The New York Herald Newspaper, March 15, 1867, Page 5

CROTON WATER. Ite Reckless and Useless Waste—How it Oc- ours—Facts as to the Consumption of Cro- teu—Will the Supply be Sufficient for the In- crease of Population fRemedial Measures a Necessity-New Worke Contemplated by the Croton Board, &c. “Wilful waste makes woeful want” is a household phrase, the truth of which is acknowledged by all na- tons, and has had tho sanction ofall ages, Its verity fa none the less applicadie to those things which nature hhas provided for us with a bountiful hand, than to thoey, which becanse of their searcity become more intrip i. cally valuable, From \ts very profusencas there is nething-that is now we recklessly, even sinfully, wasted ‘ss our Croton water, So groat has been the in.rease of this waste—the cousamption of the supply actually doubling every fow yeare—that public attevtion is being ealled to the question whether the present means of sup- ply will bo commensurate wih the prezpective increase ‘f population. It is but a short time ago that the Herat Published in its “Voice of the People’’ a number of eom- ‘Municatious bearing on thia subject. Some of our cor- ‘Fespondents complained that already the head or force of ‘water war not guificiant to keep & supply in the shird stomes of many of our buildings, espe- “Gially these situated on the more elevated portions of of the island, and the query was strongly put to the Groton Board why this deficit in quantity of the mest Indispensable of all necessaries was not remedied? To ‘thts query there is a a ready answer, the truth of which ‘Wil be acknowledged by ail who investigate the sub. fect, vz. :—Tho wator ts recklessly, sinfully wasted, and ‘Ms force and quantity of course lessened in consequence. Persons who have paid attention to. the matter assort ‘What two-thirds of the dally supply finds fts way into ‘the sewers without Paving previously served any ‘weeful purpose whatever, This may be an overestimate, but if the subject be submitted: to critical analysis the @iaproportion of the averment will be found not to be fo very great alter all. When we take into considera- ‘tion the known causes of waste, the amount of water ‘which is lost appoara to be most startling; but if to ‘these wo add the ten thousand and one unknown avenues ‘through which the loss of Croton is brought about, the sum becomes so stupendous as to force the inquiry whether immediate steps ‘Must not he taken to prevent this reckless use, or rather ‘misuee, if the:city is to have security im the future for a ‘BuMlcieucy of God's most beneficent gift to mankind. In erder to lay before the public some of the causes which Produce the present waste, and 1o show on what means f supply the consumers have to depend, this article has ‘The Croton lake, or fountain reservoir, covers four fnundred acres, and its available capacity is estimated at six hundred millions of gallons. The Croton was intro- @aced into this city in 1842. In 1843, when the capacity of the fountain reservoir had been fally tested by one ‘year’s use, Mr. Tower, an engineer employed in the con- ‘straction of the works, made experiments as to the de- pendence to be placed on the supply, and arrived at the Conclusion that, in case of a prolonged intense drought ‘4m the summer season, subjecting the water to the great- @st evaporation, there would be sufficient to furnish ono million of inhabitants with twenty gallons per day for ‘the space of thirty consecutive days. This averment, founded on authentic investigation, should be enough to put at rest (provided all uscless waste were avoided) any fears that might be entertained as toa failure in the wapply from any cause other than such as affiicted the ehildren of Israel in the time of Elijah, when, as the ‘Soripture narrates, “the heavens were abut up for three ‘Years and six months,’’ a. ‘The medium flow of water from the lake is fifty mil- Bons of gallons in twenty-four hours; and the minimum low, after a season of drought, is twenty-seven mil- Mons, The dam or forcing head is thirty.eight feet .~ , @Bove what was originally the surface of the natural flow. The surface of the spring head of Croton lake is ome hundred and sixty-stx and one-sixth feet above the Bevel of mean tide in New York harbor, and the differ- @mce of level between that and the surface of the old veoriving reservoir (thirty-eight miles distant) is forty. w@even and one-sixth feet, leaving the surface of the ‘Feservoire in Central Park one hundred and nineteen fect mbove the level of mean ‘tide. Tho surface of the dis- @ibuting reservoir in Forty-second street is one bundred and fftecn feet above the level of mean tide—this last ‘Deing the height to which the water may generally be ‘made available throughout the city. Ip addition to tho natural cay im the lake (six fhundred millions of gallons) there 18 always sufficient ett ad a mun supply be cut off tem) for repairs to the dem or for any other necessary cause, Sa the reserveirat Righty-sixth street thero usually are ene hundred and fifty millions o” gallons; in the new yeeervoir in Central one thourand ahd twenty nine malilions; in the rahe img reservoir in Forty-second lions. twenty mi! the reservoirs ‘erected the Croton has commenced the construction of ys one, a ans- all that portion of os the High Service Works, capacity will m Pad ve, known which will be used to city north ranscaneets its me, average fh of waiter in tewilbe sixtecn fect, It will be built on the elevated ground on the cliff immediately south of High Bridge, over Harlem river, and will cover seven eores of ‘The bottom of this reservoir indred and seventy feet high, This ‘will sustain ® stand pipe and an fron tank with ‘of 47,000 gallons. This quantity is estimated be ample for supplying, du the psn fn u of the pum all that ion istrict whieh fies ehove’ the 216 Tok iene before on jan island is aan i FT 8 3g ; 3 Fi g Ey i Be za i é i R f id : i of water in Croton lake, ond an analytical comparison of sites examined, He itt i rs = 2 i & z will be as speedily as ible trans- a The dam De erected here will & UHH ? Fy i i ei sll Lg H ‘of furnishing water are in fact of them- inw the sufliciont for eindcsing | aig te wi jn i ; for itis 4 a i 3 a frow yore. ‘The aquedact from Croton fiake is eapitle of i hither daily about sixiy millions.of gailons, eapacity of the work for permanent use every though, if put atrictly t the teat, ntity can be forced through it, At of Mr. Chittenden’s property in that the force of the Sppacaiae At this time, however, through the aqueduct sixty-two mitl- day, the extra two mill. remen made eom, jent to supply Honed to this of the water supp’y demanded, family requires more food: thy, yen aan HY, aan ay they, it did last The individual consumption “oot h ould the water furnished keep~ contin- . of consumers, or to the carrying m of such businesses as require its use, and that heyond this quantity, fairly estimated, no further supply per diem be turnished. In London this — is enforced, and with the most beneficial result. There the water is Jot on between certain times in the morning, and at the expiration of tho time allowed it is shut oif—the recep- tacles or tanks above referred to being stipposed to have been filled meanwhile. This modus operandi gives each person an average of thirty gallons, and tins quantity is set down as the maximum that will ca’isfy all necessary demands for drinking, cooking and abiutoi urposes, As showing a marked Contrast to this, wo have authority for saying that in two cases in this city, where water metres were used, the following facts were brought to Nght'—One family of only fonr persons was found to have used (and wasted) during twenty-four hours, two thonsand gallons (over thirty one hogsheads); another family of like number used, by metre measurement, ene thousand eight hundred gallons, or over twenty- eight hogsheads—this, be it remembered, was consump- tion for mere home purposes. The legitimate consumption of water may be claceed under five heads, viz.:—1 The wealthy, who live in fant and roomy houses; 2. The poorer famities, who ide in tenements; 3. Manufacturers, including dis- tillers, brewers, &c.;4 Water for the supply of ship- ping; 5. Water used for the extinguishment of con- flagrations, The present means of supply for all these Purposes is amplv euflictent, and would be if the de- mand were doubied, could au end be put to the improy- ident waste, in some cases nbsolutely wilful, which now characterizes its uso in this city, This ig a matter whieh: calls loudly for Jegal interposition; and if it be not taken {n hand, we may feel the ill effects of the evil Sooner than many anticipate, There are many ways by which the bulk of our supply of Croton finds its way into the sewers that aro not known to the mass of the people; but there are others apparent everywhere and noticeable on every hand. A few of these latter we subjoin:— Fisst—The general method of plumbing in first class houses is the canso of an iminense loss of water. In restdences where both hotand cold water 1s used the faucets for the emission of each are cenerally connected in the kitchen with the same lexder pipe over the sink or drain. ‘The hot water imparts heat to this teader pine to such a degree that when the cold fluid 1s desired for. drinking or other puts Doses, “it is customary to open the faucet and allow from two to three pellfuls. to rin off in order. to obtain & tumbler or pitcherful cool enough to quench the thirat. Seormt— Allowing water to flow through the pines almost continuonsly in winter in order to prevent the freezing of th eondnits ts another fruitful source of waste. Third—Tho extravagant waste Infwate~ closets and urinals. It is well und even necessary that proper rezard should be paid to thecleanliness of theset places; but it ia the extravas Bint and unnecessary use of water, fur exceoding what {x nisite for sanitary purposes, against which complaint is made. Tn some casas, especially in large hotels, &e., where the water is allowed to ran all the time, it ix estimated that enongh is wasted in this manner, rating them at nine thou- sand gallons per day, in each fistence, to #fford a supply toone hundred and nineteen famfites. Now, eupposing there were this useless waste in 5,355 cases, nearly the whole daily supply of Croton would bo totaily lost. ractice so ranch in vogue of cooling steamboat boilers by letting ont the hot water while cold water is being introdveed at the same time, Fith—The sprinkling of the streets in the summer time. Vere Fourth—Another source of lozs is the Vast quantities of water are wasted in this way. W people obliged to pay In proportion to the amount vised would be apt to cease flooding the streets after tho du Once fairiv laid, “As matters, how: are, however, the sttce are footed until the dust is fairly trrned into mud. In this may be mentioned the unnecessary wasie ‘ants and oihers in the washing of windows. If the head of the family were charged for this waste care would be taken tha! no more water were used thon 1s neces. sory for the purpose ofc! jess. in the same manner as householders are careful toinrn off the gis when bed time arrives and its being consumed is no longer requiaite n immense amount of is wasted wherever are being erected. Owing to the fact that builders perintendents have fallen into the wsual lexi garde this matter, laborers are allowed to use bitum in the mixing of mortar, &e.; and not onlv ts this the case. but, as may he noticed in any locality almost where mortar is being ‘mide, the service hose, when not netvally employed in feeding water for slackening lime, is thrown eareleasty aside without the stop cock being closed, its nozzle generally resting on the curbstone and permitting the fluld of which it is the coudutt to run into the street gutter, whenos it finds its way speedily into the nearest sewer, Seventh—The recklessness with: which water i= used in livery stables, notwithstanding the provisions of the ordl- nance bearing on this subject. Is very larely complained of. The parties enguged In these placa make No secret of washing earriaves by allowing the wate. to cleanse them from a hove pipe, and even after the vehicle ts fully washel the rinsmg it reesives in this manner uses up fearful amount of in Eighth—There ts much waste in mannfactories, breweries, distilleries and such like establishments, owing to the fact that snperintendents and proprietors pry no attention to the uncalled for Jayisbness with which the water is used. In many ¢.sea whero tue vate and tanks have sewer connec: tions, the faucet of emission 1s invariably open when the vate are not used, and the Croton is continually running into and through them, just as if it were determined to see how much of the prectotis fluid could be squandered without the Cause OF excuse, Niith—Allowing water to go to waste merely for tho amusement of chi tixed. Bo ia sometimes eon. Fregate|n the yard of a dwelling, attach ths howe to the ydrant, and, with she full knowled; of their parents, “play hreman’? with much gusto, while perhaps the very Compute thas ths scpely ia the tind crore Se hie noes Sompleining that the anpply in the titra story of hls house is Iamentably tusaiiclent i} Tenth—Cases. a Known where public water has been Power. These instances are not very numerous, it is and may not go for much in making Merely fo chow the fact that the iaxiy. Of whieh complaint rel shor at the lax! wi com, int is made pervades every class and condition of society, es We might mention other cases of waste, but the above are enough to give an idea of the condition of things, and tu: the water on the gui vive. Any reader of the 2D who feels 80 diepaned can add to the list of Creed tyro oe en a re it him while peregri ing thro any city. ‘It may be that the most disastrous results wil! follow this lavish and useless employment (or rather non-em- ployment of One. Accidents sometimes hi , 20 ter how much care may be taken to cuart against them. It is not long since that the city of Boston was tor many days almost entirely deprived of its water sup- ply in consequence of the bursting of a large conduit at- tached to the Cochituate works. And in this city we have had instances of a similar, though not so extensive, adeprivation. On the night of December 5, 1860, tw: of the large main conduits in Fifth avenue, that bring the water from the receiving reservoir, burst about the same time, and two-fifths of the supply went to loss in lence. Only few days before the Croton De- pe bad determined to lesson omg gtr aot make some necessary repairs aq it fortanately the matter was afterwards od for a time. Meanwhile the accident to which we refer took nothing of the inco: to, aconfiagration breakin; juncture of at- fairs would have caused a ietion feartul to contem- plate. Asa matter of interest in this connection, we subjcin statement of the percentage of population using pub- lic water to any great extent in ten cities of tho Union, and alvothe number of gallons served to each inhabit- of This statement is taken from the re- of er it for each city for the year At will be observed that in that year the average eaven the ot en- tirely to the fearful waste to which we have alluded :— of Inhab- Water. 56 53 90 100 204 * 16: 4 Pd supply are ample to furnish each inhabitant with even twice the amount necessary for all leatinelp perreupas se mn 4 to pay inor- dinately for erecting works and gee! on id Housatopic merely furnish los foe pee waste it baseene, ay thing al , public may very wel 6 query, pro- verbial by the late Artemus # yoy iw thw thust"? Before closing it may be well to mention that a re- form 18 needed in the matter of collecting water rents. er of establishing water rates should be least Heap ey There aro two ways by which the water reat ‘fAecordance with the provisions which a ievy is made in accordance imber of feet front and of the stories of a ig. nO rd whatever bsing paid to the amount 10 other, called ‘exira rent,” is by or- dinance of the Common Council, under which the water can be cutoff for non-payment. Ae well might the tax be levied in accordance with the color of a building or i lor house of three stories may contain one family of six, or ten famihes of ten each; and of couree ‘more Or leas water will be used ns these Numbers may vary, though the building and the tax remain the same in ench case, Let a reform be {utroduced in this matier forthwith, for it ig most earnestly required, LONG ISLAND INTELLIGERCE. Rerusricay Coxvzntion,—At a meeting of tho repub- lican voters of the town of Jamaica, held pursuant to public notice, at the hotel of James 8, Remsen, for the urpore of nom! the REVIEW OF THE LABOR MARY cf, “ Movements of Mee'snnton. ‘Thesem!-annual agitation @ohg the mechanics and Workingmen of the city for-em advance of wages, or agninst @ reduction of the present rates, is commencing. ‘Yn the spring of year especially do the laboring classes make & movement of somo kind, Last year, at the same paflod, the great subject which engrossed their attention was the Eight Hour question, The bill intro- duced into the House of Assembly at Albany was well backed throughout the interior of the State, as well as im this city, Petitions numerously signed expressed the desire of the working classes for the passage of a law making eight hours a legal day’s work; and although it was well understood that the passage of such an act would have very little practical effect upon the action of private establishments or firms, still the mora) effect of its working on State work and the employment of labor for such work was regard- ed asa matter of some moment Following close upon the introduction of this measure at Albany followed the Avnual State Trndes Assembly Convention. At this meeting the eight hour question and a national labor congress were important subjects of debate, Early in the spring commenced the movements of the several trades towards a reduction in the hours of labor, com- mencing with the painters and terminating with the caulkers, who for over three months maintained a con- test which entailed much personal toss, suffering and privation upon the majority of those engaged in it. The building trades were, as a genoral”thing, all em- ployed, and whatever concessions they sought were ob- tained, but the disruption of business in the shipping trades, during the early portion of spring and continu. ing until summer, were productive of the most injurious consequences. The riggers, who were among the num- ber who demanded a reduction of hours, obtained the con- cession which they sought, but the men were employed by the honr, in place of being engaged as previously by the day or week. This proved a most unwelcom) as well as unprofitable arrangement for the journeymen, and they have every reason to reeret the movement for reducing their working hours. Summer came, and with ita most unnsual dulness, all things taken into consid- eration, in the shipping trades, while a corresponding Activity was permeating the building interosta, Fal! and winter brought comparatively little change in these two, the most prominent interests of the city. For years back the housebuilding trades were never s9 brisk, while the men engaged at shipbuilding suffered from a dearth of employment at that business, so much so that joiners, carpenters and others who could obtrin anything to do, and enconraged by the activity displaved in the honsebuilding line, took whatever employment was pos- sible for them to work at. In many instances the ays- tem of quitting work at four P. M. on Saturdays was in- augurated during the fall, and it has been found to work to such advantage that employers exhibit no dis- position to return to the old system. This cirenmstance will be made use of by those trades the Members of which have not yet enjoyed the privilege of discontinuing work at an earlier hour on the last day of the week. At the present time the agilation among workingmen presents a verv curious aspect. Heretofore men were inclined to regard the approach of spring, more particularly, as the proper time to make prepara: tions for an advance of wages, or the remedying of anv existing errors in tho work‘nw of their trades, It ts trne an advance {s con'emplated by some; others have already obtained n partial advance, but the great _major- ity, fearing a reductionfor attempted reduction by the emp"oyers, are preparing thomselves for such a result. THE FIGHT HOUR QunsTION which so attracted the attention of the working classes, the orvanized portion of them at least, during Inst spring, 18 comparative!y unnoticed at present, and the idea of its attempted enforcement is not contempiated by anv of the trades, Even the eight honr bill at Albany does not by any means attract the attention which it did last year. Petitions in its favor are less numerons, in this city at least, though in the interior of the State the mechanics are in every respect as vigilant as ever, THR TSILORS were the first tradesmen upon whom a redoetion of wages was tried. The movement was by no means gen- eral, three or four houses only attempting to put the enrtailment in force. In some instances it was snb- mitted to by men who. as a general thing, were not Tmembers of any trade union, bnt ovhers, who were ree fused to work at the rates ollered, and consequently strock.. Upto the present time the trade has baen “art- sually dull, bit the approach of spring will pro’ :ce an improvement, and the jontueymen d> not anticipate that any vory extonsive curtailment wilt. take place in the present ra’e of wares. Tao work is all done by the piece, and On good work, with the assistanes of a Bow ing machine and an operator, a tailor can ma'ce from $20 | to $30 per week. THE TULDING TRADES Unnsnal activity prevails throughout every de- Partment of the building interast, Tho sound of the stonemason’s hammer, the tap of the bricklayer’s tro vel, or the grating of the carpenter's saw may be heard ‘n every street, Old butidings, which years previous were perhaps deemed models of architecture, are torn down and their places beng supplied with others more in keeping with the improvements of the times. Destruc- tive fires, too numerous of late, have also he'ped to aid to the demand for houseroom. ronseqnence, thero- fore, tradesmen connected with building have a fair prospect of plenty of work »nd good pay for some time. PLASTERRNS generally at this season of the year are not so actively employed asat the present. There is plenty of work, and the pros of its continuance fa gond. In the early part of the year the questfon of demanding eight hours as the limitation of a day’ work was seriou: spoken of by the most prominent men of, this trado. Tt was agitated among the rank and fie, and meetings were held to ascertain. the views of the men in this regard. ‘The subject. however, was laid over for final action until the last of the present month. It is not alingether im Probable that a demand for increased wages may bo anbetituted for the eight hour system, and poseibly no movement may be made in any direction. Th present received by journcymen plasterers is $ day. if THR BRICKLAYERS are regulated much by ibe came rules and regulations as those which govern the plasterers. The nomber of hours worked per dav js ten, with the exception of Saturday, on whicb car labor is suspended at four P M The same amount of activity prevails with tho bricklavers as with the plasterers. Fonr dollars a day is tho stand. ard wages of the society; bat on and after the 18th of March it is the intention of the men to demand $4 50. From the fact that many of the men have been re- ceiving that amount, owing to the unusual demand, {it ls argued by the journeymen that they will not have mueh difficulty in obtaining the increased scale. ‘THR HOUSE CARPENTERS have resolved upon demanding increased pay on and after the first Mon: 1m April, and have notified their employers accordingly. demand exceeda the supply, and that the state of tl labor market will warrant it, this demand has been mado, The carpenters, not only of this city, bat those of Harlem, North New York, Brooklyn and Morrisania will rate in this course, There is some opposition iekaaa tus ste Ste soem a 6 ia not cont 0 journeymen in case of their refusal to comply. The wages at paid js $3 50 per day; the proposed in- crease will bring it up to $4. ‘Tap WOUrR PATHTERS have also decided a higher scale of prices. With many of them the demand went into effect on the 4th instant. The wages paid the fall and winter seacons was $3 60. At a meoting of Pcaares re- cently aboat thirty agreed to pay the demand of the men, and this is the more remarkable from the fact that business is very dull, ond there is quite a number of men out of employment. The journeymen pafuters, how- ever, are not unanimous in making the demand, as a of the trade have resolved to wait unti: aftor April 1 before they take any action, STONE MASONS find good ment at rates varying from $4 to $5 a day, Ten, hours constitute a day's work, and eight hours on Saturday. Tt has not yot been decided to a vance the wages, though that course is not at all kn- probable. LABORERS : receive about $15 a week, but their week's labor is often broken by Wet and stormy days, wh ch causes a diminution in pay. Those who wait on brick- Jayers, masons and plasterers have had an excellent ‘with good prospects for its continuance. THR SHIPPING TRADRS have not yet realized anything like a condition of affairs similar to that a short time previous to the eight hours strike last is «The CAULEERS especially, have suffered from a dearth of emplor ment, and, notwithstanding that very many of the men of this trade hi ted. to other cities, and 6 thus, reduced thé numbers eeekmg employment, still ao unuaual degree of inactivity exists, ‘The wages received vary from $3 50 to $4 50 at present, but a reduction is anticipated. Quite a large wunber of the SHIP JcINBRe, not willing to await tho result of the strike for eis’ hours last year, Went to work at louse ‘warpentering. The numbers of men who thug flocked into unis branch Of the buitding trade had a to keep the wages of the house carpenters fully twenty per cent less than the brickiny ers, plasterers, and other trades which may be classed yt ogy) composing the building intorost#, The wages differ immaterially from those paid the caulkers, and although the have not yet been noti- fied of @ reduction in the present scale of prices, it is confidently. expected that such @ movement will tako place, Tho emia ‘also fear reduetion, 0 tek pra prineipall ih it s jon, ow! ly to tho presen’ inactivity 1a the progress of build Many of the men who formorly worked at thin ican noe caployed Ship carpenters earp, on an aver- except the men there, however, ter the’ busin ss, “Y@ARCH 15, 1867.~TRIPLE of wages has been made in a few instances, though it Is by bo means general. Should business become brisk a demand on the present rates may be anticipated Men ‘BOW Garn OD an average $18 per week. CARRIAGE RUILDING is not unusually bnsk. A short time ago the yy men suffered @ reduction of wages, A demand for in- creased will depend largely on the spring trade, which it 1s expected will be good, $16 week is the general average of tho men at this calling, m 3 2MISCELLANBOUS, i 5 Cabinet mak Pianoforte makers, upho! coopers, cigar makers, gas fitters, &c, By thing not very brisk. The state of the labor market pre- sents a more peculiar aspect than at any period for vears past. Tho question of wages is approached by the differ- ent trades’ unions With a great deal of caution. In few of the building trades is a demand for higher rates spoken of, and even among the members of these occupations there is nop that d: of contidence in the demand which characterized former movements. Shipbuilding which usually at this season is always brisk, is com tively at stand still, and retrenclment is the order of the day with the builders. Tbe cause,” from an employer's stand point, is, owing to the present high rates demanded by mcaaalan they are unable to compete with builders im other cities, Vessels requiring repairs are brought to other places, where mechanics’ wages are not so high, The imereasing demand for more hovse roow produces an unesampled activity in the building trade, Mechanics understand this, and take advantage accordingly. How Jong this state of affairs wi! ‘ist is impossible to state definitely. Dry goods merchants aud other storekeopers, whose principal iness is transacted with the womng classes, complain of the duliness of trade, The contem- plated advance in rents and the necessaries of life is re- garded with much disfavor by mechanics, as the present unsettled state of the labor market, it is contended, will not warrant sach advances. EAST BALTIMORE CONFERENCE. QUR FREDERICK CITY CORRESPONDENCE. Tenth Annual Sess ot the Conference— Transaction of Bnsiness—Appeintmonat ef Committees, &e., &e. Frepunicx Crrv, Md., March 13, 1867. ‘The tenth annual session of the East Baltimore Con- ference, assembled in this city March 13, at nine o’¢lock A. M., Bishop Calvin Kingsley, D, D,, in te chair, The Teligious services were conducted by Reve. Bishop Kingsley and J. A. Gere, by reading Sixty-seventh Psatm and sixteenth ‘chapter Mark, singing 6724 hymn and Prayer. The President requested the Secretary of the last Conference to call the roll, which were done, Wm. H, Speake, L. R, B, Rhodes was transferred from Balti- more Conference, The Conference proceedod to election of secretary by ballot, which resulted as follows, Wm. Hardin seventy-two votes, George W. Cooper forty-eight, HL & Mendenhal twelve, J. McR, Reily six, William Hardin was declared elected and by permission ap- pointed. H.§ Mendenhal, Recording Secretary; D. 8. Monroe, Statistician. The Conference fixed the hour of meeting at half-past eight A. M, and twelve M. as adjourn- ment... An invitation was tendered from the Directors of Frederick Library Association to spend their leisure hours in their room as far as possible. Accepted. On motion the presiding Eldera were appointed a com- mittee to nominate tho several commitices, ‘They being excused for afew moments returned with their reports on Bibie Cause, Contenary Domestic Mission, Freed men, Temperance, Memoirs, Sunday <chool:, Post Oitlces, Public Worship, Seminaries, Dickinson College, Tracts. To receive missionary money—James Curns, J, E. Amos, A. M. Creighton. ‘A.resoiution was offered requesting the Committee on Tenip’rance to hold a mass temperance meeting on Thursday night, and provide eveakers for the occasion. Rev. B. H. Cruser moved to appoint a Committee on a Vemorial church, to be'erocted at Gettysburg, Penn- syivania. 3, Roily, Miller, Carrol, Guger, Mitebel and Mann were appotnted. ‘The Board of stewards were granted permission to make their call to-morrow at ten A. M. A stirring debate between Messrs, Slicer, France, Reily and Carrol, on the subject of appointing a commit- tee on life assurance. A motion to change'the name of the committee from Life Assurance to Better Support of the Ministers was carried Revs, Jas. Brown, Monroe, hicGarrah, Butie, BE. Butler, EJ. Gray, Wm. A. Houck. Dra. Crimble and Willams, of Presbyterian Church; Gleeson, of German Reformed; Brother W. Cringier of Basteru German Conferonce; Brother Hiakle, of Nevada Conferenée, were introduced to the Con- ference. A communication from the Freedmen’s Ald Society of fothodtist Episcopat Church was referred to the Com- eon Freedmen, The sum of $20,000 was annonneed as being the | amount required to meat the expenses of the next Gene tal Conference, to meet in Chicago in 1863, and tho amonnt required to be raised by the East Baiiimore Con- ference $550. On motion the amonnt reqvired to be raised by this Conference was reverred to the Board of Stewards: ‘A resolution was offered requesting the Conference to celebrate the sacrament of the Lord's Supper on Friday morning, at ten o'clock. Adopted by a rising voie. A motion prevailed to apnoint a special committer on centenary, to consider the centenary collections which have been given to payment of old church debis, parson- age, ke. The Bishop stated that the Generali Conference never anticipated that Courch debts should be paid, but that the Church extension was a legitimate object forthe pay- ment of centenary money. The committee consists of Revs. Slicer, McMurray, Thomas M. Reese, John Miller nnd George W. Cooper. A collection was lifted for Christopher Parkison. The Committee on Memoirs will be permitted to ro- on the occasion of the celebration of the Lord’s jupper. Severat Papers were referred to various committees. ‘The charted fund authorized the Conference to draw on them for $27. The Conference adjourned with benediction. MUSICAL AND THEATRICAL ITEMS. The creat musical solemnity at the Grand Opera, Paris, 80 often promised, so frequently delayed, was iast promised positively for the 8th of March. Verdi sits on the etage all day, and every day, sunerintending the re- bearsols of his Don Cartos, and however much we may deplore his determination to confide his great work to French inatead of Italian artista, we have reason to hope that Don Carlos will appear in a style becoming his ex- alted rank. We learn that Verdi’s new opera abounds in passages of great splendor. Special mention is made of @ march in the third act, which is said to surpass in grandeur either the march in Faust or the Prephée. There is adao between Don Carlos and the Queen, of great beauty, The successor of the Belle Iéléne at the Varieties, Paris, seems to be a failure. For we are told that the great expectations which were raised by rumors from behind scenes anent the Localaires du Troiciéme have failed as miserably as in Dickens’ tale. The critics and artists who haunt the rehearsals had loudly vaunted the fun, the frolics, the verve of these third floor lodgers; the public has made their acquaintance and has pro- nounced them and their propriitaire insnflerable bores. The piece was unmistak ably damned from the very first, but the persevering manager still keeps it on the play bills. Maison Neuve was scarcely better treated, yot night after night the quewe invades the very sacred precincts of the Temple of Mammon, which, on the Place de ja Bourse, stands opposite to the Temple of Momus. If the managers meah to keep promise with the pub- He, the countless millions who are expected in Paris from | China, Japan, India, America, Abyssinia and Timbuctoo ‘will be perplexed where to pass thetr evenings amid this mighty maze of entertainments. The taste for the semi- nude, of which the chariest maids of the Freach stage are prodigal enongh, will again be gratifled at the Porte St Martin, where M. Mare Fournier means to revive tho Biche aur Bois, He has engaged Batty’s live lone to ficure in the famous forest soone, and the famous piewvre | dune. Delval, will of course return. from the Chitelet to | the seone of her former triumphs, ‘The Berlin tewspapers speak in terms of unqualified prise of the success of Mile, Morto in the part of Amelia in [1 Ballo in Maschera, at the Vitoria theatre, She was well seconded by Mesdames, Grossi and Saroita, The first reprosen{ation of this popular opera was honored by the presence of the Court. The tolal receipts from the theatres, balle, concerts and exhibitione in Paris daring the month of January smonoted to 2,012,879 francs, being a decrease of 6,820 franca on those for December, Lady Don, the clever burlesque actress and comedi- enné, will clove hor fuccessful engagement at the New “York on Saturday. Her benefit’ comes off on Friday. Lady Don’s next engagoment will be in Boston. This {e the last week of Miss Kate Reignolds’ engage- ment at the Chertnut, Philadelphia, Mr, James BE, Murdoch, Miss Lucille Western, the Japanese, Blitz, Wyman, ventriloquist andjwizard; Master Richard Coker and Signor Strini, the favorite basso, are the other aitractives in the Quaker City this week. ~ ‘Tho Richingt English Opera Company will foish the'r engagement at the Concordia, Baltimore, this week. They open at the Olympic on Monday next, John EB, Owens will Commence an engagement at the Holiday, Baltimore, on Monday. Jack and Gill has been brought out at the St. Louis Varieties under the auspices of Tony Denier. Joo Jefferson ie still at the New Orleans, Laura Keone ie at the Louisville Academy of Music, ‘The Phillips-Briguolt Opera Troupe were very success. fal in the Barber of Seville at the Boston theatre on the #7 inet, « ‘The Japaneee in Boston are astoniahing the natives the Hob with their extraordinary gyration Crowds Rightly ottend thetr performances at Tremont Templo. ‘MMe. Marie Zee, notress, pantomimist and danaanse, aot the Heward, Rentes. , MASSACHUSETTS ON NATIONAL AFFAIRS, TON CORRESPONDENCE. ‘The Constitutional Amendment in the Leats- inture—The Ovjections to its Ratidcation by One of the Negre Members—The Firat si Negro Legislator—His Den lations of the South and Eulogies of the Black Man—Christian Abase of the President by ono of the Clerical Members—The “Providence ot the Devil?=The Amend- ment Likely tobe Ratified, &e, Bostow, Tuesday, March 12, 1867. About a fortnight ago a majority of the Legislative Committee on Federal Relations reported that the amendment to the constitutiun of the United States ought not to be ratified by the State of Massachusetts, and that the whole matter ought to be referred to the next General Court, The colored member, Mr. Walker of Charlestown, who is one of the committee, was one of those who signed the majority report, A minority of the committee reported a resolution recommending the ratification of the amendment. The reasons upon which both of these reports are founded wore given in fall in the Hxratp Boston correspondence at the time they were submitted to the Legislature. After the two reports had remained in the orders of the day for 4 period of two weeks the member of the House from Newton, Mr. Mason, moved that the report of the mi- nority of the committee (favoring tho ratification of the amendment) be substituted for the report of the majori- ty, which opposed such action, and referred the matter to the mext Legislature, When the question, therefore, was called up in the House to-day, the matter to decide was whethor or not the voice of that repreventative body of the people of Massachusetts should go up in favor of or against the reconstreswon measures of Congress, as set forth in the proposed renewal of the federa! consti- tntion, There wasa large number of vistors present, the most of them probably attracted by a desire to near the colored member (Walker) express his views upon thy national situation, Mason, of Newton, commenced the discussion with a long argument in favor of the Logislature ratifying the amendment, Ho said, in beginning, that he did not seo any reason why any commitice of tho Legistatare should have recommended either ratification or non- ratification, for it was a matter which should have been loft entirely with the House. The question seemod to be whether or not they would ratify and endorse the action of ‘an intelligent and practical Congress in a time of great peril, when the country is burdened with heavy debts and taxation, and when the people are on the very verge of rain, and when we need the spirit of true brothor- hood and union to give character and stamina to the country. Twenty of the loyal States have adopted the amendment and none of them rejected it, All of) the disloyal States have rejected it and none of them have adopted it, and Massachusetts {s now to declare whether or not she will go with the loyal or distoval States. She should not postpone or hesitate to do her doty. Any attempt to defeat this amendment is an attempt to defeat the reconstructive mesures of @ wire Congress; and if one falls or stands, so it is with the other. When Mason had finished the eyes of all wore turned upon the colored member Walker, for it was generally understood that he was to lead off in the debate in op- position to the amendment. As he arose and addressed the Speaker the House was hushed to silence, The fall- ing of a pin could have been heard in any portion of the spacious hall, so eager were all to hear the first speech of a negro legislator ever delivered in this country. Mr. Walker said that he had not forgotten the fact that the country bad found a partial relief in losing that abom- irable institution, which had for so many years degraded American humanity, yet while we faye arcomplished this prand step in advancement, he wonld still maintain further justice and new gnarantees, nnd ask every true lover of liberty and might to stop for a moment and ee where we are to be led by incor. porating into the national constitution sach un- Just provisions as are propes by the national Congress, He believed that the men who were foremost in eetablishing this government intended to ostablish a government in which the peop!e should be'supreme, and he found hunself warranted in eayinz this from declara- tions made in aconvention In 177@, viz,:—“We hold these truths 8 If-evitent; that all men are created freo and eqnal,”’ and be believed there was also something written and declared in that convention about life, lib. erty and the pursuit of happiness. Now he would say, give to every mals membor of the community twenty- ove years of age the rivbt'o vote, and you will secure to ail lite, liberty and the pursuit of happinces. But tn oli- girchy yon have enough of the old and destructive institation of slavery to ive life and strenzth to that which ig not happiness, but misery; not liberty, but bondage; and not life bnt death. Unless, he added with great emphasis, you believe the men lately in slavery are cntitled to ther rights as citizens in a free repubile, how can yon expect thoy will receive any kind of justice from the white men of the South, whose prime If not whose only movement in secession was to perpetuate. negro slavery? Ty looking to the constitution which It ‘was proposed to amend, he found the reason why the constitution was ordained and established. It was for the welfare, justice and guarding care genera'ly of the whole peopie, and last but not least, to secure for them the blessings of liberty. In it he could find nothing which would guarantee any man in be'nga tyrant. By the adoption of the second section of thia amendment he would like to know what was proposed to be done. Some held that it was not intended as a compromise measore. If it was intended as such he was sorry; but. Jet it come in any shane be was bound to oppose it, Hts own fesiing was that it w intended as a compromise. | {t proposes to admit men whoa few years ago wero sook- ing to destroy this government, and who ceased only when they had exhausted every means in their power. Assuming as before that it waa intended asa compro- mise measire, ho did not wish to be understood as belteving it to be a compromise with the men in the rebel states as a majority, for they have so far rejected the amendment io a manner which would be creditable to thom if their cause was just, In regard to the test oath, he said. he did not believe there was a single man on the floor of the House.of Representatives who seriously believed that it amounted to anything with the Southern people, The second section places in the hands of the Southerners the entire black popala- tion of the Southerm States and, in view of this, he hoped the Legislature wonld bo a littie can did about the matter before the announcement -hould go forth that Massachusetts had adopted the amendment =H: would say it, not as a colored man, but as a représentative of Massachuretis and as an American, that this amend. ment is on a par with every o'her act of the people with the South. Look at it. Look and see how carefatly it guards everything else but the interests of the millions of blacks of this country. It says to others, gontiemen, if yon are coming back vou must show that you have not held office in such a manner as to have sworn to support the constitntion and then violated ft. This ts because the safety of the white man would not otherwise be secare. It further says that we must agree to stand by tho national debt and arree that the government of the United States will never pay any part of the rebellion dobt, All this is demanded because it is the only safe position in which you can put a white man in this country. Bat with regard to the two hundred thousand black Americans who have, beon used to put down the rebellion, nothing 's said to the erring brethren of the South, bot, on the contrary, they are allowed to make laws by which he is to be |, ‘and in which they hare no voice, In short, the second section means to incorporate slavery into the constitution of the United States, Wo do not sav that we know the South hates us ‘worse than before the war broke ont, when they held us as slaves, and that we saved the Union from the South: ern grasp, bat we do ask, with all candor, who believes that under this amendm=nt the South will give the blacks their rights? ut, leating out the negro, look to the interests our country. You know that nil the troubles for the past few years have been on account of the negro, and while the rebels of the South were fighting and seeking to destroy the last vestige of liberty, all the people were saying that the condition of no man shail be changed. That was a whilo slavery was established. While the armres of the Union were being whipped on every field the people again spoke and that If the govern. ment and slavery can both be saved it mast bo done tor the people of the South; batif only one can be a; let slavery perish and save the goverument | Liberty came to the blacks because it was neceseary. The gov- eroment always said that it would not strike slavery until compelled to do it, Bot now, since it has passed away, we gee another attempt to revive, another vow to the institntton in the shape of the second section of this constitutional amandmen. ‘Tho ouly articlein the whole amendment which touches the nogro is the second seo- tin, and that places him in the hands of his Southern enomtes, Maseachuaetts, God bicss ber, always took tho load in every moral and worthy reform. She was the first to oxtableh the right of petition, and it was her that sent Samner to Congress, and he hoped sho would sustain and perpetuate her high reputavion by repudiat- ing this unjust and outrageous constitational amend- ment, If our Representatives in Congress gave it to us they had done it io the heat and smoke of the iast fight of Richmond, and did not see then as pow that the people of (he Sonth do not intend to submit to the government of the United States. He himself would not now, and never would have voted for this amendment or an other measure to place the blacks of the Sout! atthe mercy of men whom Dave just ceased to ficht in saving the government of the United States. He would ask if the peopie of the South had forgot how the slaves and blacks aided the Union cause, and it they loved them any better for it to-day? Ho knew that Mareach' these things, and he did not think that the ratification of this amendment by hor ves, in tho Legislature would be doing if sentiment. fctice to” ‘ter honest — and 4 + ‘e have vaillions = of vow to slay ages ue 5 . i ‘| f $ i it =i { i i E a i i i f of Massachusetts earnestly requests Conrrone to the States an amendment to the national constinanion prohibiting the disfranchisement of any citizen of the United States on account of color.’ From the fact thak this amendment was lost by 180 nays to 14 yeas, it reasonable to infer that when the main question comes up, it Will be carried, ing the vote on Bird’s amendment, o Mr. Howe, of Abington, one of the clerical members o the House, indulged jn’ a sort of an amusing abace of Prosident Johnson. He said that he was 4 man who, by the providence.of the devil, oconpied the Presidential chair, and he hoped Massachusetts would not rejoct the amendment, if for no other reason than that it would please him.’ It had been published in the papers, he said, that some men of Massachusetts and South Caro- lina once went arm in arm together in a convention tn Philadelphia, but he hoped that ‘the representatives of the two States would not go arm in arm together in re- Jecting the constitutional amendment. On the first occasion, when the fact was toid to Andy Johnson, it is said that he actually shed tears; bat if he was told that Massachusetts and South Carolina had refused to ratify the ameudinent, be believed he would feel more like smiling. The Amendment Ratified by the Lower Honae. Bostoy, March 14, 1867. The lower branch of the Massachusetts Legislature has passed the constitutional ameadment by a vote of 120 yeas to 20 nays. VIRGINIA, OUR FREDERICKSBURG CORRESPONDENCE, Appearance of Fredericksbura—Beanty of she ~The Fashions Negro Meeting. Hun- Denounced—The Garrison—The Troops, &e, &e. Faeperoxsnura, Va, March 12, 1867 This city, which was alternately eeonpie* “uring the war by the federal and Confedera'~“f00P% has changed littfe m appearance since its -“8@- Tt is uninviting tn every particular excory for the beauty of the ladies here, The stress being muddy would lead one to sup- pose that the Ristori skirt would be quite popular among thom; but, whether from their poverty, which I can certify to, or from dislike to the style, the new drees is not to be seen on the streets of Fredericksburg. Teup- Paso, however, as this is an inland city, and not @ me- troyolis, that the late fashion wil! soon make its appear- ance), Tho city numbers about six thousand inhabltants,, a largewajority of whom are white; indeed, there: ts scarcely negro population here worth speaking about. They numby in all probably six hundred, ono hundred and sixty-ninkof whom-are rogularly assessed ns tax- payers, Therdwill be, doubtless, two hundred voters of that class when the polls araopened for them. ‘This city was the mene ofa great many of the exploits of that eccentric indidual, Rov. J. W. Hunnicutt, who figured in various charaeters, as preacher, politician amd mountebank, both beforé. and during the war; but who from bis very uliar Mature has made himself here, where he is known, excetingly uppopular. aniong, whites and negroes. Tho htter class are. particularly bitter against this person, &% was demonstrated by a meeting held here last evening, which was addressed a Dr. Harriss, connected sh \ye Bureau. The sab Doctor advocated Hunnicutt priyeiplés, and defonded that person; bot he found his sable hearers were not dispozed to be gulled—one of their mun! a Mr. James, Brooks, effectually combatting all tl rks af the man of medicine. y The reverend mulatto is expected hero to-morrow night, when he intends to harangne the negroes in his usual Richmond style; but [am nesured by colored citi- zens of respectability that he will meot with no recep- tion, other than a tin pan serepade, The city is garrinoned by twocompanies of-the Twenty- first United States infantry, formerly Second battalion Twelfth infantry, commanded by Capt. MeO. Nettervitle. Major Johnson is in chargo of the Bureau as well as the commander of the forces and attends lagitimately to his own business, The troops ocrul ho Citizens’ Mall on Princess Anne street, once used as a theptre, and a place: for holding political meetings. These two companies are well satisfied with the location. and for their amuae-. ment and improvement havo established two ogi 4 rooms here, at Which all the leading newspapers ant periodicals of the day arc received. A complaint 1s how- ever made of not receivivg the Sanday Hraaup, a paper which they say always supplies the deficiency in the news of the week, YELLOW FRYER AT PANATIA, GUR PANAMA CORRESPONDENCE, Heavy Mortality on the U1 er Jamestersn. Panama, March 4, 1967. The Star and Herald of to-day has.a. long editorial on the subject of sickness on the Isthmus ronte, and seeks to make it appear that the reports about yellow fever are at least exaggera‘ed. For the sake of truth, and to give the travelling publie the means of judging for themselves, I deem it right o ask the publication of a few facts in your widely circus lated paper, The deaths from yellow feyer.on board the United States steamor Jamestown have so far reached the num- ber of sixteen, ont of acrow of one hundred persons. The executive officer, John Adame, was among the last vietfms, having expin’d on Washinieton’s birthday, The pay master (Bates) ia now reported by the surgeon as past recovery, and another of the officers, as well.as several of the eel are reported in 4 critical state—that means ure to die. dithrouch, town .that. the commander of” It ia reporte: the vessel, Liautenant Commandor, or esse!, Lieutenant Cor here et hat been: urged to put to sea by leading men he jntiexible’ in hie purpose 4 nde pty fies’ * reason eons that he has a young wife ashore is given as the of nis fixedness of purpose in this critical case. vor, this ts mero ramor, I'am _ inclined to beliove, ship, at all events, cannot be disinfected while in as the hot season 1s advancing pon us, With but exceptions tne deaths on shore have occurred among the flonting population, and the majority of these cases are stated to have come from St. Thomas. It is: almost ia death for a stranger to stop here any number of lays. The rivatry between the Nicaragua and Panama com- _ should not bo a!lowed to keep the travelling pab- ic in ignorance of the real state of affairs as regards health hereabonts, It is weil known that the season is unneuatly hot in the Guif and Caribbean, ts well as on the Pacific side of Central and South America, But av regard: Panama, we are baving ® severe assault from yellow jack. THE PRIZE RIVG IN CALIFORNIA. QUA SAN FRANCISCO CORRESPONDENCE. Two Fights Coming Off nt the Same Place— A‘*Mnrtch Between Dooney Harris and Tommy Chandler, and Mill Between Devine, the Chicken, and Johnson, of New York, A Fight in Yole County, &e. Say Fraxasoco, Feb, 16, 1867. POONRY UARRIS ANE TOMMY CHANDLER. The coming mill between Dooney Harris and Tommy Chandler is now absorbing tho attention of the fancy bersabouts and also at the cast, The, afigir will take Place in the course of six wooks, I learn; but: the exact time and placa is kept a close secret, The mem have gone into regular training, and already large sums.-have been staked on the result, ho odds being in favor of Harrie, found a very difficult nut to crack. Harrie is too well.> known East to render worth while epeaking of ,hie , Particularly, Chandler has had three fights: one, draw) with Billy Dyer; another with Bereard, Farley, sa whieh. he was victorious in twenty-seven minutes; and another with Peter Maguire, in which he was again, the victor, after ove hour and five minutes of bard Gghting. Chand. Jer is a-young, active follow, and is sald to bea remark. Ig A gh jonds have placed great ro! 19 abont one Fauaved ‘and thirty-eight poan training at a piace called Maywood, about from this city, under the isl tralia, Chandler is taking the necessary exercise Cliff House road, and will be 9 fine condition on third deposit of five hundred a sido urday evening, and bat two more o! are to be deported to complete the The match waa brought about by Con Mooney, of city, the well known sporting man, and that the reset of his labors will give alercuen Sette ‘ani ite Reema mined that it 8 ir and Ihave no doubt he will ouery fhe panna Teo ae with credit to himself and the men fre to face each other in the combal. As I have ‘nO place is yet dosignated for the affair to come off, and will not be un: 3383 Bs c z alt <3 ii af afternoon ei i & : J i ‘ 5 g i z E