The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-07


of q single Penitentiary, but simply proposed an
inquiry into the influences, for good or for EVIL. by
which United states convicts were surrounded In
the places where they were now imprisoned.
With the facts before It, shown by such an investga-
ton, the government would be able, on solid
grounds to answer the question whether 1t had dis
charged its whole duty to these men in furnishing
them all the helps IL properly might in the effort to
reform, or whether 1t still owed further duty to
them in that regard. DIR. Wines closed his argu.
ment by pointing out several incidental advan-
tages that would be likely to result from the in.
quiry proposed.
Transportation Expenses OF tho Depart.
ments OF Government.
The President sent o message to the House to-
day enclosing communications nom the various
departments in reply to the inquiry whether ex-
penses had been increased by them for transporta-
tlon OF any matter which before the abolition OF
the ranking privilege was carried in the mails.
The Secretary OF State says no such expense has
been incurred by his department. The Secretary
OF the Interior says 1t Is not the practice Of his de-
partment to forward mail matter outside the mails.
The Secretary OF War says, as o matter Of economy
In sending, the express was used for short time.
Not more than ss7 was thus spent, BUT the Signal
Service has incurred express expenses OF $225 a,
month In forwarding supplies to stations of obser.
walton. The Secretary OF the Navy thinks $500
would cover the amount spent in his department..
The Postmaster General says no money has been
expended by his department by sending matter
outside the mails.
Tho Postmaster General Argues In
Favor OF tho Postal Car System Of
Distributing the Mails.
The Postmaster General, in response to o resorl-
ton Of inquiry, transmitted the Senate the fol-
lowing Information concerning the railway postal
service The annual cost OF the service between
washington and New York is $147 200, exclusive
of the salaries OF clerks and route agents, which
amount to $10l, 200. The compensation demanded
by the railway companies-namely, thirteen mills
per hneal foot Of car per mile run-would amount
to $262, $685. or $161,65 more than they are now
paid under the present system owing to the
delay Of the railway companies to make weight
returns their compensation for the service be-
tween New York and Boston has not yet been re-
adjusted. but supposing the weights to be the
same as in March, 1873 their total compensation
would be S121,2 3s The cost OF transporting
all the mails between New York and Boston in
railway post office cars would be, at the rates de-
manded by the companies, SITS, 765 more than the
cost OF the present service. There Is now paid to
railroad companies for mail service between New
York and Buffalo, and Rochester and Niagara Falls,
per annum. The increase demanded by the rail-
road companies for this service is $141, 300 per
annum for the present service. The Postmaster
General states that there could be no increase in
the frequency OF the service between New York
and Boston, or between New York and BufYalo and
Niagara Fails, all available trains being now made
use or The post Offices at all the more
important manufacturing ana commercial
centres exchange by direct pouches with
each other and with the adjacent post Offices at
frequent intervals not depending on the railway
post on1ce cars. He says 1t Is obviously impracti
cable to extend this system of exchange by direct
pouches to all post Offices In the United States re-
CARELESS OF their size. He proceeds to illustrate
the advantages OF ne railway postal car system
and shows that the cost Of pouches and locks. &c,
the increased cost Of transporting the mails owing
to the extra weight Of the pouches and the salaries
OF the extra employees that would be involved in
the direct pouch exchange system suggested,
would more than equal the total annual cost OF the
present postal car system and without in any way
increasing the existssy nail facilities:
The Project OF Improving tho San AM
tonic Crock ut San Franciso.
The Board OF Army Engineers for the Pacific
Coast have made report under the act Of last
year directing them to submit project for i'm
proving the estuary known as San Antonio Creek,
running into the Bay OF San Francisco. The creek
referred to is small stream with ample depth Of
water for shipping except for the fact that its en-
trance is INSTRUCTED BY very wide oar or shoal
which Is nearly bare at low water. The land SUBJ
merged or otherwise on each side OF the creek all
the way ont to the deep water line Of the bay, is
the property Of the Central Pacific Railroad Com
pany and other private spectators, to whom 1t is
expected to prove q mine OF wealth II once re-
deemed. The engineers report the following COM
prehensve plant
within two parallel training walls or bukheads OF
stone 200 1eet apart, and that these be carried
out over the bar to point opposite the end OF the
railroad wharf, where there Is now depth Of six
teen to eighteen feet at low water.
Secondhand a canal be excavated from the
head of the estuary to San Leandro Bay.
7ntrd-That a dam be constructed across the en-
trance OF San Leandro Bay; ana
Foarth-That the latter be dredged SO as to
make 1t tidal basin.
The extended training walls are to be con-
structed the height OF four feet above low water
and Will, therefore, be submerged at high tide.
They say the effect OF all this will be that the ebb
water will dredge out channel OF fourteen to six
teen feet at low tide between the whole length Of
the training walls and make q harbor at Oakland
capable Of accommodating at one time forty large
ships, together with ferryboats and small vessels.
Such accommodation they agree Is necessary.
They estimate the cost OF the training walls ana
dredging out between them at s479O74, the cost Of
excavating the proposed canal at $S5O,O00. the
cost of the required dam at $e5oOo and the cost Of
dredging at San Leandro Bay, SO as to make 1t
proper tidal basin, &C about SAL, Oo0-in all say
s., 335O74, exclusive Of land damages and bridges
involved in the construction Of the canal Senator
Hsger and Representatives Clayton and Luttrell
all express themselves earnestly opposed to the
scheme, or any other appropriating money to pro-
vide for so-caed commercial facilities 1t the 4x-
pense Of the general government detrimental TO
and in competition with existing facilities created
and paid for by the citizens Of San Francisco.
Decision of nm Old Claim for Moieties
Against a New York Firm.
The Attorney General has decided the case Of
Grinnel and Merritt, Collector and Naval Onlcer
of the port OF New York, who brought suit against