Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-08-05
WASHINGTON.
JUDGE BALLARO'S VACANT SHOES.
Secretary Evarts and the British Mission
Mississippi River Commission
The Attempt to Backmail
a u. S. Consul.
Judge Ballard's Successor.


WASHINGTON, August 4.-Peter Zinn,
Of Cincinnati, and George Perkins OF
Covington, are here as the representa-
tives OF the bar of their respective cities
to urge the appointment OF NJ. NJ. Ben
ton, OF Covington, as United States
District Judge of Kentucky, in place of
the late Judge Ballard. They will have
an interview with the President to-mor-
row on the subject.
The Name of Secretary Evarts
having Oeen named in connection with
the English Mission, his friends say he
would not accept it, because he has now
a much higher official station. They
add that in the event OF the fishery
question being reOpened, or OF other i'm
portant questions arising between the
two countries, Mr.. Evarts could and
would conduct the negotiations from
Washington. This is an admission of
the truth OF what has been insisted
upon Of late years in Congress, that 1t
was not necessary TO maintain expen-
sive foreign establishments, but that
diplomatic business could be conducted
as well at the State Department direct.
If the Secretary OF State could do it in
one case he could as well in another.
Captain Eads
and General Harrison are both here with
reference to the work OF the Mississippi
River Commission. The time for the
first meeting has now been fixed for
August 9th, but the place has not been
definitely decided upon, and it may be
either st. Louis, Washington or New
York, with the probabilities in favor OF
the latter. Captain Eads says with
reference to the project OF ship canal
across the Isthmus of Darien, that he
has still the utmost faith in his plan to
transport ships across by railroad. He
believes it is perfectly feasible and that
it would be much more economical than
to construct canal.
The Aspinwall Ship Canal
A further conference was held to-day
between Col. Lloyd Aspinwall, repre-
senting the Florida Canal Company, and
Senator Jones, representing the Florida
State authorities, on the subject OF the
proposed ship canal. Col. AspinwaIl
presented what may be considered the
ultimatum of the Company's directors.
They ask a fair and liberal charter,
in return for the enhancement
of property which they assert will
follow the completion OF 80 i'm
portant and valuable work. 1t
remains now for the Governor and Leg
islature to do their part to secure so
great an improvement for the State.
European capitalists who have advanced
money cannot afford to waste couple
of years for the next regular session OF
the Legislature. They want TO see
something done approximately soon. If
nothing is to be done for two years, the
capital now pledged cannot be kept to-
gether. Several points OF argument
were entertained by the Senator, and
are to be referred in due season TO Gov
crnor Drew, and the conference ended.
The Attempt to Blackmail Consul
Sprague.
WASHINGTON, August 4.-COnsul
Sprague, of Gibraltar, communicates to
the Department of State the particulars
OF an attempt TO eXtort money from him.
On the 9th OF July the Consul received
an anonymous letter, purporting to be
from six men, demanding the loan OF
$1,000. The letter goes into all the de-
tails OF conveying money TO the conspir-
atOrs, and threatens death to the Consul
and his family in case OF failure to de-
post money in q designated place.
The whole affair is arranged in
the most cirCumstantial manner,
and bears marks OF practiced
hands. The Consul communicated with
the police, and detectives were en-
ployed. On the 18th OF July, the day
for depositing the money having passed,
another letter, more threatening, but
reducing the amount TO 5000, was re-
ccived. In this letter the brigands
showed that they were cOgnizant OF all
that had taken place since the receipt OF
the first letter, the movements OF the
Consul and his family, and OF the police.
Sprague has laid the whole matter be-
fore the American minister at Madrid.
Improvement of the Potomac.
WASHINGTON, August 4.-Col. Albert,
who has charge OF the improvement Of
the Potomac, SAYS the flats and deposits
made on them bv Washington sewers
seriously affect the health of the city,
and proposes a plan for the abatement of
the nuisance. The plan is to dredge out
the so-called Virginia channel from
Easbys Poin. to the arsenal, and use
dredgIngs % reclaim the entire area be-
tween that channel and the city front,
thus leaving one wide deep channel in
stead of two comparatively shallow ones
with half OF the submerged flats between
them. Col. Albert estimates the cost OF
the work at -, SOC, 900, and recommends
that it be betrayed by annual appropria-
tions OF from sl500O0 to 100000 per
wear until the Improvement is COM