The Portland daily press., 1871-02-22
WARRINGTON.

WRECK OF RELIEF SHIP.
WASHINGTON, Feb 21.-U. S. Consul Jat k.
son at Halifax ,eIesraphs that the British shin
Zoe, which lately cleared from Boston viii
provisions for the French, was wrecked last
night on Bell Rock. near Halifax. The vessel
and cargo are total loss.
OFFICERS OF THE NEW HOUSE.
The Republican members of the 42d Con
gress will hold a caucus on Thursday, March
ID, for nomination of officers of the House.
THE CARNIVAL
festivities closed this afternoon with tourna-
ment and procession OF maskers Both Houses
OF Congress adjourned in time to see the latter
performance To might Pennsylvania Avenue
is illuminated and two balls are in progress.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
The President has signed the bill providing
territorial government for the District of CO.
lumba.
THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD BILL.
The Southern Pacific railroad bill passed by
the House this AFTERNOON requires the corpora
tion tn meet in New York within ninety days
from the enactment of the bill, open subscrip-
ton books and organize the company when
100000 in stock are subscribed and $4,000
paid in. The capital Of the company is limited
to $50, 100000 unless Congress authorizes an
increase. The purchase and consolidation of
any existing railroad companies ON the route,
with all their franchises and land grants is au-
euOi'ZCus iuOuSu IOTUluQ6u WIN any COmDeC-
ing line to the Pacific, and a right to purchase
or acct pit State or individual grants of land for
the legitimate purposes of the company are
conceded A right OF way, four hundred feet
wide, through the public lands forty acres OF
land wherever necessary for station or other
purposes, together with twenty alternate Sec
tons per mile of public lands through the ter
ritOrles and ten sections per mile in California
are granted to the company, with the provision
that the land he not sold within three years
from the cOmnptinn of the pnfira road and
shall be subject to settlement and pre- emption
at not over ~ 80 per acre. The construction
bonds are secured by mortgage on the road,
rolling stock and franchise, and the land bonds
are secured by mortgage on the land grants
authorized. The construction of the road is
to be begun at both ends; a land patent TO be
issued on the completion of every 20 miles, and
the entire road to be finished in ten years.
Only American iron, excepting that already
purchased. to be used. The government is to
have the use of the road on the same terms as
private individuals, and to have precedence in
its service, and Congress has the right to fix the
passenger and freight tariffs, though they shall
not exc-ed those of the Central and Union
Pacific railroads. Full liberty is given to other
companies to connect and intersect the South
ern Pacific, and the latter is forbidden to dis
crminate in favor or against any such compa.
MES. The directors of the company are pro-
hbited from all share or interest in the con-
tracts for construction, equipment or running
the road, and any such existing contract will
be annulled.
SYNOPSIS OF WEATHER REPORTS FOR. THE
PAST TWENTY FOUR HOURS.
The barometer has stood high on the lakes
all day and is still rising. The pressure has
equaized itself over the country south of Ohio
and now stands lowest in Missouri and highest
in Pennsylvania and New York. Fresh south
eriy winds have prevailed in the Gulf and
northeast winds on the lakes and East Allan
tic. all of which are now mnch diminished in
strength, as are also the high south and east
winds in the Northwest. Clouds in the Middle
States have cleared away and snow IS reported
at Corrine. Probabilities that clear weather
will probably prevail tomorrow, with light
winds in the Gulf and Southern States and
fresh winds in the Eastern States.