Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-10-06

indifference among wealthy New Workers.
and the money thus far contributed ~ n
nero bagatelle 70 what will be needed even
for the preliminary fund. Consequently,
the Finance Committee arc getting weary.
Instead Of the rush Of patriotic subscribers
and tho food Of checks that was antici-
patcd. their meetings are characterized by
something very nearly approaching staGna-
tion. At n late meeting there wasn't even
a quorum present, only four committee
men attending. Merchants and business
mon take A lancuid interest an the proposed
exhibition and are possibly waiting until
the Committee on Site gets through wrane-
ling and definitely selects the location Tor
the fair buildings.
GRAMS WAXING Up.
The cranks have been stirred up into
unusual activity by the fair. They have
Just awakened 20 the glorious possibilities
before them. and arc now deluging Mayor
Grant with startling schemes 90 every con-
ceivable description. such as a cantllcycr
bridge ten miles in length. and nm ogg 800
feet high, surmountcd by "a statue OF CO.
lumbus. One Of them has suggested as
q rival tor the EiTcl Tower. the conStruc-
tion Of a subterranean shaft ,000feet deep
with passenger elevators running day and
night, and recepton-rooms. chambers,
galleries. baths. and t-halls,
way under the crust of Manhattan
Island This, he insists, would arrest the
curiosity of the visitors and compel them
TO go down. The hot air 20 be encoun-
tered in the bowels Of the earth is to be
utllized. aud will be conducted through
pipes 10 warm the Exposition buildings
above, and thus save fuel. Little dinners
can be served in the refrcShmont halls be-
low 10 special parties One can imagine
those intratcrranCan jewellers carouslnG
almost 81 PlutO's gates while the whirhgig
Of the fair is going on above ana tho pass
ing and rcpassing elevators keel, up COM
muuication between the upper and the un-
der world.
APPEAIs FOB MONEY.
The appeals for money for the fair have
become positively frantic. What are you
gong 10 giye?" is the familiar question;
but n Is too frequently met 10y sOrdid and
responsive silence Tins far one million
aire and two editors have distinguished
themselves by making subscriptions con-
tingcnt upon number of other people do
ing the same up 10 a certain amount.
The more sauguinc claim hat the rich men
Of Gotham are holding back bit for the
purpose Of springing. a pleasant sur
prise on this village which still chngs 70
The old Dutch ideas of economv-the Same
ideas that prompted their ancestors to
build the front Of the old City Hall of
brown stone and the rear of brick, hold
ing that as 1t was the extreme end OF
town. nobody would care 20 20 around
and look at the rear, and besides, brick
wa as good as stone anyhow. and great
deal cheaper Still thereis time enoughto
spare yet. and once the ball Is set rolling
among the men of millions il will soon at
tain portions big enough 10 satisfy the
cravings Of the Finance Committee.
HENBY s. TyEs
has thiuned out considerably since hewent
g. Jail but the failure offa Jury 10 convict
has acted as tonic on the Nall-strect
wonder, and lac is now fast recuperatlng.
He is treated rather as guest than a
prisoner. aud enjoys the same freedom and
privileges regarding the reception OF
friends that were accorded TO Ferdinand
Ward. of Marine Bank fame, when In Lud-
low Street jail His bcardless face is "a I'M
mobile as that If statue when he
wishes 30 control II; but when chat
ting with friends or under excite
ment his features reflect his emotions and
the man looks full decade younger. Since
Woodruff won't back on him he has con-
roled himself by making more than ever
confdant Of c. II. Stavner. hIsformer part
ner. Stayner. the day after the trial closed,
visited Ives al the IOmbs and the two sat
NJ well into the small hours. Ives talking
almost necessarily and telling with Won
dcrtul detail every circumstance Of thelast
day Of the case. which Stayner missed
through being absent.
IyEs's COUNSEL,
who has succeeded in running him through
the first gauntlet unhurt, j. Charles w.
Brooke. a middle-aged lawyer and mem
her Of Tammany. Brooke Is a capital ora
tor, and formerly used 10 be quite active
Iii in nd ~ "A
platform speaker He IS n little white
faced man. with strong features and
mighty, sub-cellar voice that startlos one
even in ordinary conversation. II u
thrilling and emotional voice, too; just the
organ for a pleader before juriee. Mr..
Brooke looks the deep student he Is.
81 felt ike breaking Ivcs's neck for
what he said yesterday after the trial,
CrOwled the lawyer. although there was a
good nntured twinkle IN his gray eve that
belied the threat and showed bis tondness
for his boy client. - He shouldn't have
talked at al. We will have nothing TO say
about the case now for awhile. Tho new
triRl will be pressed forward quickly. OF
course we are very well satisfied with the
position Of affairs so far"
Down in Wall street there is a very
strong impression that Ives cannot DO con-
victed even on a second trial. Had 1t been
necessary. his friends say, his counsel
would have put him on the stand. This
was held as last resort. Should it be-
come necessary on the second trial lac will
20 on as a witness IN his own behalf and
will tell far more interesting story than
that related by Woodruff, and one that Will
add new features OF interest and bring IN
names that have been kept ont Of the case
till now. IL Is quite clear that the little
Napoleon has kepta telling card IN reserve,
and will play it only if pushed 10 the wall,
Just as Ferdinand Ward did on q similar
occasion.
THE PRICE or sEALsRISs.
mo: the price Of sealskins will not DO
higher tins year than last. In
spite of the numerous seizures 10y the reve-
nue-cutters in Behring's Sea the quantity
brought 10 market will be fully equal to
that of year ago Prices viii be firm.
Last year scaiskins rose 20 per cent. This
year the increase will be maintained"
This was the statement of the oldest and
largest dealer IN furs IN the country. lie
makes a specially of seal-tur and Is lead
ing authority In the trade. The Astors
went out Of the fnr-trade many years ago,
aud the successors Of the great firm
Of A. 4. Stewart arc no longer fac
tors IN the market. Tie trade, which
"a capital of 1920. 900, 900 IN
the entire country-Une half Of which ~
IN scals--has been practically Teyo-
within the last ten or twelve
years. Since the development Of the vast
retail oarayansaries IN the large American
CITIES. similar TO those of France and Eng
land. the leading retailers have dipped into
the wholesale trade. and now the seal mar
ket may be said t. be abont evenly divided
between tho wholesaler end the shop
keeper.
MILLIONS or SKINS
are taken every season, and many thOu-
sands Of tons Of shipping are used in Their
capture. Since steamers have gone into
the seal fisheries the catch has greatly in-
creased. The season lasts from the first of
March TO the close of May. between which
dates the different varieties, including the
harp-seal. the hooded-seal. the square
fipper, and the dotard. are taken, the two
last being the most valuable. The true
fur-seal is the northern ursine, OF sea-bcar.
which abouuds IN tho Pribylof Islands, in
Behring's Sea. A great rendezvous is st.
Pauls and st. Georges Islands. where the
roOkeries are sometimes known TO harbor
several millions at time.
TIKI sEALsKTS TRADE.
During this month and the next they are
practically yalueless. as they are then
shedding then fur The sealskin trade is
controlled. as far as the East is
concerned. by -four men--although there