Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-02-14
Our New TOTh Letter,
End OF TnE CUSTOM HOUSE FIGHT TRIALS OF
RAPID TRANSFERS - INSURANCE PROS
fERlIf A DECLINE IN LEGS DEATH
OF TIE SUGAR AGITATION.
NV YORK. Feb. 10Th. $50.

NEw YORK, Feb. 10Th, 1879.
To the Editor Of TIE Free Press and Times
Every now and then, through janglin
with the Administration or running afor
OF scmo pet theories of the importers, tn
New York Custom House is asked to stan
up ard turn its pockets inside out. like
seh0olboy with suspected cOntraband art
c.es. Knowing winks have darkened on
eye of many jealous politician as he lai
DOWN the law in the palm of his hand, an
drew pictures of rottenness and corruption
supposed to be underlying the placid SUI
face OF the life inside the huge stone build
ing on Wall street
Whatever thu past may have discovered
the confirmation of General Merritt mus
be accepted in great measure as a publ
Endorsement of his course, and in reeogni
ton Of the purpose he has steadily advanc
ed OF making the Custom House here bust
ness establishment from top to bottom
Aud from the political interest evolvel
from the battles fought on this field q z lane
at the magnitude Of the business carried OF
at this threshold of the port of New Yorl
has been had through lhe oyerhangins
smoke Of the big guns" OF investigating
committees. The Custom House here is tn,
source of about one hundred millions O.
dollars to tho Government annually 1t EN-
plOys nearly a thousand men, and the prac
teal working Of its human machinery in
wolves 80 many details of interest, that
shall endeavGr soon to devote letter to The
subject. To collect this revenue Of one hun
dred millions c osts about two and hal
millions, leaving margin which the sup
porters OF protection love to Contemplate.
| Out of the slush and mud of the February
thaw are grateful New Workers taken by
the elevated railroads, but when, as was the
case on the Ninth avenue line yesterday, an
accident detains hungry residents from got
ting up town, even bJb-tail surface car
becomes wheeled paradise The detention
referred to occurred at POINT on the road
where, as train after train came up and was
blocked, the passengers were unable to leave
the Gals. Fair weather Christians made
the air blus with chOice selections from
their reserves. and IS the line of cars grad
ually stretched along fse blocks. the gamins
were joined by homeward bound pedestrians
on the street below and hoO.ed derisiye or
ders for sandwiches and breakfast for the
hungry crowd on high. WOrkmen worked
in vain, and when the delay took to itself
chronic appearance, a bold few let them
selves down from the cars to the track, and
over the edge down the iron cross pieces
supporting the structure to the ground.
Soon there was an avalanche Of bundles
falling into the street, followed by hall
Vanished owners. When the cars were
finally moved 10 the station. the passengers
who were too timid to attempt the descent
to the street, kept up the appearance of
pluck By thrashing the catekeepers in the
vicinity OF the nose when tickets were de-
manded. And now at least three hundred
New Workers are ashamed to look any well
regulated horse ear in the face 1t is stated
on good authority, that the chuckling Of
the ear horses during the elevated blockade
could be heard twenty blocks against the
wind.
Circumstances OF The last two months. tc
which referred in late letter, haying
brought the whole subject of the theory and
methods Of lie insurance again uppermost
in the Press snd in the public mind, the
statements of the yariJu; companies which
January, a. usual. brings forth, are once
more objects OF interested study and com
parison. On the whole they show that the
leading companies have held their own very
encouraginsly . aud a few of them have even
made considerable additions to their sur
plus. In one case, that Of the Etns of
Hartford, this increase amounts to almost a
million of dollars net for the year. 0fcourse
this is exceptional, but 1t shows what hon
esty and persistent conservatism of manage
ment will do in even the most unpropitious
times. This principle of conservatism, the
onlv true one To Gaynrn the management OF
trust funds, is in the Ezra as far removed
from sold iogyism" as it 70 from impru-
dence, and has given that company posi-
tiOn which it would be faint praise to call
enviable
10 spite OF good many recent losses, FIRE
Insurance, too, seems to be in a good condi-
ton. report just published of the pres
emit value of shares IN city companies. shows
that out Of ffty-seven companies reported,
the stock Of only ten is quoted below par,
while shares in some of the remaining forty |
seven is purchasabls only at an advance of |
300 to 900 per cent. upon their face value. |
Although there are still in progress quite |
. number of matches and walkings against
lime, the walking mania which has ragged
10 furiously here this Winter seems |
ierson's successful performance was the eli
max. Since then another young woman en-
cred for another and still more protracted
aunt. which was literally advertised by
ull-length colored posters and the like, in
he expectation of making pics of money
or her hackers, but she broke down in q
ew days, and the affair fizzed out. Amuse-
nent hunters and sporting men have thus
'een forced to seek other excitement, and
age found it in the great billiard tourna-
nent at the Cooper Union, and in the noble
musement of cock fighting, which Is now
ssiduOusly pursued wherever the police can
e eyaded. \ more peaceful interest 10
irts is developed at the Aquarium. where
really tue pigeon show il now in prog
ess. The number and variety of these
eautliul fowls displayed is as surprising ;
is pleasing. On the last three afternoons
{ the week crowds were attracted to wit
ess the light OF large focks of trained car
Ter pigeons. which were liberated and dis
ersed TO different destinations.
The hue and cry about sugar aiulterA:i1n.
le curiou- aud rather iiSgraceful rise and
rogress Oi which / have previously ,
lrJnicled, has finally died away into
lenee. Ii was extensively started and tx I
snsively sustained for II little while, but
cklng the necessary foundation OF truth, :
could not prevail. The Board of Health c
Is just sent communication To the
hamber OF Commerce, in which it CURLY /
ubs the would-be alarmists, and dis e
Uses the subject in these words In the
Union OF the Board. there is not at present a
tfcient cause to Justify apprehensons on t
Q part OF the public OF i'll fleets from the b
G of refined sugars, and II does not appear .
be necessary to discriminate between e
" and refined sugars. for both are whole ei
me articles OF food. " d
Yours. D. a
Nix. TILpEN on rus STASD.-rhe New u
TX Iribune thus describes the appearance n
MIR. Tildcn, before the Potter Committee, rC
-uriay. ~