Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 8, 1875, Page 7

THE RAILROADS. Shall the “Potter Law” Be Repealed or Modified ? Memorial of Wisconsin Rail- toads to the Legis- fature. Carpenter’s Friends Witl Revenge Themselves on the Railroads. Tho Hon, Mox, Mitchell Charged with Accomplishing Matt's Defeat, Abstract of the Argument of the Memorialisis. The Englowood Contest Settled by | the Supreme Court. Report of tho Receiver of tho Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louts Read, Deplornble Condition to Which It Has Been Reduced, THE POTTER LAW. MEMORIAL TO THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATORE. Speetal Disnatch to The Chteaco Tribune. Mapison, Wis., Fob. 6.—Tho unexpected re- sult of tho Senatorial conflict has blighted the hopes and embittored tho thoughts of many leg- islators and politicians. Their animus is chiefly directed sgainst tho railway companies. Tho Milwaukeo & St. Paul Railway is the special ob- foct of attack, Ita Preaidont in charged with having accomplished tho defoat of Carpentor, aud, in retaliation, tho angered members sweat thay will not only refuea to modify tho notorious Pottor law, but will make ite provisions still more burdensomo and obnoxious. A sample of this spirit was shown on Thureday, when A rego- lution declaring it the sense of tho Ansembly bhat tho principle of the law known as = * Tne POTTER LAW" ought to be retaincd in tho legislation of the Btate, paseod unanimouely, As firat submitted, the resolution instructed tho Railroad Commit- tee to report such amendmonta as they deomed neceasary to ronder tho operation of tho Jaw just and efficiont, But the Assombly was In no mood to brook such suggestion, and immodintoly it was stricken out. ‘Ele same disposition forced ho passage of a joint-rosolution to cut off new businesa after tho 10th inst, ond to flunily ad- journ on the 25th inét. Mayor Pinnoy, of Madi- son, advised some delay, because it was under- stood the railway companies wero desirous of soaking w statement regarding the operation of tho Pottor law, which prompted 8 member to re- mark that such intention on the part of the rail- way companies was just tho reason why the Legistature should adjourn ag goon as powsible. ‘This waa the status when tho memorial of the Chicago& Northwestern and Chicago, Milwaukeo & Bt, Paul Companies was presented in tho Bounte this morning. It might be conuldored inopportune to call up tho railroad question be- (ore tLe hoated partisans had had tinte to cool, but the resolution cutting off new business after Weduerday next forced thon into the arena, ‘An abstract of tho memorial isgiven to your readers below, Wuhatover its merity or defects, it portends s botter era in railway conduct. It is isa eiudions endeavor to Isy before the Legise Aj loturo the material on which to base a just con- yes clusion, Evident |y, no pains have been sparcd to collate facts and figures from reliable sources with which to instltnte s comparitou of the re- sults of railroad operations: in other States and % countrics aud tho differonces botwean the rates there churged and those ostablished by tho N Potter lam. ON MONDAY EVENING . the memorial will be presonted in the Assembly, pnd om Tuesday afternoon or ovening it will i doubtless bo read before the Committeo fn open : seauion in tho Ansembly-clismbor, vaon opportu- ei: nity will be giver: to members to pronoun ques- ‘tions regarding it or call for furthor explanation from the representatives of the companies, ‘Tho prospects fur a modification of the law aro notencouraging, despite the fact that the Governor recommendot such action. The Legis- Jature is Jargoly composed of mou who are iu no gous to he couvinced of the injustica of the ww. Then they aro besst by politicians and ofico-scckers, who warn them sguinat the re- ‘sponelbility of changing the faw and in any way peseandeclag the soveraign powor affirmed in tho DLeginiaturo by the Supreme Court. With much vehomeuce Afr, Mitchell's friends ‘Weny that ho took any part in THE SENATORIAL CONTEST. Wie unimpoachablo voracity and bie recognized ‘ntogrity in poblic and private matters, should feountoract the charge, After a fow daya the getorin of indignation may subside, though it will hardly blow over, It was expecially uufortu- wate this hoatility should have been evoked, {Que weok ago thoro was an evident Intention to siacpair the injurious legislation of last winter, 1 Bom of the facta to be advanced aro unan~ ‘ The Greed Vay & Minnesota li road Company can eabow that their road li nover carmod erongh to pay its operating ox- penses. Toimpove the Votter-law restrictions ‘upon auch aroad is tho grimmost kind of gar- A ess. Mr, Colby, of the Wisconsin Central, has been bofore one committee, and msdo a stutoment that would bring toara evan to 4 Crangar's oyes. @ Ilo told how all his personal fortune and that of his friends bad been sunk In the construction of f tbe road from Neenah to Stovons Point north- fag ward tu Lalo Superior, an@ craved the nght to Relraighton thelr propoked tine from Portage north, thereby elfecting.@ saving of over 40 niles of road. Tho present chartor roquirea tho longer lng, or a forfolture of the land-grant. Bo carnontly did Mr, Colby pload that ho cartiod tha Committes with him, asd socurod a fayora- Die report, The officers of THE WEST WISCONSIN are in position to make like effective state- i ment and will doubtless dogo. That road has Ucen unable to carn the interest upon its bonda, Nocharyo has been preferred agalust any of these Companica of fictitious cost or watored stock. The roada are believed to haye beon honestly built, A few railroad bills bave already been intro~ duced, the mai one drawn by * Pump" Carpon- ter, Jt has some good features, and othors that tro impracticable, It proposos to allow tio companies to enact thelr own rates of fare and frelghte, so long as they do not earn over 10 per cont not ou the roada, exclusive of intorcut,—the cout to be fairly sacertainad by the Railroad Com- mitsionors alded by experts, Tt would thus ro- Sie the provisions of the Potter jaw fixing ar- itrary rates, In caso more than 10 per cent 4 naples atiaiet the Carnmnlnetonttt ire te reduce ori Te passenger and freight. It also Provides for the appointinent at 3 BTATE AGENTS, - ‘who are to visit every railrosd-atation in Wia- ceuln Snce a month, look over the rallroud g bocks and acconnts, ace Low tho business ia gone anit Teport the result of their obaervations ee the overior and Itailroad Commissioners, io @ cago of inter-State abipments, the con- luctors, On arriving at the frat, atation in Wia- conam, are to report to the agent there the gross pumber of pounds of all freight in tranuist, ¢! ad of commoditicn, distance to be haulod in isconuin, the class in which the freight fa placed, rate per pound, name of cousignce and conaiguor, place of uhipment and destine- Yon, ‘The bill ta very lengthy aud noose: Rumercud penalties in the shaps of fuea aud imprisonment, As yet it has not sttracted aeri- ous thought. ANOTHER KENATE UIT) fy chauges the term-of oflica of the Thallrosa Com. Minsionsts, olecting them for one, tw and three years, so that tho Governor woul ) each spring, Lave to uominate a Commissioner to hold ico for Shree years, Next week will doubtless be prolifio in recom- ‘Tho momorialists foundations and expedienta, ‘Mososaid are propared to demonstrate that the Pattor Jaw rates are tower than those published in avy other Btate or country, despite tho fact that it costs more todo tho furinesd in Wireon- fin than st does whare fuel fa aneay and the yal- wie of butiness is large. ‘They will also alow that the earnings of the Wieconsin lines ware in- auficlent to pay the Interost on their acerming obligations even before their rates wore reduced bg law, and, on the rirength of there facta, which they feel able to prove clearly, thoy ask for the repeal of the provivions establishing ar- bitrary rates of fnro and freight. THY MEMORIAL. The memorial mentioned above opens with tho reminder that, throughout the railroad contro~ yeray, tt has Deon often assorted that uo injus- tice wan meditated agalnat the railways, yet, uu- der misconception of the factr, groat Injury av Le done, Alany apparontly grievous complaints would lose their force if explained, Espocinlly Ja this trio of diccrimination, No distinction t+ mada between fuat and unjust discrimination. ‘The publie believe diatance should fo tho con- trolling olemont in fornnng freight tariffa; henco they demand pro rate tars, Upon mine sopar Ate occawions, the justice of onforeing equal mileage rates was didcussod before Select Com- tittees of the Britiah Parliamont. Light tines the principlo was rejected, and once no decirion wag reached, ‘Iho question alill boing agilated, 4 Joint Solect Cominittes wan appointed i 1872, who, after 8 snadion of aeveral months, compre- hensively raviewed the whole railroad question, atd anauimously reportod that ‘equal mileage tates aro jpoxpedient.” “THE LAKE ACPERION TRADE fa cited to illustrate tho necessity of floxible yatos, ‘Tho supplics for that market ara taken thoie hy water aod by rails; but the oxyorts, being minoral, aro all carried bray by take, con- soyontly there ie no return freight for tho ore. When Oconto or Green Bay aro reachod coming south, limber is offered, Vessola aro rosy tu takoitat alow rato, ‘Tho Northwestern Com- pany faust accopt that rato or pass on with tho empty ears. It is evident, no expente being sdded. the rato, though small, ia go much profit, and, by helping to tnect ctrrent expenses, ene ables the Company todo its reguist business cheaper then it othorstise could. Yet if forced to do all businces at those rates, the Company could not dogo and live, Rates from competing poiute to common markets must be tho samo ovar all routes, irrespective of their varying length, ‘Iho shortest route fixes the rater. The larger roads must accept that rato or forego the business. 1f not allowed to make the same rate. it wauld give tho shorter route a monopoly of tho busimoss, THE MEMORIAL FURTHER BTATES that, when the States of Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania began their canal ayatem, it cont 10 centan mile to carry ston of freight over o good highway, while over country roa‘ls it aver- agod 20 conta a tmilo; whoreas the Milwaukeo & St. Pout and Northwestern Companios, last yoar, carried their whole tonnage at au average of 236-100 cents per ton por milo. It in oluo shown hy numcrous citations of an- thorities that it costa more to do local than through business. Cara in local trains rarely 210 ng full ee in throngh trains.: Cars averngs only six tons of local froight, while through cary catry tentons. Local trains also averages Jessor umber of cars, ‘Through traina cap be made up full and sont to thelr destination, whereas local trains atart with a few cats, drop off home, aud pick up others on tho route ; consequently, tho number of cars varies, Experts aflirm ior monoy can ba mado on through freight nt 2 cents por ton per milo than on local at 3 cents. BY CITATIONS FLOM THE ENGLISIE COUNTS it fe shown that companics oro justified in charging tincqual rates where the expenses are Gilfuront, and that, as tho expouso of starting a train ie tho samo fora great or small distance, this may fairly bo taken into account aud justify different rates between diferent plnees, ‘Yhe effect of the waused capacity of a road on a dead weight corricd upon tho cost of muve~ ment is shown by comparisona with the voluino of freight, reveume received, raty per ton, stc., on tho leading Eastern trunk Huos, also with Ohio and faw England linos, Thus, the Penpsslvania Railroad last year carried 11,124 tous to the mils of road operated, while tho Northwestern carried 2,411 tona per mile af road, aud tho Milwaukee & St. Paul 1,252tons, ‘hatis, tho Northwestern, with 1,48) milos of road, did only 39 per cont, and the Milwaukeo & St, Paul, swith 1,899 miles, 19 per cont of tho bualuess dono by the Penorylvania upon less than 900 miles of road. Tho rosult is that, In conse- quence of the yost amount of business dono, even though taken at lovs than 13g conts por ton per mile, ayninet 222-400 conts received by the Northweutorn and 234 by tho Milwaukeo & St. Paul, tho gross earnings por mile of the ’onnsyl- youla oxceed those of tho Northwestern more than threo times, and those of the St. Paul Company four times, whila ite not earnings aro Jarger than tho gross oaruings of eithor Wiscon- gin Company-: Noferring to the frequent observation that it costs ag much to move produce from the inte- rior to Lako Michigan as it does thence to tho sea, tho momorial says this arises from compar- ing Wostern local tates with Eastern through rates, It thon rofers to scvoral comparatiyo tablos appotided 2a oxhibite, THE YOTTEN-LAW HATES 2 on Inmbor, grain, flour, live-stock, agricultural implomenty for oach successive 25 miley up ta 100 miles aro compared with the published local rates on yoveral Now England Hues, loading through fines to tho East, aud Western ant Southern ronda, Yor instance, on lumber per car-load the Potter Jaw allows 825 for 200 rnilos, whilo tho Boston & Albany chargo @48 ; tho Vormont Contral, 646 ; Frrie, &37; Grent Western of Canada, “Michigan Central, aud Iinois Coutral, cach #88; Late Shore, $36; Indiana, Cincinnati & Lafayotte, €b0 ; and Usnnibal & St. Joe, $63, por car-load. Ou grain per 100 pounds, tho rates are for 225 miles: Vermont Central, 8tc; [Boston & Alba- ny, 800; Erie, 270: Pennsylvania, Bde; Pitta. burg & Fort Wayne, 32c: Bt. Loula & Kansas City, 810; and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, 86 conts, Tho Pottor law allows 22/¢ couty for the worvices, Qu agricnitural imploments, wagons, furnt- tura, ote., the differences aro ‘most romarkablo, in many cases exceeding 100 percent, Inno county or Stato whose railway tariffs have come to our knowledgo oro tho rates so low ay those extablighed by the Potter law. Companions aro aleo mado with YOURIGN RAILWAY TARIFFS, The loading railrondw of Great Britain aro Be- lected ov flour por barra! for 100 miles, ‘Tho En- gligh roads charge: Midland, 96 ceuts; North. castorn, 56 couts; Loudon, Brighton & South Coaut, 30 cents; and Glasgow Southweatorn, 40 cents. ‘Tho Potter low allows 24 conty, Upon agricultural implements, the English rates Are Moro hean double the Pottor-law rates, Thoke differences are contirmed by reforonce to tho report recontly made to Congress by the Bpecial Committed ou Transportation, af whtel: Seustor Windom waa Chairman, Thove differences aro still more remarkable in Viow of tho relative coat of operating tla roads, Last year tho cout per milo run on the Milwaukeo & Bt. Paul Railway wos $1.99, while on tho Cleveland & Pittsburg it was 61 cents; ou tho Philadolphia & Reading, 61 cents; on the Penn sylyania, 04 county, Upon twonty-cight Maskn chusotty roada it averaged 81.24, aud upon all the roads in Great Lritain, in 1872, it averaged GU conte pet tram milo, ‘This is largely owing to the increased cout of fel, Wisconsin companies having to pay for an inferlor coal threo times the prico per tou pald by Pounsslyania oud Ohio companics. REGANDING PARRENGER RATES, the memorlut shows that the fird-class fare on English roads excocds & cents por mile, while the second-class averages 4 centy por mile, end, only tlird-class accommodations are given for Qconts, In Prussin, the ratos are: By axprov traine, Orst-elnws, 434 contd por miley’ by ordi nary traive, § 45-100 cents por tile, In Auetria, tho rutea aro: By expross, tret-class, 5 couts por mile, and. by ordinary trains, 411-100 couts, In Franco, tho through rato from Calais to Paris ls 43¢ cents por mile, and from Lyon to Marusilles, 640 miles, is 415-100 centa por mile, In Bel- glum, the rates by oxprees tralug are 8 41-100 conte for fret-claus, and 255-100 conta for soc~ ond-clasa. Coupled with theso rates is an oxtra chargo for baggage, ‘The rates quoted are: nls Towed in thicily-popniated countrics,—Eugtand, boving 420 and Helgium 447 persons to tha square mile, wheroas Wisconsin companies are restricted to o lower rute, although that Stata has only eightcen persons to the square mile, In thls connection comparisons aro also made betwoon the Potter law ratos for freight and corresponding Belgium and French rates, THE AVERAGE COST PER MILE 4 of railroad invovoral Sintes and foreign coun- tries is stated, to show that roads are not finished and thoroughly furnished ay soon a4 declared open for butiness; and, in refutation of the be- of that railwoy managers will wot reduce rates unless obliged by law, a comparative tablo of the earnings per ton per mile on tho Milwaukee & St. Paul, Norllwostern, Michigan Central, Chi- CARO, Buzlington & Quincy, Lako Shore, aud Rock Island Roads, from the year 1868 to 1873 inclusive, ia given, showing & continuous de- croaue in rates on all the rouda named, A statement ia thon mado of tho several mort- § zea and obligations assumed by the Chicago & forthwestern Nailwsy Company, on the 665 wiles it operates in the State of Wigconsin, by which it appoard that the sum of $1,950,135.35 id aunually nugulred to pay tho lotorost on tho Wisconela portiou of the mortgages, Tho oarn< inga upon tho 566 miloy for Wie your ending Dec. 81, 1873, were €3,100,523.04, and the operating expenses $2,163,678.21, loaving for interest pay- monte 1,020,015.43, which was $923,189.02 lor THE CHICAGO DAILY TRIBUNE: MO (pan the amount required to meek the interost, IN VIE OF TMS EXUTAIT J that alas reducing rates already inadequale—not ouly destroying all hope of div= idendd, but Jexsoning thelr ability to pay inter~ Prt—has fe feature which eau eorumend itwelf to tho candid furgment of honest men, The weil lons to the Milwankeo & St, Pan) Trailway Company by 4 aw for tho mmonthe of October, November, ma Decotuber was 210,010.09, aud tho ravenno de- rived by the Chicago & Northwestorn Company during October and November, 1974, from pase Henpert, wan 24 per cent, and from freight 26 percent, lens than would bave ‘been received had {he fares and freight heen computed at tho taten tn fores ptior to Oct, 1, 1875. "Tho so:norial recites that the Sogisiation re- forred to hud also TMIDRED THR ATATE by averting capital, which bas beon quick to draw thle deduction that, ff axsociated capitol im one clang of cuteaprines can ho doprived of ait return hy an actef tho Lexislutnre, wg can eapital in- vosted iu all olhor corporate or esxociated ente: priker, In proof of tha argortion that Lhe credit Bf botis privato avd mumeipal corporations hae heert greatly impaired, the memorinsiats appeal to tho textimovy of all citizens interested nm Buch entorpives. ‘Lranspottation is commodity, and i4 old a8 personal services aro pula. Hail- roads aro tho Intgert sollera ; the people are tho purehaaers. ‘Tho kame people make the laws : therofore, if tho prica of transportation tn fixed by Inw, tho purchasers of ono commodity in the State alonotixits price, Hf the people can fix tho price of one commodity, they ean of all com- modities furnished by associated capital. No business could be conducted on atch bases, be~ enude no man would invest {18 capital when at wan to be managed by those whose ouly ttercst waa to reduce his earnings. IN VIEW OF THE FACTS BTATED, and the matifeat one that Wisconsin needs that developmont of ifs natural resources which for~ eign capital, deawn into tho State by wise lexis- lation, alone » give, the memorial conclices with tho prayer that the provisions of tho law fixing arbitrary rates of faro and freight may be repenied. Apponded tothe momorial are nineteen ex- hibits containme comparativo statements of the result of operations on leading Eastern and Western railronda, and on British railronds ; al~ HD, crimnpaTlsony of the tariffs of the sever) roads, It is eubmitt — aad THE ENGLEWOOD WAR. DECTAION IN FAVOR OF THE FORT WAYNF OAD. ‘Tho following decision of the Supreme Court will co interesting in the present trouble at Englewood in refercuco to tho right of way of the Fort Wayne Road, Iu the prosont caso tho old Fort Wajne toad had aright of way which, with tho voud, was subseqtently sold aud bought by tho present road tnder the general deserip- tion of “alliho road to Chicago," etc, Tho question was as to whother this was sufficient color of title on which to build up s good title by payment of taxes. Tho opinion, which is writ- ton by Br. Justice Scbolticld, is as follows : ‘Tho decrro of the Court Velow must be afirmod for tho reason that, in our opinion, the evidence whuws appelies (the Fort Wayne Road) was in powyession of the propurty ju controverny, wader color of Uitle anado in good faith, und bud pafd all taxes iegally as nerked thereon, for Keveu succesalve years proceding the commencoment of suit. ‘Tho deed from Lauler ond of March 2, 1862, purporting to cou te rallruad of tho Ftteburg, Fort Wayne & Chirayo Taltroud Company, including the right of way therefor ; the road-bed thereof, the superstructures of ai] sorta thereon, ita water aud station houses, und hops, and tho lauds and grounds conuected therewith, aud all depats and buildings, Matures and structures, of what. over nature, and tne Iands and grounds connected therawith, Used, or providell to bo used, in operating sald rou wherever edtunted.” ¥ i¢ the deed from Lauicr and others appears, ag to appellee, dated “all und singular, Quoi colorof title, aud the presumption, in the ataence Of evidence to the contrary, fe, that 1 wea acquired Ju qool faith, McCzgg ve, Ueasock ot aly 34 Ils, 470, Nurstauloy va, Meacham, 53 Ula, 9%. Brooks ve. Prayer, 95 1d,, 392, Morrison vs, Norman, 47 Tu,, 411. Uinkley “ve, Gree! i Barger vs, Hobbs, (uno term, 1873.) Fritz’ ya, Joiner, 64 Ils, a, ‘Wo are of opinion that the dercription in the deed ts uch that the Iunda futended to Le conveyed may ‘The railroad track iy steelf a fixed monument, © Tho twenty-iirst aeclion of the charter of the Wiltsburg, Hort Wayne & Chicago Relleosd Company authorized it to acquire the right ot way 100 feet iu width + wad the evidence shows that Company waa in potseasion of 10) fect in width, as right of way, on thereon from 1853 to 1862, Tarolo evidenco war adtuiraiblo to tdentify and con- nect tho Lind with the description jn the deed ; Bow rian ve, Nevtig, doth i, 410 ; and this belug resorted to, thoro would appear toby na ditculty iu deternsin— ing tho boundurles aud location of the 100 fect of Tight of way, Wo forhear the expression of apy opinion on tho cothor qitestions diactiseed in argument, ‘The decree 1s uflirmed, paid taxes a THE ROCKFORD, ROCK ISLAND & ST. LOUIS RAILROAD, UE REPORT OF THE RECEIVER. William H, Forry, Receiver of tho Mockford, Rock Island & 8t. Louis Railroad, filed his ro- port yosterday of hia official doings for tho mouth of January, 1875, IIs recoipte have been 278,887.52, and exponses $76,290.92, In addi- tion to this ho has paid $15,369.16 for old mat- ters, and now has ou hand $26,495.29. The Recolver then states that ho bas searched for tho rolling-stock, but has been = unable to find tho whole. Ho then osks that he may be allowed to pay o uunsbor of sinall claims or judgments in favor of yarlous parties, In regaqd to the clalm of Max Batzo and others for 881,000, on coupons, Mr, Forry says that he is informed that the par- ties have received of tho Company over £1,400,- v0U, and bo advisos that the claim ho resisted, ‘Tho Recolvoy thon states that he bas much Ja- bor ju gotting possession of tha property ; that ho has frequently beon advised to take advice of counsel ; aud that ho bas been to somo oxpunses Tor legal services by the month, No alse desires 84,000 for personal services for the month past. ans Recolvor thou makes astartling statement asto . THY CONDITION OF THE COMPANY'S AYFAIRS, ‘Tho road has been so long in oporation withont renowal, aud tho matorial of which itis composed has become #o much wort, both iron and ties, ond also the matorial of bridges, that, won the frost gocs ont of the ground in tho spring, there will be the most sertoun dangor of accident and Joss, Iu order to save the road and protect ite patrons, the Receiver thinks the Company must have Boon 2,000 plics, to be used along tho lino of tho rond in repairing bridges, which will cost 89,773. Next, instond of renowlng the pillng across the IJinois Nivor botiom, ai oubavkment can be countract- ed about three-fourths of & milo long, costing 85,000, ‘Tho truss bridgo at Hugar Crook must be repaired, which will cost 85,000, ‘I'hat at In- dion Creok, also necessary, will cost 25,000. ‘Yo ropair ten othor bridges will uecoss{tato an out- Jay of 87,500, aud tho ono acrous tho Minos Hiver will domand 4,000 more, The Green Kiver bridge will also neod 1,000, ‘The Kock pve bildgo cannot be repaired, but must be ro- ull. ‘Phere must also bo 200,000 ties for the present your, und 159,00 0 your for throo yoira folluw= ing.', For rails, plates, and spikes $165,000 a year da needed for several years to come, Yor foncing 200 miles of road $160,000 is imperatively de- manded, and $10,000 in wanted to supply the wastain the machino-ehop, Then the unpaid taxes for 1873 and 1874 amount to $75,000, whlen of course must be pad. ‘Tile makes a grand total of $507,325 which 1a domandod at onco, ‘Tho Receiver concludos by piving tho number. of cars employed, showing that ho bas in uso 127 passenger, baggage and way cars, valued at about $75,000 in tholr presout condition, belng 65 per cont of their firat cost, AN ORDER was therenpon ontered authorizing the Receiver to ecttte tho suit of John Low, two aults brought by Sarah Dodgcaon, and a judgment of 1, 1H, Gil- amiore against tho road, algo ta take evidence of tho clalmy of Butzo and othors and prosont it to the Court; to defond the Company against fictitious claims, any Judgments for licns or taxes, and to take sch ataps a8 are noverwary to ttnderstand tho cluim againnt M1. 1, Hoody, ‘Tne Nocerver ‘was also allowed $1,000 for his services ag pkext, and 8350 5 month for counsel. He wos aluo di- rected to malo the nocossary contracts for tion, piles, and other neceusary materials, and to oxpoud for keeping the rolling-atock of the raad In re- palr euch suine a8 should be left in his nands bh and above the operating expences of the —— a FREIGHT AND PASSENGER RATES. THE FIUNUTING BTILE GOES ON. Since the Western Hallroad Commlsslonora have been compelied co give up all control over the queation of frelgnt-rates, a much eaglor feo! ing baa provailed in railway circles. Froighta have womowhat stiffened since the New York meeting, but contracts aro still msdo by the Pevusylysuia Company's lines at 30 and 0234 conte. The Michigan Central and Michigan Bouthern are at present maling no contracts at less than 023¢ cents ; but this is asid to bo owing mally to the fact that uo carscan be obtained conforming tothe otter t appellant chime, to be roi mere volunteers, 4b is Hilt Wentified and. distiuguiznea from "all other | S@reo to wlaca fun : i y ‘ ; ever cullod Upon, after the subserl tion 1a closed: eet a hae ees ee nn held | ghe uideretyned further authorize the Trustees to 12, paretee of conven eee Wathen Warren, | THeoat the dixposal af wld Comittee, o te sirns, Sean Oe ee ernans Gith Tite, 2” | thelr buds and coupons, to be used for payiny for thy from the New York roads, which are unable to lighter them, the North River being frozen over, ‘Thia dificulty, however, will bo remedied aguin tu a fow dayn. A menting, will be held | tn this city by the Genoral Iretyht Agenta of tho yarions roads in a day of two, for the purpose of } coming ta nomo understanding in regard to tho prenent difficulty. It ix the general opivion that an arrangement will bo effected at this meeting. by whiel a uniform rate on freight will ho o- tablished. Tho rate on fourth-claes, ifan agreo- mont ts effected, will undoubtedly be 40 cents per 100 pounds, In anticipation of this action, tho Bt, Lould agents last Baturday decided to minke the rate from tliat cily to New York fu cents, which 18 on the above basix, Thiy now rate from St, Louia goes into effect to-day. Thora is hardly a prospect that the rates from tho Kant to the Wert will at present he divturb- ed. Cominodore Vanderbilt, Col. Seatt, and IT, J, Jowett, the magnates of the three great Jinn: ern trunk diner, aro working in apparent hare | inpby, and their Commissioners sill retain con- 1 trolof tho West-bound froigat business. There ix hardly a probability that the Western Cominia- sinnorn will retain control of the parsenter bus inexs very long. They have somerhat of 8 Knotty point already beforo then to nettle, ait {f atts not unraveled quickly an outbreak will + certainly occur against the mics, The Ohio & Mississippi Railroad has been mt warwitithe Vane datia line during the last two or tuiree weeks, and paveengera are carried from St. Louis to Dine nati for $5, while the other roads are compeiied tocharge ¥10. If these roads are not induced Hoon to quit Nghting, and make their rates the same as the other roads, tho rovls on etch endo would havo toceaso business relations with them, and even cut lower if uecesmary. ‘Vbin might lead ty a general fight Allround, and maz becuto disastrous te many Western ruads, Pho tight betwoen the Grand ‘Trank and Great Western Itailronds 14 also #til) in progrens. aud is affecting the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern quite raverely. As the two Canada lines have withdrawn from the comlination, and cannot be reached by tho Commissioners, there 1s n prose pect that the Lake Shore. and probably the litts- uirg & Fork Wayne, will lave to teduco their paseénger rates before long, no matter what tue Commusiioners do decide. ——-—— ACTION OF BONDHOLDERS, CHICANO, CLINTON 4 DUBUQUE. At a meeting of tho ‘bondholders of the Chi- cago, Clinton & Dubuque farroad held a few days ago, the following preambles and resolutions wero adupted by a large majority : Wireneat, Ab the request of ulargy number of the boudhulders, the Trurtees under the first morty: of tue above natned Company, have taken te an early rale of suid road under foreclomure Thm dndereigaed heceby severally agree to plice with JN, Dentro ond Jaines if, Blake, be number of bonds, with coupons attached, set ugainst their namen reapectively, to Le uxod for proving in kuch torm as the courts or counsel may direet, Jutereat of cach party under the mortgage, it Teli Uuderstood that a proper voncher phall he return therefor to cach mubecriber, sbowing the amount of the Londs and coupour, and the purpores fur whlee they are betd, Anil Witeneas, It may become necessary for tho. hon holders to protect their property from ¢acritice, Duyiug it ot the coming gale ; aod whereas the Chic Hortington & Quincy Haliroid Comy any, by a tion of their Board, havo agreed to renew theit tratie conttart, 1M case the road (een piircbased, which wiit give the purchasers of the rond organized an stock- Inters eubstantially tho same advantages now 8: @0 ed tothe bondholders by the ld trathe contract, ant Warnvas, Bomo expenses must bo incurred in carrying thé forcelosure aud purchuse into effect, ait whisest, a fow bondbolters may Le out of reach, or 4 miabte to join in busing tho read, thus making it “peevssary to "pay in money to such Londholders, » sil part of the purchase, tho unternigned hereby uppoiut a cummitteo to buy the Morlguged property ot the sale under foroclosure, 1 such terms aa in thelr unaniinony opinion seemy’ ex- palient, Each person jolnfug iu thin subeeription to have an interest in the property purchased by eati, Jommiltes, {a the rane tad to the whole property 23 the umount of bonds eet against ie namie bears to the whole amonnt autweribed fur liereto, ‘The subscrip= tiv to bo alan upon the condition procedent, that the Price ruall not be such ag will involve the payment of tnore than $0 upon each boud, fur both payment of the necessary oxpennes of foreclosure aud purchase,— for whieh payment to aaid oxtent, the undersigned agreo to placa fnude with eaidl Committes, or ita aueut, road, if purchased, * It js furthor underatood that this eubscription ehall only become binding when tt least 5 per cent of (he Dotida or moury required for the purchase is anb~ scrild for, aud that thls eulmoriytlan te to ba helt by the Comufttee, and, after giving all reasonalle oppore tunity, by adveettvemont or utherwixe, to tie boud- holders to Join, the Committee may, when it becomes iu thelr optulou oxpodiont, admit other parties tu com plete this wubwersptiou, bynestuming te obligutions of honduelders iu regard'to’ the funds necessary far the Pirebare, to the extent of Yh per cent, and tiny then Close tho list and refuse to receive wabseriptiond from thoxo whe Lave neglected to joi, BURNING STRAW, To the Eilitor of The Chicago Tribune: Exk Grovz, ‘UL, Feb. 4.—Lho practica of burning straw in this and other party of tho country, twenty years ogo, was carried on to somo extont; nor bas this aLanrd notion Leen entirely given up as yet. While traveling by rail, 1 have frequently seen large piles of stray Uurnt up as warthiess rukbish, which would haye mado tons of good manure, thus enriching the sou for other crops. But eomo men act as if thoy thought the soil never could bo exhausted, and they were entitled to o crop anyhow: Tom porsuaded, howovor, that such men will find that they bayo mado 8 great miv- ; take. Itis an crroncous idea that straw will not | rot and form manure without being fed and » trampled ou by cattle or horses: this way is un- doubtedly prefernblo to all others, but, when & person has uot any horses or cattle, ho can rot it by laying it in square piles, 6 or 8 feet thick, and flat ou the top, After it haw remaincd through the winter, aud tho weather lias become warm in tho spring, commence at ono end or ido and turn at all ovor, leaving il in tho samo thape; it nay require turning over a second time, and, if it doos, it will amply repay the trouble aud ex- penso of doing it. Sonic tweuty-two years ago, I had s conversa- tion with a neighbor 6f mine on the folly of buroing straw, and tried to point out to him tho necessity of returning it back to tho soil whenco | it came, in order to keep it 11 a good state of | DAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1875. THE BAR. That “Which Obstructs Mouth of the Mia. sissippi. ° the Plans Proposed by Which It Is to Bo Burmounted, The Fort St Philip Canal aud the Fads Jetty Plan. Bearings of the Sabject on the Cheap Transportation Question. Alleged Sharp Practice on the Part of St. Louis, By Which Chicago Is to Bo Deprived of a Gulf Outlet, While St, Louts Trades with Mexico and South America Through Special Corresrontence of The Chtcagn Tetbune, New Onrneans, Jan, 31. ue Board of Engi- neers appointed by the President to Inquire AB to the best method of improving the entrance ta the Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico, haa reported in favor of the jetty plan aa op- posed to the plan of the Fort St. Philip Canal, It may not bo tnmteresting to the readers of Yue Yaiscse to Jesarn some few facts in relation to this question, and the bearing which its sula- tion will bave upon the people of the Weat, and particularly upon tho business interests of Chi- cago, THE naa, The present condition of the mouth of the Misslestppi is pretty generally known. Te ia tm- possible for 8 vessel drawing 20 feot of water,ex- cept under extraordinary circumstances, to crass the bar, This Lar is formed of the sediment which ia brought down in #ucl: large quantitics by the river. and which, coming in endden con tact with tho still, ealt water of the Gull, falls to the bottom, and gradually accumulates until at the outer edges a Dank ia mado, while tho bar epreads out inthe shapeof o fan, There are but two of the pacses Which ate now weer Southwest Vasa and Vars-a-l'Outre, There would normaily bo about 14 or 15 fect of water onthe bar of each of these jasses tho year ronud, in cage no artificial means was employed totleepen it. A curios feature is the fact that when the river is discharging the grcatcet amount of water there is the least depth on the bar, This results from tbe tremendous amount of nedimont which ix brought dows during the highest stages of the river. PRESEST METHOD OF IMPROVEMENT, Tho method at present employed fcr increas- ing the depth is by miceing up the mad at the bottom of the river by the powerful dredge- boats, the MeAlewter and the Eewayons, which the current takes up and earries off, ‘Ihe dredie- boats are constructed with a powerful propeller- wheel at osc end of the boat—sre, in fact, a sortof double-cuded propeller, ‘The wheel at the bow of the boat stirs up the mud, whils that of the aternsputhes the beat ahead. By this meana a channel is kopt open ranging from {7 to 2) fect. This is an expensive plan, and, while it is @ partial relief, {tis by no meauy ratis~ factory. In order to carry givin with prutit, yesuels should be able tu luad to the extent of #4 to 24 feut. TUL PROPOSED RITDeDS OF INPROVEMED The remedicy wlich havo been proposed Yor this state of affairs, as is woll known, are the Fort St, Philip Canal plan of Capt. G. W. Howell, U.S. Engineers, and the jetty plan of Capt. J. B. Ends, of St. Louis, Capt. Howell has béen in charge of the Groverumoné works at the mouth of thy river for the past six years, it wss he who planucd and carried out the breaking up of the Red Raver raft, and ho nyw successfully deepening tho eutranco to Galveston harbor, Cast, Hads is Lest known ax tho architect. sud builder of tho erent bridge at St. Luuis, which, altbough it is a succesy ay a bridge, in #9 far that peuple, hotres, wagons, and trains of cats can cross tt, was, by guine strango error, built with arches Hu low that nteamers of tho first class or size ore unable to pase under it at high stages of the river, and, indeed, ] believe, at all times, #0 Niut tho Hoard’ of Army Engineers propose the build- ing of a canal arotind {le briuga to remedy the ovil, At present it is nevoasary to unload and transfer freight. THE FORT AT, PHILIP CANAL, The proposition of Capt. Jowell was to build neunal from the river a sbort distance below Fort St. Philip to the open water in Mrcton 1s] aud Luss, which opens into the Gulf, There is but a narrow sirip of laud betwoen the river and the Gulf trom the forts to the; month, where the diferent parses or branches of the river have little uarrow strips on each ride of them, The distanco acroms at — tho point which was designated by Capt, Howell was only 4 or Bautles of land, and iu al j 7 unles from deep water in the river to 30 feet of waterin Breton Island Pass, Thus tho canal would Lo 7miles long. There was ta be w luck at tho river end of tho canal, and the canal was to be filled with tho salt-wator of the Gulf, The river water, which would bo uted in tho lock, was to be carried out by sluice-way, and not be Jot inte the canal, to ayoid the sedimentary do- posits of the riyor water, in regard to tho feasibility of building » canal at this poiut thero is not nich reascn tor doubt, ‘Tho Board of Engineors of the United States cultivation for futuro crops, His roply was, that tho land was already zich enough, aud the etraw wad not needed. ‘In harvest of the eame | year, he engaged a thresling-wachino, which | was tnken into his whent-flold tor the purpose of | threstang out lus wheat without stacking it, He | Levt a Bre burning w short dislance from the | machine, toconmnme tho straw as they threshed It. While they wero ot dinner, tho Jooso eeat- | terod straw “lymmg botween tho fire and { tho machivo kindled into s° blaze, and | burnt wy the wbolo of tho machine, except 4 part of tho boruc-powor ; also, a wagon foaled with wheat was entirely consumed. ‘Chere was a big bill to pay, and my old fricnd vover wanted to talk any more about burning straw, { Ifa farmer in England were to bur up hin straw thoy would come tu the conclusion tht le | was a fit subject for au asylum, or, at leant, that ho onght to have a guardian over him, Axa xenoral thing, they abject to selling straw, but ; will aceommoudate persons by giving them & load of vtraw for a losd of manure. My son, who spent about fonrteen years in Call~ fornia, Informs me that he know large ranches of land thoro which, when Just broken itp, yleld> ed 80 bushels of wheat pet acre; but contin- ual cropping for a fow years, without returning auything to tho voll, hod diyoated it of all grow- ing properties, and it hud become wortllers as regards graiu-growing ; snd go it will provo ty eyery instance where it ia thug neglected, L, Cuntis. An Author on the War-Path, From the Manchester (Eis) Exaueiner, Until wo had read the following letter, ad- drovwed ta the oditur of the Leeda Mercury, Wo wero at a lous to account for Mr, Charles Reado's hensitivencss on tho subject ofdunatic asylums, ‘rho editor of the Mercury explana that Mr, Neade's_provious letter way rejected out of reepect fur the *decencies af Jourualiama™: Bus: You published a largo slice of my nar ative, ‘Jumos Lambort,’ and illuminated your dull coluaus with it, and Paid not ebject. Yor yott Were 8o unscrupulous ag to publish a lettor inlerepresenting me und amy treatment of tho provincial presa. isent you a temporate reply. whicl, if you had beon’s gentleman, would ‘have closod the mintter, Instead of that, you. ancouraged 4 literary roptile to writoa long, insolout retort, aud to chailonge & reply, 4p L reply. ’ > You basely aud frandulontly suppress my To- ply. Yet you proceed to trovli attacks, though I umellouced. Your reptilo fraudutoutly suppresses my principal letter to the Hailie, and you con~ tradict publicly tho letter you aro not man euaugh to eucounter wm & fair fight; so you sup. pross it, ; > In ather words, gir, you area liar, a coward, and a biackguard, Ouantes Heaps. * Magpabey CoLligs, Oxford. , out in the cold. Army, cumposed of Cons, Barnard, Gilmore, Warren, Craighill, and Howell (vith one exception)—an authority certainly 1s yuod as the present Board—imude » report in favor of tuo catal at the last sos. kion of Congress. Tho statements that the forination of lind is of #o uustable a character that the foundations for such Leayy worka ax 6 loek could not by found, are uot tenable. ‘The i works of Fort St, Plulip are vory heayy indoed, nud yot they Lave not sunk from sight. Avan evilonce of tho absurdity and incoumstoney of this charge of the Eada partivans it nued only bo raid that abaut o year age thoy circulated a state. ment (and 1 boliove it was mado on the floor of Cougress) that certain parties hed purs chased the lands lying neur the proposed nito of the exnal for the purpose of building a city (hore, and that Now Orleans was tu bo left 3 tt was printed and etreulated in this city for tho purpose of exeiting opposi= tion to the canal plan, Of course, if there is foundation enough tor a city thero—of which I have nu doubt—thoro is cortaluly enouyh fotn- dation to build a lock, ‘Cho present Board do not roport against the practicability of tho ennal, ‘They ouly give it as their opivion that the jettivs cau be constructed at tesa cout, UD EADB J. ¥ PLAN, Now lot us turn our attention tu the Jotties. This is @ propusition to coutino one of the mouths of the tiver between parallel dvkes, or structures of stone, coment or other substances —the Board puta it brush, fascine, and atone” —to the outer portion of tho bar. ‘fho tutes is that tho confinement of the wator in & narrow chaunol, instead of — allow- ing it to sproad os it does natu. rally, will cause an erosion of tho mud at the votiom, and thereby an incroased dopth will bo obtuined, Capt, Huds wanted the experiment tried at Southwest Lass,—the luryost and best mouth of the river,—but the Board of Engineers have recommended that the trial bo made at Seuth Pass, whero there ia now but 7 foot of water on the bat, and which connoquent- ly ia not in uso, Ie is argued that if tho jotties bofgcarriod out to tho crestof the bar the eroding process will soon givoadopth sufliciout to bring im the largest yesscl, ‘This is in boef the jetty-plon, ODIEOTIONS TO THE JETTED, ‘To thia plan euginesrs alfer a great many ob- Joctions, some of winch Cwill recount, It is arlvd how it can be expected that a foundation can bo obtained for suct substantial works ow the jettica must uscessarily bo whore the formation is 60 recent ‘as ut the touths of the rivor, when it is claimed by tho friends of tho Jettlos that thoro is nota subetun- tial foundation for # lock at Fort St. Philtp, whore the laud Js hundreds of years old, Aguit, the jottios must bo built some distance out into the “Gulf on this unsubstantiab foundation. What is to prevent thoir being torn to plecos by the torritio storms which often Neitton, Weitzel, or Then thero aro the “mud lnmy The bottom will often rise up at the mouth of the riser into hugo inid-latmps, gener: ally in tho middle of the channel, and an island will be formed. Tt riees with sel irresiatihia fares that everything above has to give was. 1688 P the Gulf? things Are constantly. coming t+ the renriace. Supposing they come up un- der the jetties? Next wo como to tho theory of “eromre,* White this process of “eroding” Jn going on, why may it not go no far ae to nndermine the jetties. and theso structured of “Uritd, fascines, and stone " be precipitated into the river 7 If ever they got off their foun- dation, if Shey rhautl ever pat on eneh a thing, they must remaim in the bottom of the ehannel 4 nienace to comimorce, or be firhed expenes. hed ont a¢ great ANOTRER COSRINTRATION Jn. that the jetty will. to some extentobatroct the free outlet of tho river, ‘Ila conaenencs of that would be to raise the water above, Either that or chee 8 new ontlet sill he made at soma Weak point across the narrow strip which di- vides the river from the Gulf, ch of there contingencies would be rerious. Daring tho the high water last spring. a bigh wind Wwonld often blow the water over tha brun of tho level for hundreds nt mits. A few inches — more would = have + drowned the whote of Lonisinna, instead of the largo portion which was submerged, In case of tne tnaking of s now channel, the South Pass, where the country might have been spending its money | on jetties, would perhaps bo lelt altugother, or enough water mnight not bo sent into tt to do | any eroding.” ‘Lue Missisaippl te s river en- pable of ans freak, and it had os roo rud out of # new oullet as through Routh Pars. COSIS OF TIT, DIFFERENT PLANS. As to the cost of the fexpective plans, tha Board gives the probable cost of the canal ax ( $11,514,200; the jettica at Sonth Pass as 27,912. 10; amd at Kouthwest Darn as $16,053.12, An the Board eelect Kunth Pars, that of course must be taken a8 tho basis of comparison, al+ thotigh Capt. Eads’ pian was to improve South. west I'nsas. It wilt Le observed that the Board give tho caunl an adyastaga of | over £4,500,G00 over the jotly-plan at that j pase, Bat, taking tho Kouth —T'nws even, and thero is but a difference ef 23,500,000, while with the caval the nation has secured permancut outlet, The jetties are on expe nent, and. even if ruceessfal, will require an aunual appropriation to carry them further out into the Gulf, and of course will Joot up au immense stim in the Jong run. “WHERE bacTons DIRAONER.” Tn thin contest between the canal and jetties, where there ia such a wide difference of op nion Wetscen engineers, veoplo who are not enpi- ueera, Of course have aright to an optnion. My own istthat the jotty plan will never realize | the hopes of its frlenda, and that tho originators of the idea did not thoroughly believe iu it, It was gotten up an a sort of gilt enterprise affair Capt. Eads was to get $2,060,000 tram the Gov- erent when he obtained a 20-foot chaunel. aud the balauco of £10.000,000 when he had necured a depth, I believe, of 28 feet, As Capt. Howell has very oftes obtained a depth of 20 feet of water with bis dredge-boats, with an out- lay of only $125,000 a year, it Jooks us though there onght to be a very profitable job in doing the same thing at ¢2.000,000, Capt, Eads and lus company could alford to rotiro on that, aud Jet tho &5,000,U00 go by default. E ST. LOUIS V8, NEW ONLEANB. Ttisa notatie fact that in this matter the business men of New Orteans have Leen solid for the canal. while the St. Louia people Lave cunstuntly advocated the jetties, Muy there not bewreason for this? ‘The ty “3 men of Ww Orleans know that ther sole hope for a re- vival of their trade Lica inan improved outlet, They baye nothing clxo to look to, ‘Thex fw the Fart St. Puitip Canal will be a sar outles, Tho jetties are an experiment, aud it will nions story about my having nublishod a work onthe Inles and Art of Poker-playing. I will tell vou what it all cornea frdm, In tho snmmor of 1472, while visiting with others at a couttry houre in Somersotshiro, the puesta, as is usual in Knglish abelety, amused thomselvos in tho evening with games at cards; and, an is alsa ueual, the stakes were for pennicd and eixponcar, hey wern anxious to learn the American gamo of poker, of which they bad heard, and of which somo of them already knew alittle. I showed thetn how it wan played. When Iwas ¢oming away the lady of the lidnte requested mic, a8 a faver to herself and other friends who thought it attractive and amusing. to write down some of tho rules of tho gaine, an it in genorally played in America, complied with her request as wl aa I could, on * the vers morning of my leaving her hospitable house, and thonght lithe more of my act of po- Hitenesd until eho surprised mo by nending some copies of these rulon, hich oo ventleman, another visitor, had had printed for her, and for their own private use and circnla- tion, on his own private printing-preas. It waa very prettily done. It was intended as a compli- ment, and I am very sure that nobody can ba more amazed or more annoyed than my friend Lady W. and her family and guests, to find that they have this unwittingly bronehie down on ma the wrath nnd reprehengion of so many good conte Iu America. If T can find a copy now of the little work which rome people wantd willingly make famous, if thereby thay might inture me, I will aand it ta you. Very truly and faithfully. your friend, Kovent C, Bonkxce. S Cremation is suffering from a cross-fe—dr rathor from cross-stream of cold water—applied. toit byscouple of Englieh Binhope, Bishop Wordsworth laa denou: it tu a sermon bo- cause fireig a symbol of punishment, aod has alwava been looked upon aan peculiar doom of tho wleked. Bishop Xelwyn has denounced it because tire is am emblem of purification and of the process undergone by the regenerate soul, ‘The one thinks it wrong heeanse too good, while the other thinks :¢ wrong becanya too bad, AMUSEMENTS. STAR LECTURE COURSE THR INCOMPARARLE CANOLINE RICHINGS-BERNARD Grand Costume Coucert Company, THIS WEEK. To-Night, Wednesday, ‘f nraday nel Saturday, ‘. MCORMICK HALL. * ning } “Union Park Congroga- wy, gational Church, TN for McCormick Hall © NcClurg & Ca,*r, State. 4 'Tlekets, entitling hulder to rid mick Hist Conoorts, will bo Monal Chureh Concerts, at Ball's, Libr ‘West Lal st. Matiness, 50 conte: no ox. + All Kvening Convorts—ad- Bea packages of 10, aod for all ia packages of 10, for al Sear lintertainmontes for sale at Conpenter de Shetdan. 0 thaws Uoneorta and above ulacea for 85. ADELPHI THEATRE, take years to decide their valus. When veeels drawing 25 fect of water can come alongside the elevator in New Orleans this city can have a rrain trade, but before that time it will Jabor under great disadvantege. St. Louis is differ- | ently situated. ing itwelf, Ithas the same advantages of trans portation to the East that other Western citic) uve, and, in addition, it has the advantaz over’ all the others in _ respect which city St. Louis Las recoutly-heen co:mocted by rail, Gulveston Harbor fs now being im- proved, and thore in nut much doubt chat in two or three years that city will prove itself a ve formidablo rival to New Orleans, It 14 the } teres: of BL Louis to asnist Galveston, becauge tho merchants of St. Louis ¢ trade with Galveston about a8 oa as with New Orleans, ond ta much Luite Louisville. In fact, Galyestun is out of the quostion Bo for as the latter citloy are concerned. With New Orleans tioxe cities bave by ratl aboot ts fairs chauco as St, Louis, Chicago is par- ticularly forsanate in the Ilinols Central Raul- road and its Bouthera connections, The trado by that lino, in thin direction, has more than doubled since the through connection has becn aceomnplished, SHARP PRACTICE. Nowy, in order so gain ti advantage over hor erpeeial rival and Buy ecu -Chicaro-~as well as over Cipeiucinuatt and Luuirville, aud evory- budy eaet of tho Missiarippi St. Louis, why should not that placo ; seek to futon some such humbug on the anutter | of the river or tho Jeity plan in order to powt- pune a river autlet ike the canal, and thus de- Prive those cies of an outles iv this direction, while her own interests would bo subserved by Gaivostun? ‘The St. Lome poople snd the rail- road ring are backing tho jetty plan, Tet tho pross of the West look well iuto thin matter bo- foro they give their sauction to the jetty play ro | far ax to advise their Representatives im Con- gress to vote for it. HZ. 0. Divorces in Maine, Porttand Correspenitener af the Heston Journat, The Legislature has decided not to make any change in uur divorce laws. ‘Tho importance of modifying these lawn, fur Bome roasen oF etier, dig not weem apparent to the'Conmittee which had tho matter under consideration, aud an ad- | {tho lawinnkers, uot ono in twenty of whom know, probably, what the report was about when * it was disposed of with other routine business, And this action was taken right in the face of | tho startling statement made by Gov. Dingley m hia mosxage that, under the operation of our divorce Jaws, very nearly one murriage ont of every thirteen consuromated in this’ State is subeequently diewulve: ‘Che usprecodes largo nuinber of divorces taking place in Maino hus become really a mat- | ter of sorious consequence. Ib has bodn asver- | tained from ollicial Rources that 437 divorces wore decreed in this Stato last year. A gentle- mav han informed us that lu no other State in the Union ts a divorce Ko easily proctrable ad in Maine, on account of the lootenesa of the laws, In fact, our diverco-Inws actually encourage & dissolution of tho marriage-contract, and, ai a Yosult, tho number of divorces iy anuually in- creating, white scores of Jawyers find the buri- | nergy of getting parties divorced a protitable one, Une jawyer is reported to have said that hin practico would net be worth a picayune wero It not for his divorce business, OF tho 437 divorces pranted Inat year, 258 were for doxertion, 82 for adultery, 79 fur eruvlty, 55 | for drunkennees, and 33 for other causes, such aa nogleet to provide, iucompatibility of temper, ete, Ono diyores, to which our attention was called at tho timo, was decree in a certain eoun~ ty for about aw absurd aud trivial a reason ab onv cond possibly coucesivo, and yet, Lecanse ono Ithed “biled vittels"” and tho other didu't, there was a want of harmony botween the two which was snfliciont cause for the marriage relu- tions to ho legally severed. Fee ana Gon, Schoncls nnd Powers tur of the Cincinnat Wasett:? . NCINSATI, Feb, 2.—About a inonth ago you published an abstract from the Nation charging my friend Gen, Robort U. Rchenck with having It hing other meias of sttstain- | tuict it hus an ontiet on the Gulf in Galveuton, with { alvantago than can Chicago, Cincinnati, or 5 er, Who do tot ) verse report was inde, which was approved by | Ju4 MONDAY, FED, 8 1975 GREAT BILL OF THE SEASON! GLORIOUS OL10} TRULY IMMENSE ATTRACTIONS! BILITARY DILAMA THRILLING ACTSI Kagagamont of (ba Great Pantomime Actress, MLLE. MARIETTA RAVEL, Supported by the Popular Favorit Apresrance of the Popular F LUX., George and Uharloa: the favo «les Ceankion) (ho tarmuus Gymnaats, the Stila tho popalar aetist, T. B. Melntyra; Raby Bin amy eNab ary Siquora Albertazzi, Woodland’s PAMATIG COMPA ting MARI. st REENTO comm ary eunpeting RENCIE SPY: OR TIE FALL OF ALGIERS, Now Look at the Prices, ‘This is the way to treat WAKI TIMER, LOWES? PRICLS ON THE CU; re (no extra for securing), trol oe thy Snrlo- 5 4 Wednesdaye’ and “Bainrdays, dies andebiidren, all parts of the io alilte, 50 conta. 1GHT-—THURSDAY, “HALSTED-ST, OPERA HOUSE, Qorner of Halsted and Harrisop-ste, SUCCESS GREATER THAN EVER, MUNDAY EVE, Feb. 8 ant ing dus revs Dscittal Wefag plctorey at Cun Me Ancient Mythology. Continued Succens of Mle, MATIR DE LACOUN'S CAL-CAN, Tn conjunction with the evor popular Madame RENTZ‘S FEMALE MINSTRELS, AND The Groat Variety Company. Don't fall ta ase tho aemo of SPECTACULAR PERFEO- BLE: ELS. 9 o'clock -KALE- lu o'elock—UAN-OAN, anid Urideys 36320 p, ‘Minnen ‘Theatre, by & ofolock—-FEMALR MINSTIE IDINTA, BMatineca Tucsd: GRAND OPERA HOUSE, SEL? EONS Famous Minstrels and Borlesoue Opera. Troupe, ‘An eather chang nine. “Phe Laughable Bar- fetta, UNCLit JA! or, Twice MauweED. Leon ne arictay Leon oe Vicious; Ravin Kelly ae Uncle Jack. i TSE BONE TARK IT, Ned Wambold aud J Gonteel and Popniex Gong and Dance Artiste, : WELY.. The warld- d Banjo L. ‘the Favortre aod GHOOLCKA PRT and CORN. KAYSE, FRED- SUNNIDGR, and LESTER in New Songs i Is. brury Kyenlng, and Wadnesday and Saturitay Matinces arsa'clock, CHICAGO MUSEUM. MONDAY, Feb, 8, eve jug during the wesk, and ree Weahetics, Torsten eh Raltedey Mataeos MR. JOS. H. KEANE AS RIP VAN WINKLE. Pronounced by aha Eastern prove and pablio as the moat woudortnl imitatiow of The gveat dus, Sefferson, New Scenery, now Apipuintauents, id rong Cast, MoVIOKER'S THEATRE, LAST WRER af the distinguished actress Mrs. D. FP. Bowers Who will appear during the week os LADY AUDLEY AND QUEEN ELIZAHETH, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, only nighteof LADY AUDLEWY’S SECRET daly Audley, Bowers t fet ‘ollor ABET pitt Howore Satine. HOOLEY'S THEATRE. Monday, Fob. & Grand Boveial Din, DENEEIT of to ‘ominont lexsls a Miss LOUISH HAWTHORNH, When will be perform, drat tne, hero, 2 poworful dea matie nuvelty te igtousely inter 3 DEG BERN ne Ue ROWE EN ENG. Atl flaw: Thirue du her reat’ character of Diana,” Dachuss of Naleno, "ates slates U'Noll ma tis dual ebetacter uf Bd- gerard Honil “tn coneluia with, the (augaaile Kowedieian Cie LITLE KRMEL, introducing. Mle, Crane, Mies Netllo Motleory ther. Sided) Air. vaulabury, wud ollie ‘sppearance), Mrs, disgraced himself and his high official position by writing # book on the ort of playing poker, You took oevasion to connnent ou the presumed fart in vory soveto terms, I kuow Gen. Schenck wy well that Liha not believe bit to be go billy asta do this, aud I placed it among the many blunder to which he baw beon subjectod by his political enemics, but to satisfy myseit I wrote him on tho tgubject and I juclogo his reply, which Tthink in justica to him onght to receive tho Denwit of your wide circulation, A goutleman ig whose public life baw been so. distunguiele: entitted to fair play by the public prosd. Re fully, ‘Tuy, L. Yor Loypox, Jan. 16, 187: ‘My Dean QeNenan: Thauks for your friundly and manly letter, ‘Tho extracts you wend mo from noxepspors of Cin- einatl and other places would have surprised mo {lf Thud not alreudy seen myself dutely vo much vilitjed and tied about. Why l have teou made the subject of theso assaults, and why my fifo und conduct aro vo Ktoebly caluroniated aud Inisrepresoptod, 1 do pot altegether understand ; for God kuows with what carposgt ringlo-hourted~ yous { buve houestly lwbored through a loug aud uctive lifetime to promote the happiness of oth- ore, and to verve, to dhe full measure of my abil- ity, seuuntry which has intrusted to me much wud various public servico. What has troubled mv just, and tiled me with indignation, in, that some of these sttacky, anonymous ay they are malicious, should have been admitted without queation iu journaly of reputed respectability. McCORMIOK HALL PROF. 0. 8. FOWLER, TUESDAY and FRIDAY Evenings, Feb, 9 + and 12, at 8 o'clock, FREH. LIFE, HEALTH, AND SELF COLTORE. Consultations to your ownand childron’s Phrenol- ont hualnoas, ot0., daily froma 8 a, mt. CHRLTU pts at Yaluue Houso, wat Churpday kveniuy, Marci 4, ACADEMY OF MUSIO, Tho Public Domand Another Week Of Bartley Campboll's New Romantic Irish Drama, GRANA UAILE. Which will be prosented ovory itvoning sud Weduesday ud Saturday Matinecs, rene SCALES. FAIRBANKS’ STANDARD SCALES OF ALL KINDS. FAIRGANKS, MORSE & GO, 111. &123 Lake St., Chicago, You write to abk mo tho meaniny of the sidic~ Bosarefultp byy ovly the Genulaa,