Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-05-23
NUSCULARTTY,

=
came for the moment the gladiator of old,
and knocked Fox through several parli-
tions. Now, a fight between ordinary men
is nothing, but between two such men, II
means something. They are both chief.
iains. each with his followers of thousands
they are men whose acts are public
property, possessing public interest True,
one was a prize fighter and is gambler
and the other was and is ring politician !;
but that matters not. The fist represent
ed Democratic district in New York in
Congress, and the other district in the
State Senate, and between them they con-
troll more political power than any two
men in the State The party is already
divided on it, and what the result will be-
no one can say. When MOrrissey whips
Fox, the Democratic party of the nation
is shaken 10 its centre.
1t is curious commentary on the civil
lization of the 18th century, that such
man az Morrissey should possess any pow
ct MndlOfGE. AlS noo iOA lAonJ yCaiS q
pugilists by professions man whose liv-
ing was in the ring-One of the kind that
had he lived in Rome in the time of the
Emperors, would have been compelled to
the life OF a gladiator for the amusement
oI the citizens. But this Ean-this bruis-
er-not repentant of his past misdeeds, but
glOrYing in thpm-changing his method
of life only Tor the worse, lOr he now runs
gambling-hells-ha been elected 10 Con-
gress, aud to-day holds in his hands the
pclilical deslinies of the great scily that
controls the great State, that really con-
trolls the Nation Is civilization failure!
Fox is really the worst man, for Nor
rissey has occasionally good streak.
ICE
is an article very much discussed just now.
The last winter was so warm and open
that very little ice was mad, much less
housed. Probably the amount actually
stored is much less than half the regular
supply and that halt is of IN inferior quail
iIy. In the country, where cool springs
and cooler wells furnish the water, ice is a
luxury, but by no means necessity. But
here. where the water runs through miles
and miles of pipes, and comes out of the
laucels warm to ssickenIng degree, ii is as
much necessity as -four, for without ice
to cool it, il is really unfit 10 drink. The
butchers have to have it, the brewers, and
every body has TO have it. Aud now comes
a hot summer and less than hall supply
on hand. The people up in Maine who
cut ice for the New York market, have
doubled their prices, and OF course prices
are more than doubled here. Consequent
ly the poorer classes will be compelled to
rub along in some way without it-hOw !
cannot see. But did you ever notice the
wonderful capabilities of poverty? The
poor people who cannot get ice, will dis
cover that they can do without it, and
live. They haYe been forced to the dis
covery that they could do without a great
many other things. which would be essen
tial if they had the wherewithal to get
them. But The doing without ice is only
a small part of the trouble. The butchers
make ice the reason for advancing the
price of meat, the brewers for putting up
the price of beer, and so it will go through
all the trades and occupations. l should
not be surprised if the street railroads
would advance their fares on the strength
Of this shortage.
REAL ESTATE.
There has been marked decline in real
estate in New York within the last year
"A positive decline. Avr ry few dwellings
and stores were rented this spring at the
old rates, but great majority of land
lords were compelled to be content with
reduction of from 20 TO so per cent, And
consequently the price, or rather value, of
real es,ate has declined correspondingly
This is not altogether the effect OF the pan
ic, though of course thai had something
to do with il. But there are other causes
more potent than panics The city is gov
erned by nOn-property holders, who take
great pleasure in sweating property. The
rOughs and bruisers, who are either in the
government personally, or control those
who are in, Look upon tue taxpayers as
their legitimate game, and they make the
most of them The taxpayer is powerless
for the roughs can and do elect not only
the city government, but, in the hands of
the rings, have controlling power in the
Legislature of the State. Taxes are piled
On in every fOrm-needed improvements
are blocked, and unnecessary ones are
forced through-ir short, every thing i
lone that ought not TO be done, and ev-
is leH undOne that ought to be
done; and for the doing, and the not do
ing, the tax payer foots the bill. Then
again, the tendency has been to oVer-do
aud the prt sent condition of things is the
necessary reaction. Owners OF real estate
over built, and while the flush times W ere
On, run their rents up to an unccnsciona-
Tie figure, which men submitted TO while
Ih'y were making money. But'when The
pinch came, aud the profits dropped and
things began to look blue, the tenants
lound that thousands OF stores were stand
Ing empty, and they refused TO pay exOr
OiIant rents. In bFiei, they said to their
landlordsi "We DON'T care what you paid
Tor your ground, or what your building
cost you-our trade will not permit US 10
pay these renIs-come down, OF we will
move to cheaper ground aud cheaper build-
Ings." And the LANDLORDS came down,
not because they wanted to, but because
They were compelled To. And IL Is to be
hoped they will stay dUwn.
THE WEATHER
Is leariully hot, aud il Is the more uncOnl
lorla6le becausr il came upon US 80 sud-
denly, but We shall get used To il.
PIETRo.
New York, May II, 1874
MRs. MERRIAM woaId call The attention