Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 4, 1877, Page 2

HE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: TUESDAY, DICE 1I877-TWLLVI] PAGEN, ade to the peonle, and each hank Is required, y Bee. 5,106 of (he Nevised Statutes, “to #ake and reeciye at par, for any debt or Mability folt, any and all notes or biila feened by any lawlotly organtzed Na Ranning Assuela- lon." “There aro ther:fo 0,000,008 of Ha- {lities of the people due Banks,—a sum Jargely execeding the whole amount of de- posits,—which mn?’ be pald in the notes of any all of the Natlonal Banks in the country. gm National Bank notes are therefore vers dif- erent in chiarueler from the heterorencons nk notes formerly fssued Ly autnority of the geveral States, Moreover the deposits of the banks are largely awned by their own share- holders nnd by their horrowers, aud surely busis mess men wha Jouk to the banks for accomme- datlon and stockliolders whose profita depend upon thefr succeasfil mannzement wiil be the dast to conspire to Injure thetr eredit. THE DEVAND FOR GOLD, Depnaits consist chiiefly of bank credits and are derived largely from the discount of com- merclal paner, and are pald mainiy by transfers wpon the hooks and not with cither coln or cur- rency. Throughout the country all larce par- menta are made, not with maney, but with checks. In the principal cities these payments are accomplisiied _through the operatton of elearing-houses, Durlng tlie lact tweuty-four ears the exchanges of the New York Clearing- Touse were §451,000,000,000. while thoe halances nid in money were Jess than $19,000,000,000, lie nyerage dally exchanges dusing this whole perfod were more than $61,000,000, while the averngs dafly balances pald fn money srere but 122,500,000, or but four and one-fifth vents upon + the ollar, In_England, in 1521, atter resumptlon, there was but little demand for gold, nor was thete in Francc after resumptlon by the Hank of France in 1850, nor in this country In 153 or 1858, The Bank of France s at prescnt Innstate of snspension; but its notes are preferred Iv'y the public to apeele, and the bank has tound ft dififeult to reduce the volume of {ta clrculating notes in exchange for coln. Al thonght of de- manding actual payment in specie will vaniah os #oon as resumption Is nssured; and those timld bankers who fear that their dealers will demand coln for cvery dolinr of their deposits van re- assuro themselves by an ngreement with their dealers that thelr deposits enall be payable, as at the present timey “in carrent funds, which will then consist of legnl-tender notes and the notes of specle-paying banks. * There Is no greater bugbear than the oft-re- peated cry that the Treasury and the hanks must provide specie for the pavment of §2,000,- D(I)O,Doo of deposits before resumption can take Dlace. nal THEZ MEASURHE OF VALUR, ‘The Cofnage act of 1573 provides for the fsano of a gold dollar, which shall be the unit of value; “but eince tho suspension of specie payments the _businces transactions of the country” bave been “based upon a falro and fluctuating” measure of waluo. This will Lo seen from the following fable, which gmives the value of the lexal-tonder Pnucr dnllnri in cents, for July of cach year rein 1604 to 1887, aud for Noveniber of the pres- * ent year: July, Nov. July, Nov, Year. s, Cl Cls. Cts, 0, 0 The Colusge act also provides that the stand- ard weight of this gold aolldy, which ix tho unit +of velne, shall bo twenty-five aud cight-tenths |frnlm; but the paper doliar Inuse sinco 180t hos ropresented a gold coln nuctunuufi in weight from less than ten gralos toaboat ! twenty-ivo graivs, as followss ) July, Nov. July, Nov. Gra. Qrs.|Tears i 0.0 1871 Grs, Grs. 2, 5: SPRCULATION FOSTERED, Thess tables by no means fully represent the xtent of the fluctuations in the legal standard of value during the last alxtecnyears, The variations eannot be counted by the number of ears, nor even by the number ‘of days, They ave been numerous overy day sinco the date of suspenelon, and can only "be numbered by tens of thousands. The Importera and other wholo- salo dealers have often found, durlug the last sixteen years, that it would bave been more profitablo to have bought and “sold gold. than the commodities belonginie to thelr legitimato trade, If, In the Interval, tho price of wold had rizen, the importation was recelved at o fuss; It had fallen the profit on the salo of gold would have been greater than thut derlved from the sale of the goods. The tens Atuey of such fluctuations Is either to baukrupt o to demoralize all Snnoul engaged in or- dinary traflic; for, under such circumstonces, business of every kind becomes slmply a gamo of chance, based upon the everchangiug value or welght of u false but legallzod standard, and many persons fu cvery portlonof tho countr abandon their legitimate business and embarfc in epeculutions, rlnflniz fallure and disgraco upon tiemselves and losacs upon those who confide in them. If the weight of all tho produce which has been purchased In tho last sixteen years had been determined by o standard pound which varles in weleht from six to sixteen vuuces, or if tho measure of all fabrica had been ascer- tained by a yard-stick tho length of which at differcnt times ranged all the way from four- teen Lo thirty-six inches, the evil resulting from thouse of such Inise and varying standards of welght and measure could not be greater than that which followsd the use, durlng the same [:rlod of so false o standard of valuu as has en tho paoer dollar, Not many years aco it roquired 100 large snd heavy welghts to bal- snco 100 bushels of wheat, 'lo-day, by the ad- vance in mechanical sclence, a five-pound welght will balance a much larger nmount of produce, 'while the actual use of the pound weight is con- fined to the small trausactions of ‘the retall trade. It woutd now be impraciicable to welgh the products of the country with the old-fash- toned balances, but the weight of car-londs ot coal nnd of canal boals of graln are quickly ond accurstely determined in pounds upon a modern platform-scale, cvery one of which{s exactly sixtcen ounces avoirdupols. There is not, suflicfent gold or sllver coin in the country with which to pay for one-twentloth art of tho products of thu prescnt year, but o machiuery of the bank, with its sysiem of checks, and bills of exchange, and clearing- houscs, will rny for it all In ollnrl, oyury one of which will 'be an cquivalent of the” true standard dollur of twenty-fivo and clght-tentha grulus of gold nlne-tentkis tine., MEANING OF RESUMPTION, Resumptivn docs not mean tho actual use and handling of the gold dollar in every transaction. Coln sud currency aro by small clm:Fe used in tho retall trade. checks and bills of exchange are the instru- meuts cmployed foall Jurge transactions, A single check “pays for a whole invoice of for car-loads of coal, and for houses und fur Resumption means only that the dollar r sented 1o the bank-check shall be equivalent to twonty-five and cight-tenths grains of gold, ay tho pounid represented upon, the beam of tho platform-scala shall be equivalent to sixtecn ounces avolrdupols. It meuns that the wmill- {ons and billions of business trausactions of o single year shall each be measared by a flxed snd true, and not by & fluctusting aud false standard of value. Congress, on March 18, 1860, passed an nct fn which **the United States pledges its falth to muke provisfon at the earllest practivably pe- rlod for the redemption of United BStates sotes fn coln,” snd ou Jau, 14, 1875, a day ‘was fixed for that purpose. The paver dollur 4 now worth 073§ cents In gold and represents welght of about twenty-five gralng of that metal. It has focreased n 1ts represcutative yalue and welzht 40 per ce auring the Just ten years, more than 10 pey during the past two years, und nearly 5 per centwithin the last six months, and_there is no appurent good reason why it should not soon becomu of the Iull staudard value, when both the paper and the gold dollar will be an cqual measure of valug for the rich and pour alike. fbe Governmeut aud the bauks of the couu- tev guspended Specie Eu_yxueuu on Dee, 28, 1861, aud it 1s believed that the National Banks will cordially unite with the Government In restoring the true standsrd of value wheaever $he ucts of Congresa referred to shull huve bova earricd tuto effect, TUE RECORD, SENATE. Wasurxarox, D. C., Dec. 8.—At 10 o’clock fhis morutug the Scoate mcet and went into ex- ecutive session, aud whea ths doors were re- opeoed, at 11:10, sdjourned. At noon the regular session was begun, and Mesars. Anthouy and White were avpoloted a cowmittee to join a slwllar commitice on the part of the House to walt on the President aud inform him that & quorum of both Housus were ready to recelve any communicativn be might Le pleascd to make. The Beuate then took a recess, Uvon reassewbling the Viee-President pre- seated the avnual report of the Secrclary of War, alsu the aooual report of the Sccretary of the Bcuate aod Bergeaut-st-Anny. Ordered pnoted. £oun thereafter Mr. Rogers, Private Secretury of tho Preideut, usfiufl;fl with the mcasage, and I& was fwnedlately read aud ordere riuted. ¥ Departnass aud otlsr reports wers thea pre) , and the Senate adjourned till Thured: nouse, The members assembled nt 10 o'clock and ex- tended the recess till 10:45 when tue Senate tesolution to adjourn at 11:30 was coneurred fn, Dr, Ditiretl moved to suspend the rules and ass the bili suthorizing producers of tobacen Yo scell 8100 worth of the same without paying nn{ tax; Idee‘nulml—rua. 067 nays, 102 Mir. Throckmorton moved to suspend tho rules, and adopt the resolution fnstructing the Military Committee to inquire {uto the expe- diency “of mastering into the United States seevice two regiments of Texas mounted rangers, to be aeca for the protection of tho Mexican and Indlan frontler of Texas. Ke- ected. ! Mr. Knapp moved to suspond the rules and adopt a resolution declaring that the President, by refusing the usc of the army in support of the pretended Governments lu South Carolina end Loulelnua, and therchy acconling to thelr people the right of local self-government in ae- courdance with the Constitution, has falthfully performed his duty fn that behalf, and Is justly cutitled o the respect and confldonco of the Amwerican people, ‘The yens and nays belng ondered, Mr, Conger moved that the House adjourn, Mr, tiarfleld (0.)=I hope we will not hava 3“’ ditatory motfons, but vote the resolutioh oven, The ycas and nays belng taken upon Comrver‘l motion, the time was consumed until the hour fixed upon for the tinal adjournment. At noon the Speaker called, the House to or- der, and the recond sessfon of the Forty-fiith Cungress was hegun, Roli call showed 231 members present. 'The usual committee was apvolnted to Inform the President that Congress was [ seasion, anl n short recess was taken, when the messaze was handed fn and read, occupyinz one hour il twenty-five minutes, Telerred to the Commit. teo of the Whole on the State of the Unlon: Mr. Springer offered & resolution ecalllng for the correspondence with the Venezuclan Goy- crement slnco the Nret sceslon of the Forty- fourth Congress i relation to the Venezuelan mixed commlssion. Adopted. Adjousncd, INSURANCE, CHICAGO LiFE, Tho frst report of Mr. George M. Bogne, Re- cefver of the Chicago Life-Insurance Company, was filed yesierday fu tba Clreuit Court In Chancery. It begins by stating that ho entered upon his dutles as Recelver on the Tth day of July, 1877, and tho present Inventory aives tho condition of the property and nssets of the de- funct Company as tuey sppeared on the 0th day of July, 1877 The report Is very claborato aud carefully prepared, giving 3{ull explanations of all the ftems of decbt and credit In scparato exhibits, In regard to thellabilitles, it is stated that tho chief one I3 tho surrender-valuo of the polictes in forco on the Fth day of July aforesalil, which, according to the report of Ma}. R. M. Woods, of the Illinols Insurance Department, amounted June 1, 1877, to §33: 270, To this must be added tha death loss amounting to £8,400, making the total pollcy linbility $341,670, Itls uxrcumd that the policy Hubllity will not vary much from the foregoing figures, The Court, by order entered Oct. 81, 1877, directed the Recelver to cause each of tho licies of insurance fsaucd by the Company to Bg valued upon the basis of the American tablo of wmortallty, with Interest at the rate of 4 per ceut upon the basis of net premiums, As soon a8 the Hecelver and Actuary have completed the valuations, schedules thereof wiil be flled in Court. Tho Recelver further roprescnts that in ad- ditlon to the potley-Mabllity the First Natfonnl Bank of Chicogo holds the Company’s note, dated July 6, 1871, of $3.800, bearing interest ot the rate of 10 per cent per nonuw, eccured by collaterals, and the only other Habllitics are several clalms for advertising, agents® bills for commiasions, and bills for medical examination, ogeregating about 8700, which will make the total fi:bllltlen as follows: Policy liability, June 1 . $333,270 DEht Jovect, apsroved siter GoiyT, wna o eal Jors: ap + previons o a0y 7. Vayassie 4,000 Doath lossen, 4,800 Iills payabl 4,100 Sundry claim 281 L TotAbisesrernyerssresenns Following Is the snmmary of asseta: umount, ZHEHS A ue. Cash In office and bank. § 207 § 203 :)(glvenwc n‘?mm...& st 14 14 co forniture onf 1‘:ullmnmllvnhm 120 120 anson collater 5 29,134 23,134 0ans eecute m andtrust-decdsonrealestate 143,021 143,021 Accrucd Interest.,... 23,083 e Amnnnmnlmnr‘lfi'nyeuwlnl- ed Recolver Indisputed Bare A;’n’ mu{tguzu..d..... TR A £7,000 ount second mortgage: wwarded Recefver in disput- } Donbifal ¢d BAITY mOTigages. .. veeee value, Notes takon for conslderation other than premivms. .. o bh Notes taken for preminms on volictes in fo e vees 0,713) Estimat. Unfinm renewal receipts in ed good oflice for polcy-preminms a8 offsct mozured sluco May 17, 1877, to labit- and previous (o July 7, ity on 1877,. weesene srsenner 1,106 f policlos Agents nees hn o the abown by Cumpany's ledger, amount Leing claims in their hands ot tl’i.- collection.,ee o0 weenves 13,500) BOS. inat Iapsed policies, 10,734 Novalue Totalevasseessrroe o $252,810 $212,378 The schedule on pa , 52, and 53 of the exhibita showas tho apparent indubtedness of Joln W. Clapp, Inte Bccn:uuz of the Company, on July, 7, aniouoting o §44, 008,17, On the Hth day of June last, and pending the fuvesti- gation of the atfairs of the Company by Maj, R. M. Woods, Insurance-Examiner, Sr, Cluop secretly nbsconded, and no clus to his where- abouts bas yet been dlscovered, Ils clandes- tine departure derives additional significance {from the fact that It ovcurred upon the cve of the proccedings instituted by the Auditor for the appolutient of u Raceiver, aud just ot that stage of Ma), Wood’s vzumination when it be- canie necessary to trace tho asscts of the Com- pany through the cash account. Diligent in- quiry hia been mado by the Recelver to ascers tain” the whereabouts of the defaulting Beere- ln?, but thus far without avail. U Is apparent from the examination which the Rucelver Lias thus far beon able to mnoke, that the Company hus been dolng an uum—nfl'ub!n business for inany yeurs, Its Income bus been smull and deereasing, whilo, at the game time, the sularies puld offiers and its offics-expenses Tave been large, and 1t has, fn sddition, pall largzo aunual dividends to fts stockholders which the coudition of the Company did not warrant. Wiile its buainvss has been sccured at very great expense, It has for soveral years atlowed pullca-luldcu to surrender. thelr policies, lor which a large amount of cash hus been pald, aud policies fur (mm-ur Iusurauce bave been fasued, therehy materfolly weakening the Com- yuny, The Compuny hus not collected intorest on the securitiva “upon which the capital stoek Lased, cousequently the Compan, bas been deprived of Intereat on sboul 100,000 for n perfod of some cleht years, Huf. Woods lu his report to the Auditor stated thut “luterest bad not been callected on the sevuritiea upon which the capital stock is based,” which report was mude publie at the thine; and, (Y lmm‘ of the &ol(cyhulduu laye asked to know what the Recelver coutempluted dolue toward collecting futereat on such notes, the Liceelver subuits the questivn to the Court for its dircetion, In conclusiun the Recelver bellcves that the loans on colluterals and tho luans securcd by trust dveds sud wortgages ure maluly good for the awount of moncy loaned, the security in nearly all cases belug lhuuK{li. suiliclent” to cover the loans, but it will take’ time to_con- vert thow {uto wousy, owlng to the conditlon ol the businuss of the country snd the present deprossed narket for reat cstate. e hopes, however, thut by proper effort thess securitics can bo converted into mouey for distribution among the policy-holders without much sacriiee, — THE PROTECTION, The officers of the Protection Life-Insurance Company, Measrs. Edwards, Hilliard, Ryan,'sud Rela, did not give ball yesterday ot the perjury Indictment recoutly returned agulost them. The first two were around the bulldiog with their boudsmeu, but owlng to the fnterruption of busiuess In the Criminal Court, or some othier cause, they did nut go before the Judge. They will probably tury up to-day., Jolu Reld bas not yet spoeared to glve bail on tho fret in- dictment found against bim. It is a habit of tbe old gentleman to get sick when In trouble, sud bo retired from this city to Wil County about the timo the firit indictment was re- turned. According to one story, be is biding at Monec, whero he has o farm. Auother story is that he is down in Misalsslopl, whers he has a slster, ‘lbis is the most likely yarn' of the two. Lo has ony dea that [ will be convicted, ke will not bo sptto turn up fu this city ogaln. He has considerublo property, which ™ he has turoed over to his wife, sud will be ablo to live, even if furced to abandon the cuuntrj. Ivis understood that Edwards and his nare wpon their defense fn this yerjury business, and it i+ fuch a cnn as wouht be expected of them. It (s allered that they will undertake to prove that they never swore 10 ang of the statements made to the Tnsurance Devartment, which statements are now admit- tedly falze, They wiil, it 1s atlered, nttempt to thraw the burden of the crima on the sarious Notarles hefore whom they apvarently swore to tho correctness of theso statementa, ~Thev wiil attempt to prove that the Nuturles certiled that theso individuals appeared Lefore them aud swore, when, in reality, nothiog of Llie rort ever oecurred. Inasimuch as theae Notaries, by confessing to any dction of this kind, would put themseelves In a rather nnple;\!mnl position, ftis not likely they will mo on the staud and testify in favor of tho defendants, However, in the nnswer to the Guoding bR swhich 1« on flte In the Court, the defendants aif agaln awore to the correcinees of these atates taents inade to the Insurance Departinent. The lcnlimnn(y appeare to he nwllc as strong na that on which Mr, Caee, of New Yurk, was recently sent to State's Prison, it would bo & curioua inutation in humnn affairs it Edwards was returned as a convict to the prison which he once controlled Warden, STATR SUPERVISION. To the Editor of The Tribmneé, Crmicaao, Dec, #.—~More than two' years ago, through the columns of your paper, the writer catled the attention of the public to the fraudu- Tent character und practices of the officers and manngers of the Proteetion Life-Insurnnee Company, Iate of this city, vow deceared. Every charge of which they have slnce been proven gullty, and for which they are nos under in- dictinent, was made in languagu o plaln that no person of common Intelligenee conld fall to mmrmheml it. But these fellows had hoif a million dollars of trust tunds coming into thelr hands every year which they could expend as they pleased, and they printed o uewepaper of thelr own, with a circilation of 40,000 copies per month, which they illed with connter-charges of blackmiafl and ‘general defumation nzainst the prosecution of av hunest corporation, which was engaged n the heuevolent euterprise of furnishing © life-nsurance at cost,? mul 50 the duped the [enorant and the unwary; the hard- carned dollars of the poor rolled fito thelr cof~ fers until the last minuto of the life of tho reat charitable Institution. Notwithstamling he repeated perjuries of * patd-up vn&xunl, bank etocks, valuble morlszcfl, accurities, nescte, and general folvency,” recent develop- tenta have shown couclusively that the concern was run and mnuageil for swindling &mrmsu only, aud that it ucver know a rolvent day sinco the date of ita oraanization. Now the nuestion is, how and why the Insur- ance Department of tho State, whose business 1t is to supervise things, verinitted this rotten concern to runso long and swindlo the public out of its;mouney. Arc the officers of this De- partment Igoorant of thelr duties, or are they participants in the frands? The ono or the otltrer must be truc, and the sriter has his opin- fou as to which horn of the dilemma theso gen- tlenien must take, Mr. Josiah 11, Kellomyg has been the realdent Actuary of the Department for yeare; he is famillar with Chlcago and its ways, partlcnlarly the crooked ways of fnsur- anco companics.” o ought to know, and docs know,when a company hasa pafd-up capital and when 1t bhas notj when {t 13 solyent and when Insulvent. Ho cxamined the_ aflalrs of the Protection n number ot thnes, and knew or shoul have known exactly what {ta condltion was. Agd et he passed it over to the public as a sulvent concern, rightfully cogaged in the lu- gurance busluess, aud able to pay (ts debts, Hundreds of thousands of dollars were paldinto ita corrunt treasury npon hiscertificates of good character and solvency, Last spring nfter the Gooding bitl was filed in the Supreme Court, and the charges against the Company put in the form of a verifled public record, the Auditor ap- poluted Robert M, Woods, nn able, experiencedt, ond honest otlictal, to rumln cxamine the condi- tion of the Company. Woods and Rellogg spent thirty-two days fn & thorongh and exhaustive Investization “of the affalrs of the concers, and pronounced fts capital all right, its securd- ti¢s oo, its reserves autlleient, and its solveney unquestionable,” The report of Woods was printea and clreulated all over tho conutry as an ofliclal Indorsement of the soundness of the Company, and of the honesty of its managars, and the tonsequence was tlint tho mrinmm& officers of this henevolent fustitution gachure: i over $100.000 moreof the aavings of the poor. Within sixty days of the datoof Woods’ re- port, upon nu information filed in the Criminal Court by the Btate's Attorney, the Company confessed Its Insolvency, amd sarrendered its charter, and 1t fs now kiiown that at the date of the report when Woods pronounced {ts nsscts toha in excess of fte lubllities §133,000, tho concern wus i debt more than $400,000 over aml nbove all its resources. No lnngusgo s sulliciently expresatve to charncterize the con- duct of thcero State officlals Iu this transaction} and, while the otlicers of the Cownpany hase heen {ndicted for fraud, embezzlement, and {mr]ury, for what they liave doue in the matter, he State oflleers, who nmmrenlly indosred the fraud and apparently enabled the others Lo per- potrate the robbery, have so far rone unpunish- ed. 1cull upon the next Grand Jury and the Btate’s Attoruey to rce to it that there men, na well aa the others, are arralgned ot the bor of public justice. Gronas A. SHUPELDT. DID TILDEN TAKE THE OATII? Col. W, T. Folton Answors Evnalvely— Mr. Tildon’s ¥alth Sald to Lo laned to 1880, Kew York Tribune, Iee, 1. The followlug statement Ly a Washington correspondent of the Cinclunatl Euguirer wos tho basls of some Inquiries by o Zrlbune reporter yeaterdays ‘The rupture betwoon the Rtepublicans and Pres!- dent Mayes {s so comblete, that one Scnator eaid to-day he would make 8 prediction that within four months Eamuel J, Tilden would be Fresident of tho United States. '* Wo alno know," ho sald, **that Mr, Tiiden took the oath of office befure & qualiged magistrutein New York." The reporter first visited o well-informed Democrat, who might be supposcd to know if anything of the kind bad ‘taken place, and nakeds ° 4 Has .\l.r. Tilden taken the Presidential oath ners have o, of officat’ “Noj nothlnlx of tho kind. About the 4th of March the rumor prevalled that Le was _to toke the outh, fu New York, but T know that it was not done, Mr, Tilden docsn't propose to proceed §n any auch way, Everybody admits now that Hayes' clection” was = fraud, Tho poople recogilze that Mr, Tilden was wronglully deprived of the ofllce, and the ex‘pl.‘clnllun 18 thut ho will racclye from tho poople {n 1830 what rightfully betongs to him now.” The re&mrtcr next visited Col. W. T, Pelton, Qor. Tilden's neg:xc\v, nt the ottice of the Now York Eleyated Railway, No. 7 Broadway, Tho {nterview may have been eatisfactory to Col. I’e(léon, but 1t was not to the reporter, who lirst said: “Icame to askif [t i3 true that Mr, Tildon has taken the Presidentlal oath of office?” Cal, P¢lton appeared to be a litle surprised at the question nud sald, ** What do you meun " ‘Tha roporter showed " him & uewspaper slip containing the above extract, which he read and sald, ' [ do not know whocoald hiave said that.!" “The queation I wanted to ask, Mr. Pelton, ‘was whether Mr, Titden toolk the oath of ofllce or not " 'This," e sald, atill regarding the news- fllpcr slip, “scemsto be n statement witlout nportance, [ Lave no kuowledge of who it might be,” » *The question, n[m-lcd the reporter, who began to feel a_ little doubtful sbout tho answer, and throw all the puthos he could command into the appeal; *‘the question 1 wanted to ask was whothier Mr. Tilden had reslly tagen tho oatht " “T don't see what this means," sald Col, Pel- ton, seemingly ayolding s direct reply to thy sncnlon. and reswmiug hls ollico works ¢ on't kuow anythiug about it." ————————— POLITICAL, special DispuicA fo. The Chicago Tribume, InpraxaroLss, Ind., Dec. 8.—The Democratic mauagurs are preparing to postpone thie Demo- cratic State Convention until Apnl. Vourhees, who expects to make the cawpalgu for 8epator, is in favor of a short one, as it will, no doubt, be a hot one, the result depending on the Leg. Istativo ticket. ————— An Arizoua Incldent, An Interestlug story comes from Arizo Kclloz‘; and Corter owned 8 mindng clabin, a; foullsbly quarreled about it. Kellogg was a man of “lew words; ¢ light and fres was Lis touch upon bis revolver,”” With little ado, he fired at bis partuer, and supposed that be had sont a bullet futo Lis breast; but behold: Car- ter wus 4 good young wan, aud kad a Bible (n the pocket of bis” gray working-sbict. The ball struck upon the sacred bouk, Its conrss was turned, and Carter was subiurt, Theu the good iuunumm whipped out his gleamiog bowle- nkle, sprung upon Kellogg, and curved biw so artistlcally that his old ou bia rewiver relsxed and he was tke to dic, The goud youog man stanched bis cpi\:ncnl'n wound, and rodo away for a physiclan, returving whhln twenty- four bours, having mude a total distance of over nipety miles, Kellogy I8 recovering, Car- ter, to avold arreat, souglit to cruss the river, sud tbls tue the Biute' dicu’s save bim. Mo was drowned. The woral of this recltal fs very {ntricyte. But {v Iy plain that Carter wuan't boru to ba hanged. 8. d FOREIGH Deserters from Plevna Announce a Scarcity of Provisions, Servin on the Point of Jolning the Rossians Against Turkey. ‘Thoy Will Make a Diversion with Rus- sian Asistance in the Turkish Rear., M. Dufanre Trylng to Arrange Maiters Batween MacMahon and the Deputles. Ho Finde tho President Stubborn and Tealons of His Prorogatives, TIIE WAR. RUSSIANS RRTULSED, Loxpox, Dec. 3.—The Russians, on the 25th And 20th ultimo, atiempted to push on from Etropol anll selze the southern Junction of the roada from Orchanie and Etropol, but were re- vulsed with heavy loss. PLEVNA. Loxpoxn, Dec. B.—~Twenty-fonr Turks and Bulgarians from Plevns camo Into the Russian headquarters on the 2sth, saying they had noth- ing to et there. BERVIA, All the Servlan militia have gono to the fron- tier. Priuce Mitan and the War Minister will teave for headquarters o the Bth, Thedeclarae tion of independence will be made on the 11th or12th. . Most of the iuhabltants have vacated Negotin. A largo quantity o!,nmmunltlun has Leen sent to the frontler. k2 WITHPRAWING, The Turks are withdrawing from the Western Balkan Passcs npon Sotin. TID MONTENEGRING, Loxnox, Dec, 8.—A apeeinl from Budus says: ¢ Turkish troops are reported to have disem- barked at Dulcigno, the citadel of which waa not taken, as previously reported.” A Berlin special rays the Moutencgring hav- {ng occupled Suttarina, the Austrian (lovern. ment has inforined the Cettinje authoritics that they will not allow thein to lolst the flag of tho Principality fn tho strip of Tarkish territory In- tersceting Dalmatia. TURKDY AND ITALY. V1iENNA, Dee. 8.—~The bad fecling between Turkey nnd Italy grows out of ruprosentations by the Porte about a rumored Glibustering in- curslon Into Albanla. Italy assured the Porte that the rumor was groundless, but the Porte refuscs to accept this deuial, There Is a report from Rome that some other Powers have nlso deaws the attention of Italy to thie subject, 1If this be true, the Porte has succeeded in con- vincinz others as well as itself that its appre- henslons aro not altogether without founda- tion. BATIEPACTION DEMANDED, ViEnna, Dee. 8.—M. Christics, agent of Sor- via at Constautinople, has been Instructed to demand satisfactlon from the Porte for the con- tinual violatious of tha Servian frontier Ly tho Turks. BLANDEROUS AND ANSURD, New Yonrk, Dec. 8.—The following comes from tho Turkish Legatfon: * An item pub- lished in the Vienna Political Correspendence and reproduced by other newspapers, stated that after tho discovery of thoplot at Constantinopla about forty persons wero stravgled. A Minfs- terlal circular dispatch declares that ¢ho ‘stato- ment s slunderous and absurd.”” GETTING READY. . Toxvox, Dee. 4—5 a. in.—A Delgrade cor. respondent enys: Prince Milon reviewed the militia on Bunday aud_exhorted them to do their duty, Thu War Oflice hias ordercd all the Distrlet Gavernora to erect hospitals. The most probable play of operations Ja that Gen, Horvatovich will make a diverston in the rear of the Turks with two divisions, Gen. Gourko has promnfsed to sond him 8,000 cavalry. CRETE. A correapandent at Athens saya: According to tho latest lctters, 1ublie fecling in Crote favora o rising ofter the fall of Plevns, Tho {ireck Qovernment. has warned the Cretans that It will stop volunteors and supplies it they riso promaturely or coutrary to its advices, — FRANCE. THR CONFLICTING POWERS: PAR1s, Doc, 8.—31,'Dufauro bad an hour's in- tervicw with Presldent MacMahon this mern. Ing, Tho Tempssuys M. Dufaure has been Jn- trusted with the foripation of a new Cabinct, and went this alternoon to Versallles to consult bis frionds. At a meeting to-day of the Left Centre, It ap- peared, fo view of the prolongation of the crisls, unanlmously to be the oplulun at prescot to re- fuse to voto the Budget. A MEDIATOR, Tanisg, Dec. B.—Dufaure has consented to act aa intermediary between tna Left and President MucMahion, Tlo has already spechiled to the Prestdent the conceeslons wlich the Cismbor could reasounbly demand, and the President hias distinctly agreed to them, M. Dufaure will now nscertaln from the majority the preciss conditions vn which {t would accopt reconeills- tion, aud will impress upon It tho necessity of moderation, 1t Is probabla that M, Dufaure's cousultatlons with the Presient led to tho re- port of the Zemps to-lay that e hod been sum- 1oued to foru o Cabjnet. UNACCEPTANLE, Loxnpox, Dec. 4—5 2. m.—A Parls correspon- ent telegraphs that Lo has private information conlradicting French newsparer accounts of the interviow butween M, Dufuure and President MacMuhon. [lesays o few days azo Senator Ductere presonted to the Marshul an fnformal note nsking him as a sstisfaction to the Luft to promise to pruposs & revislon uf the constitu. tionin_a Republican sense. The Marsual sent for M. Dufaure toiuform him that this conditivn was unaceeptable, M. Dufaure replied that the Left destred u guarantee againat & sccond dis- solution, and that uothing could bo cusler than tofind u_guarantes which would not compro- mise the President's diguity, The correspondent concludes: “Tho forego- fog s all that ocedrred. Consequently thure {s no grouud for thiuking thut thy tewmper of the Elysee s changed.” IT 18 BIONIPICANT that the dcputation of Puris toerchatts and manufocturers who went to the Elyseo on AMonday desiring to present an address o Presl dent SacMabon in person wero recelven by an atde-de-camp, who somewhat perempturlly reforred them to the Minkster of Commerce. The deputation retired, telllng the alde-de- camp to lonform the Prestdont that * they wero the vanguard of on imposing demousiration which nambered 1,000 to-day, fud would num- g:r "w,ouu to-morrow,’ aud 1,000,000 the next . . GERMANY, AN INVULNEKAULE CANNON, Corraondence London Tymes. , Beavy, Nov. 14.—An International Congress, such ag has rarely met in any country, let alone Gerinany, assémbled & few days ago In'the Artillery Grounds at, Bredelar, In Pruseian Rhfueland. Agrceably to the fuvitations sent out by Herr Krupp, tiie famous gun-manufac- turer at Easen, representatives of the Prusstun, Russlay, Austriao, Itallan, Braziliau, Belgian, Brittah, Bwedish, Spanlsh, Portagucse, Danish, Asgentine, Japuuese, aud Duteh Goveruments appeared on the apot to withess experiments in anew lMue of gunnery proposed by thelr sclen- tillc host. Some of the vurious Governments euumcrated seuding more than one ofticer, the total numberof the gentlemen present amount- ed to Bey-tlve. The cxperiments to which Herr Krupp sume wmoned thiv muilnr‘nm)' were fntended tosolve two problems which havelong bafited the in- geuuity of ballistic Inventors—how to x s guu 80 as to dlspecss with the nrcvssity of taking alin after cach scparute discharge, aud bow o rutect & gun lu perianent or wemporery fortl- g«-uuoun 80 u8 ta reuder It proctically (nvuloer- able. Elther schicvewent bas hitherto uppearca impossible. Herr Krupp, Ly assoclating thy two ditlicultivs, separutely insurwountable, heg succoeded in removioy both, The apparatus ciwployed fs very atmple. Iron plates ubout hall a metro thivk are put tugether 60 48 ¢0 form a lstle hut, Jirze cuough to hold gun and guuuers Hout and are protected an onter coverlng of earth: the bk s partly opim, the Irant perforated hy a holo for” the muzzle, closed Ly a revolving valve. The valye helng turned Dack by machinery at the moment o firing, the next instant reverta into tte former pusttion, shiclding the interfor of the metal apartment._ua before. There is also a ventilator to carry off the smoke, with a varlety of sninor arratgementa, which, useful In themselves, are fut uot indfspensable, Thus much for guard- he qun and gunners, Asto fixing the barrel, this Is effevted by connecting it with the front vlate of the fron ut, A tnll serewed to the muzzle and moving in o socket attached to the wall of thic metallic compartment Is stated to auswor this purpose admirabiy, Tho rebound 1s allowed for by the etengating capavity of the socket; the direetion is inaiutrined by the firme ness of the connectine links, On reaching Bredelar the party found tho fron compartment placed at the end of alittle valley, surrounded iy o range of hilsof a modernte helght. The gun was safely lodged in the protecting shed, the Inventor, witha number of practiced hands, being ready to put s uew device Lo the proof. \When the officers had taken up thelr several positions, the gun was pointed at a target placed opposite and fired “repeatedly. Though the gun was a hig | fifteen-ceutimetre caunon, and the targes only five metres square, the mechanism, slightly alded by the gunnera’ akill, sufliced to keep the barrel in the original direction. A trifling movement of the hand ralred or de- pressed the barrel at will, tho connecting hinges and links being so constructed s to allow of this variation. Neither solid grenade nor shrapnel case had any disturbing influenco upon the barrel; and the hinges, belng made of the best material, and fngeniously attached to eachi other, were nelther strulned” nor torn by the rebound, Tho fring was at a distance of {0 metres, ‘Tho power of maintaining its orlginnl direc- tlon hving thus been proved, the protecting capacity of the {rou compartment was tlic nest th!nf to bo tested, For this purposce the fron sbed’ was flred ‘at from & 1G-coutimetrs gun; placed at a distance of B0 tnctres, and from s I2centimetre pun, ot o dis- tance of 250 wetrcs, Half adozen grenades having prodticed no {mpression upon e fron shed, nolwithstanding the compurative vroxim- ity of the discharge, the exsmining party were encottraged to enter tho Interlor during the re- walulng portion of the programme. They thus had an opportunity of convincing themselves that the fron shell of the protectiew hut was hut slightly shaken by the concussion of the ¢x- ploding obue, Eventually, the stect valve, et down during this lulrl. of ‘the proceedings, was Dit and Infared. It was instantuncously replaced uv’:u of yrought fron, which stood the severest ahocks, ‘Then began the third and concluding part of lio progminme,—an _encagement between the cannon in the stied and the two £uns outside, at resuectively 820 and 250 metres distance. i shed fired at the targets; the vannon outside at the shed. The valve on this ocension worked admirnbly opening ana closing with the greatest rapldity and precision. Though the iron shed was hit ropeatedly, the twenty officers Inshde at the time puree in sayine that Lho concusslon was liardly more than that what would be produced by the atroke of a hammer wielded by » vigor- ous hand. This statctuent s the more satfafue. tory, o cantionade at 850 metres having becomo quite Impossible at a period when the gunners are liable to be picked off at 1,000 metres by the breech-londers of the Infantry. ‘The same experiments wero gone through on tho sccond day, after which the iron' pintes of the shed were subjected to o close fuspection, ‘The severest injury fuflicted was that by a polnt- ed grenmde, which hud pevetrated fourteen cene thnetres luto the culruss, As thu Jutter wos about fifty centimentres thick, it s ensy to sup- pose that the funer skie of the plates was un- tonelied, even by this obtrusivemissile. Ona of the laat fow shuts fircd from tho guns outelde Just at the moment of the valve belng open hit he muzxle and broke the socket and connecting links, If this praves, what, indeed, nceds no prouf, that bullets cunvot Lo completely kept from enterlug where bullets are expeeted to {:n out, still the gunners were safe even at this critieal spot, noue of the fraginents ponetrating within the shed, Altogether, the experiments gavo tho greatest satisfaction, ‘The contidence displayed by - voutor and sssistaats remulning In the shed ex- posed to the fire of two fifteen-centiinetre qung was speedily shared by the spectators, who vied with cach other in Iinitating thelr cxample, At tho ena of the uolyue exhibition, the nascmbled de.erutes eaine to the conclusion that another and most important step had been made in the art of defense. For Yurmnnunt fortlfleatione, tho valuo of the inventlonuceds uofurther com- ment alter what bus been stated ; Aeld-wurks, it 1a true, will not so readily admit of betng nlmmfmned by Iron blocks 8,000 kilomctres in welght, except where a rulliway is near or can be caslly constructed. But are thers many apots nowadnys lnuccessible to the omi- nipreacnt railt In Uermany, it would appear, no time will lost 0 turninig the new devico to account, Strasburg and Metz, Posen and Konigshire, the four great stronzliolds protecting the castern and western contines of the Empire, are likely to ba the first supplicd. Nor Is it u!h-yulhnr mprotinble that the (ierman arsenals will be provided with blocks for fleld service, ‘Iho exploft of Osman Pasha In creating o fortified camp and rendering It almost impregnoble in o fow weoks has, per- hapa, produced nowhcre o deeper impression than in this country, where war |s un art which attracts the highest talent of tho rlsing genera- tion, When attuck is rendered more and more difleult by the perfection of the rifie, und de- fensg_becomes nrupun(onnlnl{ easy, nn Iinvale nerablo cannon s clearly an Invaluable boon. In the next (ferman war the spadu una the cufrusaed wun—/L'unzer Kanone ts the name wiven by Iferr Krupp to his tronshedded can- nou—will pluy no inconslderable part. MISCELLANY. SUBDUING THE NATIVES, Lonpow, Dec. 8.—A special from Caleutta saya Jummiu, the chicf stronghold of Jawukis, haa been taken by the British. Our loss wus triling, Tho cxpedition so far Las met with unjuterrupted success, UEN, ORANT, Lowpon, Dec. 3.—Tho Puris correspondent of the New York ilerald tolerapha that_ (len, Grant and party left that vity yesterday (Satir- .uyl morniug for Lyons, Ile” was In cxeellont health, and was well satfafled with the hospital- ftiea tondered bim in the French Capital, Ils bas gafned forty-eight pounds since he left Wushiugton, Uen. Grant leaves an oxcellent impreasion in Parks, notwithstandine the vulgar and uncalled-for atfacks mady upon bim by the Bonapartist prues. THE ITALIAN FARLIAMENT, . ‘The Herwd's correspondont at Rome téle- fru pha that the loug strugyle in tho Itallsn Parllament between “the Opposition and the Uavernment hos restted in - a Ministerial tri- uinph, the lome Budger having been voted for by & lurge mujority, SPRINGFIELD. The Btate Treasury=The Btato Museume Bankruptoy. Avecrat Dispaich (o Ths Chloagn Tridune. SpRINGPIRLD, 111, Dcc, B.~The following Is the mouthly statement for November of the rocelpts and disbursemcuts of the State Treasul TMECEIPTS, State reyents fund $144,701.10 State achool fund 08, 728, 43 Lucal bond tunds. 15,813.07 DISBURSENENTY. Siata revenne fund.....eve..s. . $110,481,25 Liinols River Imurovewent fuud.,.... 18,172.07 State schoal fun 3 Local boud funds,, 107.16 “Total 4. 124, 860, 58 The 8t brai 1 ana Natural History Museum et to-dsy snd decided to ao- cept thudouation of Mr. ", 1. McAfee, of Freeport, of & llgnarium and botanlcal speci- meus for the State Muscam, tichard A. Newelland Willlam L. Hamwer, of Decatt led a petition fo voluntary Lauk- suptey; and Lis ereditors tled o &mlunugdnu Joba Lebey, of Havaua, Mason County. - ———— RAIDING SAVAGES, Daapwoop, L. ‘1., Dec, 8.—~Many rumors are in dreulation about Indian depredations on the northern routes, but few can be truced to relia- ble sources. Ou Baturday six men reached Crook City suffering from exposure aud want of food. They report that thefr camp ou Belle Fourche, ubout forty miles from this city, was attacked by 8 baod of more than 200 ludiaus. The party kept the {udisng st bay for some time, but wore ivally {Iurm:d to ?bmdun flmlt‘ cawp, ml‘cnvlt:m thelr oracs, mules, cap equl 6, & O crty, \"hu-h was taken 'lty m luduu} 9{)532; the fight three Indizus were killed. No whites weru injured, A report from another source states that a band of ludiaus visited Madden's Raoche, at Cheycune Crosslng, Fost Pierre route, sud run oft all the stock. A beavy trail was dlscovered last week lead- o seross the Bumaxk road. At the foter- soction tho Indluus had visced 8 erude aketen of au indign und whice wan fraternlsiug, sur- mounted by three stars. A rauche on the an:s road, siz miles from Cxock Clty, was attacked, tno lflm‘ltl excaping to the wou The Indians ransacked hause, and destroyed all the property, and then retired. ‘The_Cnunty Commissoners are informed by Gen. Sheridan by telegraph to-day that Gen. Craok has heen ordered to aflond relief to {freighters und scttiements in tho Hitls, TIIE RAILROADS. TIE CMNICAGO & ALTON EXTENSION ‘The clreular of President Blackstone, of the Chleazo & Alton Railroad Company, requesting the consent of the stockholdess to tha creation of such contracts, lenscs, and liabilitics by the President and Directors of the road as may bo neeessary or expediont to oxtond the Chieago & Alton Rallroad from Mexico, Ma., to Kaneas City, of which mention was mado In Bunday's TRIBUNE, calla attention to tho facts which render [t necessary to completo It at an carly date. Mot of the statementa contatned In Mr. Blackstone’s elreular are new, and of consider- abla Importance, not only fo (e stockhulders, but to all the pedple living along the line of this road, and particularly those residing in that section of country through which the new romt is to run. ‘The most important facts contained In thoctr- cular are s follows: After procurine the constrnction of a line from Touvdhonse to Mexico, and constructing a brilie over the Miseissippl River, the inability of the Loulsjana & Missourl itiver Ratlroad Conpany to comply with ita cantrct relative to that part n{mo line belween Mexico and Kansaa City placed befora 18 the alternative of comploting the' road withont the Tucal atd that had been ux]‘mued, or 1o enter In {o teafiic arranientents with tha Nt. Lonte, Kansun City & Northern Raliway Company, for 8 connec- tlon hetween Mexico and Kunsay City, a distance vin the ling of that Company of 107 mlies. Thao Intter conree wan adopted, and has been fried for the lant five years, But the experinient of depending upon the gen- erusity of a competing 1ino has (in spita of cllorts on botlisides to reconcile conflicting interosts) re. stitied in mntaal dissatiafaction and great Joss to aur Company, As might be expected, (ho St. Louis, Koneas Clty & horthern Rallway Comupany conceden to us only much privilegas upon its line as in its oplnion do not cuntllet with ita Interests, 1n the meantime, the cost of labor and materfals of oll kinds required in the construction of rail- wayd lins been greatly rodnced, and onr Company can now completo the fine with steel ratln at lesw cost than It uld hoave lncurred uaing iron rails und the original azrecinent with the Loumiang & Minsonri River Ratlrond Company been complied with b.y that Company. While our Chlcago And Kanens City traflic for the innt five years haw been, to ® grest degree, mubject 1o the afctation of sn adveras Interest, and there. fore le«s than it would iave been If nnder onte con- trol, it has been of suflicient wagnitude to prodace un amount uf net profit between Mexico and Kane #As City more than equal to the Intercst on the cont of constructing an Independent llne. With tho exception of San Francieco, Ransas City is the most hpurtant commerclal centro In the United States west of St, Lonia; and bad ong ompany control of a railway between Moxico anid Kansns' City on the roule vroposed, it would he now receiving a much lurger and more valuable ;rvlghl trafilc from Kensas City than from St. Lonin, Tho circuiar next contalns & comparative statement of population and products, ns showan by uflicial roporls of census for 1846 In five countics traversed by the Kansas Diviston of the 8t. Louls, Kansas™ City & Northern Hall- road, and five countles adjoining through which the propused Chicazo & Alton extensfon will run. " Inregard to these statemnents Prestdent Dlackstone saya: 1:pon the proposed route of the Chicago & Alton Raflroad there nupears to bu 23 percent more population, and 14 per cent more tonnage of the varlous producta than on the Kansaw City Divislon of the Bt. Louw., Knnnas Crty & Notthern Railway, (Kanens City being cxcluded as common to both iines), and ‘the coustruction of tho new line will dunbiless lead (o an incrense in population and products near It, "o 8 limited uxtont the countles of Doons and Randolph will contribate trafcto each line, but Tor the piirposc of comparison the aggrepate glven wlil be fonnd substantisily correct, Forhe last iy years ibe countles first named have contributed to the lino of the St, Louls, Kaneas City & Northern Railway an averago tralic of abuut 530,000 per annum. Wa think it quite safc to assumo that, having now a larger population, aud producing more grain, lve stock, etc., 10 seod to market, the counties traversed by our proposcd Hae will can- tribute toit at least an cqual amount of trafic, ‘The Chicago & Alton Company now has a line Irom Chicago to Mexico, Mo., & little moro than two-thirds of the distance 'to Kansus City, but under present olrcumatunces it can only be” made avallable for trattic to and from polnts wost of Mexico, #0 far a8 it may froi time 1o thue bo pee- mitted by ita rivul, over whose lino tho trafc niust pang, i The rm scd oxtension would not only com. pleto the line between Chicago and Kansns City, vut, togethor with the present lino of the Chicago & Alton Hallroad, from Mexico via Rtoodtiouse tu St, Louts, wuuld form a line between lKunsas Clty and Bt, Louts, which would command a share of the traflic between those poluts. We cannot expect the St, Louls, Kansas Clty & Narthern Railway Company to germit s to o ftn 1ine wuxt of ‘Mexico for traflic Letween Bt Louls uud Kansas City; and therefura our line betweon St, Louls and Mexico, already nremu-n by un for half the afstance Letween Bt. Louls and Kansna Clty canuot bo weod for that tratle, ‘Tho people on the propoded route are making an organized effort to sceuro the right of way, nnd such individaal ald ns they may bu ablo to procure tuwands dofraying the cost of construction, With utoh local sld o can now ho abtalned, und the present low price of Jabor and materials, careful estimates, baded upon recent surveys, sfiow that the cost of the rosd, jucluding steel ralls -and un iron iwidge over the Missourl Itiver, will not ex- u-fid 218,000 por mile, or $3.000,000 for the 103 miles, .Aithongh many of oa: roholdors have not yet been cousulted It the matter, wo ure already ad- vised that persous owning a majority of all tho stusres of the Company, both preferred ‘und com. mon, deslire the completiun of tha line as early us the Directors may think It expedient. Inthe opinion of the (oard, the work should not Le delayed luuger tha s necensary to secury the local assietance which hna been promised, anid 1o pravide, on favorablo torins, auch an amount of munnlyl a8 will be necded to pay the cust of cun~ striiction, With the lino betwoen exico and Kansaa City completed and in operation, we have no donbt that -“ulu o Iarge percentago will have been added to tho nel revonues of our Company, and to the per- wanent vaiue of your shares, T'he proposed v'xtension of our raliroad to Ransas City, and the transfor to it of & largo winount of trafifc horetofore contributed by our Company to other linvs, has resultod 1n opposition from partien intereated in nuch linas, and efforts haye been and dro being made o Inthudate and decelve the sharcholders of our Company (by circalating false roports and otherwlse), 80 a8 {o pruvent the con- atruction of tho road, it possiblo, The officluls of the road say that he state- ment contalued in Suunay's article that all the ald required frow the towns and uties throgh which the uew route Is to run has been pro- cured Is incorrect, tnasmuch ss some of the towns and citics are still bolding back thelr ald, such as right of wuy, ete,, which is neceasary to htfiln the coustruction of the llne, ‘Yhe towns and citfea which huvonot yet come to terms huve been prevented from so dolng by the energetic efforts of tho ofliclals of the Bf. Louis, Kunaus City & Northern Rallroud which ut presont cur- ries the Kansus Clty aud Bouthwestesn buslness of thls road. This Company is dofng all It can todefeat tho project and retain the protitable Lusioeas derived from the Chicazo & Alton. A TRIBUNE reporter was informed by u promnment rulrood ofliclal from St, Louis I{ crduy that the Directors of the St. Louls, Kunsas City & Northern hield o meeting u few days uzo and lypulm.m] a committee to walt upou the villelals of "the Chiengo & Alton and see whether o per- manent grrangement cannot be wade by which the construction of the uew line can “be pre- vented, The ofllcials of the Alton say they will ilsten to the propositions of thu Cominittee, but will make no srrangements uniess the towny and cities which are still holding back with thelr id should be so bliud to their intereats as to refusothealdtothe Complnly which wiil cnable it to give them the needed vutfet for thelr produce, 1t i3 bardly probable that the people lviug in o sectfon of the country which uo direct rail- road comniunication with the large markets of the country will ullow themsclves to be hood. winked by lulerested purtics and ald in their own despoliation. There cun be no doubt that s koon &4 they seo things lu tbely pruper light un-{‘wul gladly and_willlagly glve the Alton such ald us s eeded to bulld & roud through thelr donuios, and thus secure facilitics which thoy have uot cajoyed beretofore, PASSENGER AGEN'TS V8. BOALPERS. ‘Thoold adage ** that i neverralas but (¢ pours™ 18 sguin verificd by the trials and tribulations ‘which bavoe fallen thick and fast upon the heads of the rallroad ticket-scalpers fu this city duriog tho past month. Vrevious to that time they were prospering lko nabobe, and scalplug oflices werv spriuging up ke musbrooms in this city, Ali offorts w put thewm down had falled, and thu{ deficd the rallrosd compaules s well as the courts to stup them. Fioally the day of udgment came, when, about a wonth ago, Judye Farwell de- clured the law probibitiog persons from selling the tickets of roads from whom thy uo Jicense. Thuugh this decision wus n blow ur ttem, still they refused to cume to terws, fur they did not believo that tbe rallrosd cow- les could unite sud make o combined effurt 0 force thew to mmgl] with the law. But sbout o week ago the General Ticket and Pus- scoger Agents of the roads lewding from this city East gave them unother kick by enterinyg into sy wereewent that bereafter no commis- slons shall be paid to outside partles, aud that all tickets now in the hands of such partics shall xt ouce beredeeied by the respective rouds. This was 8 bud Llow, which stunned them cou slderably, but atiil they kept up a defiang tidle, o refsed ( close helt e "4t Further action wilt undonubtedly & as taken yvestorday ! o the hashof the 2y 2l and force them lo suek somo other ani ek congenlal employment. The (eneral Tivkeg, anid Passcorer Awents of the various ro; 1ha city held n meeting yesterday foreng which every road In the city wa3s repres, and an agreement was entered Into o nrosey, Jolntly every scatper in this clity found (o pe selling ticketd contrary 1o 1aw, and it was g eliled 1o employ an nitorney for this purpoeg. At the same thine fhio General Tlekel and Pyy. sengor Agents formed into an Assoclation fop the purposs of acting harmonlously an atl . tera apoertaining to thelr departmients, Thyg Assoclation nbsorbs all other Assoclations of this kind herotofora in_cxistence. Mr, .o Wentworth, General Ticket and Passengey Awent. of the Michizan Central, wan elocteq Prestdent of the Arsociation, and Mr, Ry Powll, General Tickot Azent of the Chleagg, Burlington & Quincy, Seeretary. Regular meepn Ings will be held oni:e every month, It may be said In tils connectlon that not ) the acalpers, of outslda ticket-sellers, are bag or corrupt men. There are amung them excel lent gentiemen who cudarcrrcclly leyitfinaty businges amt are held In high csteem vy tyg raftroml officials, but a majority of them iuadg thelr profita almost entirely from the sale of stolen tickets or passes obtained from unpring. pled dead-beats. The raflroads could not maky war upon one class withont Infllcting injy upon tho other, and for this reason the have to suffer with the ad., But therefs doubt that the lonest men nmuma thein, wiig¢ nra good ticket men, will readily Ond ewplogy. ment with soma of the rallronda. Some of _the scalficrs closed thelr shops yes. terday, and the others will undoubtedly have tg do lkewlse In a few davs, Now that the scalpers aro hors do combat tho rallrunds nust sea Lo it that the yassoniery nre not placed at too great trouble In getfng unusea tickets redeemed, Many auch ‘tickety have found thelr way into the hands of scalp. ors, beeause the railroads cither refused o yp. deem them or put such obatacles in tho way oy thefr redemption that partics would sooncr well the tlekets for half price than submit to the varlous ways of red-tape trouble '.“;3“"“' by most of the roads, It 18 understood that ajt the ronds have agreed to redeens unused tickety ot thelr full value, but In most instancesthizhag to be duncat the coneralofficeof Ll pasacnger and ticket depurtinent. ‘The Goneral Passengep und Tickot Arents must rectily this at their nexg meeting If they mean to be supported by the publlc in the course thoy have taken, and” pasy o resolutton by which unused tickets or por. tlons of them can be redeemcd on presentation by auy tickot agent along tholr respective roads, ITEMS, The General Ticket aud Passenger Agonts of thoroads In this oty recelved the foltowing ngreement, which has been adopted by the Gen- eral 'Ticket and Passenger Agenta of the several rouds between Now York and Boston, at tho re. quest of tho four New York trunk linesé We, tho undersigned, hereby n(lrcn that, from and after Nov, 20, 1877, Hmited tickots iasued by any of our cannecting ltnes. or by onr _own lines, botwaen Now York snd [foston, shall not bo ace cepled for Pfl!fing!, exchanged, or otherwito made goul after thelr imo limit has expired, nor sc- copted for passage when detached or in any other shape than us lesued, and In accordance with con. ditions thercon, 3 1t was nlso ngreed that in case of violations of the provistons of the above agreement by any Hnebotween New York and Boston, tho sale of tickets and Interchango of passenger business vis such oilending line shall be discontinued. The frelght vates from Chicago to Grand Rapids, Muskegon, aud Holland, Mich., wera advanced yesterday, as follows: Firat /;'efidl ThIrd [Fantin] s 1 0n, ay ehie, amuel claen, | clans, | clase. | cluse, | Grain, New rato| . 40 40 20 ] 1a Old rat 23 2406 16 | 16 | | 16% At s mceting of the Dircetors of the Chicago and *Northwestern Raflroad Company, held in New York yesterday, a scm-annual dividend of 3% per ceut on the preferred «knek‘kmm de- clured, The Lolders of common stock will get’ nothlog. ——— SUICLD The Owner of tho West Wisconsin Ral Iway Mangs Himaelf. Speeiat Disoaich to The Chicago Trtbune, New Yonk, Dce. 8.—Tne body of a well- dressed man was tound hangiug in tho storage-, roow of the barn of Evoch Greenleal, at New Durhany, N. J,, on Sunday. It was suspended from s rafler by two silk handkerchlols knotted ' together. Late on Saturday ulght A. IL Baldwin, formerly Vice- Presldent of the West Wisconsin Rallway, zave notice that his father, D, A, Bald« win, had been wissing eluco carly that aftere noon. The young man snid that his father bad been Il aud low-pirited, and that his frlends feared his miod was affected. A general alarin was sent to all tho stee tions from the contral office, The body found at Now Durham wis afterwanls found to ba thut of the clder Baldwin, He was a very rleh man, 1o obtained from the United States Governntent * I 1 tho grant of an Immensa tract of land in Wise cungn, and, ton {curn ngzo, he bullt ‘he West Wisconsin Raflwav, extending from Elroy, Wis., a poiut on the Hue of the Milwaukees & 8t Paul Rallroad, to_ Minncapolls, Ho heid ahout all tho stock of this road, and was Presl dent of tue Company, For two yvars psst ho has had lttlo bualuess to atteud to, cxcept some disagrecmonts with the Chleago & Northwoste: crn Company. ————————— THE WEATHER. Wasnrxorow, D. C., Dec. 4—1 a, m.~For the Upner Lukereglon, fatling barometer, increasiug casterly to southerly winds, warmer, threatens ing, rulny, and stormy weather, LUOAL UBSERVATIONS, Time, | Bar. | Thr i) Win 6ok m. 90117, 13 | 79 B, W n (3 41 | 63 :. W. Cittaauo, De Siailons,Dar, ) Tar. | Wind, Esea .U, Girand Haven 8004 82 Fort Huron ,. 30,13 Keokuk, IMPORTANT SALE, Apecial Dizvatch io The thicuga Tribuns. Manwsrns, Mich, Dee. 8.—The Cushman Calking & Co, property, which was ordered t4 be s0ld by the United Btates Court some tim! sluce to sccure & dissolution of partuershin sold for Ittle less than $150,000. J. W. Calkina and Michacl Eugelmann bought the mill, sowne lauds, city Jots, the store, the log Josoph Baw aod gral Ratsidel ging teams, ete., for $135,5i0, bought tho stock (n the store, bay aud atore dxtures, for $6,800. T, J. buught the Greene lands for §6,150. R — THE EMPIRE. Moruis, I, Dec. 8. Grundy County Las bocn to-day occupled in beariug an information brought by the Attor vey-General In the name of the people sgainst the Ewplro Insurauce Company, of Wheaton, to prevent it from doing any business in Chicagoy o uccount of it having reduced its capital be- low xxw.mo. The Joau!e are ufirunemed by tha Attorney-Geners) lu & written brief, snd E. B. Shermau'in person, and the lusursnce Com- pauy by Col. Valette sud W. 1L Bwift, of Chk cago. e BISMARCK ADVICES, dpecial Dwwatch o The Chicago Tridune Biamanck, . T., Dec, 8.~1'he garrison quar- ters at Standing Rock met with a narrow oécapd from fire ou Friuay. A calm night saved thems As st was, the doublo ofticers’ quaricrs voue pled by Lieut. Roberts, of the Seyenteenth In- fantry, and Dr. Ferguson, were buraed, witl the rcatest_portion uf thelr private effects. Oue of the ladies cecaped fu ber nigbt-clothick The outgolng Deadwood stage thls momiufl went through the ics on the Silssourd, aud a four horses were arownod, N bumsa livee were Just,