The New York Herald Newspaper, January 24, 1855, Page 2

v8 | RAILROADS OF N’.w YORK. WHTERESTING REPORT 0% THE STATE ENGINEER. 2 se.ee tatmams ano Sonraron's Ormon, ssi preg 23, 1856. } ‘Within a few years past the railway interest has be- ‘seme one of the most important in this country, not ~enly on account of the large pecuniary investments which have been made therein, but also on account of ‘the efféct which its developement has had in imereasing ‘the value and changing the relations of property, trade, commerce, and in modifying the social conditions of our people, ‘These varied interests and the new circumstances which have been called into existence by ‘the vast and vapid expansion of the railway system, have required additional legal enactments, from time to time; but the same supervision and restraints of law whieh are con- sidered necessary to guard and protect other public in- terests, have not been imposed upon this one to an ex- ‘tent commensurate witn ita increasing importance. Almost the entire passenger travel of'the country and ‘the mail service are now performed by railroads, while at the same time the advantages whieh they afford for vbe comveyance of some classes of freight, exclusively, ‘and of others in part, have rendered them one of the ‘mest impertant elements in our social progress, and deve made it still more important to secure in their con- struction and management all of the advantages to which the public arc entitled-by the surrender of a por- ion of their primary rights. ‘The railroad corporations, in which there is a Jarger investment than in the banks, over which the law exer- eises supervision, are permitted to control an inmense amount of capital and interests of the greatest magni. tude, with no other check than is afforded by an annual statement of their afluirs,notorieusly incorrect, and in many cases made so systematically, for the purpose of concealing from the stuckholaers and the pablic visla- tions of law and want of fidelity to their trusts. ‘The present appears to be the most fitting time to in- vestigate the errors of the past, and to suggest remedies st their recurrence, for in the general depreciation of this mterest, and in the doubt which now exists in many minds in regard to their success, admonitions aad tions will be considered which would have been whoily disregarded in more prosperous times. ‘The existing laws have devolved upon no other depart- ment of the government, except this one, any duty con mected with our railroads; ani, therefore, I may be par- @oned for extending my Temarks and investigatious to the subjects which do not strictly belong to my profes- sion. One of the best guaranties forthe faithful performance ef duty that can be given to the public and the stock olders by railroai managers, is to render, at troquent intervals, full and accurate statemeuts of the results of the operations of the works, and of the manner in which these officers have discharged their trusts. It ia not difficult to demonstrate that the publication of such ample statements, in the long run, does not ia- jure the interests 0: any corporation, and thatit is the most certain security against malversation in the adini- nistration of its affairs. Under the General Railroad act of 1850, each of these tions is required to make an annual report tothe State Engineer and Surveyor in the form prescribed showing its iinancial condition and cost, ita length, wod other characteristics; the business done during the year, and the expense thereo:; a statement of the receipts aad payments, and a list of the accidents which have oc- earred involving injury to life or limb; und ficer is uired to arrspge the information thus furnished, aud submit it, together with the reports, to the Legis- Jature. It was evidently the intention of the Legislature, in ro- quiring these reports to be submitted to the State Lngi- peer, that he should give them such examination #8 would enable him not only to determine waether they had been made in conformity with law, but also to fur- nish the Legislature with such deductions theref-om as he was enadied to make from bis more intimate aad pro- Sessional acquaintance with the subj sct. My predecessors have allcomplaimed of the evideut and well known inaccuracies which tzese reports from thy railroad corporations contain, and ia submitting the present reports, I take this opportunity to express my eonviction, derived frem an examination of them, of those which have beeu heretofore submitted, of the re- perts of railroads in other States, and trom my own ex- perience, that no reliance whatever can be placed upoa apy general conclusions as to the cost or profit. of rail- read traneportation as exhibited by these reporta, while y of them contain errors which caunot be attributed to carelessness. In the following pages I sball have occasion to point out some of these errors. While the State bas thus left this class of corporatioas free {rom the supervision and restraints which she hay imsposed upon other great interests, aud has only required from them annual statements of certain portious of their affairs, prepared by their own officers, it will be sea that this simple duty has been frequently omitted or re- Iuctantly and impertectly performed, and has oftea been wsed by those olficers to conceal instead of exhibiting the true state of affairs. In the last annual report from th's department it was ttated that several of the corporatioas had not made the annual reports requ’ by law; amongthem were two upon whieh the most stupendous frauds have beea reeently civcovered. If the State Engineer, or some other pub! wilicer, had been authorized by law to com- of these reports, and had also been vestigate their accuracy, it is very ctr. tain that the fraudy would have deen dissovered at an earlier day, and it is not improbable that the mere exiat- ence of such authority would have limited the extent of these fraudr, while its exercise would have prevented their commission whoily or in part, and have thus saved the innocent stockholders from immease loss, and the monetary confidence of the community from a severe shock. Mauch discussion lias been had on the classification of expenditures between the accounts for operating and constructing railroads, and it has been questioned whe. ‘ther current expenses contain a suficient allowance for the renewal of the depreciation of the works, The establishment of every new line of road will con- tinue to develope new sources of business from year to year for a considerable period after it has beea opensd, Which will require an increased outlay for additional side tracks, depot buildings, and equipment, The cost of these ttems is a legitimate charge against construction. Ithas also been found that an annual expeniiture is vequired for several years aftera new has been epened, for the purpose of restoring the slopes of the pn | embankments and drains, aad of pesfecting the works. Until the cuts have been made, the embankments Duilt snd the water-ways opened for some considerable period; the necessary dope and dimensions cannot ia all caren be determined, and hence during their constrac- tien they are usually made of the least dimensions, ant must Rocquently be enlarged, modified and protected, am many plac It has been questioned whether the expense of these Ytems is a proper charge to construction or to the cost of operating. It would be observed that the items of cost above mentioned have been spoken of as arising from incom- plete construction, and as of annual occurrense for only a Kimited period, say for three or four years, and that ‘they differ materially from expenses which are for near- Jy similar objects, but which are dependent upon tie use of the works, or which arise from the natural decay, and also from those which are of annual occurrsnce without limit as to time, ‘The latter are all evidently charges which belong to the cost of operating, while the former may with strict propriety be charged as capital, and in estimating the cost of roailroads, the anticipated revenue and divi dends, both of these classes of items must be provided for. It may be remarked, in this connection, that theve eharges against construction arise mainly because rail- voada are opened for use before they are properly con- stra sted, It will be observed, that none of the re‘uras of the railroad cor tions of this State re with the law im stating the amount of depreciation of the works and velling stock. The returns of railroads of Massacha- wetts in most cases show a small allowance made for ‘tion of the iron rails, engines and cars. it ie concluded by many wkilful managers that if the works and rolling stock are kept in thorough repair, that they are in as good condition at the end of each year as be hed at the endof the preceding year, and therefore that there can be no depreciation. ‘The difficulty lies in determining the fact whether the 4 have been kept up in this thorough manner. ‘expenses for repairs of iron rails, after allowing for the value of the old material, is equal to the cost of ‘an entire renewal once in fourteen years, that for cross ties to @ remewal once in eight yoa for wooden bridges once in ten years, and wooden stations once in years. This deterioration may be represoated ia pw form by stating it as equal to from two to four per cent annually on the whole cost of the road. An examination of the reports for several years past ‘will show that uo such allowance for depreciation coald have been included in the expense of maintenance of th way and works of our railroads, and as all of our road have kept their construction accounts open, it is not ua Bxely that a portion of the expenses of depreciation ha found its way int» this account. An allowaace of on cent per annum on the whole cost of the roads 1 Ris State would, in my opinion, be required to mak up the omissions in the reports or the proper allowanc for depreciation. (An instance of the casuistry of th arguments sometimes used for the classification of th expenditures between the accounts of construction an the running expenses, was exhibited by the charge t construction for the value of a cow killed by a freigh train, and the damage done to the rain and road becaus the cow got u the track in consequence of the feace net being built, and hence it was argaed that as the ac cident arose in consequence of incomplete construction, the done should be charged to that aceoam: } j# are subject to one item of expense which I have never seen directly stated, vin: the necessary substitution of improvements in the way and works be- fore the original ones have been wora out by use, In manufactories many substitutes for the machines ‘used in labor saving processes mast be made to enable the manufacturers to compete successfully with their rivals using such improved forms of machinery. observe that on our rivers and laxes companies are ery year to lay aside a steamer that ating palace s few years before, and build « new one, still more magnificent, to enable it to eom; coessfully with its rivals, Te raltroad, ‘consldered as o machine, ts of recent tn- wentien{ nd endurance have not As the two former are creasing ite ciency either in capacity, speed, or eco. momy, necessary; and these sahstitations are mor extensive than they are in other machines of dune. tement of some of the most prominent of NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY ; them succeeded the po meee form, weig! fifty pounds pe: on longitudinal ; of the oe rail was mencenaae - (aC ¥ sevent; seventy-five pounds; cross ties were used, ba rel and gravel substitu wuThs tirst care used were coach bodies of the ordimary form placed on four-wheeled frames; afterwards the Dodies were enlarged and the form changed, and dualiy the bodies were adapted to contain sixt: posely odies so -as to permit them separately to adi selves to the curves and: inequal: The motive power at first was horses, and en steep inclinations stationery steam power. ‘ ‘The first lecomotive'engines used weighed but six tons, and these bbve been successively increased to ten, six- teen, twenty aud twenty-six tous, while ou some of the freighting roads engines of forty tons weight (including the tenaers) have been introiuced. The foreguing. list of changes shows how imperfect a machine the railroad was when many of them ia this country were frst commenced, and how many radical changes have been necessary in the construction of their wa! nd warks. ‘The present state of perfection in the machine ren- ders it probable that new substitution of its important and expensive parte will annually become rare, but yet it may be seely assumed that some expenses of this character will continue to accrue, and must be provided for in estimating the cost of our railroads or their value as an investanent, The experience of some of the older railroads fora considerable period proves that the su sstitution of the «character mentioned have cost a sum equal to from one to two per cent per annum on the original cost of the road, ‘The interests which call for the protection of the gov- ernment are :— First. That of the public at large in the safe construc- tion and management of railroads, and in their adapta- tion toconvenient and economical use for travel and trade. fecond. That of the stock and bondholders in the faith- ful Spironen of their investments and the management of their property. Much injury has been caused to both of these inter- ests by the detective constraction and pre nature open- ing of mtay of our railroads. The most serious acei- dents, involving the destruction of both life and pro- perty, have been caused by opening them for public travel before tney have been fully completed or when they have been imperfectly built. ‘The public have no means of ascertaining the condition of these works, and are compelled to jeopard their lives and property upon them without any assurance that their safety has beea provided for by secure structures and vehicles, sufficient rules and precautions, and judicious and experienced managers and employes. Before any road is used by the public it should be aub- jected in all its parts to the careful examination of some Tespensible public officer, who should also determine whether proper provisions and regulations had bven established to prevent accidents. Under the second head the same power of supervision and exammation by public officers should be given as those which are now exteaded over other corporations and authority to compel the publication of full aad authentic statements of their condition aad operations. The present cepreciation in the railway interest may be chiefly attributed to the diminished rates of fares and the increased expenditures for operating and enlarg- ing the works. The charges tor transportation bave been reduced to the present low rates from a mistaken opinion that it was necessary to show to the publis large receipts, to accomplish which it was necessary to enter into a com- petition with rival roads and water lines, which was carried toaa injurious extent in consequence of the fal- lacious statements of the expenses of transportation which the published reports exhibited, ‘These reports, by exaggerating the net profits of the business, bave prevented the managers, even waen they discovered the error, from increasing their charges to ¢ rates by the fear of public opinion and legislative interference. Upenany given line of rallroad there is a certain amount of travel and freight? whieh would, in any event, be travsported by it im prefereace to the water lines. In almost every case the capacity of a well equipped single track road, provided witn frequent passing places ano a telegraph for its exclusive use, woald bs suiicient for the periormance of this legitimate business, waich, if e:onomically conducted, would yield the miximum rofit which could be earned, and would, in most cases, fe ample to assure glther.an iminedlate er ai egrly pro: fiteble returo for the investment. ‘To divert from other roads any of this class of busi- ness’ requires @ reduction in the charges, which mast necessarily be exteuded further than merely to that por- tion which is diverted, and ss the rate of cost of doing the business cannot be materially diminished, this re- duction in the charges, is taken directly from tue net profits, and it, therefore, requires a largo increase of bu siness to yield the same amount of profit aa was atford- ed before any reduction ia the charge was made. ‘This redaction is sometimes continued until no profit whatever is realized, ‘The rival road from which the business is thus divert- ed, willsoon reduce its chargea for the purpose of re- claiming its business, and feeliogs of rivairy will thus be engendered, which will continue the competition un- til the rates become so evidentiy unremuneraive that conventions must be held to terminate the controveray and establish equitable pricea and conditions pany will then only be restored to its origin: with the disadvantage of having, in the m y remunerative, The alleged necessity of showing large receipta still exists, and the attempt to maintain the business divert- ed from rival roads being abaaduned, & competition with the water lines is commenced for the transportation of the heavy and cheap articles of freight, which can only be maintained by rates nearly or quite as low as those charged upon the lakes, rivers aud canals, and too low, as will presently be shown, to give a fair remuneration to the railroads. If the cost of railroad transportation could be deter- mined with tolerable accuracy by some disinterested and official authority it would bea great step taken to- wards the correction of some of the most serious evils to which allusion has been made. The sophistry of the argument that it is evor the true interest of the stockholders tu increase receipts by car- rying any portion of the business under cost, is too alpable to merit discussion, The public will’ always Pook swith ainteas upon the management which main- tains so fallacious a doctrine. ‘The returns of the railroad corporations show con- tinued large additions every year to the construction account of even our oldest and best built roads. The re- ported increase of coxt during the past year is chiefly in consequence of an extension of the double track, a larger equipment and station facilities for the accommodation of the increased freight traffic. The increase of the cost of the road on the New York and Erie has been twenty per cent during the last two years, and on the Central jt has been more than twenty- five per cent during the same period. ‘The reported earnings and net earnings of these roads have increased by a much larger per centage than the cost of the roads bove stated, while the reported ex- penses of operating have increased by about the same per centage as the earnings. ‘The freight earnings have increased more than the passenger earnings, but the average receipts per ton per mile have been less this yoar thaa the preceding one, es- cially on the Central road, although the rates of charge Pave been isereneed on both roads, “The ‘average receipts per ton per mile for the last year were two and one half cents on the Erie, and a little more than three counts on the Central, while the average the preceding yesr on the latter was nearly three and one half cents. The freight tariff bas been nearly alixe on each of these roada for the last two years; it is therefore evident that the business of the Erie road embraces a larger portion than that of the Central of those articles which pay the least rates, and that the latter road has been performing a mach larger proportion of its business at low rates this year than formerly. On comparing the reported receipts, expenses and bn- siness of our three principal freighting roads, it will be seen tuat the passenger business on the Srie is reported an giving a net profit of forty-seven per cent, with average charge of one and seven-tenths cents psr passea- ger per mile; on the Central, a net profit ot forty-four per cent, and a charge of one and nine-tentha cents; and on the Northern Railroad, a ret profit of two pee cent, with an average obarge of three aad seven-tenths cents per passenger per mile; (?) and that the freight Dusiness on the first 1s reported aa giving a net profit of fifty-one per cent, with aa average charge of two and six-temths cent per ton per mile, on the second, a net profit of forty-eight per cent, with an average charge of three and seven-tenths cents; and on the third, a net profit of thirty four per cent, with an average charge of two and one fourth cents per toa per mile. The character of the business, the grates and other circumstances of these several roads, do not furuish any sufficient reasons for these discsepancies. Tre actual cost of traasportation upon railrovs will probably never be accorately determiaed from their re- ports until they have been run a few yours with the construction account close, aad no money borrowed. The expenses of operating the road, as stated in the reports, are about one and a quatter cents per ton! per mile, on the Erie, and one and six-tenths cents on the Central; but, as before stated, these reports do not show accurately the cost of this service. More reliable testimony on this aybject is afforded by the rece: tion of the Railroad Convention. At the one held at New York, emora great lines between thi d the West, Ca joiat report was submitted by the Superintendents of the se- veral roads, in which they state that “‘experience hat proved that the lowest rates at which ordinary freigh carried in freight trains at a speed of ten or tweive miles per hour, and in large quantities, can be carried to pay interest and expenses, will average about two conta per ton per mile for heavy agricultural products; three cents for groceries, and four cents for dry goods. Ata suosequent convention of the railroad companies of Ohio and Indiana similar rates were adopted. ‘The above charges ape to the business of our two great lines would yield ap average of a little less than three cents per ton per mile, and would serve to khow that some of the business dene on enchof these roads does nov even pay ‘interest and expenses.’’ Pafficient information has been"elicited from the rail. roads of this and other States, from the actions of the conventions and from other sources of information, warrant the belief that a considerable portion « freighting business now done by our railroads yield no rofit at the present rates, when due allowance is made for the increase of capital which it requires for the iv creased wear and depreciation of the works, and for the occupation of the track w the injury of the other business. The reports of the present year show an increased ex- pense in operating the roats over that of the presedia, year, an examination of the reports of a number of rai ‘cada in New Eaglaad and elsewhere, shows for the last | :housand do! five enarnual increase in thelr cost of from two | ‘to five per cent per anoum—an increase im their reseipte | ‘of from twelve to twenty per cemt and an increase ‘their expenses of from twenty te forty per cent per an- wan. : The increased expense of railroad transportation is ering i part othe advancing rates of thar and mate Eon rest ‘paid to carry advant certain to ve followed by the subordi: b the plethora of money, lines of railroad by adventurers to ‘benefit local interests, mo- ney was promised by speculators on dedcient securities, and its expenditure was entrusted to agents with loose notions of beneficial tru: The comatruction was coa- ducted by engineers of little experience or j adgment the management was seized upon by adventurers and *peculators, who were determined that every item of expenditure should be arranged so astoinure to their personal profit. ultimate fate of roads so cosetructed or managed is no longer conjectural, and while their stock and secu- tities have been swallowed up in the disasters of the times, those which bave been judiciously located, and are free from the most serious of the above recited charges, will soon regain their place in the public conf dence. A radical change for. ue vite has already hares lace in the management of most of our an if the reforms which have now been cot sean aad thoroughly carried out, the main lines will take prece- dence as aninvestment over any other securities of ag- gregated capital. Labor and materials have fallen in price, the speed of trains has been reduced, and the want of money has compelled a more economical use of it, while the suspen- sion of dividends and temporary embarrassments have led stockholders to,inquire more critically into the ma- ement of their interests. the misfortunes of the present time are, therefore, quite likely \o result io great permanent advantages. At least three-fourths of the money which has been ox- nded upon railroads in this country has been furnisned ey our own citizens, and the remainder (chiefly for bonds) has been obtained from foreign investments. The prosperous condition of allinterests for the last ten years bas yielded large surplus profits, which have, to a considerable extent, been mvested in this class of securities, because they afforded a prospect for larger returns than any other investments. The success of many of the roads now built, and the extension of others, which are necessary to meet the ra- pid developement of the interior, will depend upon tac establirthment of a correct basis for the security of the stock and boadhokers. The recommendations which are herein made will, it is Delieved, meet the present exigencies of the case, ao far as the stockholders are concerned, until the expe- rience of State supervision suggest such further guards aod checks as may then be found necessary, The question of the security of railroad bonds having ‘deen raised in consequence of the frauds which have deen committed, and in some cases by the excessive issue of bonds in proportion to the stock, it has becom» neces- sary to give further assurances to foreiga capitaliate of the security of their investment before they can be per- suaded to make further advances, This must be done by legislation, and the question should be promptly and frankly met by the railroad in- terests in this country, by asking for such legislation as will most effectually ascomphsh this object, without in- flicting burthena too onerous on the stockholde: ‘The establishment by law of a sinking fund for the re- payment of the funded debt, placed beyond the control of the corporation, will at once give such security to the bonds of our railroads, as to render them still more favo- rite sources of foreign investment. It should also be understood that no bond should be issued until at least one half the probable cost of the work bas been osteallyi reid in cash and expended. Such guarantees would relieve present embarrassment, and secure the prosecution of allof the roada that the immediate necessities of the country require I would respectfully suggest that a Railroad Com- mission should ve estabtished by law, comsiating of the Comptroller, the State Engineer and Sarveyor, and a person to be elected by a vote of the stock and bond- holders of the different railroad corporations io this State, ‘That the accounts of the corporations should be open to the inspection of this Coumission, and that they should be required to mine into the financial coaci tion annually, and at aoy other time when complaints of fraud, properly authenticated, are laid before them, ‘That »o road should be opened (or pubdtic travel until acertificate has been obtained from the Commission that it has been examined by them, and has been properly constructed and equipped, and that the necessary regu- lations have been established to prevent injuxy to life or operty. Phat Zhe Commission should have the anthority to in- quire into tha causes of all accidents which have in. jured life or lim), and that they should submit annaal re- ports to the Legislature of all of their proceedings un Cer this author ty, and ais full and ample reports of the financial condition of the several corporations, and of the business oporations and receipts and expenses, as now provided by law, with such additional informa: tion as they deem’ necessary to lag before the Legisla- ture or the stockh<lders. JOHN T. CLARK, State Engineer and 3urveyor. ample th The New Croton Reservolr. TO THE BPITOR OF THE HERALD. My attention has been drawn to an article in your issue of to-day, signed “Laicus,” reflecting on the commissioners for acquiring the ground for the new reservoir, for their unnecessary delay in transacting the business; and as I happen to be a personal friend of ono of the gentlemen in quostion, I sannot permit the article to pass unnoticed. Laicus remarks that ‘‘appointments on these various commissions are based, rot upon Gtness or capacity, but upon party and political affinities,” and further, “that in a large majority ot cases, they are professional politicians—men wiose activity andtrickery at the polls, and political committees, and conventions, too frequently their sole recommendation.”’ Tae gentleman to whom I alluded, Mr. Abram Curnure, is neither a * professional politician,” nor has he anythi to do with * political committees or conventions,”? bu’ is a man of acknowledgad pay. of character, and is respected by all who know him for his uniform frank- and honesty, Laicus is perhaps not aware of the nature of @ commissioa such as the above, and that the voice of one of the members comprising it haa no effect in furthering the objects of the commission, ualess he be seconded in his eiforts by one or more of the others, and bave a majority of the board. Had Mr. Turoure ‘the sole conduct of the business, I guarantee it would have been concluded ere this, and it has been s source of extreme annoyance and mortification to him that it has been delayed so long. Mr. Turnure ia a man who is independent of such em- ployment as this, and would not have accepted it had he en aware at the outset it: would have consumed so much time; but being a man of leisure, and thoroughly competent to perform the service, he accepted it, and has devoted his whole time to tt from the beginuing. January 21, 1855. Susnice. Theatres and Exhibitions. BRoapway TueaTRe—The grand fairy and eperatic spectacle of “Cinderella” will be performed again this evening. The new farce of ‘‘Bona Fide Travellors’’ will conclude the amusements. Mr, Davidge, Mr. Seymour, and Miss J. Gougenheim play the leading characters, Bowery Tukatre.—The benefit of the assistant trea- surer, Mr. Miles, will come off to-night. Five pieces will be performed on the occasion, namely, “Sixteen String Jack,” ‘Kiss in the Dark,”” “Paddy Miles’ Boy,” “No,’’ and “El Hyder,” Burton’s TukaTrx.—Morris Barnett’s new American comedy of “Our Set,” the cast of which embraces the name of Messrs, Burton, Jordan, Johnston, Miss Ray- moni and Mra, Hughes,” will be played this evening. “@ld Adam’? will also be performed. WALLACK’s THRaTRE —Mr. Brougham’s adaptation of Bulwer’s ‘Night and Morning” is aanoui for this evening, together with the favorite farce of “A Lady and Gentleman in a Peculiarly Perplexing Predicameat,”” in which Mr, F, A, Vincent plays the chief part. Merrorouit:n THEatTRr.—The new play, entitled the “Virgin of the Sun,” with Mr. Eddy as Rolla, will be played again to-night. “The Corsican Brothers’? will terminate the amusements. Amxnican Musxom.—The afternoon and evening psr- formances consist of the domestic drama of SMiehaol Erle” and the comedy of “The Young Widow.”” Woon's MINSTRELS.—A Ethiopian performance, with the “Mummy,” wilt be given tonight if Bvcktkys? S&RENADERS.—‘‘Lucy of Lammermoor,’’ with new scenery, decorations, and a powerful cast, is bey Le feature of he sath here. NALDSON’S OPRRA HOUSE.—An attractive prograt ia announced for this evening. pairs Paul Julien’s farewell concert will take plaos on Sa- ey evening next, previous to his departure for the Bou! Desravctive Fire 1x Ciranceston, 9,C.~About halt-past 12 o'clock this moroing, the wheelwright shop on the south side of Chaimers street, mid between Church and State streets, occupied by C. C. Thomas, was Ciscovered to be on fire, and owing to the combus- tible character of the building and its contents, was soon enveloped in flames, It soon extended to a stable in the rear of a three story brick dwelliug house to the west, occupied by Charles Farley, who was compelled to bis furnitur the house was little injared, buildings belonged to Mr. Morehead. The rear of the extensive livery stables frontiog on Chalmers strect, \l owned by Col. George H. Brown, next took Gre, aad pidly burned its entire length, and with it was con- sumed about three hundred bales of hay, belonging to Mr. King. Here, by the energetic efforts of the firemen, the progress of the flames was arrested in tule direc: tion, On Chalmers street, next cant to the buil yom Dad 5 & blacksmith shop, also’ belonging to Mr, More! which was rapidly consumed. The large three story livety stable and storehouse next eastward, belonging to Col. Geo. H. Brown, next took fire, and was entirely con- sumed, together with a quantity of hay owned by Mr. Riley. The fire next seized a large two story frame house, owned by Mr. P. McBride, which was eniigely de. etroyed. The fire here crossed to the north ride of Chalmers street, and consumed a two story and a half frame building owned by Mr. Ryan, and a blackamith shop owned by Mr. Twing. A number of back buildings belonging to houses fronting on Broad street and Stave street, were also consumed. We regret to state that, by the failing of the brick wall of Co). Brown's building on Chalmers street, a higbly estimable gentleman, Mr. Allen Spencer, was seriously if not fataily injured. | Ooe of his was dreadfully shattered just below the knee, while the other was broken, and it is feared his spine is injured. From the lateness of the hour, our description i# necessarily imperfect in its details. Tho loss, we au, , cannot be less than sixty or seventy —Charleston Mercury, Jan, 19, ‘The In the on Caba. An important discussion took place in the session of | LATTER the tate Spanish constituent Qortes of the 18th of Decem- ber last. Don Luis de Mariategui, an influential and wealthy capitalist, representative of San Sebastiaa, made an inquiry of the government on the subject of the relations between the court of Spain and our ows gov- vernment, The Minister of State answered in a short speech, of which the substance is that the Spanist gov- ernment would never consent to the sale of Cuba, con- sidering itas a sale of the national honer. The debate was closed by the unanimous adoption of the proposition of Mr. Olozaga, who moved that the representatives had heard with satisfaction the declaration of the Minister of State. As this is the first time so important a question has been treated in the Spanish Cortes, wa deem it interest- ing to translate for eunanadere, the speech of Mr. Maria- ai — +, MARIATRGUI—The great importance of the subject which I now offer to your consideration could alone ia- duce me to oxcupy attentioa of this assembly, 20 intently ei 1p other importamt discussions. { do not know but my imagiostion exaggerates the magni- tude of this question, and I must conf I long hesi- tated before taking upthe matter. Seeing that one day after another elapsed and none of the representatives reminded us of the interesting questions which have arisen im reference to our maritime dominions—-dominions whose loss would cause us to descend in the acale of nations; seeing, also, that the subject of our Ghie- matic relations with the perenne of Washington la, ag if entirely forgotten, I have decided to call your a tion to these points. 1 shall be, gentlemen, extremely Urief; but even thus I feel the necessity of your indulgence. Iknow tne inconvenience of publicly dis- cussing the dipiomatie affairs of the country; but if there are inconveniences in such discussions, they have at the same time great advantages; and, in my opinion, the latter are, as to the prereat subject, far more con- siderable than the former, If 1 am mistaken, my re- spectadle friend, the Minister of State, may confine him - self within the Hmits of a diplomatic’ reserve, I hops, nevertheless, that he will be willing to give such as surances as are sufficient to allay the anxiety of tue commercial interests both in Europe and Amrica, Although the majority of the reprasentatives in this assembly are now beginning their pohtical career, they are all, { feel sure of it, conversant with the state of our colonial polities, and know what are the dangers that threaten our maritime possessions, especially tie isiaad ofCuba, Those dangers come not from the discontent of the Cuban population, though we must agree that they have a right to ask for some political as well as ad ministrative and economical reforms; those dangers grow from the existence elsewhere of an ambitious We mocracy, prond of its absolute sovereiguty. A demo- cracy, when it has attained such a height, is essentially tyrannical, imagining that there can be no obstacles to the accomplishment of its am itious schemes, I cannot accuse as being the cause of the existence of those tendencies the immortal Washington and his il- lustrious companions, the founders of the greatest of republice, Neither do I accuse their worthy successors. I only accuse that European democracy, which, conscio that its hoar has not yet come, por perlaps will ev ‘come, on this continent, seeks, flike th, «refuge there, and throwing away the legacy of the great Wash- ingten, preaches only war and devastatioa. Vhat were the elements which entered in the oryani- zation of those expeditions which in 1450 and 51 left the American shores to invade the island of Cuba? Only Gl:busters and other similar characters. led by an unfor- tunate Spanish general, who, abusing the confidence of his superiors, was honored with a commission in Cuba, and afterwarda dishonored himself in the Spanish uni- form. These expeditions have, nevertheless, had a most important result—that of showing th» elements of re- sistance we have in Cuba, and impressing the conviction that it cannot be eonquered so easily as were the Mexi- can territories. The punishment which followed those expeditions was indeed terrible, though not uajast; and the energy of the Captain.General Con sha preserved un- impaired our rich Cuban empire, rendering, at the aame oe more easy for his successor the defonce of the island. But now, I'ask, have those dangers disappeared? On the contrary, gentlemen, perhaps they are now nearer than before, The States in the South cf the Union, and also those in the North, covet the annexation of Ouba, each for different purposes, and they take up every sub- ject which is likely to occasion any misunderstanding between our own and the American goveraments. The question of the Black Warrior claims is preseat to your minds, and affords a sufficient proof of the truth of these assertions, The cause of their difference waa a very insignificant one, and still its consequences have been such as to make the world believe that the moment had arrived for a terrible conflict between Spain and the United States. ‘The goverument of Washington, a4 soon asthe news of the supposed outrage reached them, sent a commis- sioner to Cuba; a small squadron was ordered to cruise in the Cubaa seas; Mr. Soule received instractions to make I know not what claims for indemnity, though, if what I have heard be true, they implied the removal of all the Cuban authorities who «#rectly or indirectly had meddled in the affair. Sometime afterwards the Presi- dent sent a message to Congress asking for an appro- pristion of ten millions of dollurs in orcer to provide for the expenses of the impendiog war. Bu; the commercial cities of the Union, convinced that the real importance of the Black Warrior affair was greatly exaggerated, were not at all alarmed, and the wisest statesmen at Wash- ington, imitating their example, resolved to postpone the matter for more mature consideration, ‘The report of the commussioner on the Black Warrior affair was at last made known. It stated that the mas- ter of the vessel was alone in fault, and it prayed the Spanish government to remit the mulct of six thousand dollars, which favor her Majesty willingly grauted. But, has this generous conduct on our part been enough to satisfy the exacting dispositions of the American gov- ernment? Has the American Minister ceased to urge his claims? If we are to believe what foreign newspa pers say, exactly the contrary is thetruth. I under- stand that new claims are made, all founded in offences entirely imaginary, and for damages which never have been caused, One of the obj of those claims is the losses that have accrued to American commerce, by the fact that the Cuban suthorities. im 1846, Geclared free of duty certain imported articles of consumption, and after- , by & decree of the government in’ Madrid, the ‘8 were re-estublished But no claim can be fairly made on this ground, because the measure adopted by the Cuban authorities was subject to the superior cevi- sion of the central government, and above all, besause a nation always has a right to modify its tariff whenever it deems it proper. One instance identical with this may be found in the cotemporary history of the United States, During the financial troubles ‘prevailing in that republic im 1342, the government of the country, in order vo augment ite revenues, caused an augmentation in the duties on arti. cles of im tion to be made; and such was the with which a committee on the matter was appointed, 88, that the morchaats of and the vote passed in Con, ico and tne Philippine Islands experienced 8. Cuba, Porto considerable Now, gentlemen, I will say a few words concerning some statements which I have read in foreign news- papers, but of whose exactness I have nowhere found a ‘oof. me is stated the American government, in ting the course they have incessantly pursued since the begin- ning of this affair, had only in view the acquisition of Cuba, treks Beets ne the 2 ie ig ed of the two go- yernments of ce and Englaad engaged in a gigantic struggis which would render render any assistance tous. It was agreed that the American goverument should send an energetic note to Madrid, stati owing to certain political and geo- graphical ineelsentioas; the session of Cuba had be- come necessary to the secul ty of that republic, aud their duty made it necessary for them to propo: a friendly transter of our right of sovereignty over Ca- ba, or toask such guaranties as to prev ia future the renewal of these disagrevable differences. Perhaps those rumors are not known by some of the representatives, and I must add that if they are tru: the eagerness of the annexation party in the Unite: States will not be less disappointed in these new at- tempts than it has been already in the failure of tho filibustering hg! sg row In respect to the intervention of foreign governments in this questicn, I must acknowledge with pleasure the ition assumed by the Emperor of the French whea, it spring, he sent one of his admirals to co-operate with our own naval forces in repelling any attacks upo: Cuba; though I know perfectly well we were then far from being in danger of losing that colony. I am, benides, firmly convinced that France will never be able toinduce England to declare war against the United States, neither during the contest in tne East nor after ‘the termination of the preseat war. England has lost all Prestige in America since the battle of New Orleans, when General Jackson said :—‘For you, industrial na- tions, we need neither power nor bullets; commerce is enough.’’ Some time afterwards the question of Texas ond it and a good many others, came to confirm that tru But if the United States possess strong means of in- juring a commercia! nation, we also possess the same, ‘and to Corunna, Ferrol, Parages, Santander, the Philip” ine Islands, &e., we must look for the elements of the lefence of Cuba. We are not like Russians by two straits, and we must declare that we pored to avail ourselves of all our means of ainst any dangers. should advise our government to use towards the go- vernment of the United States a poliag firm and amicablo at the same time, in order to promote and encourage our relations with that hy mined country, and to cerive from these relations the importiat and mutual beaedts which the chairman of an American committea, sppotnt- ed in 1844, has xo ably set forth. [The orator reads. ] Thope that the magnitade of the subject under con- sideration will be a sufficient excuse for having kept the attention of the assembly from other important busiacas. And I would pray the Minister of Foreign Affairs to let us kvow what is the state of our relations with the Ame- rican government, and what has been the result of the & ministry of the court of San Lu! ‘Tre Javanese Paesents.—We understand that sundry packages of the presents sent to the President by the Emperor ef Japan in return for those forwaried from henze by the hands of Commodore Perry, have reached Washington, with them pS Pete packages of presents for officers of the expedition, which, under the law, must be deposited, at least temporarily, in the State Department—that is, until Congress may give them leave to accept them. The contents of tae pack- ages are said to be silks, awords, writing tables, delicate and fi ornaments, vases, bowls of glass and other mnateriais, umbrellas, inats, bella, jars, cabinets, flower box, lances Japan matting, stone from Japan, stone from Loo Choo, agricultural implements, Japan shine (marked from Sin ida) hermetrically sealed, samples of pugar cane, seven dogs, two birds, seed whrat from th Good Hope, be, We hear that the dogs are of breed ‘which none bat the aristocracy of the empi: keep, os they are very costly. Inthe time of Charlies Il. @ similar Tmaperial resent of was sent to Rome by the Emperor of Japan, from which the celebrated opean breed of King Charles spaniels sprang Thore mt te the President ty Commodore Perry are much like the King Charles breed of the present day, though | gonsiderably larg ef — Washington Sentinel, Jan. 2a, note sent by the American Minister in Madrid to the’ 24, 1855. . Pelitical In WIH.SON, CANDIDATE FOR UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS —aIB Mr. Wilson, as will be seen by a telegraph despatch from Besten, has received the vote of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for United States henater. He having been addressed in regard to certain extracta from speeches which he made in the Constitutional Convention, amd which have been freely copied in a umber of journals, has published the following reply in explanation, amd further laying down his principles md platform :— Nanick, January 20, 1855, Hon. Rosear B, Hau. Sim—Your note of the 18th inst. fs before me, and I very cheerfully answer your inquiries my views upon questions involved in the American movement. While Iam ready frankly to avow my sentiments and opinions to all men, Iam constrained to declare that I pen this letter to you with no little reluctance. I am conscious that letters written by a candidate pending his election always subject him to misrepresentat on, und to the sus) mn of insincerity in the opinions he avows, As you suggest, the reference in my speech in the Constitutional Convention * the amy 4 mili- tary companies composed of men of foreign birth, was made sluply as au illustration. Tid not then approve, T do not now ay ve, and I never can approve, of the organization of military companies composed of men of ws? birth. As to the allusions in my speeches to the distinctions on account of color or race, I have to say that if I clear- ly comprehend the ideas and principies of the American movement, 1t does not ignore or deuy the sublime creed that “all men are created equal’’—the great central dea upen which our American institutions are based; nd still more, if Ialearly comprehend its genius and \pirit, its aims and purposes, it does not propose to withdraw from men born in other lands the protection of just and equal laws. Summoned iato action by the evils and abuses which have grown out of the annual immigration into Ameri:a of hundreds of thousand: men reared under the in- fluences of rocial, religious and political institutions dif- tering from, or antagonistic to our own, the American movemert proposes to correct these evils and abuses by wise and humane legislation. to protect ourselves from ized system in the Qld Worl! which subjects us rt of foreign paupers and the depredations of alien criminals; to thoroug ly revise the naturaliza- tion laws; to destroy that political element of forvign influence heretofore so potent in publis aifaies; to counteract the insidious and waligh teulencies of that sectarian power that instivctively symputhizes with op- pression in the Old World and in the New, and to pluce the government of America in the nanis of Amer- icans who are imbued with the spirit of her democrati: institutions, Guided in its activa by love to all men aad hatred to pone, embracivg in its allvetions the whois country and the people of the whole couutry, malatain- ing the nationality and unity of the republic, and the democratic doctrine of State righis, the American move- ment cannot fail to receive the sanction of the Ainerican people to its ideas and principle:. Concurring entirely with you in the opinion that the ‘highest interests of freedom are identified with the au- premacy of the ideas which underlie this pop ilar mc ment,’ I shall cheerfully labor, in public or in privat» life, for their advancement. In so doing I shall only b> acting in accordance with the sentiments I have long o0- tertained—sentiments which have been deepened and strengthened by recent events in our own and other Staten, especially by the tone of those politico-sectariaa organs, which avow sentiments and doctrines hostile to the genius and spirit of American institationr, Youra traly, HENRY WILSON. ORDER @F UNITED AMERICAN MBCHANICS—STATE COUNCIL OF PENNSYLVANIA, Ata regular annual session of the State Council, being one representative from each subordinate Council of said order, held at Harrisburg, on Wednesday, January 17th, 1855, the following preamble and resolutions were unani- mously adopted:— Whereas, the leading objects of this order are, to pro- tect the rights, elevate the character, and secure tha happiness of American mechanics and workingmen; and fee ity of prompt action by the people’s wor of decisive measures calculated to shield American laborers against foreign combinations in our midst, und also against the importation of crim. nals and paupers, it is hereby Resolved, That this State Council, respectrully bat earnestly petitions Congress for the speedy passage of a law, levying such @ capitation tax upon foreigners land- ing on Our shores as may be necessary to pravent the importation of criminals and paupersin future. Resolved, That our State Legislature is respectfully Dut carnestly petitioned for the passage of a law pre- venting fresh arrivals of toreign paupers and criminals from entering the territory of Pennsylvania, Resolved, That these proceedings be signed by the offi- cers and published in all newspapers friendiy to toe cause of American mechanics and workingmen, and copies forwarded to the Presitent of the United States and Pennsylvania members of Congress, and also to the Governor of Pennsylvania, and each member of our gene- ral State Ansembly. E. H. RAUCH, State Counsillor, Bethlehem, Gxo. 5, Bata, 8. C.’Secretary, Lancaster City, Pa. KNOW NOTHING MERTING IN MISSISSIPFI. A meeting of the citizens of Noxubee county, Missis- sippi, was held on the 6th inst., ostensibly for the pur- pore of expressing sentiments favorable to the course of Hon. Stephen Adams in the United States Senate, and to approve of that gentleman’s b'll in relation to the natu- ralization Jawa. A series of revolutions were passed, among which the following :— Resolved, That we, citizens of Noxubee county, irre- etive of old party divisions do hereby approve of d fully endorse the course of Mr. Adams in the United States Senate on the subject of the naturalization laws. Resolved, Thatthe great increase of toreign popula. tion admonishes us that we should adopt the language of the Father of our Country, and ‘‘put none but Ame- ricans on guard;” and, therefore, we condemn the prac- tice of filling our foreign appointments with foreigners, and condemn the policy that causes ua to be represented at Madrid by a Frenchmen, at Lisbon by an Irishman, at the Hague by » German Jew, and at Naples by an Eng- an, IOWA UNITED STATES SENATOR. ‘The reported election of Jas. Harlan to the United States Senate, by the Iowa Legislature, is, according to ‘the account given by the Chicago Journal, an absolute fraud. By this statement we learn that, on the 10th inst., after balloting three times in convention of the two houses, without any ehoic motion was carried te postpone further balloting for that office, and to proceed to the election of Supreme Court Judges. Hon. G, G. Wrignt was ceclared elected Chief Judge, and Hon. W. G. Woodward first associate, and then the convention of the two houses adjourned. On returning to their own chamber, the Senate ad- journed for the day. Atthis momeat a committee of the House appeared and informed the Senate thet the House was again ready to meet the Senate in cooven: tion. The fusionist Seastors complied with the invita. tion, and went into the chamber where that body was sitting, and Mr. Harlan was declared on the first ballot to be elected United States Senator. Itis Pagar that the election will be set aside, as on the 16th the Iowa Senate passed the following preamble and resolutions by a vote of 17 to 14:— Whereas, it is reported that the journal of the House of Representatives, as read this morning in the presence of the House, alleges that a joint convention of the Gen- eral Assembly of this State was held in the hall of the House on Saturday, the 6th inst.; and whereas it is al- Jeged in said journal that the said joiat convention pro- ceeded to elect one Norman W, Isbell as an associate poe of the Supreme Court of this State, and one James Harlan as Senator of the United States forthe term of six years from the 4th day of March next; therefore, Resolved, That inasmuch ¢ Senate has no know- ledge of any such joint convention, and did not pasti- cipate in the proceedings thereof, it hereby protesta against the action of the said so called joint convention, and declares the same to be void and of uo effect. Resolved, That a copy of this preamble and resolution, signed by the President and certified to by the Secretary of the Nenate, be presented to the Governor of the State, and also scopy forwarded to the presiding officer of the Senate of the United States, with arequest to lay the same before that body. The Albany Journal tells the story in its own wa; leaves the facts substantially as they are recorded above. Tt says — Previous to Friday, the 5th inst , both houses had re- solved to meet in joint convention on that day, to elect ‘a United States Senator and five Judges. soon after as sembling on the Sth, the Senate sent a committee to the House to inform that body that the Senate was ready to meet it in convention for the purposes named. The House immediately informed tue Senate of its readiness to receive beay in the Assembly chamber. At 10 o'clock the joint convention was organized ; and, after several ballotings for Senator, without a result, the con- vention adjourned to meet again at 2 o'clock P.M. At 20’clock, the Senators were again formally received by the House, had several unsuccessful dallotings for Senator, and also for Judges, and the Convention ad. journed to meet again at 10 o’clock next morning— Saturday, the 6th. On the 6th, each House met in its own chamber. In the Senate, immediately after the reading of the jour- nal, a motion to adjourn was carried, 16 to 15. On the same morning the House met at 9 o'clock; and soon after ten a committes was appointed to iniorm the Senate that the House was ready to go into joint con- vention, When the committee reached the Senate that body had just adjourned. ‘Tre minority of the Senate, however, proceeded to the Assembly Chamber to meet in Con ion, according to the adjournment of the previous evening—the Presideut of the Senate (who is, also, ex officio dent of the joint meeting of the two houses) having the before decided that it was ke bees ong for joint convention to adjourn from day to day. He, however, did not appear at this adjourned meeting, and the Speaker of the House presided until a President pro tem. waa chosen, His power to do #0, as also the very existence of the con- vention, was denied by the minority of the House, But they were met by a record of adjournment, the decision of the President of the Senate, the presence of @ full quoram, and the acquiescence of four of the minority, And, after the election of a President pro tem., and the withdrawal of the minority of the House, the joint coa- vention proceeded to elect a United States Senator, with the following result: Harlan, 52; Grant, 1; Henn, 2; Me- Kay, 1. Judges were also elected, when the convention adjourned sine die, INDIANA UNITED STATES SENATOR. The Lafayette Journal thinks the election of a U. 8. Senator by the Legislature of Indiana » matter of great uncertainty. It will probably be delayed for some time to come, and it may be postponed iniefinitely, It adie “The contest is narrowed down to two aspirants, Greg of this city, and Marshall, of Madison; with the presen’ | much above that ave: | both be pre | the: VOL. XX, edenees, as far an wo can io ) FO pe ah SINGULAE CORRESPONDENCE. ‘The defeated candidates at the recent municipal elec- tion in Atalanta, Ga., have written s letter to the sue- cessful ones, stating that they are prepared to prove that their election was obtained by the introduction ef fraudulent and foreign votes, iT elect to consent to a new trial, whieh the Race ing rather to hold en than to in im the canvass. The Nothings will consequently be compelled to wait another year. We take the following letter from the Boston Times, which states that it came to them from @ responsible: source. The ladies mentioned have been the victims of Mormonism, and are prepared to expose the mysteries of: the creed in a light which will doubtless startle the en- tire community :— Cuicago, Tuesday, Jan. 16, 1855. Allow me to trouble you with these few lines, which I! wish you to insert in your Daily Times, My iar his:—I have been for the last ten years a firm believer n the doctrine of the Latter Day Saints, or rather, Mor- mensm. i. parents became followers of the celebrated Joe Smith inan early day, and emigrated to Nauvoo, After the death of Smith and his brother we were driven rom thence, The society split; there were two who wished to take their leader’s place, and stand at the head of the church, but could not agree; therefore separated, Col. White and his followers, that is, as believed in him, went to Texas, and are living in peace apd prosperity. Col. White is a wo! man compared P with our great, or rather notor! Young, he has been for the last y notwithstandin; years my lawful husband, that is, according to their own lawe and rules, But for the last twelve months I have seen enough to sutsi‘y me; for what I don't know about Mormonism is ‘not worth knowing. They have secret plots and objects that mean to accomplish. They censure the government for not protecting them in all their hellish works. For allthis they mean to have ratisfaction. My object in writing this is to warn my female friends to beware of the false prophets who are daily sent out from the Great Salt Lake City to deceive the people. It is my intention to travel through the United States, and visit all the principal cities, and lecture om this great and important subject, to caution all young people who should be so unfor- tunate as to be led into the bel oy trap. Beware! In Boston I shall deliver my first lecture, as thatis my pative city. I have one young lady in company who also left the Mormons with me. She haa renounced the trines, and will help me im my lectures, We shall it, and show Mormoniam in its true colors, which you never have had in your enlightened State. Had it been represented in its true ight, ‘and its object told, there would not have been @ follower left sweet’ New E.ylapd to join such a set of impostors, for I cam It should be any elders or followers of Mormonism, I hope caf ihhe come tothe lectures, and dispute what wo have to ‘ay if they can. We have and si feten documents to prove our assertions. We shall be there in a few weeks, We are at present staying with friends, nd as soon as we are refreshed from the journey we shal) start for Boston. Itis near two months since we left the Salt Lake City, You shall hear from me in, with more particulars.. But no more at resent fron your humble servants MRS. SARAH YOUNG, MISS ELIZA WILLIAMS, News from Texas. [From the New Orleans Picayune, Jan. 16.) The steamrbip Mexico, Capt. J. Y. Lawless, arstved from Indianola and Galveston this morning, ‘bringing dates thence to the 14th inst. The following items are from the Galveston Times of. the 14th inst. :— A memorial to Congress, praying for the formation of a new federal district in this State, is now circulating at Austin. It is propored, says the Austin Times, that the district embrace ‘all that portion of the State that, un- der the present organization, prosecute their suits in the United States Courts at Tyler and Austin ; while the old district will be composed of all the counties in tne lower portion of the State that now bring their suits in the federal court at Galveston and Brownsyville.’” ‘The names of Stephen A. Douglas, of Illinois, for President, and Tho J. Rusk, of Texas, for Vice Pre- wicent, in 1856, uppear at the head of the San Antonio rexan. ‘The Prairie Blade, we learn from the Austin Gazette, han the name of James H. Raymond at the head of ita columns as a candidate for Governor. At a meeting of tue friends of temperance, held in Austin recently, the Gazette says, ‘strong resolutions in favor of a prebibitory liquor law were adopted.” t The Galveston News of the 13th has the following ems :— It has been understood that Col. Yoakum, of Hunte- ville, has been engaged for some years on a history of Texas, the first volume of which is said to be in press now, The San Antonio Ledger contradicts the statement made by the Texan, that the Know Nothiogs carned the late city election. It says that both candidates for Mayor were opposed to the Know Nothings, and that three — of the voters of San Antonioare foreigners or olizs, ‘The Ledger issues an extra—the regular issue being ye gn for want of paper. The Western Texan has changed its title to fan Antonio Enea and presents a very handsome appearance in new ype. The News publishes a communication from C. G. For- shey, giving estimates of the expense of constracti ae oe ama levee for Galveston. They set it ak 50,000, The Lockhart Western Clarion, of the 6th inst., eaya: Sipce the sleet and snow storm the weather was di lghtful, until about ten o'clock last Wednesday, when we bad a severe norther, The bealth of the country is uninterrupted. Immigrants are still flocking in, and the continued de- mand for corn has raised the price of that article from fifty to seventy five cents per bushel. Pork is also hig’ er. There is plenty, however, to “supply the de- mand, i them nothing else, knowing them to be such. News from the Rio Grande. The editor of the Austim State Times has been shown a letter from a gentleman residing on the Rio Grande, to & friend at the city of Austin. That paper of the bth inst. published the subjoined items, gleaned from the comniunication alluded to:— Ded are uo revolutiopary movements now on foot in lexico. The store of Mr. Hedrick, of Rio Grande city, was ea- tered at night, about the 16th of December, and robbed of one thousand dollars in goods, which were carried into Mexico—the thieves were, of course, of that nation. Sam Stewart, the Sheriff of Star county, went to serve 4 writ on Charles Gallagher, for a violation of the license Jaw, Gallagher drew a ger on Stewart. ‘The She- riff saw that and went five better’’—he fired at Gallagher with ® sixshcoter, and struck him in the abdomen. posed will prove mortal. Flag, of the 234 ult., says the county: court of Cameron county has been quite active under its new organization. School districts have been for the establishment of public schools, under the recent: Jaw, and overseers have been appointed, who are o labcring for the construction of. good’ roads ia the ae ferent portions of the county. ‘The Flag says that many of the insurgent there are taking advantage of the pardon offered to them by Santa. Ansa, and are returai to — homes, e same paper has the fol item -— ‘This year ib expuitant of ne making in the Rio Grande Valley will have been fully and fairly tented. Mr. John Young, one cf our enterprising merchante and citizens, among’ other praiseworthy experiments, has- tested the practicability of the production of sugar, and’ the result, as we are credibly assured, will be fty hogs heads of sugar, besides the usual amount of molasses and a large quantity of preloncias, an article of brown: loaf sugar, pecoliar to the Mexican market. Mr. Young has also a magnificent flock of sheep, which we are as- sured are thriving as well as they could in any country. veg! the ape ‘O. (os rn and cotton, with peas, beans, melona, pumpkins, and all that class of products, with every variety of kitchen vegetables, have hee wince been. proved to be particularly fitted to our soil and climate. Many varieties of the above grow through the entire year. Besides this, we produce all the varieties of the- delicious tropical fruits and flowers, with a market: second to none other for the ready disposition of all the bounteous products of our generous soil. With such natural advantages as these, ordinary industry alone is. required to cause our beautiful valley to bloom as a rose. ma a muat it be before we may have this industry, applied ? Key West Salt. A correspondent of the Savannah Republican, writing from Key West, says: — ‘The season has been, on the whole, a successful one for salt; yet it would appear that this has been caused more by the improvements gt upon the works, than from the superior dryness of par ring Or summer. The amount of rain through the why ar has ceen full ten inches more than the average for the past twen- ty yearn; and every month of the salt searon, (from Feb- ruary to August inclusive,) except March and May, had of rain in each In June and August there was couble the average quantity. This shows conclusively that salt can be made ita bly on the islands of this reef. The reasoa of this suc- cess on the islands is to be found in the great area of the evaporating reservoirs, which are so arranged that the ‘““piekle’’ is driven from one to another, for the cistanee of more than five miles, before it arrives at the one from whence it is pumped into the ‘‘crystalizing pana,’ and by which time it is usually up to the strength of satura- tion. The superior purity of the salt made here is, reat measure, owing to the distance that the plekle” flows slowly before itis pumped into the for crystalization. It begins to deposit lime in rt ties alter it is up to the strength of six degrees, ume’s bydrometer, and so continues to do, especially where it moves slowly, till it to the of eighteen or twenty degrees. Weaker pickle than this last is never pumped into the ‘stalizing pans, whien accounts for the purity of Key West salt. ‘The proprietor was informed by our Senator, the Hon. Mr. are that the assayer in the employ of the gov- ernment found this salt four per cent purer than the eat imported. There was a rapid sale of the whole crop of the island, at the highest! tes for packing salt, while the suppl: lasted. The crop of the t season amounted te cine 70,000 bushels, all of which is dispmed of except some 3,600 to 4,000 bushels retained by the proprietor for fl#h- ermen, and to give dallast to vessels when they need it. The price through th 25 to 30 conte pe hel, aie an cre 5 oe in bulk. It is, ho ver, usually celivered to vessels in gunny baga, the pur- chener of the salt paying extra for the bags ond for oat “the 5 proprietor is new engaged in extending his im- provements, and he hopes the coming season to more than double the crop of last 3 te has room and other facilities for inereasing his crop at least twenty feld when the necessary improvements are made.