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SAVANNAH DAILY HERALD.
VOL. 1-NO. 51.
The Savannah Daily Herald
(MORNING AND EVENING}
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JOB PRINTING
every style, neatly and promptly done.
ST. PATRICK’S DAYIN CHARLESTON.
[From the Charleston Courier, 18th. 1
The anniversary of Ireland’s Patron Saint
was celebrated yestesday with the old spirit
and enthusiasm by tlie St. Patrick’s Benevo
lent Society.
The Society assembled at half-past eight a.
m., in Masonic Hall, from which they march
ed in procession to St- Mary’s Church, Hasell
street, and ufier the usual service, listened to
an eloquent discourse by the Rev. Dr. Baker,
who officii t :d on the occasion.
After service, the procession was reformed
and marched back to the - Hall, where the
annual election of officers took place, with
the following result.
Thos. Maher, President.
James Cosgrove, Vice President.
John Lb Kennedy, 2d Vice President.
John McMahon, Secretary.
Bernard Roddin, Treasurer.
Committee on Finance—Garrett Bums. A.
Farley, John Barry, James Wallace, Janies
Powers. ,
Committee on Relief— Patrick Darcey,
James Barry, Michael Kennedy, George
Tandy, James Shannahan, Edward Kenne
dy, Thos. Finnegan.
Committee on Letters—Michael Feehan,
Edward Wallace, Patrick Kennedy.
The members of the Society, about one
hundred and fifty in number, with their in
vited guests, then sat down to a bountiful
collation, gotten up by the Committee of
Arrangements.
At one end of the hall was the Society’s
banner, alongside of and blended with a
beautiful United States flag. R. W. Sey
mour, Esq., presided at the head of the ta
ble iii the absence of the former President,
Rev. Mr. Crogan. We were pleased to meet
at the board many old and familiar faces, for
a long time absent in involuntary exile.—
Conspicuous among others, was "Mr. P. J.
Coogan, Mr. Mulvancy, and others. Among
the invited guests we observedF. A. Sawyer,
Esq.
A committee which had been deputed to
wait on Col. Woodford and invite him to be
present, shortly afterwards arrived, accom
panied by that officer and Admtant General
Henry A. Batterson. On the appearance of
Col. Woodford the company rose and greet
ed him with hearty cheering. He was re
ceived and welcomed by the Chairman in a
brief and patriotic speech, to which the Col
onel responded in a very happy manner, fre
quently interrupted by the applause and de
monstrations of delight made bv the assem
bly.
At the conclusion of his speech Mr. Coo
gan thanked the Colonel for his visit and said
they lelt more than doubly honored in .be
ing the first organized society that had the
privilege and pleasure, since the rebellion, of
having the presence of an officer represent
ing the United States in the city of Charles
ton. They would, therefore, if agreeable
request the further honor oi |. entering his
name as an honorary member of the society.
On the Colonel's nodding assent, the motion
w-as put and unanimously carried with great
applause.
We regret that our limited space prevents
us fiom giving a luller report of the proceed
ings, with the speeches of the Chairman,Col.
Woodford, Mr. F. A Sawyer, P. J. Coogan,
Mr Mulvaney and others. These we shall
reserve for another issue.
CEMETERY REPORTS.
REPORT OF INTERMENTS IN LAUREL GROVE CEM
ETERY.
March 11. —Joseph Sliebo, Cos. L, Sth In
diana Cavalry; Thomas Lee Rice, 1 year and
6 mouths, inflammation of bowels, Savannah.
March 12.—John Berrien Auderson, 3
years and 5 months, typhoid fever, Savaunah.
March 13.—Josiali W. Landrum, 8 days,
lockjaw, Savannah; Shadrick Neidliuger,
Effingham county, Ga.
March It.—Elizabeth B. Barnwell, 39
years, phthisis pulraonalis, South Carolina ;
Ann Maria Elkins, 4 years and 1 mouth, ac
cidental death, Savannah.
March 16.—John A. Lester, Cos. A, 14th
Ohio; Abram Ankerman, Cos. A, 75th In
diana.
March 16.—Peter Dercharap, Cos. C, 13th
Connecticut; Tobias Hites, Cos. I, 15th Iowa;
Margaret M. Charlton, 55 years, and six
months, abcess, Savaunah; Joseph Kratt,
Cos. A , 2d Massachusetts.
March 17.—Win. T. Janvrin, Cos. D, 14th
New Hampshire; Hanford Knapp, 74 years,
4 months and 20 days, diarrhoea, Connecticut’.
March,, lt>.—Thomas Corbitt, Cos. A, 18th
Indiana ; Wm. James Bulloch, 47 years, ty
phoid fever, Savannah.
March 10.—Hiram Coney, Cos. G, 13th
Mich.; Elias B. Giilman, Cos. C, 12tli Maine;
Richard M. J. Tollman, Cos. D, 128th New
York.
March 20.—Tilfa Daniels, 3 years and 0
months, measles, Savannah; llenry Pad
gett, 0 years, dysentery, South Carolina.
CATHEDRAL CEMETERY.
March 13.—John Gutley, 3 years, measles,
Savannah.
March 14—Louis Napoleon Purstill, 4
years, spasms, Savannah.
March 18.—Michael Boylan, aged 53 years,
Ireland.
March 1 o.—Mrs. Margaret Huckett.
In a suit brought to recover the value of
goods destroyed by fire in a steamboat depot
at New London, where they were stored, it
has been decided that the responsibility of
the steamboat company, as common carriers,
when the goods were delivered on the wharf.
By this decision, all goods are at the owner s
vise while between the steamboat and store,
as insurance companies only insure goods at
the wharf. 6
SAVANNAH, GA., TUESDAY, MARCH 21, 18(55.
FROM MEXICO. *
We have received advices from Mexico.—
The four thousand prisoners captured at
Oaxaca, have been removed to Puebla.—
Among them were several deserters from the
French army, who had been entrusted with
important commands by the defending party.
It is supposed that the prisoners will be de
tailed to labor on public works. The dis
persion of various guerrilla bands is reported.
The Estapette and Franco Mexican journals
declare that, in consequence of the fall of
Oaxaca, the Juarist Generals Eclieagary and
Jid is Garcia, have both given in their ad
hesion to the Empire. Marshal Bavaine had
arrived at the Capitol, returning from his
successful expedition against Baxaca. M.
Bonnefauds, the Inspector of finances sent
by the French Government on a mission to
Mexico, has arrived at the Capitol. He is
accompanied by other officials, and it is sup
posed that liis errand is to arrange pecuniary
matters between the French and Mexican
Governments. The French steam war fri
gate Rhiro, and several other French vessels,
have been lost in a storm off Mazatlan. By
order of the Emperor, a war department,
with the necessary officers and officials, has
been formed in Mexico.
MAXMILLIAN ON RELIGION.
The mail from Mexico brings the text of
the Emperor Maximilian s decree of religious
toleration, the promulgation of which has
been previously announced, but the entire
text ot which is now for the first time trans
lated lor the Associated Press.
Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, having,
consulted our Council of Ministers* we here
by decree the following:
Article 1. The Emperor protects the Catho
lik Apostolical Roman Church as the religion
of the State.
Article 2. Free and ample toleration is ex
tended throughout the territory of the Empire
to all religions which are not opposed to
morality, civilization and good habits. The
establishment of anew religion, will, how
ever, require the authorization ot the Govern
ment.
Article 3. As circumstances may require,
instructions will be issued to the Police, re
garding the exercise of religions.
Article 4. The Council ot State shall be in
formed of any abuses committed by the local
authorities against the exercise of other re
ligions, and against the liberty which the
laws guarantee to the ministers.
This decree shall be deposited in the
archives of the Empire, and published in
the official journal.
Given in the Palace of Mexico, the 26th of
February, 1865. ,
Maximilian.
By order of His imperial Majesty. The
Minister of Justice,
Pedro Escudero Y. Echanave. .
From Nassau. Dates to March 11.
We have received a copy of the Nassau
Advertiser of March 11, from which we make
the following extracts.
ASSEMBLY.
The House of Assembly is at present em
ployed on the Estimates, Petitions and Ac
counts, with the view of making up and
passing the Appropriation Act. The work
ot legislation proceeds very harmoniously and
rapidly.
Large appropriations will no doubt be made
for necessary Public Works, not only in Nas
sau, but also on the out Islands of the Gov
ernment. We are glad to notice that the
claims of the Out Islands to their share of the
Public funds, are being so handsomely ac
knowledged by the Legislature, and that
works of uttility will no doubt be speedily
commenced among them. We are also pleas
ed to notice that our new Governor gives,
without the slightest reserve, in his various
messages to the Legislature, the country the
benefit of his enlightened and practical views
on all subjects comiug within the scope of his
observation.
EMANCIPATION OF THE SLAVES IN CUBA.
Intelligence has been received from Cuba,
that a petition signed by over 100 of the
principal planters of the island has been pre
sented to the Captain General, urgiDg him
to use bis best endeavors with the Queen of
Spain for the abolition of slavery in that is
and.
THUNDER SHOWER.
This morning during a heavy and grateful
shower of rain, a startling peal of thunder
accompanied by a brilliant flash of lightning,
occurred. We understand that the residence
of Messrs, Squires & Brothers was struck by
the electric fluid, but no considerable dam
age was done.
TRADES.
The following is an abstract of the Trade
of the Port for the week ending Saturday,
March 11th:
INWARDS.
Liverpool, assorted cargo, 1 Coal 1 2
Halifax, ditto 1
Swansea, Coal 1
St John’s, assorted cargo, 1
Bath, Me., ditto, 1
Cuba, ditto 1
Key West, ditto, 1
Bermuda, ditto, 2
OUTWARDS.
Liverpool, assorted cargo, .2
Halifax, ditto, .- 2
St. Domingo, ditto 2
Beaufort, sugar, <fce 1
Cuba, salt 1, lumber 1, 2
Death of the Reiiel Gen. Whiting.—
Major-General W. H. C. Whiting, who sur
rendered to General Terry and Commodore
Porter, with the garrisou of Fort Fisher, died
yesterday at Governor’s Island, N. Y. He
was about forty years of age.
Whiting was a Mississippian by birth, and
was educated at West Point, receiving his
appointment from President Tyler. When
he graduated in 1845, he was assigned to
duty, and remained in the United States
service until Feb. 20, 1861, when he resigned
his commission and joined the rebels in
Georgia, having removed to that State after
receiving his military education.
He was soon afterwards appointed a Briga
dier-General by the rebels, and served uuiler
Beauregard at Bull Rud. He was in the
seven days' battles, and was promoted to be
a Major-general. Afterwards he was sent to
Wilmington, and the defences of Cape Fear
river were constructed under his direction.
He was considered, next to Beauregard, th'e
ablest engineer officer in the rebel service.
FROM KITORPE.
Steamship Hansa, from Southampton on
the Ist of March, has arrived at this port with
three days later advices from Europe.
A despatch from Nassau, of Jan. 26th, says.
The following vessels. Flamingo, Falcon!
Ilausa, Banshee, Stag, Emily, Dream, Secre *
Night Hawk, Wild Rover, Susan, Bierne,
Badger, Star, Rothsay Castle, Ellen Denma,
Kenitworth, Marmhm, Mars, Little Hattie,
Mory and Ella, Colonel Lamb, Watson,
Alice, and General Clinch, are lying here
idle, part of them having never made a run.
The Vulture and Evelyn have gone to Ha
vana for repairs. It is reported that the Will
otthe Wisp has been captured off Galveston
In the House of Commons on Monday, Feb.
27th, the adjourned debate on Mr. Henesey's
motion respecting the state of Ireland was
resumed by Mr. Roebuck against the mo
tion, and ascribing the whole thing as a
whining tor money for Ireland.
Several other members addressed the
House, among them Lord Palmerston', who
in a long speech expressed his opinion that
the want of capital was at the root of Ire
land's woes. He thought the opinion of the
House was against the proposal for a grant
of public money; but if the motion was made
for the re-appointment of the committee of
last year, the government would be ready
to accede • it.
The House divided on tlie motion, and it
was negatived by 107 to 31 votes:
The Moniteur publishes the preface of the
“History of Julius Caesar,” written by the
Emperor of the French, which we published
on the Ist of March. The Avenir National
says:
The correspondence we have received from
Turin communicates to us the following
news, obtained direct from Rome: The con
gregation of the Index has received orders
from the Pope to examine scrupulously the
“Life of Catesar,” by Napoleon 111, mime
diately it appeals,
The Times of February 24th says:
' By this time the public will have been en
abled to digest the intelligence communicat
ed by Mr. Seward’s proposition for terminat
ing the American war, by a combined attack
of the belligerents on some Foreign Power.
In the speculation itself there" was little
novelty. We now learn on official authority,
that this characteristic idea has been not only
entertained, but deliberately discussed and
considered by the representatives of the bel
ligerent governments in conference assem
bled. W ith the Confederate envoys, it was
Jie solution which they “seemed chiefly to
,avor.” They suggested that the question of
*Union or separation should sbe left in sus
pense ; that in the meantime there should
“be a mutual direction of the efforts
of the Government, as well as those of
■the insurgents, to some extrinsic policy or
scheme for a season, ” and that negotiations
on the great point at issue should he resum
ed after this diversion had produced its pal
liative effects.
It is stated that Mr. Lincoln and Mr. Sew
ard did, m the course of the interview, rec
ognize the prospect of foreign complications,
and the probability that England, rather
than France, would be the country involved.
We must admit, too, that the “scheme,” if it
was thus recommended by the South, had
been conceived with considerable ingenuity
iu the interests of the seceders. By tlie time
the “extrinsic policy” had been carried into
execution and brought to an end, the Feder
al would have become accustomed to live
without the Confederates, and to see in the
Southern Republic only a kindred State and
natural ally. We hope the public will hot
lose sight of the fact that the adoption ot an
“extrinsic policy,” at the expense ot inno
cent neutrals, has actually been entertained
and debated by the chief authorities of the
two American governments. If the “scheme”
was hatched by President Davis and his col
leagues, it was at any rate taken into dispas
sionate consideration by President Lincoln
and his Secretary of State, while Mr. Seward
himself is at the pains to inform us that it
was not objected to for an instant on its own
merits or from any consideration which a
turn in the events of the civil war might not
immediately remove. This lesson we shall
do well to remember. Mr. Seward has most
considerately forewarned us; it will be our
own fault if we are not found to be fore
armed.
What He Might Have Been. —J. G. Hol
land, cf the Springfield Republican, has been
rusticating in Vermont, looking around
among the farmers, and he writes to that
paper, as follows:
“Imagine your correspondent imagining
the life he might have lead, and came very
near leading lor that matter, among the hills
as a farmer. He would have grown stalwart
and strong, worked on the farm summers,
and gone out haying for fifteen days in July,
and taken for pay the iron work ami miming
gear of a wagon. At two and twenty or
thereabouts, lie would have begun to pay at
tention 4 to a girl with a father worth two
thousand dollars—aud a spit curl on her fore
head, a girl who always went to singing
school, and sat in the seats, aud sang with
out opening her mouth, a darnation pretty
girl any way. Well, after seeing her home
from singing school one or two years, taken
her to Fourth of July, he would have mar
ried her and settled down. Years would
pass away, and that girl with the spit-curl
would have had eleven children just as sure
as you live—seven boys and four girls. We
would have had a hard time bringing them
lip, but they would soon be able to do rnilk
iug and help their mother washing days, and
I getting i idependect at last, and feeling a
little stiff in the joints, should be elected a
member of the Legislature, having been as
sessor and school committee for lour years.
Iu the eveuing of my days, with my pipe in
my mouth, thirteeu' barrels of eider iu the
cellar, and my newspaper in ray bands, I
should sit audlook over the markets, through
a pair of gold mounted spectacles, aud won
der why such a silly piece as this should be
published.
A. A. Paymaster F. A. Swan, Acting-
Masters Mate Thomas Gay, and Acting As
sistant Engineer Steever, of the Otsego, who
were of the party which blew' up the ram
Albemarle, on the 28th of October last, near
Wilmington, and Acting Ensign Howard, of
the Monticello, are among the offleers'lately
exchanged and arrived North.
King (* Nothing —A Story ok the French
OecitA.r-Dr. Verou told some friends recent
ly the following true story : —When I was
Manager of the Grand Opera in Paris, a man
some lift}' years old, tall,well built and hand
some, entered my office. We were scarcely
lelt alone when he knelt at my feet, and said
to me in a voice trembling with emotion —
“Sir, it is in your power to save my honor
and restore peace to my life.” I was a good
deal puzzled by this commencement, -and 1
asked, “In what way?” “By engaging me
at the Grand Opera.” “Are you a tenor?”
“No, sir." “A baritone?” “No, sir.” “A
bass?” “No, sir.” “Ah! you are a dan
cer ?” “I never danced in my life.” “Well,
theu, if you are neither a singer nor a dancer
how can you expect me to engage you at the
Grand Opera?” “Asa figurant, but upon
one absolute condition.” “What is that ab
solute condition ?” “That I shall fill with
out a rival the parts of popes, kings and em
perors.” “Without a rival?” “Yes, sir, I
must have the monopoly ot these parts; it is
the condition sine qua nun of my engagement.
I feel that I owe you some explanation of my
request and this stipulation. My story
is this. I married a woman younger than
myself, and I adore her as I adored
her on my wedding day, although we have
now been married above twelve years. I
have discovered for some months past that
my wife’s tenderness for me has sensibly
cooled. I would hide tlie knowledge from
my eyes, but I cannot conceal the fact that
my prestige is declining. 1 am persuaded
hat were I to appear before her three times
t week arrayed in gold and purple, covered
aw ilh glittering arms, my brow circled with a
i ara or crown, my prestige and her love
w ould be restored. I beg of you, sir, do
engage me ; satisfy my ambition, give reali
ty to my dream. Ido not care about salary.
I have enough to support me. My life is in
your hands. If you reject my request, lam
a dead man.” While he spoke, says Dr.
Veron, big tears coursed down his cheek.
I could not refuse hint; besides, we were
then rehearsing Scribe and Halevy’s LaJtdve,
and we wanted a man of his size and ap
pearance to represent the Pope with dignity,
tor liis Holiness figures in the solemn proces
sion of the first act of this work. After a
few minutes’ reflection I said to my visitor,
whose heart panted, and whose eyes were
fixed on mine, “I will engage you, sir.” “And
I may fill the parts I would take ?” “Yes, I
will give you a monopoly of those parts.”
The words were not out of my mouth before
he fell on his knees and covered my coat tail
with kisses.
The following week lie made liis first ap
pearance on the stage of the Grand Opera in
Robert !e Liable , when he represented “le
Prince de Sicile, ” father of tlie Princess Isa
bella, with a great deal of majesty. He
made himself a superior head. He was re
markably handsome. Tlie morning after
his maiden appearance, I received through
the post office, a short notice in these words:
“Heaven bless you ! She was at the opera
last night. She saw me. I have regained
the treasure of her tenderness. I owe my
happiness to you. All my blood is yours.
Take it when you please.” Os course I
didn’t take his blood. Soon after this inci
dent oi:curred*tL« Chamber of Deputies seeing
ed inclined to diminish the amount of money
granted to the Grand Opera. I resigned my
place as manager.
May be I ought, before I quitted the Grand
Opera, to have recommended in an especial
manner, this man to my successor. I con
fess that I neglected this duty. It was a fatal
forgetfulness. When I returned from a long
journey I found on my desk a second letter
from that person. He wrote to me: —“Sir, I
am the victim of odious Cabals. The new
director, not satisfied in taking from me the
part of ‘Pope, ’ which I created with so much
success in La Juive, obliged me to appear as
one of the mob. She saw me in my plebian
attire, and I feel that her love is going to
leave me forever. If your kindness does not
promptly come to my assistance all is over
with your faithful servant.” I consulted the
date of this letter. It was a month old. I made
inquiries, and I found that a fortnight before
my return the poor fellow was discovered
hanging by the neck, dead in his chamber.
Nothing New. —“ The son of David, King
in Jerusalem,” was right when he declared
“there is no new thing under the sun.” “The
tiling that hath been, is that which shall be ;
and that which is done is that winch shall be
done; and there is no new thing under the
sun.” Just now our people are growing
crazy over the Petroleum development. It
is hailed with all the adoration paid to anew
and strange revelation. The merits of Pe
trolia seem suddenly to have burst upon the
world with the brilliancy of light and efful
gence which is perfectly stunning to even
the strongest eyes. Many suppose this to
be anew discovery. And yet oil wells were
known to the ancients and worked by them
in the times of the great Persian monarch
Darius, five hundred years before Christ.—
Turn to Herodotus, the first and greatest of
the Greek Erato, book historians, Sec. CXIX,
and you may read
“This (the district of Cissia) is distant from
Susa two hundred and ten furlongs, aud forty
from a w T ell which produces the thiee sub
stances of bitumen, salt and oil; it is drawn
up with an engine, to which a kind of bucket
is suspended, made Os half a skin; it is thin
poured into one cistern and afterwards re
moved into a second. The substances by
this process separate; bitumen and the sa t
form themseives into distinct masses. The
Persians collect the oil, which they call rhad
iuace, into vessels; this last is of a dark col
or and has a strong smelt”
This was written about 500 years B. C It
is almost an exact description of the oil
wells of Petrolia. What is remarkable about
most of the Pennsylvania wells is that salt
water is struck previous to striking “ile”—
just as they were in the times of tiie author
quoted. Again Heredotus tells us, book
Melpomene, Sec. CPCV.
“Having seen at Zacynthus (Africa) pitch
drawn from the bottom of the water. At
this place are a number of lakes, the largest
of Which is seventy feet iu circumference and
of the depth of two orgyice. Into this water
they let down a pole at the end of which is
a bunch of myrtle; the pitch at aches itself
to the myrtle, and is thus procured. It has
a bituminous smell, but in other respects pre
ferable to that at Pieria.”
Didyinua and Pliny describe the “tar
PRICE, 5 CENTS
wells” of Pieria and Mount Ida, and in
Chandler’s Travels is a description of the
“tar spring,” of Zante (the Zacynthus of the
ancients.) He says?
“The tar is produced in a small valley
about two hours walk from the town, by the
sea, and encompassed with mountains, ex
cept towards the bay, in which are a couple
of rocky inlets. The spring which is most
distinct and apt for inspection rises on the
farther side near the toot of the hill: The well
is circular, and four or five leet in diameter.
A shining film, like oil mixed with scum,
swims on the top ; you remove this with a
bough, and see the tar at the bottom, three or
four teet beneath the surface, working up, it
is said, out of a fissure in the rock ; the bub
bles swelling gradually to the size of a large
cannon ball, when they burst, and the sides
leisurely sinking, new ones succeed, in
crease and in turn subside. The water is
limpid and runs off with a smart current;
the ground near is quaggy, and will shake
beneath the feet, but is cultivated. We fill
ed some vessels with tar, by lettimr it trickle
intothem form the boughs whicLwe immersed,
aud this is the method used to gather it from
time to time into pits, where it is hardened
by the sun, to be barrelled when the
quantity is sufficient. The odor reaches a
considerable way.”
What is described above as “tar” -s un
doubtedly the same article in the crude state
now taken from tlie oil wells of Penn
sylvania. It “bubbled up” with the ancients
as it does with the moderns. Long before
the time of Herodotus, and even before.
—“Abdallah read the slient stars,
And wrote their mystic tracks."
Job said that “the rock poured me out
rivers of oil.” Had Job lived in these mod
ern days, he probably would have turned
that “rock” which poured out “rivers of oil”
into a $20,000,000 Petroleum Company, and
would thus have become a richer man than
Solomon. •
The Niagara Falls Marine Railway. —
This is one of the most gigantic projects ever
entertained on this Continent, and as its con
struction intimately concerns the people of
these Provinces, (the project lookiug to the
strengthening of the military power of the
United States,) a description of the plan will
be read with interest. Its prime object is to
transport gunboats between Lakes Erie and
Ontario. The line of the proposed railway
begins at a point 1,200 feet below the steam
boat landiug at Lewiston, on the Niagara,
and ends at the mouth of Gill Creek, where
that stream flows into the Niagara river.
The grade on parts of the road will be at
the rate ol one hundred and twenty feet per
mile for the distance of thirteen thousand
feet, or about two and a half miles ; eighteen
feet per mile for the distance of nine thou
sand five hundred feet, or about one aud
three-fourth miles ; and on the other portions
ot the road the grades either ascending or
descending are very slight.
In grading the roadway it will be necessa
ry to remove about eight hundred and sixty
eight thousand cubic feet of earth, and one
million two hundred and seventy-two thous
and cubic yards of rock; and to form five
hundred and twelve thousand cubic yards of
embankment. The superstructure of track
is to consist of six iron rails of one hundred
and fifty pounds per foot each, resting on
longitudinal oak rails twelve by twelve inch
es, and cross-ties of oak six by eight inches.
Where the raad bed is not rock througn, tne
oak rails are to rest upon a foundation of
stone two feet by two, beneath which
is to be a bed of broken stone three feet
deep; the rails are to be laid nine feet apart,
the upper surface of the rail to be flat for the
whole of its width, and the ring of the car
wheels to be a diameter for their whole
width.
At each terminus of the railway the track
is to descend into the water to a depth below
its surface equal to the depth of. the car
added to the draft of the vessel to be trans
ported. This space, which may be termed
either a lock or a basin, is to be located
within land, and to be walled on each side
with rubble masonry, and to be capable of
being siiut off from the water of the river by
bulkheads and gates, in order that, whenever
required, the water may be pumped out, and
the track be examined and repaired.
The cars or cradles upon which the boats
are to be moved will be of peculiar construc
tion, consisting of two platforms, one above
the other—the lower one to be a strong
frame, to which the axles of the trucks are
to be attached, and to be capable of a cer
tain degree of flexture, both horizontally and
vertically, so as to pass both horizontal and
vertical corners. The upper platform being
the cradle which is to receive the boat, is to
be rigged horizontally, but capable of a lim
ited degree of flexture, vertically from side
to side, and from end to end, so that it may
be adjusted to the form of the bottom of the
boat. The vertical adjustment is to be ef
fected by means of endless chains or wire
cables passing over pullies. These very
heavy and powerful locomotives will be
needed, which will move the cars and bofcts
over the steepest grades on the railway in
the ordinary way by the friction of the
wheels upon the rails. On the steep grades,
friction wheels to operate against the sides of
the rails will he used when necessary. The
power of the locomotive will be used to
pump the water out from the entrance basins
at the termini of the railway. 'The fire box
of the locomotive will be either elevated
above the water, where it passes into the
entrance basin, or inclosed in a water tight
compartment.
The vessels are not to be taken out of wa
ter at any time during the passage on the
railway. The car in which they are to be
carried is to be a water-tight caisson, large
enough to receive the largest vessels employ
ed ou the lakes. This caisson is to be tilled
with water, and when a vessel is received it
will displace from the caisson an amount of
water just equal to its weight. The platform
on which the caisson rests will then be drawn
over the submerged track, and the vessel,
still floating, transported to the other termi
nus of the railway. The locomotives are to
be each about eighty tons weight, and of suf
ficient power to draw a load of fifteen hun
dred tons over a grade of one hundred aud
twenty feet per miie, at the rate of six to
eight miles an hour.
The engineers engaged to survey the route
and also those to whom the plan has been
submitted, repoit that it is pertectly feasible.
