The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-22 00:00:00

Our Wanbou Tortzspcubtnt.
We natal .ght to state that we do not at all time
4entl4 oulaelves with our Correspondent's ,ptralons.l

King Amaden, king no longer, adds hie name to the
list of "monarchs retired from busineem," and in retir-
ing from the throne of Spain, and leaving the factions
in that country to fight out their quer-fele, he acts a
dignified part, and treats contentious partsans as they
deserve to be treated. The Spaniards dal not know
when they had a good king and when they were well
off, and this distracted country is now sufferkg the
throes of political temtdt and plotting, if not actual
revolution. Spain has suffered so many change. of
Government, and has peened through so many phases
of weak monarchy tool feeble republicanism, that
Europe must leek or somewhat languidly at painting
events in this aadly maltreated country, that has
ordered for centuries from bad government end want
of public spirit.
The price of csal and the improbability of any im-
mediate decrease, as well as indications of is rise in 'le-
veret districts, constimtes one of the most generally
interesting topics of the day. At the time of writing
the highest price of coal es advertised is tifty.two shil-
lings per ton, showing an advance of more than 100 per
cent in a twelvemonth. Certain facts in relation to
this subject are far from agreeable. We hear of the
cotton Vale being seriously affected by the high price
of coals, while some of the ironmaeters have suspended
business owing to this cause and the uncertainty
of the wages question ; and added to this, we have in-
cidentally tales of severe distrais cuing to ths
• tit' the poor to purohate fuel, for of course all
other kinds of fuel have also gone up. On the other
hand we have statements which would be very grati-
fying if we found these were prepar dhotis to act upon
them. Every now and then we real that "it is be-
lieved " coal exists here or there, but after a few days'
talk about it the subject is forgotten. There is, how-
ever, one agreeable exception. It is said that fresh
shakings for coal are to be made in Shropshire. and that
It is probable several pits will be opened in various
parts. Uit be found to be true, as stated, that a large
tract of country, non' almost enttrely a4ricultural, is
believed to contaiu valnable reams of coal, what a boon
to coal consumers will this be. Meanwhile we have
one coneolation, that "spring, spring, gentle spring,
youngest season of the year," is approaching, and the
demand for coals for domestic purposes must fall off.
Rejoicing as we all do more or leas at the partial
settlement of the strike in South Wales, and at the
prospect of this unhappy depute being tina'ly arrange
I venture to record the remarks of Mr. Brogdert.
M.P., who, though naturally looking at this dispute
from the masters' point of view, has proved himself the
true friend of the men. lie points out that the enor-
mous price of coal is having a serious effect on the
oemmerce and trade of the country; that steamers are
laid aside because it does not pay to work them, and that
In many trades the famine price of coal is leadini; to the
stoppage of works and the discharge of workmen, and he
appeals to colliers to do all in their power to atop this
lamentable state of affairs. Colliers can certainly do
much towards this, but colliery proprietors and coal.
merchants must also do their part. If those who pro-
cure coal and those who supply it will not make any
concessions to those who consume it, the latter must
take the matter more into their own hands than at
present, and there are many ways of doing this—by pur-
chasing and working collieries, by inquiring into the
existence of coal in unworked beds, and by forming
comprudes to work undeveloped coal-fields.

It is curious that while efforts are being persistently
made to induce the Government to propose alterations
in the Licensing Act—which, I take leave to say, has
on tho whole worktd well—there is a probability of
Introducing the very same provisions of tide Act into
the Channel Mande. The Jersey States are legislating
on the subject, and some progress has been made in
this direction. By the way, it is rather strange how
much home role' there is alrealy in the British
Empire. The Channel Islan le, with their States, and
the lele ut Mau with its House of Keys, appear to
massage their own matters quite to their own satisfac
tion, and thus save the British Legislature a good deal
of trouble.

Some facts drawn from the reports of two associa-
tions eetaltlieheslfor improving the dwellings of the in-
dustrial claters—societies that I need not particularisi
—are of great public importance, aol cannot be too
widely known. In one report it is stated that the total
Income for the half-year—chiefly from rents, and all
originally from rents -is £11,598 ; the total expendi-
true is .0,797, leaving a profit of 0,801. The directors
recommend the usual dividend of 5 percent. per annum,
besides which they carry L'2,000 to the reserve fund,
and make other provision for contingencies. Idi not '
see any statement as to the number of improved dwel-
lings which this Asa 'dation has erected, but there are
statements to the effect that they are all occupied,
that the, e is a great demand for them, and that before
the end of the year about 250 additional tenements are
to be-erected. In the report of the other association
It Is stated that two estates have been completed in
Birmingham, and all the houses s di before they were
actually finishes!. It ii proposed to erect 1,200 houses
In one of the London suburbs, these improved dwel-
lings bring severally adapted to clerks, artisans, and
labourers, while there are also to be erected a lecture- !
hall, co operative store, schools, bath, &c. The direc-
tore declare a dividend of per cent, and carry
forward a respectable bslance. Now, I refer to those
statements in order LI point out that a highly benevo-
lent work may be carried out profitably. The first.
mentioned company could have easily paid 6 percent,,
the same as the other, so I will reckon them both as
paying this amount, and I maintain that 6 per cent,
with the security of house property, its not bad interest.
Of course a good many companies pay more, but then
many pay less ; and then the-shareholders in such com-
panies as these have the satisfaction of aiding a work of
practical benevolence. The improvement of the dwell-
Legs of the poor is a grand and noble work, good in
Itself and productive of untold good, for generations
yet to come. I should like to see a few more societies
of thin kind started, or—which would be practically
the same thing—the operations of existing societies
developed. What an immense field of operations there
Is for such efforts—in town and country, in the most
populous clues and the most sparsely-peophd hamlets !
me time agi the hearts of unemployed agriculs
tural labourers must have beaten high at the flittering
prospecte laid out before them in reference t t Brazil,
but accounts that have recently been received from
immigrants tell a very different tale, and now the
Brazili in Consul at Liverpool says that full inquiry
is to be made by the Brazilian Government, arid
asks the British publi I to suspend their judg-
ment. The very same thing has occurred wive.
respect to Paraguay. In this country, also, many of
those who have emigrated from our shores have been
very badly treated; the Emigration Commissioners
have warned those who are contemplating emigration
not to go to Paraguay ; and the Paraguayan Consu
asks us to suspend our judgment. There is very little
doubt, however, that when the facts are fully known,
our Judgment will be confirmed as to the past, though,
of course, it is quite possible for the Governments in
each vase to 'make such arrangements as will make the
lot of future emigrants much happier. The South
American Governments want English labourers badly,
and will do their utmost to obtain it, but they may
try in vain if they do not treat our labourer, fairly !

The general public may not take much interest in
the Lord Chancellor's icheine for the creation of a
Court of Supreme Judicature, for the simple reason
that the said public cannot be expected to übderstand
It. The questions which Lord Selborne deals with are
in large and complicated that I should say very few
lawyers themselves understand his project, which will
require several bills to work out comp'etely. I am
not about to bore the reader by endeavouring to ex.
plain the entire scheme, but may congratulate the
reader, as an infinitesimal porton of the public, on the
probability of the Lord Chancellor this BCI4OII effecting
a large measure of law reform. Judging from the re-
marks made by Lord Cairns, the Conservatives will
not offer a united or vigorous opposition to the scheme,
and if it pass much will have been accompli.hed
towards abolishing the perplexing distinction, between
law and equity, and affording facilitiea for the cheap
and speedy administration of our complicated legal
code.

The opening if new I-reinisee for that curiously
named but useful insti.ution, the Doorstep Brigade,
shows conclusively that this scheme is prospering,
and incidentally it shows that our servant-girls
are becoming more chary of out-door work than ever.
Several ladies and gentlemen of influential positions in
society have undertaken the control and development
of this institution- Cleaning door-stops is supposed to
be ths normal work of the boys who are taken care of
by these benevolent patruis, but the boys are also
occupied in cleaning boots and knives, doing odd jobs,
and running on errands for householders in the north-
western districts of the metropolis, while a few
boys are taught "printing !" I wish the effort
all 1111CCAS., but I wotill rather have seen this
effort applied to girls, as this might have been
• step to their bong engaged as regular
ito-
meetic servants. Any endeavour, however, to em-
ploy the unemployed arid otherwise unbefriended poor
la deserving of all honour and support. The Shoe.
block liti,,ade had become an established institution,
doing an immense amount of good, and, being a g.eat
boon to the public. Boys who have helia ved well and
harasses,' a little money are being continually drafted
from this brigade into various trades mid employment+,
and the good thus effected, directly or indirectly, is in-
Cal MI Alla, Tile Duarstep Brigade wid probably also
have a Aireer of move. Ilan, it yid be well to alter its