New-York tribune., 1879-03-29
TO KINGSTON BY STEAM AND MULE.
A HARD rLACE TO GET TO-UNNECEsSARY DELAY
or PASSENGERS AND MAILS

HARD PLACE TO GET TO-UNNECEsSARY DELAY
or PASSENGERS AND MAILS.
10 the EdttOr or The Tribune.
SIR: Leaving New Ork at 4 o'clock in the
by the Montreal express one arrives at Rhine
elf Station promptly at 7:lO This did few
evenings since, and desiring To reach Kings
ton Guy, uptown, l innOeenty embarked at once
upon the ferry boat Lark, which lay IN her Slip by
ice being sl fast III the river at this point chan
mel had been broken the ferry DAYS before and
the boat was making her regular trips, with the same
expenditure OF steam FORCE apparently, as III Summer.
when 3 cents per head charged. But the gallant
captain demanded 90 cents on account Of the ice
he said. paid II because in the middle Of the
river aud get home, although It exceeded my
appropriation purpose and felt that somebody
was imposed upon sOmew here III the transaction. How
ever safely landed in due time on the Ulster shore
at a place formerly known ROndOut II being the
lower eastern end and part OF Kingston, ana the
terminus Of Winuc's Horse Railroad, to which latter
rapid-transit device my steps were now directed
car headed for uptown standing
there where 1t remained for about twenty
minutes, when the dOwn-car hove in sight,
leaving the clear for our car, which then pro
ceedcd on the twO-nes without furtherdeay except
that which might result from inefficient motive power
ana the mules very we'll fOI their age. On reaching
an upper switch. however, another down-car wasn't
there To pass and the were rested fifteen minutes
more Some Of the passengers becoming sleepy hungry
and impatient started to complete the journey on loot
On the arrival OF this dOwnca and after OrIef inter
change OF friendly words and affection between the
drivers III regard to the detention. again
eeedcd and We finally arrived uptown at $780, having
becu on tue way the station, about 32 miles, Just
one hour and twenty minutes From this 1t will readily
appear that in point OF time Kingston Is more than half
lar from Rhuecli StatiOh the latter is from New
YORK CITY To SURE only 10 cents Is charged FOR this
Etrce;-car ride Tut II takes long 10 get the money
rh Tbis not an exceptional delay, but the regular
schedule mc Ofthr road ms Tram brings an the evening
malls, and II would seem that the Department might
arrange much more prompt delivery at tuelT up
town post Office Allowing thirty minutes ior crossing
the river which is ample time, there Is no cOncelVape
TegsOu Wny, with proper connections the mails and
cannot re delivered uptown IN nty minutes
irO Tie time theg leave the tram But then we should
remember that in these days Terry franchises ana
horse IA lway charters commonly used IN the inter
est II Inc companies holding thcm and II peTchance
little public convenience not Incompatible with the
poc Interests, creeps Ia now and thrn the peope
fcrragc price at l3 cents per mead al any and all
of the year; and II also requires mar the com
Qauy snail provide regular ferry communications AT thls
point ali tunes when the ice is unsafe to cross But
thet.-- IL.
Kings,on, March 90, 1879.
THE ST%'S MASS, DISTANCE AND PARALLAX.
A CuMPUTArIOS BY PROFESSOR PLlNY EARLE
CHASE.
10 the EditOr Of The Tribune.
Sir: Lockyers "basic lines" Peirce's meteoric
hypothesis and my demonstration of the influence
N light in world-bmlding and molecular grouping,
lcsl to the equation of mass:
Jupi.cr5=Suu K Earth Saturn.
Inns equation gives the following values:
Suns nass=-32S, 900
Sun's dlstan1e=92 $50 900 miles.
Sau's parallax=S1s322. PLINY EARLE CHASE.
HarnJ0id College, March 20, 1879.