Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-12
WASHINGTON.

Washington, 10. Caleb Gushing was call
ed upon by large number of friends this
morning, who came to congratulate him on
his nomination as Chief Justice. The Gen.
eral, in receiving the congratulations, said
that he had no intimation of the Presidents
intention until his name was sent to the Sem
ate. He was reticent on the subject of his
confirmation, but was assured by several
prominent gentlemen who called that there
was no doubt on that subject.
The government of Italy has, through its
charge d affairs at Washington, notified our
government that the edict of Cardinal Pacca,
which forbade under the severest penalties
the expectation of works of art from Rome
without permission from the government, is
still regarded as in full force.
Juoge Dill of Newark, Ohio, clerk in the
internal revenue bureau, dropped dead at
o'clock might of apoplexy.
number of members of the House met
tonight, in pursuance Of a call, to take into
consideration the subject of cheap transport
tation
Mr.. Dorman of Iowa was called to the
chair and Messrs. Barrere of Illinois and
Hereford of West Virginia were made secre-
taries.
Mr.. Holman alluded to the fact that during
the last congress the appropriations for rivers
and harbors exceeded little over $1,000, 900,
and said that it was currently reported that
an effort would be made to reduce them this
session to $4,000, 600. What was to be the
policy of congress on cheap transportation
was matter of great moment, but if there
was to be such reduction as has been re-
ported 1t need not affect cheap transporta-
ton, very large part of the appropriations
usually being for local objects. The reduc-
tioa might be dispensed with and the appro-
priations applied to few specific objects,
where entire states were concerned and where
the money would be spent for the benefit of
the people at large.
Mr.. Sener of Va. said that his state had
long been committed to cheap transportation
and would endorse every and any proposition
having that object in view. He was anxious
that this meeting should pledge itself TO sup
port only such measures of the committee on
railways as shall represent all interests of the
country; not only the James River & Ka-
nawha canal, but all other objects of cheap
transportation.
Mr.. Hurlbert of H.. member Of the COM
mittee on railroads, said he came here to re-
ceive information. There were before that
committee projects involving the expenditure
of $l30 100000. All had friends. While
many of these projects are local or sectional,
some were national. Although in the Sec
ton where he lived there was no immediate
connection with the Mississippi river, yet
that river was important to the agricultural
interests of Illinois at large. He looked on
the Mississippi as Calhoun did, viz: Gas an
inland sea, which came under the head Of
such Improvements as those for which con-
gress might make appropriations" and there
fore he was in favor of the Fort St. Philip
canal Tho repOrt If pnoinaors fhis suh.
ject would soon be furnished the committee.
There were other projects for facilitating
commerce probably as imbortant to the coun-
try as this, and which might or might
not receive consideration. The inl-
proveHent of the great lakes and the means
of rendering navigation accessible to the sea
were second to none of the other schemes
proposed for cheap transportation, which in
cluded the deepening of the st Clair flats and
the Niagara canal. Then there was also be-
fore the committee project for canal across
New York as to divert to the canal western
produce which now sought outlet through the
st. Lawrence river. Another scheme was
opening the Tennessee river through various
channels, to afford some outlet to the Allan
tic, so As to reach Georgia or South Carolina.
This was also subject in inquiry for the
committee, who were waiting for the report of
the engineers. There were other schemes of
like nature and importance.
The meeting, without passing on the pend
ing resolutions, adjourned to two weeks from
tonight.
Eight hundred thousand trade dollars have
thus far been coined and the demand con-
tinues. They have been made legal tender
in Hong Kong and Shanghai and are growing
daily more popular in China, driving out the
Mexican dollar, which does not like our own
bear a genuine uniformity of weight and
quality.