Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 1, 1875, Page 5

_— THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: FRIDAY. JANUARY 1, 1875.--TWELVE PAGES, " FOREIGN. Tho Prince of Asturias Proclaimed King of Spain. He Yow Staggers Under the Tido of Alphonso XIL Tis Firt Act Is to Ask the Blessing of the Tope. Prosident MacMahon also Gives a Wink to Rome. —_— The Upper Senate Scheme Entertained by Frengh Leaders. — Blsmarcl’s Papal Note Proves to Be Augry and Positive Tail Advices Concerning the Cospatrick Disaster. Tho Famine in Asia Blinor. SPAIN, ALPHONSO PROCLAIMED KING. Pants, Doc. $1.—A disgpatch from Madrid, un- dor to-day's'date, says that Prince Alphoneo, the gon of the ox-Queen Isabolln, has been pro- claimed King of Span, and ia recognizod by all tus forces comprising tho nrmies of tho North ood Contre. THE WIFE OF ALPIONSO CRORSES TIE DORDER. The Spanish Consul at Bourg haa notified the Buab-U'refect of 1Bayonne that Donua Blanca, tho wife of Don Alphionso, has crossed the frontier iirto Bpain, aud proceeded toward Send Urgel. A GENERAL AGILESION. BaNTANDER, Dec. 81.—The Governor of San- tander Lios rosigned. Tho Lown f8 quiet. Tho Navy in favorable to Prince Alplionso. Marehal Berrano bas gone to Madrid, Pawgs, Dec, 31.—Additional dispatches from «ipaiv stato that Prince Alphonso Lins been in- ¥itd ta visit tho Ariay of tho North, The ships inthe berbor of Hantande, have howted tho oyal flag. Marehial Serrano acquiezcer. Tho Minintor of ths Interior has sent the following dispateh to the Governors of Provinces: Alphonto X1Lhan heon unanimonely prozlaimed Ring by tue Netion, Army, and Ministry. A regeacy hos een formed under the Presidency of Conovan del Cantillo, without & portfolio. Wa liono your yatriot- Aem will tnducs yon tofirmly maintein (ho sreat {ntor- cste confided to you, The Al Lonsists coneider that “Carlism has received a death Liuw, Es-Qnocn Isabelln bas received tho following dispatches : Al tha towns have responded enthusfastically to the proclaation, (Signed) DRiso pr Hivina, Captain-General of Madrid, We pray Your Majesty to_traumnit tlie news to your son, We enngratulato you ou this grand triutuph aohicvod without bloodshed, This telegram is signed by Cen. Fiima do Rivera and Canovas dol Castillo, TELEGRAX ITOX ISABELLA. Isabolla, in response to tho diepatch of Gen, Primo de tivera, sent tho following telegiam: ‘Tha Ling proceeds to Bpain immediately, ALTHONSO TO TIIE FOPE, Alnhonno has telegraphed ta o Pope esking Bis lcesing, and promising that ho will, ke hug ‘ancestors, defoud the of the lloly See. THE NEW TRY. A King Alphonso's Ministry is announced as fol- fows: Castro, Minlstcr of IMorsign Adfairs; Cardinss, Justico; Jovellar, War; Salverrs, Tinance ; Molines, Marino ; Rubledo, luterior ; Orovio, Commerce ; Ayals, Colonics, i MISCELLANEOUS, ¢ Alfonso did not pass_through Paris, but has gone to Spam direct. 1lo will disombark either 1at Cawiz or Valoncia, | Gen, Martinez Campos haa cntared Valoncia st the head of the troope thul were sent to op- pose him whn ha pronounced for Alfouso, The Carhst lenders, Dorregaray, Alvarez, and others, hiave outered Catalo: | INTERVIEW WITI KING ALPHONSO, I L,oxpo0x, Jan. 1.—5. n. m.—Ehe Times corres- 1 pondent at P'atis telographs that ho has had an | foterviow with Alphoneo, who I8 in that_city. | Yle staled that he was ready to start for Bpain, “but §t was nccessary ta await & dispatch which wag expected to-day (Fridny), Ho had expectod news of tho proclamation, His mother will * Yomain in Taris, Lie concluded as followa: ** T sm ot King of & party. My Ministry will be composed of men ell eliades.” i FRANCE, A COURT BENSATION. Nezw Yonx, Dec. 81.—A Paris dispatoh says: “The Journal Oficiel aunounces that at tho recoption on New Yaar's Day, by Presidont Bac- Mahon, he will bo attended by Marshalsand Gone- rals on duty, and also by Monseignenr Guibert, & rich Bishop of Paris, who will stand bosido the Prosident. This is the first tima since the reign . of Charles X., that & prelato of Paris haa boon so laced, and lhuhflct n(t £ l'u%er of the U::u;gx the post of hanor caus -e';:::'fg.lz‘!m%lmhfl MacMahon will thus inflict, Indircetly, s alight on the prorogstive of tho Na- tionn! Adsembly, although ho poasibly nover in- tended to dose.” THE MINISTRY, Deo. 31.—Tho Times' Paria dlspatch 0x, + The question of the rearrangemont of Bay: {he Ministry, whother & conferenco batwoon the Government and tho various groups in the As- sembly succeeds or fails, has reachod o sottle- Tn the ovent of a failure of tha conter~ ence, the modification_of the Cabivet will Lo slight snd without political riguificanco.’ TIE UPFER HOT'SE PUOTOBITION, The proposition for tho croation of & Benato was tho chief subject of dikcussion at tho meat- fng Io tho Palace of tho Elysea yesterday be- tween the reprosentatives of the minority and those of the various groups in the Aesembly, All tha Doputics declared that it was im- poseiblo to soparats tbo Senate bill from tho other constitutional Jaws. MM, Du- fauro and Leon Say fusted that pro- vition be mode for tho transmission of Marehal MacMabon's powers, ovon after the termination of tho seplennate. Deputies repre= ssuting the Right roplied thnt the septennste was morely percontl, whereupou Marshal Mac- Malion observed that, should avyihing Lappen to him, the country, bolug without an vrganized Qovornuent, would pacs through s terrible cnsis. Tlhl- Duko d’Andiffret Pasquiex romarked that tho question of (ranswission could be again ox- smived after 1650, when it miglit bo posuiblg to find eome gronnd upon wlich to compromisa, Another meeting will o ocld on Saturday. The Journal des Delats unys that an unders atanding botween tho two Centres ia possillo, mhif offected, it will bo indcpendent of the Ledra Rollin s de Ry GREAT BRITAIN. STLIRING COLLILR : Toxoox, Jan. 1—5:00 8+ w.—Sixty thousand tolifers in South Wales havo struck work, in con~ t1equenco of a reduction of WaZ0S: The Duke of Moutrono is deads e g ERMANY. DISYARCK Azfi' TUE PAPAL QUFETION. Benvix, Dec. 81.—The cireular note of Prives Dismarck, May 14, 1872, resd in scorob session of tho Von Arnim trial, etated that s new T'opo, if nct recognized by & majority of the Europesn mvoruig!m."\mum ceaso tobo & { 'ope, but v:u:xl:ll \ sand i tho sama y osition us & Lishop appointe * without the conzont or spproval of Lis Govera- meut, miEn. AUSTRIA A BNOW-BLOCKADZ ‘Mriexes, Deo. 81.—In consaquence Of & Very Isavy fall of snow mapy railwayi o Austtis havo wholly or pardally discontinued traffic. Traight-tradic 18 at a standstill throughout the country. Communication hetwesu this city and Pragus in enbirely intarntptod. Trioste Js lsolated landward sod soaward, —— ASIA MINOR. A SWEEPING PAN: CoxsTANIROrLE, Dec 91,—Simes the famine set fa fn Asis Minor 50,000 persons have migrat- ed from various parts of tho country to ths City af Adana.haif uf whom have since sucoumbed Lo disease, i CUBA. ADTANCE TN INSURANCE NATES, Havana, Dec, 31.—Owing to recent fires In Havana the foreign insurance companiea bave raleed their premiuma about 40 per cont, and adopted uniform ratos of premium. s i SOCIAL SCUM. Atrocions Robbery and Murder at Seaford, Del. A Doubly-Fatal Encounter at Fred- ricksburg, Mo. Drippings from the Bar-Rooms. LAWLEBSNESS IN THT INDIAN TERRITORY, Cucroram, Ken., Dec. 81.—Authentic iufor- mation from the Indisn Triritory has Just boen 1eccived hore of another terriblo affray between tho tio contending factions known as tho Rosa #nd.Dowing parties. A party was to bo held near Choloau, Cherokeo Notion, at Col. W. Adair's, now fu Washingtou as Clorokea dele- gate, Judgoe Jocl Mays, Olo Mayn, Jesse Mays, Wash Maye, Jack Doubletooth, James Markbam, and Thomas Cox wore going to the party, and when near Col. Adair's houee, just after dark, were attacked by & party of Rons men, con- wisting of Frank Cuvsine, Alic Cotton, Dick Ticilly, John Roes, and Honey Ross, nophow of Chiof Ross, Standing Roe, Jock Ros, Jack Riel- Iy, nod Arch Roe. Thoy attncked Doubletooth, vfumanmng his pistol. I'rauk Cunsine demand- cd Cox's pistol, and Colston attacked Markbam Wwith bis shot-gam, Cuneino fired at Cox, mor= tally wounding him. Upon this tbe Downing paty begau 1o dofend themsolvos, it beiug evi- dent that tho ltoss men were intent upon their murdez, and & general ight onsued, resuiting in the kitling of Thomasa Cox, Frank Cunsing, and Alie Colston, and tho wounding of Dick Rielly, Avch Ltoo, nud Jack Doublotooth. Tho Roea party reireated awt tha Downing men dispersed. An bour after, tiréuty Ioss men, led by tho Sherifly without any provocation, began fiting into Col. Admir's bouso, eerously wonndig William Walker. Donl letooth was scriously woundad, | und wan secretly Lrought to Chetopal, the Lo mon_threatemng to kill lum if lio remained in tho Territory, 1io 18 Ixocntive Connselor of tho Chorokee Nation, and printor of tho Chero- Jwe Advocate. 1lo was obliged to leavo Tallequah under o threas of .the Bo= cret, leagno in the Ross party. After leaving Adair's Liouse, tha RRoss party bained Markbam’s Tiaen, and nost day were reourtny tho country in search of Downing tuon. A gencral reigh of torror exists. Miany pooplo aro flecing lo Kausan and Fort Gil:son for protection. No ef- Tort isn bacn mado by Chiof Roes to arreat the offendors, Many leading citizens openly de- nounco lim for his myaterions inactivizy, rud holdly assert that, through fear of tha secret loagie which constitutes and is his partr, bo on- conrages this statoof lawlossnesy to intimidatn tho beticr elags of people 1 tho Territory from tabing; action favoring & Territotial Govern- ment. MURDERUUS RODBERS, Fuon. tu Fenford (DALY Citizen, It seoms that while the nloop Iiclen James, of Now Jemsey, Capt. Tongacre, wan lying ot anclior off the mouth ¢f tho Manticoko River, betwoen 1 and 2 o'clock a. m., throo maskod men approach- cd in n small boat, with mufiied oars, and, climb- ing noisclessly on deck, secured tho nogro man who wns omployed on the sloop, whom thoy bound and gagged, and then procceded to the cabin, which they entered. The Captain, who wes fh hu berih at the time, was croused by the noise, but before ha could get up to disputo their right of entrance o rovolver was placed siguifi- cautly to bis head, aud a zruf? voico commanded him to keop quiet. Ilowaalod from tho cabin by tho three 1uftlans, and one of them producing a strong cerd, the threo biund him to a boerd nud east bim overboard. To:tunately tho knot bo- camo loose, and, keeping ho'd of the board, he flonted around for eomo time, when s Captain af » passing Loat, attiacted by bin criog, picked him up. e told the Captain what had trauspived, when the latfer put bLis bent about and wont back, The thicves Lad escaped, ond tho first thing thoy did was to releage tho frightened negro. Next they procoeded to the cabin, whero thoy discovered that o watch, 6 valuablo' gun, & suit of clothes, and €150 in mouey had been takon. TLo Cuptain Lias stronz suspiclons as to whao tho parties were, a3 ho belioves ono of themn o bo the samo petson who wau prosout whon ho received this £150 ju the moraing. A CINCINNATI MURDER MYSTERY, Spesial Dispateh to The Chicado Tribine. Cixcrsxary, Dee, 81,—On the 2d of Decom- ber, Lawrenco Schultz, o salesman for Barbour, Stedman & Co., of thin city, rosched the L, C. & L. depot horo at 11 o'clock p, m. Tbiuiatho laat zoon or heard of him by Lis friends lero. o has a wife and two children. Ilo had boen out in Indiaua on a buginess trip for lus houso. At atesville, Ind., on the asy of hia return, ho had ‘been drinking in a aloon among strangets. Ile displayed a roll of money, probably 8200, Thero aro men around fiparth's Statiou and Moore’s Hill, on the lino of this road, who Lave o deadly cnmity towards Schultz, 88 Le once sent them to tho Donitentlary for larcouy and arsou. ‘Tho right half of tha cuticlo of 'a man's face was found last night an ash-barrel in the western part_of tho city The bair, mustache, ear, nose, and goateo of the right balf, Behuitz's wifo and the peoplo of the stors liavo examinod this carefully, and they de- claro thoir beliof that it is Schultz's, It cerfainly answors his descyiption porfectly, but if it be, thero is not yet tho slightcst trace to avents con- nected with tho affair, Thero 18 nothing known :i.amu‘ Bchultz from the night of Deo, 2 to this Y FATIIER GERDEMANN HILD TO BAIL. Special Dispateh to The Chicago Trihune, Poitaverrnia, Pa., Dee, 31.—Fathor Gerde- ‘maan, late pastor of Donifacius Church, was ar- raiened to-day before Ald, MecColgan, on » charge of larceny in roceiving $500 of Bt, Vin- cent’s Orphau Asylum and feloniously appro- pristing the same, e waived a heariug, and was held in §1,000 bail. There is groat excite- ment among German Catholics ponding the do- clsion of the court in tho habeas corpus case, in which he ia charged with appropristing monoys of tho church amounting to §100,000. Father Gerdemann left the parish some weoks ago, and fled with the lady organist to St. Louis, thenoa to Baltimore, and was arrested when about leaving for Europe, DESPERATE QUARREL — HONORADLY DIS. CHARG: Br. Louss, Dec. 8L.—Two men, namod Fuiler and Clemens, liviog at Fredencksburgh, Ray County, in this Btate, quarrcled last Hatuiday sbout somo whisk:, and Clemens shot Fuller with » double-barreled shot-gun, putting the contents of both barrols foto him. Fuller, although nearly blown to picces, plunged a knife into Clemens, almost discmboweling him. Both men died, Couductor Rich and his son, snd Jerry Maho- noy, who have been on trinl at Kansas ity for soveral days past for the murdor of MHeury Btrade and Henry Barnott, who were found dead on the railrond tiack noar Kansas City, about two woeks ago, wero honorably discharged yesterday, HOUSE ROBBED BY A SNEAK.THIRP, Speaal Dispatch ta The Chicago Tridunds DusuQue, Is., Dec. 31.—Tho residenon of Robert Todd, an engineer on the Iilinoia Contral Hailroad, wes entered by & sneak to-night and rovbed of mouoy and eilverwaro to tho amount of $100. Tho robbery was offected while the family wero eating supper, tho tnlef entering by the kitohen door, ~ A follow who Las beon in tha city for eoveral days past playing the rollof s grasshoppor sufferor 18 suspected ay he guilty party. EXONERATED, New Yoax, Deo, 81.—Dr, Charles De Moor, arrested on suspicion of baviog caused thedeath of the cbild of Eate Elzel, has beon exonerated by the Coroner's jwsye . WASHINGTON. tetrenchment and Reform in the Post-0ffice Depariment, Mr. Jewell Promises an An- nual Saving of $£4,000,000. Senator Sherman's Position on the New Finance Bill, Provisions of the Bill to Charter the Forty-first Parallel Railroad, A Subsidy of $10,000 Each Mile Al lowed-~-Daily ails For- ever Free The Charter Repealable by Con- gress. POSTAL REFORM. RETRENCHMENT PROFOFED. Sgectal Inspateh to I'lie Chicano Tribuns, ‘Wasninatoz, D. C., Dee. 31.—The Bureau of Foteign Mails, of the L'ost-Ofilco Department, Das edopted the plan of Capt. McGrath, of Cai- eago, for Lho collectton of nupaid postago upon forcign mail matter. The plan has already been put in operation in Now York, Now Jersoy, Min- nesota, und ono or two othor Northwestern States, 'Tho oxccution of the plan in the North- west is under tho direct suporvigion of Cast. MecGrath, of the Clucago oflico. Tho roturns from Chicago for the first threo wooks of the operation of the mew plan in Min- nesota aliow that more postage on foreign mail mattor bas been collected within that period than was formerly collected in an entiro quarter. The indications are that the McGrath plan will bo ontirely successful. It i estimated that it will resultin o waving to the Post-Ofiico Depart- mout of 1,000,000 nunually, which bas Lither- to Leon Jost, Tu the PLOIOSED REORGANIZATION OF THE POST-OFFICE n - by the Postmnster (teneral, the advieen received hero indicate that nn coneidaiable changes will bo mads in the Chicago Post-Oifice. 'hore- cont reduction of furce which hLave been made thers will doubtless preciude tho neceslty of any furlhor changes. O tho report of the Examiving Connmirsion the Postmaster- Gioneral expeeta'lo bo able to effect o saving of at leant £4,000,000 aunually v fonr depactiocnts of the pestal sorsters 1t 13 belioved that n re- ductiou of #1,000,000 can ba saved by tho collec- tiou of bitherto uuzolleeted postage nnder the MeGrath aystam, and that corramly £2,000,000 can be eaved in the cost of transportation, sl THZ FINANCE. BENATOR SHERMAN'S IOSITION ON THE NEW 2 PINANCE UILE. Special Dissatch to The Chicaae Tridune, Wasitixarox, D. C., Dee. 81.—t5cnator Shor- man's friends represent that ho feels much sn- noyed ot the criticisms of tho prens upon bis netion with respect to tho now finance bill, and especially at the oharges that ho has modificd his aggressivo positicn concerning specio pay- menta. Tho truth is thnt tho Scnato bill does not abrolutoly represont the visws of Senator Shermau or any other individual Sonator, but that it is o compromite, and tho result of n caroful comparison of views for three wooke: Bonstor Sherman, in presenting thio bill to tho Senate, simply acted a8 tho organ of tho caucus whiol resommendoi tt, In that cancus a quention a3 to tho cancellation of the vetired greenbacks; was raised, and tho point was ospecially mado that sherman should not mako any epccifle answer to questions oncern- ing that feature of the bill. ~Sherman, in fact, was direcsad Ly tho caucus to ovado o diroct an- swer to tho quention whether the bill provided for the cancellasion of theretired notes. An ex- amination of hin spcoch witl show that Shorman, with preat ingenuity, evaded an angwer to that question, (70 the Ansociated Preand b E RECELPTS. TVASHINGTON, .. Dec, 31.—Tho recoipts from Internal Rovenuo to-day were &567,603. Tho ‘recelpts for the mouth ending = to- day wero $3.934.070.° For the fincal year, D. to date, $52,273,430. The amount of Natioual Bavk notes received for redomp- tion to-dav in 637,440, ‘The total recelpts for thn six months endiog to-day wora #50,072,077. Customs_recoiptn for the weok ond- ing Dec. 26: Now York, #1,081,208; Dostoth, §165,200; Philadelphis, altimora, $87,116; Now Orieans, for the week ending Dec, 19, £50,560; San I'rancisco, for the week ending on the 19th, 160,26 i S FORTY.FIRST PARALLEL RAILROAD. THI DILL CHAUTERLNG A NARROW-GAUGE LOAD FROM TOLEDO TO COUNCIL DLUFFS. Special Disnateh to The Chicago Tribune. WasmNoroy, D. 0., Dec. 8L.—A bill wes ine troduced by Mr: McCrary a day or two beforo tho holiday-recess, whoeo provisions should bo knosn to tho pooplo of tho Northwost. It hes just beeh printed. Itis *' A bill chartering thoe Forty:first Parallel Mailrond Company of tho United States of Ameriea, from Lake Lrle to tbe Mirsouri Rivor, and to fimit tho rates of freight thereon,” It is n project for o narrow-gauge (3 feot) freight and passenger railway from ‘Toledo, 0., to Council Dluffs, Ia., tho proposed line golng directly southwost from Toledo to a point on the Obhio line, aod thence direetly across Indiana, Illinols, and Iowa. It would pass through Rensselaer, Ind,, and abgb 20 miles north of Poorla, 11l THE PHOVISIONS OF THE DILL, in detail, 2re : See. 1 provides that the Toledo & Grand Rap- 1da Railtoad Company, of Ohio ; tho Forty-first Parallel Company, of Indiava ; the Kelthsburg & Lnstern, of Iliinois : and the Forty-firat Par- slio] Cormpany, of Towa, and their stockholders, oro crealed o body corporate, under tho name of the Foity-first Parallel Ratiroad Company of the Urited Btales of Americn, with full powers as s ccrparation, with tho purposo and objest of con- atricting n barrow-guuge railroad, as above ret forth, It s also provided thut no grads for traflic castward bound shull excoed 40 foot to tha mile, See. 9 vrovides that tho corporation may ex- tend its lina eastward, through Obio, Peuusyl- yania, aud Now Jorsey, to the Jiudon River; and for yroper brauches. Bee. J provides that the capital-stock shall not exceed §7,000,000 cn the line botween 'Toledo und Council Blullsj botween Toledo sud New Yorl, the same, Bces. 4 and 5 provido claborate rulea for the practical organization of tho Company snd tho mausgomont of us busineus. Bec, 6 provides for the construction of s first- clas rairoad, O-fect gruge, with steel or aolid steol-honded tails, nud equipments to match, $eca, 7 and B confer powers upon tho Com- pany to buy lands, and to make contracts with railroad lines in_boiog uvder tho faws of the tatos in which the rouds aro located, Theo scc- tion provides for the coudemnation of lnuds, whero an agreemont cannot otborwise be made, Thesa provisions are 'quite claborate, and judi. cial proceedings theroundur are tho lauds of the L’m\nd States Courty, but tho laws of tho Siate in which right of wayis thus obtalued gavern in the matter, 3 Bac. 13 (owitting details of Seca. {10, 11, and 12) makes the road a public highway and [‘wnb- Toad, and gives the Company power to coustruct and maintain telegraph L, fixiug und reatrict- iug tho charges of telegraphing, whether by the Govorument or piivato porso Socs, 14 and 15 provido falr aud liberal rules 38 to tho rocoption and trauster of freighte, Beo. 16 providos that bulk-freight (meaning all articles of frejght which aro placod 1n carg without packages by the shippcr, by the car- laaal and without haudling by the Company) shall be carried at tlie rate of ¢ mills per ton per mile for all distancos oxceeding (00 miles ; 7 mills for aistauces less than 60u aud more than 500 wmilos ; 8 mills for distauces less than 500 and more thau 400 milos ; 9 mulls for the next 100-mile rmak for tue nex, 10 mills; for the next, 11 1 12 mills where the distance is between 50 and 300 miles ; 15 mills whore the distance is Jesn than 60 miles. On westward-bound frofghts, | 50) per cent may ho added to theas rates, Thean raten are also to be roduced 1 mill per tou per 1ndlo on above distances when tho tonniage of the road shall amonnt to 2,500 tons por mile. Hec. 17 provides for ths transportation of pakrengers at & maximum charge of 4 conts a mile where tha distance ia 100 miles or over, and 3 conts for leen dintanco, n, 18 provides that the Compaay ahall rander perprtually to tho United Statos u tonil service, frea of charpe, of one mailcar cach way, every twenty-foir honrs, for six days in each week. Sce. 19 provides for a Commirsion of five men —tiiren to ba appointed by tho President, by and with the advice aud consent of tho Henate, and’ two by tha Company. Thn dutienof these Com- minsionora may bo described aa mmilar to the datien of the Kailway Commissioners of Dlinols, By Hec. 21, Congrern authorizes the Company ta recelve, upon proper proof of the construe- tion and equipment of such %0 miles of road, Londn of the United Btates at the rate of £10.000 for each mile of road. The bondg are to homads payabls in thirty years, redemablo in ten, and to bear 5 per cent intorest, The last rection of thio bill is ns follows : fizc, 21 | That thin chartar, and afl privilegen therein contalued, aro bershy deciared tn bo subject to the control of Congrean as {o modificatiou, alteration, or Tepeal of the Aamo, ANGUMENT FOR NARROW-GAUGE ROADS. Accompanying this bill inan elaburatn memo= rial by J. K. Hornish, a Westorn railroad-man, in advocacy of narrow-gauge railroade, A notable featuro of this memorial is, that it sasails with groat viger tho measure now peuding in Con- gross for & double-track frelght-railwaz. The argumonts adducod by Mr. Hornish against this exponsive schome, it will be difiieult, 1f not - possible, to aumwer. 1t in rirrecd by Mr. MeCrary, Chairman of the Committeo on Railways and Cauals, that this il for tho Forty-first Parallel Road {s fair aud bonest ; but it is not claimed that ke will sup- nort the meanure, eithor in Commitioe or in the Houge, Bhould the contest be hotween tho doubla-track freight-line. to be buwilt wholly by Govornment, aod A BOAITOW-ZRURe pBrABN[ET- and-freight-line, carrying daily mM{n forever frec batween the West and the Eaet, to he midod half its constrnction and equipment expiense hy Goverument, he would undoubtedly give Lis approsal to the latter. In =ny event, tius biil and tho accompanying memorial are sure to arouse an interost {n Con- grosa on the subject of narrow-gauge ratlways nover before oen hore. THE MINERS. Conference Meeting of Operators and Laborers at Hazleton, Pa, The Basis of Wages Offered by the Cual Rings Indignantly Rejected. A General Strike to Bo Inangurated in the Anthracite Coal Districts: A Lively Prospect of Trouble. LARGE NEETING OF MINERS. Special Dispateh to Ihe Chicano Tribune, HazLETON, D'a., Dee. 31— To-day o largo moet- ing of minors employed in tho Hazleion, Beaver Meado, Lehigh, and Upper Lehigh coal din- tricts, was held in the Sors of America Inll to tako into consideration tho etate of the trade, and euch other matters as might be introduced. Full delegations from the miners organizations _woro presont. A moro inteliizent body of men han seldom gasembled in this region. Tho moin object of tho conferenco was to cllect & satig~ fuctory basis of wages for 1875, After tho or- ganizetion of tho meeting, R, Williame, . View sor, Hugh McGnrroy, Joreph McGinty, and C. 8. Boyle, tho Commitlee appointed to moet the operators' Cormittes TO CONPER ON THE WAGES QUESTION, reccived their instructions. The sentiments of the mon were very strongly infavor of demanding proper pay for extra work or labor which they have beew compelled to perform without come peusation. Subsequently, tho Cominittee met the operators’ Committoe, A, Pardeo, J. Ilayden, J. B. Linderman, Eckley 3. Cox, 8. Van Winklo, and W. D, Zechuer, at the Contral Hotel. Gen. Pardeo, tho Chaitman, stated that tho object of tho coufercnco was to sottlo the pay sud ar- rango o Acale of wages for workingmen, Ho rtated that lower pay was shout to be offered. Dr. Linderman then offernd the snnexed resoln- tionr, which were adopted (tho Miners' Commit- tee did uot vote): 3 THE OPERATORS' TERMS. - FRewleed, That the operators of the Lebigh reghon offcr thelr men tho foliowing rates of wagea for 1415, viz: for outside lahor (a fized rale for the vear), from 4 t0 §2 per week ; platfore, §0.60 per week 3 boys and Flate-packers, 10 per cont ot {rom the Wagea for 1874, wlhien tho price of coal s 35 on beard at ¥ zabothport or Port Johnwon; for inside laborers, 39,90 to £10,10 perweek s minera’ wages by the day, $12,60 per weck 3 3or cutting coal, 15 par cent off the price paid fn INT4 for all yardage work, 15 per cent off the price of 1874 ¢ for similar work when cxtra allowances are 1010 made, the prico shyil be by judging the price pald in 18741 for work of elmller cliaractezJ5 per cent olf of the above, Wages, except outslde, miall advanco or decline at thie pafe of 10 per cent fur every dollar or fraction of o dollar advanco or deslino in tlie price of coal at Elizabeth or Fort Johnson, 88 Teported monthly by the Lehign Goal-Lxchange at New York, Teesolred, That, when work at tlie minea in resnmed, it shall bo with the distinct understanding that, if any dificulty a3 to wages, or of any other nature, shoull nriso_Uetween tho operator and any of his employes which cannot be arranged by the parties intercsted, |t tho difficulty ahall be referred to 3 Board of Arbitrn- tion_for sottlement, and, pending the deciston, work Ehall not cearo on account of said difficulty. Tho moeting was then adjournod until Jan, 10. WORE WILL NE HUSDENDED in all tho collieries of tho middlo coal-flelds until that timo. In the afternoon snother producers' Confer- enco waa beld, when it was resolvod to adhere to thie previous propositions to themen, Thonuners nalso met in mass-meeting and denvunced tho ex- acttons of operators a8 unjust and uncalled for. Although no deilntto netion was taken towards 3 striko, suflicient has been loarned from minors preseut at both moetings to stato that A MOST DETENMINED BTRIKE will oceur before many days. 'The minors will nt ouca hold meetings throughout the mining country, snd strengthon themselyos for the strugglo against what they term oppression_of the Coal King, The Minors' and Laborors’ Be- nevolent Union, which bas a membership of 8,000, is in good coudition financially, and_can wssist tho colliers 10 an extonded baitle, It 18 stated that tho * stand-out,” if onceinaugurated, will continuo for months, James O llallaran, President of the Luzerno Council of Bliners of tho National Association, bas Just arrived hore from Pottavillo, and his protonco Lotokoua the openiug of the miners’ HOBTILITIEY AGAINST THE OPERATONS. All conl siupments will bo stopped after Faturday, Tho sssociated companics have a'so decided to mako o reduction of 10 and 15 per cent in this miners wages in sil the other antlirn- cite regions, and thers is alively prospect for troubls in the chuylkilt, Wyoming, and Lacka~ waua Districts. ——————— FIRES, IN CHLIOAGO, Tho alarm from Box 617 at 9 o'clock last night was caused by a slight fire in tho bakery and confoctionery of Jobn Fislor, No. 361 West Chi- cago avenue, Damage, €50, The bursting of & kerosene lamp caused tho blaze. The fire signal from Box 121 at 10:35 last night was given without cause. AT MASON, MIOIL. Speeial Dispaten to The Chicaoo Tridune, Detrotr, Miok,, Dec. 31.—This afternoon the warchouse, with clovator attachod, bolonglug to N. A, Dunning & Co., at Mason, was burned, with all ity contents. Loss, §5,000; insured, 3,000, e DCE—ANN STEAMSHIP NEWS, BoutianmrroN, Deo 31.—The steamship Hanss, from New York, Lus arrived. i e HORSE THIEVES AT WORK. Special DispateA to The Chicaga Tridune, Gavessung, I, Doy 9l,—Last wmghs the barn of Thomas D. Day, near Watago, was ene tored, nul two valuable mares stolon. Thoe farme ors are cousiderably excited over the ovent, as sovoral casey of tho kind have lately occurred. ‘Fhore is but littlo doubt of the existence of an organized gang of doaperadoes fn this vicinity, tho several burglarios and otber late crimes ovi- deatly helng done by the samo partics. A re- ward of 830 is offered for the recovery of the snimals. AT LAST. The Mechanics' National Bank Goes Into Volunfary Liquidation, Mr. McoCagg Abandons the Thank- less Task of Extricating It, ‘What Can Be Learned About Assets and Liabilities. Mr. Reed's Share in Their Troubles, The Mochanic's Nalional Dank of this city, aftera lifo filled with pore affliction and dire tribulation, has * given up the ghost.," Yester- doy morning the bLanking-liouses of the city were in receipt of information that the stock holders of the bank had held a mecting the day provions, and nusvimously resclved to go into voluntary liquidation. Tho annonncoment created & degreo cf surprise, notwithstanding the fact that tho public Liad long been aware of its feeble condition. zThe bank was organized some ten yesrs ago. under the general banking Iaw. From its organization, the ability of it managers was distrusted, and from time to timo it has bad to bear up under the greatest fioancial distress. The institution hoa edged its way aloog. however, its changes of mausgement, ttranga to say, having largely contributed to eatablish it in confidence, Following the great fito of 1871, the beuk suffered } IT GEVEREST TRIALS, which wora nileviated by the doubtful policy of borrowing from A to pay B, aud from C to pay A. Tho datine Company, which wes doing s |- savings bank bueineca about that time, came to its rescue, the officers of tho two institutions having o common interest, This help, tt appears, was ivadequato to sustain the Mechanics' Lank, but sufticient to kill tho OMarive Com- pouy, whick, all ‘hiogs cousidered, was a fortunate death. Other meana of succor were resorted to, availing nothing, how- ever, oxcept to increase tho difficalties of the bank, Thie waa while it was under the manage- ment of J. Young Scammon, Prosident. The debt under this management loomed up to about £625.000, while tho assets wero losa than $600,- 000. Notwithatanding the real ineolvent condi- tion of the concern, by Look or crook its hesd wan kopt above watcr, and it waa made o appear totle public as being ressonably susecseful. On tho 20th of January, 1474, s moeting of the Di- roctors was held, whick was a matter mora of necessity than pleasure. The mituation was thoroughly canvarsed and A CHANGEL OF XANAGEMENT agreed upon. Mr. I, B, McCagg was elected President, vice J. Y. Scammon. The cbange in- fused new life into the bank, but it appears did not carry it oo to vietory, unless the word 1y 1obbed of its ordivary definition, Weducsday ANOTHER MEETING of tho stockholders waa hield, and also of the Directors, called by the Prerident. There wero present at tho mectings E. B, McCagg, B. W. Naymond, J. Young Seammon, F. W. Paimer, ifervey Lightner, and J. . liced. ‘Tho situa- tiou was hgain discasked. LExperienco wan claimed to have becn a dear teacher to most of them, when at the suggention of Mr. McCagg it was unauimously resoived to voluntarily go into liquidation. At n subsoquent meeting of the Directors Mr. McCagg resigned tho Presidencs, and Mr. Hor- oy Lightuor, of Peoris, was at ouce elected to fili the oftice. As 8oon a8 tho announcement was made yes- terday that the bank had goue into volumtary liquidation, & reporter waited upon MB. M'CAGH at his residonce. Tho gentleman was found re- clining upon & lounge, 1n almost aa feoblo o con- dition a8 the bank vver which ne had for o year resided. 1le anticipated the object of tho v:eit n o moment, and broached tho subject, 'Che tollowing satcment was secured, which wit, be accopted aa a defense of his management ualy: On the 18t of February, 1873, I reluctantly ac- cepted the I'residency of tho Mechanics' Laak. I tound tho habilities to ba §400,000, over und above the over-drafts un the Metropolitan Jlauk, which I had been led to believo were not over $100,000. Tho assets wero over $660,000. After I had been in ths Meclaics' Bank awhile, I fouud that the bauk had guarauteed certificates of the Marina Company Bauk to tho Metropoli- tan Dank of New York to tho additional amount of £120,000, alt of swhich would bocome dus in oue, two, and three yeaiy. Tho first iustallment was duo January, 1875, then sot about examin- ing tho nesots, which was one with groat care, 1 foiind the assats gencrall s of o vory inifferont character, many of thrm worse than I could possibly have supposed. I have been en- abled, however, to reduco tho indobtcdness from over §400,000, exciusive of tho £224,000 certificates, to sbout €70,000, and to placo the yomaining assets in as good & condition s pos- sible for tho ultimate payment of tho remsimng debts, I found the bonk ho!ding A LABGE AMOUNT OF RKAL ESTATE, mostlyincumbored with uapaid taxes, aud inter- cst constantly secruing. I was in hopo the times would grow better, and that I could sell roal estato during the year suflicient to mect the Temaining 70,000 indebtedness. 1 have offered tho lands of tho bank in aud around the city at a Tuinous sacsifice, 1n order to make provision for the AMetropolitan Bank debt, which was most pressing, but have not puccoeded in solling. I ad- vised tho stockliolders Wednesday to go iuto vol- untary liquidation, wlich 1o ma scemed the wiscet courso, I unever had but a §1,000 interest in the banlk, and, under the circumstances, was un- willing to take upon myzelf the further manage- ment. I bolieve the asecta will pay the dobts of tho bamk, but tho stockholders will bo wiped ovt. In a conversation following tho above atato- moant, Mr. MeCagg 1efused to give any further ixl:mrmnuon bearing upon tho case, otler than ab THE ASSETS OF THE INSTITOTION amonuted to abont £150,000, 11e would say noth ivg cf the stockholdere, and refused to give the chatacter of the bills receivable. ML, HABVEY LIGHTNER, tho Prosident-eloct, whoen duty it is to liquidate, wag noxt called upou, He was not propured to make & etatement of the condition of the bauk. Ho know notbing, and wonld tay nothiug, his lips being epparentty locked, ~After a great deal of labor, however, {ho gentlernan mado somo statements, wuich are appended, and which will astobirh no one more than Mr. Lizhtner, who1s seatcely awara that ho said nule!Il:fi 5 llfipafler-—\\'hn‘ 14 the roal condition of your ank ¢ AMr. L.—Well, I hardly know, more thau that it is i voluntary liquidation. Now, res, 1 came Lomo only yestérday, aud am only the President of aday. Leporter—You have, of course, examined TOX LIABILITIES AND ASSETS somewhat? Mr, L.—Partially. The liabilitics, covering the doposits, certitied chocks, and accounts with other banke, amount to about §70,000. Heporter—Is &70,000 all tho bank owes? Mr, L.—Among the bills Enynblu I find $104.000, for which the parties have ample real oatato aeourity. Reporter—Your assots ? Mr, L.—Tho bills rccoivable smount to £600,000, Teporter—What Is the nature of the asscts? Mr, L,—I must be excised from stating any- thing now: when the timo comen 1 will givo the pullic overything. I wiil eay, though, all dopos- itors will bo eecure; sod you can furthor eay that they noed not lay awako about thoir miouev, 1f anybody loses auything by the bauk, it will be the steckholders, 2 Teporter.—Is Alr, Scammon or Mir, Recd in- debted to the bauk? Mr, L.~1 must again refase to auswer, 83 any bauk-ctlicor would. x Reporter.—Aud you positively refuse to give any idoa of the assots? T. L,—Yos, ir, suything more than already givea, These are kward times, and to esti~ mato tha woith of anything is hazardous. =~ Reportor.—\Whon was tlus voluntary liquida~ tion 1dea first broached? Mr. L.—Our firet meeting was yesterday. Reporter—but Is it not & fact that the stock- ers liave been talking tho matter up for soms tima nmong themselves in o private way 7 Mr. L.—Such a thinyg masy have beon tulked, but 1t does not become mo to speak of it. Revorter—L'ardon me, but did you ever men- tion the subject yoursolf 2 Mr. L.—1 will not speuk further on that point. Reporter—And you will not say whether you bave been spoken fo or not? Mr. L.—1t I bad boen spoken to it would be improper to repeat it, Iam pot ‘compelled to avswer auch questions, and cannot. With this last auswer the gentleman manifest- ed an nneasinoes, and sought another part of the roum, and the repoter mwle his exit with a * Good-dag." FURTAER TXVEATIOATION into the condition of tue Lank was then made among repositors and creditors, and thomo hest acquaiuted with its managemont and condition. Tha eanital stock of the hank, it sppears, in 200,000, divided into 2,600 £1,000 shiarcs, as fol- lowa: 1. 8. Raod, 1,200 shares: B. W. Baymond, 10 ehares; Harvey Lightner, 600 nha A Young Scammon, 660 sharos: F. 15 McCagg, 10 khare; . D held only 600 shares originslly, but afterward houglht 600 additional shiarea of Boston partics, borrowing 40,010 for tha pnrpose, pledging the whole for the horrowed money. At that time lio wan Casbier of tha bank. and romained in that position until Mr. McCagg auperssded Mr. Sesmmon an Prostdent. At that time he was found to have overdrasrn lus account with the bauk about £75,000, and wns removed from his roeition. He gave the bank a second mortgaga on tho Boatb-Hide Eriggs Houae for the debt. Abont thia time Mr, Bcammon owed the bank lh;l}ll £70,090, £60,000 of which haa since been i The assets aro understond to be, aa Mr, Mc~ Cagy sets forth in s etatemont, decidedly into- rior, 'Ine cbligation of Mr. leed, 75,000, iw smong tho assets, and regard- ed a4 entirely worthlesa; another ob- Mgation included in the assote s 810,000 by Mr, Beammon. These two items of tha asrets were all thatcould be learned, and may bo taken oa & sample of tha rest. Tho as- seta proper, kuch as they are, amount to not moro than £350,000, notwithutauding tho state- ments of the two Presidonts, the former making his with a reacrvation, and the latter withont per- sonal knowledgo. From all that could be learned, 1t appoars possiblo that DEPOSITORS will suffer littlo it any loss by the closing of the ‘bauk, but that the privcipal hardsbip will be en- dured by the ' friend indecd,” the Metropolitan Baok of New York. ‘While tae bank was always weak, nndoubtedly it was badly bit by Mr, Reed's overdrafts, Ho sunk hLis mesus in the erection of the Briggs Housa—he did not own the realty—and the in- veatment tarnod out to be an oxceedingly un- rofitable ope, On tho Gth of November ths ank filod B Lill to foreclose its mortgage on building and leasehold intorest, and Liave a Re- ceiver put 1n possession, Everyibing was qiiet st the bank yesterday. Busiuoss was entirely suspended. ‘Lhe monot- ony waa occasioually relieved by au aaxious de- positor of the day ~before, who wanted to dras bis monoy, ur he who Lod lad returned to bim checks upon the Mechanics' froin tho other banks, Al such applicants wore sont away with the admonition to wait for eomething to turn up. Tho depositors of Wednesday will ba able to draw their monoy in & few daya, however, such deposits not baving boen incloded in tho asecta TiE TARIFE. Revenue from Ten and Coffees From the New York Timee, Ono of the firat political acta of tho Congress that came into power with Mr. Polk was to lower” tho dutv on rugar an amount oqual to 2 cents per pound, The Bpanish Legation at Wasting- ton took s deep intereat in theo matter, and the “opposition " papers of the day went 80 far a8 to senert that ** Madrid ” was necessary Lo secure iufluence enough to carry the final vote. Itis certain that the Hpaovish Ministor obtained information of the passago of tho act rednang the teriff fong befors its official promulyntion, snd, if wo mistake not, the yery day the duty was lowored tho Governor General pul an additionnl ezport duty on ail sugars sent o the United States from Cula a{ 2 cents per pound, Tha practical result was that foreign sngar, instead of being choaper, rose in our market, sud tho Louisiana pladter was deprived of a certain amount of incidental pro- tection to his iuterest, and no ons was bonoflted hut the Spavish Government. This circumstance Lns been recalled by the bistory of the recent repeal of thetariff on tea and coffee, one of the moat impolitic pieces of iegislation that ever characterized the work of our rulors st Wash- ington. For eomething like 8 querter of s century or more, perhaps, previous totho year 1861, tea and coffeo were admitted free of duty. From 1862 to 1471 tea paid 15 to_25 cents, aud coffeo b cents per ponnd duty. There was an enormous atock of tcas i tho country when the duty was impos- ed, and it was a year or more beforo consumers tue full advance, In 1870 Congress was * tinkering " the tanfl. During the two pres vious years importations bad increased ; trade was dull, owing to tiio geoeral ehrinkage of the valus of il kinds of property. In 1570 cealers putchased emall quan- tities, throwing the burden of carrring the stock on the importers and large dealera in the Eastorn citios, Inthis depressing state of things tho larze iiolders took advautage of the agitstion of the tariff question, and procured a reduction of 10 centa ou tea and 2 cents ou coffea per ponnd, to tako effect afcr tuo 1st of Jan- nary, 1871, This temporarily relioved tho trade; dealers all oves the country bought frecly ; toas zdvanced in price, but moro than one-balf of tho rebate went itto tho pockots of the larze tolders: tho remaioder made no perceptible dif- fereuce in favor of the consumers, for, a3 soon 8 the news reached the st Indics of tho re- duction, teas wero advanced one-third to half of hio reduction of ths duty. Tho year 1671 was signalized by tho largest fmportation of tea ever kunown'; tho Ubited States honded warehouses were filled to roplo- tion, trado necessanly becamo dull, stocks accu- Iated in the Eastern cities. Dealors, lsrge nand small, fearing a further decline, purchased in enfill yuantibies. In lcas than a year after the reduction of 10 cents duty, importers and large dealers were losing monoy. In the spring of 1872 Cougress again com- monced * tinkering " the tariff, In obodience to tho domands of the poople, groat reductions were made in interual-reventa taxes, aud in the **lot- ting up " tho large bolders of teas (tue import- ers) Joined in tho Lo and ery of * Freo break- fast table.” Congress hiad to do something, and in o moment of incousideration, leavingz the Imost offensive features of tho *stamp act " in force, voted that after May, 1872, coffee oud tea ehould be free, In the burly-burly excitement of tho moment tlore came a large demund from all parts of the coantry, ot rated of 5 to 8 ceuts advanco over tha Jowest point of decline, The consumer getting about one-half the benofit on tea, on Coffew really nothing, the relicf to the importers and large dealers wes, however, of short dura- tion. “I'lio first rednction of the tarif had produced &n over-import at enhauced cost. Boul s tho bows reachod Clina and Jupan, we tind. by ex- amination of the commercis] eirculary, that the Jrices advanced four nud eight cents per pound, aud & larger quantity was purchased for tho United States, st higher pnces, than tho pre- vious year, notwithsiandiug our home market was overstocked, this infatuation heing encours aged in tho minds of the Km‘wr:ors by the lcs *ihat the abolitlon of dulies increanos consuwp~ tion, oat of the time through 1873 aud 1874, cone sumers lavo had teas at compuratvely low prives, kol from the yeduction of the tariff, but from the leses of the importers and largs deal- orw. These losses wero estimated from Junuary, 1474, to July, 1573, to havo been ovor 10,00 0002 Many importers and dealers gave up busi- noms to 8avo themseives trom utter ruin ; otbors, with eapital from £50.000 to §250,000, failed, paying on an average L0 cents on the dollar, Tost of tho partics who wero active in the Wishington lobby to sccure the abolition of the duty were, aftey sho first kpnsm of relief, badl dumaged by the change. 1twd the duty romniued, tho over-tmportstion of 1871 would not lhava been followed Ly the stili larger and more ruins ows importatious of tho following years, sml #ll the losses of revewuo and parsoual ruin resulted in aggregating the wealth of Chiua and Japsn, aud did not rat!k“ reliovo fiome cousnmers it the leart degree. y check of orders from the Unitod Btatos lowers prices at tho ports of foreign producers, sny suddon - creass of demand (stimulated for indtance by ths ropeal of & tarifl) raises prices abroad. So did our Govornmant 1ok ouly lase tho rovenuo ro- ceived from tcs and coffee, but inducod tho jm- portation of sn additional stock at advancod prices, to Lo #old ou an already declining market, Of all tanfTs, the amount on tea and colied waa the most commouly collscted, 1f tho duty wero restored, and all thie small anuoyauces of stamps ou matchios, lager-beer kegu, suall notes, otc., abolished, tho people would bless the Govern- ment, and be utteily uncenscioud that their + broakfaut-tablo * was taxe OFFIOLAL BTATEMENT SHOWING QUANTITY OF TEA AND COFFYE IMPORTED AT THE FOBT OF NEW YORK FROM JuLy 1, 1871, (o June 30, 18722 Colfee, Lbs, Duty, 3 per 14,400, 4¢ Tea, ibs, 1, Duly, 1% per Ib. 400, 2,004,810 1,017,207 703,809 QT 1,512,519 a761,301 aesm B0 108780,1%8 DU eeresssersinren QIR e THE CALENDAR. Ere SEERE £ Soi BB CEEES D2 BESS! fd TR So CHICAGO IN 1874: Trade and Commerco of tho City for One Year, (Continued from the Fourth !:2-] ber of vessels wero laid ng in tbe usually most disastrous months,—Octobor and November,— which accounts in 8 measure for the faoi that iggumm‘zn sustained wero much less than in 3 THE HARBOR. THE AMOUXT OF RIVER IMPROVEMENTS made this yearisnot so great asin pravious sessons, but enough has been accomplished ta afford amplo accommodations for our stead. ily growing marine intercsts. Tho following shiowa tho total amount of harbor and dockago, calenlatod in lineal fect, now in existence. From tho Iakoe to the intersection of the North Brauch—Harbor, 7,000; docksge, 14,000 South Branch—~Harbor, 21,500; dockage, 43, 000. Korth Branch—Harbor, ;24,0005 dockage, 48,- Slips and Basins—Harbor, 37,150: dockage, 74,300 Weat Branch of the South Branch—Harbor, 17,100; dockage, 34,200, South Branch of the Sonth Branch—Harbor, 9,300; dockage, 18,600 Total amount of harborage, 115,650 feet, equal to 31 miles, Total amount of dockage, 231,100 feet, aqual to 43 miles. The Dock snd Harbor Draughtsman of the Board of Public Worke is now engaged in re- placing the map of harbor and river improve- monta, which was destroyed by the great firo. When completod it will bo an ccurate reprosen- tation of Chicago's marine facilitios. The following is the extent of improvementa during the past year, both on docksand in dredg- ing: Dock brilt 6,885 feet....... Dreding 608,814 cubio yards. TOtAl COBurarauvaenaerssnsransnssanes var $2244ST The most important impravement in the liar- bor lin 18 the rapid progress made in the outer barbor, which extends from the river to the centrs line of Van Buren streot, adistance of 4,000 fect. The sonthern extremity of this harbor will bs ' left entirely open, -lxhon§h it ia stroogly urged that the coostruction of o breakwator at the southorn terminus, to extend to the shore with- on the present plan. Tho authorities hoaithte Lowever, fearing that tho dockage and com- ‘merce of this port will incresse so rapidly that ' in two or three years s part would have to bo torn up to make a southern entrance for vessels, The broakwater has now atlained the length prescribed by tlo Government, the Inst crib hav- ing hoen suuk in October. The broakwater has been built in soctions of oribs, each of whichia. 50 foot long by 80 feot wide, The method nl‘, Finking the cribs is one that has nevor been ex- Forlmeuwd with Lefore in Chicago, and it 18 be- ioved that the new device will work admirably at points whero tho bottom of tho Iako is treacler- ous, and bus heretofore given trauble in the uni- form sottling of the supsrstructure, The depth of the water u which the work has beeu carried on i8 from 22 to 24 feet. As the nortbern entrance is protected by the north pier from the northeast winds and currente, thero is Jittle dangor of the harhor becoming filled up by annd or of diminighiog much in depth for sever~ al years. This_will bo further gusrded agaiust Dy tho proposed extension of the north pier 500 féot furtbier mnto the lake. By this addition the winds snd currents will bo kept entirely away from the northern third of the brenkwater. Tho epaco between tho north pler aud the breskwater is 457 feet, ond the depth of water 16 foet, which is sufficiently deop for tho heaviest laden vessels on the lake. The lighthouse on tho north pier will bo removed to the uow ex- tonsion, and will probably be increased in size, 50 88 to be easity distinguished fram the smaller ones on the Goverament breskwater. BOUTH CHICAGO. More than £205,000 was expended by this town Tost year in improvements ou the Calumet docke and harbor, The work, which was begun n 1870, Las nteadily progressed, until now -the total length of dockage is noarly a mile. The exten- tion of moveral piors wa offectod during 1874, and & largo mmouut of dockrgo hes boen builk upon superstructare which waa sunk in 1873, The mouth of tho Calumet tiver has been thor- ouzhly dredged. making sn excellont harbor 1,600 feet long, 300 foet wido, and 1¢ feet deep, affording ample facilities and protoction for vessels iu case of rough weather. A largo number of vemeols are winterin in this harbor, and 1ore &re cxpecto daily. During the year tho different rallroads Tuuning shrough South Chicago Liave each coue structed an iroo drawbridge across the Calunet at au agerogute cost of not less than $150,000, Tho tots] smount which was expended by the Calumet authorities in dock and harbor improvos ments Jast year will exceed 300,000, The man- ufsowuring interests of tho town hiave been stim- ulated to a great oxtent by the bulding of ma- chine and car-shopa on tha outskirts of the town by the Baltimore & Ohio Railrond, which hag neconsitnted tho ercction of abont 200 buildings 2 dwellings for the workmen snd tbeir familisa, o el eban i s TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES. The State Normsl School begins its winter term Monday, Jan, 4, Hlicre are very many ap- slicants for admission, showing tliat the ate lnnunucn will be immonse. C ticut Republican State Central C‘?(-gx:itt:: lr::: decided tocall a State Convention for tho 20th of Jauuary. Alargo number of Holstein cattle have been recently addod to the dairy farme around Elgin, Thoy aro oxpected to bo gt valuo in jmproving tha #tock, Elgincan now boast of having twenty-five are on file for several moro. room for reform thoro. Homo of tho farmers in the western towns of Kaue Couuty complain that the murrain is affect. . iug their Lerds of cattle. The Bacramento Union has been purchased by ~Paul Morrill, ous of the prapristors, for §65,000. ‘The mauagement will rewain as herstofore. A dispatch from Tucson, Arizons, says thab very rich gold mines limve been discovered in Verily thore is cover a surface of 2 miles square. Joun Dolany and Bamuel Richards were killed on Wednesday by an explosion {n the Butro tun= pel, Mr, lillow was fatally injured, and severs} others were severcly hust. Tho TNlinois Central Rellrosd paid into the Btats Treasury yesterdpy 7 per cout of ita gros nmin(i- for the six ‘months -yd.ng Oct, L amounting to em,um‘m, as required by law. Most of the oporatives of tho Cornell watoh= factory, in_Ssn Francisco, havo struck againsh Chineso Jabor. Crowds aso at tho worka Ameoting will bs held for tho purposeof sre Tauging matters, it poswiblo, sgrecably to all partiot. ¥ The Evangelical Churchon of Elgin expect s obscrve thn“é‘nc week il Lhe year as a weok of prayer. 'Ths effort last yoar resulted in & revie val which continued for many weeks during which nearly 800 persons ontered into the varle ous churches. ount sn opening, woull be an 1mprovement doggeries where whisky is sald, and applications * Souora, on _tho Ban Miguel liver, *L'he claima