Morning journal and courier., 1880-05-07

very important SulGS, 1n Wnlcn the sentlre railroad system of Tennessee is concerned and the amount involved is more than SIS, ,OOO,- 900, are now pending in the United States Circuit Court at Nashville. The question to be decided is whether the lien upon the rail- roads, given at the time they received State aid, was fof the protection of the State or to secure the holders of the internal i'm provement bonds Tennessee issued to de- velop her routes of travel. When these obligations were refunded under the act of 1870 the roads that were able deposited a sufficient quantity of Tennessee bonds in the State treasury to wipe out their indebtedness. Insolyent roads were sold at auction and the proceeds also turned into the State treasury. Tennessee, with nearly $500, ,OOO in cash in her treasury year ago, has $4, ,O00,0 900 and more of unpaid interest, and has placed the rate of taxation so low that her creditors see no immediate prospect of relief. In this con- dition of things the holders of the improve meat bonds ask the railroads to redeem the bonds issued in their behalf a second time. The result of the trial is naturally awaited with much anxiety. Among the counsel are Stanley Matthews, Judge George E. Hoadley
 
 Secretary EVarts' law partner.
 The evidence adduced at the renewed in- quiry into the causes which led up to the Tay bridge disaster confirm the gloomy opinion created by the facts at the preliminary in- quiry. MT. Henry Noble, whose duty it was to take soundings in the river and to see that the piers did not subside from securing has stated that often, having nothing else to do, he occupied his time by overhauling the col umns. On one occasion he heard s'clatter- ing" of the bars, and found that the colters in coming together were not of sufficient width to get grip, land had got little loose." He did not report the matter, as he thought he could remedy it, and so he bought twenty-five pounds of iron and msnded the bridge. Mr. Henry Law, one of the Board of Trade inspectors, in his evi- dence states that his inspections of the bridge showed that there was little adhesion between the cement and the stone, that some of the bolts had not been put down in the center as they should have been, that often washers had been put in before the nut, and the bolt protruded two or three inches above the nut, ''the other end not going within five or six inches of the stone," and that joints upon which the security of the whole structure de- pended had been carelessly completed Other witnesses spoke of the bad quality of the bolts, and complained that the metal given for making bolts was unusually brittle.
 This is well known to be world of sin and sorrow, but things do happen right occasion ally. Michael Hyde, who lived near Linden, New York, died three or four years ago leaV- ing farm, incumbered with mortgage of $6O0 to his widow and son. His widow was then over 75 years of age, and his son was 50, aud totally blind. He had been blind since he was ten years of age, having had the sight of the right eye destroyed by running stick into it,end the other was blinded by cataract. Old MT. Hyde had been soldier in the Mexican war, and son had been killed in the war of the rebellion. A year ago, old Mrs. Hyde and her blind son being in very destitute cir cumstances, as they were unable to work the farm proftably, friends interested themselves in trying to obtain her a pension from the Government. The mortgage on the farm was to fail due this spring, and no return from the pension matter having been receiv- ed, Mrs. Hyde and her son had given up all hope of saving their home, and recently be- gan to prepare for spending the remainder of their days in the poorhouse. Mi ohsel Hyde could get about sufficiently to chop wood and to do little chores about the house. A few days ago he was cutting wood when chip flew up and struck him on the ball of the left eye. He covered his eye quickly with his hand to ease the pain. When he removed his hand he was astonished to find that he could distinguish objects in front of him, aml before he reached the house he could see quite plainly. At present his sight seems to be entirely restored to the left eye. Only the day after this singular change in the condition of Michael, lawyer who had oon- ducted the pension business for Mrs. Hyde called at the farm and paid her $1 200 pension money. Happy Hydes.