Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, November 25, 1872, Page 4

THE CHICAGO DAILY 1‘RmfiNE: MONDAY. NOVEMBER 95 MS OF THE TRIBUNE. TERNS OF SUBECRIPTION (PATABLE IN ADVANCE). 9. el Parts of a year ot tho same rate. To prevent delay and mistalies, bo sure and giro Post Oifice aadress in fal, inclading Stato and County. Remittances may bo made cither by drft, cxpross, Post Ofice order, o in registered letters, at our risk. TERNS TO CITY SUBSCRIBERS. Daily, delivered, Sunday excepted, 25 cents per week, Daily, delivcred, Suaday included, 3 conts per weclk. Address THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, ‘Curner Miadison and Dearborn-sts., Chicago, 1il. TEIDGNE Braoch Gfice, No. 469 Wabash-ar., in the Foukstore of Messrs. Cebb, Andrews & Co., whero adrertisements ‘znd subscriptions will b receised, and wiil have the eame attention as if left at tho Main Uice. CONTENTS OF TO-DAY’S TRIBUNE. FIRST PAGE—Washington, New York, and Miscella- neous Telegraphic News. SECOND PAGE—Szturday Night's Telegrams—General News Items—Progress Made in the Construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad—Personal Ttems. THIRD PAGE—New York Lotter—Fires: Local Commu- mications—The O'Neill Murder—Business Directory —Railroad Time Table, FOURTH PAGE—Editorials: Tho Corner fn Northwest. ern; The Law of New Trials; The Distribution of the Alabama Claims; Steamboat Inspectors; Silk in California—Political Items. FIFTH PAGE—Tho Chicago Studios; The Wandering Artists Returning—Tho Farm and Garden—Trageds at Westfield, Mass,~Joaquin's Wife: Another Rasp- ing of the Poet of the Sierras—Advoertisements. SIXTH PAGE—Monetary and Commercial—Marine In- telligence. SEVENTH PAGE-Washington Letter~New Publica- tivas—China: A Bitof Impericl Biography—Small Advertisements: Real Estate, For Sale, Wanted, To Rent, Boaxding, Lodging, ctc. EIGHTH PAGE—Toreign News by Telegraph—Miscella- neous Local 3 UVICKER'S THEATRE—Madison stecot, between 2ud Dearborn. Miss Maggio Bitchell, supported L. R. Suewcll. **Jane Eyre.” s by AIREN'S THEATRE—Wiabash avenue, corner of Con- & Fox Pantomime Combination. IOOLEY'S OPERA TIOUSE—Randolph street, be- Clark end LaSalle. The Alien-Mac Combina- . supuorted by Atken's Company. **Rip Van Wiside.™ CADEMY OF MUSIC-Halsted strect, sonth of . Engagement of Miss Charlotte Thompson. of Teo.m S' OPERA HOUSE-Moxroe street, betmoen Stato znd Dearborn. Arlington, Cotton & Kemble's Minstrel end Buclesque Troupe. OX’S AMPHITHEATRE—Clinton street, botween ington and Randolph. Morlacchi Balletand Dra- ic Combination. *‘Fronch Sps.” GLOBE THEATRE—Desplaines stroet, between Madi- sonand Washingten. Miss Blanche Selwyn. *‘Disorco ™ and **Jack the Giant Killer,” The Chieago Txibune, s Mondsy Morning, November 25, 1872, Thousands of horscs, the Humane Society re- ports, are still unwellin Chicago, and will be useless for some time. Two hundred and five died during the last week. Daniel} Drew isysaid to have lost $2,500,000 by the recent flurry in Wall street; Henry N. Smith about £4,000,000. How Jey Gould tricked his former pariner and Drew into these losses is fully told elsewhere, President Watson, of the Erie Road, disavows any intention of affecting the stock market by his arrest of Gould. — Competitive examinations in the Revenne Ma- rine Service, eays its Chief, have given hima firner staff of subordinztes than he ever had under the old system, which gave no such in- centive to keen rivalry in preparation, and in performance of duties, as the present plan of eppointment, and promotion, for merit. A new edition of the Ciil Service rules has been pre- pared for use in New York. ‘To enable the Supreme Court to catch up with its calendar, on which the business of several years is waiting trial, Congress is to be asked to assign the circuit duties of the Judges to an In- termediate Court, which shall aleo hear the cases which now go to the Supreme Court. This leaves the Supreme Court the simple function of deciding questions of Iaw on which appeals may be taken from the Intermediate Court. Mera, who attempted the murder of Alderman IcMullen, has been sentenced to six years and nine months’ imprisonment, and to pay a fine of $1,000. Marais probably not much alarmed at the sentence. It isn’t the first time that he has Leen in the Penitentiary for murder. It is pos- sible, however, that Mara may be obliged to re- main in prison, now, until the next election oc- curs in Philadelphia. At n meeting of the creditors of the Mutual Security Insurance Company, Saturday, it was ‘unanimously resolved that, since Mr. Scammon refused to pay over to the Assignee $40,000 held by him, but belonging to the creditors and policy- holders of the Company, Judge Blodgett be re- quested to authorize Assignee Eimball to take the funds out of Mr. Scammon’s Bank, and de- posit them in some other *‘ safo and trustworthy XNational Bank.” It is Teported that the Ehedive cf Egypt is sbout to turn the greatpyramid of Ghizeh into & light house for the benefit of the commerce on the Nile. The practical Ehedive can at least claim kin with the realistic Yankee who so long meditated on the feasibility of utilizing the water- povwer of Niagara for mill purposes. But how will the Pharachs and Rameses, and Ptolemys roll over in their graves and agitate their cere- ments as they behold the Khedive making light of their monument ? According to the officer in charga ofthe Sig. nel Service at Boston, the wind during the fire became cyclonic. Beyond the influence of the heat, its velocity was about five or nine miles an hour, but on every side of the fire, there were in-draughts of air moving from sisteen to thirty-five miles an hour, which met and formed huge spirals of wind flames, and firebrands. He declares themeteors or balls of fire said to have been seen during the conflagration to have been only the reflection of the flames on the plumagoe of ducks flying over- head. The Sundny issue of THE TRIBUNE presented arecord of the work that has been accomplished in the way of rebuilding the church edifices that were destroyed by the fire. The record is ono that does credit at once to the Liberality of the churches of other cities, the energy of our clergy- men, and the enterprise of our various congre- gations, Though the residents of the North ivision of the. city suffered most severely, all the churches destroyed, tho congregations widely scattered, c poople have been among the first fo Te- build their places of worship. The Catholic cuurches were the largest sufferers among all tc denominations, losing many of their chari table ingtitutions, as well 28 seven of their most successful efforts at re-establishment. Univer- salist, Episcopal, Unitarian, Presbyterian, and Methodist have met upon common ground in their determination to render Chicago more than ever & rival to the title of the “City of Churcbes,” The German Government, fearing that the continuous emigration from that country may have the effect to diminish the arms-bearing population, and thereby scriously affect the prosperity of the Empire, has issued a decree forbidding the railroads to transport emigrants and their baggage at low rates. The great rush from the Empire to the United States has become a serious matter, and probably not deeming it policy to issue & decree forbidding emigration altogether, the Government has done the next best thing by making emigration so ex- pensive that it will be practically impossible. It is not unlikely, however, that the Government may find jtself checked in this direction by the additional funds which will find their way to emigrants from their friends in this country. The Comptroller of the Currency thinks that the act of Congress withdrawing $25,000,000 of currency from the East and redistributing it South and West shouwld bo repeal- ed, as it cannot be enforced. He recom- mends, instead, the issue of £5,000,000 annually for the next five years, to be apportion- ed among States in need of it. No change should be made, he thinksin, the law of bank reserves ; all msury laws applicable to the Na- tional Banks should be ropealed. Tho net earnings of National Banks on capital and sur- plus are rated ab 10 per cent, dividends ot less than 43¢ per cent, a year. Three hundred and forty-two millions of dollars of currency are in circulation and $12,000,000 are promised to banks nOW organizing, Charles Francis Adams, Jr., has addressed a communication to the Boston Advertiscr, plead- ing for the preservation of some monument of the recent fire in that city, andsuggests thet the west side of the new Post Office building should be allowed to stand for all time, justas it is with the scars of the firo on it. Hesays: “It is very easy to destroy such a landmark as this, and to give us in its place a smooth, unblemished granite front; it will be, hereafter, impossiblo toreplace it. Tho monument to the fire of Lon- don is all very well, but it would be more inter- esting to-day if the sight-seer could look on the very walls of some great public building which still bore on them the morks of the flames. A great misfortune hes made a monument out of a new building,—will it not be a great pity to carefully efface the inseription.” Chicagohas justsucha monument now standing, commemorating even a greater event than'that of Boston. We refer to the west wall of the old Post Office, on Monroe street, which is scarred all over with the souve- nirs of the fire. Why not let it stand as it is, o ‘monument for all fature time? A few years hence it will have more interest, and possess more significance, than all the commemorative ‘monuments that can be erccted. Three Parisian newspapers have como to gries ‘within a few weeks for transcending the privi- leges allotted to them by the censorship of the press, established by the Thiers Government. The Paris-Journal, which some time since was compelled by the Germans to omit the narration of the battle of Jena, and comparison of the entry of the French into Borlin with that of the Prussians into Paris, as now been warned by the French Government not to bring out a Girondist number, in which it proposed to print biographies, with portraits, of thoprincipal Giron- dist leaders. La Republigue Francais, after publishing an sarticle on the Imperialist char- acter of General de Cissey's staff, received or- ders to stop. Lastly, La Vie Parisienne was seized, a few wecks since, for publishing a story by M. Ernest Feydeau. It must boa matter of extreme perplexity for a French editor to decide what he can print in the midst of such conflict- ing opinions and constant changes of sentiment as mark the administration of the Thiers Gov- ernment. As long as Frenchmen have opinions, and go many of them—a new opinion for every day in the week—newspaper business in France must prove a delightfully uncertain stylo of business. The Chicago produce markets were rather less active on Saturday, and tho majority wero dull and easier. Mess pork was quiet but firm, at $13.00@13.50 cash; €12.50 sellor December; and $12.50@12.52}¢ seller March. Lard was nc- tive, but easier, at 7ifc cash, T4@7%ec seller December, and 73{c seller March. Meats were in fair demand, and steady at 43dc for shoul- ders ; 634c for short ribs, and 656@6%c for short clear, all part salted. Sweet pickled hams 93{@103{c. Bighwines were steady at 89c per gallon. Lake freights were dull, and nominally unchanged, at 11c for wheat, and 12¢ for corn, by sail to Buffalo, Flour was quict and firm. Wheat was less active, and 13{c lower, closing firmer at $1.10}¢ cash; $1.103¢ seller Dacember, and $1.103{ seller January. Comn was dull and ¥c lower, closing firmer at 82¢ seller the month, and 815c seller December. Oats were quiet, but 2 shade firmer, at 233c seller the month, and 231@233{c seller December. Rye was quiet, and s shade firmer ot 5524@558{c. Barley was dull and 2c lower, closing at 62¢ for No. 2; 60c for do seller the month, and 50c for No. 8. The hog market was active at about Friday's prices, with sales at $4.10@4.40 for good to choice. The cattle and sheep markets ruled quiet and unchanged. A trinl trip of self-propelling cars on the street railroads was made, on Thursday last, in New York City, which resulted successfully. The trial was made on Bleccker street, because of its excoedingly tortuous nature, but the car turned the curves and switches, crossed the in- tersecting streets, and ascended the up grades without any slackening of speed, snd only jumped the {rack once, where & curve was more than ordinarily sbrupt, owing to the overcrowd- ing of the rear platform. The car which was used was one of the Remington pattern. The car is, in all respects, like one of the ordinary ones, except that the boiler occupies the usual position of the frontdoor. The boiler is twenty-sixinches indiameter, and four and one-half feet in height, and i8 Bo constructed as to consume all the smoke which is produced after the fire is once kindled. It is jacketed, felted, and covered with Russia sheet-iron, and, outside of all, is a overing of ash lined with tin, 8o that the heat of the boiler does not affect the car. Thero are two cylinders of twelve-inch stroke, one five inches in diameter, and the other eight inches. The engine is one of five-horse power, which, in an emergency, can ba increased to twenty-lorso power for a short time, This week a trial is to impertant church edifices. All the Catholic societies, howcver, are makine ¥irorous and be made of the Langdon car, which has a boiler &t both ends, s0 that the car can go in either .the books direction with equal facility. The bwners of the TRemington car claim that their running expense isbut $10 per day, using, on an average, 300 pounds of coal, while 816 is a fair average for a car with horses, — THE CORNER IN NORTHWESTERN. How much can be accomplished by the finan- cial operation known as a “corner,” has never been 8o clearly illustrated as by the comparison of the Northwestern common stock, which sold as high as 230 on Wall streot, last Saturday, and Northwestern preferred stock, which remained 2t 87c. The common stdilk of the Northwestern Railrond has been buffeted about for a year or more, all the efforts of the controlling interest in therailroad having been centralized upon the maintenance of the preferred stock at good and steady prices. Yot a successful bull movement has enabled the manipulators toforce a fictitious value of 230 upon 2 stock the actuel value of which is much less than that of the preferred issue, ing aslow as 87 cents. This comparison leads to the conclusion that the corner in Northwest- ern is perfectly successful, fully assured by the reported control which the bulls have over the market, holding calls for more than the entire capital stock of the corporation. The origin of the movement is stated in New York to have beenin certain difficulties between Jay Gould and Henry N. Smith, formerly joint members of the firm of Gould, Smith, Martin & Co. Gould was determined to punish Smith, and Smith equally determined to punish Gould, for mutual betreyal in an effort to punish Daniel Drew. Northwestern common stock was selected as the battle-field, because it was ina partially aban- doned condition, which would assure a free fight and o fair ome. The result has been that Gould came out the upper- most, and Smith the undermost, dog inthe fight. This is one explanation of the movement, but there is another which is just as plausible. It is said that there has been a clashing of inter- ests in the ownership of the Northwestern Rail- road for some time past. The Vanderbilt party and the Tracyparty have been at loggerheads, and it is reasonable to assume that the corner is 2s much the result of this difference as it is of the personal squsbbles of Messra. Gould and Smith. It isrepresented thatMr. Tracy, though President of the road and controlling its man- agement, has been on the short” side, and the succeesful result of the corner, in which Com- modore Vanderbilt has been the prime mover, must bo regarded as a victory for the latter. Though the effect of corners upon the public morals is pretty much the same in all cases, we can contemplate corner in stocks with less ap- prebension thana corner in grain, There is nothing like the same amount of innocent suf- fering in the former case. The prominent rail- road stocks, &s a rule, are owned by speculators, and their operations, while they may effect the public interest by temporary disturbance of the money market, do not parcel out the ulti- mate losses among small stockholders, as a grain eorner divides its real damages among the farmors. If there are any innocent stockholders, they have an excellent opportunity to unload at large prices, which cannot be done in the matter of grain, where farmers encounter the obstacles of delivery, and send off their products at o pricein which there is aprofit—only to reach 2 market by the time the price has reacted below cost of production. The results of tho present cornerin North- wastern stock will be even less s subject for re- gret than usnal, because it promises tho punish- ment of the former corrupt management of tho Erie Railrozd, and the return totheroadofa large amount of the moneys of which it has been defrauded. Mr. P. H. Watson, at present Presi- dent of the Erie Road, has obtained sufficient evidence of the former frauds upon which to baso an action for recovery of the stolen funds. The defest of Smith, in tho present corner, has induced him to furnish information concerning the manner in which his former partner Gould kept his individual ac- count and the account of the Erie Railroad. Without entering into the details of this infor- mation, the general result was that all profitable speculations were placed to Mr. Gould's account, and all losing speculations were placed to the account of the Erio Company. It is intimated that about £0,000,000 can be traced on the books of Smith, Gould, Martin & Co., which wore thus stolen from the Erie Road. It is also alleged that Mr. Gould has made nearly this smount of money in his recent Northwestern operations. If this latter statement be true, the present stock corner will be beneficial in not only furnishing the evidence'of Gould’s guilt, but the money with which to repay Erie for its losges. - Thero i3 an apprehension lest the suit against Gould will fail, ashe may secure Smith's silencoby an easy settlementof the latter's losses on his “ghort” stock. Such an apprehension would be ‘well-founded if the suit depended upon Mr, Smith, but it does not. Mr, Watson, the President of Erie, has not brought this suit without having possessed himself of complete evidence from of Smith, Gould, ' Martin & Co. If so, the reconciliztion of Mr. Smith would not be enough to imsure Gould’s cscape. Mr. Watson will etill prosecats the suit, and the public will hopo thet, with tho evidence ho has collected, he will be succossful. The recovery of go large an amount of the Fisk-Gould stealings would enable the road to effect its change of gauge without drawing upon its prosent resources. A still better result, however, wonld be fho re-establishment of for- eign confidence in American railroad. stocks which the iniquities of former Ericmanagement had so largely destroyed. . THE LAW OF NEW TRIALS. In o recent article under the aboye caption, we raised the point that the errors for which appel- late Criminal Courts in this and other States generally grant new trials are not of a character which raise any doubt in the minds of the Court as to the guilt of the prisoner. We suggested that it wonld greatly lessen the number of re- Thearings in criminsl cases if the Supreme Court, in granting a new trial, should be required by statute to certify notonly that there were errors, ‘but that, through them, practical injustice was done to the prigoner, and that there is mot in the portion of the evidence unaffected by these errors, indubitable evidence of the prison- er's guilt.” We suggested that common sense and justice suggest that,the Supreme Court, when it refers a prisoner back for a new trial, shall certify that the error for which they do 80 is materiel, and such as to bring reasonable doubt in their minds as to the guilt of the prison- er.” Wo acknowledged that this wonld he frans- ferring to the eppellate Court the decision, in part and after jury, of the question of guilt or innocence, but we urged that it should be done, nevertheless. To these suggestions wo have which is still sell- | received from the State’s Attorney the follow- ing reply : o the Editor of The Chicago Tribune: Srm: In an elaborate and vigorous editorial in your paper of this morning, under the heading, % The Law of New Trials,” you very properly suggest that an appellate Court should not grant a new trial unless on some question which relates to the guilt of the accased as shown by the evidence, Thero is o statute of this State upon that point, and it bas been in forco sinco 1845, It can be found on Page 200 (Section 163) of Gross' Statutes, or Page 161 (Section 163) of the Revised Statutes of 1845, That section reads thus : A1l exceptions which go merely to the form of an. _indictment shall be made before trial; and mo motion in arrest of judgment, r writ of er~ wor, shall be sustained for any matter mot afecting the real merits of the offence charged in such indict- ment.” All appeals to the Supreme Courtin criminal cases must be taken by awritof error. This statute sayano such writ of error shall be sustained, unless for some matter affecting the real merits of the offence, The “zeal merits” clearly means the guilt or innocence of theaccused, as shown by the evidence. It canmean nothing clse. Yours, etc, Cmantzs H. Reep, State's Attorney, The statute aims to remedy the evil we have referred to, and its authors, inframing it, doubt~ less, had in view the same tendencies of appal- Iate Courts to grant rehearings toan extent that defented justice. The statute, however, is in- definite in its language, and experience proves it to be inoperative and inefficient. It does mot come directly to the point of requiring the Su- preme Court to say that they doubt the prison- er'sguilt. Wo fail to seein the statute cited by Mr. Reed that the intent of our suggestion has yet been embodied into law, nor do we perceive inthe administration of justice in our State that our Courts have given to the statuto ro- ferred to & construction broad enough to remedy the evil. THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE ALABAMA CLAIMS.. 3 1t will be acknowledged on all sides that the proceedings of the Joint High Commission, and tho subsequent preliminary negotiations be- tween the English and United States Commis- sioners, tho cases and counter-cases, and the almost interminable diplomatic correspondence, which had to be-endured by an afflicted com- munity before the Board of Arbitration could settle down to its work at Genevs, wero suffi- ciently complicated and exaspersting, end that the complication was not any the more tolerable for the manner in which diplomats and lawyers’ clerks helped to still further muddleit. In view of these facts, there was a general expres- sion of relief and satisfaction when it was an- nounced that the Geneva Arbitrators had made an award in favor of the United Btates. It was then hoped tha¢ tho country had heard the last of the Alabama claims business; but the question is once more beginning to rise to the surfaco, and a3 vsual wears & froublesome aspect. Having obtained the award, how shall the money be distributed? The gross sum awarded by the Geneva Arbitrators will be paid within the year, with inferest, to the Govern- ment of the United States, as a settlement in full for all damages, national or individual, growing out of the depredations of the Anglo- Confederate cruisers, and will, it is presumed, be held s & trust fund to be distributed among the interested parties conformably with the spirit of the award and the stipulations of the Treaty of Washington. This is ap- parently a simple proposition—nothing easier of fulfilment—and yet it s already surrounded with grave difficulties, and intricate questions are looming np in connection with the distribution. The attorneys and claim agents have already scented the prey, and are gathering in force to help divido and distribute, and those unlucky individuals who are directly intorested in the money are begicning to grow alarmed. One of this number has slreedy ad- dressed an anxious note to Hon. Caleb Cushing, asking for advice, and Mr. Cushing has replied quite extensively thereto. He asserts that there 18 no similarity between the Alabama claims and the French BSpoliation claims. In the former case, the United States will have n dofinite sum paid over to it and has also scheaules and estimates of the individual losses, to indemnify which the awards were made by the Geneva Tribunal, and that it is in- cumbent upon the Government to make the pay- ments with a5 much promptness snd cortainty s it would exhibit in paying its gold bonds. As Congress will heve to decide as to the manner of distributing the money, Mr. Cushing conjectures that a Board of Assessors will be appointed, to receive and pass upon the claims, whose duty it willbe to establish tho valuation of property and the question of ownership. In considera~ tion of these points, he advises his correspond- ent not to sacrifics his claims by sale mor by transactions in the nature of contingent-agency compensation, but to employ counsel befora the Board to take charge of hisinterests. This is very encouraging advice, prima jacie, £o the holder of an Alsbama claim, and perhaps would be satisfactory if it wero possible to keep away the valtures which are gathering from all quarters to help eat up the 'spoils. The nation was aloger by the depredations of the cruisers as well a8 individuals, both directly and indi- rectly, and the Government has never been ‘mean in its estimate, especially of the ‘consequen- tial losses. In fact, the amount which Mr. Bancroft Davis caleulated, and the Board of Arbitrators incontinoptly threw out, was enough to have paid off the National debt, and then supported the Government for a long time to come on what was left. Again; the Government was put to tho expense, in the first place, of entertaining the Joint High Commission, and it was a costly affair. Pro- verbially expensive as all Commissions are in the matter ol‘ entertsinment, the Joint High Commission was probably the most expensive we have ever had. Our legal representa- tives must have run up a handsome bill of expenses incurred in “the case.” When we remember the frightful amount of diplo- matic telegraphy. necessary to correct blun- ders, which was carried on between the two countries, we can easily imagine what an amount this item alone will show. Finally, the United States had to disburse 2 large sum for the arbi- tration expenses at Genevs. Admit, therefore, that Congress shell decide the Government must ‘be reimbursed for its losses and expenses in the premises, how much will be left for the Alsbama sufferers? But these are mot the only deduc- tions which threaten the claims. Some nice questions must arise with regard to insurance, and these have already been hinted at in the ‘Washington despatches. Theso questions are interesting and complicated enongh to keep tho inisurers .and insured inthe Courts for. along time, With the poesibility of a decision that the money doesn’t belong to either of them, if there happens o be anyof the moneyleft by that time. There will be nice questions to decide whether the policies were issued with refer- ence to & claim wupon any fatare sward, or simply upon the busis of the war premiums; whether the insured assign- ed their interests in such an award to the in- surers ; andif the insurers received compensa- tions in the war premiums, and ' the insured in, the payment of their policies; whether either of them have suffered from the depredations from the Alabama and other cruisers, ang whether, therefore, either of them are entitled to any money; and, if not, who is entitled to it ? By the timeall these questions are settled, how much of the Alabama award will be left for dis- tribution ? Meanwhile, a very. Tespectable lobby of attorneys, financial and claim sgents, and speculstors In general, g is process of formstion to operate upon members of Congress, and & scrsmblé may be expected. Fifteen million and & half of ' dollars to be distributed by Congress is no small amoung of money, especially when that sum isin coin. It is & golden opportunity, such as the lobby has nothad fors long time. It would be hardly creditablo to its well-known energy, enterprise, and endurance, to doubt that it will make & long pull, & strong pull, and & pull altogether, to get its fingors into the handsome pile of English gold which John Bull is sbout to send over here, as the penalty for his attempt to Lelp the Loat Cause. — BTEAMBOAT INSPECTIONS. ‘The report of the Bupervising Inspector Gen- eral of the Steamboat Inspection Service has ‘been submitted tothe Secretary of the Treasury, and sn sbstract of it has already appeared in the columns of TaE TrIBUNE. The full reportis now before us,and is remarkable in two different weys. First, it submits a tabulated statement of the losses of life and property occasioned by casualties during the year 1871, from which it appears that theré have been 65 casualties, $8,600,661 worth of property destroyed, and 863 lives lost, and then gives the leading facts con- nected with the loss of the Oceanus, Bristol, Bienville, Dean Richmond, Metis, and Missouri Second, with these gloomy facts before him, the Steambost Inspector fails to sug- gest any practical plan by which casualties may be avoided hereafter, but mourns that, owing to the failure to make exhaustive investigations, much valuable information has been lost. It seems to bo the theory of the Steamboat Inspec- torand of all other persons interested in steam- boats, that, as soon 2s an investigation is held, then the responsibility ends, and that investiga- tions are instituted simply to elicit information and afford expertsan opportnnity to air their sci- entific knowledgo. The travelling public, on the other hand, beligve that investigations shonld both supply remedies and enforce penalties through the application of the law. A prompt and thorough punishment of incapacity or care- lessness would do more to prevent steamboat casualties thanall the learned investigations ‘which may be held for & century to come. SILE IN CALIFORNIA. © The California papers speak in a very encour- &ging manner of the condition and prospects of the silk industry in that Btate, and the Alfz an- nounces that it has received an impptus, withina year, which promises the speedy erection of fac- tories for the mannfacture of this material. One such factory, on a emall geale, has alraady been established, in San Francisco, by three prag- tieal silk manufacturers from Lyons, Franre, which i the silk market of the world. They have two looms at work, one of which makes toffetas and the other foulard silks. They express themselves as copfident that Colifornis possesses all the advantages which the most sanguine could desire for the manufacture of silk, and that it will pay larger profits than any other investment. More than 240,000,000 worth of mannfactured silks are purchased annually in the United States, inad- dition to the commoner varieties produced here. Californis also possesses a great advantage in ‘being able‘to produce three crops a year, while France produces but two, i BOCTAL PROTECTION IN FRANCE. In contemplating the evidences of instability which the National Government of Franceisgiv- ing the world just now, it is & simple matter of Jjustice, and, perhaps, a usefal lesson, toremem- ber that France, under all its Governments, hag guaranteed a peculiar kind of personzl freedom, a8 distinguished from political rights, which ex- ists novhers else in the same degree. The guarantee found in the thoronghness of what may be called a general police system, and it is equally practicable un- der Monarchy, the Empire, or the Repubtic. This personal liberty consiats of the protection that is given to every citizen to enjoy personal rights, and pursue personal preferences, to the {ull extent, so long as they do not bring shont any infringement upon the rights of others. It is, of courso, a guarantes against encroach- ments from all sides. The idea of personal freedom among wus is generally con- strued to be the privilege of pursuing perdonal preferences whether they interfere with the rights of the people or not. There may be an ultimate remedy in law in such ‘cases where ac- tual dsmage can be proved, frequently at a great- er expense than proit, but the customs that are tolerated ronder a thousand petty annoyances possible, which are not less uncomfortable be- cause there is no relief prescribed for them, The constant abuses that are tolerated on reilroads and steamboats; the advantages which ho- tol men 80 frequently take - to brow- beat their guests; tho tyranny that the sireet-car conductor cxercises over his helpless passengers ; the social surveillance to which every man and woman aro subjected upon moving into & new neighborhood; the mse of povwer which the man who rides exercises to see how near ho can comie to runnin; g over the man who walks without actaally doing it ; the physi- cal despotism which the big-fisted man, nnder the temporary stimulant of bad whiskey, asserts over anybody who is guilty of the inexcusable crime of wearing a vhite shirb; the auto- cratic imposition of the ‘hack-driver ; the govereign right of artisans to dissppoint their employers at their own sweet will,—these, and a hundred other royal American privilegés, constitute what is called personal .freedom by the man who proclaims himself an - * American citizen.” ' Tho customs of Franco are farefal to cham- pion the weaker side in these innumersble strifes for the privilege of doing a3 one pleases to the detriment.or inconvenience of one's neighbor. A writer who has begun a series of nxficlusonernch‘Sr:enas,Cnatomsn.udChu?ciém in the November Galazy, farnishes someincidents | of actual odcurrende that illustrate this géneral ides of "personal liberty in' France. He describes a trip by steambost on the Rhone, between Avignon and Lyons, the hour of stert- ing having been in the obscure atmosphere of early morning. In the darkness and confusion. some trunks bad been left behind, among them those of the American tourists, The accident is enforced the delay of oneday at Lyons, and the’ expense of forwarding the baggage. A French- msn set the example; a proces verbal was immediately instituted before & juge de paix; -in less than an hour the whole affair was adjusted. Thirty people were paid on the spot an adjudged: indemnity for hotel bills and cost of transporting the miss- ing trunks. It is needless to describe to Ameri~ can readers the circumlocution, cost, aud time that would be required to secure similar justice from an American railroad or steamboat. Every one can picture the contrast for himself. Another instence was that of engaging an apart- ment which turned out to be much less desirable thanit was represented. Though the contract was all signed and sealed, & timely Frenchman came to the relief of the down-cast Amer- ican occupant with the information that it was hig privilege to cancel the contract and ‘vacate the room within twenty-four hours from the time of taking ‘possession, if it should not suit him. Btill another was the reimbursement of 75 centimes, about 15 cents, from the Gen- eral Post Officeina seriously-complicated casa of over-charging. These ars small things, but ‘the comforts of life are made of trifles. * Magna Dei courant, parva negligunt.” To the obgervations and experiences of this single tourist might be added a useful schedule of instances in which every individual in France can claim a quick and sbeolute protection against the numerous encroachments, physical and social, which are g0 seriously felt under our ideas of personal freedom. In the public conveyances, in the public streets, in places of public amuse- ment, in lodging-houses, in society, there is & system of respect for individual rights not to be found in America. The polite attention and consideration in these matters are re- garded as customs o©f the country, but back of the customs may be found a reason for them in the excellent regulations of the municipal and local governments. If foreigners sometimes fail to enjoy the protec~ tion of personal freedom thus deseribed, itis simply because they are ignorantof the regula- tions that guarantee it, and neglect to inform themselves of the customs of the country. THE CHINESE AND ENGLAND, There is & growing jealousy in England of the amicable relations existing between the United States and Germany which has not been lessened by the recent decision of the Emperor William in the San Juan boundary controversy. A new trouble has now arisen which is also commented upon by several of the English papersrather severely, growing out of some statements made by the Hong-Kong correspondent of the Cologne Gazette. This correspondent relates that the Chinege place Germany in the highest rank of nations, g8 it has never landed & soldier on Chi~ nese soil, and the Americans come next, while the English and French are bitterly unpopular for the manner in which they have invaded the country and bombarded its cities. The corre- spondent concludes hisletter by urging Germany and the United Btates to act together, hereafter, on all Asiatic questions, and says : Now is the fime tolay tho foundation for grest re. sults in the future, for it 13 on thesp watersand on 1his nentral Asiatic territory that the conflict hetween Americs and England for the' predominance on the seas will bo fought out. The struggle will not be so warm either onthe Thames or the Hudson s in East~ ern Asin; and ip apother fiye-snd-twenty yearsthe centre of gravity of the Gnited States will rather beon. tho Pacific than on the Atlanto, Fhe sympathies and the interests of Germany, under such ciro] clearly point to an understanding ‘Washington now seeks an alliance with Berlin, in view of future contingencies, and both should place their sffairs in very efficient hands in view of the approach- ing struggls against England and Bussis, This is what has disturbed the equanimity of John Bull; but how can we helpit? If the heathen Chinee takes & fancy to us, it is not of our seeking, particularly. If, furthermore, he is inclined to affiliate with the German, we do not know that it is particnlarly of the latter's seek- ing. And if, finally, he chooses the companion- ship of the two fogether, we do not know why England should grumble st him. The liberal exercise of the pardoning power in Pennsylvania has rather overstepped the boundaries of even political necessity. One Mul- holland, who nearly killed & Police Captain, was released on bail, which he forfeited, and ran away. When his bondsman was prosecuted, Governor Geary issued s pardon, though the criminal had not even been tried. Subsequent investigation has proved that the petition on which the granting of the pardon was basqd wag largely made up of forged signatures. Mean- while Mulltcliand, the pardoned criminal, has re- turned to Philadelphis, and may yet complete the marder of the Police Ceptaid, who recovered from the first assault. . POLITICAY, The figures published as the result of the Illi~ .nois election are: Liberal, Pres....Groele; n, L. 0, ‘The Hon. Elihu B, Washburne has visited Tllinois, and is greeted in this style by the Re- publican press. We quote from the Cambridge Chronicle: If AMr, Washburne should make an effort to secure that position [the Senatorship] for himself, or even consent to, be n candidate, under present’ circum- stances, he would do a very unprofitable thing; and, if the Legisiature should elect , it would commit an Hebof Yo ingratitude, and outrage tho Republican party of the Stata, ® S —All the Oglesby papers join in nominating Shelby M, Cullom, of Springfield, for Speaker in the Legialatur —Grapt’s majority in California runs to 13,389, but the Republican net majority on Congress is only 2,839. : 3 —The Constitutional Amendments voted upon in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota appesr to have been rejected. Michigan refuses to pay her Judges better salaries (now $1,000to $1,500), or even to have fewer Judges; Wisconsin re- fuses to add two Justices to her Supreme Court ; and Mfinnesota refuses to appropriate $250,000 for better public buildin —The Yote of Virginia is 35,000 less thay in the election of Goverpor, ‘1869,—the only pre- vious test of parties since the war; and 28,000 of the loss falls on the Greeley side. Tho Rich- mond Whig says: unt lone Cammervaive sicenioc o gt voto of o ot —One man elected ' to the Kansas Legislature wiches tobe classified alone s ‘s Democrat elected thronigh the efforts of prominent men in the Republican party.” N —Sénator Pomeroy is playing his usual tactics to divide and conquer the opposing forces,” The Kangas mind is *discussing the Senatorial pros- pect between Pomeroy on one side, and, on the other, Governor Harvey, Judge Lowe, Colonel | Philligs, Governor Greem, N. C. McFarland, President McVicker, T. D. Thacher, I. 8. Kalloch, John J. Ingals, Judga Price, of Atchison, Judge Morton, Captain -Henry King, and Ben. Simp- —To appreciate Congressman Cotton’s re-elec- tion, in Iowa, by 184 majority, it must be borne inmind that Grant’s majority in the same coun- ties was over 5,000. —The Kansas Legislature will abolish tbn In- surance Department, because Commissioner Webb (a Liberal) can be oustsd in no other way. 5 —Jacob, one of the candidates for Mayor 8f Louisville, was one of the leaders in the Louis- ville Conventio, and is & brother of the original Jacob, of West Virginia, —General Joseph R. Hawley, 3L C.-elect, is moved rz;; 83y in his newspaper The Hartford i and fhrough the ket WHomencs o Horenen lime sud again, expressed it _opinions, without re. serve, to the effect that Simon Cameron ‘is g corrupt man, 50d & COrTUpter of othors, and 1o tohdldany public offiee, o 12 tiogether undt —The Liberal majority for McFadden, in Washington Territory, is nearly 900, although “the Ring" paid as high 25820 each for votes. Mr. E. P. Terry, formerlyof Waukegan, is a leader in that Ring. —The total vote polled at the recent election in Washtenaw County, Mich., was 1,828 less than in 1868. —The State Board of Canvassers have decided in favor of C. C. Bowen for Sheriff of Charles- ton, 8. C. —Governor McCook, of Colorado Territory, appoints & Thanksgiving because “The people of the whole Nation have just vouclisafed to us another four years of Republican rule.” s GHICAGO AND CINCINNATI. The New * Hankakee Line,” Xts Projectors, and Jts Great Success as o Pasienger and Erelght Route. . As the new line recently opened between Chi- cago and Cincinnati, known as the Kankakee Line, isattractingso much attentiem on the part of travellers and shippers, perhaps o short his- tory would be of interest to our readers. The Indianapolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette Railroad, ' extending from Cincinnati to Lafayette, a dis«- tance of 179 miles, is too well known to need much comment, but &3 the line from Lafajette to Kankakee, a distance of 75 miles, is the alle important link that joins these two great cities, Cincionati and Chicago, together,we wil treat of them principally in the article. . For several years the ownersof large track of Jand in Benton County, just west of Lafay- ette, have had o standing offer to grade, bridge and tie ten miles of road through their land, for any Company that wonld build a road through this rich country, and give them an outlet. Thig Pproposition having remained open several years, the gentlemen themselves, Messrs. Adam, Earl, and 3. Fowler,of Lafuyette, owners of this Inrge tract, finally ‘concluded to take the matter oo their own hands and build the road, in conneo: tion with Gustavus Ricker, Esq., of Now York. A road was undertaken and’ built within the last year from Lafayette to St. Anne, 1, @ distanco of G5 miles, and_thorough. ly equipped and put in first class order. As there has never been a through line between Chicago and Cincinuati_ that sn. gwered the requirements of the public, these gentlemen concluded to extend their lina s dis- tance of eleven miles—from St. Anne to Kanka- kee—and there forming a_juncfion with- the Tilinois Central, one of the best railrosds in the ‘West, supply the missing link between Chicaga and Cincinnati, thus making the best throngn line that has ever beén opened. With their usual goaheadativeness, in this as in all other undertakings of theirs, the eleven-mile track, although not & rail was Jaid the first day of A gust, was put through and completed, and fast trains put on, on the 25th day of Angust—or twenty-one working days from the day the first epike was driven. As soon as the eleven miles link was completed, arrangementa were immediately made with the Indianspolis, Cincinnati & Lafayette and the Illinois Cent Railroads for s through passenger and freight line between Chicago and Cincinnati thas shonld eclipse an; g of the kind ever before under- faken; and, to show how successfal this effort has been, we can safely sey that a larga part of the freight and passenger business between these two cities is done by line, and all who have tried it pronounce the new lino a big success in every particular Passenger trains are run” between Chicago .ond Gincinnati withont change of cars, and with but one change of conductors (at Lafayette), making the best time ever undertaken—ihe fime from Chicago to Lafayettc being but four hours and fifty minutes, and to Indisnapolis but seven hours, and to Cineinniati but twelve hours; and, contrary.to the old rule, this line do &s thoy ad- vertise, and make their time. The time on freight' is all that can bg desired, being but twelve hours from Chicago to Lafayeite, twenty hours to Indianapolis, and thirty-six to’ Cinci., nati, Tg much cannot be said in this connec. tion in favor of the energy and enterprise of the three gentlemen abova named, {o whom Chicage and Cicinnati owe g0 much, and who have fairly esrned the glory their achievement merits. THAT % DRAMATIC BALL.- 4 Card to the Public) Wheress, certain evil-disposed persona, by means of borrowed robes, artfully worded advertisements and catch-lines are seeking to impose upon the credulity of the public in announcing * A Grand Bal Masque,” to take place at the.Academy of Music on Thanksgiving oveming, Nov. 25, end that the seid ball is given with the ' consent, concurrence, and the auspices of the dramatic profession in Chicago, we deem it a duty to the public end to the dre matic profession at large to'deny the same, and hurl the foul aspersion and slander in the teeth of those who caused the same to be ntlered. We have toomuch respect for the public, and for our fair names and profession generally, ever to leud our aid or countenance to any such enter- tainment." In submitting to the public this denial, we feel that we do but echo the thoughts and wishes of all our professional brethren. Apologizing for tresmassing on your valusble Bpace, W Temain your most obedient servants. ¢ GEeg, L. Fox, And entire Company now at Aiken's Theatra, Carbonic Acid as a Fire«Extinguisher, To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune: The Msyor's message relative to additional firg protection in your city seemsto have been a topic for discussion in the Couacil an Friday evening, and I observe that one of the Alder- men is reparted as sayiug that, * As for the Babcocks, they were useless, and the people Isughed at the idea of buying them.” Having witnessed several tesis of the Babcock Extinguishors and Engines, that were certainly Temarksbly successful in pecforming . that was claimed for them, Thad arrived at & very different conclusion as to theutility. of these ma~ chines. Since, however, an Alderman has ex- pressed such an opinion, I have examined the Behool-books, to see what is said in them about carbonic acid,—theextinguishing agent generated by and used in these machines,—and would most respectfully refer that gentleman, or any other ereon disposed to-investigate the subject, to “Wells" Principles of Chemistry,” pp. 290, 991 ; or to “Youman's Néw Chemistry,” p. 219; sec. I'quote: “(Carbonic acid isnot inflammable, and extinguishes the flame of burning bodies, 6ven when largely diluted with air, for & cendld will not burn in 2 mixture of four volumes of at- ‘mospheric air and one of carbonic acid.” Again: “This property of carbonic geid has been practically applied for the extingrishment of fires in'coal-mines,—a stream of carboni¢ acid, gezmntad by passing through o furnace of coal, being blown into the mine until all its pas- sages wero filled with it, and the combustion ar- rested. In this way, & coal-mine in Enghnd, that had been on fire for thirty years, and had extended over twenty-six acres, was extingnished in 1851. ~ About 8,000,000 cubic feot of gas was required to fill the mine, and & continuons stream of impure carbonic acid was forced in by the agency of a steam-jet, day and night, for sbotit* thifeo’ Weoks. (Tho dificulty lay, not so ‘much in putting out the fire, as in cooling ‘down the ignited” msss so that it shomld not again burst. into flame on the readmission of &ir; and, in order toeffect. the necessary reduction in'temperature, water was blown in along with the. carbonic scid, in the form of a fine spray, or mist. Subsequently, cold air mixed with the spray ‘was.thrownin ; and, in & month from the gommencement of operations, the fire was found to be completely extingnished.” It has occurred tome . that the incident which I have quoted at length is of sufiicient interest o the public at this time to be worthy of repab- ication © newspapers, and hence I have taken the troublo (o send 'you a copy, which I :x;lmt yn!u may regard as worthy a place in your It seems o me that, in thisage of ess, conservators of the public weal coq iy Sfford to laugh at scientific discoveries. W. LaxE FoREST, 1L, Nov, 22, 1872, et SR o Bank Snepension, CrexaTy, Nov. 24.—The Union Bank Mari- etta, Ohio, has nyment. It ismn':- ) o Tesult of lis eations growing out of the suspension orc&ni suspended derstood here that this is .+ Cutter, announced yes Y morning.