smithclay/nortonstories huggingface dataset:
Year: 1879

1t is rather late in the day to discuss
plans for improving the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi River with view to obtaining deep
water on the bar, because the works now
being executed by Captain Eads are SO far
advanced as to have practically demon
strated that the jetty system is q success.
But time alone can determine whether the
results already obtained will be permanent
or not. We print to-day communication
on the general subject of improving the
Lower Mississippi, and chiefly the part
known as the Passes, because we believe
that the position of the writer is in some
respects we'll taken. There is no doubt
that the selection of the South Pass for the
jetty experiment was not n wise one and
that the Southwest Pass offered better
line for improvement. But as that selec-
ton has been definitely made and large
sums have been spent on the works with
good results, and, Furthermore, as the carry
ing out of these has involved the closing of
the Southwest Pass at its head for the pur-
pose of concentrating the current through
the narrower outlet, it is next TO useless to
eXpcct tHut COuyIcSS VIII pcfuie any moIc
experiments which are calculated to dis
organize the accepted plan.


1t is now three and half years since
the HERALD fully discussed the leading
points in the questions relating to the
physics of the Mississippi, and particularly
regarding the filing up of the river bed,
the selection of the South Pass and the in
uidations of the bottom lands. We took
two or three occasions to warn the engineers
conducting the improvements, or projecting
new ones, that an apparently unimportant
error in calculation might cause irreme-
diablo damage to navigation at some not
distant time. We cannot now advocate
any new schemes, no matter how promising,
until the programme of Improvement regu-
larly adopted after mature consideration
by supposedly competent engineers Is
carried out. Captain Eads' jetties have
given nearly twenty -four feet of water at a
point where there was less than seven. and
vessels of the heaviest tonnage up to twenty
two feet draught reach New Orleans with
Year: 1879

One of the proprietors Of the Seventh
Avenue and Broadway Railroad Company
gives his views in another column OF the
advantages of q surface road on Broadway,
between Union square and the Battery. His
idea is that the Broadway line might be
used by the Seventh avenue cars, which
now run on University place, Church street,
&c. by the Fourth avenue cars, which now
come down the Bowery, and by the Bleecker
street cars, which now run on Bleecker,
Crosby and other east side streets. Church
street, it is argued, would thus be relieved,
and would, when free from rails, draw off
certain amount Of trucks and wagons from
Broadway, while the narrow streets east
of Broadway, including Ann street,
would also get rid of the rail-
road tracks. These propositions will
attract attention; but probably some
objection will be made to giving up Broad
way as o sort Of general railroad line to be
used in common by number Of horse car
lines. The desire on the part of many Of
the advocates of q surface road on Broadway
south of Union square has been to see such
road operated as Broadway railroad
proper, on an improved plan, with hand
some, convenient cars, good horses and ac-
commodations not heretofore supplied by
the horse car lines. There is no reason
why the rails should not be laid on plan
that would render it safe for the lightest
vehicles to drive over them. especially if
the company is bound in its charter to keep
the road in perfect condition. The PROPOSE
ton now advanced to run the cars of
number of existing lines over the Broadway
road presents q new feature which deserves
consideratiOn
Year: 1879

Governor Robinson has moved with CON-
mendable prcmptitude in the action so far
taken with regard to the cattle disease near
this city. AS the Governor cannot be ex-
pected to proceed upon common report,
nor, we suppose, even upon what he hnds
in the newspapers, it would hardly be fair
to say that he shows more caution than
vigor in a case in which vigorous action is
especially necessary. He has directed Pro-
fessor Lowe to examine the places near
Brooklyn and on Staten Island where cows
are kept not to establish the existence OF
the disease examination could scarcely be
necessary for that purpose, especially Tor
Long Island, as the Brooklyn Board Of
Health Inspection and similar official record
must be presumed to be known to the
Governor-but in order that intelligible
recommendation may be made by an expert
as to what action the Governor ought to
take in breaking up these establishments.
Under the law the Governor has authority
to initiate proceedings that may do finally
for these horrible pestholes what local
health boards and Mr.. Bergh's society
have vainly striven to do for great while.
Naturally His Excellency will not proceed
precipitately in case where his official
action will interfere with the "profitable"
use OF private property; but he cannot
eventually hesitate between the little evil
that will be done by the interruption OF
the COW house culture of cattle plague and
the great benefit that will result to an i'm
portant commerce by the actual extinction
of this disease Rights of property, it ap-
pears, can be made only against rights OF
property, and humanity and considerations
of public health are of no acc cJunt in the
scale For years we have held that these
stables were a source OF disease in the COM
munity that the milk was sold in the city,
and bred disease, and was q cause Of such
debility in children as made them easy
victims to prevalent maladies; but the
Governor never heard of that. Fortunately,
therefore, against the right of property in
diseased cows is raised the cry Of the right
of property in the great cattle commerce
with foreign countries, and as this right is
by far the most important we may fairly
hope that it will overcome the other.
Year: 1879

statements which convicts Mr.. Tilden of
any completely with Pelton's despatch ac-
cepting the fifty thousand dollar proposal.
1t would have been wiser not to have
communicated either the two hundred
thousand dollar proposition or the fifty
thousand dollar proposition, even ''as
matter of news" Mr.. Marble per-
haps thought it important for Mr..
Pelton to know that the Florida Returning
chaser; but from that moment he should
have inferred that his mission was hopeless.
If members of the Returning Board were
ready to sell out to one side they must
have been equally ready to sell out to
the other, and a party that scorned to
success. The proper thing for Mr.. Marble
to have done at tina. stage was to expose
and proclaim those offers then and there
to the general indignation of the country,
instead of conveying them to New York
by clandestine mode Of communion
ton, and tempting the weak side of
virtue into the disgraceful acceptance
which is the chief shame and scan
dial of the whole transaction. Mr.. Marble
committed great error in communicating
the offer as piece of confidential news to
New York instead of exposing, proclaiming
and denouncing it on the spot and thereby
covering the Returning Board with dis
grace. Had he taken this course the cipher
exposure would have been q blank cart
ridge.


Mr.. Tilden is to be examined to-day at
his own request, and when he has testified
we shall have all the materials of any i'm
portance which we are likely to possess for
q full review and final judgment Of his con-
nection with this scandalous affair.
Year: 1879

We are glad to learn that x-Mayor Wick
ham, chairman of the new Warming and
Ventilation Committee of the Board of Edu-
cation, has taught the teachers in at least
one public school to open windows and
ventilators so as to introduce pure air and
expel that which is bad. When, however,
he expresses his belief that most of the
schools are better ventilated than the ma
jority Of private houses, he not only admits
his very slight knowledge Of the condition
of the generality Of schoolrooms, but he
offers comparison which is entirely for
eign to the subject in question. Dwelling
houses are generally built without the
slightest intentional provision for a
supply of pure air. but while an aver
age of half dozen people occupy
each house and suffer from the deoxygen-
lied and otherwise deteriorated air. an
equal floor space in schoolroom will be
covered by from five hundred to fifteen
hundred children. If the few individuals
who inhabit n dwelling or even a set of
apartments in the cheapest tenement house
suffer because of bad air, as they generally
do, what is the probable effect upon fifty or
q hundred times as many children
in air fifty or hundred times
rs badly polluted by human breath
and worse physical emanations? Mr..
Wickham is to be thanked for his faulty
simile; for the languor and stupidity of
many home circle in an unvcntilated
house gives at least faint suggestion of
the experiences of tens of thousands of in
nocents, too young to complain intelligently,
but old enough to suffer intensely and per-
manently
Year: 1879

The investigations Of the HERALD regard
ing the construction of ocean steamers and
their seaworthiness brings to general notice
some interesting facts which were hitherto
known only to experts. That an iron ship
is subjected to heavy strains due to expan-
sions and contractions Of the metal is easily
demonstrable and not disputed. But q GER
tain provision is made for these by the
rounded or curved lines Of the hull,
age of play The straight plates are
of course directly affected, and the
strains are at once thrown on bolts or rivets
by the contractions, and to a less degree
by the expansions, unless the surface is
very fully riveted. But the general ten
dency is toward disorganization of the
parts of the hull and ultimate unseaworthi.
ness. Regarding the effects of interior tenn
perature, we believe they can be modified
by enclosing the boiler space with double
iron walls containing changing supply
of water. It would also be possible to put
the ships plates in position at low tenn
perature, so that when there they would
only be subjected 10 an expansion strain,
as cooling by contact with the sea would
bring them down to their normal dimen-
sions. This may make iron ship build
ing little slower than ordinary,


but it would, we believe, give good
results in the matter of stability For
similar reason we believe that the plates of
steam boilers should be riveted together at
the highest temperature possible, especially
when the figure is that of cylinder. The
references made in our article on Safety
at Sea-" printed elsewhere to-day, to the
relative merits of wooden and iron vessels,
are worthy of attention. How the difficult
ties of ship construction can be obviated by
the adoption Of the composite system is
also an interesting question touched on by
the gentleman whose opinions we publish.
Year: 1879

One of the important points in the chron-
icles Of what was done at Albany yesterday
actually deals with a project to clean the
streets Of this city. Ordinary readers may
deem it incredible that anybody could
have thought such labor feasible, but we
refer them to the bill in another column.
1t is proposed to take this duty away from
the Police Department, transfer 1t to
tho Department of Public Works and
to revive, practically, the ancient in
stitution known as the Street Depart
ment. All projects in the Legislature
with regard to this subject must necessarily
be regarded with more or less suspicion.
1t is only from the Legislature, it is true,
that we are likely ever to have a remedy in
regard to the streets, and yet when any
action is taken we naturally doubt the hon
esty of the intention and want to know if
there is not q colored gentleman in the
fence. He is not Immediately visible in
this project, but he may be there. There
are some reasons why, with a well managed
police, this duty could be better performed
in that department; but rs things abso-
lutely cannot be worse than they are there
is some promise even in any change.
Year: 1879

MIR. GEORGE TIcKNoR CURTIS has written a
letter to Mayor Cooper on the subject of the
hesitation of the latter to sign warrant for the
payment of claim for professional services
rendered the city by Mr.. Curtis, the claim hav-
ing been certified by the head of the Law De
partment, the Auditor and the Comptroller.
Mr. Curtis arguments are altogether too long to
be reproduced in our columns, but their purport
is that the Mayor is neither right nor practical
in assuming authority to revise the decisions of
the Finance Department.
Year: 1879

The SENATE COMMITTEE on Foreign Rela-
tons does not intend to 20 on record against Chi
nese immigration. but reports the House bill
without recommendation. This action will not,
however, prevent spreadeaglcism and buncombe
in the Senate when the subject comes up for
cousid erntion
Year: 1879

TIE WEATnER.-IIigh pressures have now
succeeded the low barometer on the Atlantic
coast, except over New Brunswick and New
foundland, where the pressure is relatively low.
The barometer is also high in the Northwest,
but is falling toward the Lower Missouri Val
ley. In the Southwest aud South the pressure
Is above the mean, and the ''northcr' continues
with a modcrating force over the Western Gulf
Rains have fallen chiefly over the South Attain
tic States, and light snow over the lower lakes
and OH the Middle Atlantic coast. Clou,liness
prevails OH the Gulf coast, over the South At
lantic States and the upper lakes. Elsewhere
the weather is clear or fair. But little change
has occurred in temperatures, except in the
Northwest where they have risen somewhat
As the storm centre has passed into the Attain
tic the weather will remain settled for n
few days. with areas of calm ia the central
galley districts and on the coast Our special
cable weather report from London states that
last evening IA fresh gale from the west, causing
heavy sea, prevailed at Scilly. At Ilolyhcad
the wind was gentle from the SOUTH with a
barometer ut 29.O6 inches. new depression
is approaching the British coasts, and will
quickly follow the centre now moving over
England The weather in New York and its
vicinity to-day will be cool and fair. To-mor-
row it will be slightly warmer and partly
clnndy fair.
Year: 1879

The ISLAND OF JAMAICA is probably to have
law making togging the punishment for
nearly every offence. This may do for Jamaica,
but it would never succeed in New York-who
would be left to do the logging!
Year: 1879

DOWNTOWN HOTEL PROPRIETOR says that
the principal business of country merchants
coming to New York is to get drunk. He
might have added that the principal business
of many New York "drummers" is to supply
the luuor
Year: 1879

BROOKLYN PEOPLE will feel easier on reading
that most of the Long Island swill milk comes
to New York, but alas! for the infants of this
city. What is the Board of Health doing in the
matter
Year: 1879

The NEW BUILDING Of the Chamber Of Com
mcrce is apparently to occupy the site of the
old Post Office on Nassau street, for which the
members of the Chamber have been steadily
longing since the government vacated the build
nu
Year: 1879

God tempers the wind to the shorr
lamb. .-Sterne.


Cleanliness is next to godliness-
Koran. ae


In the midst of life we are in DEATH
Prayer-book.


That bourne from which no traveller
returns. s.-Shakespere.


Never tell lie before breakfast.
PARAGRAPHS THAT OUGHT TO BE IN THE BI


BILE.


Always tell the truth you will find j
easier than lying. "e


Always do kind act in kind way t.
do it otherwise destroys all its value.
Do mean act in mean way; so i
will have keener sting-for your owl
breast. But better not do it. He wht
laughs at cruelty sets his heel on re
ligion, and shows that he has none.
Whatever you dislike in another cor
rect in yourself.


Better be upright with poverty thai
wicked with plenty.


Time never sets heavily on us when
is well employed.
Do your duty in that station Of life i
which God in His providence has place
you.


Mind your own business.
Year: 1879

When the time comes, and, like a tired child,
fall beside the long highway of Time,
Nor from the last, rough, upward range to
O Father, hold me not unreconciledl
Let me then not remember all the wild
And thorny ways through which my wound.


ed feet a-
So long have toiled; but rather what beguiled
My way of pain, and made it ofttimes sweet
With laughter of gold streams, and pastures


green,
And fragrant forest pathways opening wide
On dewy meadows sparkling in the sun,
Like CLEANS of Paradise, in dreams fore.
seeni--
So shall my slumber be unterrifed.


And my awakening find the journey done.
Year: 1879

THE DISMISSAL Of the two oonsta bles
charged with refusing to arrest illegal
voters, by Esquire Cole, last evening,
does not end the cases. Indictment will
promptly be laid before the Grand
Jury, which no doubt will return true
bills, and then the constablss will be
arraigned before court that will not
allow them to testify in their own be-
half. The little skirmish before Squire
Cole was merely preliminary, and had
he acted differently from what he did, ,
he would have disappointed those who
we're prosecuting on the part Of the
State. The action of the c0nstables has
shown conclusively that they cannot be
expected to perform the duties they are
sworn to perform, and since the action
of last night the simplest act Of justice
cannot be expected from Esquire Cole.
The only source left open now is the
Grand Jury and Higher Courts, and to
them the cases will in all probability
be taken.
Year: 1879

After a great many charges of fraud
and dire threats Of retaliation on the
Republicans the Democrats have arrest
I'd colored man who resides in the
Fifth Ward, and charged him with illegal
voting. Let us see what kind of case
they make Of it. The man lived in the


Western district of the Fifth Ward. He


had genuine honestly paid up tax re-


ceipt. He offered to vote at the polls at
Seventh and Madison streets, and any
honest inspector would not have hesita.
led one moment in taking his vote. but
it was refused because he got Windsor
and Wolliston streets confounded in his
mind and gave his residence in one
while he lived in the other. When his
vote was refused where he should have
voted, some Jealous friend unwlsely ad-
vised him to go to the Eastern district
of the same ward where the ticket was
the same as in the Western district
with the exception Of Inspector and As
sistant Inspector. Here his vote was
taken, and for this offence he has been
arrested and bound over to answer for
illegally voting. We will award to
Mayor Almond the credit due to him,
to say that he reluctantly bound the
man over, as he believed his offence to
be very light one. This is all there
is in that case and though the vote was
q little irregu ar, who will say that this
colored man had any criminal intent to
commit fraud Is not the inspector
who refused his vote where he rightful-
Iy belonged, much more guilty than hei
1t will take heavier cases than this 10
Offset the crimes Of Darragh, "Gus"
O'Donnell and "Brocky Tom"
Year: 1879

AhVS~ ~AsO - .~S~.


We did not say that Joseph L. Car


psnter had issued blank tax receipts


signed by himself which we're used al


the late city election, and it is not honest


for the Gazette" to try to create that


Impression. We did however give 1t as


IN asserted fact that rolls Of receipts


we're circulated around by the police


and others bearing Joseph l.. Carpen-


ter's name and stamped with the coun-
ty tax collectors seal. These receipts


were all filled up with the blank for the
name Of the voter remaining untitled,
said blank being filed up with the
name of any person that could be in
duusd to vote on such receipt. The
police we're said to have been literally
supplied with them and even Toys IN
der age are said to have voted upon
tn I'm. No doubt that many persons
could be produced to whom these tax
rpcsirts were sent, as we personally
know Of some to whom they were Of
tered who would not use them, and We
know Of one to whom receipt was fur
nishsd unsolicited. by . police officer.
who instead of using 1t tore it up.


Som. body must have issued those re-
oeipts tor they had no generative pow
srs by which they could propagate
themselves, but We did not say that
Mr.. Carpenter issued them. The hfty
dollars reward offered for any receipt
in blank bearing his name will hardly
have the effect Of producing them.
Those who used them in all probabil-
ity were too sharp to BE- caught by any
reward that might be offered 80 they had
them dsstr ,ysd as soon As used. There
may however be q chance ons floating
around yet, and We hope that Mr.. Car
pentsr may get sight Of some Of them
for the purpose that he may not only
have an opportunity Of getting clear Of
some fifty dollar bills, but that he may
have a chanoe to have the parties who
voted on such receipts arrested and
punished for illegal voting. We have
no doubt whatever that the receip,
sent to James Phillips in an envelope,
and upon which he offered to vote in
the Eighth Ward was one of these re-
ceipts. but when it was ascertained that
Paillips was going to vote the Repub-
lican ticket, the receipt was held by
the insp .ctor Wells and he was arres-
ted for attempting to vote illegally |
There is no Disgusting the fact tina,
these receipts were flying around th.ck
on election day, and whenever a man
was foand who would vote the Demo-
cratic tick if he had not a receipt a
policeman would soon furnish him with
one.


We say again that We do not accuse
Mr.. Carpenter with issuing these re-
ceipts, but it will be no reflection upon
his integrity for US to say that If he did
not do it, somebody else got an exact
"fac-simile" Of his official stamp and
did issue them in such numbers that
the Democratic political thimble-
riggers had all they could make use OF
conveniently or all that were required.
There is no ru obing that out, Mr.. Car
penter. and there is nobody more vital
ly interested in having such scoundrels
brought to justice, and We hope that on
behalf of an outraged 60 immunity, and
outraged justice you may be suocessf ul
in appreh-nding the guilty parties.
Year: 1879

If the government has the power to pre- serve its own life; If it has the authority to put its foot upon the neck oftreasop, put down revolution, and crush out red handed rebel lion; if it has the constitutional strength to guard and protect the citadel of American liberty and the very ark of our political covenant, then surely it must have the power to protect the voter from democratic intimidation and violence. and guard the ballot box from fraud and corruption. In the courage and firmness of the executive and the republicans in Congress are the hope and safety of the country.

 On thIs issue, as made up, am in no dou6t as to the position should take. am in favor of honest elections and pure ad- miulstration of the government, and there fore opposed to the repeal of the laws which alone render them possible. am not to be frightened from my position by threats, nor prevented by intimidation from doing my duty. l am opposed to the payment of rebel var claims and the restoration of con- federate soldiers to the pension roll, or to giving any man or party an undue advan- tage which may lift him or them above and beyond the reach of the constitution a1d laws

 Iibclieve that treason is wicked and re- bellion a crime, and that broad distinction should ever be maintained between the rood citizen who risks his life for the Gov ernment and the traitor who tries to destroy t.

 By an attempt to usurp the whole powers of legislation, the democratic majority in this House has forced upon the country an oxtrasession of Congress, and for the evils it entails to tho trade and prosperity of the country that party is responsible. They threaten to stop the wheels of gov ernment by with, holding supplies, but they dare not do it, if they do, not single Dem- ocrat will be returned to the forty-seventh Congress from any Northern State.

 They have been allowed, after forfeiting citizenship, and even life itseli, to come back to the halls of legislation, but must not be suffered to destroy the Government or to endanger its existence.