balance of the country, but she has
started for the king row, and has a
prospect of reaching it. When
she does, she will be as good as a
queen. From jmrties in the valler
we learn that the prospects are
cheering
gible to
for some thin
ta li
the o
grow out
Of
railroad agaitation. Albany is
coming to the point, and her
solid men propose to deal with j
the subject in a systematic manner.
It has been reported, from reliable
sources, that the Yaquina bay road
will be constructed upon the uni
form gauge, and connect with
Albany. The Albany people will
also favor .the project of a road to
Astoria upon the uniform gauge.
"We are not far enough enlightened
upon the subject to give details
or data, but of one thing we are
quite pesitive: If the managers
of the Oregon Central do not go
to work prett' soon their land
grant will be forfeited, andanarow
gauge begun over the route. The
people are waking up, and Astori-
ans will soon be placed in position
to make somebody an offer.
Fog" Signals at Sea.
A practical and certain method
of avoiding collisions in foggy
weather is a problem which has
always excited the attention of
sea-faring men. The New York
Sun publishes an interesting ar
ticle, explaining a system of fog
signals, devised by Captain "W. B.
Barker, of that city. The thirty
two points of the compass are di
vided into eight parts, 'each of
which is known by a combination
of long and short sounds, as fol fel fol
eows: From north to northeast,
one short sound; northeast to east,
two short sounds iii rapid succes
sion; east to southeast, three short
sounds in rapid succession; south
east to south, four short sounds in
rapid succession; south to south
west, one long blast on whistle or
horn; southweast to west, two
long blasts; west to northwest, one
short blast followed by a long
blast and another short blast;
northwest to north, one long blast
followed by a short blast and one
long blast.
The present law compels the
masters of sailing vessels to sound
a horn once every five minutes
while under weigh in a fog.
Steamships must blow their
whistles. On board the former
class of vessels it is customary to
give a man a two hour watch with
the fog horn. In the s-stem pro
posed by Captain Barker this man
may be instructed to sound at
regular intervals on the fog horn
the signal which corresponds to
the course the helmsman is steer
ing. If the course of the vessel is
northeast by east, east northeast,
east by north, or due east, two
short blasts would be given, which
would embrace the four points
from northeast to east. A steam
ships's whistle would indicate her
course to an approaching vessel.
"With the use of this system the
master of a vessel hearing a foo
horn or steam whistle blowing a
certain signal, ma' know at once
from which quarter a vessel is ap-1
proaching him, and lay his course
accordingly. The following is an
illustration of the working of the
system.
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A hejivy fog prevails, with light
breezes from the southward. The
lookout on the steamship hears" a
fog horn faintly to leeward, blow
ing two long blasts in rapid suc
cession. It comes from the brig.
He knows at once that it is a sail
ing vessel, steering west by south,
and must therefore be from the
east by north. He so ' reports.
The captain now knows that there
is a vessel on his starboard bow
under sail. He knows as well as
if he saw the vessel that her port
quarter is toward him. The rule
of the road is plain:
If to your starboard red appears.
It is your duty to keep clear;
To act as judgment says is proper,
To port, or starboard, back, or stop her.
The helm is put aport, and the
steamship surges to the right in
the direction of E F, and blows
two short blasts with her whistle
the signal of a northeast-by-east
course. The lookout in the brig
which is to leeward of the
steamship, when he first heard her
single blast report her making a
northerly course. Afterward he
hears two blasts,, and knows that
she has changed it to allow the
brig to holdv her course, I K.
Therefore,- lonj before the- two
vessels have sighted each other
their courses have been changed
enough to give each other a wide
berth.
Supposing that the steamship,
being to windward of the brig,
does not hear her fog-horn and
continues to blow one short blast,
indicating that she is holding her
northerly course, Gr H. Then the
master of the brig, who does hear
the steamship which is to wind
ward, comes about, the brig takes
the direction C D, and the blast
on the fog horn is changed from
two long blasts, indicating a west-by-south
course, to three short
blasts, indicating a south-course.
If the steamship gets near enough
to the brig to hear the signal, the
lookout knows at once that the
brig is sailing almost a right angles
to the steamer, and that there is,
therefore, no chance of a meeting.
In the case of the Pommerina
collision it was testified that the
fog horn on the bark was distinctly
heard for a considerable period
before the two vessels met. Had
the signal for a south-south-west
course been given by the bark,
that being her course, the helm of
the ' steamship would, under the
rule, have been put aport, and a
collision avoided.
The Grand Lodge of the An
cient Order of United "Working
men recently held an annual ses
sion at San Jose, and the Grand
Master Workman's report shows
an increase of 2,200 in the mem
bership during the past six months,
and of thirty -six in the number of
lodges. He also urges attention to
the fact that one-fourth of the deaths
in the order have resulted from
the use of intoxicating liquors, and
very properly suggests that m the
admission- of members inquiry
should be directed to their habits
of intimacy" with this destroyer.
During the discussion in the
senate, recently, a most notable
incident of the proceedings, and
one without parallel in the history
of the senate, was the occupancy of
the presiding officer's chair by a
colored man (Bruce of Mississippi),
and the incident was of course
especially noticeable by reason of
the nature of the subject under
discussion.
The Indianapolis papers are
wasting space giving sketches of
the Indiana legislature. The strik
ing sameness about these sketches
o
is that the subjects never did any
thing in particular, and about two
thirds of them were born in Ohio.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS.
I. -W. CASE,
IMPORTED AND WHOLFSALE AND RE
TAIL DEALER IX
mSML lERCHAMSE,
Corner Chenamus and Cass streets.
ASTORIA - - - OREGON.
WJtiAT
Is All This Blow li Alirat !
I HAVE JUST RETURNED
FROM THE EAST AND WILL
SELL MY GOODS AS
And am not going to say anything about it.
A Square Deal Guaranteed
At the comer oC Main and Squemoqhc sts.,
ASTORIA, - OREGON.
MRS. J. KELLY,
Lately of Portland, lias set up a
Millinery and Fancy Goods
STORE IN ASTORIA.
All kinds of
Xi&ce, Fringe. Velvets, and Ircss
Trimmings.
AH kinds of
EMBROIDERY TUCKINGS.
A nice assortment of
Woolen and Cotton Canvases and
Zephyrs, Silks, Ruchings,
and Corsets.
A large variety of
1JIESS BUTTONS, "" "
Of the latest style.
Also of
NECKTIES AND BOWS.
Come one and all, and examine my stock of
jjouus. iu.i uoor 10 tiiu ASTUitiAr umce.
TT)OCTOIt HATCH,
Successfully treats all Chronic Diseases.
A2STD DISEASES OF "WOMEN AND
CHILDREN.
Cancer cured by a new and painless method.
Ofllce Chenamus street, corner of Main
street, Astoria.
TVt. J. W. OLIVER,
UOXEOPATIIIST,
Office. In Shuster's Daguerrean build
ing. Entrance Second door above that of
the D.VIIA ASTOltlAX. Cass strict
Residence on Jefferson street, corner of
Dunn.
B. F. SEN'XISOX. F. .T. TAYLOIt
DENNISON & TAYLOK,
ATTORXEYS AT LAW.
astorta, Oregon.
Office Up stairs in Parker's building,
corner Chenamus and Benton streets.
O. F. HELL. A. MEACJIEX.
IJELVLi & MEACHEX,
Attorneys at Law and Notaries Public.
Commissioner of Deeds for California and
asmngton Torritory.
Astoria, Oregon.
Office Comer of Suuemoeqhe and Cjuss
streets, up stairs, over E. S. Larson's .store.
J. Y. KOItU. C. XT. FULTON.
ROISB fc FTOLTOIV,
Attorney s-at-Law, Collecting and Real
Estate Agents.
Booms Nos. l and 2, Dr. Welch's new build
ng. bqncmocqlia street. Astoria.
Tp D. WIKTOS",
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
Office in City Hall Building.
ASTORIA, OREGON.
D
R. F.- CRANG,
PHYSICIAN AND SURQEON,
ASTORIA, OREGON.
Ofllce Room io. 7 over C. L. Parker's
store. Opposite Dement's dnig store.
OTTO UFVER,
WATCHMAKER AND JEWELER.
II S IJEMOVEI) TO
Main streSpt, Barker's building,
ASTORIA, - - - - OREGON.
J.
STEWART.
Stone and Marble Cutter,
ASTORIA, - - OREGON.
All kinds of building work, and monumen
tal work attended to promptly and to order.
Satisfaction guaranteed,,
AUCTION SALES.
C. HOLDEN,
Notary Public for the State of Oregon.
Keal Estate Agent and Conveyancer.
Agent for the FIREMEN'S FUND INSUR
ANCE COMFANY of San Francisco.
COMMISSION AGEN1 and AUCTIONEER.
Rents and Account Collected, and rr-
turns prompt!- made.
Regular sales day.
SATURDAYS at 2 I JI.
hJ; -JL- Partj.es having real estate, liirni-
nt, t-anvotl,er"0(ulJtto dispose of either
it auction or nnvatp sni iinnii tmtirv
soon as convenient before the dav of sale.
;? . 1UKe cuargeu o goods sob' at Auc
tu;S E- C. IIOLbN.
'Hauuurri .
MISCELLANEOUS.
J. H. D. GRAY,
Wholesale and retail dealer in.
OTSTJEXS, by the SACK,
Hay, Oats, Straw, Wood, Etc.
.,iTr:l1 storaSe and Wharfage on reason
able terms.
ASTORIA CANDY FACTORY
A'J
OYSTER SAIOOX.
HAVING ENLARGED MY STORE
.,c, 1!,avew on .hand the largest and hest
S. ltn,tent f ,11""" --"ill French candies in
town, also, all kinds of
CAKES, CRACKERS AND BISCUITS.
All of which I offer for sale at the lowest
cash price, wholesale and retail at
SCHMEER'S CONFECTIONERY.
Opposite the bell tower.
Retail candy from 25 to 7." cents per pound.
i-resn Jtastern and Sho:ihv:iiryi r ,
hav ovstfMN soi'iiii in --.,r. .,.!, . St
- - w -. - v L1 j Oltll,
T71L,I.IA.1I TntXER.
BOOT BLACK,
OCCIDENT SHAVING SALOON.
Astoria. Okkoox.
eailTJI MAYKESi,
CRYSTAL SALOON,
On the Roadway, - - astokia, Oregon.
SS-TIie very best quality of wines, iquon
and cigars at wholesale or retal.
Q. T. Jll?il,
CALEDONIA SALOON,
Corner of Front and A streets.
FORTLAND - - - - OREGON
csrLate butcher in the Central Market.
Astoria Liquor Store,
AL'G. DANIELSON, Troprietor.
Water st. Roadway, - Astoria, Oregox.
Importer and dealer in
WINES, LIQUORS,
FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC CIGARS'
Sole agent for the celebrated
STONEWALL WHISKEY.
Branch of MARX & JORGENSEN, Portland.
GERMANIA BEER HALL
AND
BOTTLE BEEE DEPOT.
Chrxasius Stkkkt. ASTGA7-
Tho public aro invited to call and IcaTo
their crdon. Splendid Lnger 5 cents a glnea.
Fxeo Lunch every night.
WM. BOCK & Co.. Proprietors.
GEORGE ROSS'
O Billiard Room.
L.
The only Billiard Room in the city whei
no liquors are sold.
NEW TABLE JUST PUT VI. GEORGK
has a cosy place and keeps on hand tho
best brand of Cigars. Also, soda, canuy.
nuts. etc. Opposite Altoua Chop House.
95-tf CEO. ROSS,- Proprietor.
THE ASTORIA BREWERY
RUDOLPH BARTH & MICHAEL MEYER,
PROPRIETORS.
Corner of Ohiey ami "Water streets,
ASTORIA, OREGON.
Best quality of LAGER REERTt cts. per glass
Choice Wines, liquors, and Cigars alwajsc
on hand.
osrTlie patronage of the public is respect
fully solicited. Orders for Lager or Bottled"
Beer in any quantity promptly tilled.
r-The best lunch the season will afford
furnished day and night FREE.
Fishermen's Meeting.
PURSUANT TO A RESOLUTION passed
at a meeting of Columbia river fisher
men, held in this city on Monday evening
last, a meetings ill beheld in Astoria on
TUESDAY, BIARCH 4th,
AT LIBERTY HALL,
To make arrangements to oppose the license
law passed at the last legislature, and all
nshpnnen on the river are cordially Invited
to be present. By order of the meeting.
v .i. G. ROBESON.
B. A. SEABORG.
Committee-.
Astoria, Oregon, Feb. 12, 1ST0. d&wtd
A RARE CHANCE.
I WILL SELL ANY OR ALL OF THX
following described property, a. :
160 Acres, See. 2i, T. 8, N. or It. 9 yveU
southeast quarter. ,
Also, in Olneys Astoria
Lots I, 2, 3, and 4, In ISIocIc T9;
Lois ", 4. .", and , in Block 1G0;
Lots a and .", in Block 120; and Lot 8,
In Block IS!!;
North hall or Block 8,-2 1-2 acres.
DWID INGALLS.
Astoria, Oregon, Dec lt7. 83-3m
Whby
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