Morning journal and courier., 1884-06-07

ts reduce tke charges if deemed too high. The United States Circuit court in that State has just set aside this statute as unconstitu- tional. The decision is based on two grounds: First, that in the charter of the complainant the Chicago, St. Louis and New Orleans railroad cOmpany-the legislature granted the corporation the right to make such charg- es as it might deem proper. and hence the present statute is 8 violation of the obliRs- ton of that contract; second, that the statue is Q regulation of interstate commerce.
 Frsund's Weekly figures up the losses of fifteen New York theatrical speculations during the season, and makes the total $456, ,> 87O. Abbey leads of with $187, ,520 deficit on his opera venture, while Mspleson is set as SIS, ,OOO short. In addition there is said to be $75, 900 claimed by sundry persons as due to them from the managers, and $50, 900 more is the amount in litigation. Here is the other side of the picture: Daly cleared $50.- 900, Harrigan and Hart still more. The Casino has done splendidly, Irving accumus lated $40, 900 at the Star, and Wallack made money at the Star (his old theater) and the new Wallack's up town. More money was spent in amusements than in any other sea- son on record, the gross receipts from De- cember to May. in all the New York theatres, being estimated at $s,oOo,OoO
 The substitution of iren sleepers on rail- roads for the old-fashioned wooden ones is making progress. The life of wooden sleep CTS is uncertain, but may be taken as fifteen years, while iron sleepers will last, although at the outset more expensive, more than double the time. On the Bristol and Exeter railroad metal sleepers are still in use which were laid down thirty-one years ego. Under certain circumstances the use of wooden sieepers leads to spreading of the distance between the rails, and so to risk of acci- dent. With metal this difficulty is obviated. Moreover, the permanent way is in other re- spscts benefited by the substitution of iron for wood. In Germany the value of the re- form is admitted, and some thousands of miles of railroad are laid down with metal slespsrs, representing weight of some mil lions of tons.
 The Society for Instruction in First Aid to the Injured has done much good work since it's organization three years ago The socie- ty teaches what should be done in emergen- cies when there is no physician at hand. Its instruction is of the most practical character. It is given by means of lectures, accompa- nied by illustrations, ''subject'' being pre- scented at each lecture; the pupils being fur nished with the Handbook of First Aid to the Injured,'' published by the society More than one thousand lectures have been delivered in New York City alone by we'll known physicians acting under Dr. Henry B. Sand as medical director. The Academy of Medicine and the New York County Medi- cal society have endorsed the society, and it has the approval and support of the medical profession generally. The society's classes, most of which are free, have been attended by ladies and gentlemen, working men and women, school teachers, policemen, fremen, employees of the New York Central and Hud- and others; and First Aid instruction has been made part of the regular training of the police of New York, Buffalo and Provi- dence: Branches have been formed in Brooklyn, Buffalo, the Hampton Normal College, Va, and lectures have been deliv- cred to large numbers in Boston, Philadel- phia, Jersey City and else where. The socie- ty is now organizing branches in all parts of the country, particularly the great railroad, and mining cen tres.