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Savannah Weekly Heun
*'TIIRDAY, DKI KNBKR 11. IBT6.
Thi* Good Tima that nas Cuming.
A quarter of a century ago, when,
under Democratic rul->, the etuntry was
peaceful, prosperous and happy, when
taxation was so light as not to be felt,
when immigrants from the old world
were flocking to our shores, when the
public debt was scarcely worth the name,
when the national treasury was overflow
ing and the surplus revenue was divided
among the States, when labor found
abundant employment and honest enter
prise reaped its just reward, when the
Constitution was respected as the supreme
law of the land, when official integrity
and private honor prevailed, when
back salary grabs, Credit Mobiliers,
whiaky rings and revenue frauds were
things not dreamed of; when, in this
promising era of our national history,
the spirit of fraternity pervaded every
heart, and the American people fondly
believed that the “stars and stripes"
were the symbol of the greatest, the
purest, most powerful and best govern
ment the world ever saw, a faction bad
sprung up in the North who were not con
tent with a condition of affairs which did
not exactly conform to their philanthropic
ideas—who were dissatisfied with a sys
tem which, while it secured to them the
right of local self-government and the
right to shape their domestic institutions
to suit themselves, left others free to exer
cise the same rights. This fanatical
faction set about the work of revo
lutionize the government, and their
—jWtpbetH' preached of the higher
law, God and morality, and the “good
time coming.” Greeley, Garrison,
Geddings, Seward, Sumner, Stephens,
Phillips, and the Beechers, were the
leaders of the woukl-bo regenerators of
their country, and as they pressed for
ward in their crusade against the Consti
tution and the Union their cry was still,
“There’s a good time coming!” The phrase
was stereotyped in the columns of their
newspaper organs, was shouted from the
rostrum and the pulpit, and sung by the
choir. After years of bitter sectional
strife, and four years of fratricidal war
the revolution was accomplished, the
Constitution overthrown, and the Union
destroyed, and now we have the fruits of
their philanthropic labors—tho “good
time” which they prophesied has come.
The financial aspect of this good time is
strikingly depicted in the following
tabulated statement, which we lake from
the editorial columns of the New York
HulieUn :
“obdinaby” expknditubeh of the u. h.
OOVEBNMKNT IN 1874 ANI) 1860.
1874 1800
War Department $42,313,027 *16,472,202
Navy Department... 30,932,687 11,514,040
Civil Expense* 17,027,115 0,077,008
Miscellaneous 50,500,414 20,708,233
Indiana 0,002,402 2,991,121
Pensions 20,038,414 1,100,802
Foreign Intercourse 1,508,004 1,140,143
Total $178,618,983 $00,010,188
Interest on Debt... 107,119,815 3,177,314
Population 41,000,000 31,443,321
Increase of “Ordinary" Expenditure*, 200
per cent.
Incroaae of population, 40 per cent.
If we includo with tho ordinary ex
pendituroH of tho government the inter
oat on {.he debt of both eras, we have
now an annual gross expenditure by tho
government of $286,738,798 aguiust
$63,187,502 in 1800. To thin may
properly bo added the estimated
deficiency of $40,000,000 in the rev
enue to meet tho increasing oxpendi
turea, to supply which it is proposed, to
raiao that amount by levying an import
duty of fifteen cents per pound on tea
and three cents per poaud on ooffee.
__/fJ7lndeed, a uatijfc l dill u'inrClThTTn'
bleaaing iu ""propT rtion to its amount,
and if an iucreaao of government ex
penditures from $63,000,000 to $285,-
000,000-—more than 300 per cent. —with
the necessary iucrease of taxation to
meet these extraordinary expenditure-',
and the iucrease of corruption in tho ad
ministration of the government—if all
these increases aro in tho same ratio to
be included in the catalogue of national
blessings— theu has the “good time,”
whose advent was to be tho culmination
of Radicalism, come upon us, and the
centeuuiul Auuiversay, which we are soon
itfe oolebrato, should be hailed with piuans
of praise to tho apostles of that higher
law, the legitimate fruits of which the
Amorican people aro now enjoyiug, and
are likely to onjoy for generations to
come.
General Johnston anil the Southern
Pacific Railroad Scheme.
Tho St. Louis correspondent of the
•♦lew York Sun furnishes the substance
of ~ & conversation held with General
Joseph E. Johuatou, in that city, during
the session of the recent Pacific
liailrond Convention, in which Gen
eral Johnston did not hesitate to
express his disapprobation of the
soheiuo to subsidize the Texas Pacific
Railroad. lie said that of course he was
in favor of n Southern route to the Pa
cific, but that he did not believe in either
the expediency or tho propriety of ex
tending government aid to the enterprise.
He thought that the Southern poople
should stnud by their ancient landmarks,
and follow the teaohiugs of their illus
trious statesmen of the past. The Dem
ocratic party was on record over
and over again as against all
subsidies, aud it oould not afford
to stultify itself. The South might be
benefited by the oonstructiou of a
genuine Southern Pacific Hoad, but her
people should not insist on legislation
principle they believe to be
wrong aud conducive to monstrous steals
like the Credit Mobilier. lie did not be
lieve that the Texas Pacifio, under its
present auspices, was really and truly a
Southern read. He had observed a map
of tho proposed route in the rear of the
stage, aud that plainly said to the con
vention that St. Louis, aud not the
South, was the eastern terminus of Tom
Scott’s trans-continental line.
This statement of General Johnston's
opinions fully corrokoiates the views
which he expressed to the Georgia dele
gation, of which he was chairman. Had
their been auy opportunity afforded in
the convention for arriving at the true
- sentiments of the Southern delegations,
we have reason to believe that a large
majority would have endorsed the views
of General Johnston. We feel sure that
such would have been the result of a
vote of the Georgia delegates.
Old-fashioned marriages, binding “until
death do us part," arc likely to grow into
disfavor. Already some strong-minded
females have insisted on the elimination
of the word “obey” from the marriage
servioe, and it has been done in many
instances. We now hear of a marriage in
Michigan where the couple ignored the
injunction, “What God has joined to
gether let no man put asunder,” and put
in their marriage contract the saving
clause: “If the union and harmony that
now exists between us should continue
through our natural lives, then this con
tract is to remain in force; otherwise to
be null and void. ” This is modem pro
gress, and with the tendency to innova
tion it is impossible to say where it will
end—probably in a regularly recognized
system of limited matrimonial partner
ships for any period stipulated in the
contract
The Central Railroad—Report of Ihe
Investigating Committee.
In consequence of numerous com -
plaints and divers wild reports concern
ing the management of the Central Rail
road Company, a committee, on motion
of the Board of Directors, communicated
by resolution, was appointed at the an
nual meeting of the stockholders on the
10th of December last to investigate the
affairs and condition of the company in
all its departments. The committee ap
pointed were Messrs. W. D. Alexander,
Octavus Cohen, W. W. Gordon, Robert
N. Gourdin and J. J. Gresham, but in a
week or two afterwards Mr. Alexander
was compelled by sickness to resign
and his place was filled by the
appointment of Mr. D. G. Purse.
The committee as thus consti
tuted organized by the election of Mr
Gourdin as Chairman, and proceeded to
make the investigation with which they
were charged. This duty they have per
formed most thoroughly and systemati
cally, as is evidenced in the able and
elaborate report they have just con
cluded, and copies of which have been
furnished us. In a careful perusal of
this document we are impressed with the
earnestness of purpose and candor which
characterize the labors of the committee.
The result of this investigation of the
affairs of the company furnishes infor
mation of absorbing interest, not only
to the stockholders of the company, but
to the community at large; and in our
synopsis of the report we shall present
liberal extracts from such portions of it
as we deem of most especial interest to
our public.
The matter first considered by the com
mittee was an inventory and appraise
mentof the property and assets of the coni -
pany, and a statement of its lia ilities
and obligations, absolute and contingent,
including all guarantees for other rail
roads and lines of steamers. An analysis of
these statements, with the figures of each
item as given in the report of the direc
tors and those of the committee, giving
their valuation, with a third statement—
a consolidation of the two —in which the
results are presented in a condensed
tabular form, is submitted as being the
mo3t convenient and perspicuous method
by which the matter can be placed before
the stockholders.
In determining tho value of an asset,
the committee announce that they have
been governed by the price at which the
property could be converted into money.
Thus: Bonds which will be paid at
maturity, but are now below par, are
placed at their market value. Stock
of a railroad which does not pay
the interest on its bonded debt
or pays it through aid from without is
written off, as not a bona fide asset. In
this valuation of assets the prices current
the 30th January, 1875, are adopted as
accurately as could be ascertained.
The deductions in the assets and the
assets written off for cause by the com
mittee foot up $2,651,929 22, divided as
follows :
C. R. It. n , ..
Report. Deduction.
Depot lots and right
of way,Macon,Ga. *216,504 43 *106,504 43
Central Railroad
and Steamship
Line. 600,000 00 300,000 00
STOCKS OF OTHER COMPANIES.
4,900 shares 8. W.
„U.R. Cos 465,258 00 105,900 00
5,256 shares W. R.
It- 'f Ala 119,852 56 119,852 56
408 shares 8a v. & M.
It. R 40,800 00 40,800 00
241 shares Eatonton
branch It. R 24,100 00 2,410 00
422 shares M. <fc W. —.
.. 11 ; U - ' ..•V- 7 12 > G( #-flo 12,660 00
6,715 sha.es Mob. &
on o '?*’ l * - 90 47,033 90
20 shares Balt. A ; ’
ffta Vjltr BtojfMEl
1,555 shares Sav.,
Griffin & North
Ala. R. R 155,500 00 155,500 00
770 shares C. R. R.
A Rkg. Cos 78,825 00 32,625 00
593 shares A. A U.
It. It 27,572 40 26.072 40
100 shares So. At.
Tel. Cos 2,500 00 2,000 00
2 shares Ag. A Me
chanical Associa
tion 1 000 00
1,000 shares Much.
A Industrial As
sociation 10,000 00 10,000 00
Chattahoochee river
steamers 56,064 14
BONDS.
*202,000 city of Ma
„ 172,000 00 20,000 00
*185,000 Sav., Grif
fin A North Ala
bama R. It 149,800 00 5,500 00
*275,304 50 Mob. A
Girard It. R.bonds
and coupons,(past
duo) 275,304 50 68,826 12
*7,000 city of Colum
bus 7,000 00 2,000 00
*7,000 M. A W. 1\
It. R. income 7,000 00 7,000 00
*21,500 Muscogee
Railroad 21,500 00 21,500 00
Rills rec’iv’blo—-bad 46,589 48 46,589 48
Notes disc’u’d— bad 56,284 44 56,284 44
Sav., Griftiu and N.
Ala. Railroad— 271,635 54 162,435 54
DUE BY RAILROADS.
Southwestern R. It. 769,688 13 589,685 13
Western It. R. of
Alabama 232,522 26 232,522 26
Mobilo and Girard
Railroad 127,660 86 29,654 87
Sav., Grifiin and N.
Ala. Railroad ... 88,485 17 88,485 17
Bank Expenses .... 22,385 92 22,385 92
Cash (less C. R. R.
fare bills held as
cash) 431,396 56 276,702 00
The committee are very explicit and
satisfactory in their reasons for this scal
ing of the assets, their arguments being
but a plain and logical statement of facts
which admit of no controversion. With
the exhibit of the absolute and contin
gent liabilities, of which latter there are
uouo save those arising out of certain
suits at law in which the compauy is in
volved, and the explanation of the assets
aud reported liabilities of every kind, the
committee proceed to direct attention
to the status of certain rail
roads in which the Central
is interested. In regard to the aid ex
tended by the Central to the Western
Railroad of Alabama and the Mobile and
Girard Railroad, and to the lease of the
Southwestern Railroad, the committee
note a conflict of opinion, the allegation
being made on one hand that the advan
tages to be derived did not justify this
action, and in support of this
opinion the accounts of these
railroads are cited. The advocates of
these measures, however, contend that
the business acquired through them has
not only compensated the Central for the
money spent on that account, but that
the connection has been absolutely profit
able. Upon the merits of this issue the
committee express no opinion, leaving
the facts as a basis for judgment by the
stockholders themselves.
The aid extended to the Western Rail
road of Alabama, which is a consolidated
corporation company—the Montgomery
and West Point Railroad, with branch
from Opelika to Columbus, and the
Western Railroad from Montgomery to
Selma—was in accordance with opinions
conceived prior to the war. and the
policy which dictated it—considered
by accepted facts and convictions
at the time it was given,
the committee think a wise one. This
aid was necessary to complete the only
link wanting to connect Savannah with
Vicksburg by a continuous line of rail;
and in view of the contemplated building
of the Southern Pacific Railroad—Vicks
burg being a point of the most direct
route between San Francisco and the
South Atlantic ports—in addition to the
benefits to accrue immediately to the Cen
tral by this connection, there were others
of greater magnitude probable in Abe fu
ture. Reviewing the condition of the
Western Railroad, and noticing its sal*
in January last, under a decree of the
Court of Chancery of Alabama, when it was
purchased jointly by the Central and Geor
gia Railroads, for $3,265,257 02, the
committee are of the opinion
that the Central has been
benefited by the change, as the road is
now in a better position to pay each year
a larger percentage on the interest on its
bonded debt, until its income shall be
adequate to pay the whole.
Whilst the advantages sought to be
realized through aid given the Mobile and
Girard have not been realized, the com
mittee are of the opinion that any
improvement in the trade of the country
or in the rates of freight, will enable the
road to pay more, if not all, of the inter
est on the bonded debt, and to the extent
that it will be able to pay this interest,
will the Central be relieved.
In regard to the lease of the South
western Railroad the report shows that
the income since 1870 has not been suffi
cient to pay the interest on its bonds, to
redeem them at maturity and provide
dividends on its stock guaranteed by the
Central, and under the terms of the lease
this deficiency has to be supplied by the
Central. In fact, it is stated that but for
the immense reduction in the operating
expenses, the road would scarcely have
paid its expenses in 1872 73, and the busi
ness of 1874 appears to have been less
profitable.
This reduction in the business of the
Southwestern is attributed to the
diversion of some of its trade
over the South Georgia and Florida
Railroad from Albany to Thomasville, to
the derangement of labor and diminished
cultivation in Southwest Georgia, and to
unfavorable crop seasons for successive
years.
The interest of the Central in the Sa
vannah, Griffin and North Alabama Kail
road was acquired through the Macon
and Western, the Central at the time the
M. and W. was consolidated with it as
suming the payment of $150,000
bonds issued by the latter to pay its sub
scription for 1,500 shares of the stock of
the S. G. and N. A. It. It. The road was
unfinished, and if suffered to remain so
the stock which was an offset
to these bonds would be
worthless. The Central was
therefore, compelled to either suffer a
total loss of the stock or to continue the
construction in the endeavor to save it.
The latter course was pursued, and the
road built. The aid thus given has
been a burdensome tax on the resources
of the Central without any adequate com
pensation from the trade and travel which
it has furnished. The road, however,
the committee declare, will be no longer
a tax on the Central, as it is not propose!!
to carry it beyond Carrollton, the point
to which it is finished. This review of
the affairs of these railroads shows
that the Western Railroad of Alabama
and the Savannah, Griffin and North
Alabama Railroads, are on a more satis
factory footing in their relations with the
Central than heretofore, and that the fu
ture of them all depends chiefly on the
restoration of the country to its former
prosperity.
We here make tho following extract
from the report:—
Your committee are cliargod with report
ing “whether there are, or have been, any
abuses in the administration of tho business
of the company.” They have seen none.
They have seen what they conceive errors
in judgment, but no instance of corruption
or malpractice whatever.
The Central has suffeied, in common with
..other Southern railroads, from the pro
tracted poverty of tho South, from compe
taion, producing unremunerating freights,
and fiom the prostiatign of the entire
Country since tbe financial eritfs-pf 1873 ,
Ad-it ttt a two-fcirn
way; in its own business, and through
the business of railroads intimately allied
with it. You havo seen tho aston
ishing decline in the receipts of the South
western Railroad, and that the Central,
under the obligations of the lease, has been
supplying the deficiency in its income; also,
that tho Western Railroad of Alabama and
the Mobile and Girard Railroad, having
been unable to pay the interest on their
bonded debts, tbe Central has been paying
it on its endorsements for them. But for
the untoward times and circumstances which
havo befallen us, the Southwestern Railroad
would, doubtless, have maintained its pros
perity, and these two railroads would not
have required pecuniary aid from the Cen
tral, certainly not to the extent that has
been necessary; and, it may be, that the
advantages which the Central sought to
secure through them would have been fully
attained.
It is true, that when the Central contract
ed its obligations with these railroads, the
competition, which has been so injurious,
had manifested itself; but no one foresaw
the financial embarrassments of the coun
try, and few persons realized that tho im
poverished condition of the South would
continue to this time. Tbe irrepressible
prosperity of the South is a fixed idea with
our people, and the conviction was, it may
be said, universal, that, as the war and its
passions passed gradually away, so would
the recuperatiou of the South be accelerated,
until it should attain to its former pros
perity. Iu this temper, sustained by a firm
hope, and a strong resolution, the obstacles
to recuperatiou were not appreciated, if they
were realized. The overthrow of our sys
tem of labor, the destruction of our capital
and the exorbitant iuterest on money bor
rowed from abroad to replace it, the burden
of Federal taxation and of ihe governments
imposed on the States of the South, all were
overlooked, or, perhaps, not duly consid
ered. The disappointment has been gen
eral, and the Central Railroad has not been
tbe only sufferer.
Tbe statement of the road and bank show
that tho amount absorbed by the Southwest
ern, Western, and Mobile and Girard Rail
roads, has beeu $1,721,696 26 ; and if to this
is added the payments for tbe Savannah,
Grifiin and North Alabama Railroad, these
four railroads have had from the Central
*2,206,616 97—nearly all in the brief space of
four years.
Tbe absorption of this large amount by
these roads is a prominent cause of the
straightened circumstances of the Central,
aud of its inability to continue to pay divi
dends regularly.
Another distinct cause of embarrassment
to the Central Railroad, growing out of the
financial troubles of the times, is the dis
count on its bonds* negotiated in 1873-74.
The loss suffered here was about $200,000,
nioro than it would have been under more
favorable circumstances.
Your committee have now placed before
you the information in reference to the
railroad, called lor by your resolutions, and
have pointed out some of the prominent
causes of its embarrassments. The ques
tion now occurs, can the Central meet its
obligations and be pr* Stable to its stock
holders? Your committee believe that it
can, notwithstanding the large amount
stricken from its assets; and for these
reasohs:
The country must gradually recover from
its prostration and the South from its pov
erty, and our railroads will experience the
benefits from this return to prosperity.
The committee state that an effort is
being made to establish remunerative
rates of freight and distribute them equi
tably among the railroad and steamship
lines running in connection and compe
tition with the Central, and declare that
if the authority of “the General Associ
ation of Southern Railway and Steamship
Companies,” organized to adjust and en
force such rates, is sustained, one im
portant step has been taken to reinstate
the prosperity of the road and its con
nections.
A statement of the liabilities of the
company for rents, interest on its
bonded debt and on its endorse
ments for the year ending Ist September,
1874, gives the amount as $758,293. The
average net earnings for 1872, 1873, 1874,
were $1,049,271, which, less $758,293,
amount of rents, etc., gives the average
absolute net incomp for these years of
$290,978, equal to a dividend of three
and three-quarters per cent, per annum,
notwithstanding the heavy charge in
1873 of $407,000 for extraordinary ex
penses.
The committee considers this state
ment shows that any improvement in the
business of the Central Railroad, with
relief at the same time from burdens it is
bearing for other roads, will enable it to
meet its annual liabilities and regular
dividends to its stockholders.
The bank is said to be economically
managed, and the percentage of loss on
tbe volume of business done not larger
than that of the other city banks since
the war. The committee recom
mend that as soon as the roads
finances will permit a separate
rate and fixed amount should be set aside
for banking purposes, when it is be
lieved that the income from this source
will be increased. The salaries paid for
conducting the Macon agency are con
sidered excessive and an immediate re
duction is recommended.
The committee have given particular
attention to the subject of free
passes, and urge that the issue of such
should be carefully guarded and restricted
as nearly as possible to persons traveling
on the business of tbe road; and
especially is the practice of tendering
free passes to members of the Legisla
ture disapproved. The committee regard
it as reprehensible and unjust in every
point of view, and recommend its discon
tinuance.
The conclusion of the report treats
of matters which are of such general
commercial interest that we quote in full
as follows:
The.six steamships were purchased in
May, 1872, for $600,000, and paid for in
bonds of the company for $300,000, and the
special bonds for a like amount, alreadv de
scribed, and known as “ Bonds for Steam
ships.” In July, 1874, the Board of D rec
tors adopted a resolution submitted by Mr.
W. R. Garrison, agent in New York, ap
pointing General J. F. Gilmer, then a direc
tor, “a commit'ee of one to examine the
books and accounts of tbe agent of the
Compauy’s Steamships in New’York,” and
report upon them. Gen. Gilmer’s very able
report was laid before the committee, and a
copy was transmitted by them to Mr. Garri
son for bis information. In May last Mr.
Garrison visited Savannah, and, in’an inter
view with the committee, furnished them
with an abstract of the accounts of the
steamships. These accounts, and General
Gilmer’s report, show the operation of the
steamships for two years aud four months,
and accord very nearly in their figures.
The net earnings for these twenty-eight
months are, according to Mr. Garrison’s ab
stract, $123,262 61; but if from this amount
is deducted the interest ou the bonds given
in payment for the steamships, say $96,500,
it will be reduced to $32,762 61 ; aud if the
wear aud tear of the ships he estimated,
this profit will much more than disappear.
Commissions of theagenc es in New York
and Savamiah have been $133,385 71—592,-
033 35 in New York, and $41,352 86 in Savau
nab, at tbe rate of $39,442 86 and $17,722 44.
respectively, per annum. And if to the
commissions of tho Savannah agency be
added s2s—allowed each ship every trip for
clerk hire and commissions for collecting
wharfage, say 25 per cent, at Yale Roval
wharf, and 5 per cent, at Empire wharf
(rented), the income of this agency is fully
$20,000 per annum.
Your committee would respectfully re
commend :
First. That the Savannah agency be
abolished and the management ot the
steamships be placed under the control of
the Forwarding Department, and, if
deemed necessary for the accommodation
of passengers, and shippers and receivers of
freight, an office be established on the Bay.
This recommendation your committee be
lieve will result in a large saving to the
road.
Second. That the commissions charged
by the agent in New York should be on the
following items only, and at not exceeding
the rates noted against each, say ou
Freights, 24 per cent, on inward and 5 per
cent on outward.
Passenger tickets sold in New York, 24
per cent.
Ail other money earned by the steam
ships, 2.j per cent.
All purchases made on account of the
steamships, 24 per cent., aud only on other
disbursements when funds are advanced; in
which cases the commission should be 24
per cent.
And that the agent in New York be al
lowed also $25 clerk hire for each voyage
of the steamships.
These steamships being now undesirable
because Jruu at arnuch greater expense and
carrying less than vessels of equal tonnage
of modern construction, they should be
sold, as advantageous sale* can be made,
and replaced by others, adapted, in model
and construction, to do the business re
quired of them effectively and with econ
omy.
OCEAN STEAMSHIP COMPANY OF SAVANNAH AND
VALE ROYAL PROPERTY.
This company was organized as an expe
dient, to avoid any legal questions as to the
right of the Central Road, uuder its charter,
to own steamships.
The capital stock of thejgompaiiy is 8.000
-shares fit tlflu eacn. Tho Central liailroai?
holds 7,930 shares, which it paid for by
transferring to the company its six steam
ships, with their accrued profits, at $600,-
000, their cost, and tho Vale Royai property
at *200,000, reserving the railroad track and
the right to build any other tracks which
may be necessary or convenient for the Cen
tral Railroad, valuing the track and privi
lege at *IOO,OOO. The remaining 50 shares
are held by the live directors of the company.
Notwithstanding the fact that the President,
the 8 licitor and four Directors of the Cen
tral Railroad Company constitute the corpo
ration of the Ocean bteamsliip Cornpanv
of Savannah, your committee regard this
transfer of the Vale Royal property, remov
ing it from the immediate control of the
Central Railroad, as of doubtful policy; and,
if it be practicable, they would be glad to
see it restored to its former ownership. To
this end, your committeo recommend that
an application be made to the Legislature
for an amendment of tho char
ter of tho Central Railroad and
Banking Company, authorizing the com
pany to own steamships. This being ob
tained, the Vale Royal property and the
steamships may be restored to their former
status with the Central Railroad Compauy,
and an indirect and somewhat complicated
airangement dispensed with. *
A cotton press on Vale Royal wharf is a
necessity with the Central Railroad, and
there is a question as to its right, under the
charter, to own and operate one. The Cen
tral had, therefore, either to procure the
right from the Legislature aud erect the
pi ess itself, or invite proposals from others
to do so. The latter alternative was adopt
ed and the “Gordon Press" was erected by
a company-, uuder au agreement and con
tract w-ith tho Central Railroad, “to be in
force for the term of five years from the
first day of November, 1872, and continue
after the expiration of said five years,
from year to year; with tbe "right
reserved to either party to ter
minate the same at any time there
after by giving one years’ written notice”—
“aud the agreement may be annulled, at
any time, after the expiration of the first
year of the term of five years, by either
party giving one year’s notice of his desire
to abandon and be released from his obli
gation to it.” The contract stipulates
further, that the Gordon Press shall occupy
the land on Vale Royal wharf free of
rent; that “it shall have the exclusive privi
lege of compressing all cotton shipped by
or upon tbe Central Railroad, on through
bills of lading, to be transported by sea
from Savannah iu ships that load from
the said railroad wharf, where the ships
elect to have said cotton comuressed at
all.”
That it may receive for compressing “the
price of twenty-five cents per bale, provided
the cotton shall not exceed two hundred
thousand bales during aDy one business
year, au excess over two hundred thousand
bales to be compressed at the rate and for
the price of twenty-two and one-half cents
per bale.”
Your committee think It is inexpedient that
any corporation or private person shall own
the press on Vale Royal wharf, for in this
case tho Central pays a profit on the com
pression of cotton for its own ships, and
loses the profit on the compression done for
all other ships.
The Central Railroad should own the press
on its wharf, have the compression for its
steamships done at actual cost, aud enjoy,
besides the profit on tho compression for ali
other vessels taking their cargoes there.
Your committee are of the opinion that
the contract with the Gordon Press should
be abrogated, and they recommend that the
notice ntcessary to terminate the same be
given.
And, if the doubt as to the power of the
Central Road to own this property, already
referred to, still exists, it may be remedied
by the Legislature. In auv event, the Press
can be owned and operated by the “Ocean
Steam Navigation Compauy of fmvannah,”
under its ample charter, in the iuterest of
the Central Railroad.
Your committee think further that, should
the contract with the Gordon Press be ter
minated, it will be a waste of profit to con
tinue to charge twenty-five cents per baie
for compressing. The rates should be uni
form with those current in Savannah, gene
rally fifty cents for coastwise steamers, aDd
sixty cent3 for all other vessels. The ship
pays for compressing, and in the case of the
company’s steamers, the rate will be imma
terial, as it will only transfer money .from
one acc uut of the company to ano.her ; but
in ihat of ail other vessels it will be mate
rial, for to compress at twenty-five cents per
bale is to give up, unnecessarily, twenty-five
cents to coastwise steamers, and thirty-five
cents to other vessels, per bale.
Your committee fail to see the policy of
this concession ; for not being made to the
merchant, it does not operate to attract
through cotton over the road, but is an un r
necessary benefaction to the ship, not owned
by the company. If the charge for com-
Eressing cotton at Vale Royal wharf is not
igher than in the shipmaster
cannot object to take his cargo there, and it
needs no gratuity to indnee him to go there.
Before dismissing this subject, your com
mittee would suggest another r asoD, sub
ordinate to those already given, but still im
portant when viewed by the light of sound
policy, why it is expedient that the Central
Railroad should abrogate the agreement
with the Gordon Press, and own and operate
the press at the rates current in Savannah.
Tbe present arrangement and rates, while
they do not benefit the Central, are injurious
to Savannah. That they do not benefit tbe
Central has been already shown, and
they are injurious to Savannah because the
site of the press and the land necessary to
it, have been granted rent free, while the
value of the bind occupied by the presses
in Savannah is a large item in their cost,
and in the expense ef operating them, be
cause for the first two years of the con
tract tbe press at Vale Royal paid no mu
nicipa tax, and for the current year pays
only a portion of it, while the presses in
Savannah pay always the full amouut im
posed. There were obstacles to the
taxation of the Gordon Press at the out
set. They will probably be removed,
and itis to’be presumed that the full amount
of taxes v-.ill be levied by the city in the
future. Still, when the taxes are equalized,
the advantage to the press built ou ground
rent free, will remain. Wish these ad
vantages the Vale Royal Press can work
with profit at twenty-five cents per bale,
and must, in a short tim, injure seriously
the large capital invested iu the Savannah
presses, thus hazarding antagonism between
interests which it is important should work
iu harmony.
And, in to promote economy, your
committee recommend that the Central
Railroad should require all steamers making
through freight arrangements with it, to
land and receive their cargoes at the Ocean
Steam Navigation Company's wharf, thereby
saving the expense of wharfage and drayage
of goods received for the interior, as well as
on all cotton shipped on through bills of
lading.
Tbe repot t as a whole is an able, elab
orate and carefully prepared document,
comprehensive in its scope, methodical
in its arrangement, exact and fair in its
data, and logical and convincing in its
deductions. It presents to the stock
holders and the public a complete and
reliable view of the present actual condi
tion of the affairs of the company,
which, in view of the universal shrinkage
of values, the sharp competition which the
road has encountered, and the general
of business, is better
than that &f many similar institutions iu
the couiatO’. The committee express
confidencfjfn the substantial solvency of
the and while suggesting some
changes economic policy of its
management, the adoption of which
would be alike beneficial to the corpora
tion and to our business public, entertain
no doubt of its certain recovery, with the
revival of the general prosperity of the
country, from the embarrassment which
has of late restricted its usual dividends.
LETTER FROM JACKSONVILLE.
Horrible Suicide of a New York Consump
tive —Business flislortune aud 111 ileultli
tlic Cause—Without Money and without
Friends in a Strange ”I.and.
[Special Correspondence of the Morning News.]
Jacksonville, Dec. 1, 1875.
My excuse for troubling you with a
hastily penned epistle from this im
portant point, where you have other cor
respondents, is a good one. I have just
witnessed under my window in the rear
of the Metropolitan Hotel, what I can
truthfully call
A MOST SHOCKING SUICIDE.
Hearing the alarm I looked out of my
room window, and in the rear of the bar
ber shop, which is located next to the
dining hall, I saw a man lying upon the
brick wall with his throat cut wide open
and the blood still running out. lat once
rushed down to the spot, but life was
extinct, as the unfortunate man had made
sure work of his attempt to end his weary
earthly existence.
On the 12th of October a stranger came
to the Metropolitan Hotel and registered
his name as “Alfred H. Pease, New
York.” He was a tall, sandy-com
plexioned man, feeble in health and
rather despondent in spirits, as
is frequently the case with consumptives.
Failing of success iu his business pros
pects and plans, he was compelled to
leave his baggage with the clerk, who
now holds it for his hotel bill, and seek a
cheaper place to live. Recently he was
employed as a drummer for a boarding
house in this city, but failing to be of any
service to his employer, he was discharg
ed on Monday of this week, which left
him
WITHOUT MONEY, HOME OR FRIENDS.
Where or how he lived until this morn
ing, I do not know, but it is evident that
he must have fared hard, and became
thoroughly discouraged in his efforts to
secure other* employment.
At aboutdleven o’clock this morning
he the barber shop of this
hotel, and quietly passing through the
back room, in the absence of
any customers to watch his
movements, he ,picked [up a razor and
stepped outside the door, held his head
over an empty barrel in the corner of the
yard, and deliberately cut his throat, en
tirely severing the windpipe. Seven dis
tinct cuts are to be seen on the side of
his neck, which shows that he never fal
tered in his purpose to end his life in
that manner. The razor dropped into
the barrel, and the suicide fell back,
dead, upon the walk. Almost immedi
ately his body was discovered, and
A CORONERS JURY
summoned. And such a jury, and such
an inquest, would have surprised your
readers outside of Florida, where negroes
do not rule over white people.
Seeing the door open and let in a crowd
of dirty, stupid looking negroes, who
came forward as though they belonged
there, I asked a white policeman who
they were. He replied that they were
the Coroner’s jury.
“And who is the Coroner?” I asked.
“That man,” said he, pointing to a
negro.
“Ah!” exclaimed I, “that accounts for
the milk in the cocoanut.”
You should have seen this intelligent
jury, picked out of the “rough skuff ” of
the street, “sit on” this poor unfortunate,
and “go through him” to see what proper
ty could be found on his person. The whole
proceeding was a disgrace to the white
people of Jacksonville, and the city
authorities deserve . the severest censure
for allowing ueh a jury to be sum
moned. Of course the deceased had no
money, except a small currency bill, on
his form, as he killed himself because his
funds were exhausted, his health de
stroyed, and he
AMONG STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND.
Truly, your traveling correspondent
was right in warning such persons against
coming to Florida in the vain hope of
securing here some light employment
sufficient to pay their expenses through
the winter months. Men cannot live
here without money, and theie are no
charitable institutions or hospitals, as in
Northern cities, to which such cases as
this to-day can go for temporary relief.
I am told that Mr. Pease had a wife at
Cedar Keys or Key West, but no one here
seems to know anything about her. If
such be the case, what a sad blow will
his shocking death be to her! Who can
understand the feelings of a man situated
as he was when he so quietly and coolly
walked to the place of his own execution,
and with that instrument of death in his
hand, desisted not until seven strokes of
his own right arm had freed him
forever from the poverty, sickness and
misfortunes of earth. But, what then ?
Oh! judge not, you who have health,
friends, home, employment or means
with which to provide for you and yours.
He had none of these—knew not, per
haps, where to get them —and so, right
or wrong, madly plunged his soul into
the darkness of an eternity where only
God shall judge his life and its sad and
tragic ending.
In justice to the proprietor of this
well known hotel, Mr. J. B. Togni, and
Captain Harry Parcells, the popular and
efficient manager, I should state that they
are in no way responsible for this terrible
tragedy, although it occurred in the rear
of their premises. The deceased was
kept by them for a long time after his
funds were exhausted, and treated with
great kindness; but in a city like this,
whore bogus newspaper correspondents
and all other kinds of “dead beats” are
constantly “doing” the hotels, it would
require the wealth of an Astor to help all
poor unfortunates for an idefinite period.
THE MORNING NEWS.
You should have seen the crowd of
Northern and Western guests in the read
ing-room of this hotel this morning,
reading the telegrams in the News, on the
arrival of the train, and congratulating
themselves that the snow, ice and storms
of New England and other cold sections
could not reach them here in this favored
clime, ft is true that it is damp and
rainy, and a little chilly in Jacksonville
just now, but no one oomplains and few
persons wear overcoats. A rush of visitors
is now looked for, as the result of the
cold spell at the North, and the St. James
and Metropolitan hotels are getting ready
for a large number of guests. A much
larger number of your Morning News
will be needed here, as even now the
copies are all sold at the news depot in
half an hour after the arrival of the train.
It is looked upon here as a Florida paper,
and a live one too, Me Judice.
LETTER FROM JACKSONVILLE.
All AboAt a Dog—Chief Justice Jlp—A
Steamboat Race on the St. John’s
.More Hniiirnl Pilfering— Fatal Accident
Bocal .>craps and au Intermixture of
Stems—Marine.
[Special Correspondence of the Morning News.]
J acksonyille, December 2.
CHIEF JUSTICE JIP.
We may remark the return of Judge
Phillip Frazer of the United States
Court, looking healthy and hearty, much
to the disappointment of a long standing
aspirant for Lis position. This impatient
character is E M. Randall, yclept Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of Florida
—of course including his canine, Jip.
Sometimes Jip howls and Randall follows,
at other times Randall yells and Jip fol
lows. Sagacious animal and worthy of
his master ! It is said that Jip hath been
taught to smell around Judge Frazer’s
domicile ever}- morning when in
town, and in the event of a
certain contingency he is to return
to Randall’s house, with head and tail
erect, at a live!} trot; otherwise this in
telligent dog, who is supposed to be able
to scent a coming event, is expected to
jog disconsolately along with a dejected
appearance and depressed caudal appen
dage. As the latter is invariably the
case, and bids fair to be for some time to
come, Randall’s discomfiture is being
aggravated day by day, and those who
have been so fortunate as to witness the
scene pronounce the dog’s return to his
master one of the richest affairs ever
heard of. Randall was a pettifogger in
Wisconsin formerly, and probably be
longed to that class of attorneys who
swindle their clients by acting as'counsel
for both sides of a case. He was im
ported by Harrison Reed, of bless
ed memory, and is one of
the many barnacles which that
obsolete patriot contrived to fasten upon
the peniusula. His legal acquirements
rank with those of Archibald, but his ir
reproachable honesty is a subject of
special wonder. Bisbee, in his
fore the Supreme Court at Washington,
lately, recited Randall’s decision concern
ing the issue of the four million railroad
bonds, and it may delight the studious to
inquire how that decision might possibly
have been obtained. It is a striking co
incidence that while the question as to
the constitutionality of those much
abuse i bonds was pending before Ran
dall a most extraordinary transfer of real
estate occurred, whereby Randall was
paid seventy-five hundred dollars for a
property notoriously valued at no more
than twenty-five hundred dollars. It
is another singular fact that the
action of the Chief Justice in declaring
the bonds legal was directly in conso
nance with the wishes of the purchaser.
Randall is one of the most conceited
pigmies in the State, and Stearns] so Jwell
understands his tool that he leads him by
tickling his inordinate vanity.
STEAMBOAT RACE ON THE ST. JOHN’S.
The steamer General Sedgwick arrived
here on Tuesday, and at once announced
her intention of trying her speed with
the Hampton. Accordingly, about three
hundred guests assembled on board yes
terday morning, and much enthusiasm
prevailed. The Sedgwick was formerly
the General Hunter, and was sunk by a
torpedo during the war, near Mandarin,
while acting as a transport on the St.
John’s river. She has a forty-inch cylin
der, with a twelve-foot stroke, and has
lately been plying between Glen Cove and
Wilmington, Del. I desire here to return
my grateful acknowledgments to her
gentlemanly agent, Mr. P. McQuaid, for
courtesies on the upward trip. The
Hampton belongs to the Old Dominion
Steamship Company, registered 624
tons and a fraction, and has a
thirty-eight inch cylinder, with a nine
foot stroke. She is admirably offi
cered by Capt. A. W. Stark and
Purser James Gallagher, to whom your
correspondent is indebted for valued
favors on the downward journey. The
Hampton steamed off from her wharf
about ten minutes ahead of the Sedg
wick, made four landings and reached
Palatka just four minutes ahead, the
Put the upward trip was not a fair crite
rion, as the officers of the Sedgwick
claimed that their wood would not make
steam, which was remedied at Palatka
by a better sort of fuel. At the start
from the Palatka wharf the Hampton
was slightly in the lead, an exciting race
followed, and the Sedgwick reached
Tocoi about a length behind Hampton.
Distance, 24 miles; time, 92 minutes.
An even start was made from Tocoi,
and the most interesting part of the
affair occurred in the race for Green Cove.
The Sedgwick led off about a length, and
the journey progressed with varying re
sults, wing and wing at times, stern and
stern at others, Hampton in rear. The
Hampton brushed up when near Green
Cove, and touched the wharf just inside
of the Sedgwick, amidst loud cheers.
This run was 19 miles; Hampton’s time
67 minutes. Thence to Jacksonville the
vessels were pretty evenly matched, but
the Hampton struck her dock about three
lengths ahead of her rival, thus winning
the victory. The Sedgwick averaged
twenty-five pounds of steam; the Hamp
ton thirty-five.
WALKING OFF OF A WHARF.
Three passengers landed at Palatka
last Tuesday night and inquired the way
to the up-river boat. They were directed
to the upper end of the wharf, and im
mediately proceeded in that direction
with rapid strides,-in single file. Number
one stepped into the river through a slip
in the dock, and his companions came
close at his heels, or head. They fortu
nately fished themselves out without sus
taining any injury other than the loss of
an umbrella.
SCALDED TO DEATH.
A little child of Mr. Chas. Cooper, of
this city, yesterday jerked a pot of boil
ing tea over on the back of its neck, and
was so badly scalded that it expiied in
great agony in a very few moments.
STEALING INDICTMENTS.
The grand jury of Alachua county
labored assiduously duiing the first week
of their recent sittings, brought in twenty
seven true bills and were dismissed.
The documents disappeared in such a
mysterious and unaccountable manner
after discharging the jury that it necessi
tated their being recalled at a great addi
tional expense to the eounty, but they
promptly renewed their findings. Several
Radical blisters are suspected of this
piece of knavery, and it is in strict ac
cordance with their proclivities to steal.
CASE OF SHOALS.
The case of the State against Shoals,
for the murder of Branch, resulted in a
mistrial at Gainesville last Monday.
ANOTHER SUICIDE.
The third case of a man’s death by his
own hand in our midst within a very
short while furnishes food for reflection.
It is a question for casuists to wrangle
over —why a human being who has not
courage to battle against the ills of life
possesses a sufficiency of misguided
fortitude to end his own existence. The
latest instance of felo de &t , a full
telegraphic acoount of which has already
been published in the Morning News,
was Alfred H. Pease on yesterday. The
weapon of self-destruction which he
made use of, a razor, has hitherto been
abandoned to the butchering uses of
negroes in this locality. This unfortu
nate victim of his own act was aged about
thirty years, was an Englishman by birth,
and boasted some little educational
advantages. He had been an invalid
from consumption for some time, and
two or three weeks since was in an ex
tremely despondent condition on account
of his sufferings and helplessness, and
declared to a friend: ‘Tt’s almost enough
to make me step into the river or cut
my throat.” His mind probably dwelt
on such an avenue of escape from life
until it became deranged. His remains
were interred Wednesday by the city
sexton.
marine intelligence.
Arrivals during the past three days—
Steamer General Sedgwick ; schooners
John Colby. Wilmington, jif! C.; Nellie
Carr, New York. Departures—schooners
Matilda Brooks and liosa Eppinger, New
York.
PERSONAL.
Mr. J. W. Jordan, of Amerieus, Ga.,
arrived in the city a few days since with
his fine lot of horses. They are splendid
animals all. Adrianes.
Religious intelligence from Tennessee:
“Her matchless and perfect figure was a
model, and never showed to s3 much ad
vantage as when she knelt for baptism.”
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
.■Summary of the Week's Disputi-lica
ADDRESS OF HON. L. q C. LAMAR.
Washington, December I.—On taking the.
chair in the caucus to-day, Col. Lamar de
livered the following address :
Gentlemen— lu calling me to this posi
tion of responsibility and distinction you
have conferred an honor which I appreciate
most highly, and for which I tliauk you
most cordially. We here are confronted
with a crisis in the history of file Demo
cratic party aud of the country which brings
to our party grand opportunities, but is at
tho same time freighted for us with solemu
responsibilities, and if we do not improve
these opportunities and rise to the mea
sure of these responsibilities the fruits
of the great political revolution which
brought us here to-day will be for ns
like the fruit that grows upon the shores
of the accursed sea. The people of this
country, by overwhelming majorities of
States and majorities in States, have placed
the Democratic party, after a long period of
exclusion from power, in possession of the
most important department of the Federal
Government. When I say important, I do
not mean that the individual members
are invested with imposing prerogatives
or great personal distinction. The
departments of patronage—those which
hold and command the glittering prizes of
governmental emoluments and honors—are
the co-ordinate branches of the government
which are still under the control o‘f our po
litical oppon nts. Tho members of the
House of Representatives have no patronage
whatever beyond that of the appointment of a
military or naval cadet, and their compensa
tion is barely adequate to a life of republican
simplicity and prudential economy. There
are many offices in the gift of the 'Executive
far more profitable, and iu the public esteem
far more distinguished, than that of a seat
iu the House of Representatives; but this
branch is, nevertheless, under our match
less system of government—the corner
stone of our fabric of liberty—because it is
the only department of the Federal Govern
ment directly responsible to the people of
the country and receiving its powers di
rectly from their hands. All the
other branches of the government are
two or three degrees removed from
the people in the mode of their selection, or
in tho nature of their buk
while the House of Representatives is thus
immediately responsible to the people, all
the other branches of tho government are
responsible to this body. The people of
thq country have charged us, have
charged the Democratic party in the
House of Representatives, with the
important duty of bringing those co-ordi
nate branches of government to their just
responsibility, and thus, by an unerring in
stinct or by a keen intelligence, have
blended together our duty, our interests
and our inclinations.
There has been for some time in tho pub
lio mind a conviction, profound and all
pervading, that the civil service of this
country has not been directed
from "considerations of public good,
but from those of party profit, and for cor
rupt, selfish and unpatriotic designs. The
people demand at our hands a sweeping and
thorough reform, which shall be conducted
in a spirit that will secure the appointment
to places of trust and responsibility the
honest, experienced aud capable. There is
also an imperative demand that a vigilant
examination be made into the administra
tion of the public revenue of the country,
both in its collection and its disbursement;
that all tho public accounts shall be scruti
nized by us, as it is the solemn privilege and
duty of the House to do; that corruption be
ferreted out, aud wrong doers, no matter
how high or low, shall be fearlessly arraign
ed and fully exposed and punished. There
is a growing aud irresistible sentiment in
the country that, under the specious theory
of protecting and fostering particular
industries and interests, a system, miscalled
revenue laws, lias been iu operation, which
is detrimental and blastiug to all other great
interests of the country, and maintained at
thS expense of tho general revenue and to
tho injury of the great majority of the people,
and of those classes, the farmers and labor
ers, who are least able to bear tho burden
of oppressive laws. One of tho high
est aud most pressing demands upon
us, will be not only to insist on bringing
down the expenses of the government to
the needs only of economical administration,
but to perfect and adopt such a system of
taxation as will bring in the required revenue
with the fewest restrictions upon commerce
and with the least burden to the people, and
that burden equitably distributed anil skil-
fully adjusted.
Owing to the existence of one of those
great internieine conflicts—incident to the
life of almost every country, and also to a
pernicious system of legislation—our peo
ple, our busiuess investments, our com
merce, and all the diversified interests
of the country, aro suffering from
the evils of an irredeemable cur
rency. In meeting and grappling with the
difficulties of this vital and perplexing
question, it will be our duty to take
care that nothing is done which would im
pair the good faith of the country or tar
nish the public honor or lower or disturb
the credit of our government ; but we arc
t-td remoye obstructions which fijir t,fio
progress and cbeclT tho -pvCtSjifcrriy of the-
American Republic.
It is the duty, and is to be the glory, of
the Democratic party, while it controls the
House, to see that the national debt is paid
in full, and that the currency of this dem
ocratic republic is made equal with that
of any nation on earth. Upon
the part of those who have
been invested with the political
power and destiny of our country during
the past ten or fifteen years, it has been a
frequent remark that the era of constitu
tional politics had closed; that questions
of constitutional limitations and restrictions
were no longer to hinder or delay the legis
lation of the government in its dealings
with financial, economical or social
subjects which were, it was assumed now,
tho only matters worthy of public attention.
And yet, amidst their grand boastings, the
Forty-third Congress found themselves faced
with the gravest questions if constitutional
law, reaching down to tho fundamental sys
tem and involving not only the relations of
the State to the Federal Government,
but that of the people aud their
own house government. The grandest
aspiration of the Democratic party is, and
its crowning glory will bo, to restore the
constitution to its pristine strength aud
authority', and to make it the protector of
every section and of every State in the
Union, and of every human being of every
race, color and condition in the land. Ap
prehension and distrust of one part of the
nation that that portion of the Southern
people who were arrayed against the author
ity of the Federal Government in the late war
would be an element of disturbance to the
American Union has mainly disappeared,
and is evidenced by your election. In its
stead has grown a more fraternal feeling,
which regards us of the Southern States as
fellow-citizens of the same great nation;
and on the other hand, the people of whom
I speak, of whom I am one. are here to-day
by their chosen representation ready to
honor any draft which the American people
may draw upon tlieir patriotism or their
faith, in the glory and the beneficent
destiny of American institutions. (Ap
plause.) The experiment which has been
introduced amongst us, based upon confi
dence in the workings of local
self-government, aud intended to solve
the difficulties connected with recent
social aud political transformations, shall
have an open field and fair play. No hin
drance shall be placed in the way of its
vigorous development and its amplest suc
cess. (Applause). It has been said that
the day of sentimental politics has passed
away, but, gentlemen, there is one
part of the Union—that part which I know
best—which asks for the great moral nutri
ment to a spirited and noble people. We
want a government that we can love aud re
vere and serve from the motive of rever
ence and love. We hunger for a patriot
ism which shall knit all the people
together in a generous and loving brother
hood, and which shall be as broad as the
territory over which the national flag floats.
Let me say here that no government, no
nation, can prosper without this vital fire.
It is the sentiment which, acting upon free
institutions and reacting through them up
on a people, constitutes their public spirit
and political genius.
Gentlemen, wo are here as Democrats—
members of a political party which has a
long and glorious history. Let us in our
duties this winter recall and revive those
principles the faithful maintenance of which,
by the fathers of our country, secured it for
so long a period the confidence and support
of the people. Let us seek to renew the pros
perity, to advance the greatness and glory of
our country. Let us resolve to win the confi
dence, the affection of the whole American
people for our party by showing them that
we, its present representatives, have states
manship, patriotism, strength of purpose
enough to deserve that confidence and af
fection. Let us not forget that the great
victory of last fall, whieh brought us here
and which gives us ihese opoortunities aud
great responsibilities was achieved not alone
by Democratic votes, but with the co-operat
ing efforts of patriotic and unselfish men of
all parties who, wearied.and alarmed bv the
unceasing evils resulting from corruption
and maladministration, choose to call ns to
the duty of checking these evils and
clearing away these corruptions. If
we are wise we shall so rule our
selves, and so serve our country as to
retain the confidence of these voters. Re
forms are urgently needed. Let us wisely
make them. A renewed prosperity is every
where earnestly desired. Let us, by remov
ing unjust discrimination, by imposing a
rigid economy, by restoring a sound cur
rency, by securing the equal rights of all
States and all the people, make the Demo
cratic party the author of anew prosperity,
so that we may begin for our party anew
and glorious career, in which its history
should be onpe more, as formerly, the story
of the Union’s greatest grandeur and the
people’s universal happiness and content
ment. (Great applause.)
A COLORED MAIL ROBBER.
Rochester, N. Y„ December 3 Nathan
Sprague, colored, for two years employed in
the post office, has been arrested for steal
ing letters. Fourteen were found in his
possession.
DESTRUCTIVE Flsfc,
Cincinnati, December 3.—By a fire in the
rear of the ’ Methodist Book Concern, M.
Fletcher loses $25,000, Donaldson & Cos,,
lithographers, SIB,OOO, and other occupants
smaller amounts.
THE SUNKEN STEAMER.
New \ork, December 2. —The mate of the
Sunuyside had not got over tifteen or twenty
feet trom the steamer with his life boat full
of people before it capsized. A terrible
scene ensued. There must havo been
eighteen persons in tho ooat. Tho mate
swam ashore, but tho others that
were saved swam back to tho steamer.
In all probability all that were lost were
drowned by tho capsizing of the life boat.
Their shoots and cries for aid must havo
been heard for a long distance. As quickly
as possible I took a boat from tho star
board side and with our head-waiter and
deck-boy tried to get around to the people
in the water, but heavy ice prevented. The
cries for help continued about ten minutes,
when all was still. Wo launched tho big
boat from the upper dock which was even
with the water, the vessel at that time
being two hundred feot from shore. I took
the boat with tho secoud engineer
and finally reached the capsized
boat. Sue was bottom upwards aud a man lay
on her on his back with his feet iu tho water
and ice, nearly dead. We took him on board
the steamer, put him iu the pilot's room
aud covered him with blankets. Then I
heard a noise on tne outside of
our port wheel house, which
was only two feet out of water.
We worked the boat through the ice to the
spot where the cries came from, aud louud
an elderly lady. She was lying on tho ice
about five feet from the wheel house. Her
body was partly in tho water, her arms hold
ing her up. She was still alive. With
great difficulty, we got her iu tho boat,
took her to tho steamer, put ner
iu the wheel-man’s room and covered her
with blankets, hut she died about two hours
after. We theu went to work to construct a
rope ferry from the steamer to the
shore. At this time at least sixty persous
were together on the hurricane
deck aft. The wind was blowing hard
and the air was bitter cold. W’e got the line
ashore and succeeded in getting all off in
safety, after they had been on the deck
for two hours. To do so wo placed
them in the boat aud pulled the
boat along by tho rope. On reaching tho
shore they clambered up the rocks aud
made their way to farm houses iu the vi
cinity, where every attention was given
them.
GOVERNOR SMITH ON INTERNAL NAVIGATION.
’at”Atlanta, Ga., Decernlx-if'-tL- Govt Smith
has just addressed a letter to the people of
Georgia urging them to sefid delegates to
the convention which meets in Chicago on
the 15th. He says that there is nothing so
essential to prosperity as this'matter of
transportation, aud the true cause of our
present commercial depression may be
traced in a great measure to its inadequacy.
To this cause may be attributed the want of
development of the vast resources of this
State. To return to a gold circulation we must
first restore our commercial prosperity. We
must sell moro than wo buy, aud to do this
we must adopt every proper means to
lessen the cost of production. High trans
portation is a serious obstacle to develop
ment. The most powerful aud wealthiest
nations of the Old World are those who have
paid the most attention to their highways.
The same is true to-day. Eugland, Russia,
France and Germany are great aud prosper
ous; while Spain, who has done nothing for
the improvement of her internal naviga
tion, is a proverb of political and finan
cial insignificancy, and so of Mexico
aud Peru. The Governor says :
“ Lot us profit by the lesson. Gold
is tho result of commercial prosperity
and not tho cause of that prosperity.
To restore our prosperity wo must look to
our great national highways of trade to
tho rivers and water lines first, while other
means of transportation should not be ne
noglected.” He" says the- government of
the United States is the only compe
tent power to improve and control these,
and they should bo maintained as
free public highways for the use of
everybody. We must look to tlio United
States Government for those improvements.
The opening of these lines will go far to
ward solving the question of transportation
by a legitimate competition, which will ben
efit the railroads, with other interests;
hence there should bo no false antagonism
between them. He strongly deprecates the
fight which is constantly going on botween
the great industries of the country. These
industries are not nationally antagonistic.
He says we of the Cotton States have no
warfare to make on any other industry; but,
on the contrary, we should labor for
the advancement of all. Georgia has
no war to make on the manufacturer or
miner of other sections, but on the contrary
her true interest is to be found iu aiding
the advancement of all those. To this end
we should labor. Ho urges all the different
interests of the country to send representa
tions to Chicago to consult upon tho ques
tion, and says if the same sound, good
sense which characterize ordinary business
transactions of our people bo brought to
bear upon these questions it will do more
towards a solution than all the fine-spun
theories of the present generation.
THE SrEAKERSHir.
Washington, December 4.—The tradi
tional two-thirds rule of tho Democratic
conventions does not enter into the cau
cuses of the party. A majority nominates.
-XilSESj£.,Ua Chauge in the situation this
morning, beyond increased anxiety and less
positive assertion.
Washington, December 4.—The caucus
was called to order hv Mr. Fernando Wood,
ou whoso moiion Mr. L. Q. C. Lamar, of
Mississippi, was chosen presiding officer.
On motion of Mr. Holman, of Indiana, Mr.
Benmng, of Ohio, was made Secretary. The
balloting did not commence until four
o’clock, and at half-past five adjourned to
seven.
Washington, December 4.—Mr. Kerr was
nominated lor Speaker by the caucus. First
ballot—Kerr 71, Randall 59, Cox 31. Second
ballot—Kerr 77, Randall 03, Cox 21, Saylor
l. Third ballot—Kerr 90, Randall G3, Cox
7, Saylor 1. During the morning Mr. Wood
announced himself in favor of Kerr, and ou
the third ballot Mr. Cox asked his friends
to support the succefssul candidate.
During the caucus, Mr. Randall said :
“ Mr. Chairman—Let the wish of the ma
jority bo the voice of all. From this mo
ment differences among ourselves must be
at an end, and thus present a united front
to our adversaries. Our mission on this
floor must be, as far as we are able, to re
store the government to its constitutional
purposes, and expose the corruptions of tho
administration, a work more of a personal
character to those around us, who have so
steadily supported me. They have lost their
choice, but have gained a long life friend. I
now move that the nomination of Michael
C. Kerr bo made unanimous.”
A PITIFUL PETITION.
New York, December 3.—At a meeting of
the Board of Aldermen yesterday, a petition
was received from tho United American
Bricklayers Association, asking for the pas
sage of an ordinance authorizing their em
ployment on the public works. It recited
that the association consisted of upward
of five thousand members ; that not moro
than one-fifth of their number were work
ing ; that they had passed through
two seasons ot idleness; that the present
condition of business was such that
capitalists could not or would not employ
them; that they seek labor and not charity;
that they' will not be able to sustain
their families during the present winter,
and that the city must therefore choose
between furnishing them with charity or
labor. The petition closed with the follow
ing sentence: “We know that by becoming
convicts we can bo assured of labor by the
State or city, and we hope we will not he
driven to that extremity.”
THE VIRGINIUS AFFAIR.
New York, December 2 The following
editorial article appeared in the .Spanish
newspaper, El Cronista, published in this
city on the 30th ult.: “We see by the latest
newspapers from Madrid that the Council
of State has given its decision in regard to
the capture of the Virgmius, declaring that
it was a good prize, and that the govern
ment had a right to exact the return of that
vessel by the Government of the United
States, and as that could not be clone on
account ot tho vessel having sunk af
ter it went into the hands of
American authorities, the Spanish Govern
ment bad a right to claim her value. We
believe, in view of this decision, that our
government will at once claim from the
government at Washington the value of the
vessel, and that that government will hasten
to hand it over with the same alacrity as
was shown by us in respect to 480,000 which
was given for the survivors of the crew of
the pirate vessel,”
“babby.”
Washington, December 2.—Gen. Bab
cock had a lengthy interview to-day with
Attorney General Pierrepont with reference
to the association of his (Gen. Babcock’s)
name with the pending trials in St. Louis.
His object is to endeavor to have an oppor
tunity given him to be heard before the
grand jury or iu some way confront the
charges that have been made, and he there
fore appealed to Judge Pierrepont, as the
representative of prosecution in these eases,
to consummate such a plan. The Attorney
General has referred the subject ot Gen.
Babcock’s request by telegraph to the
United States Attorney at St. Louis.
A letter from Gen. Babcock to the Presi
dent, after a statement of the circumstances
already telegraphed, concludes: “I re
spectfully demand a court of.inquiry, and re
quest that an immediate investigation be
ordert d.”
MUMEBis BONDS.
Memphis, December 3.— ln the case of the
bondholders vs. the city of Memphis the
Supreme Court of Tennessee decided that a
million dollars of bonds, issued by Mayor
Leftwitch in 1868, was legal, but the excess
of one hundred and thirty five thousand
dollars was illegal, as he was only au
thorised to issue a million. Secondly, that
though the bonds has been sold at a greater
discount than six per cent., the transaction
was neither illegal nor usurious, and the
city can neither plead usury nor scale the
bonds. Thirdly, that the city \g compelled
to levy taxes necessary to pay interest on
bonds used prior to notwithstanding
the new charter limits th§ amount to be
levied.
THE CHICAGO CRIME.
Chicago, December 3.— The body in the
barrel was indentified as that of Mrs. Emma
P. Adams, the wife of a prominent hard-
city. She was buried on
the 20th of November, and exhumed under
the direction of Dr. Wilder, for whom war
rants axe oat.
the boss at large.
es*ped T ° BK ’ JJCoen “ ber Tweed has
New York, December 5.—A dilicent
search was made for Tweed last night *§?
in charge of officers, went to his home to
visit his wife. He wished to see her a “onel
and was seen no more. Different cities ha&
nut^tthis 015 0,,t for W
ty minutes alter his escape was known
word reached every police Nation in The
city. There is not the slightest clue Ten
thousand dollars reward is offered
New York, December s._Tw<wi’„ i
was searched from top to bottom 8 . bouse
trace of the fugitive l was found!’ aTiho
back of the house there are other houses
aud to havo escaped Tweed mn„i i
passed through them Mr. Tweed’s son wls
in a very excited condition when he learned
ol his father s escape. He pullod big h*ir
and exclaimed that he was ruined as did
also Mr. Douglass, son-in-law Jf ' Wr
Tweed. The statement of Deputy Ho.’an
corroborates tho forogoing. Warden Dun-,
ham admits having taken Tweed out to ,!iL
some three or four times while he was in hta
custody, as Twee 1 was complaining of s
terrible headache. Tho bond given bv the
Sheriff for the proper and faithful" dot?
iormance of Ins duties is for Ssn ium
and that of Warden Duuliam $20,000 Thn
general impression seems to bo that some
ol 1 weed’s friends havo placed him
on board a steam tug, which will place
him on some vessel bound for a foromn
country. It is not positive whether an m
diet incut for forgery has boon found against
him, and his extradition is therefore an
open question. The trial iu the *6 000 000,
suit was to have commenced to-morrow. ’
new York, Decomber 6.—lnspector Dilka
believes that Tweed is on tho ocean. There
is good reason to believe that ho made his
escape many hours before it was reported
It is generally bolieved that Warden Dunl
ham and Keeper llogau are privy to tho
escape, and that Tweed embarked on some
private craft in East river, iu which he is
now sailing fur a foreign port. Tweed’s
cases which were up to-dav, wero post
poned. F
An afternoon paper has tho following re
garding Tweed’s fiight : The most probablo
theory is that Tweed escaped in tho bark
Lord Clarendon which clearol November
Htb lor Queenstown. The story is that a
relative of Tweed, not residing here and
known to but few in this city, reached’hero
some three weeks sinefc aud
bark Lord Clarendon, she is a tiiiiF vessoM
of excellent sailing (pwlities. The theorWi
is that the Lord Clarendon was chartered
for Tweed by his relatives, who sailed on
her. It, is said a vessel looking like her has
been seen off the east end of Long Island.
It is supposed that Tweed was conveyed
on board by a steam tug lying in East
River on Saturday evening, and was taken
on board tho Lord Clarendon. The name
of the firm which cleared tho Lord Claren
don is not iii the directory.
CONGRESSIONAL.
Washington, December o.—Tho following
is Mr. Kerr’s speech : “
Gentlemen of the House of Representatives :
I am truly gratified for tho honor vou have
conferred in calling mo to this exalted sta
tion. 1 profoundly appreciate tho import
ance and delicacy of its duties. I shall
doubtless, many times need your patient
indulgence. I pray that you will grant it,
ami with nothing but kindly feeling toward
every member ot tho House, I promise that
m all official acts I will divest myself, to the
utmost of my ability, of all personal bias, and
observe complete fairness and impartiality
towards all, and towards all tho great and
diversified interests of our country repre
sented iu this House.
Two hundred and eighty members worn.,
present. In swearing in tho members
Messrs. Morey, of Louisiana, and Goodo, of
Virginia, were asked to stand aside, as they
were contested. A motion to refer Mr. Mu
rey’s credentials, alter a warm discussion
la-iled, and he was sworn iu. Mr. Goode’
at er a short discussion,.was also sworn in. *
Mr. Lamar offored a resolution declaring
the following officers of the House : Clerk
George M. Adams, of Kentucky ; Sorgeant
at-Arms, John G. Thompson, of Ohio •
Doorkeeper, Lafayette A. Fitzhugh, of
lexas ; Postmaster, Jamos M. Stewart, of
\ll ginia ; and Chaplain, Rev. J. L. Towns
end, of the District of Columbia.
TERRIBLY FATAL EXPLOSION.
London, December 6.— The Pall Mall
Gazelle tins afternoon contains the following
brief but startling news item: All awful -
explosion occurred to-day at the Swaithe
main colliery, near Barsley, in tho West
Riding or Yorkshire. It is feared that
more than two hundred lives are lost
The colliery at which the dreadful’ explo
sion occurred to-day, belongs to Mitchell ,fc
°V e , of the largest iu the southern part
01 101 ksliire. It is joined by underground
workings with Edmund’s main colliery
where twelvo years ago yesterday over three
hundred persons perished. The works ex
tend lor many miles, entirely worked with
safety lamps, under very rigid discipline
aud were considered safo. At 0 o’clock a
m. about three hundred men aud boys de
scended and commenced work as usual. At
half-past nine a terrific explosion occurred
Ihe exact position of tho explosion is
not known, but tho miners in all
parts of the pit were startled by the loud
report, followed by largo volumes of smoke
and a/ter-damp. Those who were able
rushed to tho pit bottom, but the drawing
cage was displaced. As soon as possibio
volunteers organized to search for tho dead
and dying and those who had escaped. After
being down for some time the volunteers
reported about noon that they met with
great difficulty.
THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION. <
London, December 6—The volunteers
saw many who were alive, but unconscious.
It is impossible to give the number lost. It
is feared tho first report (200) will bo con
firmed, though the managers of the col
licry hope that many will be saved. Tho
operatives in all the collieries of the district
are on the spot ready and anxious to do all *
possible for the relief of tho sufferers. All
tho local surgeons have arrived. All res
cued thus tar are seriously burned aud in
jured. Hundreds of men, women aud
children are congregated at the mouth of
tho pit, aud as the disfigured bodies are
drawn to tho surface, the scene is of the
most heartrending character.
THE DEMOCRATS.
Washington, December G.-There was air
informal interchange of opinions of the
members of the National Executive Demo
cratic Committee at Arlington to-day Pro
soot, Messrs. Schell, President, of New
York, Ihompson O. Itandolf, of Now Jer
sey, McDonald, of Indiana, McHenry, ot
Kil*ucky, Barnum, of Connecticut, Mooro
ot Michigan, Eaton, of Kansas, with A d’
Bank of IVHssissippi, as their Secretary.
Mr. belied, who is Chairman of tho National
Democratic Committee, wa.s authorized to
use Ins discretion in calling the latter com
mittee together, with a view of designating
the time and place of holding tlio next Na -
tional Democratic Convention.
COBAN MATTERS.
New York, December G —Coionol Rosada,
who was in command of tho last expedition
to Cuba in the Uruguay, last night made a
icpoi tto the Cuban Association. Ho stated
that the vessel was wholly unfit for the
service, her Machinery was old aud in poor
fi° iiu OU > aiK * ttie propeller worked so badly
that the utmost speed the steamer could
attain was a little over five miles an hour.
When the vessel bad set out on tho voyage
it was discovered that the supply of coal was
and later provisions began to
fall short. I lie people on board suffered
greatly from those causes, and also from
the excessive heat.
THE BOLT OF THE BOSS.
New York, December G.—lt has been as
certained that Tweed’s private secretary
was last seen at his stopping-place, a few
minutes before tho departure of the 10
o clock train for Boston on Saturday
morning. He took that train, and said
ho was going to Boston arid would
return on Tuesday. Hj, however, carried
a large trunk. It was rumored at the Fifty
niqth Street Police Station last evening that
on Saturday from 4 to 12 p. m., a tug wtts
noticed cruising in a mysterious manner in
East River off the Fifty-ninth Station. No
,t“lnfi was noticed by whieh it could he
identified.
BABCOCK’S COURT OF INQUIRY.
Washington, December 4 The Pre
sident ordered the following detail
for the Court of Inquiry in the case of
Gen. Babcock : Lieut. Gen. Sheridan, Maj.
Gen. Hancock, and Brig. Gen. Terry The
Court will convene in Chicago, Illinois, on
Thursday, Deoember 9th.
Pierrepont telegraphed the Attorney Gen
eral al St. Louis, instructing him that the
appointment of the Military Court is in no
manner to stay any proceeding that the
Court authorities may determine upon as
being proper in the case.
BURNED TO DEATH.
Montreal, December s.—On Saturdays
liev. Father Murphy, editor of the TV**
Witness , gave his famous lecture on “papal
Infallibility,” and with Rev. Father Lynch,,
a talented young priest, lately from Ireland*
drove out to Back river, seven miles from*
Montreal, and stopped at Jeanesse Ho
tel. At night after retiring a fire broke oof
in the hotel and Fathers Murphy and Lynch:
and Madame Champagne, a lady sleeping oi
the third flat, were burned to death.
A BOY KAVISHF.B.
Wateetown, N. Y., December 5. —Sant
Cockl ng, aged fourteen, was. found deadr a
a piece of woods which vgas on her w
home from school. It was first thea- ,fit
she was killed by % fa)i, but there is aw £ ng
evidence that sixtQen-year-old boy ii' ime( j
ltd tar, failing in an attempt at ravr jhi ng
killed her with a hammer. He was t racked
from the spot, and a hammer fbu which
fits the indentations. Rutav was *r rested.
BOLTED,
Boston, Decrtnber L— F ort 1 y 0 f the
strongest men, headed by I.Test Jent Shep
hard, bolted. The Republican Mayoralty
Convention organized separate!' / and nomi
nated Mayor Cobb. The Democrat* also
held a meeting, but made no nomination.
A WIFE DECAPITATED.
Cleveland, December 4.--An enraged
Englishman named Win. Aiden cut off his
wife’s head with an axe, and mortally
wounded his stepdaughter anda woman who
came to her assistance, with a hammer.
The death of Vice President WilaM
last Monday, at the capitol, lost to >]B
party a shrewd leader, but does not ctH
prive the country of a statesman M
Washington Capital. M