The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-26


Star of the West. Oct 17sept. 2oi 27 l8S3e70
Atlantic Nov. ie|oct 20 81 iSss Io1
Baltic .............. Nov. 27l Nov % l,72l ,s42
h s,ss'e Dec Dec i S Sss lsSs & &
ioi.' .SS,sSio,foo
Iota! iof 1893 $36, ,S44
Total for 1901 j4222, 904
The latest mining news from California is high
lyfavorable, and promises well for the gold crop
and recently discovered silver crop of 1860.
So also the gold news from Oregon represents
everything in that quarter in q lourishing con-
dition. From Arizona the intelligence about
the rich silver mines of that Territory is quite
satisfactory, and it is probable that with the
facilities for transit which the new Mexican
treaty will afford, we shall soon have the
silver of Arizona pouring in as abundantly as
gold from California.
But while the crops of these precious metals
are thriving in this quarter Of the world, it
appears that the gold products Of Australia
are decreasing. For the first three quarters Of
every year since 1856, the yield has fallen off at
the rate of hundred thousand ounces for each
year, q deficiency which has not been made up
in the remaining portion Of these years Not
withstanding this fact, the number of miners in
Australia has been increasing, but no fresh
fields have been discovered for some time past.
Thus, while the auriferous deposits in Aus
tralia are becoming less abundant those of
California are becoming more so every year.
The GREAT EASTERN PRONOUNCED FAILURE
do1o \
ing the prospects of the monster steamship
Great Eastern, the question seems to be now
definitely settled by the report Of the surveyors
appointed to inspect her. The splendid
hopes and promises with which her completion
was hailed are, it appears, not to be realized.
The Great Eastern, after all, as she now floats,
is failure. She is pronounced imperfect and
insecure, not available for an Atlantic voyage,
not up to the mark Of an ordinary first class
passenger steamship, and not constructed &C.
cording to contract. In short, she is unfinished,
and cannot be put in safe condition without
great additional expense and considerable
time.
The principal points in which the surveyors
pronounce her defective will strike any one as
being very material ones. They say
With reference to the inmation that Mr. Russell al
ges that his contract s completed mark that hun
Of the ship, 10 which survey has been specially direct
to o. sRs es,
first class passenger ship such as those Of Cunard nns
or the Royal West India Nail Company, and that in her
on q heightened voyage.
And again. the decks Of very inferior quality, and
some OF the planks ahaky and defective not we'll
fastened nor Of sufficient thickness for ship her mag
nitude.
Additional strength required in the large cargo com.
The arrangements for taking the water from the seve-
raj and the spaces between the SKINS
require to be 60 completed that any compartment can
be cleared exclusive Of Others the engines or by hand
necessary and all the valves and cocks 50 placed
and fitted as to be opened and shut from the decks The
ioinera work materials furniture and fittings are gene
rally Of an inferior description and very slight not At all
dtiona security The steering gear is insuficient and
no spare tler (of wood) Small rudder pendants must
be fitted There is no steam power for steering a re
CURED in the contract nor cargo wnches at hatchways
There no steam power for coang purposes The screw
shaft IS quite exposed and, when the hold filed with
projection should be made to prevent danger when
In motion The five tunnels require particular attention
work 70 obvae the danger from fire to which they are
liable The waste steam and other pipes secured
80 So e 20 pe SAFE At sea The tunnels are only stayed to
are no arrangements for sufficient ventilation and warm
ing throughout the ship.
Such is the condition in which the surveyors
have reported the Great Eastern so that It
would seem that the temporary disarranee-
ment she experienced from the accident on her
trial trip is not the sole cause of her being de-
layed so long in port II this report be accu-
rate and unbiased, the monster ship may be
safely set down as a failure, and we will have
to look to some Of our American ship yards to
bring the grand idea of monster naval architec-
ture to successful embodiment
The SLAVERY QUESTION IN THE TERRITORIAL. |
LEorsIAruREs.-It appears that the question of |
slavery has recently been made the subject Of |
legislation, somewhat prematurely, in two Of four
Territorial Legislatures. A law prohibiting
slavery in the Territory was passed in the
lower branch Of the Nebraska Legislature the |
other day. This is an assumption Of squatter
sovereignty which the Legislature had no right
to make until the Territory had adopted a consti-
tuition and applied for admission into the Union
as State. On the other hand the Legislature of |
New Mexico, adopting the Southern idea, has
passed law for the protection Of slavery within
that Territory-a course of action which is, Of |
course, equally illegal. Neither of these Legis-
latures are justified in passing any law govern
ing slavery while the Territories remain with
out constitution, and such laws will have to |
be declared null and void by the government. IL |
thew ahou,d eyer naYue IN ha orfcrood