The New York herald., 1879-12-09
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.


GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
WASHINGTON. Dec 8. 1879.
SENATOR VOORHEES, FINANCIAL RESOLUTION
REVIVAL OF PROSPERITY ExpLAINED-sILvEB
AND GREENRAcKs DID 1T.
Senator voorheos introduced the following pre-
amble and resolution in the Senate to-day. and it
was ordered. printed and laid ON the table. to be
called up by it's author:-
Whereas the restoration of silver money to the
lawful currency OF the country by act of Congress OF
February 70. 1873. was demanded with singular
unanimtty BY the American people and Is now sus-
tsined by the public interests and by the full force
OF an Intelligent public opinion; and whereas by the
act OF MAY u, 1878. the circulation OF the United
States legal tender notes, commonly known green
backs was dxed az the amount then In existence, to
wit. $ss and the Secretary Of the Treasury
was prohibited from reducing it below that amount
by any process or upon any pretext whatever
and whereas the aforesaid Uaited States legal
tender note or areenback circulation having been
accepted by the government for customs dutes be-
came at once and IL now equal in value to gold and.
precions metals. and whereas these financial meas
ures. forced upon the present administration and
sition have restored the confidence Of the business
world In the character, the amount and the stability
Of S5sas
therefore be 1t
Resolved. That the Senate has heard with pro-
found astonishment and deep regret the proposition
of the President Of the United States in his recent
annual message. and Of the Secretary of the Treas
ury, to ipaugurate new and uncalled for financial
agitation with view to the destruction Of the most
necessary currencies now in in the hands of tho
Resolved As the sense Of the Senate. that such an
agitation Is detrimental to the public interests cacu
lated to unsette all values confuse and disturb bust
shake public and private confidence, and that it
calls for immsdiate and unqualified condemnation.
Resolved, That the true interests OF the country
1ivvHt<o <o1 hath
and silver on conditions OF exact equality and that
it is the part Of wise financial policy to maintain
known IS greenbacks. in volume not less than now
exists and to preserve its legal tender quality
strictcd az to amount and unnlpaired in legal effect
THE DEATH OF REPRESENTATIVE LAY-REsoLU-
TIoNs OF THE MISSOURI DELEGATION.
The Missouri Congressional delegation this after
noon held meeting for the purpose of taking ap-
proprste action concerning the death Of their col
league. Mr.. Lay. Representative Wells presided.
and the following resolutions. prepared by COM
mittee consisting Of Messrs. Buckner and Frost,
were adopted
the State of Missouri in the Fortysixth Congress,
That in the untimely death of their colleague. the
Hon. A. M. Lay. they have lost an smiable and
spected friend and coadiutor his State talented
and faithful representative. his family beloved and
afflicted family tho most sincere and heartfelt SYM
pathy in the unexpected bereavement which thus
Ooprlve6 them guardian protector.
sented to the family Of the departed and that the
same be published in the public press.
THE BRIDGE ACROSS THE DETROIT RrvER-RE-
PORT OF THE BOARD OF ENGINEERS.
The Secretary of War transmitted to the Senate to-
day the report Of board Of engineer officers. made
in compliance with requirements Of the joint reso
luton Of June 80. 1870 Relating to bridge across
the Detroit River at Detroit Mich" Tho Board is
unanimously OF the opinion that the most
complete soution OF the problem is the con-
struction Of tunnel under the Detroit
River. They. however indorse the bridge
plan condtionally. concluding that thero will be NO
material dlrrusy In vessels passing through draws
Of 800 400 feet in width at any time when it would
be to navigate the river and that the right Of
way is clearly and emphaticaly given to navigation
there would be material undue injury to that
interest.
The Board In their report mention the fact that
they directed by General Sherman to inquire
into and report whether for railroad purposes the
Detroit River be bridged tunnelled at De-
troit or within one mile above or below
said city in such manner to accommo-
date the large trade aud commerce crossing
the river ct that point and without material injury
to the navigation of said river, good and sufficient
tug being always kept by the bridge to assist
troit on the frst Thursday of October. 1879. and
were required by General Sherman to complete
and submit their report and recommends
tions to tho chief OF engineers before De-
cember !. The frst ivc days OF the
session occupied in hearing statements
and arguments of persons fsvoring opposing the
construction of bridge tunnel. and then at the
urgent request of all partes interested the Board
adjourned to enable them to collect statistics boar
ing upon the subject. On the 18th of November
they reassembled and proceeded to consider matters
referred to them.
Tho difHculty that they met with at the start is
thus briefly stated
At Detroit two immense streams Of commerce
come into direct interference-u one by water
and the other by railroads The problem before the
that these might each other with tho least in
jury to both. and in such manner to accommo-
date the railroad traffic. and at the tmeldo
material undue injury to tho interests OF naviga-
ton. The magnitude OF these conflicting interests
at this point may be realized from the official state
inents marked in the report, which show that the
number Of vessels of various kinds passing Fort
Gratot lighthouse during the fiscal year ending
the railroads crossing the river at Detroit during
the year 1878 follows: :-129. .113 passengers.
freight cars.
The question Of bridging tunnelling the Detroit
River had been agitated for several years and
merous plans and projects therefor had been pre-
sented for consideration; but, the joint rcsolu
tion contained instructions to the Board to con-
slider modes. plans of construction details of opera
tion the matter Of cost these except in
q general way. not referred to In the report.
The report Of board of engineers appointed in
1873 to investigate this subject is alluded to.
This former Board stated. among other things. that
bridge with draws should be tolerated The
Board Of 1879. IN thor conclusions this point.
say
There n probably no difference of opinion about
these conclusions except to the referring to o
bridge with draws. The form OF bridge considered
inadmissiblc by the former Board had openings OF
1C6 feet each side. the remainder TO be- built upon
piers OF masonry 400 feet apart. and lit is believed
that draw openings of 16G feet were the greatest
then considered practicable. Draws of more than
200 feet have been since constructed. and II is
proposed by bridge builders Of high reputation to