The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-02-19

AuW-LHe ICE DUStHeSS-1HS nee. SLepnefl
Ting.
c-l NEW YORK, Feb IT, 1868.
To the Editor OF the Press: -
We are getting winter enough this year.
The sleghing has been excellent for weeks,
and the cold intense. The coolest day in JAN
uary was the 10th, when the mercury went
down to 0 degrees above zero; in February,
the 4th, when it went down to above zero.
The coolest day experienced in New York in
forty years was on the 9Th of January, 1866,
when the mercury went to degrees below ze-
TO- And vet New Workers call these modest
destinations of the mercury terrible affairS,
while they shake and shiver; wonder how they
would bear the Eastern cold such as was in
Hartford the other day, 26 degre es below zero;
or the Western cold, such as was in Winona,
40 degrees betow? As it is, however, Harlem
Rivers frozen up, the Sound is filled with ice
bergs, and the tribulation of ice surges back
and forth in East and North Rivers.
Probably the Tammany Society is the most
powerful political organization in the country,
as it is the most ancient 1t rules New York
City, Brooklyn, the Democratic party of the
State, and its influence is gre lat in the genera
political affairs of the country. Whatever
may be the sins of Tammany (aud it is proba-
bly, as pure as most secret political orpaniza-
tions) it is always true to New York City
The recent defeat of Brooklyn in the contest
for the important office of Police Commission.
er, and the election of New York man, is the
power of Tammany. Nothing but the tran.
seending power of this organization could
"squelch" such an ambitious and unscrupu.
lous man as Fernand Wood; and in this par
| ticular it has rendered great service, inasmucb
as its representative man, Mayor Hoffman, is
incomparably superior to the men who
lead the Mozart and other factions that
manage to lead siekly existence. BY
the power of Tammany some portions OF
the Excise Law will be saved, and it will prob
ably undergo what some people call wise
modification. If the Republicans had an or
ganization in this city ON the plan and with
the relative power Of Tammany, it would be
better off. As it is, there is continual quar-
rel. al. g." and at w" are in a perpetual
fight, and the power of the party is rendered
nugatory because there is no powerful organic
alton to lead it. In the last municipal cleo
ton, Tammany SWEPT everything by its per-
feet organization and discipline, while the
power of the Republicans was absolutely fritz
tered down TO almost nothing by it's internal
dissentions.
The New York Assembly voted, on Friday
last 65 to ~, to abolish the Excise law now in
force in the Metropolitan District, embracing
the cities of New York and BROOKLYN, follow
ing the example Of the Maine Legislature.
The new law which takes the place of the Ex-
else law, provides that the Mayors of New
York and Brooklyn shall have the power to
grant licenses for the sale of liquor in these
cities under such restrictions as the Common
Council may devise. Outside of the counties
OF New York and Kings the power of grant,
ing licenses is intrasted to the Board of Su-
pervlsors of each county. Thus ends prohibi-
ton in New York, and the people appear glad
to get back to the old license system. There
were some good things in the repealed law
which ought to be preserved, though the preiu-
dice against it is SO great, we fear moth ng IL
BE- saved. Shutting up quor shops at - o'clock
at night and all day Sunday, operated well.
JudicIous laws for the control of the traffic in
Intoxicating drinks no doubt conduce to the
industry, sobriety, and morality of the people
but 1T is doubtful whether such law as BY its
radical and injudiciouS provisions defeats it.
self in one year, is worth trying by any State.
large business has been done this winter
IN storing ice by the companies existing in
this city. The Knickerbocker Ice Companv
Is the largest in the United States, and has
ice houses at every available place along the
Hudson river. 1t has now in employment
over 2500 laborers ard over 300 horses in the
work of getting the crop. The Knickerbocker
houses are already nearly full, and will con-
tam IN week or fortnight longer 500 900 tons
OF ice. The New York City and the BROOKLYN
CITY Companies are also large concerns
Nearly all the ice comes from up the Hudson
and New Jersey. During the summer the
Brooklyn company loads some fifty carts daily
to supply that city. The prospect is there will
b. an unusually large supply secured. With
the largely increased demand, it is probable
that the schedule Of prices will be slightly in
creased. A large amount of ice has hitherto
come from the East, the larger dealers here
buying it .or about $500 per ton, and selling
it at very small advance.
The trial of the Rev. Stephen Tying, the
younger, has occupied much attention for a
week past. The trial is held in st. Peters
Church Twentieth St. 1t has called together
many ecclesiasties who are much interested
IN the Developments. The charge is viola
tlon OF the forms and usages of the Protestant
Episcopal Church as required in their canons
ana prayer book. Mr.. Tying has coalesced
WIN the Methodists and other denominat lions
10 an un~arranted degree. He has made q
great mistake in supposing he could carry his
church in whatever direction his fancy dictat.
ed. Idissatis6ed be should have Joined the
| other denominations. 1t is not to he exnect.
ed that any religious organization will sac.
rifce its peculiarities to the caprice Of any one
| man. . NASSAU,
Governor Hartman of New Hampshire is IN
excellent spirits and anticipates Triumphant
reelection. He speaks every day, Sunday
/ excepted until tba alaotion