Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-08-08
FIRST EDITION.
philadelphia.
OUR sATuRD DAY LETTER.


special Correspondence of The Commercial.
PHILADELPHIA, August T.
Through encouragement the interest in the
Ross case languishes. People are Just as anx-
ious as ever to hear that little Charley Ross has
been returned to his parents, but the absence Of
all encouragement to hope begins to tell on the
public nerve, which has been for over q
month in painful Tension in this matter. It's
impossible to keep up such strain indefinitely
and there has come natural reaction. But at
the first cheering word all the interest and anxi-
ETY. would manifest itself afresh. II that word
does not come we may expect public feeling to
subside graduallyas already indicated, until poor
little Charley's woful case IL forgotten, No
tnlng lasts in this life-not even sorrow.
The feeling in the Ross case has outved most
popular demonstrations, and 1t is an honor to
done 30.
The only incident of the week in tho search
was the arrest OF a woman at the Now York de-
pot with child which bore certain resen-
blance to the missing boy-so much 30 that Mr..
Ross said he was not surprised that mistake
should have been made It is the general be-
lief that what Id now called 'the Allentown clue
was the right one. and that the man and boy ar
rested on train near that place. but stupidity
released by the local authorities were Charley
barty now?" Regret is vain, here as always.
Lovers OF outdoor sports are much and pleas
antly exercised over the news of the success of
the American Ball Players abroad. 1t appears
that we not only show the English how to play
the American game" but that we beat them at
their own game. The Athletic and Red Stock
iingss have won game of cricket from one of the
leading professional clubs (the Marylebone) as
well as an overwhelming victory over an amateur
club, 1.-THE Princes" making ITO runs in one in
ba oh,
dispatch says the best English players were
not on hand. But why were they not, at 30 i'm
portant meeting? The excuse is too disphan-
GUS. IL is shame for our boys to play with
'odda" In such case, for they could easily
have beaten in the latter match eleven
against eleven. For the matter of that they
vanqushed the Marylebone club, with
four wickets to spare, 30 that against the best
professionals they virtually played only eighteen
men against eleven This is an admirable show
cricket they could hold their own in it against
all comers. In the games Of bali 80 far played
Boston and Philadelphia each score two. The
last game won by the Boston, would no doubt
have gone to the Athletic but that Mcbride did
not play, his place beng supplied by change
pitcher. 1t is supposed Mcbride was reserving
himself for the bowling in the cricket match. 1t
must not be forgotten that the Americans work
twice as hard in these contests as the English
Tor they play cricket in the morning but base
out while their opponents are always fresh. If
the system is continued the results at the end of
the trip will not be as gratifying al they have
been 30 far, and the tour will be anything but
one Of pleasure for the ball players.
In connection with this subject a current item
of news creates good deal Of talk. With the
Athletic excursion party embarked Mr. David L
Houston, known in small politics, and recently
nominated by the Republicans to load the for
lorn hope against Mr.. Randall for Congress-
Woa tha rraa
ment at Philadelphia and Washington despatch
yesterday stated that in consequence of his
quitting his post and the county without leave
Of absence, he had been discharged from the
Government service. That is paying rather
dearly for base ball whistle Whether or no
Mr.. Houston thought candidate for Congress
was too dignihed person to be treated as
summarily az little people he has been read a
lesson which perhaps will not be lost on public
servants. The action Of the Secretary of the
Treasury is one which will raise him in the
estimation OF good citizens. or course Houston
is Ringster and we may expect to see a rally
around a fallen comrade. Will Col. Mann take
up the gage thrown down by the Government?
Following the closing Of the " Peoples Insur-
ance Co." and the Security Co." we have had
this week the failure of another institution of
the same general character. This was the
"Safeguard Insurance Co." concern doing
business on Walnut street, above 4th. The
Company was notified by the State Insurance
Commissioner to discontinue business until an
examination of it's affairs can be made. Happily
none of these concerns have entered largely into
the business of the community and losses caused
by their endorsements will be small. But the
fact of such state of things in the Insurance
business creates no small uneasiness. 1t is
plain that the business is overdone
through excessive competition, and the rising
of hosts of mushroom companies only to be alu
low at the first breath Of unfavoIable weather
acts to the great disadvantage of the business
generally. The " Safeguard" claims that its
showing will be satisfactory and that it will
shortly resnme-but they all say that the worst
failures always hold that hope out at the start.
certain thing is that we have double the ne
cessary number OF companies. If there were
but half as many az there are, those which re-
manned would be by 80 much the stronger,
and have by 10 much more the confidence OF the
public.
The building operations are progressing satis-
ractorly at the Centennial ground on the new
Post Office site and at the City Hall. The South
street bridge is also rapidly approaching compile
ton. The season has been very favorable to
building and the city has been active during the
entire summer. The fine structures in the low
er part OF Chestnut street gradually grow to
completion, and the appearance OF that thor
oughfare has been greatly changed within the
past two years. Progress on the Public Buildr
| ings is very marked. The basement walls, II
| feet high, south OF Market street, have been
completed and are ready for the superstructure,
and the rest of the building is in proportion
ately forward state The railway tracks have
hindered working in an entirely even manner,
but their renewal wiGhin few days. will leave
the building space unencumbered.
Then too, the Pennsylvania Rail Road has
completed its new freight depot at Walnut street
wharf and after tomorrow will receive and ship
all through freights at that point. The depot
at 18th and Market will tomorrow be handed
over to the Franklin Institute managers. Lo-
cal freight between this city and Pittsburg, and
on the Phila. Erie Railroad, will be received at
the depot at 10th 4 Market, ,st. adjoining the new
Adams express depot but the great bulk of the
business will be done on the Delaware avenue.
Market street will thus be Immediately relieved
of the freight car blockade and general nuisance.
There will be none of it below 10Th st., and from
that point out street transportation, will be great
| ly lessened. The new depot on the wharf is an
| immense structure extending from Walnut street
nearly to Do,k and from the avenue TO water
street 1t is hoped it may accommodate the BUS
| mess OF the company for years to come Inc
dismantling of the 18th X Market building Tor
| the Franklin Institute will commence at once:
| IL is an admirable structure for the purposes oil
exhibition. ~,
| A report got abroad some time since that Bel
| pian iron was to be used in the construction OF
| the Centennial Buildings 1t was rightly thought
| that this would be peculiarly inconsistent under
| the circumstances 1t is not unlikely though,
| Judging from the manner Of the first statements
| that some project of the kind WAS contemplated.
Such iron is cheaper if it be obtained free OF
| duty, and perhaps the managers thought they
might be able to import all matters required Tor
| the great festival free. However that may Dc
il is now certain that the iron is to be OF Ameri-
| can make. The contract for it has been awarded
TO Messrs. A. & p. Roberts & Co. of Philad. This
| ..I.a aNA Md rla oil