The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-20
WASHING
Colonel Williamson, Late c. ). A, Appointed
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Minister 10 Central America.
Judga Pierrepont Declines St.
Petersburg.
Sound Reasons for Delaying the Depart
ure Of the Juniata.


An Ex-C0nfedcratc Colonel Appointed
Minister to tho South American Re-
publics.
The President on Saturday appointed Colonel
George Williamson, native or South Carolina but
for many years resident OF louisiana to be Min
lister Resident to the Central American States and
his commission was made out to-day ana for.
warded to him at New Orleans. This mission is
composed Of Guatemala, Costa RIGA, Honduras
Salvador and Nicaragua, and the appointment is
made in conformity with the act Of Congress Of
May %, 1872, which provides that from and after
the 30th OF June Of this year there shall be but one
Minister Resident accredited to eplaces to re-
side at some place therein to be selected by the
President. Heretofore there have been Ministers
Resident at these places as follows :-Sas A.
Hudson, at Guatemala Jacob B. Blair at
Costa Rica; Henry Baxter at Honduras
Thomas Dibble, at Salvador, and Charles
n Motte, at Nicaragua each OF whom
received an annual salary OF $780, Tho
new Minister to the consolidated States will re-
ceive compensation OF $4,000, and the old ones
retire from office June 80, thereby saving $27 500
annually on the diplomatic appropriation. Colonel
Wiliamssn during the war was an ardent defender
u tne ooutn, ana commanded a regiment under
General Kirby Smith in the trans Mississippi cam
| paign. Since the war he has, like General Long
street. not only accepted the situation' in good
iaith but has heartily supported the republican
party The President takes great interest in fos-
terfng friendly relations between the United States
and the Central American States, and his selection
OF Colonel Williamson was not only on account
OF his reported skill as diplomatist. but be-
cause he believes he would be Instrumental
In encouraging more intimate commercial re-
lations. The State Department is equally
confident that he will so conduct affairs to re-
hect credit upon our country. Under instructions
from the Secretary of State Colonel Williamson
will first go to San Jose, the capital Of Costa Rica
thence to Leon. Nicaragua; thence to San Saliva
dor, the capital OF that confederation; to Camay-
aqua, Honduras, and thence to Guatemala, thus
making tour OF oil the States, and will then re-
port to the Secretary the city, In his opinion most
suitable for the permanent establishment Of his
mission. Colonel Williamson, whose appointment
Is endorsed by Senator West and all the Congress-
men elect from Louisiana, will leave for Washing
ton in few days to receive final instructions.
He will then proceed to New York, take the steam
CIR for Aspinwa, and enter upon the duties OF his
Office without delay
Judge Edwards Pferrcpont Declines the
Russian Mission.
Judge Edwards Pierrep0nt convinced the Pres-
dent to-day that 1t would not be for his personal,
political or social interests to leave the United
States and freeze his future prospects in st.
Petersburg as Minister PIeppotentiary. He said
he had too many railroad matters to look after,
too many friendly cases to attend to, for the next
two years, to make IL desirable for him to reside
so far from this country. 1t is also rumored that
Senator Conklng desires to get Mr.. Picrrepont out
OF the country. in order that he may have
troll over appointments in New York, and that Mr..
Pierrepont is not willing on that account to re-
move himself from his present field OF political
usefulness.
Railroad Dispute Decided.
Attorney General Williams to-day gave his de-
cison as to the right OF the Cairo and Fulton Rail-
road Company, running from st. Louis to Texas, to
build bridge across the Arkansas River at Little
Rock. lie decides that the company has the right
to build the bridge under the original act OF Con-
gress donating lands to aid In the construction OF
the road and the acts OF the Arkansas Legislature,
II 1t shall not obstruct the navigation OF the river;
that the company Is not bound 10 file plans and
specifications with the Secretary Of War, is re-
CURED oy the Citizens Bridge Company, chartered
ny Congress IN 1870, as the railroad company Ia
building Its bridge independently OF the Bridge Com
pany, and is not bound by the laws governing that
corporation.
why tho Juniata Is Not Allowed to
sail-The Navy Department. and the
New Cable Company.
The Secretary Of the Navy has directed that the
Juniata, which was fitted up for deep sea sound
ings to assist in laying cable from the Bermudas
to the Atlantic coast, delay her departure for the
present. The facts which led to this order OF the
Secretary's are as f0llOws:-A telegraph company,
claiming to be American In Its origin, but really
under the control OF parties In Great Britain, had
organized for the purpose OF laying cable from
England via Azores via Bermudas to the Atlantic
coast To assist such an enterprise the Navy De-
partment had the Juniata fitted up, and intended
to lay out the soundings for the cable laying.
General Myers, Chief OF the Signal Bureau,
laid before Secretary Robson q proposition
to the effect that If the enterprise was
to be carried out through the assistance OF the
government, terms had better be entered into
between the government and the company toward
the establishment OF fixed rates by which weather
reports could be transmitted from the Bermudas
to the Signal Service Bureau in the United States.
The great value OF such reports from the Bermu-
das, where cyclones prevail to such an extent, to
the shipping interests Of the country, caused the
Secretary OF the Navy to readily acquesce In the
proposition OF General Myers. Accordingly the
desire OF the Department in this respect was
communicated to the agent Of the company some
months ago, and after the Juniata was ready TO
start on her trip, but strange to say, the agent
has not acceded to the most reasonable and just
proposition, nor has he even condescended to
reply to the communication. The Juniata still
awaits orders rom tne Navy department, Dut
the Secretary states that he will not allow the
naval service OF the United States to assist the
enterprises OF private corporations and In turn
place the government at the mercy Of the exter.
tionate demands Of a telegraph monopoly. The
Department Is well aware that this telegraph COM
pany is cognizant Of the immense value ofweather
reports from the Bermudas to the commercial in
terests Of the United States and that the company
does not propose to bind Itself by reasonable and
stipulated terms for transmitting them.
New Revenue Vessels Ordered.
Bids were opened at the Treasury Departments
to-day for the construction OF one, two or three
revenue vessels. The bidders were :-The Atlantic
Works. OF Boston; Portland Machine Works,of Port
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