Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 21, 1873, Page 2

CUR IRON INTERESTS. The Lake Superior NMineral Region. rly Hifltory---TholJesuit Fathers ---Beogrephiozl and Topo- graphionl Fontures, ‘he Ores---Their Classificatione-= The Mines, Ete., Ete. BRCOND ARTICLE. HIBTORIOAT, Tho Jeault misslonarios woro the first white men who vicited Lake Buperior. Thoy wont whera duty called thiem, and, the more arduous the labor, the moro ropulsivo the rogion, to which thoy woro ordored by their suporiors, tho grontor the personnl merit, ‘“Tho heavier tho cross, tho brightor the crown," was tho logond inscribod whoro overy day thoy ** turnod the pago torend it.” Many of them woro learned mon, and somo of them had boen aceustomed to livos of luxury, Thoy knew of tho vast minoral wenlth of tho rogion, but thoy had no means of makiug the knowledgo available, even if their thoughts hind not boen turnod to what thoy sup- posed to bo noblor duties, nod tho laying up of moro imperishablo rickes than were hidden undoer theso blonk hilln, After them, by » long inter- val, camo tho white tradors in the omploy of the American Fur Company, who know of the exist- enco of iron oro as early as 1830, Dut Iudians pad known from time {mmemorial of (be oxistenco of fron and coppor in tho vast region which thoy used ss s huntiug-ground, and lind mado some uso of tho coppor, which ocenrred in native purity, and could bo easily wtilized. Professor Charles T. Jackson, after whomt {he oldat mino in the Marquette District i3 named, #ayn, in his roport to the Socrotary of the Intorior, mndo in 1840, that, when he firet wisrted Lalko Suporior, in tho summor of 1844, ho obtsined from My, P. B. Barbeau, then a trader at Seult 8te, Mario, a flue specimen of specular ivon, which that gentloman had re- coived from nn Indian Chiof. Tho rod dignitary rold him that, somewhoro botweon Iowsenaw Bay and the Monomoneo, there oxisted n vast mountnin of thin ore,” Hoe told this to Mr. Ly- man Pray, of Charlestown, Masg,, who camo the noxt summor to the rogion, and was guided by tho son of tho Chief to the place, L'Anso be- ing tho starting-point. ‘Ihe mountain wns dis- covered, and alr, Pray travelled ronnd it, o dis- tanco of four mulos, finding only the same kind | of ore, and no rocks, IIa informed Professor Jnckson of tho oxtent of his diccovery, but mado mo effort to gnin pos- eceslon of ihe land, or to dovelop the locality, It is thought by some that this discov- ory wes not within the torritory which is ab pros- ent tho sceno of activo mining oporations. Tho ores noar whoro tho Jackson Minos was after~ wards opened wore found by Mr. Josoph Btacys of 3Maine, the snme year. Mr. Barbost, o trador, of Nogauneo, Upper Peninsuls, also olaims to havo boen ono of the original discovorers. Vari- ous other ploneers of the region are roxious to sharo in tho honor, but thelr names aro nob cogontial to this brief bistorical episodo, In 1545, tho firgt oro was taken from the Jackson Ilino, “'packed” on the backs of mules to tho mouth of the Carp, & small river omptying into he lake noar Matquette, and thenco carried by way of tho Boult Sto. Mario to Delroit. In the snmo year, tho Jackson Company was organized, and Mr, P, M. Everett, oncof its incorporntors, came to Lake Superior, and located tho Jackson rines, under land permits from tho Seorotary of War, 'Somo of tho ore was carried by Mr, Evor- stt, by way of the Carp andthe Baulf, to Detroit, A small quantity wos tont to Dittshurgh, and Geclared worthloss by tho iron-mastors of that city. Tho first truo oponing of thomine was mado in 1846, The first oporations in tho iron rogions ro- quired a good doal of hardihood. They wero uncertain finaneial vontures, and the surronnd- ings gave them o tingo of romance. 'The larg- est of the Northweatorn cities wero then more villages. Nearly tho wholo of Wisconein and Micligan wag eovered with an unbroken forest. TLnke navigution was in its infancy, Compara- tively fow vosels wore soen upon Lako M ichi- gan, aud, ae for that groat unknown Arctic son fiorth of 'the Upper Ponineula, a enil was scarco- 1y over reflected from its unonsy waters, A fow people had ventured into tho com}er region, » hundrod miles from Marquette. In all the region known a8 the iron district, there waa not at thut timo o population to exccod fifty souls. Tho forcats woro as yot untouched.” Thero wns not a road through any portion of the yegion, and tho iron oro, heavy and cumbordome si tho beat, lay, at ilg ncarest point, fourtoen miles distant from the shoro, Tho Sault Bte, 3farie Cansl was not comploted until about fen yoars Intor, I6 I8 mob wurprising, thercforo, that, for tho first docado, the iron intorest Ilanguished. The mines ywera worked under many disadyantages, and did business in a small way, and with srall and vary- fug profits. The morchants of Detrolt had tofio tho pig iron of the Lako Superior furnaces in payment of their dues, and tho material ac- cumulated upon the decks of that city in large quantities, Whon tho war hiad raised ihoe price of iron, tho morchants sold that which thoy had Faccived as paymont in kiud, at a large advance, wnd iron-mining and_the export of ores hecama at onco profitable. Thenceforward tho fron re- glon steadily dovelopod, until it attained its Fresent gigantio proportions. GEOGRATIICAL, From the Sault Sto. Marie to Marquotto, a die- foneo of o littlo over & Lundred miles, tho gon- ornl direction of tho southorn shore of Lake Su- perior {s wost. Between Murquelte and tho coppor peuinsnla, Keowoonaw Bay forms & deep avntation. Tha point of tho peninsuls, which Tounds toward the east like a bonded bov, is but 8 littlo wost of north of Marquette, Huron Ba: Japs like o slender silver tongue into the land, Givided only by a narrow elxip of highland from the layger bay just meutioned. From Marquetto 10 L'Auso, at tho hoad of tho Inrgor bay, the shore doscriben almost a semi-oirolo, ‘Within this !eé"menz, iron oxists ouly in ncatter- ing deposits whoeo wealth 18 not yot dotormined. Tlie iron range forms tho sector of this sog- mont, nuhougfi\ not absolutely touching oithor Marquotte or L'Anse, which arotho extrometion, 'lequnmn Mountains are & picturenque rango of <hills, beginning at tho cnd of tho peninauln which divides tFm two bays, and intorsecting the jron range not fur from L'Aunso. Tho Intter Tange continues boyond tho hoad of Keoweonaw Bay, and is Jost in tlie wilds of Northorn Wiscon- sio, The Menomonoe irou rango crosses tho BMarquette iron range nob far southwest of L'Anse, and sppears in the viclnity of Bay- Reld. 3 GLOLOGIOAT: TIron exists only in vory auciont geologie for- .mations, and_closely aesceiated with {ho primi- tive rooks. Tho rocks of tho iron region are of various Linds, euch as “argillito, talcoso; chloritic, hornblende-sohista, quartzites, and cacasionnily dolomites, all of. which aro suppoecd to bo of motamorphic onfiin, intermingled with racks whose igneous origin can hardly bo doubt- d, consisting of felspar and hornblende, form- ing groenstono or dolorite ; or, ~whero silica nbounds, formiug nyeuitn;“ . or perpontino, whero magnesln is in excesa, Al of which 1means thub iron wau deposited whon the world was in its _infancy, beforo tho firat saint signs of \'cf;o!nblu life wero apparent, aud when little other land upon the continont beside the Lnke Suporior region l\ppenr?d above tho ‘boundless oconn that covered it. I'ho region s bounded on tho north and south by a series of crystullino rocks, in whicl granite Inrgely pro- dominates, 'Tho general dirootion of tho range s enst and wost, nulmth it is subjoct to minor doviations, and the highest culminatin pointa wro 1,000 feot abovo ko lovel of tho lako, Tho oros oceur in cloge proximity to tho green- siono, an ignoous rock that cobstituten a largo proportion of the lLills of the region. They Boom to form e stratum, if tho torm can bo o used, although not us continuous as those of tho yocks with which thoy are associated, The boda of ore havo somotimes o thickness of 4,000 or £,600 feot, aud can ho distinctly tracod for more than o nule, Tho finost jqualitics of oro aro found in *pockets;” that Iy, In cavities of tho forination, of irrogular shape aud nizo. YlLo nrea of tho jron deposits v about 10 miles in longth, with a varlablo width of 3-om pix to sevonty milos. _All the iron doposita ot tho world nre {o tho Marquotte district an miare shreds and patohios to an entire garment. SUPELFICIAL VIEW OF THE COUNTRY, From what las just boon pald, it will be in- ferced by the cmsunl roador thab tho (erm *“rango” {s hardly used in its ordinary nccopta- tion, ~ Buch is roally the caso. Tho rango is, in reality, o high platénu brolen up into mfimr olo- votions and llnjll’nufilmlfl, and varying grontly In width, 'The fivst improssion mado upon the wintor-tourist arriving at Nogaunce are not agreoablo, Launchod out upon the platform of tho dopot at midday In wintor, porhaps with s Bovero Bnow-storm provailing,—for it snows, on the 'IVHI\LK!, nine days out of ten along the sonthiorn shoro of the lako,—ho soos bofore him an nxcuudln[g’ shabby village and o vory wintry landacapo. Nogaunoo wns bullt by tho Jackson Mining Company to sholter their workmon, It in, thorefore, strictly a mining town, with the usunl charactoriutics, 'Tho avernge domioll is smnll and comfortable, but far from showy. Tho streets aud walks ure encumbored witli anow, tho limited amount of travel not making s por- fuot clenranco mccessary. Haloona ave oufil clently numerous to ploaso the most bibulous, A fow nent reefdoncos, moro nmbitiona than the rest, indleate the homes of the maguates, Tho oyo' glaucos into the valloy in which tho businoss stroots aro eituntod, then rises to the height boyond, orowned by an unpretending clurch or two, with whito mpiros fainily con- trastod with the snowy hills in thodistanca. The Cathollcs still ntrive aftor tho old supromacy which they acquired over the Hurons: and o Romish Bishop, having his home at Marquetto, Wiola an foy erosior ovor tho Uppor Ponuaule: About the village ara seon hills, mostly bare of the primoval forests that covorod thom. Tho wood has nearly all gono into the smolting fur- nacesof tho district. 'Tho stumps romain, but aro gracofully draped with tho all-porvading snow, Tho hills have tho samo provailing out- lino, Thoy are simply ominancos of from 100 to 500 foot in height, sometimes dotached, gome- timos in short ranges, now rising in gontlo do- clivity, now moro abrupt, and somotimos precip- itons; ‘tho cliffs appearing. A viata of several milog In longth royeals the samo characteristics ; oll along it aro seon Ltho samo knobb{ I;rotuhur- ancos, composod principally of iron, but covered with a thin layer of earth, forcsts, and somo- timoes rocks. Botweon tho hills are occasionally valleys of some oxtont, filled with n binck de- osit called peat, and thlol-sot witl maplo, hom- ook, birch, and tamarae, The vallnfis aro only doprossions in tho folds of the rock and iron beds, for the layers havo all beon contorted and convoluted by n groat Intornl pressuro in somo far-off, misty goologio epoch. . Iron can bo found in tho valleys, but it is covered with tho wash and sedimont of conturios, and cannot now bo profitably worked. All tho iron In this vast region will, undoubtodly, in time, como out of the beds on demnand. ¢ tho travellor is going to Marquotto, ho drops down nearly & thousand feat _in 18 miles, the raflroad passing wlong tho edgos, and windin about the Lasos, of sich hills ag thoso describod, If ho is going westward, the cavs take him through n belt of country presenting n succes- sion of similar views, wloso timbor has found its way into the coal-Iilw's that, like whited sopul- chres, glimmor along the route, ‘Tho minea lio jmmedintoly upon the main line of tho railroad, or upon short spura from thoe malu Jine, of from ono to five miles in oxtent. 'Thero is little to vary the view in winter, oxcopt now and thon a deoper valloy, & moro abrupt precipico, or the fantastio form of snow-covored pinca and hom- locks, A thoroughly Arctic landscapo could searcely bo moro unattractive, for it would pos- soss clements of boauly wanting in this dosolate rogion in wintor, i TRON ORES. Tho peoplo of the iron localitios aro much given to amatour geology. Thoy *chatier stony yames,” and squandor Iron loarniog with » reck- lcusnees that can only come from much profu- sion aud grent fawmiliarity., A strenger stands sstonished and abashed before this outpouring of technicnl knowlodge, 1ti8 o plonsaut_sight to noo an adolescent citizon of Marquetto sharply ecanning o pieco of rock of oxtremely common- mncu appearance, and onunciating his opinions rogard to ity hm‘nfin ““magnetic oxido," orn “tapooular homatite.” ~ ButLio is born to this metallic superiorty, and cannot help it. Thero i8 no stupid agricnltme to distract tho attention aud divert tho tall., Mining is tho vigorous lifo of tho country, and tho people think and gpeale of lit{le clso, All iron oros congist alniost ontirely of oxygen in_combina- tion with iron,—the first substence being in ra. tio to tho second approximately as 1 to 2, Sill- con, mangancse, magnesium, sulphur, and phos- horus are aleo found connected with the motal in small proportions. "o eliminate tho Intter roquires & good denl of soiontific Inowlodge, and not a litllo porsovering labor. Tho term ' he- matito"” is applied to the red ores, or to those which give o red strenk whon ecratched with o lisrdor subsatance. The word is dorived from the Greok aima, blood. Tho ancients know five va- riotios, Theophrastus kays: *“And the Imma- tite, or Dloodstone, which is of n donse, solid toxturo l‘.\iy. or, necording to its nature, Hoom- ing a8 i forméd of concroted bLlood.” Somo hicmatites have o motallio lustre, and are then called ‘“spacnlar iron,"—the torm simply mean- ing “luntrous. Somo nro soft, and havo n mora docided crimson cast. ~ These aro eallod red ochro, or red chally and havo some value ns & __ pigmont, Many housos about the Jackson Mino at Negaunoo arg painted with this substance, mixed in the usual manner. oy huyo about tho shade of the red sandstono with which our citizens aro familiar, The magnetic ores are dark in color, and givo a black stroalc when scratched. They are not found in the enstorn endof the irou rango, but begin about 15 miles from Negeunoco, extonding thenco wostward, Tho mines in tho_vicinity of Lake Michigamina consist of vast doposits of the magunetic ores, which will soon furnisha largo portion of the iron of tho rogion. TEOINIOAL, Wo givo hero the gonetally recoivod classifiea- tion of thd ores of tho Marquotto iron distri A. 'Tho niost valusble, #o far s daveloped, is tho speculnr hemalifo, Which is a very pure au- hydrous sosqui-oxyde, giving 2 rod puwder, and lelding in tho “blast furnacs from 60 to 0 por cont of metallic iron, which is slightly xod short. 'Fho ore occurs both slaty sud granular, or mnesivo. 1t is often bended or interlaminated with a bright red flumz or jag- por, and is thon callod *“mixed oro. B. Tho next in order of importance ia probably tho soft homutite, which mnch resombles tho brown hematito (Limonito) of Pennsylyania and CQonnecticut. This ore is gonerally found associ- atod with tlho harder ores, from which many supposo it i formed by partial decomposition or disintogration. It contains somo wator, chom- ically combined—is porous in structuro—yields 45 to b5 peor cent in the furnace, and is more oasily reduced than any other ore of the district. Tt forms an excollont mixture with thospecnlars, Thero aro roveral varietles of this ore. "Chat found at tho Jackson, Lake Superior, and New England is asgocinted with the specular, while the Fostsr hed s eoveral milea romoyed from any known deposit, of that ore, and has robably o difforent origin. ‘Fhio Winthrop is of his oharactor, and is one of tho best hemalites. ¢, The magnetio ore of thie dintrict has thus far only been found to the weat of thoe other oros,— at the Washington, Edwerds, Champion, Repiib- lio, Bpurr, and Michignmme Mines—at which nonoe of tho other variotics havo beon found ox- cept tha specular, into which tho magnotio some- timos panses, tho powdor being from black to purple, thon red, "It is not improbable that they may bo variotics of the same ore, as they aro much nlike in richnoss, nature of iron, nud goo- logical structure. ‘This view is much strength- oned by tho fact that ihe specular oro is ofton found in octrhedral crystals, which form is woll .known to Knlong exclusively to tho magnotic oxyde; henco it is probablo that onr “specular deposits woro once maguetic, which by some motamorphio nc- tion hiave een xpbbed of onc-ninth their oxygon, which would make them, chemically, homntitos, D. The flag oro is a slaty or sohistose silicious hematito, containing rather less motallic iron, and of more diflienlt reduotion thnu oither of the varioties above named. It is often magnetic, and sometimen banded with a dull rod or white quartz, Tho irou Inlees red short, and harder, which 14 ono of tho best qualities of this oro, and the oro variea much in richnoss, and compara- tively littlo lias beon shippad. It is, howovor, probably the mont ahundunt ore in the distriet, I. A somowhat silicious iron ore, containing a varlablo amount of oxyde of mnnganose, is fonud nt sovoral points, accompanying tho flag ore, This oro ig unquestionnbly of great valua a8 A mixturo. Tho s;onornuy receivod geological theory of the origin of theee ores is, that they were nque- ous d«:ronila, which have beon highly metamor- phosed, 'Tho mussos aro lenu-shupod, varying much in thickneas, on which tho valno of tha masy chiofly dopends, Theso massea are inlor- stratified with o poft greon slato, whioh always accompanios the spocular and magnetio orcs, Ovorlying thoso beds is usuelly found a quartz rock, Which fs probably ono of the most recont of tho distrlet, Dolow the specular is o voon stono, often slaty, wand bonenth hie i one or more horizons of tho flag ore, goparated by erystalline schists, Noxt older than tim flag ores i8 another quartzite, which seows to Do somotimes replaced by n sllicious marble, Yot oldor aro the granito”rocks, which are supposed to belong to the Laurontian sys- tom of Canads,—tho schists above named iu- cluding the ores belonging to the lfuronide sys- tom, Theso rocks ure much bLont and foldod, govornl axos, ruuning nearly cast and weat, be- ing plalnly discerniblo. JOW THE MINING I8 DONE, Until within the lust fow years, thore hias heen deposit wna discovored cropping ont of o hillside, an opon out was madoe into it, and tho ore ta'tan out, and carried whoro needed. Wlen the veins waa Interruptod, or tho ownor consed to work it* for any spocial ronson, tho ¢ lead” was abaudons od, and o{)omtlmm woro commencod ab soms othar polut not far diatant, ‘This mannor of worling mado necossary o large amount of * mtripping,”—that is, tho romoval of suporine onmbont curth and rock,—which could, neverthoe- loss, bo afforded, tho ailvantages of quarrylng over inining heing so groat in reduced “oxpondi- ture and convenioncoof oporations. All tho work ineidont to gottiny rnudr to minofor oro s callod doad worl," mufluclm loa oxploratlons (ombrac- ing only such searches for ore s nro in progross from yoar to year at tho mine, sinking shafts, drifts, and tunnols, ronds for wagons, Mrl[}vplnF oarth and rock, or uncovoring tho oro, miscol- lanoous work, and_minor Improvemoenta. ‘The ontire oxponso of doad work has boon estimated at T4 conts por ton of oroproducced, which oquals 23 por cont of tho wholo cost. _Quarrylng 18 nl- ways tho mothod employod in opaiing f now mine, and in moro or less 1sod at all tho old, Tho rock is too noar tho murface for anything that eeoms lile tho anciont mothods, Although mines avo gonorally oponod u a hillsido, it is slmply becattso the oro oftencst crops out in such positions, But oporations nre not .unfre- queontly commencad in o hollow, or upon a sur- fuco anmwrauvcly lovol. 'Iha opening resem- bles nothing but the boginning of a stone-quar- 1y, A fow men are feen ab work in a hole in the ground, prying, drilling, and blasting, whilo tho waler i8 pumpad ont by n ntenm engine, protect- od by an unpainted woodon shanty, utr.m‘)lng not far distant, Such winfry labors poom to tho strangor like a usoloss contost with Naturo and tho olomonts, Whon the ground lins onco beon cnetratod to n sufliciont depth, mining in win- or {8 ns onsy and comfortablo as it summor, and would bo ns oxtonaivoly earrled on excopt forthe dead lock in transportntion, At Inat tho timo comes whon quarrying ceasos to bo ndvantagoous, and logitimate mining bes COMOB BCCOSAATY, Thon sbafta nro sunk, and tunnels, dosigned ns pormanont passages, aro driven through tho rack in a syatomatio mannor, and with duo rogard to convenlence of eutrance and oxit. Theso underground lanos and stroots aroropented in sories at difforont lovels, and coustituto n porfect notwork, Othor tunnels,— or “ drifts,” In minor's language,—aro mado for ‘' gtoping." Hlaévlug is o process of mining whero soveral oty of miners follow ono anothoer along the floor of & tunnel, cach excavating aud running the oro for & given number of foot in dopth Lelow tho lovol of tho party procoding, This forms o sorios of *stops,” froni which wrod oomo utolligont otmologiats of tho district do- rivo tho namo. The shnfts having boon sunk, tho network of tunnoly oxcnvatod, tho rogular work of mining %rocuuds. ‘Whoro tho ore is hard it is thrown out by drixliu¥ and blosting ; whero it is moro or logs soft, it is oxcavated with picks and barg, or ovon with the shovel. A keg of powdor in tho mines of red oro loosens from 60 0120 tons on tho oyvorage. In blanting, stecl deills, and all the oxy{]ouh'oa known to scientifio ninivg, aro used. Along the pormanent tuunols of tho oldor mines, tracks aro Inid, and small locomotives are usod in summer to run in and out tho cars of tho connccting railroads, es- peaially thoso of tho Chicago & Northwestorn. Tho oro is sorted aud londed directly into tho carg, almost nt the place whoro it feayos its native bed, Tho cara aro hauled out by tho subtoerranean locomotives, switchod on to the main tyack, and ore then roady to be takon to tho most dlstant furnacos fod by Lake Superior mines. The npglln.uceu for lifting tho ore aro “* gkips,” and & largo iron bucket. ~ Tho first ie a car lml(iing something over a ton of ore, which runs upon an inclined railway to any depth re- uirod. ‘I'he bucket, of course, drops perpen= icularly. 'Tho locomotive is not usod in winter, tho tracks boing artifleially laid with snow, an the oros haulod out upon gleds. Tho most ap- Fx‘ovnd engines nre used for hoisting and pump- ng purposes, end the engine-houso is kapt ag cloan a8 a ship's deck. Thoy move tho machinery bonoath the surfaco with automatic precision, the distancos from the top to tho bottom boing accuratoly finu od, and an ingonious system of migoals nsed. '[hoe totol cost of tho hard ores d&(vm‘cd at the cars of the mine has boon eati~ mated at 2,64, Ono of tho largest itoms in mining oxpouses is the employ of horses, which mu]\un ly costs, with incidentaly, $060 per aui- mal, TIE MINERS. ) “=Tho miners nro mostly of foreign birth. They aro stout and henlthy, and_tho mortality rato smong them iy extraordinarily low. Theworkhos been 8o Inrgoly dono in open cuts that it has gradually drawn 1nto logitimate mininga class of mon who would searcoly otherwise have ongnged in underground labor. - Tho nationslity in tlroo minds employing au nggregato of 000 mon was 08 follown; Irish, 186 ; Cornlsh, 162 ; Swodes, 108 ; Canadinns (Froncll), 80; Amoricans, 803 Gormaus, 2 orwogians, Danos, aund Bcots, 60. This ~ ostimpte was mado two yenrs 8go, vince which timo tho number’ of Trish and Amoricans has relatively docreased, and the numbor of 8wedes and Gormans relatively in- cronsed. When occasional dulness hns “pro- vailed in the copper rogion,—whlch is not likely to recur upendléy,—thm'o has boen a moderato ncceksion of Cornislinen. An excess of any nationality is not to be desired for obvious rea- eons. ‘I'ho minors aro well troated, and well housed in domiciles built and owned by the Com- any. Thoy are governed by o Captain, who hag con promoted from among themsolvos for gen- eral good character and ability, and who Is very ofton n Cornishman. Ho delogates o portion of his authority to sovoral Licutenants, who super- vigo under him tho various dn{mrtmunts of labor incidental to tho progress of tho general worls. Theo skilled miners dothe sinking and “drifting” by contract, and make, clear of exponscs, from %00 to $80 por month, as fortune dirccts thoir labors. Two mon working together sometimes mako $100 por month each, Per contra, miners oceasioually hinve jobs €0 unprofitablo that they nro unable to pay the curront oxq;:ueaa of living. Commion labor i prid about at the rate of §1.76 ypor duy. ‘The prico of labor is becoming oqual~ 1zed all over the world, and ocensionally a minor roturns to his old Turopean habilat; but this is raro, Mochanics—that is, carpentors and ma- chinista—nro paid trom 82.60 to 84 par day, according to tho value of their individual Inbors. e e THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. A rogulnr meoting of tho Boara of Police Com- missionera was hold yostorday aftornoon, Prosi- dent Rono in tho cheir. Commissionors Bherl- dun sud Klokke woro also presont. A communication was recolved from General Buperintendent Washburn, stating that he lad acceptod tho resignation of patrolman Peter Hoest, on the ground of il health. Tho Board contonded that it was their privi- lego to accept resignations. On motion of Commissionor Klokke, the Soc- rotary was instructed to return tho communic tion to Mr. Washburn, wilh instructions to pro- sout all resignations to tho Board for nccopte anco. - Officor Michrol McMahon, a special policeman on sixty days' probation, was not recommended for tho full sorvice of the dopartment, having boou guilty of intoxication and insulting a wom- an, 1lo was not appointed, Oficer Patrick H. Owens, appointed as apaoial policomon, and suspendoed ponding o trial for murder, prosonted himself for reappointment. A communication was obtained from Buporin- tendent Washburn, signod by Ceptain Fronch, recommouding Oswon's roappoiutment, It was sent bacle to Mr. Washburn to bo mnde out in due form, The Board allowod bill of $17 for foes in tho suits of John Graham and Curtis A, Gunn egainst Elmer Washburn, Charles I'ronol, and Jonas M, Johnson, to recover cortain gambling epparatus, Tho oity will appoal tho case. 'hio Board ndjourned. —_— EVANSTON MATTERS. Dr. Lucwis IT, Bughoo, formerly Presidont of tho Northwestern Femnlo College, and now of the Cincinnati Wesloyan Female Colloge, is pay- ing a visit to his old Evauston friends. Ilo sup- plied tho pulpit ot the Methodist Church Bunday, both morning and ovening, An oxhibition of views on glass, by means of & storeopticon, will bo glven to-morrow evening n Lyon's IIall. T'ho Frocceda ara for the benofit of the Art olaua of tho Ladics’ Collego, "o Trustacs of tho villago meat to-night in tho of\es of Tnoodore Reeso, the Hecrotary, Im- portaut business will be tranancted, ‘The Vesciliug Siators will give ono of their con- corts in Lyon's Null Thursday ovouing, It will bo under {ho aunpicos of the Evanston Star Lec- o Plomser Tiro@ a ‘Tho Tionser Tiro Compan; t Satur b AR T e nas sarurday lghk discussed, and it was decided to ba_an urgout neccnuny. Colonal Wesloy Brainerd rtatod that a suitshlo bell could bo purchinsed and mounted for 100, 1t was moved and carrled that tho Becretary dreft a potition, to bo submitted to the Villago Trusteos at thelr noxt mooting, calling thoir at- tention to tho situgtion, and praying them to purchage an alarm bol, New momboruwero olected and proposed, aftor which tho truck waa talen ont, and the membors amused themsolves by scaliug tho balconlos of ittlo done in tho way of removing ore from ity %ns tuat could bo ewllod mining, Whon & rich the Lotel, aud porlarm\uglfir_odible foata, R "\_ SAN FRANCISCO. Business Prospeots---Commutation of the Sentenco of o Mur- doror, Curious Utilization of Phonography--Tho Modoo War--A Broozo in Com- g mercial Cirolos. Laura Fair's Libel Suite=-Literary Matters, Special Correspondenco of The Chicano Tribune. BAx Francisoo, Jan, 6, 1873, Tho now year promises prosperity to Oalifor- nin, Timoly rains Lavo scattored their benef- iconcon through tho grain and grazing districts of tho Biate with unwonted prodigalily, soften- ing tho soil for the plow aund encouraging the herbagoe, and, as a nntural resr, TIE TONE OF DUBINESS-CINOLES Linamaterlally improved. Thostorm of tha lnat £wo traoks, whoso conclusion has not yot been ronchod, hing alroady given us ten inclios of rain, which amount ia likely to bo Iargely increased by soveral heavy olouds that aro now nwalting opportunities to poil thelr votes, And all of this wator hns descendod so decorously that no damago las boen dono railrond, farm, or highway, Tho valuo of good crops will Lo onlincod by incransed facilitos for transporta- tion of the products of tho soil to Ban Franclsco and other porta for shipmont, as soveral of the local raflronds projectod within tho last six montla aro to bo completod in time to operate during tho next soason. 'Compotition in homo transportation is tho presont groat mood of the Btato,—n fact that tho farming class and the pooplo of the interior cilies and towns now ap- preciato. Tho war against the Contral Paocifio Railrond Is carried on by San Francisco and n fow citios of lessor note, who hold meotings at rogular intorvals, and pass resolutions con- domnatory of alleged outrageons swindling by that corporation. Moantimo tho coun- ties unaffocted by tho Contral view affaira through their rospeotive indus- triol knot-holos, and bravely strive to work their own galvation, Bo much for tho crops and kin- drod intercsts. The manufncturing proapects for tho year aro cheorful, aud busiuess of logiti- mate mining is prognant with promise. Boclally, matters aro not altogethier lovely. Tho poople and the lending journnls long cried out, a4 with one voleo, that LIFE WAS NOT LELD BACRED in California, and apparently lamented that tho mollow notes of tho pistol rang out daily upon tho balmy air,—~throwing all tho blame for the provalont disrogard of human life upon tho Su- premo Court, which, it was allegod, Lnd allowed many mombors to oacape through trivial legal technicalitios ; and yot, whon the tribunel fullllod its duty by rofusing to grant o.now trisl for n scoundrol who had boen twico convicted of murder by honest and | intelligont jurors, enough pressuro was brought to bear upon tho Governor to sccura a commus tation of the sontenco to imprisonmont for life. The scaffold waa roady for its logltimato vietim, tho nooso hung limp and wido open, the follow's coffin was ct tho jail door, the reporters’ poncils wora sharponod for faithful portraynt of tho dying throes, andin threo hours William Dono- ven, the slayer of an upright Coutra Costa farmer, would have expiated his crimé nccord- ing to tho sentence of the Court, had not Exec- utive olomency intorvenod, Donovaun's flrab wife died in childbirth, aud his socond, aftor belog beaton and banged by him for throe or four yonrs, dopartod this earth in an illness Dborn of his brutality,. Ho was confined in jail for delirium tremens in Canads, sevoral years ago, nud, ever since that timo, ho has been subjoct to fits of so-called in- sanity, superinduced by a bad articlo of whiskoy. Goyernor Dooth, reforring o his roasons for in- terforing in Donovan’s caso, says that ho takes no stock in the inaanity theory, and pardons tho man in doforence to e potition signed by several thousand citizens, The scafTold hios been housed, Considoring that thero are about fifty murderors uow awaiting trial in tho State,—thirteen of thom ocoupying tiun.\'lors in tho San Fran- cisco County Jail,—this action by tho Governor i mot _ calculated laye o snlulnr{ offoct upon 'the morals of the pauplo. Tho sanitary condition of tho Btate, aside from tha dangor of violent donths sinco the commuta- tion of Donovan's sentence, is very satisfactory. Wa have no epidomic, and no epizootic, Tako things all in all, I really think wo aro favored. OURIOUS: UTILIZATION OF IHONOGRADLY. Oharles . Bumnor,—not tho Senator, but a ehort-hand roportor for the County Court,—in n locture on the popular uses and benefitsof stand- ard honom[iuy, recently delivered hero, rolated an toresting account of his oxporionco of cousulting physicisns who ‘want to diagnoso chronic dizeasos, and called in tho aid of the short-hand reportor. They were onabled to_quickly dictate for rocord a full and complete description of the patient, within tho ordiuary calling timo; aud, in one_instauce, by such o dictation from Dr. David Woostor, in a vory important cnso, n concurrent cpinion was soparately obtained from a baker's dozen of doc- tors. Without announcing his judgmont as to tho charactor of tho diaonss, the Dootor rapidly dsguerreotyglnd the apporrance and symptoms of the mon, oturning to oflice, ho steted fo tho roporter what was his_ con- viction 8s "to tho ailment, nud tho appropriste remedies or amecliorating-appli- cations, and tho probabllities of xocovery,—the roportor transcribing the picturo of the patient, And, on indepondent examination of tho taat, thirfoon other leading physicians rondored tho samo verdiot as that pronounced in the case by the original inspector. For onco—aud probably becaugo thero was no personal contact—doctora did agreo. With a sing] nuxcaguon, thoy gavoit as thoir opinion that tho patient would die within n month, Ho lived twenty-soven days from tho date of diagnosis, This is croditable alike to phonograply and the modical profession. THE MODOC WAR. At 1aat nccounts, tho Modoo Indians, in Siski~ 71 Count, wera Heulkng about tho' lava-beds purauit of food,—a handfull. of misorable, balt-starved wretchies, homaloss, friendloss, and hopoloss. Tho armics of the United Btates were ?unnmd eround the lava-bods, at safe distauces rom the foo, and in pogition that promised con- tinuod good health and comfort to_ofiicors and mon. Whon tho last carrier loft the scono of the sxpooted battle, only ono event of impor- tauco had occurred, and that dld not involve any loss of life. It scoms that a teamstor in chargo of o wagon-loadof moerachaum pipes, to- bacco, cologno, and caunod jollies for ouo wing of the arnly, misaod his way, and stumbled upon the Indians, who broke the follow's head and walked nway with the auEpllos. In future, tho wagons will bo escorted through tho Indian country by two men. Tho heavy ordnauce of tho army 18 now en route for tho lava-bod, whore an impromptu fort will bo constructed, and the bombardient at onco commonced ; nncf, accord- fug to presont indications, the tormination of tho struggle ia now. only 'a_quostion of timo. Apropos of this question of time, it is well to romarl that tho pcu[)lu of Californin nro gotting to bo susploious thnt thoere is oithor uttor inelli- cioncy in the conduct of the campanign, or thut thora s wome wort of an undorstundin about the figures of tho Cumu\lsuurs’ L3 Quartermaster bills, which avotobofootedby the Statoand General (fovernmonts, This Modoo war businoss Is o disgraceful farce, whe Indians woroe Linrmless, and nover should hiave beon dis- turbed, ‘he troublo originated through tho machinations of cortain ealico-dealers, dinguised ay Indian Agonts, who longed to finger Govern- ment funds, and, therefore, persunded the nu- thoritios to viointo tho provislous of Goneral Crook's troaty, and attompt thoe hording of the Modocs on o to-called resorvation. BUEELZE 1N OOMNERCIAL CIRCLYS, Tho aessions of tho Grand Jury that made ita final roport yostordoy Lisvo boon largoly ocon- pod in tho invostigation of charges of fraud rrufm‘rnd against the Ilarbor Commission by lending ofticers of the Btate; and, as a rosult of thair labors, wo ara notitied of the indletment of Commisioner Joln J. Marks, shipping and com- mission micrchant, and Lis son Thomns, who _ 8ra accusod of embozzlomont an F?nnnlrm)}' to dofraud tho Government, The Jurors say that sullicient evidence was ob- tnined to conviuce theim that gross neglet =+ violution of duty had boen practiged s & major- 1ty of tho oflicera aud ompluy9s, the buslnoss laving beon conductod in o manner detrimontal to tho Btato and divgracetul to tho city. Marks Bonlor and_the wharfingers wara In” collusion, and managod botwoen thom to bng many dollarg that should havo'gone’into the Bunto 'Lronsury. Motk Junior ~ acted as Hoorotary lo hla father, and did tho flsurlng necossary in this picco of rascality, It tho 1iext Legl- Inturo does not mako this a frao port, it should #0 amond tho presont law nn to obliga tho mas- tors or consignoes of all vosacls to collact and pay tlio wharfagoe on all goods landod or recelvod on'bonrd the vesgols,—thus dolng away with n largo and oxponsive forco of toll-collectors, and ntn)gplng ono of the ]l\r%ust lonlts, incroaning to that oxtont tho rocoipis from tho watzr-front, Theo excitemont in mereantilo circlos ovor thiy indictmont will donbtloss hiave a good offect. TIE BLAYER OF ORITTENDEN AGAIN DEFORD THL TUDLIC. MMra. Laura D. Fair, who summarily disposed of Lnwyor Crittonden a yoor or Lwo ago, cronted an oxcitemont on this connt, and attractod tho attentlon of peoplo abroad, manages, in one way or another, to llu‘p hor namo continually befora tho publie, Funu fally in_an _uneuviable light. Tor acquittal by & Jury who_drauk two gallons of whiskey 1In two nights, and her ro- cont attompt to looturo tupon her * porsocu- tions,” fnrnishod toxts for homilios in Sm Toad- ing journal of the land, aud eaused s gront doal of horal eritlolsm of Califoruln justice, togathor with qulnlnd robukes to tho wonian herself ; and slill sho {u not uatisfled, “Bhe quiectly bides hor time, snd roappeats whonaver there fl o doarth of local mews. Yuntcrdny #ho figured ay the complainsat against.ono Thistlotou, o denlor f statlonery, who is oharged with maliclously countriving aud intending “to vilify and dofamo Lours, y composing and ~ publishing o dofematory libel of her, in_ words, figurcs, and fmagos. The offonslve publication consiats of a sheot of card-board, illustrated with various grotesquo plctures, tho contral foa- ture being Laura, who, in tho scant costumo of tho bed-rgom; is ongaged In hunting “ a wolf in the fold,"—n nnufhty flen. Around this picture, forming a comical Lorder, sro twolve smaller fiolm‘cs roprosonting tho jurors who acquitted o, F.,—somo of thom bolng fur- nished with heads of donkoys, pigs, dogs, cats, and othor animals. Couplots of disgusting doggorol are aflixed to each picture by way of oxpianation, ‘The publication is in- tondod as & gamo, to bo playod with dico, nud bears tho title of Laura's undelivered lacture, A Wolf in the ¥old.” Laura came Into conrk and sworo to tho complaint in porson. Aud b sad sight sho prosonted, Her faco was pale and Ylnchud, hor oyos lustroless, aud sho appoarod n lior truo charactor, a goclal wreok, LITERARY MATTERS. The ‘looplu of the East, who havo long appro- ciatod tho gonius of Frank Bret Harto, will bo loased to learu that iho family journal I which e mmndo his flrab raputation agn writor of prose aud pootry, the Golden Era, hns entored upon its t\vunt{-umc volumo undor brilliant auspices. Oua of ifs onrliost propriotors, Colonol Jlosuph . Lowronco, ‘who wna a sorb of literary nurse for Hhrlo, has rosumed his connoction with the journal, and is stimulating the local Zitlerateurs to strugglo for the prestige thoy onco enjoyed. As adireet result of his encour- agemont aud the incidontal suggestion thet thoe Jigr will pay handsemoly for uhalloyod. tnlout, rilliant aud " intereating articlos aro now pro- duced woekly, This much is said by way of proface to a fow romarks about ono of the Uali- fornia writors, who are known tho lenst (smong whom must bo numbered—in addition to Harto —Mulford, - Xeclor, mnow _in Egypt, and Brooks, of tho Now York 4vribunc),— Charles Warron Stoddard, Mr, Stoddard has contributed to tho Overland, Lippinco, and Atlanticy a rocont articlo of his in the lattor magazine—a charming nccount of vagabondago in Otahoito—drawing warm commendations from tho aditor, and leadiug to an engagoment for six successive articles at highor pry, Mr, Stoddard’s English is remarkable for its purity and sweet- nees, and his ideas havo o most dolicious aroma of poesy. He wandered among tho islands of the Soutbern Dnociflc for months and months, gathering inspiration from tho beau- tiful sconory and the quaint customs in tho Trop- ics, and has siuco produced delightful skotchos of 'the islandors and thoir homos,—somotinmes drawing hid pictures In pootry and again in prose. He has decided o publish lis bost papers and poems ina volume. Mr. Stoddard is o tall, pale- faced young man, with wandoring eyes, hag a racoful figuro, a doop bass voico, and the pol- ol oF & gostleten, <15 in now tha laading Hie: rary star of tho Far Wost. Bex JoNEs. _—— THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCIL Tothe Eilitor of The Chicago Tribune : Bm: An aditorial, undor the hoading of “De- foctive Flues,” in o rocent issue of your papor, gives most excellent advice, which should bo fre- quontly ropoatod. It s evident, however, that you have boon misinformed, and have roflocted unjustly upon the Soclety of the First Congro- gotional Church. May I asl spaco for correction of the erroncous impressions your cditorial is caleulated to croato s to the constructiou of tho latoly-destroyed church-edifico. There was no nocessity for heating the edifico quickly, and no offort made to that ond. It was woll known boforehand that thore was to bo o concort in tho church on Thursday ovening. Tho building bad beon warmed for use the provious night, and tho firos had boon kopt up from Wodnesday. Thore was no unusual heat of fur- naces, and no puehing or crowding of them. Tho furnaco flnes had never been bozed with wood, and thoro wore no wooden flues for hot air, and nono of wood in any way connacted with tho furnaces. Noris it known that the firo was caused by o defoctive fluo. Exactly whon or how the fira originated, is a myatery. It is truo that thoro was & wooden duct for foul air not very distant from whore tho firo was discovered; that thia foul air or ventilating flue oxtonded to the roof ; and that its covering on top and its valves woro open. 'This, of courso, whon reached by the firo, afforded an avenuo for its lighminig-likn sproad, and made sure and spoedy its awful work. In the concoption of the building, it was tho dosiro of pastor and peoplo to socuro a utructure of sizo, solidity, simplicity, and safoty, for prac- tical and economieal utility for Ohristian worl, a8 well as g place of worship. With this viow, thero was appointed a Building Committoo (nob Trusteos), comprised of men of practical exporionco an builders and usora of churches. Capaoity, conveunionce, comfort, and cor- tain socurity, rather than elegance, elab- orate oruamentation, or showy effact, woro sought and planned for, With "eight sopn- rato entrancos to tho auditorium, and nearly as many to the basoment (thore was not a side that aid 110t havo two ontrancos) ; with ita broad and diroct aislos, or pnssage-ways: with its six communications botween tho galleries and main floor and pavemonts, and its amplo connections, front and rear, betweon Lessmont and audi- torium ; with its wido folding or sliding doors, which wero the only separation betwoen its lac~ ture-room, library, parlors, aind infant Babbath- gchool aud dining rooms (With no “ notworlk of pasacge-ways or corridora” intutvnmu;i),—glm ‘monns of nceoss to, or egross from, thae interior wore unequalled by those of any other church or cathodral known "to this wriler, To tiio moat caroful and exporienced men wors the mattors of heating and ventilption intrusted; and the Committeo took partioular paina to provide propor vontilalion, and ospeciel efforts to guard against firo, The question of protection from dangor of firo was ocond to no_othor con- sideration; and the Building Committes, L'ruu- toes, aud Socioty have yot to learn whoroin they word guilty of “oulpablo nogligonce.” Thut there was a mistalko or orror in judgment is not impossible, but wherein canunot bo told until the_causo or origin of the firo is satisfactorily explainod. n this connoction, allow me to say I have made diligént inquiry, and caunot flud’ any ono having bourd, until after the firo, thet Fire- Marshal Williams had any doubta a4 to tho socu- rity of the building from firo. Tho question arisos, if Mr, Willinms lkuew of any defeots in the heating-arraugoments of the chureh, rondor- ing them unsafo, why should ho hiro for his fam- ily’n pew in thiat portion of the church most dif- fleult toreach or escapo from ?—and did ho, o8 TFiro-Marshal, do his duty to himaolf, to his fum- 1ly, to tho Insurance Compauios, to tho Bociety, aud to the ci Jus1108. ———————— In the lato great storm in Pavis alady was blown through u plate glass window, ~During the past yenr 106,166 sinigrants sail- ed from Liverpaol, 11,018 from Londan, 92,901 frem Glasgow, 80,060 from Cork, and 9,607 from Londonderry. —Professor Albonl, of Nu}vluu, rosuscilated dying woman by tho Dlood of a Inmb, the rovivi- fylug blood being forced through a tubo fnto tho artories by tho pulsations of the animal's heart. —Lady Inglis, widow of Mujor Genoral Bir Join TV, Inglls, K. O. B., tho dofondor of the Lucknow Presidency, has boen appolnied by flllflfill Viotoria Lo bo housekaopor of 8t, Jauos Paluco. —The Gorman Lower Ilours stnerously pro- osos to furnish workmen who strike, rnd thus {’mw themsolves oné ue omployment, witha fortnight's gretuitous board axd lodging in rison. PSR itltutionat goverumont was frat oatablishe ad In Prince Ldward lnland iu 1773, and the ros- idsuts of tho Talnud ave now tulking about a cel- ebration of the gentounial, l. THE REPUBLIC. Shall tae Stockholders Stand Amother Assessment, Sizty Por Cont Contended for by the Assignee, Tho Question Postponed for Light Doays. Yeatorday morning, at 10 o'clack, was tho timo sob, nccording to the rule of tho Qourt, for tho nppenrance, boforo Judgo Blodgett, in the Unitod Btates Qourt, of tho stockbolders of the Ropublic Insuranco Company, to show causo why tho Assigneo of- that bankrupt inatitution slould not mske an nesessment of GO por cent upon tho stock, to obtaln money whorewith to sottlo tho affairs of tho Company, The court- room waa fillod with sttornoys roprosouting stocklolders in various pazts of tho country. Tho ball was sot in motion by Mr, Campbell. who, n8 tho attorney of twenty or moro stock- Liolders, applied for nn oxtension of thirty days in which to filo an anewer to the rulo, as somo of his clionts, being non-residents, bad only ro colvod: notico the pravious wook, snd therefore badnot had timo to propnro thelr answor., A sintomont was curront that the original nssess- ment of 20 por cent had never boen paid in by all tho stockioldors, and that, if it Lad beon paid in full by all, the esscssment now nskod would not bo neceasnry. Mr. Chorles Hitcheock, slso ropresenting nu- merous stookholders, seconded tho request for fhirty days’ extonsion, eaying that, in connec- tion with tho rule to show causo, various ques- tions must bo litigated beforo this Qourt. It wos underatood, among othor things, thst s oon- sidorable quantity of tho stock had Loen rotired illogally, ond it was easontial to hiave time in which to prepare an answer on this and othor points, 4 Mr. Xoles, appenring in bolialf of stogkholders at Alton, Il desired furthor time. Some of his olionts claimed not to bo out-and-out stockhald- ori, whilo others clalmed to have beon doceived and impoyed upon in such & manner as not to malke thom logal stockholdors. Tho nssessmont called for was unnocessarily lurgo, a8 it would bo shown that specinl obligations of individual stockholders bad boon rocsived in liou of monoy, nnd that those amounta sltould ba colleoted bo- fore nnother assossmont was ordered. Ho was gob propared to fllo an answer, nnd nsked thirty nys., Mr, Chas. Osborno, bf Rock Island, roprogont- ing fourteon stockhbolders in that city, was not Bro})nmd to answer. Ho bolioved thal his clionts ad equities which should bo acted npon in this court in connectlon with the order for tho new asvessmont, Il should undortake to show that in mouy cases tho first ]nY wag pald in cortifl- catos of tha Company, and not in cash, and so ‘wero not paymonts, Mr. Wheaton, of Aurors, acting for stockhold- ors thero, asked for furthor time on the ground that It was ndvieablo and necessnry for tho at- tornoys to got togather and decide upon a lino of defonve, and 80 ngroa upon an answer. Ileo should charge a fundamental chango in tho char- ter of thie Company, whereby certain stoclhold- ors wero released from responsibility; also, that a portion of tho obligations of cortain stook- holdors hind beon roloased illogally; and should challonge the legality of tho organization. Ilo appearod also for Mr. Dovino, of Syeamore, in whioso behalf also Lo asked further timo. Mr. 8. M. Morris, of Fort Wayno, represont- ing tho stockholdora in that city, said that he should sot up that stock had boon igsued in ox- cous af tho amount authorized by law, aud that, thoreforo, tho contracts of cortain subscribora wore not obligatory upon them; and also that cluims_against tho Uompany had beon Toline uishod in favor of various favored individuals. 0 askod furthor timo. Alr, E, B. McCagg, of Chicago, said thero wero two #ides of equity in tho caso. o spoke of tho widowed and orphauned stockholiloers who had already beon roquived to puy.s lovy, and to whom the differonce between G0 aud 20 per cont in tho nssessmont was asked for might be the difference bolwesn comparative onso and abgo- lute ruin for the rost of their doys. He had 1ooked over the affairs of tho Company, aud was unablo to seo why 60 por cent £hould bo ordered, unless it was ordered to onable tho Assigneo to play iuto tho hands of certain favored stockhioldors by roturning to them in cash tho oxcess of tholr’ puymonts (not in cash) ovor those of the stockholders who had only paid the original 20 por_cent. Ho hopod the quostion would not be docided withous giving {imo to show how much was actually nceded by tho Assignoe, and to show, as ho believed would Do done, that, bocauso of tho neglect of hisduty, tho A!ufglmo now asked for 16 por cent that he might make up a dofloit caused by his negli- enco, % Mr. Whenton, of Ohicago, appearing for stook- Lolders in Chempaign and Janesville, joined in the ru(fimab for 80 days. Mr. H. W, Tonney, attorney for the Aesigneo, suid this lhl‘;? had turned out prooieely us ho had expocted,—the gentlomon had comg iuto Court with no eause to show, but all asked for o long postponomont. The eamo tactics Lnd beon pursued in tho other cage. Thore could bono plos of lacl of timo to Srnpnm an answor. 'Lho potition was filed in Docombor last, and was Publ(ahnd in all tho Ohicago pnpors, and it must have beon known to tho stockholders. The firo happened o yonr and . balf ago, and by this timo theyo men must baye found out what wore thoir rights, duties, aud liabilities in tho mattor. Not awman comos into Court with acauso in his mouth, but all want dolay—nothing olse. Tho stooldioldors know thoeir rights. ‘Thoy dou't want to pay, and 8o ngk for dolay. ‘'hoy have no right to ask for furthor time, Thero is no suggustion of their dofonco that goes to tho va~ lidity of tho assessmont asked for. If amen is not fogally a stockliolder, ho has nothing to foar from tho assessment; if tho oficers of the Com- ‘pany have, through rascality, absorbed and mis- applied its funds, that olaini cannot bo sob up in resistanco of the assossmeut., Tho question to Do sottled by this Court was the amount of assossment nccessary, ond the dofence had hnd ample timo to proparo their euswor, Thoso who had suffored losscs noeded the monoy on thoir policios ; thelr widows aud orphans bave oquitics here. The difference was, they wore entitled to tho monay, aud tho stockholders wore not. Tholr assossment should bo mado and collected at onco, aud should not Lo postponed, r. Wheaton roplied that if this caso was an exception to the gonerality of cauos, it was only bocause it was an excoptionally Dig swindlo on the stookholdors, and thoy could prove it if thoy wore grantod time. Tho whole thing was ruu for the bouefit of those who Liad paid up in full ¥ tho Company'scortificates, and who now wank to renlizo tho faco of thogo certificates, bought at a hoavy discount, ns woll as to recoive pay on thoir policica. Mr, Frost, attornoy for tho Assignoo, snld that this was not an_application for judmont againgt tho stockholdors; an nssossmont was simply asked for. ‘Tho gentlemen on the othor sido could sot up their dofouces whon suits for colloction woro brought agaiust thom, Thoe assessmont might have been made without an ordor tosliow cause, but it was proper that it should bo accompanied by such order, that partios might come into Court snd show thot tho nssonsmiont WAS ULNCCOBSATY OF WNLGR- sonably largge. 'This was not a proceeding in clinncery, wherein tho rlghts of purtios wera to be adjudleated upon. Thero was nooccasion for adoluy of thirty days. It would bo unwliso to malko an assossment for less than 60 por cont, us tho assossmont in thoe first instanco should hio sullicient for sl purposes, and so avold & Yopo- tition. The only quostion to bo decided upon wus to ity xsunlcluuo{. Mr. Onborn ssid that the question of amount was & vory importaut oue, and they asked that tho Court should judgo of it, and not tho As- signao, and in ordor that thoy may presont tle caso 50 that the Court could judyo intelligently, thoy askad for furthor thue, desiring to presont facis to show that the proposed asscsswmont iv onormous. 3 The Court eaid that the rulo was for all the stockholdors to come into Court and show cauke this morning. It was jutended thnt thoy should Lavo n judicia! hearing on tho causes thoy might aaslgn,” 1t would bo o farco to sito partios intor- euted, and then not give thom a judicial hearing, and it would bo oqually untair to allow uunecos- wary dolny, It was deslrablo that tho aCalry of the Gompany should be olosed up at tha ourliest possiblo day, that the mousy might be collectod and paid over to |lxouey-hoh.lem 'horo was nothi- ing whown that a long lime was necossary to pro- aro the defenco, ‘The most important quo- ion wo a4 to tho amount of the assessment, ns it involved an inquiry into the truth of tho atatements of "the Asaignes. On tho return of this rule it was the right of the wtookholdors to oall for proof, They ought to Liavo beon propared to malko the Isstto by this timo, Thirty days waa too long n timo. should continuo tho cnse until Tucaday, Jan, 28, at 10 a, m,, and would sot tho caso for hoaring on thao Bnturday following that dato. Tncldonfally, the Court ruggestod to_tho ate tornoya for the stookholdora that thoy had bol« for not mako an isuo nw to the fack of thoir clioni Lolng logal stockholdors, as it might g hiard ngalnst them when wuit was brought te colloot thio assessmont, RAILROADING. The Pcninsular Railrond’s Annual Reports Anothor Iotter on 1he Question of Equalily of l‘rnlglxm.v The snnual roport of the Prosident of the Poninsular Rellway Company hias just been made publie, and wo mako tho followlng oxtracts thoro- from:’ The Peninsular Rallway, s it now ex- ists, waa formed by tho consolidstion of tho TPoninsutar Road, rmnuing betweon Battle Creok and Lanaing ; the Peninsular Railway Extonsion, running botween Battlo Orock aud thoState line ; tho Peninsular Raflway Company, organized through Indiana; and (the Peninsular Railway Company, chartored from tho Stato lino of Indi- ana to Ohicogo—making a line about 210 miles in length, Tho roport of the Beoretary shows that, provious to tho 1at dny of Novembor, 1871, Boc- ratary's orders iad boon issuod to tho amount of $616,060.24. The total to Dec. 81,1872, waa £580,704.84. Tho total amount of orders out- standing Doo. 81,1872, wan $142,202.02. Tha "Tronsurer’s roport showa that he hns recoived during tho yoar 1872, from tho salo of first and socond mortgago bonds, subscriptions, ote., $1,922,692,07. Ho hag paid onb 1,923,520.81, loaviog tho balanco in bis hands, §2.20. Tho report of tho Conornl Buporintondent sbhows that tho onrninga of tho road from Dee. 1, 1800, to Doo. 81, 1872, wore $210,184.20, Tho totsl oxponues of this department for the ssmo tima woro €851,400,10, lonving tho indobtodnosa $111,331.90, 0 largo portion of which ts charge- ablo to construction and not to oporating ne- count. Tho numbor of passongors transported during 1872 was 83,491, Tho amount due to contractors for work done_is £127,756.86. Tha following Dircctora were elected for tho ensu- ing your: Joseph RL.Ward, . C. Nichols, L. D.’ Dibblo, Battlo Craole; 12, Bhopard, Char- lotto; B, T, Rend, Cassopolis; Willinm Millar, South Bond ; 8. T. Anthony, Valparnlso; W. E. Houry, Jollet, IiL; M. 8." Brackott, Dollevuo, AMich. g MIBCELLANEOUS ITEME, 8 Tho Obicago, Milwaukeo & St. Panl Railroad will continuao hallnsting their routo until Febs ruary, when the formal ugnuiug will oceur. Ogo thousnnd six hundrod freight cars aro now_running betweon Chicngo and Boston aver tho Lako Shoro & Michigan Southorn Railroad and its conneotions, without breaking Lulk or ma\\lrmu tho contents to be touched. 'ho Town of XNearnoy Junction, where tho Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railrond taps tho Union Pacifio, wae started Sopt. 29, lnst, and haa erocted over two hundred new houges siuce that timo. Tho work of consolidatin the variguuu dtupurtmiuts @ ?r umd CLIl - cago, iwrlington G uincy and tho Dotlogton & Migourl © Biver - Hoads Etcgrnsuua slowly. Tho books of the two ronls avo boon kopt under differont systoms, and it will roquire many months to morge thom. Whon that {8 nccomplished, all tho heads of dopart- monts will romove to this city. Goneral Buper- intondent Porkins will onter npon his duties as Progidont of the Nobraska Division, and-his worle will be divided botween Buperintondent Harris and liis Assistant, W. H, Strong. T'ho Pullmen Compatly are now running 76 cars ovor 8,936 miles of track coutering ip Chicago. EQUALITY OF FREIGITS. o the Editor af T'he Chtcago Tribune: o Bin: Tho lnw prasod at tho last sesalon of {he Gen- eral Assorbly, touching cquality of frelghts, was doubtless intended to benefit the Btate at large, b; bresking the forcaof competition and giving 0 ubim- portant poiuts on tho various roads cqual Leuofits to thoso of greater facllitics, It {a very fortunato for Guicago, owever, {hat it hing practienily romaiupd u dead fottor upon (ho statute books, Tho spirit of thu act 18 very laudable, indeed s buf, if exccuted to the . very latter, it would Work oul s stute of things widely difforout from that it was intended to creato, OF tle need of more or lesa legulation on tho sibjoct of trausportation, thoro can be but Hitla dankt: yet ths preciuo forzn it wiionld apume fs not casily to be deter- Ihinod. . So numerous have intorcats botome, ud, ot tho ramo time, 80_united, that tho framers of o law which s intended tu clrcuwnserive tho puwors of rail- road corporations, aud regulate thelr astiony, should Ylow tho subject from every standpoiut, and in overy lgit, Daradoxical as tho statement wmny soem, we atc of {16 opinion thiat equality of frolghts la wholly Imprac~ ticablo from tho atart, It ignores tho firat principles of clioap transportution in nesuming thut addod dis {ance {ucreasos cost as ono mtlo ia.to any number of miles, whoroas the relative cost fs much loss, So far from’ boiug o move in the right direction §s such o lw, that, weroits provisiona strictly carried onc in every Blato betweon Obicago and the Aoabourd, instead of yelting firat-clars goods from Now York for $1.25 por hundrod pounds, 58 now Wo can, the expeiiso would probably o fearer $9, in order to preventa lons on gooda carried to proxiniate points. “To illustrate tho oifect of tho' luw ou ko businesa of Olicago, If strictly enforced, wo will gives fow figurea : Mattedon, on the Illinols Central Road, is tweuty-cight miles from Olleago, Tuo prosent to this point 18 27 conts; fourtl-class, 16 cents per hundred pounda, ' Now,.if raids to Matleson woro reduced 0 tho figro at whicix ‘profit would cease fo reault from transportation, wa will.ssy, approximately, first-cluss, 1. conta, four.u class, 5 cents, wlich would be15-28 und G-28 cents per mile, st this uniforia chiarge the rates fo Cuiro would bo nen%fl for first-clusy, anwl about 63 cents, for fourth 83 and 50 centa for the two respectivo classos,” At 8.ba disparity in rates low long would the Clicago muuny- facturer or dealer find custom in Chiro? Tates to Tiack Tstand would bo 07 conta and_93 conts respect~ ively, for tha closaes mentioned, _Prosent rates to this point are 60 cents and 23 conts. With the present Hm rata from New York to Rock Island, 30 cents and & cents, ngalust the Chicago merchant, would not.,this new obataclo creato o completa embargo to trade? To Des Mofucs, Tows, rates would bu $1.88 for firat-clas, and 03 cents for fourth class goods, wille present ratea ara 76 cents aud 40 couta for the respective classos. These aro only illustrations of the practical workings of tho law, It may be objected ihut the samo law would increaso through rates from the East to places which would bo nifeoted In tho munner described, as frefghts would paes through this tate i order to xmlcq} their destinations, Buch would not bo tno neceasary rosult, howover, ‘Tho circumnstanees under ‘which Eastorn through freights are transported' sro usually 5o mutable, as woll a4 secret, in thelr nature, 85 to offectually protect tho roads from the eilect of the law In question, Again, the fact that such freights aro nat transported in cara’ ownod by the roads over which thoy paes, in thia State, would create un addi- tional proteation, as the conditfons would probably Lo consfdered so widely differeut from those under which locul frelghits are carriod, ns to creato on exception in thelr bohulf, ‘We ara glad to 500 the question of cheap transporta- tion ond nou-dlscriminntion ngitated, sud remiedles lu“gl\l’t"bul while we nttempt to correct one form of tho o 'wo should look well to it {hut we do not pre- cipitate oursolves fnto & condition fufluitely wores thun thio first, XIv. A CORRECTION. o the Eiitor of The Chic.yuw Trefb ; Bm: Your correspoudent, %M. R.,” in Sunday’s TRIBUNE suys ho merely wislics to cull the attention of the tallroad Committes of the Cominon Councll taan almost serjous accident, caused by tho ueglect of tho Ohicago, Danville & Viuceunes Railroad, fu not pluuk- iug, ote,) tholr track on tho eouth sidoof Kinzio and Hoyno streots, Allow mo to correct M, R, and say the Chicago, Danvills & Vinceunes Road hus not Ll any track tliove ot all, and Lus 1o tank thore, and i+ la 0 wiao responsiblo for ony aceldent that did or might ocour to uuy uight pedestrinn, with or withont uuy. brick in his beaver, CORBECTION, THE VIADUCTS, To the Edtor of The Chicago T'ribune : Bm: 1800 by your Sunday’s dusue that tho Board of* " Publio Works Lavo prepaved u liat of visducts ov-r'rail- rond crossings which should ba bullt within 1he next throo years, and while thera aro sevoral unimportant, and almost nnknown, atreots to bo thus provided for, 1 ace uo mention mude of the important sud dangerous crossing of Twalth pirectand tho O,,K: . & I’ nud the B 8, Ttullrouds, just weat of Olark streot, Wiy fu this thus ? Tust crossing {8 much more travelled than most of those meutivned in tho lst,and fs very wide aud davgerous, I I8, P —The Vicoroy of kigypt, It ia said, intends to eroct a pyramid whivh will astound tho world, Tho immonse blocks of slone reuisite Yoric will bo cat from beveath the cntaracts of tho Uppor Nile. —A stay-maker of Ulm, in Doutschland, haa Immortalizod himyolf by calling Kaisor William *‘an eater of oumin, a vampire, & vagabond, and n loander of Lrigands.,” 1lo likowiso offors to shoot His Majouty for 50 tlorins, The feroclous stay-mokor takes threo months in jail for tlis oxtravagance of apocoh, —Iho official report of M, Klotz, architect to tho Cathiedial of Strasbourg, states that the cost of roparationsrondered nocossary by the Prussisn bombardmont will ba G98,000f." A quarter of & ‘million francs is roquired for thostonowork; pow zo0f, 187,000¢, ; ropaira to the painted windows, 148,198¢," Tirlug tho twenty-four daye' bom- bardmont the Cathedral was struck in more than 800 places; the dobris amounty to more than 800 cavt-loads, firat-clays rata- & frolghts, Present rutes to this point sra-