The New York herald., 1873-10-25
WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, Oct "a, 1873.
Distractions TO Navigation by Railroad
Bridges.

| WASHINGTON, Oct. "a, 1873.
Distractions TO Navigation by Railroad
| Bridges.
| The report OF the United States Board OF Engi-
neers, condemning the St. Louis bridge as serious
| obstruction to navigation, and suggesting as a
remedy the construction Of canal on the East st.
Louis side, will come before Congress next session,
and win doubtless cause an exciting discussion
| over the question who shall bear the expense OF
making the canal, without which the Mississippi
| River is practically cut In two at st. Louis.
The trouble grows out OF the tardiness and
stupidity Of former Congresses, In not providing
general bridge law, similar to that OF the nth OF
December, 1872. for the ohio River, which enacts
that the War Department shall superin-
tend and control the erection OF such struc-
lures as to prevent their obstructing navigation
That law does not extend to other rivers than the
Ohio, and meantime other bridges are being put
up which, in the opinion OF governments officers,
are exceedingly injurious to river commerce. One
OF these bridges now being built over the Raritan
River, in New Jersey, for railroad purposes under
charter from the State OF New Jersey, is pushed
towards completion as impudently as II the right
OF the Union to the free navigation OF this river
had no existence
According to the opinion OF United States At
torney General Cushing, delivered October 10,
1853. opstrucrions TO navigation In the navigabe
waters OF the United States whether by States or
Individuals constitute acts Of purpresture, and
there is a remedy in such case by er oD7cto inior-
nation In the name OF the Attorney General OF the
United States
NIhis doctrine Of the power OF the general govern
ment is affirmed in Gibbons VS.. Ogden, and was
reaflirmed in United States vs. Coombs, the Wheel
ing Bridge, and other cases.
According TO the decision OF the Supreme Court,
at December term, 1870 in the case of Daniel Ball,
the public navigable waters OF the United States,
in law, are those which SO used in fact, whether
tidal streams or not.
These decisions are being considered by govern
ment officers in connection with the evidences of
an increasing disposition the part OF the rail-
road corporations to obstruct the navgable waters
OF the United States whenever 1t may suit their
own purposes.
silver Coin To BE Paid Out by the Ma
tional Treasury.
1t will be recollected that nearly two weeks ago
| the President during an interview OF a semi
official character. said return 10 a specie basis
can never be effected except by a shrinkage OF
| values; that the shrinkage has now taken place,
| the currency has appreciated to about par with
silver, and the wonder to him was that silver was
not pouring out When this should take place his
theory was, the country Will absorb two or three
hundred millions Of 1t. Since that time the Presi-
dent in consultation with the Secretary
OF the Treasury, has been considering
how such result might be produced
with the view OF arording relief to the country
within legal limits. The Director OF the Mint has
been acting In accordance with the Presidents
policy making extensive arrangements for the
coinage OF both gold and silver to extent here
tofore unprecedented, so as to be ready for re-
sumption Of specie payments, there now being
large quantities OF these metals awaiting coinage.
The first step In resumption has been taken, it
having been ascertained to-day from the Secretary
OF the Treasury that the government will pay out
silver as soon as 1t can be proftaby aud conve-
nlently coined for that purpose.
The Egyptian Tobacco Tariff.
Secretary Richardson has received communica-
ton from the Agency and Consulate General OF the
United states, at Alexandria, Egypt, in which 1t is
stated that the frman lately granted to the
Khedlve by the Sultan confers upon Egypt
the prerogative Of commercial independence,
and the Egyptian government is entering
into commercial connection with various Powers
with the view OF increasing her CONNER
| cal interests. That government has issued
| an order imposing q tax Of about 36,s cents per
pound on all tobacco, cut or in the leaf entering
Egyptian custom houses Cigars, which already
pay duty OF IS per cent ad valorem, not
affected by this order. Until the present time
tobacco has heen prohibited from entering Egypt
from the Turkish provinces.
Murderer To BE Hanged.
The President has refused the application for
commutation of the death penalty to imprison-
ment for life heretofore pronounced on Henry
Young. alias Charles Williams, for the murder OF
Frank Hahn Virginia drover. The convict VIII
be hanged on the 14th OF November.