smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1878

WHEREVER you find speculator in
city property, who has been badly caught
by the shrinkage of prices and rents be-
cause of the approximation of the green
back promissory notes to the gold dollar
in value, you find a man who is in favor
ofa cheaper dollar and franticallv opposed
to any one who is in favor of honest
money. This is only natural exhi bition
of selfishness and an illustration of the
law of self-preservation, and the man
is an object for pity, but when such a
man owns newspaper, and pretends in
its columns that his zeal is in behalf of
the laboring men, his impudent mendaci-
ty makes him an object of contempt
Every Evening and Commercial.
There is another slander. Who it al
ludes to we do not know. But the writer
and owners of what remains of jenkins
old Commercial are the very same gentle
men who urged on the circumstances re-
sulting in initiation by the government /;
and were the apologists for It's misman-
agement during the years 1869 and 1870,
which led many poor fellow to pay too
much for property. But now that the
government has taken a short turn, a
snapjudgment, and by contraction cut
down the prices until the mechanic who
has bought house for four thousand and
paid two thousand on 1t finds he cannot
satisfy the mortgage, and the creditor
gets back the house for $1,000, the pool
mechanic losing all. There are thousand.
of just such cases. And it must be hard
enough to endure the loss without being
told, in the heartless style of the article
above, of the misfortune. Butsuch is the
conduct of that soulless corporation.


No, sirs, it is not the ''speculator in city
property who has been badly caught b,
the shrinkage of prices and rents" tina
suffers most. Such as he are general,
found to get away from his creditor
through the payment of % cents to tn
dollar. No, it is the hard toiling farmer
laborer, or perhaps merchant, that
cramped to death, and all he has in tn
world has been, or is to be, cleaned out b.
a misleading and treacherous policy o
the government. government that ha
put 81, 300, 10000 of bonds that is exemp
from all taxation 16 to 20 per cent. abov
par, and to do so put real estate taxed t
pay all this debt, thirty or forty or fift
per cent. below what it cost, and then de
prived the people of one-half the mean
to pay by demonetizing silver, and r,
quiring the heavily taxed laborer's proI
erty TO pay for the untaxed bondholder.


Nothing could be more fatal to all |;
Dor than this; nothing could more surel
destroy prosperity and Improvement
Why, many persons in all sections of til
country complain that their propert
yields them nothing, and tenants al
kept in houses to prevent decay.
Year: 1878

The Jews have always shown themselves
practical people, and we are struck with
the wisdom of one Of the propositions
adopted yesterday in the Jewish Conven-
tion now gathered in Milwaukee. 1t was
determined to take measures looking to the
acquisition of land in considerable quanti-
ties in the Western or Southern States on
which to settle the children brought up in
their orphan asylums, and also such other Of
their people as are without means to estab-
lish themselves in business. 1t has often
been remarked in this country that the Jews
take care Of their own poor; it is rare to
meet with Jewish pauper What they
now as religious body propose to do, is
eminently worthy of imitation by Christian
denominations. The best, because the most
effective, charity, is to secure employment
to those without it. Gifts Of money only
tide over present emergency; to enable a
man to support himself is far better for
him than to support him.


There is something eminently practical
and wise in this plan adopted by the Mil
waukee Convention Of Jews, and we hope
it will be carried out successfully. General
Butler wishes to issue four hundred mill
ions of greenbacks to give to the. poor who
will remove to public lands. Mr.. Hendrick
B. Wright, of Pennsylvania, asked the last
Congress to appropriate half million for
the same purpose. Butthese statesmen are
put to shame by the determination Of the
Jewish Convention to do that for their CO.
religionists by private enterprise which
Messrs. Butler and Wright wish to do OF the
general expense. Why should not other
religious bodies follow the example of these
Hebrews and help their INDECENT members
to homes or land? A general movement to
this end among the Christian churches
would be one of the most benefcent and
practical forms which public charity could
fnke
Year: 1878

Smart young fellows who are devising
shrewd financial plans, which in point ofmo-
rality do not even come up to the Wall
street standard, may find valuable point or
two in the case of the forger Cray. This
gentleman carried great deal Of money
with him when he suddenly left the street a
few years ago, and he has realized consider
able since then by operations which may be
mildly characterized as ''off color" but he
is now expected back with IN empty pocket.
Even his attendants, such as he has, have
to be paid out OF the public purse; the
cuffs ON his wrists are not of q texture and
color which his whilom washerwoman would
recognize as familiar, and his prospective
apparel will be Of goods in which the stripes
are too broad to be fashionable. He Is
only one of hundreds of sharpers
who have made fools of business
men and worse fools OF themselves. Some
Of them have swelled the army of tramps,
others are wandering in lands whore extra
dition treaties cannot reach them still
others are said to be in q cline where writ
of extradition would dissolve into ashes in
an instant But in one respect they are all
alike--they have no money, and the most
successful of the lot would cheerfully ex-
change incomes with the most unsuccessful
bootblack or newsboy on the street.. "a
tool and his money are soon parted" If it
be urged by irregular young financiers that
n man who is smart enough to carry money
out of Wall street is no fool, the fact re-
mains that money which cannot be kept is
not worth the carrying, and that the ex-
Year: 1878

The visit OF the Secretary Of the Treasury
to New York is Us much for rest and change
of air as for business purposes but Mr..
Sherman is not likely to leave the city with
out having done something to promote the
main object of the Treasury the resumption
ofspecie payments. His strong desire is that
this event, so important for the country's
force or by public proclamation, but in the
natural course of business that the people
shall resume and while undoubtedly he is
doing and will continue to do all in his
power to strengthen the Treasury, he
very wisely seeks to enlist with him in the
work the banking, commercial and busi-
ness interests of the country. He sees
also that much will be gained if re-
sumption, set by law for the LIST OF
next January, shall be virtually accom-
plished before Congress reassembles. He
believes that there may be general resump-
tion of specie payments by the 1st of
November, or even earlier; but he wisely
declares that the Treasury shall not resume
before the day fixed by law. In the mean
time the act Of Congress gives him
abundant means to prepare the Treasury
for the great event. 1t was rumored
in Washington and here yesterday that the
Secretary was about to make new ar
rangement with a syndicate to dispose OF
the remainder Of the four and a half per
cents authorized to be sold for resumption
purposes. It is probably true that he will
perfect arrangements by which he can dis
pose Of these fifty millions for gold if he
shall hereafter think it advisable.


Mr.. Sherman's policy in the Treasury has
been uncommonly sagacious and firm. His
courage and determination are doing very
much to restore public confidence in the
future, and he deserves the vigorous sup
port of all who desire to see the new era of
prosperity begin.
Year: 1878

We print in another column an interest
ing account of the interview OF HEaALD
correspondent in St Petersburg with Vera
Zassoulitch, the young woman who, by her
attempt against the life of chief of police
and the results of her trial, has become a
sort of heroine with the Russian socialist
party. In the simple description given of
her person and manners, and from the
report OF her own artless and unaffected ac-
count of herself, the reader may easily
perceive that she is not the sort Of melo-
dramatic and extravagant damsel that ordi-
narily poses as heroine in an atmosphere
disturbed by political troubles. Animated
by the sense Of personal and family wrongs,
and inspired with the enthusiastic womani
courage that is incapable of counting the
cost of any act Of devotion, she delivered
in her shot at General Trepof blow that
seems to have responded to the feeling and
conviction Of great part of Russian soci-
ETY.; and this fact accounts for the strange
anomaly of her trial and Of her position at
the time our letter was written when still
hidden in Russia she was inaccessible only
to the police.
Year: 1878

The situation in Montreal yesterday aud
last night was not OF very comforting
character, and there is unfortunately but
little reason to hope that tomorrow, the an
niversary of the Battle of the Boyne, will
pass without more or less disturbance.
Both parties seem to be in an ugly temper.
On the one hand the Orangemen are
determined to parade and on the
other the opposition party seems to be
equally determined to prevent the demon
stration. The only hope of preserving the
peace lies apparently in the military. who
are certainly strong enough to protect the
two or three hundred Orangemen who have
resolved to march. There is one encourag-
ing point in the dispatches this morning
namely, that the outside Orangemen have
given up the idea of being present, for the
reason that the military will be able to give
their brethren all the protection they
may need. 1t is to be hoped the Irish
societies in other cities will come to the
same conclusion and absent themselves.
Their friends in Montreal are certainly able
to take care of themselves. Strenuous
efforts are being made on both sides to
effect an amicable arrangement between the
two factions and thereby avert /. possible
bloodshed. 1t is to be hoped they will be
successful to-day and that Montreal will be
saved from o dangerous and disgraceful
riot
Year: 1878

The Coroner's inquest in the case Of the
victims of the Forty-second street ''acci-
dent" adjourned without eliciting any in
formation from the witnesses that could be
regarded as justitying verdict. We are
not surprised at this, because the evidence
Of the officials of the Department of Public
Works was not calculated to enlighten the
jury. According to the statements made
by Commissioner Campbell. Mr.. John @.
Campbell, the Inspector, O'Brien. and the
contractor, Byron, the work was conducted
in careless manner and the Incident rem
dered inevitable. We do not mean that these
witnesses admitted either neglect, incom-
But the opinion one naturally forms from
their evidence is that neglect, incompe-
tency and fraud governed its execution.
In the first place it ls admitted that the
mortar, an essential material in the con-
struction, was defective at times Mn John
G. Campbell says so, and adds that his at
tention was called to the fact by his as
sistant. That the mortar, so called, was
little better than mud is shown by an ex-
animation Of the stuff as it now lies scat
tered over the ruins or projects from the
joints of the standing masonry. Second,
the arch was overweighted- mild
term applied by the witnesses to the
shocks administered to the arch by
dumping on it from considerable height
mixture Of rocks and rubbish which
pounded out Of the structure any stability
that may have survived its unscientific
design and execrable construction. Third,
the design Of the arch was such as to rem
der it liable to fall ct any time by its own
weight 1t was out of proportion and too
fat to carry itself in badly built brickwork.
To add to the chances of failure the clever
operatives lifted the centres six inches
before lowering them from the arch. If a
portion stands it must not be regarded as
ON evidence that the plan is q good one, but
rather as an instance Of that peculiar luck
which attends the operations of fools and
empires for the more complete decep-
ton Of the public. Mr.. John C. Camp
bell said at the inquest that, to the best Of
his knowledge, the work was carried out ac-
cording to the specifications; that some
complaints were made two months ago
about the filling, which he attended to, and
that he had not seen the fallen work in any
stage near completion. 1t would seem that
in tho minute subdivision Of inspection
the contractor was permitted to do what he
pleased, and, as the price was very low, to
save himself expense in every possible way.
II this is to be the rule in the management
of our public works the sooner reform comes
in the shape Of reduction of the number of
inspectors the better. 1t is AN old and q
true saying that "too many cooks spoil the
soup" In this case the responsibility un-
doubtedly rests on the Department OF Pub
lie Works.
Year: 1878

inspector who stated that the Forty-second
street arch was well built was extremely
cool, but public and private comments have
doubtless by this time caused him to be-
come warm enough to regard hannels with
an aversion like that of a mad dog toward
witness loathes the truth. Flannel is said to
have a persuasive effect upon stiff joints, IN
which case large quantity of it might be
applied to the reluctant hinges of Commu-
nistic pocketbooks, if the brethren in bonds
are ever to receive aid from this side OF the
waten With similar healing intent con-
siderable flannel might be utilized by swath-
ing with it the rusty senses of those men,
bers Of the Brooklyn Board OF City Works
who cannot see how much to the public
advantage it would be to supply Coney
Island with water. As for the blankets, we
are unable to see any excuse for offering
them Perhaps the manufacturers imagined
that general Indian pacifcation peace was
at hand. but since the redskins leaped upon
the warpath there has not been time in
which to rot blankets as thoroughly as is
necessary for the purpose Of quieting
Indians in the traditional manner. Or is it
possible that the whispered reluctance Of
the greenback party to accept the leadership
of. General Butler has caused the trade to
imagine that blankets ones-will be in
active demand?
Year: 1878

protesting against more liberal commercial
policy-that is to say, cutting their own
throats


Aside from this it remains to say that II
machinery does anywhere take the place OF
human labor that is matter which may be
rectified by the removal of the population
thus made surplus to the land. This has
always been recognized by the most intelli-
gent workmen, who have gone West to bet
ter their fortunes and as the greater inde-
pendence which the possession Of land
gives to men is everywhere recognized as
an important advantage. so far as the in
crease of machinery tends to send men to
the land and increase the number of farm
ers, 80 far again it is a boon to the work
man. The condition Of the farmer and his
family is far better than that Of any oper-
ative serving q machine. The farmer is his
own master his employment is healthful
if he has little money he has always enough
to eat, and is not liable to be "Aung out of
work" by an industrial or commercial crisis;
and to that slight degree in which the in
crease Of machinery might make men sur
plus in manufacturing operations our
cheap lands offer them higher and q safer
calling, and no excuse for becoming tramps
Year: 1878

Yesterday, after fortnight Of heat which
must have warned even the most hardened
sinner to fee from the wrath to come, and
while the mercury was still capering gayly
through the thermom eter, coquctting with
the nineties and occasionally overcoming
one of them, o New York firm had the
audacity to throw upon the market ten
thousand packages of flannel and five hum
dred cases OF blankets To imagine what
the effect of this operation might have
been, had the entire populace known that it
was taking place, is enough to send an un-
comfortable shudder through the veins of
any one but fiend of approved standing
Perhaps, however, it might have been con-
templated with reasonable degree of
calmness by Anderson, of Louisiana, who
wanted consulate in n warm climate, and
whose desire might even now be gratified
were it not that the United States has no
diplomatic relations with the only Power
that enjoys the temperature which Ander-
son would find strictly congenial.


But, retiring precipitately from effects to
causes what reason was there for the per-
petration of such an act? No icebergs
have been reported OFF the coast. Mrs.
jerks, who Is by unanimous consent
the coolest member of her own sex, Is
several hundreds of miles away, and the
wind is not setting from her particular
location, while the whole breadth of the
Atlantic separates us from Disraeli.. The
Year: 1878

The fight between General Howard's
troops and the Bannocks on the Sth inst.
ended in very creditable victory for our
boys in blue. Finding the hostiles strongly
posted on the crest of rocky hill eneral
Howard divided his command and
attacked the enemy by direct assault.
The results of the opening charge
of our cavalry deployed were the
rout of the Indians and their rapid
retreat to second ridge, where they
again made stand. Here they were fol-
lowed by the plucky troopers and again
dislodged and forced to abandon horses,
arms and other property The third stand
made by the Indians was in thick timber,
but the impetuous bravery Of the troops
forced them to abandon even this
advantageous position and retreat pre-
cipitately. Exhaustion alone compelled
o suspension of the pursuit, but
the Bannocks received lesson they
will long remember. The lucky fea-
ture Of the engagement is the limited num-
Der of casualties. Although the troops at
tackled in each case an enemy in a naturally
strong position, and were consequently ex-
posed to heavy fire, the losses were only
five men wounded, as stated in one despatch,
and twenty horses killed. Probably later
accounts may verify the rumor that fifteen
men were wounded, two of them mortally,
but in any case the signal victory gained
may be regarded rs cheap even at the higher
estimate. BY this exploit, SO we'll timed
and effective, General Howard and his Off
GERS and men have performed great SER
vice to the country. If the injustice which
has undoubtedly been exhibited toward the
Indians drives them on the warpath
we must rely on the brave men Of the army
to protect life and property in the regions
exposed to Indian raids. How much
cheaper it would be to act with common hon.
esty in dealing with these poor savages, who
know no way of asserting their undoubted
rights except by fighting. than to subject
them 10 slow but certain process of ex-
termination.
Year: 1878

periences of all the brilliant fellows who
have made off with the money of other peo-
pie show that the man who makes money
in ways other than honest is q fool OF the
most inexcusable sort.
Year: 1878

The DETAILS of the famous shooting match
between Bosardus and Penncll are fully given
In a London letter elsewhere printed. The match
was conducted in thoroughly fair and honor
able manner
Year: 1878

In THE SUDDEN SoUALL Of yesterday some Of
the smaller craft were severely damaged A
schooner was capsized in the bay, while four
yachts which were participating in the New
burg regatta met a similar accident For
tunately no lives were lost.
Year: 1878

An INTERESTING and novel habeas corpus
case has arisen in the courts. The point is has
the captain of "a British vessel who has been All
thorized by u British Consul at foreign port to
put an insubordinate man in irons until he ar
rived home the right to keep him in confinement
while in an American porti
Year: 1878

Hungarian grass is becoming popular
again, and is now largely and generally
sown for hay. The yield is very heavy,
several tons an acre, and if cut before the
seeds form, it is one of the best of many
foods for stock. The seeds are strongly di-
uretic, and if allowed to ripen on the hay
fed to stock will injure them. 1t should be
grown exclusively for seed, when that is
wanted. Being an annual, if sown late, in
June, after other crops, it may be- put in the
ground when the crops of timothy or other
forage is known to have partially failed
Prairie Farmer.
Year: 1878

From the National Live Stock journal.


Last month the Journal cautioned its
readers against hasty abandonment of
the business of raising corn and making
pork, on the ground that, taking one year
with another, no business was certainly
more remunerative. We now desire to
call attention to new aspect of the ques-
ton. II is certain that nothing has exert
ed so powerful an influence in sustaining
the prices and stimulating the production
of beef in this country, for the past year or
two, as the foreign demand, brought about
by the improved methods OF transportation,
that have enabled us to place our fresh
meats in the English markets in good con-
dition. Hitherto this trade has been con-
fined mainly to our beef, but lattcrly it
has extended largely to pork; and, by a
paragraph which we publish elsewhere, it
will be noticed that in single week, ear
ly in June, 2,300 live hogs were received
in Liverpool from America.


We believe that there can be no posi-
BILE difficulty in the way Of transportation
of live hogs to England from this country
in large quantities. They bear transpor-
tation much better, and with less shrink
age, than any other kind of live stock, and
there is scarcely limit to the extent to
which the trade may be extended.


We do not know how extensive the de-
mand for fresh pork may be i'll England,
but we understand that in some sections 1t
is enormous; and if this be true, we should
not be surprised to see the shipment Of live
hogs from this country carried on to such
an extent as to have material effect up
on such prices at home. At all events we
shall watch the further developments Of
thc trade with interest.
Year: 1878

From an Exchange.


One day the Governor went to Burling-
ton, and when on the way to the hotel,
dressed very plainly, and making no pre-
tensions as to appearance, he was accosted
by IL spruce young man, who evidently
took the Governor to be Il porter, and who
asked him to carry his trunk to the hotel.
The young stranger had promised to give
him quarter for the job, and when the
trunk was safely landed in the hotel ten
dcred the porter Mexican quarter, which,
however, was good for only twenty cents.
One special errand that the young man
had at Burlington was to meet the Cover
nor of the State, so that a short time after
his arrival he made his way to the Execu-
tiye's room and inquired for Gov Grimes.
The porter who carried the trunk met him
smilingly, and astounded the young man
as he had never been astoundcd before,
by telling him that he was Gov. Grimes,
The stranger managed to recover from his
confusion, and made his application for


an Office. The Governor cut him very
short, however, and curtly told him that
any person who would agree to pay for an
honest job in an honest way, and then
when the job was done to defraud the por
ter out of u part of his earnings was not a
proper man for any position of responsible
ty, and would never gain his the Cover
nor's) recommendation for anything of
the kind