Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1874-09-24
PHILADELPHIA.
our SATURDAY LITTER.

| THE pENNsYIvANIA RAILROAD INVESTIGATION
DEBIT AND CREDIT OF THE ACcoUNT--opPosITioN
TO THE PRoPosED STOCK YARD REMovAr-AcrIoN
| OF THE BOARD OF HEAIrH-cRINEs OF ruF
| wEER-wIrE MURDERs-THE BUCHANAN MAI
| PRACTICE CAsE-P0LtTICs-THE FRUIT AMI
FLOWER sIow-AMusEMENTs, ETC.
specint Correspondence Of He Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. Ia.
The results of the Pennsylvania Railroad In.
vestigation have attracted great attention. A
committee OF stockholders was appoint
ed at meeting some time since to
make complete examination Of the
was composed Of gentlemen unconnscted in ev :
cry way with the management Of the road, and
was not to be governed by the official reports
issued by the company. II was to have sccess
to accounts and documents OF whatever nature,
and was to return to the stockholders All exha,s-
tive and conscientious opinion upon the value
OF the road and the principles Of its manage
ment. The movement was set on foot to salts.
fy large proportion Of stockholders who had
become increasingly Dissatisfied Of late years
Of presenting the eompany's reports, and with the
disposition shown by the authorities to smother
| inquiry. The work is now done. No question is
entertained of the trEstw0rthiness Of the report
and If the action had been taken years
ago the company would have been the
stronger for it. or course there has never
been any doubt OF the great wealth and pract-
cal invlolablity of tho company. but it was also
felt that Its resources were rated too high and
that too little stress was placed upon ita labili-
hurts aud the credit Of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road will be the better for this investigatlon.
The committee having this important work in
hand have gone over the Company's assets, item
by item, and with an unsparing touch. Many
OF these investments they declare to be of less
value than the company has given
ont IN its reports Some stock is
rated one fourth lower than previously aud some
as much as one-haf lower. In one instance
relative to Cincinnstti ard st. Louis Il. Z. stock
tho value Is stated to "a, 225 600 less than the
Co. estimate. Other important depreciations
arc in the cases OF tho Aileghany Valley, the
Philadelphia and Ere, and the Baltimore and
Potomac railroads. Securities in all these roads
are rated much lower by the Investigating Com
mittee than by the Company. On the other
hand the committee does full Justice to the
solid resources Of the road and secs clearly TINT
its usefulness aud opportunities for making
money are but just unfolding. And it proves
indisputabiy that the company can pay 10 per
cent. dividends and yet make handsome profit.
The Investigation was good thing and stock
holders are better satisfied.
Speaking Of the Pennsylvania R. n. il IL not
likely to carry its new stock yard and abAttor
though it does not get 1T from the press. The
feeling against this movement is very decided
In West Philadelphia, and the Board OF Health
has been unable to ignore the protests which
have reached it from that quarter. Many OF tile
wealthiest and most influential of our citizens,
mon who are not in awe OF Col. Scott and his
Lieutenants, live in that section, and their con-
victions upon this droye-yard business are 30
positive that it is possible sentiment may be
created, without the aid Of the news
pany to desist. The press has been
absolutely silent on the subject which is no mat
ter OF surprise to those who have watched the
course Of similar events. Tho Board Of Health,
however, through the influence mentioned. has
passed series of resolutions declaring that such
an enterprise as is projected would be highly
prejudiciAl to the health and comfort of large
class 4 citizens, and directing the attention of
the company to the question whether q rural
neighborhood would not be the proper one to
ter not press this matter. Should it succeed in
moving its yards and slaughter houses to the
Schuylkill the nuisance would speedily be found
such An intolersble one that the outcry would
be general. and tho back track would have to be
takeu, with lora both Of money and ps~stige,
A number OF crimes of more than ordinarily
shocking character were perpetrated this week.
One of these was OF such q peculiar kind that
the news OF it has spread over the country and
concerning the people OF Delaware especially
your readers have doubtless been informed OF
the facts. The reference ia to the malpractice
ease resulting in the death Of Mrs. Vandegrift
caused by that uncomfortable quack "Dr."
buchanan of the "Amerlean University of Phil
sdephia' Oh Pine street above 9th. Buchanan
is in prison, and il he could be kept there for q
term OF years people who know his record would
be well satisfied. Is it not abominable
that such men should be permitted to prey
upon the ignorant and unsllspectng Their
pretensions and utter want of character
are exposed over and over again, yet they still
haunt themselves in the face OF society, ,unabated
and rope in their victims AZ unconcernedy rs il
they had not been repeatedly proven, not only
unworthy of all credence, but, persons with
whom it was absolutely dangerous to deal The
ignorance Of patients IL no excuse. 1t is not to
be expected that tho general public shall have
the same kuowledae OF such rascslities as those
before whom the facts arc brought professionally.
People read and forget. They think, in fact,
nothing about doctors until doctors are needed
and then they are ept to take any man who calls
himself . doctor to be one. In the case of stran-
gers mistake may be made in ignorance by the
most intelligent persons. Much as has been SAID
about this sham "University, the discussion has
| made little impression upon people out Of Phil
adelphia. The most respectable and intelligent
citizen OF Delaware, Or other surrounding States
might fall into sllch trap without any impeach-
| ment OF their prudence or good sense. 1t is to
be hoped that ut least one Of the scoupdrels is
now finally put out Of the way. A clearer in-
stance of criminal malpractice, it is stated, ia
not OH record than the Buchanan vsndegrift
| case.
James Tozer OF his wife, and his subsequent
suicide Oh Monday afternoon, and the murder by
| Francis Carton Of his wife OH Tuesday evening.
IL there anything more shocking in all the hide.
ons round OF crime than wife-mur1er 7 1t IL an
| ofrense SO foul and unnatural, that the ordinary
man, -eyen the common man, with all tho vices
| and weaknesses of poorly nourished nature
| fails to comprehend It. Tho wives in both these
instances were faithful hard working creatures,
weighed down with child troubles, and every 9th
| kind Of trOubIa un1aI thu Eartou EirE nj
his wife to death, because, coming home ut mid
| night and ordering supper, the poor worn ont
woman did not move briskly enough to suit him.
Is there not hitch somewhere in the doctrine
| OF our friends the universa!istsp At last,c 1t
be possible that sncl brutes enter the other life
abreast Of those who have done their full duty in
this
! You will remember the scandal caused by Mr.
David II. Houston, Republican candidate for
| Congress in the 3rd District, and Special Treas
ury Agent stationed at Washington, leaving lis
post without permission and going to Europe
with the Wandering Base Ballers. Secy. Eris.
tow promptly removed neighbor Houston for
this little performance and now his District
thinks him All unfit person to go TO Congress,
in which they are very probably in the right. A
large and earnest meeting was held OH Tuesday
at which Mr.. Benz. l.. Berry WAS put in nom.
ination, and Houston was firmly repn.
dated. Whether Houston will insist upon
also running yet to be seon, but the re-
cent action of the Republicans of the
District is in the right direction and deserves to
succeed. Politics generally are very quiet az
yet. II it had not been for the Beecher and
Louisiana excitements We might haye been fur.
ther advanced, but the deferred period of the
election has also had something to do with the
apathy. 1t will seem strange to have no Octo
ber election. For the first time in the histor,
OF the State, the election this year falls in No
yember, the same day that New York and nu
merous other States vote.
The annual exhibition of the pennsylvanis
Horticultural Society has been held this weel
and will close tonight. 1t has not been u
great u success as usual, and az il richl,
, deserved to be, on account OF the storm,
! weather, but it has amply repaid thos.
persons who have attended. The fruit ant
flower show is one Of the most charming an,
profitable exhibitions Of tho year, always, and
yearly grows better. Is it not good sign to se
people devoting themselves to such pursuits
and to see other persons appreciation Of sncl
work A sign OF health and wholesome promis
it surely is. Think Of one man raising 1900 va
rietes of apples, and of another raising 10 cd
3 varieties Of pears That IS IS good work in it
| way as building churches and school houses.
: Miss L. gan has been succeeded at the Walnu
Street Theatre by Iotta-a person who know
. how to act although her art may not be OF
/ very high order. Those misguided young pee
: pie Mr.. Morrison aud Miss Wood are :" starring
At the "Arch," instead Of modestly enrollill
a themselves in some coed stock company wher
they naturally belong. Manager pugh announce
!, his "Star Course for the season
4 or At least the first half Of il. Til
- :. novelties are All English orator name
GaorpA DAWRnN n EuOIunA Mv, A II 7