The New York herald., 1869-10-03
WASHINGTON.
WAR OF THE STEEL INTERESTS.
Fiscal SpeculatiOns Among North
Carolina Officials.
SOCIAL EQUALITY IN THE THEATRES.
A TEST CASE PREPARING.

Observatory, has received letter from Professor
A. Hall, who was sent to Behring's Straits 10
observe the eclipse Of The 7h OF August The letter
is dated United States steamer Mohicals OF san
Francisco, September d. Professor Hall writes-
did not intend to write you from here, as we
shall get home soon as possible; but the morning
papers nave an account OF our expedition, which Is
represented rs a compete failure hence ! send you
this note The sky was partially covered with
low, cumalous c.ouds, drifting rapidly 10 the
east rhe clouds were entirely disspated by
the sun within an hour alter the end OF the eclipse.
Tney observed at three stations-"Baid Head
.lhe Sand Plt' in Ployer Bay and on the snip IN
ssmma Harbor When we get all the data together
! think that we shall make out pretty good
observation OF the last contact, and perhaps OF
the totaity. The naked eye view OF the total
eclipse from bald Head' the grandest
sight that ! have ever seen, and the
like ofit set out with such natural scenery, never
expect TO see again. Al times during the eclipse
the sun was distinctly visible through openings IN
the clouds, and photographs OF the eclipse might
for geographical position and magnetical observa-
lions. Alter making magnetical and time ooserya-
tons here and at Mare Island hope 10 start East
WITHIN week or ten days.
The Reported Building of New War Vessels.
The Secretary OF the Navy says there Is no truth
In the statement that the department has ordered
the building OF several last steam sloops-
ofwar. Instead OF building new vessels the de-
partment is anxious to sell number
OF those now on hand, for which in time OF peace
there Is real use. Owing to want of purchasers
able and willing to pay the appraised value OF the
ships that are for sale, the Secretary OF the Navy
has not been able to dispose them fast desirable
The Steamer TELEGRAPH.
The government, stated some time ago, has
Information that the steamer TELEGRAPH, which
Will be remembered, committed some depreda-
tons upon American vessels in the West Indies,
has been seized by the British authorities
at Jamaica, and is detained there for some outrage
upon an English Ship Should she manage to get
away from the British the Navy Department has
made fun arrangements for her capture. According
to the latest advces the prospect OF her release
not good
The War Of the Steel Interests.
There is a bitter quarrel in progress here between
the manufacturers OF domestic steel and the foreign
importers OF that article. few days ago deega-
tion OF the manufacturers waited on the
President and the Secretary Of the Trea-
sury, ana accused the importers of conniving
with the manufacturers OF foreign steel 10
deraud the government OF customs duties by
invoicing their steel at rates much below its real
market value. To-day the foreign importers had
interview with Secretary Boutwell, and told
their side OF the story. II appears that
upon representations made TO the United
States Consul at Sheffield England to the
effect that steel for the American market was
being 1nvoiced In the manner indicated above, he
refused to certify the invoices and the steel put
INTO warehouses. This has created scarcity OF the
urricie mere and has stirred up both the
domestic manufacturers and the importers II
took the importers nearly three hours day
TO state their side OF the question. They
deny that there is any cousion to delraud the reve
nue. and allege that their invoices fully in COM
piance with the revenue laws and regu-
latons. They asked that speedy investi
CATION be had and that their business be
allowed to proceed with as little delay as
possible. The Secretary said he would at once order
an investigation OF the matter and in the meantime
the importers could pay the customs duties de-
manded by the Collector at New York under protest
that their business could go This they agreed
10. Most OF the delegates were from New York.
Test of the Social Equality Law.
test for the first time took place tonight OF the
&C. passed some time ago by the radical City Coun-
ellis OF Washington admitting negroes to places
Of amusement on the same equality with the
whttss. Tn.ec negroes purchased tickets for the
dress circle aid passed the doorkeeper without being
noticed. They marched in with considerable pomp
and planted themselves down in the dress circle
beside some ladies and gentlemen. Their
conspicuous position attracted atten-
tion, and the police oiicer OF the
theatre politely requested them to leave
informing them that there place set apart for
also told that they could either get tickets for that
part Of the theatre or they could have Their
money refunded. At first they refused TO
60 out, whereupon the officers gave them
some assistance in getting to the door. When they
got out they said they would neither take tickets for
any other part OF the theatre nor would they have
their money returned TO them. 1t is understood that
they intend TO bring an action against the manager
OF the theatre for the purpose OF testing the law
Specializing In North Carolina Bonds.
The Raleigh IN. C.l Sentinel charges that the Gov.
ernor Treasurer and another party, from that CITY
compose a ring now iu New York for the
purpose OF manipulating the State bonds
On Wednesday last these bonds fell TO
forty cents on the dollar. The Sentinel
says the ring men combine to put the bonds down
rs low as possible and then buy them. AS soon
as they buy them the price Of the bonds is put as
high as they can get 1t by combination promise Of
paying the interest, &C. and then they sell out the
bonds which they bought at a mere song
For example, they buy the bonds at forty cents on
the dollar to-day; to morrow next day they man.
age TO run the bonds up ana sell out fifty or ity.
two cents the dollar. This margin in the
sales OF hundreds OF thousands OF dollars
makes fortunes for the ring. The people OF North
Carolina are overwhelmed with taxation on bonds
issued by the last Legislature for railroad purposes
which, together with the increase necessitated by
the accrued interest the State debt proper makes
the taxes nearly ten times the amount they were
prior 10 the war.
Entry of the Town Site of Virginia,
Montana.
The Commissioner 0l the General Land
Office has authorized the entry Of the town
site Of Virginia under the act OF March
2, 1867. The city Is the capital Of Montana
Territory, and the evidence taken before
the local of1icers at Helena show population OF
$500 inhabitants, and that business TO the amount
OF s1,ooo0oo is annually transacted within the
porate limits OF the town. The tract claimed by the
town covers 56,972 acres and over 500 houses have
been erected thereon.
Personal.
Secretary Fish returned to Washington last night.
Major Haggerty was serenaded tonight on the
eve OF his return to New York by the Irish Repub-