Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-01-25
What .Credit MobiIier" Means.

oight INES Qltf Genus.
What .sCredit MobiIier' Means.
[From the Chicago Tribune.
A correspondent asks the meaning Of the
words Credit Mobier." Several Congress
men have asked the same question: We pre-
sumo he wishes to be informed concerning the
original derivation and use Of the term. We
will cndeavor to explain If. The ''Credlt ton-
rcr' has loug been the general title 10 France
for associations that advance money on landed
or immovable securities. The Credit Mob-
licr'' was the name given to a powerful c)rpo-
ration, organized in France iD 1852, for advanc-
ing money on movcablc property. The name
was adopted evidently for the purpose "t afford
ing u ready definition of the object OF the asso-
citation. The ''Societe Generate de Credit Mo-
bilicr' became a great and profitable enter
nriso. 1t had special privileges under It's char
ter |, assisted materially in the construction
al! rai.x .ys aud the promotion OF mining
schemes. Among other enterprises IN which
!, was notably interested were the Government
l,;lo on account of the Russian war the Grand
Ccutral Railway Company, and the General
Omnibus Company of Paris. At Que time, 1t
advanced $50, 900 900 francs, and at another
time 3,5, ,n0O. 900 francs, to the government of
France Its business was so great in 1885 that
!, declared dividend of 40 per cent on its
,anital. While it was mapifcstly the means Of
doing much good in France, it eventually
failed.
The introduction of the terms Credit Fou
cier" and Credit Mobiier into America
are due to Mr. Francis Train. He established
n Credit Foncier" with Omaha lands which
he hawkcd about the country some years ag'.
He gave the name of ;" Credit Mobilier of Am
erica 4" to corporation with universal privil-
eyes, which was organized in Pennsylvania. 1t
was appropriated by Messrs Cakes Ames,
Durant & Co., to serve as the party OF the
third part in the famous trlpllcate agree.
mcnt, " by which the managers of the Union
Pacific Railroad let out the contract of build
ing the road to themselves, in payment for
which they modcStly took the road itself, all
the United States bonds, all the first mortgage
bonds, all the United States lands, etc.. at
profit Of over 900 per cent, on an entirely
fictitious capital. This is what Credit Mo-
hilicr means in the modern American and
Congressional use of the word The title is
not inappropriate. The transaction was liter
ally Credit on Movablcs-the United States
government furnishing the credit and the
money, and Messrs Oakcs Ames & Co., tax
ing the movablcs-that is, the securities aud
the profits.
MADISON AS A TEMPERANCE MANN; ny
years ago, when the temperance movement be-
gan In Virginia, eX-Presidcnt Madison lent the
weight Of his influence to the cause. Case
bottles and dccanters disappeared from the
sldcboard at Mo1tpelicr-wine was no longer
dispensed to the many visitors at that hOsplt
able mansion. Nor was this ALL Harvest be-
gan, but the customary barrel of whiskey was
not purchased, and the song of scythcmen in
the whcatfcld languished. In lieu of whiskey,
there was beverage most innocuous, unstlmu-
lating and unpalatable to the army of dusky
lahorcrs.
The following morning, Mr.. Madison called
in his hcad-man to make the usual inquiry:
Nelson, how comes on the crop?'
POLY, Mars Jccms-monsus poly"
why, what's the matter?''
Things is seyus.
What do you mean by serious p
eve gwine los dat crap.
Lose the crop! Why should we lose it?'
Cause dat ar crap ar heap too big crap to
he gcthcred 'thout whiskcy. Lasses and water
huvcr gethercd no crap sencc de worl' war
made, ner' taint gwine to.
Mr. Madison succumbed: the whiSkey was
procured. the crap was gethercd case bot
ties and decantcrs reappearcd, and the ancient
order was restored at Montpelier, never again
10 be disturbed From LppncoHS Magazine.
10 STEAM A TURKEY ALL of us are used
10 rc;,St aud boiled turkey. but steamed tur-
key is more of novelty, while it is also most
delicious dish Cleanse the fowl thoroughly;
than rub pepper and salt well mixed into the
inside of it, Fill up the body with oysters mix
ed with a small cupful of bread crumbs Sew
up all the apcrturcs lay the turkey into large
>tca,ner and place over kettle Of boiling water
cover closely. and steam thoroughly tor two
hours aud Il half Now take it up; set the
platter in a warm place and turn whatever
"rayy there is in the steamer, straluing it first
N The oyster sauce which you have prepared
ior he turkey in the following manner: Take
put otoyStcrs, turn pint OF boiling water
over them in colandcr. Put the liquor on to
h,lI skim off whatever rises on the top. Thick
cn 1t with tablespoonful Of -four rubbed into
iwo tabespooptuls of butter; season we'll With
pepper and salt. Add two or three tablespoon
iuls of cream or milk to whiten it; and pour it
mvrr the turkey and platter; serve boiling hot
his sauce must be made while the turkey is
still 10 the steamer, so that it can be poured
over the turkey as soon rs it is taken up.
SUDDEN APPEARANCE. -Johu Spicer, of
brooklyn, n. Y, died some time ago leaving
large estate. Elizabeth Spicer appears and
brings suit for $4,000 dover in the estate,
caiining that by reason OF q secret marriage
with the deceased, Spicer, she was entitled to
that amount. Upon her examination in Court
She stated that she was born in Maine, but
Went TO Boston to live, where she met and
married Hugh P. Miller, who afterwards de-
serted her, went to sea aud died; she then mar
rlcd man by the name of Bell, for which Bell
was convicted of bigamy; she stated that she
then married John Spicer. As Mrs. Spcer
descended from the stand Mr.. Spicer lawyer
arose and, in loud voice, called the name of
Hugh 7. Miller. Mrs Spicer stood amazed
and overwhelmed with confusion. Her counsel
We're thunderstruck and all the audience arose
and viewed the old man; who arose in answer
|" his name. Mr.. Miller stated he was the de-
serted party, and after the dcserton he went to
sea and rntnrnnd and nn,r rnsans In Wnrnn.