The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-02
jETsrER FROM ST. LOUIS.
AN INVENTIVE MANIA-GRAND JURY
DorNes-aNnICTM FoR
ELECTION FRAUDS.
A aicent Railroad CanvcntiOn-Thc Pros
Irted Narr0w Gauge R0nd@pro~pcc~
tie Benefit to New Orleans.

N
tcted Marrow Gauge Road Pro~pcc-
tie Benefit to New orleans.
ST LOUIS June 29. 1877.
Th mania for nventing fire escapes doesn't
abatfone particle Since tho burning of the
Southern Hotel, st Louis has been overrun
withfre escapes, and exhibitions in that line
arc d almost daily occurrence. One man has
already been killed In testing these expert
mems, and more arc likely to go in the same
way Tits net an uncommon thing for mn I'M
venbr TO show a fire escape that requires half
an hour to adjust 1t. Most Of these nveri-
tiont do very we'll us long as tho building is
not bn fire and they have daylight to ope-
rataln.
GRAND JURY WORK.
Tln Criminal Court Grand Jury. which has
beenin session over two months, Ia grinding
out Indictments by The score, and the feeling
of uleasiness liz rather promiscuous for a law
abiding community. report from the
Grafd Jury to-day returns over seventy in
diethents. many Of which are against noted
polidans and leading business men, Fifteen
prominent real estate firms arc indicted for
renting property to prostitutes. Under n
statute enacted by the last General Assembly
1t ls made miademeanor TO rent property for
such purposes, and II is to be hoped this law
will be rigidly enforced Since the repeal Of
the notorious "Soeial Evil Law" the demi-
monde have extended their establishments
throughout the city. Indeed the most aris-
toeratic quarters of the city are now infested
with dens of this kind. and there is u general
demand from the citizens for relief in some
shape.
The principal portion of the Grand Jury's
long session has been occupied with an inves-
tigation of the interminable
"soHEMk AND CHARTER ELECTION
The new constitution, adopted In November
1876, authorized. by u certain process, the
framing of scheme of separation between
the city and county of st. Louis, and char
ter for the government OF the city. These
instruments, under the title of "seheme and
charter" were submitted for adoption or re-
lection by the people ut special election held
August ~, 1876.
The returns as made up showed the defeat
of the scheme and charter and the result was
so certified to the Secretary of State. The
old local government continued uninterrupt-
edly in operation until Immediately after
the November election. last year, when suit
was instituted to show that the scheme and
charter had been adopted Evidence
was produced showing that whole
precintcs had been changed by the
BoIpEsr KIND or BALLOT sTuFFtNc,
and after months OF litigation the scheme and
charter were declared adopted by the appel
late court This decision ousted all county
and city officers elected at the November
election, and
CREATED ENDLESS CONFUSION
and numerous lawsuits that promise to be
endless, too. The unsettled condition Of the
local government incident to the change pre-
by the hand OF th law until now, and, though
the law has been delayed, 1t promises to fully
vindicate itself at last The batch of
FtErY-s1x INDICTMENTS
returned against parties for completely in the
scheme and charter election frauds embrace
the names Of some noted ward politicians
who have hitherto been regarded as too infius
entiai t. be ealiea te Reeeant fef tfansgfes
sions of election laws;
ONE OF THE INDICTMENTS
is against the treasurer of the old county,
charging him with illegally distributing the
public money in that he paid the fees of
several attorneys employed in the scheme and
charter litigation out of the county's funds.
THE RAILROAD CONVENTION.
Inc flaffow-ga0ge ra1lfoau convention,
which closed a two days session in this city
tonight, accomplished more than the most
enthusiastic supporters of the enterprise
hoped for. As this Is n movement that
promises to add largely to the commercial in
terests of your city, some account of the con-
vention and the object in view, will, l hope
be read with interest.
The importance and value of direct railroad
connection with Southwestern Missouri have
long been realized by st. Louis, but no prop
hat
yer got started until now. One effort failed
oeoluse of the increasing hard times, and the
oppressive State law then in existence re-
quiring 50 many thousand dollars per mile in
subscriptions to be paid up before beginning
work. After thoroughly canvassing the sub
ject it was agreed that a
NARROW GAUGE
was the very thing for the proposed route. In
fact it was conceded numerous advantages
over the broad gauge, not the least important
of which was the difference in the cost of
construction.
AT the last session of the Legislature the
illiberal law governing the construction of
railroads was repealed, and a new one enact
ed which provides that any person may sub
scribe
AS SMALL A SUM
as $50 toward building a railroad and. when
it Is in operation, certificates OF such SUBJ
scription shall be receivable for freight or
passage. This law was passed with view of
aiding the construction of a narrow gauge
from st. Louis through the southwestern por-
tion of the State. The people of that part of
the State are entirely without railroad facili-
ties, and are willing to contribute to the full
est extent of their ability toward securing an
outlet to the Mississippi river.
UNDER THE PRESENT LAW
each farmer or merchant along the proposed
route can subscribe in proportion to his means
or business and afterwards cancel his sub
scription in patronage of the road. 1t is esti-
mated that subscriptions of this nature can
readily be raised to construct the road from
the western boundery of the State to within
fifty miles of St Louis. In fact several coun-
ties have pledged themselves to build the road
through their respective boundaries if st.
Louis will provide for the eastern end. Dur
ing the past few months meetings have been
held in different counties west of here and the
result was
CALL FOR A CONVENTION
to assemble in st. Louis on the 9th inst The
st. Louis Board of Trade has devoted itself
energeticaIly to the work of pushing forward