New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-10
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE SATURDAY SEPTEMBER TO- 1881.

pleted before the dry weather set in. and its
effect has mainly been to hasten the customary
processes of autumn. A few plants have undOubt-
edly succumbed but these can readily be re-
placed. The greatest danger will arise from any
late growths that may be started by the
rains, which are sure to be abundant
enough when they do come. Such growths
would be killed by the first frosts, and
the trees seriously injured. Mr.. Fischer
also approves of the plan recently suggested in
THE TRIBUNE of labelling the prominent
trees and shrubs, although he complains
rather bitterly of the mischievOus
destroying impulses of some of the visitors to
the Park. But the public can be educated, and
few arrests and fines for tearing off labels
would have wholesome effect.
1t is easy to believe that the time will come
when the ocean shore of Long Island will
show almost as remarkable a change from its
present condition as the COney Island of to-day
from the COney Island of ten years ago. The
change will be, of course, of a different char
acter. This splendid stretch of coast, easy of
access from New-YOrk and other large
cities, can be utilized for summer homes
with as marked success, perhaps as Coney
Island has been devoted to furnishing days
peasuring for the people of two great cities.
There is an interesting talk this subject in
our local columns, showing that company of
capitalists is already at work upon the idea.
The great air-ship which is to start east
ward from st. Paul is now so far inflated that
it's advent on the Atlantic slope may perhaps
be expected within a week. Considerable
progress has been made in aGronautic
studies and appliances of late years, but
no solid advance has yet been achieved in
realizing the dreams of those who believe IN
navigating the air. The machine which is to
solve the knotty problem has yet to be con-
structed In what form it will finally come
no one can predict, but the general opinion of
workers IN this field indicates that it will not
be the ordinary balloon or any modification of
it. There is a leaning toward the adoption of
huge planes-aGrOplanes, as they are termed
driven at high rates of speed by compact but
powerful engines. But the aGroplane is wait
ing for motor. Mr.. Kings proposed voyage
may demonstrate the existence of a general
upper air current always travelling in an east
erly direction, but it is not likely to achieve
anything else, while if 1t arrives here during
the equinoctial gales, or encounters such a
hurricane as that now coming up from the
South, the chances of its even being heard of
at all will be slight indeed
The latest tidings from the scene of the forest
fires in Michigan give hope that the worst is
over. There has been sufficient rain to uuench
most of the fires, though not enough to revive
such vegetation as was spared by the flames.
The popular confusion and distress are such
that it is difficult to obtain exact details of the
losses of life and property. Local returns are
coming in, however, which make ghastly
showing. Two hundred and fifteen fami-
lies have been burned out, and thirty
two persons are known to be dead in seven
towns i'll Sanilac County. In one group of
six towns, sixty-fve burials are reported
Twenty seven dead bodies have been found in
a stretch of country where the fire ragged with
great ferceness. The account given of the
plight of the survivors is pitabe. They are
described as sitting about the ruins of their
homes, suffering in many cases from burns
and apparently without hope, and in some
cases without even comprehension of their
surroundings. AS has been already said, they
are almost without exception poor people who
were in the midst of their first struggle TO es-
tablish homes. The work of relief is going on
actively, but is far beyond the capacity of
single State. meeting was held here yester-
day at which a relief committee was APP
pointed and a numb er of subscriptions were
received. Thurlow Weeds letter. which we
print this morning, sets an admirable example
The proverbal generosity of this great city
is evidently to be demonstrated again.