The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-03-27
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.


To THE EDITOR or THE NEW NORTHWEST:
That "marriage is lottery" is prov
erb as old as the hills, to use another
proverbial expression, but few persons
are aware Of the extent 10 which men
and women, otherwise sane, trust in the
goodness Of fortune when offering them
selves M as a sacrifice at the shrine OF
the goddess Venus Last summer one
OF these reckless individuals sauntered
into the Castle Garden, selected from
amoug the crowd Of emigrants recently
arrived, cOmely Swedish girl, offered
her a situation of helpmate and wife,
forthwith married her in the superin-
tendeups Office, and took her Off TO his
home. The result Of the venture has
not been published; but since the publi-
cation ofth story, the superintendent at
Castle Garden has been flooded with let
ters from all parts Of the country, and
the great scarcity Of marriageabIe
women in the State of Iowa is the Tea-
son assigned by Louis Bode, Of Shenan-
doah, Page county, Of that State, for
writing to Superintendent Jackson, of
the board Of investigation, asking the
latter gentleman TO select and send him
a wife. Bode prefers a woman who has
recently arrived from England or Ger
many, Of sound health and physique,
and promises her a good home. He
says he is a farmer in comfortable cir
cumstances and thirty-nine years old.
He is a widower without children, and
wants matters fixed up with business
like dispatch, as he wishes to be married
this spring. Another letter received by
dated 735 South Seventh street,
st. Louis, Mo-, and signed Anton l..
Anton, says he has read in the papers
Of the case Of Catherine Fassbauer, a
young woman now on Wards island,
and about to become a mother; and he
is inclined TO offer her his hand in mar
riage and good home if Jackson can
recommend her as likely
TO make a good wife. The superintend-
ent feels grieved because there is no
depot attached TO Castle
Garden.
The Chamber OF Commerce to-day APP
pointed a committee, consisting Of Ed
ward l. Hedden, Joseph O'Donohue aud
Jesse w. Poneers, to make arrangements
for celebrating the one hundred and elev-
enth anniversary Of the organization Of
the chamber Resolutions were referred
TO the committee on harbor aud ship
ping, asking the mayor and comptroller
TO use their influence toward the build
ing Of four steam hopper barges to con-
vey the refuse from the city to the sea,
the money in payment for which to be
raise by taxation. II was resolved to
appoint a committee TO inquire as to
American trade with Africa. A resolu-
tion Of thanks TO Senator Turner aud
Assemblymen Brooks and Hepborn was
adopted for their efforts toward the pas
sage Of a resolution providing for the ap-
poiutment of committee to investigate
the management Of railroads in the
State. Leon ChOtlean was introduced,
and spoke upon the subject Of the Fran
trade, at the conclusion Of
whose remarks a committee was ap-
pointed to make an inquiry into the
ofthe trade and report thereon.
+. b. Thurber offered a preamble and
resolution, which were adopted, setting
forth that it was absolutely necessary, in
view Of the speedy completion Of the en-
larged Canadian canals, that the canals
of this State should be efficiently main
tained and operated, and that a provis-
ion Of the constitution Of the State lin
iting the annual expenditure upon the
canals TO the amount of receipts for the
previous year might seriously embarrass
their operation, aud in the event of ex-
traordinary breaks cause prolonged In
convenience and damage to all the ma
terial interests Of the State; therefore, in
the opinion Of the Chamber Of Com
merce, the provision mentioned ought
to be repealed.
An order from the Secretary OF War,
at Washington, was received on Cover
nor's Island to-day informing the COM
manding officer that Captain Thomas
Blair, recently tried and convicted by
eourt-martial, and then a prisoner on
the island, be released from further GUS
tody, having been dismissed from the
United States army. Tue news created
no little excitement on the island, for
the captain had made a great manv
friends among the officers and men. An
other trouble hangs over his head.
namely, that now that the United States
army has washed its hands Of him. he
runs risk OF being extradited to Frank
fort KY, to answer an Indictment Of
bigamy found against him. His counsel.
however, will make bitter fight to pre-
vent his removal. Mrs. Granger, falsely
called Blair, will soon leave this city TO
return to her fathers house, in Lancas-
ter. It is reported that she does not
wish Blair extradited. She will shortly
be in possession Of a divorce, the cap
tain's admission having removed all
difficulty in the way.
1t is alleged that some dissatisfaction
exists among rifiemen against the di-
rectors Of the National Association. It
is affirmed that the society is leaning in
favor toward military short range shoot
ing to the detriment Of the long range
interest. There is some growing as to