Evening Star Newspaper, March 3, 1883, Page 2

ey ease ie THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGTON: SATURDAY, M THE QUESTION OF WATER WASTE Forther Facts and Sy Commissioner Ph. jons by Exe pe t ‘To the Editor of Tue Evewtve Stan: It isseemly in those who undertake to in- struct the public first to inform themselves—to cure their own ignorance. This accomplished, It is advisable, in diseussion, to adhere to facts, and to indulge in aslittle fancy work in delinea- tion as possible. Nor is it wise to manifest a spirit of local jeatonsy, even when founded upon the most substantial basis. Your two corre- Spondents of the 24th instant, in their papers Bpon the water question, wholly neglected these ‘Wholesome precautions. Mr. Clarke quotes a re- mark, attributed to me by a correspondent, Which J had taken occasion to correct ina some- what lengthy interview published in Tue Star ofthe 8th instant. Mr. “Capitol Hill” assumes the number of Potomac water consumers to be 180.000, a number considerably greater than the entire population of the District of Columbia at the last census. Must we suppose C. H. ignor- ant of the large rural population Included in the District census, as wellas of th@tact that Many thousands of people in the cities do not use Potomac water? These reter- ences will serve as indications of the re- Wability of the data of those gentlemen, While thelr contemptible insinuations are unworthy of the stautpipe if not of the men themselves. There can be no good resulting from a discussion of the water question not de- signed to direct public attention to the causes of and a remedy for the distress felt upon the higher levels. “My object in the present paper is to correct, so far as possible, those erroneous Impressions derived from statements, doubtless often repeated, of the character made In the two communications referred to. As the greatest exf- ferers from the water famine the residents upan £ the higher levels of Ca have the deep- est interest in asecriaining the sources of the evil and in the adoption ofsuch means as may romise relief, I have not the slightest doubt frat if the waste in private premises can be ended all sections of the city will enjoy a suf- ficient supply of water. WATER TAKERS. There are 20,008 premises supplied with Poto- mac water. These embrace residences, offices, Places of business, stables and all other premises where the water Is introduced, and may repre- fent something over 100,000 consumers. In a comparison of our consumption with that of other cities, it Is talr to assume its use here for general purposes to be in the same ratio to water takers as in other cities,excepting only the wadlic buildings. But, on the other hand. the lemand for water for use in machinery and for Manufacturing purposes is small here as com- pared with ether towns. In some of the larger public buildings the water is pumped and the consumption in that way known. It is not dit- ficult to ascertain the quantity used in others, as an be computed from the size of the sup- ply pipes and the average flo them. By such means Mr. Samo reached, within a close approximation, the quantity consumed In all the ments of the government. In such meth- ods there is no element of that guesswork in which C. 1. infulzed himself. But he furnishes own refutation 3 je (that is, water takers) do no ter, and, irom certain stated data, de- cenelusion that al t for the use of all . To say the least, he has Y fine point. It is clear tha the public buildings are as | night. a majorit: an ample supp! when not sleeping, are stil wid yesterd It is also cer- of the water takers which they use very | nd while those flood | open. ‘The pumps for the hich lifted 3.107.168 gallons. | * several hundred thousand | H.’s calentations Water So pumped was consumed by takers. Where did the millions of x: and wasted in the remaining 17.480 pl Plied with Potomac water ed to the high s piy thence. If we assume that and, so to speak, unrezenerated ‘used and wasted water in the same ratio as those drawing from the high services, they must have consumed. nf Add th Also, d public use... + 7,000,000 Total amount supplied yes- terday 27,192,168 gallons. C. H. states that onacertain day InaJune month, when the actual flow from the reservoir was measured, {ft amounted to 25,740,816 gal- lons. The agreement between quantities so as- certained suffices to show how necessary it was that C. H. should have studied his subject before Tushiny into print. WATER SUPPLY. The supply is conducted to the clty in five mains of the following diameters: One of 36 Ancites, two of 30 inches, one of 20 inches, and one of 12 Inches. The flow through the larger Pipes is much greater in proportion to size than through the smaller ones, because of the less Propertionate friction. The total would be| about equal to the united flow through 40-12- | Inch pipes laid in the same situation. Of these 11 would farnish ra The equivalent the wat Lor 20,608, th of the . water-takers are | through one-ni th of the capacity lithe water-takers. The ers are supplied with | an average equival i2-inch main to each | 1,000 of their number. It cannot. therefore, be | said that the high services are supplied to the | detrtinent of any section of t ity. THE LATE IMPROVED SUPPLY. The higher houses attached to the standpipe, for some days past, have been much better sup- piled than formeriy, but the water still rans m- termittently onthe chamber floors.. This im- provement is due largely to the fines imposed Fecently upon those-of the high-ser-lee takers who had the five Handred unciosed “and unclosa- | ble openings in ther 4, toLWEIGh'I referred iD @ former paper!’ elif dred open } Pipes were thewdiscoverdM -places of wicked Waste. There are stiit m@mte be discovered and closed, for-nearly ate (housand gallons of water was supplied yesterday to each of the Premises attached to that service. About this Supply to private premises there is no mistake. The amount of pumping done and the number ot places furnished are known, and no govern- ynent departments drew from that source. It Moust be remembered. too, that some of the remises were insufficiently supplied, when heir fair share would have one thousand gallons to each . one. An Intermittent flow leads to waste. Water takers leave faucets open and collect water when it may flow during the night. Tubs are filled and overflow, perhaps, for hours and while the owner still sleeps. People will hardly lie awake or turn out at early hours in order to close such openings. An acquaintance has a sick wife whose nervous condition made in- tolerable the gurgle of an eternal flow through a neighbor's w. ¢. pipe, located against the party wall between the two houses. Remon- Strance in that case proved ot no avail. howeve soling to reflect that his meanness will be punished by costs in doctors’ bills due to the opea communication between the soil pipe and bis rooms. A plumber, called to a first- class residence recently erected in the west end, to find out why it was that water would not Tun properly on the chainber floor, immediately | ° two openings in the basement when the difficulty was uvercome. Waste of such char- acter, a3 well as from defective and neglected lumbing, is what the Capitol Hull people need 0 bring to anend. That done there will be no difficulty about er. An imperfectly filled 12-inch pipe, and a 6-inch pipe, give a generous supply. if not wasted, to 2,529 premises relying upon the high service. How certain then that remaining 18,000 w | pipes — will 1,000 places will be well supplied through the equivalent of @ 12-inch pipe whea worse than Needless waste is STANDPIFE SERVICE. When erected the standpipe was expected to serve 2,000 or more premises. The idea then Prevalent, as now,was that the great waste was in the departments, and, with this ia view,great expectations were indulged in. But the delusion was short lived. The water pumped and the Places served were both known, and while the rund was excessive it was found to be insuf- shenanee = — elsewhere than in public 3 was of no connect other localities with a supply aheaty eetanee The northwest seetion has and the number of premises now supplied frum the high service is creater than anticipated had both the northwest section ant Capitol Hill high levels then been attached to it. The houses on the average inthe northwest section are larger than elsewhere and hence a gteater proportionate water rapidly Improved | ion is paid. In 2,529 premises some five hundred openings were found in the water pipes. The same ratio of waste by other water-takers would give, for the number of such opénings throughout the cities, no less than 4,000. Close these and water will rise at once in the pipes on Capitol Hill. This is the problem betore the people living there, and it is shameful to pretend there is any other. REDUCERS. With all the care and watchfalness the water department can give there will still be enor- mous waste. People are often so constituted as to feela mean satistaction in the deprivation and inconvenience they may cause to others. Then there are the indifferent takers, the care- Jess, heedless, down-at-the-heel class. These belong to C. H.'s order of innocent sleepers who waste not; neither do they wash. Their sleep is the sleep, in lquid metaphor, that knows no waking. Let us take comfort that none of them will ever be mustered with those who sleep the sleep of the just. For these classes, in addition to surveillance, is needed the absolute removal of power to waste 80 far as 1s consistent with a sufficient supply of water. To reach this class on the lower levels the quantity of water delivered in a given time should be reduced in all premises there to the smallest effective minimum flow. This would re- duce the power to wate and improve the pressure in the mains. It can beeffected by partially turning the outside cocks, as I explained in a former paper, but reducers will do the business more rellably, and to this we must come before the new works will be in operation. Considerable outlay by the water department has been made to improve the flow in the pipes conducting water hg Capitol fore bay ay now seene room in practicable ways for furth<, ment In that direction,sothi¢ weoome bert eenes general proposition that what is needed is to contie the use of water to the actual necessi- ©: 4 community supplied and to cut off the abilityand power over the supply now in the hands, especially of those on the low grounds. A small opening ina low level runs off more water in agiven time than a large one on the elevated land. But waste belongs to all levels, from the highest to the lowest, while it is only those on the high levels who suffer by reason of it. Their interests, therefore, should unite cee efforts to abate the evil. ge “Plumber” Again on Water Waste. To the Editor of Ture Evesixe Svan. In Tue Stak of last Saturday there appeared & communication from “Capitol Hill” upon the water question and in criticism of a previons article signed Plumber. Capitol Hill should re- member that abuse and vituperation are not usually considered good arguments, and to wilfully misquote the language of a writer whom he is abusing does not look well for the owner of six ten thousand dollar houses. Plumber did not make the statement that “73 per cent of all the supply is wantonly wasted through defective water closets,” as Capitol Hill misquoted, but Plumber put it this way: “‘It is our opinion that 75 per cent of all the supply is wantonly wasted, and of-this 75 per cent is asted through defective water closets.” Now 75 percent of 75 per cent is 9-16 of the whole, and we are of the same opinion still. Capitol Hill knows that average heuses lo not cost ten thousand dollars each, and that the average citizen does not live in a ten thousand dollar house with all the water pipes protected from tie frost. The average house is one in which, in cold weather, the water freeze unless the water is withdrawn or permitted to run to waste. Yet it is not so much the fear of freezing that causes the waste. as that goes on without inter- ruption through the dog days as well. Now we are not surprised that the owner of so many valuable houses, which may possibly be | situated on Capitol Hiil and haven't seen adrop of water on the first chamber floors since they were built, should feel very sensitive about this ater question. Pumping water by hand or taking it up stairs in buckets is not conducive to amiability of dispostion. Yet he should not abuse those, who. in friendly spirit, are trying to have this wicked waste prevented, chiefly | for the benefit of Capitol Hill, If “Capitol Hil will lend his energetic pen for the suppression of waste of Potomac water in private dwelling , instead of abusing his friends, he may be able to take abath next summer without pumping. “Capitol Hill” says, ot his six $10,000 houses, “that In not one of them ts there or ever has there been a drop of water wasted, either by the closets, open faucets or leaky pipes.” If his houses are situated somwhere in the country and the water service is by hand buckets, his statement is reasonable. If, however, the houses are connected with Potomac water un- der pressure, he should have signed himself pphira,” after such a state- Plumber did not say that we have 150 gallons per capita, as ‘Capitol Hill” quoted him, but Plumber did say we have about 150 gallons per capita. ‘Capitol Hill” takes the volume in gallons reported by Col. Casey as the flow of the conduit for one day, and divides it by 180,- 000, with the resuit 143 gallons; now this shows our statement sufficiently accurate. Yet if “Capitol Hill” had used asa divisor a number representing only the rostion of the city he would have shown a er per capita use, or waste. We do not see why he did not include the population of the adjacent counties of Mary- land. When Col. Casey measured the flow in June the river was low and the conduit was not Tunuing it: full average—and It is sufficiently accurate to estimate that we have 150 gallons per capita. ‘Capitol Hill” says there has been loose talk about the largest water supply in the world, etc. We do not know what loose people he has been talking with, but it looked to us like an excuse for his dragging in the Ro- ™ empire—it sounds so well..you know, to add a bit of ancient history. We do not own | six ten-thousand-dollar houses, but we do know somewhat about this waste of water, and we know many instances of defective water closets in the yard or basement, which for years had prevented a flow of water to the upper stories, \d recently, upon complaint by the owner o large house, that no water had flowed to the second ay | since he had occupied it, we found defective fittings on lower floors, through which thousands of gallons were running to waste every day; the defects being remedied, there was an abundant supply on second floor, and similar cases are the frequent experience of plumbers. Yet we cannot venture a modest opinion without slandering and libeling the citi- zens with our nonsense, a8 “Capitol Hill” sub- stantially puts it. For the vials of wrath sent by “Capitol Hill,” we hope to’ give him full measures of water by preventing domestic waste thereof. and leave the larger theme of the new condult or tnnnel with the engin who know more about such things than either “Capitol Hill” or PLUMBER. ———-e- a r Victim Heard From. ‘To the Editor of the Evexixa Star: Isee that several of our citizens have corrobo- rated different portions of the statement of Geo. Parker, the colored thief, published in Tax Stax of February 17th. I beg to add my testimony corroborating that part of his story wherein he tells of the robbery of ‘‘a house on H street, be- tween 14th and 15th streets.” I was unfortu- nately the sufferer in that particular case, and Parker has correctly described the manner in which my room was entered and the articles stolen, reported the case the same night at police headquarters, but never heard anything of the goods or robbery afterwarda, until I saw Parker's statement. Yours, h 2, 1853. ‘A. HL Evaws. Potate Growing Near Washington, SEED POTATOES. To the Editor of Tax Eventne Stan, Faixs Crvrca, Va., March 2, 1883. T understand that experience has demonstrated to the principal growers of these substantial and almost indispensable esculents hereabout that the quality of the crop depends upon the seed being transported from the north. Potatoes re- quire, to insure quality, quantity and soundness, and to prevent deterioration as the years come and go, @ sandy soil, or a soil of sand, aregton where the rain-fall is liberal and distributed sound and ent! do not here tl a regions have not count of suitableness for seed. variety. Often the purchaser will tel ake varieties, Some desler have i i i Ai é THE SCHILLERBUND CELEBRATES LONGFELLOW. A Delightfal Entertainment. The Schillerbund observed Longfellow's birth- day by one of its pleasant reunions at Mrs. Bruce's, 14th and K streets, Tuesday evening. A brilliant piano prelude, by Miss Ruth Brooks, was followed by “The Bridge,” and “The Rainy Day,” beautifully sang by Mr. Whipple, and by a violin solo by little Daisy Hickox, all so de- lightful as to make the hearers long for more. “Sandalphon” was read by the hostess, and when Rev. Mr. Patch arose to give a half-hour talk about Longfellow, he found his audience in thorough sympathy with his subject and’ with him. No abridgement can be made of the essay of Mr. Patch without injary, but we must con- tent ourselves with an imperfect summary: The eyes that were moistened around Long- fetiow’s bier are scarcely yet dry, for he held a place in the hearts of the people not given to any other American writer. From the loom of his muse he has shot golden threads bide the whole moral and intellectual tabric of the present time. Whatever concerns his life and work is fraught with hying interest. His boy- hood in Portland did not differ much from that of most boys with similar surroundings, save a8 it became to him a storehouse of memories and experiences from which he drew rich materials for the work of his genius. “1 remember the black wharves and the sitps, And the sea-tides tossing tree: + And Spanish sallors with Searded 1 And the beex:;y and mystery of the ‘And the miugic of the sea.” Portland in those days was thoroughly .Purt- tanic. The public sentiment of the town. was against dancing and theatrical exhibitions. In 1881 the first theater was built, but not being sus- tained it was sold a few years later tor achurch. The foremost American took root in Puri- tan soil,—Bryant, Lon low, Holmes, Emer- son, Lowell, Whittier,—and this may acuount for Ce high ethical tone of all thelr literary work. Longfellow was married in 1831 to Mary 8. Potter, daughter of Judge Barrett Potter, of Portland. In 1835, at the age of 28, he occupled the chair of modernlanguages at Harvard. Visit- ing Europe then for the second time, he studied the languages of Scandanavia. Whilein Rotter- dam his wife died. Some time after, in Swit- zerland, he met Miss Fanny Elizabeth Appleto) of Boston, whom he introduced into “Hyperion” under the name of Mary Ashburton, and whose hand he finally won. ~ “! peer sprung at once Inte popular favor. Charles Sumner wrote home toafriend: “I have just found Long- fellow’s ‘Hyperion,’ and shall ait up all night read it.” His married life with “ Ashbur- ton,” as we may call her, was very- apy till 1861, when, her clothing having taken from & wax taper, she was burned to death in his presence. He never fully recovered from this shook, and ever afterward appeared unduly older and more pensive. Then came ‘Voices of the Night,” which made a great senaation in the literary world. After “Ballads and Other Poems” and ‘Poems on Slavery,” the ‘Spanish Student” appeared. Edwin Percy Whipple said of the “‘Spanish Student:” “In this poem the affluence.of his imagination in Images of grace, grandeur and beauty is most enay mani- fest. None of his other pieces so well illustrate all his poetical faculties, his imagination, his fancy, his sentiment and his manner. It seems to comprehend the whole extent of his genius.” “Evangeline” placed Longfellow in the first rank of American poets. It filled the literary world with enthusiasm. Ina very short time 37,000 copies were sold, It was translated into German, Swedish, Danish, Polish. French, Ital- jan, Spanish, and Portuguese. After this came the sweet tale of “Kavanaugh,” and soon “The Seaside and the Fireside,” containing ‘The Bulld- ing of the Ship,” one of his most powerful pieces. “The Golden Legend” followed in 1851, and “Hiawatha” in 1855. The success of the latter was remarkable—80,000 copies being sold—al- though no other work of his ever drew forth so mach adverse criticism. “The Courtship of Miles Standish” sustained his reputation as a Story-teller. In 1863 begun “Tales of a Wayside es and the next volume was “Flower-de- ace.” The translation of the “Divina Commedia,” published in 1867, was the great work of Long- fellow’s life. He gave it more than twenty years of faithful labor. Yet he is thought by some good Judges not to be the best interpreter of the great Italian. Completely master of the two languages and of the art of expression as he was, he did not adequately reflect the deep, passionate nature of Dante. “The Masque of Pandora” was produced on the Boston stage, but proved a complete failure in @ theater. ‘The class poem for Bowdoin, “Morituri Salutamus,” published at the same time, is one of his most carefully’written and grand productions. i His volumes followed each other, from first to last, at very short intervals. Like the strokes of musical bells, before the sound of one died on the ear another came. There was a con- stant and pleasing expectation. He sald to a brother poet: “People like books of poems which they can read through at a sitting. I have always aimed to have my books small.” Taine has observed that the character of the literature of any licted from y aera may be of thetime. Climate, the hue DS, the environment of civilization, the trend of speculation, may in- deed have their influence, but the appearance ofa literary gefius, with the orbit in which he will move, cannot be calculated like the move- ments of aplanet. Genius js not evolved trom any combination of physical or intellectual ele- ments. Itisa forcewhich comes from above, as the laws. Longfellow did not greatly reflect the character of his surroundings. Had he lived in another country and another generation, he could have produced much of what he has left us. His life spanned the most active period of American history, but moved calmly and un- raffled by stirring events. Though - less American than either Bryant or Whit- tier, he has come nearer the American heart than either of them. Ont of the contro- versies of his time he carved nothing. Though 8 patriot. soon sensitive to the rights of man, it was not for him to strike the lyre of us. Longfellow is not distinguished for depth or great originality of thought, or for strong emo- tion, but he is superior to all his American con- temporaries in the art of expression, whieh is the characteristic element tn all true literature. His verse Js clear and simple—a stream from the mountains purified at the Nitkepe ere cageenpss through lowlands so crystalline, that one sees a glance every silver sand and diamond pebole. It 1s not shallow—tor shallow waters are either Sapient pe sey bal ree still and — by Teasen: Pp . His poetry 1s restful. If it rarely it never fails to lease. A Though he composed with rapldity, there { no haste. His taste was faultless, and to this every word was brought. He wrote the first Graft of the “Golden Legend" in four weeks, and spent six months in and cutting it down. He would let no line the pub- lic until It had received the touch. The managers of the Boston Globe tried to induce him to give them a poem on the oocasion of the death of Garfield. He was offered one thousand dollars for it. He had a sonnet on Garfield in his pocket at the t! but it was not finished to Mie liking; ‘and’so let the generous offer go by. Gentus often arrogatestheright to be disagree- able In manner, but Longfellow was alwaysthe true gentleman. His spirit wasas mellow, az tender, as pure, and as noble as his best verse. He cannot, of course, be ranked with ‘Homer and Dante -and Shal and Goethe, who, like the loftiest peaka ot the Himalayas, tower over all. There is a second class, among whom may benamed Virgil and Milton and Schiller—and not with these will rank Longfellow. Rut there is a third c'ass. larger still, of broad influence, including such as Wordsworth, anyson, Byron and Burns. In tbis constetiation. will shine Longfellow. His songs are forall. As long as the scenes of home and of childhood are dear; as long as the sparks of aspiration kindle in the human heart; as long as the pure and ennobling has a in he will be rain by out ‘Reco panied by Mi inging by Mr. P, accom, ‘3 Middleton, tertainment. and music by others closed the en- tee od ras A Religions Discussion. LETTER ,FROM MEXICO. Impresstéris “Now and Two Years ago — The Effect of Railroads in Pro= gress There — Evolution Not Revolu- | tion — Sam Ruts Potosi — Subsidies for America Hmterprises — Su; and ‘Tran: Climate, Etc, ., Connesroxpxycx ov Tne Evexme Stan. San Lyrp Porost, Mexico, Feb. 20. Some unpl recollections of Mexico two years ago are new gradually giving way to more unbiased apinions of this interesting comf- try 60 soon to be more connected with our social and commercial prosperity. On entering Mexico from the frontier in a stage coach the impression of theceuntry and people is very pre- Judicial to forming any respect forany part of the looks of affairs. The same may be said of » Mexican's impressions of the states; but as ‘we advance south, towards the central portions of the country,the view changestothe more agree- able and pleasant, and we finally come to the conclusion that we at home have, in some re- nie! avery unjust opinion of our sister re- We find that the git of God, andis governed by its own | PEOPLE OF ALL CLASSES are patient, polite, and affable more in keeping with that part of the old Spanish proverb that “Life is go0mczy to those who think"—than we who are more concerned and Inclined to think that it is “a tragedy to those who feel.” We find these excellent qualities general ip all affairs of life. They are not affectations, as we have found them pre-eminent in the character of @ once noted leader and revolutionist, but now a “friend of progress”, who treated us with acon- sideration and respect which has left an indell- ble impression upon our minds of what Rabe 4 feeling can do towards dissipating the grav. fears for our prospects and personal safety. received us cordially and made us feel at home, and showed no uneasiness over the presence of his beautiful half-breed aanghter whom he often found in our company, and for whom we felt a. genus feeling of respect and admiration. We found him a man of strong oharacter and of strong influence prong. she two thousand half breeds of the place. hen we questioned him about the possibility of future revolutions 1 the country, he shook his head and remarke: that the days of revolutions ‘are passing away; that small ones in isolated mountain districts may for the time occur, but that the American invasion of the country with railroads was begin- ning to settle the future of Mexico, and that with such facilities any revolution would soon be extinguished. He sald that he was neither avaricious nor ambitious, but a “friend of progress” standing amidst the ruins; that he would fight for the Mexican flag, and join the rest in welcoming the good which he telt would spring from American capital invested in the country. This man was outlawed by the state of Tacatecas; but for services rendered to the state of San Luis Potosi he received a full pardon, and is now busy with mining ventures, and anxious to see American capital open up the many old, but valuable mines. NO MORE REVOLUTIONS. Evolution instead of revolution is now the order of the day throughout the republic, From what can be learned of past revolutions, (subse- quent to the long gnd bloody civil wars before the entrance of Maximilian,) none of them have worn the serious aspect of an American rallroad strike. Exaggerated reports and false opinions of the Mexican chatacter have led us to believe that all revolution’ have been of a bloody and formidable character, when the truth has been that they were of a local nature, and of little or no strength. Some have existed barely an hour, while others have succeeded in maintain- ing thelr power several months or through a year. Uneducated ‘as the soldiers ate, void of ronsoning and thought, they followed blindly the most popular Jeaders whether they were right or wrong. The army is the power from which all revolutions have evolved. The state of San Luis Potosi has had in the past 54 years 106 governors—in 1858 there were 8; in 1872 6 governors, and In other years, before and after dese periods, a less number each year. Some of these only held office an hour ora day or @ year. The present governor hus been in office three yes the second longest tenure since 1824, with a Ikelfhood of finishing his term ot four, as he fs popular, full of re! form, national Progress, and strongly ‘inclined to help Ameri- can capital In becoming estabifshed in the state and country. He ts lenient towards all subsl- dies of a beneficial nature. SUBSIDIES ARE BEING GRANTED by all the states, and notwithstanding the strong opposition shown by some of the newspapers: the national government and people are enthu- silastic to promote the general welfare and to establish a strong form of government more in harmony with that of the United States. This they realize will come sooner through subsidies than through a century of revolutions, The op- poeaen upon the part of the newspapers is upon grounds of a purely imaginative character. There is a class or party who fear that this universal granting of subsidies will im. poverish the treasury and cause foreign inter— vention for their payment. These fears are nat- ural, but the stimulating and civilizing influence caused by the railroads in the west will be still greater felt in this republic, blessed as it is bya people determined upon progress, by an intelll- gence and cosmopoiltanism of the upper Classes, by a secular system of education, which is root- ing out thoroughly all bigotry and superstition, SUPPLIES AND TRANSPORTATION. The inexhaustible supplies of tobacoo, coffee, sugar, rice, indigo, hides, rosewood, mahogany, ebony, mesquite, Spanish cedar, and fruits of all kinds; the inexhaustible deposits of gold, silver, fron, copper, lead and natural cement; the inexhaustible crops of izle from lechuguiliq and maguey plants, suffictent to supply the world with matting, bagging, paper, ropes, cables and hawsers, supertor in tastine: strength and durability to the finest manilla, are all transported now in the crudeat and most primi- tive wagons, in the slowest and most impatient, manner, naturally exciting the di ofa foreigner, and, in his disgust, he denounces everything Mexican, takes it ‘home with him, and, in his conceit, proclaims against the whole country and | people, forgetting that thinge can be better and wil better on the advance of the railroad ig now being pushed to all the important citles and great haclendas or planta- os q species maguey pas pl we in suol ‘an abundance that it oan be landed picked and cleaned at the railroads at 4 cents pound. This mi WS universal, Throughout the whole coun y, whole mountail es being covered with it. There are three vattotion of tale. The best, however, is raised m Yucatan, which ls not affected by water. It does not rot like ordinary hemp; this known ‘THE SUGAR PLANTATIONS are enormous, producing two varieties of sugar known under the name of dulos. The cheap variety can be handled at the railroad at 13¢0. per pound. It corresponds to our dark brown sugar, and ts:very sweet. The of cane in this ‘country does not require ® replant- ing every year or #0'as in the states. The cane is simply cut'a few inches above the ground, company and fs shipped ‘urope. The very best brands, like the wine brands of Johannes- berger and’ Steinbarger come from one or two id enable the pore classes & indulge in « good smoke. Cruz cigars are now jered as good those made in Havana, while the iesae = ette is noted for its favor and purity of tobacco, producing none of those deleterious effects the miserable brands manu- factured in states. Thirty-two 50 cents ean wonen, berhad fn doors and out At pplies | ance in the various cafes and sPoRtation—Trepical Fruits—The | of San Luis. Their cheapness is danger- ous, a8 foreigners are apt ee theirenthusiasm get the better of theirstom: These fraits chennes about the streefs by men carrying enormous trays upon their heads. or dinner they make their appear- restaurants. = indeed a tempting sight to see mangot, gran! ditas, oranges, give; lemons, pine apples, bananas, plantains, zapotes, mameys, tunas, Barbary the fruit of the passion flower, or fruit of the melon tree, ‘anonas, batatas. challotas, tom: atoes, pinders, auana the queen of all tropical fruits, the deli- cious cherimoya and aguacates, the last yield- ing a salad far superior to lettuce. Fruits deli- cious, cool, reviving and fuji of overfiow- ing Juice, tastefully arranged on trays with a er of sweet lettuce, may be seen. are not all, as many varieties of trult-bearing cactii do not produce their fruit until midsum- mer. In the tropics, where they grow sponta- neously all the year round, many people do not work, but live entirely upon them. many the houses of San Luis varieties of fruits are raised as ordinary plants. These are tastefally arranged in the corridorsand court-yards, which, along with the many trailing vines, the song of birds and the superb climate. produces a most pleasant feeling to keep away from the cold and chilling winds of the north. The climate of San Luis Potosl is like our lovely spring weather. throughout ‘the year, but accommanted by a freshness and electrics! condition of the atmos- phere’ found only in elevated regions, making the mere act of breathing it a pleasure. LITERARY NOTES. “ome EXPERIENCES OF A BARRISTER'S LIFE. . SERJEANT BALLANTINR. Phil ta: 3.3. Lippincott & Co, Washington: W. H. Mor- American readers will thank the publishers for giving them so handsome an edition of this Popular volume, free from the errors which characterized the English editions, for less money, and containing also some interesting additions to their contents. Serjeant Ballan- tine’s experiences are not so brilliant nor so thrilling as one might have been led to expect from the favor with which they were recelved in England; but shortcomings in that are amply made good by the simplicity and un- pretentiousness with which the author states a lage number of fatte Snd opinions that are of feat public interest. It is -Teassuring, too, in These daya of just dissatisfaction with some of the resuits of the jury syatem to have so emi- nent an authority emphatically declare that in matters of fact, both ot a civil and criminal character, he believes a jury to be ‘the best If Abs ee only security for the maintenance of ce.” Zork, D. Appleton & Co. Washington: “A~ Bron. In this volume, which constitutes the forty- third of the Appleton “International Sclentific Series,” the author has undertaken to construct a science of politics, at the same time avoiding the easy and useless task of constructing an ideal polity fora single state. His conclusions are based on extended reading and the results of a two years journey round the world, made for the purpose, in the course of which he visit- ed the chiet centers of political life, ancient and modern, in Europe, North Africa, Australasia, Polynesia and America. It is, as might be sup- posed, a very thoughtful and suggestive essay, well worthy the attention of those in or expect. ing to enter public life. THE HOUSE THAT JILI. BUILT, After Ja Proved a Failure. “A Book ire, with Ilustrations. “By E.C. GarpNes. Author York: Fortin Honard &°auiberte Wansharion Brentano & Co, a Those who have enjoyed the perplexities of Jack and Jill, as pointed out and put aside by Mr. Gardner from week to week in that excel- lent»perlodical, Our Continent, will be glad to have his very pleasant and practical serial in handsome book form, And a much larger con- stituency than the readers of that paper o1 to welcome the attractive little volume. It Is as cleverly written as a ood story, and is withal an ‘nteresting as wellas highly fpstructive and usefal manual on nearly ali the points entering into domestic architecture. THE RELIGIONS OF THE ANCIENT. WORLD. By 01 Aw > M 2 Scribner's Sous. Washington: Win B tyne & : Wm. This vatuable book is the outgrowth of a serles of lectures delivered by Canon Rawlin- son inthe University of Oxford, where he is the learned professor of ancient history, upon the religious ystems and beliefs formerly pre- valling in Assyria and Babylonia, Egypt, Etruria, Greece, Indla, Persia, Pheenicla and Rome. We know of no work of the size which contalns so much and such reliable information on the subject of which it treats. TWO ON A TOWER. A Novel. By THomas Hanpr, author of ‘‘Far from the Vindtun Crowd,” etc. New York: Henry Holt& Oo. Washington: J. J. To those who admire Hardy, through thick and thin, this will prove @ fascinating novel; but the heroine is, like all his women,weak and fickle, and there is not one strong character in the book, anless it be the good bishop, and he ts shamefully imposed upon. Lady Constantine, the heroine, is the supposed widow of a most (ares scamp; the hero,a youth of rather lowe! irth, as things go in England,—at least, his gentlemanly father committed the unpardona- ble mistake of marrying a farmer's daughter. He {s an amateur astronomer, and the two accl- dentally meet in an old tower, belonging to her ladyship, which has been converted into an ob- servatory. She straightway falls in love with him, whence comes all her woe and the sad end- ing of the story. TEMPEST-TOSSED. A Romance. By THEODORE Ptutox, | New and Revised Edition. New York: The fact that this novel was considered some- what autobiographical doubtless had something to do with its popularity when first published, several years ago;but the appearance of the new] edition would seem tg indicate that the pubile regards it as having merits entitling it to con- sideration quite aside from personal interest in LETTER FROM CALIFORNIA. Hinges ef the Golden Gate—The Im- mense Possibilities of Cie Pacitic Coact—Free Sundays and Free Whisky —The Civil Service Hill and the Deme- crate—Washington’s Birthday in San Correapondenee of Tux Evxxrxe Stan. Oaxk.axp, Ca., February 22, 1883. Your arrived last night In this young and beautiful city which bears the rela- tion to San Franciscothat Brooklyn does to New York. It is the second largest city on the Pa- cific coast, and its comparative treedom from fogs and winds makes it more desirable as a Place of residence than its rich and powerful of neighbor. Asa consequence many of the prom- {nent and wealthy business men of San Fran- cisco live in elegant style in Oakland. The two cities are connected by a line of large and hand- some steamers, Which leaveevery half hour from elther place from early morn till midnight, the time from wharf to wharf not exceeding fifteen ie coast lation of Oakland xt The pulation nd approxt- mates 45,000, and it ts destined to a much eater growth. It has a magnificent water nt of four miles on the bay and a land-locked harbor, whose sparkling waters are smooth as amill pond. To im it the government has already ‘expended nearly half a million,and, with another appropriation of the same sum, this grand harbor can be made accessible to the largest ocean steamers. Commerce and man- ufactures here are both gro’ into import- ant and profitable industries, public school system Is said to be admirable in its arrange- ment and execution, and the church edifices, of the different denominations, among the most consplouous and ornamental objects which attract the eye of a visitor. San Francinco, we believe, 1s destined to be the most influential city on the continent. The waves of oriental and of occidental civilization meet and mingle at this central point. San Francisco taces more millions of the human family as she looks toward the setting sun than New York does as she looks towards the sunrise. Commercially and morally she has, as her neighbors, Japan; China, In Australia, New Zealand and the Sandwich islands. @ golden gate is the grand highway through which Christian civill- ization 1s" to travel to reach not only the island world of the Pacific, but the em on the east as well. The longer I live on this coast the more pro- foundly am I impressed with the immense — biltties of California. It is safe to say that in respect to climate, and soil it is unsur- by any state in the Union. The winters are essere! mild and dovely, and the sum- mers bracing and breezy. e ordit temper- ature fa from 50 to 70 degrees the er round. The material resources of this state are amazing. Its vast and varied products in 1882 will —— from the following figures, based on reliable data: Product of wheat, 32,000,000 bushels; wheat and flour exports, 21,635.906 centals; gold and sliver yield, $80,500.000; barley crop of Cal- {fornia, 9,000,000 bushels; coinage in San Fran- cisco mint, $37,915,000; merchandise, export valnes by sea, #55,752,428 ; wool clip, 40,000,000 unds; product of wine, 10,000,000 gallons, ‘federal revenue at the port of § $13,143,558; value of manufactures in San 000; sale of real estate In ; Increase of immi- gration, 39,529 souls; banking capital of the state, $175.000,000; combined gold and silver product of the Pacific slope since 1848, #2.596,~ 554,500; gold and silver exports in twenty-six years, $950,201,216. The legislature of this state is still in session. It has repealed the Sunday law and is adverse to the doctrine of prohibition. California has now @ free Sunday avd free whisky, and what will be the effect on public morals and social order remainsto be seen. The Christian people are generally opposed to the views of the present legislators on these two subjects, whilst the people of the world, as generally. Sustain them, and it is not difficult to dets jen which of these two parties are In the ma— jority. The civil service bill passed by Congress does not find wuch favor with the democrats of the Pacific coast. Before its passage they were confident of victory in 1884, but with the pros- pect of permanent exclusion from the minor offices of the government. their zeal in regard to ~ approaching presidential contest Is lable to lag. San Francisco Is all ablaze on this bi versary morning. Banners bugles sounding and mili processions, in brilliant array, are marchi through the streets. The city will be illuminated to-night during the display of the imposing and ao pous ceremonies of the Mardi Gras. ° 99g ‘Tax Remittance and Exemption. ‘To the Editor of Tax Evesrxo Star: Iwas delighted with your editorial in Tam Star, February 20th, upon the bill Temitting certain taxes due by Eliza N. Patterson. The principle you advocate is a correct one. Surely, what right has Congress ‘to relieve people prominent in social life from the burdens of taxation,” any more than It hasto pass a law “to put their hands individually intothe pockets of the said taxpayers and abstract that amount of money?” You say, “It is strange that a bill of this character should have any standif in Congress.” But will not this principle apply equally in another direction—namely, exemp- tion of church property from taxation? A charch is a religious corporation, and the whole amount exempted is virtually to assess upon non-exempted property the full amount of the exempted, thereby compelling comparatively r, laboring men and women, who find it ficult to live and bear the taxation on thelr own little homesteads and property, to pay taxes on the churches of the millionaire, whose chief luxury consists, it may be, in sitting In these gorgeous paiaces which the poor laborer can never enter! Then, let every man and woman pay taxes on their own property; every corporation pay its own taxes, and every chyroh consider Itselfa robber that does not bear its own. ht anni- are waving and P —_—— ———EeE=___=IaeEeE=eEaCaiaiCoai==e=alj_=_=a=n"zr’ua=_—==>=” MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC. THE PLATERS AND THE PLATS—WASHINGTOR AHEAD OF CHICAGO—MIS8 DETCHOS—I8 Patti COMING BACK, ETO. —The Hess Acme Opera Troupe open at Ford's on Monday night. — Willie Edoutn's company begin the week at National in @ new and amusi: called oy Bench of Keys.” stated —. Madame Janauschek will appear at the National March 12 intwo pew plays—“Zille” and “Marie Antoinette.” — Anew play called “The Old Stager” was successfully luced at the Holiday. Baltimore, A by Wm. J. Moose” — The recelpta of the Mapleson Opera come here were larger last week than In Chicage is ve thousand dollars. —In Baltimore Tuesday night “Her Atone ment” was produced to a large house. The sup- porting company was good, but the play did not give satiafaction. —On Ait, that Fred Schwab will manage Mra, Langtry next season. Her engagement with Mr. Abbey will expire in April. She will likely pasa thesummer in California. She ie now visit~ Ing in New York. —C. A. Gardiner has secured an Americas “Lily.” Her stage name ts Lillian Billing, her proper name being Estelle Cameron. He af vertines her as the peer and rival of the foreigm “beauty.” —Whitney, the magnificent baritone of the Boston Ideal Opera troupe, began life as @ stone-mason. He was a member of Rufus Hatch's church choir in New York, and received 40 each Sunday for coming over trom Boston. — The next production at the Boston Theater will be known as “250,000, a Story of Pluck,” ‘a drama in seven acts by Henry Pettitt ang an. gustus Harris. It was originally brought at Drury Lane in London under the title “Plack,” and had a pronounced success. —Mr. Arthur B. Chase, manager of Mile, Rhea, has engaged Miss Adelaide Detchon for @ starring tour, — early next season. The play selected will most likely be Bronson How- ard’s “Wives.” Mile, Rhea has abandoned idea of going to Australla this summer, and “0 vistt California instead. Miss Detchon is gene erally regarded as the handsomest lady on the stage. — The Christine Nilsson concert given We@- nesday night at the Tabernacle in Cleveland, under the management of Mr. Hanna, of the Opera House, was an immense success. The receipts were 85,200. — Miss Margaret Mather Is slowly recovering from her illness in Boston. J. M. Hill, her mam- acer see cannot ——— ecemene time for her re-appearance. Her en; there has been & great success. . — The Mapleson Opera company were twenty- six hours on the railroad, from Washington to Boston, by special train. They prodnced “L'Africaine” Monday evening at the Boston | Theater to a large audience. Mme. Rossinl sang Sehka, owing to the sickness of Mme. Fursch-Madi. Signor Ravelll and Galassi were excellent in their parts. On Wednesday Pattt sung Linda. — One night this week Charles Wyndham pre- sented to every lady attending the Globe | Theater, Boston.a small autograph Ibum bound | in cloth, ornamented on the front cover with @ spray of roses, aud on the back, in gold letters, “Charles Wyndham, Souvenir.” —Is Patti o < back? The New York Music anil Drama says “she bad a delightful re ception in Washington, and was compelled to decline the President's invitation ouly on ao count of a severe cold, which she contracted jm Detroit. ¢ had to waik through the snow to her carriage at that city, got chilled through, . and was unable to sing next day. She has not made up her mind as to whether she will come back to America next year, though Maplesom offers her the same terns. Patti returns to New York in about two weeks, and will sing at the Academy of Music.” Patti had no cold the next day after the President's reception, for she never sang better than at the matinee. —Says Music and Drama: “Strange how @ waning season alters the complexion or density @ notoriety. Langtry and Patti both in New York city, and yet no “Interviews” on the West irom the Lily, nor @ story about Washington people from the Singer.” — Edward S. Stokes has applied to William H. Vanderbilt for a lease of the Madison Square Garden pro) to erect a struc- perty, and proposes ture on the site which will embrace a theater as Well as other buildings. It is said that Mr. Vanderbilt has e} his mates that he will help the originator in his endeavors to secure the —- capital. The echeme te volves an expenditure of $3,000,000. — There are four sisters of the name of Terry, and all of them are or have been actresses. Kate and Florence (the eldest and youngest) have married and retired. Marion is the leading lad; of the ae ~~, —— bere ~—s present supporting Charles Cog! in “Com- tadea” Ellen, the most famons of the quartet, will accompany the Lyceum com iy to Amer- fea. She is byno méans strikingly beautiful, but in pose and action is extremely graceful. Lawrence Barrett pronounced her the finest actress he had ever seen. As Ophelia and Beatrice she is unequalled ee ee os A Good Wera the Standpipe. To the Editor of Tux Evensso Srar. You have no idea of the good effect the recent arrests made by the police for the waste of Potomac water has had out in the northwest section of the city. Previous to these arrests we had water on an average of from 7a. m. to 10 8. m., and theu the pressure was not strong enough to force the warm water up into the bathroom. Now we havea good supply of water share of the public debt through just andequable taxation. dpe for Guatioey ee the author. This isnot surprising. Mr. Tilton Isa pees writer, and if he never rises to the highest plane of literary effort, he never, on the other hand, touches the lowest. The volume ts got up in the excellent style which all Mr. if oh ion's publica- tions. THE FATE OF MADAME LATOUR. A taleot aaa Caw ed This is s novel written with a purpose. It is averred to bea true the characters are taken from life,— that of Madame La Toor, the heroine. Of course itis written against the Mormons, and, as may ‘be supposed, gives a terrible account of the iniquities of those professing far trom a pleasant story, in respect, and leaves @ most fal impression on the of the reader; but the writer is endorsed as an hon- eat weil to treat and her revelations, made in the can hardly fail to have at least the ffoct ahe intended in laying 8 the public. i a Beall. ‘This ‘is a silly, stilted, verbose book. Worse than-all, if it ts not actuaily wicked, it could do in , supposing it to be worth eeding,—which iris not a —— RERDELL CORROBORATED. Defendants Have Ne Hi “The ~ yer f) Ne jomest From the New York Herald, March 2. ‘The star route prosecution yesterday called to the stand eral important new witnesses to with the demand of the duction in court, their contents. Am jonal of that fact. , that “1 keeping Ps: made with all the tell- is was hastily done by Rerdell, who indi- iyi FRIEE » in the house from 7 a. m. to 3 p. m. during that time we have also warm water in the bath- room. For this beneficial result we are, no doudt, indebted to our police force. May they prosper in their good work. Permit me, in this connection, to say a word in behalf of the much- abused standpipe, that stands alone tn its glory, like a Roman sentinel, Upon the crest of one of the hilis that slope after slope, to the west of the old olty Georgetown stands an old collee of the Jesuits. The site is one of unrivalled beauty. The grounds coveran ares of one hundred and cs it