The New York herald., 1873-12-19
The Poughkeepsie Bridge.

The PouHhkeepsie Bridge.
There is some speculation as to whether or
no the building of a bridge across the Hudson
at Poughkeepsie is going to ruin this city by
giving all the traffic from the West an easy
way to go by us in search of better customers
and better accommodations in the happy little
cities of the Down East lands. No such
result could follow as legitimate conse-
quence of the abolition Of the Hudson as an
obstacle between us and the West; for in the
first place, to have an easy passage of the
river facilitates access to this city as much as
to any other city, and we are decidedly nearer
to the bridge than Boston is, while the prod
uce will as usual find its market here and
the return freight will mostly be received at
this great entrepot. But, despite these facts,
cities at our expense, and it is only
in SO far as it would be at our
expense that we should regret the growth of
neighboring cities. Our infamous incapacity
to govern ourselves and prevent public rob-
berry on gigantic scale is our only danger.
means Of transportation from point to point in
the city, and the accommodations we have for
great traffic are furnished at such exorbitant
rates that trade is overburdened with the ex-
action. All these, the direct consequences Of
public plundering, high taxes and bad govern
ment, may readily drive every trade not dis
tinctly dependent upon locality to places where
it can be more economically carried on, and
where it will be safer and under the protection
of the law !; and the trade thus driven away
may be Of consequence. Let us, at least, be-
lieve that if it goes that fact will be of some
advantage to us, inasmuch as it will probably
open the eyes of our great merchants to the
truth that they really have some interest in
the politics and government Of this city.
WHEN CoNGREssMEN FALL OUT.-Perhaps
with our recent experiences of the moral OBJ
tuseness of Congressman it would be too
much to expect from them either good man.
ners or courteous language. Our reports of
the scene in the House yesterday, Of which
Mr.. Hale, Of this State, was the central figure,
indicate how readily men who have forgotten
one important obligation can forget another.
Mr.. Hale had taken very strong ground against
the salary grab, and fercely scored the delin-
quents from high moral standpoint, where
upon the delinquents paid their respects, and
it was shown that this virtuous Congressman,
while drawing the pay of member, is or was
also recently in the pay of the administration
as an agent in the Claims Commission. AS
the virtuous member had the worst of the case
he took refuge in vile language and was exces-
sively coarse and low, which is to be regretted;
but it seemed natural, and was apparently in
structive.
Foes AND FERRIEs-AN OUNCE OF PREvEN-
T1oN Is WORTH Pound OF CURE.-If our
columns have not been crowded during the
past two days with narrowing details Of
frightful calamities it is not the fault Of the
ferry companies At any time during the
dense fog which hung over the bay and the
North and East rivers collisions we're possible
which might have entailed the loss of hun
dreds OF lives. The ferryboats in many in
stances shot wide Of their piers, simply be-
cause their pilots could not see their objective
points, enveloped as they were in worse than
midnight darkness. The law should compel
the companies to employ powerful electric
lights, SO colored that no mistake could be
possible in seeking the destined haven. This
would seem to be merely humanitarian en-
terprise, but then humanity and big div-
dends do not seem to coalesce among our
grssping capitalists who have learned that a
terrible disaster can neither affect their charter
nor seriously diminish their public patronage.
SrRrKrSa THE INDIANS. Lieutenant Hodson,
Of the Fourth cavalry, reports that on the 10th
inst. he struck the band of Indians that had
been numbering and plundering on the Nueces
River, Texas, and that bis force killed nine Of
the fed men, wounded good many more and
captured eighty-one animals. This striking of
them is the only effective way of dealing with
our red brethren on the warpath. When the
remnant of the band struck are back in some
reservation, and have taken the pledge to be
good Indians, new blankets, hymn books and
Sunday schools will be in order. As rule
the red man has TO be ''struck' before be- can
| be converted saa, l..6 t 1.mt..l