Year: 1871

Brestan, on the line OF the South Slde
railroad, Long Island, caught fire. The
flames spread with rapidity, but the
people comprehending the seriousness
of the situation, plowed furrow around
the fire and beat the flames with brush.
This checked the progress Of the flames
but nevertheless it burned over two
hundred acres of ground destroying
one thousand cords OF wood. The
Methodist camp meeting ground, the
South Side railroad depot and other
houses had very narrow escapes. lhe
loss is estimated at $4,000.


German Thanks.


The President of the German Reich
stag has sent a letter to the Executive
committee of the German Peace Festi-
val of this city, extending the thanks OF
the German nation for the sympathy
manifested in this country. The letter
closes by saying that the resuscitated
German Empire will devote itself to the
noble task of developing its universal
freedom in the council of the nations
andit will protect the interests of peace
and carefully foster the harmonious re,
lations which bind it to the civilized
nations Of the earth, especially to the
great republic where millions of It's
sons have found new home.


Convention of Insurance Men.


At the invitation OF Insurance Super
intendent Miller, of New York State,
twenty delegates, from eighteen States
met in convention at noon to-day IN
the rooms Of the Fire Underwriters, on
Broadway, for the purpose Of discussing
the defects in the existing methods OF
supervision and the adoption OF uniform
regulations to insure and enforce the
solvency of insurance companies and
for the better protection OF insurance
policy holders. Superintendent Miller
was chosen permanent President; l.. r.
Breeze, of Wisconsin, permanent Wee
President, and II. S. Alcott, Of this city,
permanent Secretary. The convention
will be in session for several days.
Verdict Against New York Rioters.


In the case of Alexander S. Orr, who
brought suit against the city in the Su-
preme Court to recover damages for the
destruction Of an elevator during the
riots of 1868, the jury today returned
a verdict for the plaintiff for $53, 3.4S.


Trial Of n Murderer.


The trial Of VIM. McNevins, charged
with the murder Of Edward Hines in
November last, was commenced in the
Court of General Sessions this morning.
After the examination OF one or two ott-
GERS of the precincts in relation to the
Sixteenth street gang, whose testimony
was rather damaging to McNevins
character, the court adjourned until
tomorrow.


Queen VictOrIa's Birthday.


Nearly all the English ships in the
harbor and at the docks are gaily deco
rated to day, this being the anniversary





Reading Railroad.


The Tribune of this morning says
For some time it has been known that
capitalists identified with the Reading
railroad have been purchasing railroad
coal lands in the Schuylkill regions. 1t
is now publicly announced that the
railroad is to go into the mining buSi
ness on large scale. The Company
has gone into the money markets of
London and New York as borrowers of
TWENTY-FIVE millions Of dollars, of which
six millions is to be devoted to the con-
solidation of its existing funded debts
and the remainder employed in paying
for and improving its coal beds. Bills
of exchange against portion Of this
loan already negotiated in London, was
sold in Wall street yesterday. A state.
ment is made in Philadelphia papers
that the Reading Company can raise
from its recently acquired property ten
million Of tons annually for centuries,
and as the market now with difficulty
takes less than five million tons from
the whole OF Schuylkill county, it will
be seen that the Reading railroad will
have power to overwhelm all private
operations by its competition.


The Erie Railway.


1t is stated in positive terms that a
radical change is about to be made in
the management of the Erie railway,
and that number Of railway magnates
now in this city have combined for this
purpose and for the total reorganiza
ton Of the Erie Directory. Prominent
officers OF the great trunk lines are now
in this city and held several secret con-
ferences within the past few days at the
Grand Opera House. At these meet
ings Messrs. Schell, Clark and others of
the Vanderbilt party were present. 1t
is said that, finding American credit
abroad to be seriously affected by the
differences between the Erie manage
ment and the foreign owners of Erie
shares, a number Of capitalists and
railroad men set to work as mediators,
and after due consideration finally ar
ranged basis upon which both parties
to the war have agreed to cease hostili-
ties. Impending the change in the Erie
Directory, and the sudden restoration OF
confidence in its securities, it is claimed
that the first good result of this arrange
ment will be an extraordinary meeting
of the Erie Directory will be held in a
few days, when the report of the com.
mittee OF Investigation, recently ap-
pointed, will be submitted, and it is
stated that the resignation Of three, if
not more, OF the present Directory will
he offered