The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-11-07
OUR CHICAGO LETTER.
CHICAGO, Nov. I'd. 1861
Eds TRIBUNE; So fsssss.r,s

1 AIDo IhAbUNE - sts
During few days past there has beer
progressing, in the United Sla,es Distric,
Court here, suit which has been of ex
traordinary interest to all authors, es
pecially to dramatic writer's, as tending to
establish rights which many theetacal
managers have hitherto imagined they
were in no wise bound to respect 1t was
brought by Dion Bourcicault against Col.
Wood, Of woods Museum in this
city, to recover for the production of three
plays, ''Colleen Bawn. ""Octoroon" and
'Pauvrette, which the museum man
agement had coolly .jayhawked," or
| 'confscated, and made money out of, re-
gardless utterly of the claims ofthe author.
The jury could not find for the plaintiff
under the copyright law as Bourcicault
was not, they deemed, IN the strict sense
of the law citizen of the United States,
but they did find that under the common
law he had a right to damages from the
adventurous Wood and they assessed the
latter in the sum of 5000 therefor A
motion for new trial has been entered
but it is to be earnestly hoped that the re-
suit will be the same 1t has too long
been the practice with certain class OF
theatrical managers to enoeavor, by ev-
cry foul means, stealing manuscripts,
brlbine prompters andcopyists, haviugre
ports made In short hand, ETC., to rob
dramatists of a fair remuneration for their
labor. 70 such an extent has this been
carried that prudent stars who by val
liable pieces only place skeletons in
the prompter S hands and even take
charge of these after every rehearsal and
performance. Against such dishonorable
practices the existing copyright law affords
but meagre protection, and 1T is with
hearty satisfaction that see disposition
on the part Of an intelligent jury to pro
tect under the common law this high
branch of literary art. When by ade-
quate safeguards the right to dramatic
property is rendered more valuable we
shall soon attain much higher rank, as
"a people, in the production of original
plays than we have ever yet held and the
necessity Of dependence upon re-hashes
of the English and French stage viii be
removed.
Quite cheerful prospect is just now
being held out to house-owncrs by the
plumbers of our city, nothing less than
that we shall all be inundated iust as soon
as the new engines and tower at the water
works are put in operation. For some
time past it has been the general practice
Of these gentry to use water pipes OF much
less strength than their contracts or the
law required. Even the old pressure
from a tower So feet tested these traudu-
lent pipes to their utmost capacity, it is
said what, then, is to be expected when
the pressure from tower 40 feet his h
is put upon them? There may be moth
ing in the fear of general bust up
and soaking, or at least not much but
the plumbers are trying to make The most
out OF it by shamelessly drowning their
rascality in time past and generously Of
fering. (for suitable consideration to
examine and test the pipes i'll the houses
of all nervous owners.
The close of the month of October fail
ed to realize the anticipations of the grain
spectators who.hoped to buy largely at a
great decline caused by a glut OF the
market from forcing upon it the heavy
lots of grain bought for delivery in the
month 1t is true, there was slight fall,
but it was nothing like what wls antlci 4
pated. There are now In this market
fully a million and a quarter bn she!s OF
wheat, and there is very little chance for
speculation effort upon such an immense
especially III view OF the growing
disposition of the banks to shutdown on
loans or grain held for speculative pur-
poses. ss
The recent introduction here of ma
chine for the manufacture Of cigars (the
first ever brought to this country has
created great deal Of excitement and no
little Indignation among the hand workers.
[ have no space for description of this
admirable machine, but will simply say
that six weeks steady trial have fully
of thirt1' five boys or girls and twenty
skilful finishers it turns out from 10000
to 1000 cigars per diem, as many as
one hundred skilful workmen could make
in the old method, and that the cigars
thus made are much more perfect and
beautiful. smoke letter an. are Iu-...i.ciy
more uniform and smooth than could pos
sibly be made by hand. As boys and
girls cheap laborers, do almost rything
except the finishing, the cost of manu-
facture is lessened more than one half,
While farther saving of from one sixth
to one tenth in stock. is effected. Anoth
i. noticeable fact is that as dry tobacco
is worked for the filler, these machine
cigars are ready for the market as soon
rs made. Arrangements are now being
made for the manufacture of these ma
chimes in this country and they caunot
fail to make as great a revolution In labor
as the planning machine, power loom and
steam press have done. Any desired in
formation concerning them can be obtain
III from Messrs. S. Stevenson & Co., No.
) Dearborn street, owneis of the patent
right for the United States and the pres
ent operators here.
Our county election which comes off
on Tuesday next promises to be contest
ed with extraordinary vigor. The Dem
ocrats have very little show for the cleo
lion of their ticket, with the exception
of Judge Wilson whom the Republicans
rejected on the plea that he is old, simply
He has very many friends in the Repub-
lican party who will not hesitate to scratch
the regular ticket for his benefit, and his
chances for election are, to say the least,
good.
A very imposing masonic ceremony is
to traspire at the Crosby Mu-
nothing less than the installation of the
officers of two senates and two chapters
four new bodies of the order, according
to the Memphis rite. DR.. j. Adams Al
len, r. W. Deputy G. NJ. is to deliver
the grafton.
Quotations on change to-day are repor-
ted as follows; Flour White Winter
s14.0O; Spring Extra 50. .O0a975 Wheat
81. Seal Sc! for No. l. Corn $l.O5 for
No l. Oats 53a544. Rye ST. 2Sal %
for No /. Barley $l.O2al O5 for No 2.
Seeds, duh, 81. 95a2 90 for timothy seed,
81. 90 for fax. Mess Pork, $4,000 for
new mess Pork; $l9.5O for old. Mess
Beef $500. Extra Mess Beef $500.