The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-01

II
trail Park Commission was presented The expen-
ditures Of the Commission 80 far, for land and i'm
provements, amount to s6,447.sOi During the
past year 1879 laborers have been employed IN
the Park. The expenditures during the same
period have been $ll4,O0 Considerable routine
business was transacted, and the Board adjourned
to Monday next.
The Grand Jury made prescntment yesterday
in the Court of General Sessions previous to being
discharged, which Will be found in our report
elsewhere, After stating that the number of in
cendiary fires are increasing, they denounce the
sedtious doctrines set forth in the recent message
of Mayor Wood, observing that such sentiments
pander to the worst passions Of men, and, in con-
clusion, urge the importance Of having an efficient
police TO suppress crime and protect citizens.
Jacob Miller, who was convicted on Wednesday Of
arson in the second degree, was sentenced by
Judge McCunn to imprisonment in the State
prison for twelve years and three months.
In the absence Of the President Of the Board of
Councilmen, the Clerk called the meeting to order
last evening Nine members only answering to
their names, he declared the Board adjourned till
Monday. The majority of the democrats are in
Albany saving the Union.
The Commissioners of Charities and Correction
met yesterday afternoon, and adopted the report
Of the Committee of the Whole in the usual way.
An abstract Of this report is given in another
column. There are $3.50 inmates in the institu.
tons at present. which is an increase of 1T for the
past week,
The skating in the Central Park yesterday seem
ed to have obtained renewed vigor from its tenn
porary lull, and although the ice was not altoge
ther smooth, still, as the season is now rapidly
approaching its end the ball was raised, and the
pond illuminated at night The official returns Of
yesterday, to six P. M, gave pedestrians, so 900;
equestrians, co. wheeled vehicles 600 and sleighs
| 800. At the close of the Park the numbers
were, pedestrians 10000; vehicles, 700; sleighs,
| 500. The Drive was in fair condition for sleigh
| ing considering there has been no fresh fall of
snow. Robert Wilson, sleigh driver, was arrest
cd yesterday for disorderly conduct. In conse-
quence of so many accidents, chairs will in future
be prohibited on the ladies' pond. The whole
pond is expected to be flooded tonight; if so,
there will be no skating after six o'clock p. NJ
The overland pony express, with San Fran
cisco adyices to the 18th ult., arrived at Fort
| Kearney on Wednesday, four days behind time.
The Cortez sailed from San Francisco on the 10th
| for Panama, with a fair complement Of passen-
| gers and nearly million and half in treasure
| for New York Business, as usual at this season
ofthe year, was very dull. A. l.. StookHeth, the
Hamburg consul, and merchant Of extensive
| connections, committed suicide on the 10th ult.
He was heavily involved pecunariy.
Two matches were played yesterday on the
| curling pond in the Central Park, one for the
local medal of the Thistle Club, the other merely
for honor, between the Hudson and Caledonian
clubs. report will be found in another column,
giving the winners in both matches, &c.
We have advices from Porto Cabello, Venezuela,
to the 9Th ut. The country continued in very
unsettled condition, both in foreign and domestic
affairs. The accounts from the United States had
most paralyzing effect. The French and Eng
lsh Ambassadors and subjects assumed tones and
consequences heretofore not practiced towards
the natives.
The cotton market yesterday without change OF
moment in rices while the sales embraced about 800
bales part in transit. We quote middlng uplands at
12hc. The expectation entertained by persons
that any very large proportion Of the cotton crop be
brought inland by river and rails for reshipment to
Europe is, to great extent, delusve 1t is bulky
article and every time it is handled 1t costs money.
From Memphis to shpboard in New York il has to be
handled FIVE six times wher cas- by way OF New Or
cans It is not necessarily handled than two
three times. Besides, In New Orleans it, to large OK
tent, undergoes powerful recompresson to lessen Its
bulk. To deliver the whole crop to Northern cities for
| re-export (say four millions Of bales) would tax
the utmost capacity OF the railways forming the links in
TIE direct routes of transportation for period of
one or two years. The only point from which inland
transportation has been carried to any considerable
during the Ias few years TO the North has been
from Memphis, which is zoo miles above New Orleans
| The whole receipts at this place in $4,000 not
much 200 0C0 bales part Of which found its way
10 Northern manufactures through inland routes. The
remainder forwarded to New Orleans and some por.
ton to Charleston. considerable portion of the re-
| cep's at Memphis comes from Arkansas.
The cotton received here does not rank high that
grown nearer the Gulf The great advantage Of the New
Orleans market arises not only from the quantity but
the wide range Of qualities sale. Hence foreign pur.
chasers, and especially those from France make
| better selections than elsewhere. The supplies from
Natchez. Grand Gulf, Red River and Texas afford
the best assortment Of fine found the CONT
nen Among other varieties Sea Island is found the
market from the coast Of Texas and Florida The -four
market exhibited important change in prices which
dull for the upper grades, while sales fair
Wheat active, and quotations without altera.
| ton Of moment. Corn opened dull and heavy, but was
buoyan at the close and at unchanged prices Pork
rather drmer with light sales. Sugars toerably
active with sales OF 400 hhds and 10 boxes
1 gwen Noutc Was stcauy. rEcButs
rather easier for grain and hrmer for -four There
was freight Offering for Havre.
THE PACIFIC RAILROAD JoB.-This stupendous
lobby scheme has passed the Senate of the
United States in an amended form, providing
for no less than three railways across the vast
deserts and sterile mountains lying between
the Mississippi river and the Pacific ocean,
This bill passed by vote of thhty-seven to
fourteen, and goes back to the House, as
amended, for the concurrence of that body.
The probabilities, too, are all in favor of its
success; so that, perhaps the only remaining
hope for the defeat of this enormous scheme OF
srolation and corruption is in the Presidents