The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-01

PORTLAND.
wednesday Morning, December +, 1869.

BOSTON, November 20, 1869.
POLITICS.

Letter from Boston.
BOSTON, November 20, 1869.
MUNICIPAL POLITICS.
To the Editor Of the Press:
The election of new city government oc-
ours two weeks from to-day, and more inter-
est is manifested in the result than has been
witnessed for several years. l suppose there
is no longer a doubt that the Democrats will
throw DIR. Shultleff over and nominate Alder
man Baldwin, who is a great favorite with
the worst part land that of course is the
largest party of the Democracy This may
lead to the election of the Republican candi-
date 1t has been said that Mayor Shurtleff
would run against Mr. Baldwin, but under
stand he will do better than that, and will
throw all his strength in favor OF the Republi-
can nominee. l informed you week before last
that Dr. Shurtleff's remarks at the st. James
were not relshed by the Copperheads, and it
is now known that his single remark against
toadyinq to rebel Generals, lost him thirty
votes in The Democratic city aud ward COM
mttees. DIR. Shurtleff lost son in the late
war and is not yet ready to "tOady" TO unre-
pentant rebels for the sake of office.
Who the Republican nominee will be, is
vet matter of conjecture. The friends OF
Mr.. s. c. Cobb OF the Highlands, feel CONT
dent of securing his nomination. Mr.. Cobb is
a Democrat which is rather singular quail
fication for Republican nominee to possess.
Moreover, rumor says he wants to be Mayor
in order to help his Democratic brother-in-
law, Mr.. CASTOR, into Congress next year, in
place of the present able Republican member,
Hon. Ginery Twitchell. The Mayors infiu-
ence is very great, and Mr.. Cobb would very
naturally like to see his brother-in-law ele
waited to seat in the national councils. This
NAV not be true, but it is the rumor.
Ii the Republicans put up the right man,
they can elect him, but we fail to see that
either Mr.. Chadwick or Mr.. Cobb is the one
for the place. We need retrenchment and re-
form, and to carry out anything of the kind,
man of strength and independence is want
ed. Such a man is George .. Carpenter, and
we hope he may get the nomination.
CUBA.
The Posts sensational article about some
mysterious plot tn regard to Cuban affairs
was a mere cdndrd. There is no Cuban
Junta in this city, and no regular organiza-
ton, or branch OF an organization here. Pc
titions are in circulation to be presented to
Congress, praying for the recognition OF their
behgerent rights.
Prot. De Mena, one of the most active Gu
bans in this city, and who has two sons in the
insurgent army in the sever faithful isle, in
forms me that the rebellion is steadily gaining
ground, and that they are sure of ultimate
success. God speed the day of their deliver
anee. The Spanish government has drawn
thirty millions of revenue annually from that
island, besides shooting and hanging whom
soeyer they pleased. The circumstances of
some of their atrocities have been detailed to
me by eye-witnesses.
BOSTON FINANCES.
The total funded and uJttnded debt of
Boston ON the thirtieth Of April last, was $17,-
,435 while the means on hand for the
payment of the same was, at the same date
S6S69,9S9, leaving the net debt $10,434, ,446.
Deducting from this sum, the water debt
which will soon take care OF itself, the actual
debt of Boston is 81 ST. ,759, the water debt
being $SS56,6S7. The expenditures the pres
ent fiscal year will probably add seven mill
ions more, a large part OF which will come
back to the city under the betterment law;
so that the nominal debt of the city at the
end of the present fiscal year will be about
nine millions.
CITY IMPROVEMENTS.
The city las on hand various enterprises,
some of which will, unquestionably, be of
vast benefit, while others are of very doubt
full advantage. Some of the more important
are, Atlintic Avenue, Chestnut Hill Reser-
voir, raising the Church street District, wi
dening of Federal, Vermont, Hanover, Eliot
and Devonshire streets, the extension of
Washington street and Broadway, and the
erection of several new and elegant school
houses.
Tie enterprises above mentioned, except
the eextension OF Broadway, were wisely un-
dertaken and ought to be carried through.
Atlantic Avenue is to connect Commercial
with Broad street, to accommodate the mar
gnal railroad, saving the cost OF transporta-
ton across the city on truck wagons. OF
course the truckmen and their friends cry it
down.
THE Church street district has been a nui-
sance for years. The money spent for the
abatement of it will not be grudged by the
Inhabitants of that part of the city.
The appropriation for the extension of
Broadway, South Boston, was obtained by
lust one vote in the Council, and we are in
formed that the individual who turned the
scale, voted for the appropriation in order to
get small alley-way shut up Millions we're
thrown away because one man wanted to
spite another If this is true, the Common
Council of Boston needs regenerating.
The new Girls Highland Normal school
house is to cost over S200,000, and is expected
to be a model of beauty and excellence.
VALUATION OF THE CITY.
The valuation Of the personal property of
Boston for 1869 is $217, ,459, ,700 real estate,
$685., ,O51 900; making the total valuation
$549,521 500; a gain of $55.937 900 since 1868
The number of polls in the city is 81 ,l95,
gain of 2,779 since 1858.
A MIDsUAIMER-NIGHT's DREAM.
Everybody goes to Selwyn's nowadays,
even if they have to borrow money to do it
with. John is very clever fellow, and has
dohe many very clever things in this city in
the dramatic line, but he has beaten himself
and everybody else in his last attempt. "A
Midsummer-Night's Dream" as represented
at this theatre, is the most brilliant pageant
of the age No expense was spared to render
it perfect, and the result has more than met
the high expectations of the public. For ar
tistic excellence, elaborate setting and harmo-
ny of detail, it has, probably, never been sur
passed. From the opening to the close, the
beholder is enchanted with the ever increas-
ing beauty and gorgeousness OF the scenery
and paraphernala, and the dreamy, delicious,
warbling music. Rumor says Mr.. Selwyn
goes to New York next season, to take charge
of Wallack's, AMI will be succeeded here by
Mr.. Wyseman Marshall. We hope the rumor
has no foundation in fact.
PERSONAL.
The ukase of the State Temperance Alli-
ance was written by Rev. Gilbert Haven, edi-
tor of the lions Herald. He evidently
meant to tell a straight story, but some mali
| cious persons call it tissue of misrepresen-
| tation.
Father Hyacinthe has been quietly doing
| Boston. A college classmate OF his, who is
now q resident OF this city, informs me that
he had brief interview with the barefcoted
| monk, but found him non-committal on re-
| ligious topics. A man who dares not open
| his mouth cannot be great hero. BY the
| way, he wears shoes and dresses like other
people. Mr.. Carbonell is giving the finish
| ING blows tos piritualism. He offers to wager
| $1,000 that he will perform successfully all the
| tricks of the Davenport Brothers. BAYARD.
How Mr.. seward Travels.
The correspondent of the Tribune, writing
from Mexico, and describing Mr.. Stewards
journey across the barrancas, says:
TWentY-fiYe niles from COl1ma we reachel