The New York Herald Newspaper, January 26, 1868, Page 8

OUR FERRIES. ; Eaqutpment, History, Management, ¢ Condition and Prospecte=Thelr Ac- pommodations and Iuconveniencies—A Sab- fect for Legislative Action, ‘The genial Dr. Francis, in his discussive volume 6» “Old New York,” published in 1858, while he delights his readers with pen portraits of the more prominent of his contemporeries of nearly three quarters of 4 century ago, rehearsing, with his sual donkommie, delightful little stories about tthe gardens, the libraries, the schools of learning, the society, the public buildings, the floating dock 4of Livingston and Fulton), the hotels, the prese, end the professions in which his heroes flourished and made themselves great to their astonished NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 1868.-TRIPLE SHEET. and which conteibate ust 8 little to ite colossal we — ‘The first ferry was natorally between New inch as posable ie labor of starnsing ihe strong care as oa | ron} my the narrowest of the se chosen, though this was far above farthest limits of the city, being point below Peck slip, on the New York, to Ful- be was maintained as @ private speculation until ebout tho middie of the seventeenth century, when a regular ferry was established apd made a source of revenue to tho city. The first ferryhouso in New York was on the corner of Broad and Garden streets, now Exchange fal 8 low, one story b with two dormer windows raphe ateep, pedi roof, built in conformity with the or lo ure, and an oars a sign, the peace Jandis place of the boats, m the Long and J shores, Tho Brook- lyn ferryhouse at the foot Fulton street was a commodious two story house, outhouses attached, rl unlike the ferrybouses of Selo iti the t day, these were also taverns for the accom~ jw citizens—who looked upon them | Do hiton of uavellors. This ferryhouso’ was burced ia very much as the Lilliputians are de- | 1748 by the Sepoys of Long Island, by way of revenge sersbed by Dean Swift to have re- i dntriaaement ‘on their rights by the corporation of garded Monsieur Gulliver—forgets, _stran, The dispute originated in this wise:—As we havo al- to aay, although he discourses at length and Wearnedly on the trials and inventions of Robert Pulton, who constructed the bridges and fenders which compose the ferry slips, to make even a passing allusion to the ferries themselves, which, im his earlier years, were not less the subject of public commendation and animadversion than they are now, when our vast ‘“‘home”’ population sleeps mightly far above the City Hall, which sixty years age was ‘in astate of erection, and so circum- eeribed,” says our anthor, ‘‘at that time was the ‘Sea of the city’s progress that the Common Coun- oil, by a slender majority, after serious discussion, for economy sake, decided that the postern part ef the superstructure should be composed of red stone, inasmuch as it was not likely to attract muuch notice from the scattered inhabitants who might reside above Chambers street.” We wonder the more at this omission of the good doctor, for he was else than a ‘‘mere fogy.”’ ‘He had enjoyed the society and confidence of the eminent personages of his earlier as well as those of his later days, and was, not unlike David T. ‘Walentine, so many years the city’s historian and archwxologist, an ‘‘encyclopedia of local inci- @ents,” embracing all the events which had taken place, not excluding the ferries, in the city of his wativity. } His. acurious fact that little ie said of these ‘important means of conveyance to and from the aity. the histories devoted to the progress of ‘Whe island they are rarely alluded to. Even Miss M. A. Booth, in her pretensious volume, troubles her readers with but slight notices of their origin, although no careful historical reasoner should pass ‘them by, so monstrous in their proportions have ‘they grown, carrying to and fro annually upwards ef seventy millious of human souls and haman bodies, r Two centuries and a quarter ago, in the days of Petrus Stuyvesant, in the good old time of the burgomeisters and schepens, when by municipal authority and under an ordinance of the corpora- ‘ton, to which validity was given by the “sign manual and seal” of the mighty Peter, whose @eeds are not forgotten in the ‘Knickerbocker History of New York,” an attempt was made to “board in the East river” and thus prevent its tides from overflowing the public way, the revenue @erived from ‘ye fferry’’ was no unimportant ele- ment in the fiscal calculations of Comptrollers of ‘the second half of the seventeenth century. Ridiculous to us as this ‘‘resulve” of the burgo- meisters and schepens may appear, the “great’’ ‘and “‘lesser’’ citizens who had made a city of that rt of the isiand which lies to the south of De ingel Ofte Stadt Wael (Wall street), they were ot unconscious of many facts, which indeed they ‘could not avoid knowing ualess they persistently glosed their eyes to “ the situation,” namely, that the shores of Manhattan were washed by broad and deep rivers, and that intercourse could only be kept up by establishing means of transit that while it inured to the city treasury would at ‘the same time be accessi Accordingly, in 1654, geded to the municipal authorities, was the right © grant leases and regulate ferries. On the 10th of Setober, in that year, an ordinance was passed ‘by the city government, regulating the rates of ferriage at ‘three stuyvers each for foot pas- wengers, except Indians, who paid six each, unless there were two or more.”” On the 19th of March, 1658, ‘‘ the ferry,’”? which had its landings at Peck slip, near ‘ater slvect, and at the foot the country road (now Fulton street, Brooklyn,) on ‘the Long Island shore, was Jeased’ to Hermonus Van Bossom for three , at three hundred guilders ($114) per annum. en at that early date ‘the ferry’? must have been valuable, for the ‘‘ferryman’” was required to keep ‘‘proper servants and boats, anda house en both sites of the river for the accommodation of , Passengers and to pase all olficials free of essible to other privileges The next ferry that was ‘‘discusged,’’ was one ‘om Harlem to Long Island. Peter Stuyvesant, the same year (165%), founded the vilinge at ‘the upper end of the island, and to induce a rapid ye maped promised that when twenty-five ilies had migrated thither he would give them airinferior court and a ferry. Few cared to pro- Bt by the offer, Harlem was too far away in those primitive deys, and why should they, hazard the ‘wrath of the savages when plenty of work and eomfortable quarters were theirs in the “city?” In 1696, in consequence of the dilapidated, even @angerous, condition of the City Hall, then in Goenties slip, the muncipality determined on the @ection of a new one, and to raise the means necessary to meet the expenses the city would be pe to, recolved that, among other sources of venue, the ferry lease should be mortgaged for fifteen years; but it does not appear that the mortgage was executed, for we find in 1699, three years re etl the energetic David Provoost “being appointed Mayor,”’ among other ‘improve- ments,” “farmed’’ out “the ferry’ for a term of meven years, at a rent of £165 sterling hd annum, Among the conditions imposed on the lessee were these:—Four boats should be kept, two large and ‘two small, the latter for the accommodation of foot passengers——the fare being a silver two-pence for one Pereon, and half that sum when two or more crossed together. The city, however, in consid- eration of the very large rent it was to receive, engaged on its part to build a substantial ferry house on Long Island, which the ferryman was to keep in repair. In 1707, the ferry lease of cand bg ow expired, ‘‘the ferry” was re-leased to james Harding, at a yearly rental of £180 sterling, the rates of ferriage remaining as betore, In addition to running the ferry the lessee was required to beg a house of entertainment tor assengers, on the Long Island side, in the ‘new rick building erected by the Corporation of New ‘York,”’ and to keep a pound for cattle, and also to a hed scows and two rowboats constantly ply- ‘img between the shores of the river. And here isa urious scrap of history in connection with the lease ef ‘the ferry.””. The lessee was required to receive and discharge freight and passengers on Mondays and Thursdays At Counterses’ key (foot of Mai- den lane); on Tuesdays and Fridays at Burger’s eth (Hanover square); and on Wednesdays and uredays at the dock at Coenties slip. The Qanding place on the Long Island shore was a Uittle below that of tho present Fulton ferry. In 1717, a new ferry (@ brancl: of “the Long jand ferr; as it was then callod), was estab- hed, the landing places being at Hanover square, near the foot of Broad sircet, the landing en the Long Island side being as before at or negr the foot of Fulton street, brooklyn, Staten Inlend having greatly increased in popn- Jation, it wae thonght advisable to opena direct and certain means of communication with it, and ordingly in 1755aferry was established between Shat then distant ‘‘countree” and the ‘‘metropo- Vis,” aw New York was called in an officiai docu- ‘ment in the English records as early as 1698, Two F Arai subsequently a fourth ferry was established. ‘bia time from Miesier’s dock, on the North river wide of this island, to Paulus’ hook (Jersey City), ® convenie which had long been needed and which proved a great acoommodation to the peo- ple of New Jerse And behold, in the same year @ fifth ferry was ent on ‘the bay, the boat of which was to ply between Stoten Island and Ber- cr. There was also established packet boats etween the Battery and Perth Amboy and other an; ements in travelling arrangements made. out 1813 there wore two ferries to Brooklyn— one from Fly Market slip and the other from Catharine “slip—one to Jersey City,‘one to Bliza- bethtown Point and another to Staten sland, and all well patronized; although even as late as the date above given @ country between Catharine Street and Corlear’s Hook, and between the Jatier ond Stanton street, was regarded as quite beyond he limits of the x Having proceeded thus far with our sketch of history of the ferries of New York, we can mot do better, by way of closing this part of th subject, than My quoting fro. Mary L, Booth th Qnnexed brief but compr nensive sketch of th = And progress towasd power and wealth of forsien Woich to-day epsinsle New York island, said, the ferry was'at first a private speculation, Getabiiened in 1042 ‘by Cornelius Dircksen, who kept & small inn near Peck slip, and owned @ farm in the vicinity, William Jansen was his successor. In 1052 the Burgomasters of New Amsterdam made an unsuc- cessful application to Governor Stuyvesant for the ferry to Breukelin to defray the city expenses. * * * * * Before the cession of the city to the English the new rolers assumed control over the waters, and made the {er PY seared bun eelwioetandiog, 10 1708 the people demurred; but, notwithstanding, city obtained a charter from Lora Corabury which not only confirmed the corporation in the title to the old ferry, but also invested it with a grant of all the Jand lying between the high and low water mark (ove Long ‘Island shore from the Wailabout to Red Hook, with the privilege of establishing additional ferries within these limits, This charter incensed the Brook- lynites greatly and they did all in their power to evade ite condition, = * hd $ * Until the year 1810 rowboats or jes were the only ferryboats upon the rivers. Next came the horse- boats—twinboats—with the wheel in the centre, pro- Hed by a sort of horizontal treadmill worked by orses, the first of which was introduced on the dd of ‘April, 1814, upon the Catharine street ferry. This vas a doat of eight horse-power, crossing the river in from twelve to twenty minutes, The first improvement was made in the substitution of steam for horses as the motive power, and the first steamboat, the Nassau, was put om the Fultom ferry on ‘the 8th of May ia the same year; but the new agent being proved as expensive as expeditious it failed to find favor in the eyes of the company, and for many years this remained the only steam ferryboat on the river. In 1824 the monopoly which had been granted to fulton and Livingston being set aside by order of the Supreme Court, the use of steam was thrown open to publie competition, and the horseboats soon became ob- solete institutions. ‘The first improvement in the steam ferryboats was the singlo boat with side whoels, the first of which was the Hoboken, built by R. L. Stevens in 1822, [This is @ mistake, as will be seen in the notice of the Hoboken jury, subjomned.} Simultaneously with these came the floating bridges, which riso and fall with the tide, aided by the counterbalancing weights on the shore— the invention of Futton—and ‘the apring piles, con- structed by R. L, Stevens, We have given a brief and perhaps not alto- ther uninteresting story of the history of our ferries up to within a few years, Letus now briefly review the present era and see to what complexion we have arrived in this: the first month of the year 1868. Naturally ‘‘the ferry” of the olden time, the ‘‘Union Ferry Company of Brooklyn”’ of the present day, with its five routes and its magnificent boats and ferry houses, should command precedence in the mind of the reader of this article. THE UNION FERRY COMPANY OF BROOKLYN is incorporated and hasa ye in cash capital of $800,000. It holds the following ferries:—The Hamilton avenue, Atlantic street, Wall street, Fulton street and Catharine street ferries. To carry on its.enormous passenger and veliicular trade seventeen boats are constantly at the service of the company. These are:— Fob, 13, 1861 Juno 13, 1862 June 13, 1862 Peconic . 607 May 21, 1861 Hamilton 585 June 28, 1863 640 ‘Aug. 15, 1563, 507 Oct. 24) 1859 606 Sept, 15, 1854 500 Deo. 12, 1859 499 May —- 1853 633 Sept. 28, 1863 613 Nov, 23, 1863 ~ 659 Deo, 6, 1865 587 June 30, 1863 Monticello. 651 — 1866 Columbia... e+ OT 600 Noy, 13, 1867 Five of these boats are held in reserve. But for them navigation anriag, one or two days in the present winter would have been partiaily sus- ended, the wheels of the boats in use having ie greatly damaged by coming in contact with the heavy cakes of ice that filled the river at times from shore to shore. It is a fact, of which, however, but few are aware that the Hamiiton, South, Wall and Catharine street ferries are run at a loss of about $100,000 a year to the company, and were it mot for tle re- ceipts at the Fulton ferry, which greatly exceed the expenses, wonld have been suspended long ago. The daily earnings of the Union Ferry Com- pany average in the summer about $2,800, and in the winter months about $2,500, The police regulations are fair, and the boats, which carry upwards of forty million passengers annually from shore toshore, are kept in tolerable conditio ‘This much may be said Syne of the boats:— The cabins appropriated to the ladies are notin the condition of pigpens, and a gentleman may even enter the apartment appropriated to the use of males and stand or sit without being covered with filth, although his clothes may in the short. transit become thoroughly saturated with tobacco smoke. There are employed, including pilots, engineers, bridgmen, &c., three hundred and fifty men, with salaries according to rank, ranging from $40 to $150 per month. Tne fare on these ferries is two cents per pas- wenger. Seventeen tickets, however, can be pur- chased. for twenty-five cents. Vehicles are charged from twelve cents upward. The company have made and are contemplating importaut improve- ments at their different landings. The large iron structures erected within the past two years at the foot of Fulton and Whitehall streets, this city, are not only real ornaments to the localities named, but give evidence of the liberality of the stockholders. The ferry company next in importance on the East river is the BROOKLYN AND NEW YORK. This company bas a paid in capital of $1,990,000, It controls four ferries—the Grand street, Division avenue, South Seventh and Bridge streets, ON THE GRAND STREET FERRY two boats are run, namely, the Oneida (built in 1851, 2.9 tons burthen), and the Minnesota (294 tons burthen and sixteen years old).” One boat is run every half hour from twelve until tive in the morning. Nineteen men are employed in the capacity of ferrymasters, pilots, engineers, d&c., on this line. THE DIVISION AYENUR FERRY has two boats, the Cayuga (built in 1850, and 292 tons burthen), and the Canada (constructed in 1°51, and of the same tonnage as the Cayuga). These boats run until mignight, when they are withdrawn, The same number of hands are em- ployed on the Division avenue as on the Grand street boata, A\though the hulls and engines on these boats are pronounced good by the government ins; ors they are not fit for p ngers. The cabins are small and inconvenient, and in stormy weather we have found them leaky. There is no reason why there should not be as good boats on these lines as on the Bridge street ferry. The average time of the trips made on these ferries is about ten minutes, THE ROOSEVELT STREET FERRY has five boats—namely, the Idaho, built in 1864, 496 tons burden; the Arizona, constructed in the same year and of the same ton fe; the Superior, built in 1862, 570 to the Warren, built in 1859, 450 tons; the Com ore Perry, built in 1860, purchased by the government in 1862, and recon+ structed by the company in 1867, 638 tons; the Com- modore Barney, constructed in 1861, and rebuilt in 1867, having been purchased and used with the Perry as a ganboat in 1862; and the Nebraska (the most unfortunate of boats) built in 1554 and 493 tons burden, These are by the inspectors ronounced sound in hull and boiler, but, like the oats on the Grand, street and Division avenue ferries, ure not suited to the constantly increasing busi of the company. Passengers complain greatly of the filth and the irregularity in the time of these boats, and when the employs are remoustrated with they too often receive insolent replies. ‘There ia money enough expended in keoping the boats clean, and women are constantly engaged with swabs wiping up the floors, but apparently to little purpose. The route is » long one, nearly two miles, and in that time a densely packed crowd of tobacco smokers and chewers make sad work with the Previous labors of the char-women, The boats are “equipped according to law,” with life saving apparatus, but in the event of accident would be of not the slightest service, THE BRIDGE STRERT FERRY has two boats in constant use—namely,.the G ue beta the George Law... These are aie tor boats. ‘They were built in 1 each aperias oe 4 ass, eae e New York and Brooklyn Fi Compt employ upward of two hundred ‘men. They hove thirteen slips and bridges. The fare on ail their fervies is three cents pergpassenger, Tickets m be pirchascd at a de@@tion of eight per cent, receipye from all Serviea ayesaun iu shark Bho fossy ia how ihe property of summer about $1,500, in the winter months about $1,200 per lay. edie improvements are conte: ted, including new ferryhouses, altps, boats, &c., &c. The lease of the slips at the foot of Roosevelt street having been renewed it is tended as soon as the corporation restores the dock on the south side to put up new fenders like those on the Williamsburg slips. We ought here to state that boats of this com- pany are provided each with 200 feet of hose, and ave deck and donkey pumps with hose attached, also metallic and wooden boats, d&e., dc. About twenty millions of passengers cross to and fro on ate annually, THE HOUSTON STREET FERRY COMPANY is the third in importance on the East river. Its capital is about $120,000, Its daily receipts are not known. The company own three boats, one of which is kept as @ “reserve.” ‘These are the Maspeth, built in 1866, 430 tons; the Cali- fornia, built in 1851, 303 tons, and the Gerard Stuyvesant, built in 1854, 317 tons burden. The ferry was established.in 1840, and it does # very quiet though safe business. Its stock is in the hands of a few individuals who are wealthy and are ite satisfied with their dividends. A boat runs uring the night for the accommodation of passen- “ ‘The lease of the company expires in 1875. ‘he boats are all in good order, As we have hinted, the officers of the company are reticent a9 to profit and loss. They look on the company as & private affair, and are unwilling that tho public should know aughé of their business. THE GREENPOINT, TENTH AND TWENTT-THIRD STREET FERRIES. The capital stock of this eoeineny is $300,000. The ferrics at Greenpoint were established in 1853. The franchise for a ferry was originally in the hands of Messrs. Schultz, Bradford and Bliss--the Jastnamed a large landholder at Greenpoint. The present company bought the grant Mots these gentlemen, and commenced operations in the year named. Their boats are the Greenpoint, Osprey, sarement ranging 0 ats run to Twenty- third street, New York, until nine P. M., and Tenth street until midnight. The receipts of the company are, winter and sammer, about $10,000 per month. ‘The boats have been running thirteen years withont an aceident occurring. ‘Lhe fare is three cents for foot passengers, EAST RIVER FERRY COMPANY. This company have boats running from Hunter's Point, L, 1., at the terminus of the Flushing Rail- Piles James slip and to Thirty-fourth street, this city. ON TH THIRTY-FOURTH STREET, route are the Ravenswood, built in 1866,°430 tons, and the Queens and Kings Counties, sister boa’ constructed in 1860, and measuring each 370 tons, ‘This route was opened in August, 1856. THE JAMES SLIP FERRY, established in 1855, is supplied with two unusually fast and well built boats—namely, the Huntington, constructed in 1866, measuring 552 tons, and the Suffolk, seven years old and 502 tons burden. The boats on the Thirty-fourth street route run from four A. M. to twelve o’clock midnight, and on the James slip from five A. M, until dark. This company has been running ten years, but re yet has not earned suilicieat to declare a divi- end. THE QUEENS COUNTY AND ASTORIA FERRY. The ormbeny, has a capital stock of $120,000, but, like East River Ferry Company, has never de- clared a dividend. Its boats are the Sunswick aod the Williamsburg. ‘Ihe last named is a beautiful craft. Its cabins are. handsomely painted, the cornice work is blue and gold, the sides and ceil- ings frescoed and the seats handsomely divided by bronze Sepp GEA: The Sunswick was rebuilt in 1865, and is 280 tons burden. ‘he Williams- burg was rebuilt in 1867. Its burden is 45 tons, ‘Lhe boats run from five A. M. to ten P.M, between Astoria and Ninety-second street, which thoroughfare is now paved with the Belgian blocks to Third avenue. In the summer time a more desirable or roman- tie drive than through the Park, thence via Nine- ty-second street and Astoria ferry to Bowery Bay cannot elsewoere be iound in the vicinity of the metropolis. ‘This terry was opened in 1843. THE NAVY YARD OR JACKSUN STREKT F. Tie capital stuck of this company is about $50,000. ‘Lhe route was established on the 17ih of August, 1825, Mr. Henry Cook, the present .eu- gineer of the company, running the first. bo the General Jacksou—which, on the 17th ofXugest, 1836, sunk in the East river to rise no more. The boat in use at present on this rowe is the old Wiliamsbury boat, the Seneca, built in 1849 9 of 233 tons burden, ‘The company earn in the summer about $95, and in the wi months about $45 per day. ‘Lue iare is three cents; tickets, however, can be purcuased by the package at two cents each. Th3 company do not run & boat later than tes at night, THE MAKLEM AND NEW YORK NAVIGATION COMPANY. The capital stock of this company is $100,000. The boats are the Sylvan Stream (uuree hundred and #ixiy tous burden, but in 1s563,) and the Syivan Grove (three nundred and fifty tons aud built in 1859). These boats have run without muca iuterruption from ice thus fur the present winter. A new boat, for freight principally, will be put on in Februa ‘The ture is ten cents for tout pas- sengers. This company is prosperous. it has declaied as high as wwenty per cent dividend. dn connection with the “ Hurlem ferry’’—the dream of Governor Stnyvesant over two centuries ago—is the High Bridge route, supplied by the hitude steamer ‘liger, which charges ten cenis irom Harlem to the bridge. ‘There are two STATEN ISLAND FRRRIES, The first in importance is the Hast Shore ferry. The capitai stock of the company is nominally $500,000 ; $600,600 has beeu paid in. There are three boats on wie route and staunch, reliable boats they are—namely, the Middieton, the Nort- field and the Westlicld, each ot 500 tons burden. The Nautilus was tue first steamboat that plied on t is route. Lt was commanded by Captain De Forest. ‘This is the second ferry estabLsned by the Mu- nicipality of New York. The boats of the company run in connection with the Staten Island Railroau, which connects Vanderbilt's landing with otten- ville, and the latter is in communication with Perth Amboy by steamer. Tuis is a pleasant summer excursion of weaiy-one miles for tweuty- five ceuts. The fure to tue tsland is ten cents. ‘the receipts of the ferry ure not known. Lhe dividends ure, however, satisiactory. THE NOKIM SHOKE Puke is doing exceedingly well on a capital stock of $100,000. ‘Three years ago the company was in debt $50,000, aad its boais were all out of order, By caretul pursing since its obligations have been hiquidaced, &% boats putin govd order and two semi-angual dividends of four per cent declared. dts boats are the Pomona (built in 1862, 500 tons), the Thomas Hunt (built in 1851, 450 tous) and the Huguenot (rebuilt in 1855, 450 tons). They make the outward and inward trips in about two hours. ‘the commutation is ut the rate of $50 per year. A single jare is twelve cents. This terry was es- tablished on the Ist ef May, 1860. ‘The company ropose increasing their stock to the exteut of $70,000 and of putting anotuer boat on the rouie. : THE COMMUNIPAW FERRY. This ferry runs in connection with the New Jer- seo Central Railroad. It is part of the property of the road, and as such its accounts are kept with and form part of the general earnings. Tue Comuunipaw ferry boasts three magnificent bvais—namely, tue Central, the Llizabeth and the Comimunipaw. They are all over 1,000 tons bur- then aud have very powerful engints in them. ‘The ferry was established on the Ist of August, Isé4. A new boat, of the same tomage as the Elizabeth, will be put on the route in May. The fare for {oot passengers is three cents, THE PAVONIA PERRY, This ferry connect r31 North riter, with Pa- vouia, Jersey City. ‘ihere are five boats on the route:—The Payonia, built in 1862, 600 tons; the Susquehanna, of the same ago and tannage; the Deiaware, 700 tons, and the Oualaska ahd Niazara, old Kast river bouts. A new boat will be put on the route early Uuis spring, and a newferry estab- lished at the foot of Twency-tiurd atredt, this city, for the accommodation of those who, in Jersey City, desire to visit the «. Gregt improve- ments are in contemplauion at Pavonia The land near the ferry is being rapidly prepared for the rails of the Northern Kailroad, wuich fas resolved to move its terminus to this place inatead of hav- ing it, as heretofore, at tue Jersey City ferry, and @ large hotel for the accommodation ofthe passen- gers onthe Erie Railroad has been Heterminod upon. THE JERSEY CITY PERRY before its union with the Camden and Amboy Railroad was probably the wealthiest otganization of its class in the world. ts capital steck was $6,500,000, and its earnings were said bo be fabue ‘The Paulus Hook, or Jersey sly in point of age isthe third near thisecily. Sieam was introduced on it about forty yeariago. Its boats are the New York, New Branswitk, Jersey City, Hudeon Joba 8. Darcy, Newark, D. S. Gregory and the Colden. These measure from six hundred to eight hundred tons, and all are com- paratively new. A new boat is put on aboutevery ear aud anold one sold. The routedare from jarclay and Desbrosses strects, this city, to Jersey City. The commutation on this ferry is $16 per e@nuum, Biugle tares, three cents, THR HOBOKEN Pennies. The Christopher end Barclay sti supplied with the Jam Morristown, the Hoboken, the Jar t The Chancellor Livingeton and the John held in reserve. We Lave much interestiag matter tovebing the histor; this ferry, but space com- els us to omit it, can only aay here that Mr. vens first put an engine on pirogue at this forry; and not on, as Miss Booth asserts, the boat Hoboken—of which, by the way, there were three. t ferries are Land and wonderful are the cha: that are beiug made in that part of the world. THE WEEHAWKEN FERRY, ‘This ferry was established in 1857. Its route is from the foot of Forty-second North river, across the Hudson to Weehawken. Its business is not large. Its capital is about $80,900. - In winter it does little or n In summer it about pays its expenses, It has two boats, but runs one only, the Lydia, of 180 tons burthen. Fifteen men are employed on the ferry. The boat makes forty mynale trips, and runs from daylight until about TK. OUR NEW COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS. Warehouses Erected in the Year 1867—In- crease in the Value of P a The number of new wuildings erected in this city during the year 1867 has equalled, if not ex- ceeded, that of almost any former year, and these structures have not been put up in haste or with any desire to let a miserly spirit interfere with -the designs of the architeets, and those magnifi- cent places prove to @ certainty the continued and steady progress of New York, than which no other city in the world can boast of a supe- riority in its development of the beauties and grandeur of architectural science, Nor, what is more remarkable, is it a fact by any means that the fine erections now rising in our city are con- fined to the best portions within its boundary; in all parts itis the same, and the like signs of pro- gress are to be met with at the Battery as well as in the upper districts, and in the east as well as in the more fashionable western side. Blocks of residences, fronted with brown stone and built with every regard to modern improvements in building and with every precaution against fire, are everywhere to be met with, and take the place of the less pretentious houses in which the earlier New Yorkers were wont to live. The quiet and plain business houses in which our merchants transacted business and became suc- cessful and wealthy ere disappearing for edifices of immense size, beautiful in appearance and rich and gorgeous in design. Fifth avenue and its neigh- boring avenues and streets may, without denial, boast of the splendor and the magnificence of their palatial residences; while the older, lower portion of the city—Greene, Church, Pearl, Green- wich, West Broadway and others, where the hum of commerce goes daily on—can point with equal pride to the grandeur and the magnificence of its business houses, on which monetary outlay has been but a secondary consideration; and as the Island of Manhattan is closely—aye, crowd- edly—built on, and it is utterly impossible to find more room to cover, commerce, unable to fiid room for its steady increase and continuing prosperity, sends her residences high up in the air, and almost ’mid heaven and earth her children carry out their mission of daily toil, and it is thus that in the fourth, fifth or sixth story that some of our richest merchants conduct their trade and carry on their transactions with others in the most dis- tant parts of the world, INCREASE 1N THE VALUE OF REAL ESTATE. If there were no other proof to point out the prosperity’ which has marked the growth of New York, the increase in the value of real estate even within the past ten years would satisfy the most sceptical. Streets where one story wooden houses showed themselves in numbers and tracta of ground, common neglected wastes, are ail to-day of fabulous value. Tne small shanties have de- parted aud the wastes have been built on, and the value of the buildings may only be counted by the millions, and in many places where a lot could have been purchased for $1,000 the same to-day commands no lower figure than ten times that -amount, and rents have gone up in about the same if not a greater proportion. Many of the streets in the vicinity of Broadway are making vast changes in their appearance, and accordingly as the leases of small residences fall in the lots are brought in; the houses almost instantly disappear and MAGNIFICENT WAREHOUSES raise their heads and increase the value of the ground. In Ceutre street, for instance, on lois 136, 141 and 143 the Messrs. J. B. and W. W. Cor- nell have erected a building for their own use which is one of the fines: in the city, and isa model of its own peculiar kind of architecture, and is built with every possible regard to safety from fire, and of a strength sufficient to bear the heavy irou stock which comes from the Cornell Iron Works. It has a high basement and measures seventy-two feet front and depth. The front, trom the foundation to the roof, is of iron, as ig also the rear as far as the second story, and the inside is supported by columns of the same material and wrought iron girders, The wall, which is built of brick and laid in cement, is twenty inches thick, The basement of the building is used as a forging snoop; the first floor, with the exception of a cart- way of twelve feet for receiving and delivering v 3 occupied by offices and warerooms, which tid out in a taste(ul manner, the office portion especially, with its carved black walnut counters and desk, be inferior.to that of no banking or counting house in the city. The upper stories are used for finishing the fron work. ‘The amount of iron used in the construction of the edifice was 460,779 pounds. The bulding is now the headquarters of the firm, which employ at the present time seven hundred men, who are mainly employed in the store of Mr. A, T, Stewart, the Pi nk and the New York Life Insurance Com- gs. ‘The building is of a cominanding appearance and bears a pleasing contrast in com- parison with its gloomy neighbor, the Tomus. GREENE STUERT is also rising from its asues, and splendid ware- houses have already sprung up in the place of some small residences; and basiness necessities and enterprise are consequently adding immense! to the value of property in this neighborhood, especially that portion lying im the immediate vicinity of Grand and Broome, where a large number of fine house are being: put up. As late as 1458 the places on which the very best of these business maris now stand were occupied by miser- able snanties or stables, and still lawr they could be purchased for $6,000, while their price to-day is as much as $50,000. From Grand to Broome, on the east side of Greene, the whole block, when finished, will form one massive building. The Messrs. Appleton, the publishers, have arranged with Mr. Howatd for this entire property. This structure at the corner of Graad, when com- pleted, they will occupy themselves for the pur- poses of their publishing trade, It has a Dor- chester stone froat and contains five storie id basement, aud is fireproof throughout, ‘Lhe pillars and principal supporters are made of iron, and the Whole structure, which cost about $200,000, will be finished in & month, when its future occupants will remove into it, The adjoining lots, to within one of the Broome street corner, form a five story gable pointed building. A structure similar to that at the Grand street end will be erected, so that the whole will present a uniform appearance, and be of advantage not alone to the Messrs, Appleton, but to the proprietors of the surround ing property, and to the character of tue large buildings of the city. The entire block, arranged for with Mr. Howard by the Messra, Appleton, will form one solid stone building, with a frontage of 450 feet on the easterly side of Greene and & depth of fifty feet on Broome and about the same on Grand, At the corner of Broome and Greene Dickinson & Hurlburt have erected a very fine store. At 53 Greene the Messrs. Phillips are occu- punts of a first class warebouse, finished about the close of last year, and which is the property of Mr. C. G. Gunther, 459 Broome is a five story building, white front, occupied by the Messra. Hy- man, Brosner & Miller; next door, corner Grand and Mercer is the property of Amor R, Eno; the building contains five stories and makes a splendid warehouse. All of these structures have been erected within the past year and finished toward its ciuse. Messrs. Arnold, Constable & Co. have just completed their warehouse at 462 Broome street, as also have Moasra. J, & W. Lyall at 35 and 37 Wooster street. There have been very many other buildings of equal size, value and importance put up in this vicinity within the past year or so, and it is easy at once to see the cause of the great advance in tie value of realestate in the neigh- borhood, which, being situate so near BROADWAY, bids fair to assume in a proportionate mannet — fair rivalry to the architectural beauties of the reat thoroughfare, which is by mo means behind 'o time or backward in th ment. A large number of houses have made their appearance and been com- pletely finished within the past year, and others are in course of construction, all of them of ver: handsome design and build and mostly fronte: with white marble. As far up as the eye can extend—any to Grace church—the strect presente Brendjeppoarance, to which the new buildings, Company, and many and | with ach day lending addi- » tional beauty, Mr, P, Lorillard has erected two cent stores on the lots Nos. 827, 820 and 831. They will have marble fronts, contain four stories, sixty- eight feet hig! , thirty-eight wide and ninety-four deep, and will cost their ery is 3 proprietor upwards of $200,000. It is @ magnificent struc- ture and a C adaition to the beauty of that block, which is further enhanced by the building next door, which contains five stories and mea- sures thirty-five wide by ninety-two deep; and also No. 656, which is the sam of building, but of much larger dimensions, and is the property of Messrs, W. & J. Sloane. Next to this comes the splendid new building of Messrs. Solomous & Sons, which has only been finished within the last six months. This is a very handsome five story building, It has seven floors, is forty five b. twenty, has a basement and cellar of two hundre and twenty feet. The wholesale rooms are splen- did compartments, and its white stone front pre- sents at once a striking appearance. The cost was $250,000, and the place is furnished with two steam engines. Commencing at No. 548, extend- ing to idia$ street, Mr, 5. Nichols has completed some very fine storehouses, There have been many others put up in this thoroughfare, and othe’s have just been commenced, the total value of which, it is estimated, reaches very close on $4,000,000. WHITE STREET f has been very prolific in the erection of waré- houses within the past year, the value of which will reach close on two ‘millions of dollars, On the lots 22,24 and 26 John M. Slade has spent $260,000 in erecting two ee stot chouses, and at Nos. 47 and 49 B. Y, Peppey & Co, have expended $80,000 in orpeiing another large store- house. The building on the lots Nos. 13 and 15, the property of Messrs, Slade & Colby, is one of the finest in the street, and has cost over $90,000. The same firm are the owners of Nos. 17 and 19, which is being turned to the same use, will cost & like amount and is the same atyle of architecture. These gentlemen are the proprietors of another analy, valuable store near the southwest corner of the street. Nos. 21 and 23 are five story build- ings, and cost the same firm $40,000 each. Nos, 54 and 56 make one large five story warehouse, eighty feet high, forty-seven wide and one hundred deep, and is said to have cost the proprietors, Messrs. 8. &J. Zabriskie, $100,000. M. & S. Stern- berger are the proprietors of No, 62, worth $50,000. No. 125 belongs to Peter Burkhardt; it is @ large brick storehouse and cost about $35,000. These are the most conspicuous of the buildings erected in this street within the past hog there are others also, splendid structures, but of less pretentious character. In fact, it may be said that this whole neighborhood is making as great progress inthe beauty and magnificence of its warehouses a8 any other portion of the city. Fach snot is adding new and valuable buildings. nd in i GREENWICH STREET several very fine structures have made their ap- pearance, and others are rapidly going up. Last year Mr. Herman Leipziger erected @ very fine five story building, measuring thirty-seven feet wide by one hundred deep, and cost $20,000. Nos. 335 and 337 have been bui t on, and ¢50,000 ex- ended in the erection of @ four story warehouse forty-seven feet wide and one hundred deep. ‘three very substantial stores have been erected by Mr. William Kain on the lots known as Nos. 363, 365 and 367, No. 780, the property of Mr. Stephen Haight, is a five story first class storehouse; it measures fifty-two feet in height, forty-eight feet in depth and fifteen in width, Another new build- ing, belonging to Mr. Henry J, Meyer, has been put up at No. 293, at a cost of $20,000. lt is es- timated that not less than three hundred thousand dollars has been expended by the merchants in the erection of new warehouses in this street wi.hin the past year. FRANKLIN STREET has been vastly improved since January of 1867, during which period about five hundred thousand dollars have becn laid out in embellishing it with magnificent warehouses, Mr. E. 8. Higgins has expended two hundred thousand dollars in the erection of four very fine warehouses, on the lois known as Nos. 59, 61, 63 and 65. Nos, 76 and 78 have been built on by Mr. Samuel A, Warren; aud the two stores are five stories in height, twenty- five feet wide and one hundred deep. Mr. D, Dodge has laid out another fifty thousand dollars ona building at No, 80; it con'ains tive sto ies, and is twenty-six feet wide by cighty-seven deep. The amount expended in the erection of new buildings in this st-eet in the year 166 was very close on five hundred thousand dollars, and’about half that amount may be pat down for CHUROH STREET, where many splendid buildings have been erected, among them that of Messrs. George Hughes & Co., ative story structure, c ating filty thousaud dol- lars, and measuring forty-four feet in widtu by fifty in depth. A.J. Dittenhofer has built a new siere at No. 218, containing five stories and mea- suring sixty-eight feet in height, twenty in width aad sixty in depth, and cost $32,000, At Nos. 219 and 221 Mr. Kingsland has built a large store- house, and another of the same style, the property of Mr. Poznanski, hag been erected on the lot known as No. 196. MISCELLANKOUB. It is almost impossible to go into details and to enumerate in each street separately the number of rich buildings erected within the twelve months past, for aimost every street in the commercial part of this city can bear testimony to the energy, tne enterprise and the liberality of our merchants in the erection “of the finest mercantile. buildings in the world. For instance, in Walker street, Mr. Jotn R. Ford has built a splendid warehouse on the lots Nos. 39 and 41, at an outlay of $100,000, it is five stories high, forty-eight feet wide and ninety feet deep. Mr. D.C. A. Kingsley has ex- pended $40,000 im the construction of a building at No. 40 Lispenard street. Then there is in West Eighteenth street, near Eighth avenue, a brewery puilt up withi. the last year which is thirteen stories high, with a frout of six lots on Eightcenth street, the same on Seventeenth street. It covers Nos. 154 to 166 Eighteenth street, and the whole ground occupies one-half an acre. The proprietors are McPherson & Donald Smith, and their business as brewers competes with any others in the trade in the United States. The building cost over $100,000. The New York Insurance Company are erecting @ building on the rains of the late Messrs. Chitien- dea’s warehouse. It will cover .the whole lot on that part of Broadway except a small space re- served for a yard. ‘The building will consist of four stories wih a cellar eight feet high, the sub-base ment twelve feetand the basemunt thirteen feet six inches. The house is intended to be very im- posing, having a white marble front with a grand entrance on Broadway decorated with ornamented pil ars and relievos of statuary. The second story will be devoted to the use of the offices of the com pany. The building wiilbe fire-proof, and when completed wiil cost about oue million of dollars. Mr. A. T, Stewart is beaut fying Third avenue and enlarging his place in Tenth street and Broad- way, and he has built another addition to his wholesale store on Duane street, and in this street, Fulton, Wooster—in fact, in every place that one may travel througl—the same sigus of improvement are visible, and should the present style of building continue New York can boast of whole streets of the most magnificent structures that have ever been erected for the purposes of trade and commerce. OUR STREET PAVEMENTS. ‘The Croton Aqueduct Board, in their annual report to the Common Council, refer at considerable lougth to the Condition of our street paPements, and to the measures past and prospective, for their improvement, Subjoined a de found a few extracts from the document reterred The frequent disturbances to which our street pave. Ments aro subject in the construction of vaults or iateral drains in Making sewer convections or repairing sewer and in the laying down of gas and water pipes, &c. the careiess and very jadiffe maunor in whic! paveme \Lorwards rel P of by the Lew Chapter 361, of the Laws of 1862, and ontiied ‘An wot to correct abuses in the city of New York in the relay~ ing of pavement by property owners and others, wuen- ever a portion of the pavement is temporarily re- moved."” ‘This act gives to this depart and general diroetion in the re removed jor the purposes of co @ral drains, digging cotlars, | ings or ovher structures, making #ewer connections, or Fepairing sewors, aod ah the iaying down of gas and water pipes, or introducing the same into buildings, or for any other purpose, Section 2of this act provides that whenever the pavement in any street or avenue shall have been ro- movod tor any of tue purposes the tira section, and such pavement shall not be relaid in @ manner satisfactory so the Croton Aqueduct Board, the Preeident of said Board may servo a potice in writing Upon the person or cor} by whom the raid pave. ment was removed, requiriag thom to properly relay the fame within five days alter the service of such novice, In case of failure or omission om tho ye of such son or corporation to comply with such notice, the Sroton Aqueduct Board are authorized to immediately Undertake and complete such repnir #3 may be neces. ivy and thereupon certify the expense so incurred to ob, cognizance, control all pavement 7 ‘troller for collection from the person or oor] jeresiod. The expense eo incurred and corti the premises described, and to ve col- direction of the clerk of arrears, his law would be very beneficial Board was therefore very Immediate opera- red thi in ite practical effects, and desirous of carrying the same into was, however, A serious diMeulty rem the want of an a) id be incurred 10 ‘oxponses th oer kA tne Me could be drawn, This diftoulty was 166 eye ait Sec cme coats ers expenses as might intenanc® an and prontiogy or its aisles fo bne trem the owners of the property io ot this law many repairs, which cretocore of -bave beem ani the control and igion of this smeut, The ix levy, Mowover for tue yeers 1868" and 180 the expenditure of th: jations for those years by the Street Department. No repairs to the streets bave therefore been made by this department during Liose years. ‘The balance of the riations heretofore made, and which stood to our C1 Go the Ist day of January, 1867, on the books of the Finauce Department was during the past season, in accordance with an opini of the Corporation , Wansferred to the credit the Street Department. NEW STARET PAVEMENTS—STONS BLOCK Pavenenrs, ‘Thirty-two different contracts for the laying of stone block pavements were awarded during the past year. Among the more important of these works was the wing of Canal street from Broadway to Wost street; Frudson street, from Canal street to Ninth avenue; West street, from Chambers to Watts etrcet, and Fi ‘oth Btreet, from Filth to Tenth avenue, The total pumber of square yards covered by the contracts entered into was 215,850, the cost of which was by tue terms of the Tespective ordinances to be assessed wholly upon the property benefited. Schedule No, —, in the appendix exbibis the locality of each work, aud the pico per square yard paid to the lowest bidder thorefor. THE STAGE AT HOME AND ABROAD. P At Home, Miss Fanny Janauschek has met with immense su cess out West, The Pittsburg and Cincinnati papere speak of her in the highest terms, and not only has she been favored with large houses, but valuable presenta- tions have been made to her in both citics, She com- mences an engagement in Louisville to-morrow night “Under the Gaslight” is running at the Louisville theatre. ‘The last night of Templeton’s dramatic company, af the Cairo theatre, on Tuesday last, was devoted to the venerable ‘Lady of Lyons’? The play was adorned with vocal gems and a heavy dance given by residens artists, Lotti’s German Opera troupe playod “Faust” at the Nashville Adelphi on the 2lst, and “Fra Diavolo’” lass night, tee Lander appeared in ‘Elizabeth’ last week as De Bar’s, St. Lous. ‘Migs Kate Fisher was tied on the back of her horse at the 8t. Louis Varieties last woek in the wonderful drama of ‘‘Mazeppa.”” e The “Black Crook” has reached Wheeling, West Virginia, and the local paper says that everything is bighly satisfactory to the audience, J. Newton Gotthold was very euccessful last week in Lafaye.te, Ind., as Hamlet, Miss Marie De Vernon ha@ ‘a beueilt on the 22d, Frank Mayo appeared as Jack Cade im Indianopolis on the 22d. ‘Miss Bella Golden, one of the Maggie Mitchell style of aciresses, played ‘\iaria, the Peari of Savoy,” in Evans~ ville, Ind., 1ast week. At the Norfolk Opera House, on the 23d, Mrs. Addie Kunkel made hervow in the domestic drama, “Agnes De Vere.” ah’? 1 underlined for this week. The Griswold Opera House, I'rvy, has ‘Under the Gas- light” on its bills, the Richings English Opera troupo will play in New= ark this week. Edwin Adams is at the Memphis theatre, Joon EB, Owens appeared as :vlon Shingic at the Chest. nut On the 2ist, and said to the worthy burghers of the Quaker City, “How do you do?” ‘Tne Holman Evglish Opera troupe gave “L)Blisir @’ Amore” at the Royal Lycoum, Toronto, on the 2ist inst. The Buffalo Metropolitan is at proent in the hands of the (alitornia Acrobatic Club, On the 22d Mile. Celeste’ whoeied the clown trom the stage to the gallery on @ tightrope. Nobody burt, ‘Mra. Yelverton gave ono of her characteristic readings on i'riday iast at Charieston, S. C. Baitimore had plenty of evtertainments last week, Grover & Maretzek’s Opéra trou wero at the Con- cordia; Miss Kate Reignolds, abandoning sensational diama, Came out at tne Holiday in **:\urie Antoinette,’® and a company of Japs were a! the Front. Dickens will rend at the Concordia for a coupie of nights this week. ‘Ihe “Hub” has the following ia the show lino for the past week :—Maggie Mrchell at the Howard Atbeneums the “Heart of the Great City” (not Boston, bui Londou] at tbe Boston theatre; “Dora” at Seiwyn’s and Midsum~ mer Night's Dream” at the Contizental, De Pol changed the “Devi’s Auc lon”? into the “Black Imp’’ (out of the frying pau, &e. they have scRvoy’s great pictorial and musical exhi, tion of a Tour in Ireland” at Portsmouth, N. H., and seem to like it, James Stark played in the ‘erry Wives of Windsor,” in Sait Lake City, on the 14th, Lhe Mormon elders ob- Jecved to (hore belag only two wives and so much fuss made about them. : Tbe Fiorences are In Pittsburg, and will be soon fol- lowed by the Italian Opera troupe from the Now York Academy. Mr, Samuel Colville has engaged Mr. James E, Mure doch to give readings In New York. The beautifui and sccow plished cantatrice, Miss Fanny Stockton, will shordy sing ‘fhe Harp in the Air,” from “iaritana,? in the “White Fawn,” in the’ réle of Aquinna, Camille Urso played on the 21st at Crosby’s Operm House, Uhicago, in Gilmore's promenade concert. Dam Bryant conciuded his engagement at McVicker’s last Digh', and Kennedy, the Scotusb vocalist, was at the Mus.c Hall. “Under the Gaslight’ isin full career at the Cloves Jand Academy of Music. ‘ Jarrett & Palmer's Viennese ballet troune are making a sensation » Academy of Musie, Pitsburg, in the speciacie o . The “Grand Duchess’ bade farewell to her numerous admirers at a matinée yesteraay at the Yheatre Fraocais. Madame Ristori sailed for Havana on Thursday, im the sieamship Eagle, accompanied by her charming family, ner dramatic Company vf forty persons and her manager, Mr. J. Grau, Tho reason at tHe tacon theatre Tom ses to be the most brilliant ever witnessed oa the favana stage, Madame Angiolina Ghion| and Carl Rosa will be the principal attractions at Steinway Hall to-aight, The exqrisite little comedienne, Lotra, will appear ag Littie Neti and the Marchioness at the Broadway to-mory row night Abroad. Mrs, Emma Yarnold, the once popular actress of the Haymarket and other theatres, expired on December 26, after a long and painful iilness. For more than thirty years Mrs, Yarnold bad been a member of tne principal metropoiiten theatres, and was the widow of Mr, Edwin Yarnoid, who died December 29, 1848. Mr. Walter Montgomery's personation of Hamlet iq Melbourne has set all the savants of that good town arguing on the question of the noble Dane’s insanity, Five gentiomen, including an M.D, a Q C ai mad doctor, bave taken part in ihe discussion, each taking enre to quote ag much of the text as guile his ows theory. One of the scenes in the new version of “Guiliver’® at the Chatelet is a represeutation of English festivi« ties ut Christuas, The dresses of the baliet have Jeongthened. This is growing a common custom, On ® firet vight (he costume is scanty. This fact 1s of course stated by the press, the success of the piece is assured, The dresses are then enlarged to escape police interference, All tho soats at (he Coatelot, the largest houso in Paris, are engaged wil the end of January. Mile, Sarvlta bas lost caste lately by siuging before A. Berlin audience ‘Rien n’est sacré pour un sapeur, Ie is 1rue (bat the occasion was for a charity ; but there je charity should cover over any multitude a 6 has been brought out. — the suggesti' ive “Un Voyage autour da Demi-Monde,"’” Wonderiully to relate, it is a fiasco, ang a deserved one, The opening of the theatres at Rome took place on the 26ib wit, Withous any Of the deasirous cons which were apparentiy appt nied by the po thornies, judging by the idabie display of force made by them on the occasion, The opera house wag very weil filled, chiedy witn the nobility, dipomatiss and foreigners in the boxes to the exciuson of Romag familios of the middie Classes, aud in tus pit with officers and goveroment empioyds, im (he absenoe of (ho habit. ual Connoisseurs Woo are supposed to decide upon the rewpective merits of 0 soprano, & barivone, or a prima jerina. ‘On Janvary 1 an acetdent occurred im the Royal Albert. theatre, Middlesboroug b, England, There was a crowd house of juveniios to witoess tho day performanco oi a jendid pantomime of “Woitting‘on and His Cat.’ ‘Tho opening “wont” as smooibiy as ever until nearly the Goish, whea the lime hgin was by ‘od for Waile 43 Connected with d, 80 loud was the rey " jer the impression that cannon bad been discharged 6 pit, be actors an actresses ran Off the stage and the people in the boxes, pit and gellory hurried out of the building. Groar cons sternation prevailed outside tho houge, and parents ang relatives, hearing of the occurrence, rushed to iho thas atre ok after their children an: friends, The scong on fi) gaile being on the limo light sud port that many peor ry stairs was aiarming, little culidreg. Doing carried and pushed dows by boy! roperty man, Mr. est, who was ai Pau when the explosion occurred, own to rara, and was burnt avout tl while one of the violinisis tn tho orchestt Juries to bis face and saw bis fiddie broken to pieces bp the foncussion. d girls, ‘The jing the lime Another opera from the inexhaustible Offenbach played for the firse ti Boxing Night, the wena of its production being th onus Pinieirs, by MM, Heotur Cremiux aad .E. ireiou, an “Genevieve do Brabant.”’ It is « the courso of which toe cancan with the Chateau d’Asnitres and Gonovidyi seeking consolation fi the famous ii ot Revalenta Arabica Food, ‘‘Genevidve de Brabant” undoudiedly entitied to rank with the best of 0 Dach's productions, tis far superior in all respects the “Robinson Crusoe’’ recently produced. This pi was carefully mounted and is likely to remain ® per) Bomb BVUIUe vf ECHO