The New York Herald Newspaper, January 10, 1869, Page 5

| Aeiniaiibinduintocieiomreectiasitinteeaimeetin THE ARMY OF LABOR. nina Prospect of tho Working Classes for the Winter—Trade During the Past Year— Unions and Coroperative Societies. ‘Yhat a partial paralysis in all branches of trade has marked the events of the past year cannot be denied, 1¢ has been felt in all circles and made the subject of universal comment, It still continues, and {is effects in many respects have been so disas- trons and widespread as to have occasioned no little anxiety—making the future assume an aspect of gloom by no means pleasant to contemplate. ‘Thoughtful and anxious faces are to be met on every hand, and our business men wear a weary look that would seem to indicatea more than ordinary mental exertion, and this is true; for at no period within the past five or six years has there existed so gene- rala depression in business, or more cause for ap- prehension in regard to the events of the future. While this is true of our leading men, andof ail classes, the effects of its mfuence have falien upon no class with greater severity than that of the grand army of workers—that class whose very existence depends upon the result of its daily exertions, and which embraces within its limits fully one-third, if not a larggr proportion, of our entire population, both raral and urban. ‘That the present season is undoubtedly in all years one of stagnation in business, and under the most fa- vorable circumstances invariably increases the wants and causes additional suffering among the poorer classes—more observable probably in large cities, ‘where the population is composed soiely of consumers, than in the country districts, yet producing its effects everywhcre—has been demonstrated by the experience of the past; but he must, indeed, have Deen @ careless observer who has not been im- pressed during the past few weeks that from some cause there existed an unusual and widespread de- spondency and draught upon his sympathies, The spasmodic activity of the holidays, with the tem- porary relief afforded by ihe circulation of several millions of dollars in the purchase of presents for Christmas and New Year's, and in the various social enjoyments usual at such times, may have drawn a veil for a moment over the sad realities of the social status of the laboring classes; but that is now all over, and the reaction but makes the truth more sensibly apparent; for, go where we will, at this inclement season misery and want obtrudes themselves upon our attention; the eye is shocked by encountering pallid faces, pinched cheeks, lustre- Jeas eyes and the outstretched, emaciated hand; the ear salutea by heartrending wailings, and feeble voices appealing for aid in startling, despairing tones, crying, ‘Charity, for the love of God, charity | bread for starving children !” Nor are the appeals upon our sympathies confined to the class of profes- sional beggars. Though not so loudly and openly made, nor the causes so apparent, they come from all Classes of the comgiunity who have not been so for- tunate as to secure permanent incomes, Thousands among even what may be termed the middie class are struggling, and many vainly, to exé out an existence; and, finding it impossible to make both ends meet, the surplus earnings of the past are rap- tdly being exhausted, aud in very many instances have been entirely consumed. All these are daily being added to the already vast army of the utterly Gestitute. The poor we have with us always, and it is with pride that it can be said that in the aggre- gate they are well provided for. The amounts annu- ally disbursed in charities in this city and its vicin- ity, quietly and without ostentation, if announced in statistical figures to the world, would asiound those whose more theoretical and egotistical philan- thropy vainly parade such matters for reputation’s sake. Weare content toremain satisfied with the result of our practical workings in this respect, and Gesire not the questionable merit to be derived from comparisons—always odious. But 1t is not for this Class alone that we are now calied upon to exercise our sympathies and benevolence in an unusual de- gree, but for a large and worthy class of our fellow citizens, who, however willing to perform their whole duty, are, from adverse circumstances, unavie to do so. ‘The year 1868 has been numbered with the past, and it is with the results of its various vicissitudes ‘We have now to deal. Atits opening some of the ef- fects of the late civil war still continued to exert an influence; a redundancy of money had been created, and the extraordinary market afforded by the de- mands of the government had stimulaied all branches of business trade to a point beyond that of healthful progress and stability. That mar- ket no longer existed; the supply of all classes of Manufactures was in excess of the demand; a re- duetion in the circulation was attempted; money be- came scarce; a financial crisis threatened and secmed imevitable, aud to avoid or escape from Its effects caused a marked reduction in the operations of aii In- dustrial pursuits, ond was continued juaily to the close of the year. These measures threw thousands of the laboring classes out of employment, and a scarcity in the demand for labor ensued amounting to almost a total absence of it. Early in the summer the effects of ail these causes, adde@to the passage of an act by Congreas reducing the hours of labor from ten to eight per day in ail the vurious branches of government employments, led the laborers to re- port to STRIKES in order to ameliorate their condition. That of the plasterers aad Masons continued for a long period, and was finally compromised, apparently tn thelr favor. But was it really so? Wethink not. They succeeded in obtaining the reduction of time in the day’s work, and in some respects an advance of Wages; bul their demauds and reiusal to work unul they were compiicd with caused a cessation in the ciass of improvements upon which their services Were needed. Parties refused to build and many builders refused to make new contracts, so that When the compromise was effected and their de- Mands acceded to there was but, little or no dor them; they found little but unfinished contracts demanding their services. A Very small proportion found employment at all, and thousands now would be most willing to work not only for the ten hours ‘Dut for even reduced wages. Of this class of work- dngmen, inciuding Uricklayers and house Carpenters, it 19 sfc to say that there are in New York and its vicinity from 15,000 to which number not more than Tow have employment; the rest are wandering about in idlcneas, or engaged in that tiarlest of ait work, “secking a job,” with but faint hope of find- ing it. Ahd the SUIPWRIGATS also made a strike which heid out for the apace of three mont! They were receiving on on average $4 per day, and there was some occupation for tient, ‘though little, They demanded $5 per day aul short time, and iinally compromised for $4 30 per day again nominally a bat not areal one; for When they resumed work they, too, found nothing for themio do. There were few or no sips building, and the usual amount of aeons at this port, had beed driven elsewhere, Where the work would be Gone and done cheaply. and now ful’y three-fourths of this class are idie. Many have gore away in search of work, and where they do find it are very willing to work not only for ten hours, but at the reduced re- Sompense of three dollars per day. In this class may be included sparmakers, caulkers, sailmakers, rig- &c.—all, in fact, that usually work upon ships, tno time within the past agg bln Jess been Gone in this line than durmg the ae just gone. Shipowners and builders tell you that freigins are 80 low that it is almost hopeless to obtain an inte. rest from the investment; and, indeed, many assert that they are satisfied if the vessels do not cause an absolute joss; but it is more than probable that the true secret of the want of activity in this branch ties tn the fact that the capital heretofore employed in shipping is now locked W" ae cacao securities, paying a better rate of int , Without risk. Daring ‘She War nearly one-half of the shipping under the American fag, which had cost its owners, on an aver not more than $30 or $35 perton, waa solid ‘to Euro nations for gold at almost an ae Fate of $60 per ton. Was then brougat home and sold for currency when it was worth from $180 to $2 or an averege of two for one, and tits ‘Was invest in government bonds bearing six per cent interest in gold, so that upon the imal in vestment in the ships sold they are now receiving an interest of from twenty to twenty-four per cent Per annum. Ships in the most prosperous times Farely uct their owners more than from eight to ten per cent per annum; hence ft ts not Hkely that the heretofore engaged in that branch, and Which now ylelda double and treble that interest, ‘Will again seek investment in its former ciannel— certainly not while the staguation in al branches makes #0 litile demand for shipping. took piace amoug th TWINK MAKERS, ‘who were far from gaining oven a nominal access, as they resumed work at actually reduced wages, with the additional misfortune of finding less demand for their services and some unabie to obtain work at all. ‘Their strike was (isastrons, na it ruined some of the Manufacturers, While others, who contemplated @ reduction fa their operations in consequence of the h es for homp, fax and cotton, avaied them- ives of the opportunity and closed thelr eatablish- ments. ‘The number of operatives in this branch is Mot very large, and probably more than halt find oc- cupation. The Another strike SHOEMARERS, from all that can be ascertained, seem to have beon more fortiinate, ‘The falling of in this branch of trade, though partial, jas not been 80 great as in others, and wut few of this class of workmen are out Of empioymont, With them may be included the COOPERS, Who report throtgh their committees “full work, Tull Wages and no strikes." And the SLATE ROOF ENE ‘ere also enjoying full society Waser Of $4.50 per day, NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JA though of late there has been one strike, and they no'ity atl of their clags outside of the jurisdiction of thetr society to avoid the employment of the parties agulpat whom they are mete This shows that there aye some of this sieee out work, And the PLUMB: are, indeed, very bine, a3 there is for less work in ‘this branch than asual. There are no new contracts beiag made, and only the extra skilled hands are re- tained in the shops, Large numbers of work- men are around seeking odd jo! ‘The HOUSE CARPENTERS, like. al] other operatives in the various branches of the building trade, are matensng for want of employ- ment, a very large majority being out of work, and applications by scores are made wherever the sound of the hammer or saw is heard, all ocing wilting to accept occupation upon any terms. Among the MARBLE CUTTERS, however, the reverse is the rule, Of all the trades this is doing by far the most active cusiness. They have wany old unfinished contracts and the dim- culty with them consists not in the want of work, but to find skilled workmen. Among the other trades, such as the . BAKERS, BARBERS, HARNESS MAKERS, SADDLERS, TAILORS, TRUNKMAKERS, HATTERS AND UPHOL- STERERS, the one general rule holds Syne All ene panning: through a season of trial an gene Wit! all there has been @ great falling off in business as compared with former years; and whereas in ordi- nary times this claas of laborers earn sums of from fifteen dollars to forty dollars per week (the average ran, between eighteen dollars and twenty dol- lars), large numbers of them are Scie nothing at all, and many at different periods of the past year were glad to be employed at even greatly reduced wages, The records of the various BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES, of which there are in New York and Brooklyn more than one hundred, show that curing the past year their resources have been unusually taxed, and that vastly larger sums have been expendecthan for many preceding years, At present no accurate esti- mate of the amount can be made, as their several annual accounts have not been completed; but we have been repeatedly assured tnat |; has arisen from 4 course pursued during the summer and fall by e be PROTECTIVE UNIONS. The objects of all these societies are undoubtedly good, nor can their intentions be for amoment ques- tioned. They are one and all actuated by the same motive-to secure uniform and justiy fair remumera- tion for their services. But in their efforts to enforce tuis uniformity aud equalization, being composed of fallible men, it may very reasonably be considered whether at times the end justifies the means. When employers endeavor to advantage of the neces- sities of the employed, and use their capital and other means to reap enormous profits without giving a guid pro quo, the employed would be just by united action to compel a just hig Oa But be- fore such united action is taken the whole subject should be considered carefully and a positive cer- tainty .ttained that the motive and cause existed. Imaginary grievances almost invariably inflame the human pi ons to a greater extent than real ones; and tt is also equally certein that all associations of men ere controlled, swayed aud led more frequently by the few than the many. All men are prone to view matters in which they are personally interested from their own standpoints, and too peda though not intentionally, overlook the force of the age ments or circumstances of those opposed, to that in- terest. When those wno compose the few and com- mand the influence to sway the mass are so unfor- tunate as to have Cet ah po thus clouded, their yery efforts to exercise that sway blind them toa thousand circumstances and prevent as compre- hensive a consideration of the proper course of action as otherwise they might take. It is not asserted that the course adopted by the different associations last summer in making their strikes was the result of aroused passions and over- heated imaginations on the part of the leaders of them, Their consultations may have been of the most dispassionate character and determined by reasons of overwhelming weight. We are fain to believe that ic was 80, or at least that they believed 90; but we must be excused if we cannot concede an equa! faith in the result nor remove a fear that the action was precipitate and inconsiderate. If cor- rectly informed, the sum expended by the various unions In maintaining their strikes was, in the ag- gate, several millions of doilars—we have heard jt estimated at between $5,000,000 and $6,000,000— and when the opposition was over and their terms in whole or in part acceded to they found them- selves in a worse plight than before, for many, very many, then found they had destroyed the sources from whence they derived emptoyment, and that the compulsory argument to pay society wages was a myth and alarce, .or there was no work to be given and no wages of any kind to be earned. “Ican get nothing to do,” is the mournful cry heard from the majority of the working classes. ican give you no employment; trade is too dull to increase my force,” says the manufacturer. ** Busi- ness is r—very poor,” says the small merchant and retail dealer. All of these had something for youtodo and might have continued to struggle against the pressure of the times without discharg- mg you from their employ, -put you voluntarily separated and demanded and endeavored to force from them what they were unable to give, snd in the attempt you tanght them that they could do without most.of you—that, indeed, your action was inadvertently the best pos- sible measure for their interest; ft enabled most to close up their business with but a partial loss, while it forced others to do so with heavy loss, and not a few turuin, Some continue ty carry on their usual business, but, as you too well know, upon a vastly reduced acale, with no immediate prospect or urgent desire to enlarge it. Lavor, like trade, is wholly regulated by the supply and demand. When the latter is great and the former msuMcient, better wages can with propriety be demanded, and will cheersully be given; but when the reverse prevails Wages must (all, unless the general activity in busi- ness justifies an enlargement of establishments. It is an exceedingly hazardous measure to attempt a forced change at times of depression; and the his- tory of almost all such movements proves th the result is eventually an injury insiead of a benefit to those who hcg: oe it—generally ruinous to both parties. That the movements of the trades untons past year have not resulted advantageously we think admits of no denial. We have licard of no bvenedit that has acerned from any of them, while we have heard of much injury inflicted. IN THE MACHINE SOPs there is still some little acuvity, though the force employed at present ts smaller than at some seasons during the year, and none of them are belag worked beyond # third or one-half of their capacity. The character of work upon which they are now engaged consists chiefly of architectural castings, @ few uncompleted contracts for steam engines, one or two gasometers for coim- yes and some tron work for bridges and railroad epots. Jn all there are some eighteen or twenty of these estanlishmenis, employing in the aggregate ber en 3,500 and 4,000 workmen, of whom about two-thirds are mechantcs, the balance being made up of helpers, clerks, cartmen, &c. These tronworks are capable of furnishing employment to between 10,000 and 12,000 abie hands, and on more than one The oecasion those numbers have been reached. wages are very uniform, ranging from $2 50 to per day, according to the rating of the workman, as first class, good, or indifferent. In comparison witit thetr capacity and the amount of work formerly exe- cuted in these extensive establishments, What being turned out might be termed jasigy ) is gratifying to know that there is a greater degree of cheerfulness and hope in the prospects of the fature to be found in them than to any other places of industry we have visited about the city. TUE SAVINGS BANKS do not indicate as great a degree of destitution as we had apticipaiod. Tue exact amount of Veposite oud withdrawals during the year cannot be given with accuracy at present, as the annual statements are not yet prepared; but from our visit to several of them we draw the conclusion that the deposits are greatly in excess, and equal if they do not ex- ceed those of any preceding year, In some of them there has veen a falling of, but tn the majority the deposits have increased largely. In one bank alone the increase has amounted to $1,250,000, Why tots is so it is diMcnit to expiain, Dut it may arise from the deposits having been made by other than the strictly laboring a or were suficientiy large in the earlicr months of the ong counte: ee ree comune i tine later mouths, for in some jarger banks there was a decided defictency during the months of November and December as compared with the ing months of the preceding year. Stili we were sur- prised to find that there wes not ® larger deticiency, the idea and than withdraw the sums benefit of their children, hi some additional discomforts by parting ® portion of their personal ettects as possible bg with hope sae even te of the Susure be pro. juce @ more satisfactory state of affairs, and thereb; be enabled to recover or replace them. With thin idea ia mind we turned our /ootsteps towards the abops and rooms of the PAWNDROKERS, ond of these domiciies of “my uncle” there exist over two hundred, which are to be foand tn all parte | of the city. are geveraliy indicated by the fign of three golden balls and extern Wear an ry. Stand but a few minui in the oir of myster vicinity of one of these signs and observe the actions of the visitors, aud to one unacqoainted with the business transacted withia the impression Mnavordable that those who enter and di are en- gaged in what they arc most sensitively anxious whould be shrouded in darkness. One and all wear an air of conscious guilt, they look feared detection, and and uct as though they in every ten will pony @ quick, anxious and questioning glance, and hurry past with averted face to avoid recognition. Enter and observe What transpires there. — You then learn that the shrouded figures seen outside corey as many grades in the social ecale as there are various bod of pH bead men and Fa men, old women and young maidens, boys and girls, strong and the weak, the healt bpd the ick, the virtnous and the abandoned, the unfortunate and the Procite, the honest and the guilty—ail, how- ever, for the time being, engaged in the game occu- pation and actuated by the same motive—to make & deposit of some worldly goods and to obtain there- for aa bed @ sum Of ready the Judginent of the proprietor may deem It safe to in- vest in it, There is no ining, at least none that can jistly be so called; for the broker examines critically each article and his own estimate upon it, and, being a shrewd judge of human character, @ rapid glance te suMictont to form an opinion as to the probabilities of ite being re- deemed or of iytug Upon tits shelves until the in- terest on the money loaned makes it mw wary wo fell it, He then imakes an offer to end Ko much—an finount seldom exceeding the tenth of its value- and the party must OF fo without. Most touch jug appeals are oftea made for a litue more; bul this is too old a story to make much impression, and there are too many calls upon his time to waste 1. He promptly says, “It ls all l can give.” This ends the transaction, for it is almost invariably ac- cepted, though occasionally the article is carried away to be presented at some other counter. To the eredit of the broker it must be said that Lis heart 18 not, however, all of stone, and he will sometimes de- jate his rule and lend an additional amount, though never exceed! the fourth part of the arti- cle’s Value, When your turn comes around to re- ceive his attention he tells you m a few pointed words that his business is “unusually dull,” aud ex- oe that he has loaned out a mucit r capital luring the past two months than is generally needed, and he will suifer a loss unless he disposes of his accumulations, which he is loth to do, as the things are of more value to their owners than he can sell them for, and he would prefer to keep them for redemption as long as there was a hope of their doing so, You remark that from what you have observed you would infer that business was brisk. He at once tells you, “Brisk in le! » yes; but not in profits; pawnbroking is 0} profttable when money is plenty, wages high, the borrowers re- deem’ their deposits within a reasonable time; our capital is then turned over repeatedty, and the small interests pay better than the amounts we re- ceive by Keeping and selling.” He also tells you that “ne is lending a smaller percentage upon the value of the articles now than generally, because he knows that the greater part of the articles now pawned will not be redeemed.” The shelves of his storeroom and shop are loaded with as heterogene- US & Mass as it 1s possible to conceive, and he tells zou, that “there is se an article used ie man- md that a sample of it does not lie at some time upon them.” This is the case with that class of pawnbrokers whose establishments are, a3 we have said, indicated by “three golden bails;’’ but it may astonish some to learn that these are not the only establishments of the kind—in fact, that they are as various in degree as the business places of any other branch. You find them with signs and without signs; some into which any one {s at liberty to enter and others where you have to be introduced and vouched for; some with the displayed for sale, others where no goods are visible; some & bare ice, with a single desk and but one occupant; others with the whole range of rooms on a ficor, filled with desks, clerks and numerous iron chests, | and small; some in dark alleys and out-of-the-way places, shunning the light of day, and others on the principal thorough- fares, several on Broadway. The class of business, the class of patrons and the amount of capital employed in them is, of course, equally a3 various. It is estl- mated that the amount of business transacted in pe fondness im the Mahe oe year Soule in the aggregate be represen’ yy a figure vastly exceeding $100,¢00,000%" that their patrons are of every degree in the social scale, and that the cash capital is itself many millions. Whether they are a blessing or a curse it is impossible to determine, from the imperfect data that can be collected re- garding them. That they relieve much distress and ‘want cannot be denied, but that they are productive of great evil and encourage much rascality is equally trae. While all this indicates a lamentable condition of things in the large cities, the published facts of the past year prove conclusive that in the far West and throughout the Southern States there is a great demand for labor, and that the demand is not con- © fined to a particular class, although the agricultural predominates. ‘To meet this demand we visited CASTLE GARDEN to learn what was being done, and with pleasure we ee @ brief account of the information obtained, ‘hrough the efforts of the Commissioners of Emi- ration there have been introduced into the country ough the port of New York, during the year 1368, over 218,000 persons, inst 242,000 during the pre- ceding year of 1867, making @ difference of 29,000 in favor of 1867. These have been distributed through- States of the Union, ew York and than all the other States together, over 34,000; Vennsylvania and Wisconsin nearly 17,000 each; Ohio over 11,000; Massachusetts, Michi- gan and Missouri, each about 7,000; Caltformia, Con- necticut and Utah, each about 4,002; and the other States numbers varying from 10 fo 2,000, none of the Southern States receiving more than a few jiun- dred, except Maryland, which took 1,604. Through the efforts of the Labor Exchange employ- ment was procured for about 30,000 of the emigrants, 18,000 being males and 12,000 females, about 4,000 being mechanics aud 14,000 agriculturists and common laborers. Those empioyed belonged to fifteen different nationalities, the larger proportion being — Irish and Scotch, and the next being Germans and Swiss. Over two-thirds mid read and write, and of these a majority were tolerably weil educated. The prices obtained for unskilled labor ratsed at differ- ent seasons of the y ranging from $10 to $24 per month with board, Skilled labor was enabied to make its own terms and ranged much higher. The number of applications for employment exceeded the number employed by several thousands, though there were on liand orders for several thousaud em- ployés more than were supplied, which discrepency arose from the mability to turish the character of labor wanted. Of the 215,000 emigrants landed, about 120,000 came from rmany; 30,009 from Eng- land; 47,500 from Ireland; 14,500 from Sweden; 7,000 from Scotland: 3,000 from France; 3,500 from Switz- erland, and 6,400 irom other countries. Thus is certainiy a very gvatl{yimg result, and, ina country developing so rapidly a8 ours, Is a supply that 14 indispensible and is worthy of every en- coaragement. But there is one featare in this in- formation that sliould not be passed over in silence— the small proportion that go to the Southern States. ‘We are assured that it arises from no repugnance to the climate, nor from any want of the labor. Orders from nearly every one of those States have been re- ceived for large numbers, but it is with the greatest possible ditficulty the emigrants can be persuaded to go there. Many of the few who did 0, soon returned in the most destitute condition, preferring to suffer all the rigors of @ Northern climate and the pains of want rather than remain there. From these it is learned that they become dissatistied and melancholy there, because they are not treated with that degree of respect and consider- ation that as freemen they feel entitled to. They gay that they are lodged in miserable dirty huts, formerly built for and occupied by tae negro slaves, and fed as the negroes were, upon corn bread, bacon and molasses; that there is no variety in their pro- visions, and that simply because they are laborers they are looked upon and treated with utter con- tempt; that having been accustomed through life to wheatbread and vegetable diet, the change soon pro- duces sickness, weakness and di gener in % word, that labor is not respected nor properly treated, and they cannot stay. These statements re- peated to new comers by those who have been there and returned, cannot fait to have an unfavor- able influence and deter others from going. We fear there is too mach truth in all this; that old feeling of ‘poor dirty white trash,” so prevalen* through the South some years gone by, has not yet mn eradicated; we have in oiden times heard It m the ilps of the negroes themselves, and we doubt not that many of them repeat the expression with even more bitterness and point now than formerly. We had hoped that the experience of the past three years had taught the Southern people the absolute necessity of encourag- lug white labor among tham, as it was found so utterly Impossible to utilize that he freedmen. Itisalesson they must tearn, however galling to a false pride, and the sooner the better. We do not believe that this fecling prevails among the better educated and reflecting Southerners, ont tat it does among a majority we fear is too true. They need the white laborer and must have him, and he is willing to go, but not until proper measures are taken to make his home comfortable, and even attractive, and he must be made to feel that he is in reality respected and regarded as an American citizen. ‘The class that have heretofore Cys South, however, were of the very poorest of he emigrants, and oft times many disposed to go of & better class are unable to do so. There is but one way to overcome the difficulty, and that is to adopt the system now being successfully carried out in some parts of Sonth Carolina. Let those who want the Jabor subscribe a sufficient sum to defray the expenses of transportation and supply the laborer with indispensible comforts, ap- agent of respectability, who speaks joint an frei \ and understands their habits, cus- toms and wants, and whose duty it slall be to see that these are carefully looked after and respected, and let him come to New York and select the class he wants, take them to their destination and remain with them or where ean communicate with him, 80 as to act as them and their employers. ‘! yum \s to the account of the laborer and to be in small monthly deductions irom their a obiain the ined, e liqal Wages, Thus, and thus only, labor, and thus only can it be Tie Hint, TRaGepyY IN PHUADELPIIA—A rumor has been rather extensively clroulated that Dr. Rich- ard J. Levis, an important witness in the Twitchell trial, had mace a statement to the effect that he had received authentic tinformation tiat George S. Twiteheli, Jr., was abont to make # full ond formal confession of the murder of Mrs, Mat Ke Hil, and that he (twitebell) had contemplated the murder a week before the date of br oy . On making inquiry we learn that there ts not the least foundation for the story, Dr. Levis never having said anything publicly in relation to Twitchell since the trial, and he hat no mnowledgs whatever of any intended confession of Twitchell. ‘The convicted man remains in iris cell at Moyamen- |, Sing prison, and maintains # calm, undisturbed ex- terior, and will admit no visitors whatever exc his counsel, relatives and itual adviser, The vi its of the latier are quite juent, and he always receives a cordial welcome from ‘Twitenell, and con- verses freely with him. He is sabdaed and tractable in manner and Ca] and still resolutely maintains that he is innocent of the terrible crime for the per- petration of which he atands comvicted,—Pnilalel- phia Inquirer, Jan, & Meeting OF Stare Prison INsrRcToRS.—The Board of inspectors of State Prisons held & meeting at Sing ph Thursday afternoon. Mossrs. MeNev, Scheu and Liammond were present. There were numerous Applicants for the several positions, The follow- Ing appointments were made:—Clerk of Sing Sing Prison, Casper ©. bg dr., of Youkers, to take effect Fobraary 1. Rev. i. L.’schoonmaker, of Rot. rdam, Schenec' county, was int chaplain; Dr. Collings, of clan; Mr. Hyland, Sing Sing, storekeeper. Twenty-five keepet and nineteen guards at Sing Siug Prison were removed and their places supplied by democrats from various iris Of the Hrate, © assistant matrons for the ‘enale prison at Sing Sing were also appointed. Rev. David A. Shepard, from Tloga county was appointe chaplain at the Auburn Prison, i piace of B. t. Ives; born, Was appointed keeper in F he Board adjourned to meet at Prion on Monday, the Lith tnat— Albany n, Jan, % ASiOUNDING RAILROAD OPERATIONS. Another Chapter of Stupendous Fraade—Onee Third of the Public Domain Given to Raile road Speculators. (Washington (Jan. 5) ag tans aid of the Cincin- nal ‘The subject of the great railroad frauds grows at every attempt to ascertain its limits, and it is only by investigating one scheme after another that the full rounded infamy begins to appear. THe SIOUX CITY BRANCH. ‘There was a c'ause in the origina! Pacific Railroad bill which required the Union Pacific Railroad Com- pany to construct # branch Sioux City to con- nect with their main road by the ‘nearest and most practicable route.” ‘The road thus provided for would, If any attention had been paid tothe !aw authorizing it, have been bulit from a point on the alissouri river, 0) ite Sloux City, in a direction almost exactly southwest to Columbna, in Nebraska, ou the main stem, a dis- tance of ninety ix miles. Instead of doing this, however, the road was built down the rich and level bottomyof the Mis- sourt, in a direction considerably east of south, and for sixty-eight miles of this distance, at the end of each successive mile, the track jayers were further from the Pacific ocean than when they began, and at the sixty-elghth mile were twenty miles further east than the meridian o1 Sioux City, Then turning west- ward and crossing the Missourt thirty miles above Omaha, te line stnkea the main stem at Fremont, making the branch thus built 100 miles m length, and its terminus at this poimtof junction only six miles nearer the Pacific ocean than the point where its first rail was laid. And for this road lying amost wholly in the State of lowa, in no sense a Pacific road, and im almost all senses a private one, bo) by way of govern- ment subsidy have been issued by the Secretary of the Treasury at the rate of about $16,000 per mile, and lands have been certified by the Secretary of the Interlor at the rate of 12,800 acres per mile, and by legisiation already perfected this branch, thus con- structed in violation of law, is regularly recelving its proportion of these subsidies, and claims the whole, namely, $1,600,000 and 1,280,000 acres of land. BURLINGTON AND MISSOURI RIVER EXTENSION, By the amended Pacific Railroad act of 1864 cer- tain Iowa parties secured an amendment authorizing this company to extend its line from a point on the Missouri river, maer Nebraska Ciiy, west- ward, to a point mear Fort Kearny, orany point east of the hundredth meridian, The distance was about 150 miles, and the land grant 12,800 acres per mile. Here Mr. Secretary Harlan step} in and withdrew from public sale not only all the lands south of this road to the Nebraska line, but went over into Kansas and withdrew all the Jands down to those which Senator Pomeroy’s com- pany had already received. Between these two gen- jemen and ther friends, a tract large enough for a very respectable State came near passing Into the hands of a few Individuals. But the Kafsas Legis- lature and the Kansas delegation in the House made such an exposttion of the transaction as to compel Secretary Harlan, in self-defence, to restore the Kansas lands to the market. THE SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOSE BRANCH. All the irregularities connected with this branch system have Dot been upon the eastern end of these roads. Under the original Pacitic Railroad act the Centra) Pacific Kailroad of Calitornia was authorized to construct a road either from San Francisco or the navigable waters of the Sacramento river to the eastern boundary of California. The company se- lected Sacramento City as their pomt of departure. Subsequently, however, another company, char- tered by the Siate, claiming to have an assignment from the iirst company, proceeded to build a road from Sacramento via Stockton to Sau José, a point not ca the Pacific coast. ‘The line was 120 miles long and it received a subsidy of $1,920,000 and a la it of land besides, e facts as given above In the case of these two branch roads were charged on the noor of the House in March last by ae ©. C. Washburn, of Wisconsin, and not de- LEAVENWORTH, LAWRENCE AND GALVESTON ROAD. ‘This is one of the rotten Kansas swindles, It runs from Leavenworth soutiwardly through the eastern portion of the State, and of course through some of .ts richest lauds. ‘This latter feature is a peculiarity of these latter-lay roads. At the East, Where companies pay for their lands, they run their roads as far as possibie over Lie poor lands, but at the West the reverse 1s true. ‘The companies do not pay, but become wealthy by selecting the richest lands. The portion of this road which lies in Kansas is 150 miles long, and the cost of building tais will not average over $20,000 per mile. This road las already received the following ment has granted tt 400,000 acres of excelient laad, the State o1 Kansas has given 125,000 acres and the counties (hrough which it passes have issued it their bonds to the amount of $900,000, ‘This company, in the person of a representative, is now before the Seuate urging the ratification of a treaty, known as the Osage treaty, which enables this Company to buy 6,000,000 acres of land at nine- teen cents per acre, the payment having fifteen years toran. These iands have becn variously estimated be good judges, who were all acquainted with the tract, as worth from $5,090,000 to $12,000,000. The whole atlair has been from its inception a gigantic plundering scheme, and Senators have been in it, are in it still, aud it ms said that one has de- ciared that some time When the Senate was tired and inost had gone to dinner he wouid get it through. The treaty for these lauds was negotiated by a commission sent out from this city. It ig understood that the treaty was drawn here in advance. The removal of the Indians was secured by threats. in the speech made to tie In- dians on the subject, by Commissioner Taylor, on the 23d of June last, he atened the Indians with the displeasure of the government and a with- drawal of provisions if they did not agree to the treaty. Colonel Murphy, Ingian Superintendent, and one of the commission promised to make between the Osages and their enemies on the plains, if they would sfga, but if not, nothing should be done for then. Coloncl Boone, another commissioner, told them they could choose between the treaty and fighting the Plain Indians. As already stated, this treaty, thus secure: pending before the Senate of the United States; and although its aitention has been repeatedly calied io its character. 1¢ has not been rejected. THE CHEROKEE NEUTRAL LAND JOB. ‘This is, m Its main features, @ republican ventare. Mr, Secretary Harlan was the principal oAicial actor. The treaty regarding these landa provided tiat he might seli them in a body at nos less than one dollar per acre and for cash. He sold to @ company called the Connecticut Wmigrant Company, which was in reality an lowa company, in which his friends, at least, were largely interested, Instead of selling for cash, he, in violation of law, sold the tract of $00,000 acres on tiie, requiring only $25,000 as a The sale was disputed and the Attor- first payment. ney General decided that the whole affair was illegal. Here it rested till a supple mental treaty could be worked through the Scnaie, authorizmg # sale on time. The lands were then sold by senator Browning, without adver- tising, to James P. doy, a very prominent Western rai road man here, acting for the Kansas and Neosho Valley Company, for one dollar per acre, he agreeing wiih ihe Connecticut Company to pay back the $26,000 they had deposited tn the Treasury on their bogus purchase. So far as those tn official position are concerned, the chief responsibility for this trans- action rests direetly upon Senator Harlan. Leaving entirely out of View the lowa feature of the so-called Connect Company, and the circies of his friends who were enriched, the mildest aspect which can be pul upon it is that the Attorney General deciied the operation to be outside the bounds of iaw. Even the final sale to Joy by Senator Browning was wiil- out advertising, as appears from a report he sent to Con; where he is obliged to admit that he oniy “authorized an unofficial statement to be made in newspapers” that proposals would be re- ceived tila cersain day. At that tine Joy was the only one Offering to buy, and so he got ihe lands—as was intended, senator Pomeroy was suilicientty in- erested in this same Kansas and Neosho Valley road to Introduce and attempt to pass a bill granting it 12,800 acres Of laud per mile for about 100 wiles. GRAND TOTALS OF LAND GRANTS. Congress up to March last had granted in all to various Western and Southern States over 57,000,000 acres of lands for railroad purposes, It has besides, over 17,000,000 acres to canals aud similar improvements. The Pacitic ratiroads aud branches have received 124,000,000 acres, and if to this ts udded the even nambered sections along these routes, which the Secretary of the Interior decided to be closed for settlement, it wili appear tha! nearly one- tuird of the entire public domain has been made over to control of railroad companies, “The quantity of lands conveyed #y these Grants,” says the Cotamissioner of the General Land office, “is of empire extent, exceeding in the wate by more than five millions of acres the entire areas of the six New Bogiand states, added to the surface of New York, New Jersey, lennsylvanta, Ohio, Dela- ware, Maryland and Virginia.” ‘Hie says the grants to the Pacific railway lives alone “are within about a fourth of being twice the untted area of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Guernaey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and the islands of the British ‘seas, and less than a tenth of being equal to ihe Preach empire Oper. sf in 1860 and 1861 the government sold 254,000 acres of Delaware lands w the Leavenworth, Pawnee and Western road. In 1866 it sold 94,000 acres of Delaware lands to the Missouri river toad, and in 1869 it disposed of 278,200 acres to only tuirty six purchasers. Ainong them were the following:—Mr. McCulloch, 7,014 acres; Perry Fuller & Mol 39,058 acrés; John MeManns, 142,015 acres; Rovert 8. Stevens, 61,089 acres, and so on. ‘ In 1965, Senator Pomeroy being then President and and one of the principal owners uf the Atchison and Pike's Peak Railroad Company, a treaty was carried through the Senate by which this road purchased a acres of as rich lands as there are in Kansas. ‘The above facts and res were brought to the notice of the House by Mr. Julian, chairman of the Lay tA i ere oe last, and Mr. Clarke, of Kansas, has given testimony upon most of the points involved in the attempted Osage and the completed Cherokee swindies. These things are in t similar ae iy as extensive =) jay ag Congress, in pushing them larger aud more fafuential than ever before. MURDER IN Norte Carouin. Squire Jones, residing in the wu ampton county, shot a colored some ten days ago, from the effects of which the boy has since died. Tue boy, some thirteen or fourteen yeara of age, lin- gered some days, and when death Kindly put an end 0 his sufferings he was quietly buried, and remained several days in his grave before the coroner, Who re- sides in a distant portion of the county, was notifed of the occurrence. We that Jones has left the State.Aaleicn (N. C.) Sandurd, Jan. 7, But handreds of NUARY .10, 1869.—TRIPLE SHEET. MADISON AVENUE. The Residences and Those Whe Occupy Them—Fine Houses and Wealthy Resi- dents—Descriptions of the Houses. Fashion seems to be as powerful as she 13 capri- cious, and the effects of her power may be seen in ail directions. Not only does the fickle dame take charge of the costumes of the sons and daughters of men, by her flat authorizing this to be worm and forbidding that to ve placed upon the human anatomy; not only does she pronounce such @ style of dress to be the “thing” for ladies or for gentlemen, but she has also prescribed @ certain style of architecture arid a certain kind of substance as the most correct for use in the erection of the residences of the wealthy in this city. One of the first things which strikes a visitor to New York a8 he walks through the leading uptown streets and avenues is the wonderful unt- formity which is to be seen in the style and con- struction of the residences which are secn on either side. Inno other city m the world is this generals similarity between buildings 80 noticeable, and hence few cities can boast of such imposing looking blocks as can the Empire City, To give any detailed de- Seription of the residences which are to be found on our more aristocratic thoroughfares is therefore a work of some difficulty, as a description of one will generally apply to some scores of houses in the same vicinity. As @ rule brown stone is the matertal used in the fronts, either entirely or in the shape of trimmings to red brick work. The doors are ap- proached by high stoops, and handsome porches surround the entrance. The most noticeable feature in these uptown residences of the weaithier class in this city is their substantial apperrance. While it might be pleasant to the eye to see a littie more variety in style, itis better far to have this unifor- mity with substantiality than to have variety with a number of different designs and materials, convey- ing to the eyes @ sense of “gingerbreadness” and trumpery. The uptown streets and avenues are, a8 everybody knows, full of the residences of the well- to-do class among us, but very few persons know the precise spot at which the houses of prominent citizens can be found, ex- cept so much as may be expressed in the general term “uptown.” It is to give this sort of information that it is proposed to mention be- necth the numbers of the dwellings in Madison ave- which well known persons live, and also to give a brief description of the exterior appearance of such residences, MADISON AVENUE. ‘There seems to have existed for a long time a sort of rivalry between Fifth avenue and Madison, and, although the former is acknowledged geucrally as “par excellence” the aristocratic thoroughfare of the city, there are still some residents upon the latter who have not yet been brought to tuat conclusion. However the case may stand s3 between them, one thing 1s certain, and that , that Madison avenue is one of the most stylish o! the uptown streets. te whole length froin its commencement at Twenty-third street to its ter- mination at Forty-second street, both sides are crowded with magnificent mansions, some of them very large, and many almost atial in their exquisite internal fittings. These houses are many of them inhabited by our wealthiest families, and also by members of the good old houses who have done so much to make New York city what it is to-day. Madison avenue is much more quiet than Fifth ave- nue in the sense of traMec; those who love retire- ment, therefore, prefer it, while those who prefer to see a Constant cavalcade of carriages and “des- trians passing to or fro vote 1t “slow.” It is not, like Fifth avenue, one of the great arteries which provides for the ebb and fow of the haman stream to or from the Park, but lies between two of these, and escapes consequently from any nuisance-—if any there be—arising from constant trasic. [ft has, however, a stream of passing carriages peculiar to itself, Any fine afternoon a passer up or down can see a host of vehicles, of ail sorts and sizes, ranged up in front of the noble houses, watting to take on precious human loads. Valuabie borses paw the earth and impatiently champ their bits, anxious to move away; sturdy coachmen sit like statues on their high box-seats, handsomely mounted harness sparkles in the sunligit, obsequious footmen opea aud close doors and fay and bow, and lovely women and galiant men take their seats upon the downy cushions and rattle down the avenue in their brigat and easy carriages. Just now several new honses are being erected on this thoronghfare, and it is said that properiy along it is steadily increasing In value. Between Thurty- fourth and Thirty-fiith streets two resideices are in course of erection which, when completed, will be An ornament to the avenue; and at the corner of ‘Twenty-eighih street a large house is rapidly ap- proaciing completion, THE RESIDENCES. To give anything like a complete list of the many noble residences on Madison avenue would be au utter impossibility, and to give @ detailed deserip- tion of any of them would make “such ai article as this cxneamieay tedious. The tollow- ing will give a fair idea of the avenue, both as to the houses and the class of citizens who inhabit them. Commencing at Twenty-third street, where, by the by, the avenne forms part of Madison square, the first residence which attracts attention is No, 1, a brown stone double house, oecupied Mr. 8. M. Barlow, the broker. This house is is fine one, with high stoop and a very porch, and has a remarkably substantia! appear- The block between Twenty-third and Twenty- fourth streets is a very fine one, brown stone fronts and high stoops, pUastered windows aud elegant porches. At the corner of Twenty-sixth street stands the Union League Club House, one of the most hand- some structures in the city. Although 1 is not a residence any account of Madison avenue would be incomplete without mention of It, ‘The passer by can- not but be attracted by the pecuilarity of its style of structure, its white marble front ani handsome Italian verandah, causing the most unobservant to cast a glance upon the stractare, Between Twenty-ninth and ‘Thirtieth streets are some very fine brown stown houses, similar in design to the majority on both sides of the avenue. No. 19 ts the residence of Mr. W. K. Travers, aud is a Very substantial-looking brown stoue house, with high stoop, four stories high. No. 65, the residence of Dr. Noyes, is a ved brick dwelling, with brown stone relic. between Thirty-titrd and Tuirty-fourth streers, on the east side of the avenue, is one of Liew biocks taroughout its re tength. houses are, of course. brown stone, With very elaborate porches supported by pilasters and bt stoops. The wine dows are Manked oy pillars with carved capital Mrs. Provost occupies No, 70. Jt 1s & penutifal house. with a finely tinished eatrance of somewhat plain but massive structure. No. 71 18 the dwelting of Mr. N. J. Kortwrighi—the honse standing at the corner of Twenty-elgnth street. Its a fine residence, ‘bot net in any very marked par- ticular unlike the majority. Mr. Kortwright drives his horse and phaeton up and down the avenue. No. 75, aiso a fine stone house, is the residence of Dr. Barker. No. 7618 another brown stone mansion, weil fin- ished, plainly butt, with very high stoop and elegant doorway. tis occupied by Mr. Charies W. Durant, a gentleman who drives his own valuable team, whieh, lowever, are stabled out. No, 91 is oceupied by Mr. William Armstrong, who also has his horses and @ private stable. No. 101, anower plain, substantial, well finished house, is vecupied by Mr. John Armstrong, the brother of Mr. William Armstrong. No. 99, ocouy by Dr. Dalton, has no special fea- ture distinguishing it from we other residences in the neighborhood. Mr. William B. Tsham occupies No. 114, at the corner of -first sirect. The house is a four story one, with a wide and imposing entrance and a stoop higher than many of the dwellings on the avenue. Mr. Tshain k some good horses, which he boards at a livery stabl No. 12418 occupied by Mr. Richard J. Thorne, the president of a well known insurance company. = The house is of the usu: ight and appearance, with a very imposing entrarfee aud fine windows. ‘0. 127 is the house in which Mr. Joha Dore resides, It is a comfortable and substantial resideuce. Mr. Dore keeps a splendid team and has a large and con- venient stable near the house. 4 No. 120 is one of the finest houses on the avenue. It has a very wide and imposing entrance, unusual! high stoop and is finished with great elegance. it was formerly inhabited by Mr. Acker, one of the my ra of Mr, A, T. Stewart's business. No. 134, the residence of Mr. Wm. D, Stoane, the the carpet merchant, is & Log hn aa house, With the usual appearance, brown stone iin tise is the dwelling place of Mr. Geo 0, Lisi Is the dwelling or Ge Francts Tram. It is a substantial residence, of oy size than many surrounding ft. The exchange of a resting place iike this for such an one as Mr. Train has recently vccupled must bgve been very un- te , No. 142 ts occupied by Mrs. Devoe, widow of the late Mr. John Devoe. The house Is cleganvy dnished and is very substantial in appearance. Mra. D. bowis up and down tie avenue in her own rockaway behind @ horse of her own. No. 161 is the house in which Mr, A. J. Johnson, the lawyer, lives, and No. 165 is occupied by auotier ‘dimb of the law,” Mr. Gilbert Dean. Both these houses bear striking resembiance to the majority on the avenue, and are coméortablg, substantial resi- dences, Mr. Frederick Cossitt resides at No. 165, a very ele- gant four story, high stoop house, The building is iain but solid in Eppearaics, and to and from it ir. Cossitt goes in tems by an excels lent team. His horses are in @ livery stabie. No. 169, a very fine lookmg mansion, patterned after most of the brown stone houses, is inhabited by Mr. Kdward ©, Johnson, the merchant. No, 191 18 @ Very fine house, elegantly finished im the most approved My i yen a broad enivau a | fomewhat unusually high stoop and a her me | porch. It is invanited by Mr. Robe tay verant. No. 198 is the residence of Bis! wkey. The house is ft to be the restdenc tar), being An Clegaut yet soild building, approved style. ©. 203 i among the moat noticeable re ou the avenue. it ie bunk ta the centre uf tae tlences Wh, pished ia Line WORE | handsome stracture, some meer run of brown stone honsea, 80 igh as in many residences; the porch 18 very elegant. Mr. Win E. occupies it. At No. 206 resides Mr, E, A. Smith, the leather mer- chant. ‘The house 18 a very handsome one. Mr. Smith ts a lover of horses and rejoices in Beye session of four splendid antmais of the us equine. No, 207 is the residence of Mr, Isaac N. Phelps. the banker, and is similar to that occupied by Mr. W. KE. Dodge, Sr. Both houses are double houses, be- tween Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh strects. No, 211, a handsome house, of the General charac- ter, is inhabited by Mr. James Dater, t Gore and the next house, No. 213, as like it as may be, is inthe occupation of Mr, Josiah Howe, the merchant. Mr. Hanson K. Corning is also a resitent on be ncopie Semis, OOUDTINE © Yay stylish own jouse, with a very entrance an elegant front. The number beiod No. 229 is one of the finest houses on the avenue, elegantly appointed in every respect. It is built on the usual model, but rejoices ina rather elaborate doorway. Just now the house is empty, the oecu- pant, Mrs, Morgan, being in Europe. Mr. Charles E. Tiffany, the jeweller, occupies No. }, between Thirty-eighth and Thirty-ninth street The house is in ev sense @ fine one, elegantly |, Without ing over decorated, solid yet handsome. The entrance and the stoop are both very imposing, and the building generally has an air of substantiality. No. 265 is also a very fine residence, and was for- merly occupied by Mr. George A. Weeks. At No, 268 one of the ners in the firm of Jay, Cooke & Co. app and at No. 269, @ very tine house, Dr. Post ta at home, At No. 270 resides Mr. David Grosbeck. Tue house is a very elegant one, superior to many on the ave- nue in point of finish, but not differing materially from those already described. Nos. 271, 273 and 275 are occupied by members of the Thompson family, connected with bank note reporting. At the first number lives Mr. F. F. Thompson; at 275 his brother, Samuel Thoupson; the father, Mr. George Thompson, 0¢ wt NO, 273. All three of these houses are fine edifices, finished in the best style and with high stoop and wide en- and isa ent from The stoop Ia not trances. At No. 272, avery largeand convenient house, re- sides Miss Jay, 2 member of the old Jay family. The house fs a very solid and substantial one, aot differ- ing much from those in its vicinity, No. 276 is a new house just finishe some and finished in the most compile said that it has recently been boughc b at the price of $70,000, No. 280, one of a block of substantial brown stone houses with very high stoops and broad eutrances, is occupied by Mr. Cornelius Poilion. Tue residence is handsome but plain. No. 281 is another new house, certainly one of the finest on the avenue. It was bougiit last fail by ite resent occupier, Mr. J. B. Taylor. ‘Whe house ts e stories high, very solid, built in (he usual style for brown stone mansions. No. 283 is occupied by Mr. Livermore, and is also one of a block of handsome brown stoue houses. No. 284 is occupied by Mr. Charles A. Jackson, the lawyer; No. 286 by Mr. Charles Duggen, ihe builder and architect, and No. 288 by Mr. Thomas W. B. Hughes, the banker. These three hous:s form part of a block of elegant residences at the upper end of the avenue, near its termination at Forty-second street. very hand- le. It is gentleman THE ELECTION {From the Evening Telegram, Jan. 9.) For severai days past a Congresstona! committee has been in session In this city, investigating, or attempting to investigate, the frauds alic,ced to have taken place at the last State election. ‘Tac majority of the committee are republicans; of course, and probably for this reason their idea tas been that election frauds must be confined to the democratic ce and that bribery, corruption, repeatiag and us naturalization must be confined to the ranks of the unterriiied, This supposition has, however, pore asevere shock within the pa-t forty-eight ours. The princival agent of the committee for the col- lection of evidence has been United st Marshal Murray—a gentleman whose well kuown honesty, non-partisanship and disconnection wich. whiskey rings and revenne frauds render him a peculiariy desirable person to conduct and control an impartial investigation naving for its object the reform of al- leged abuses and violations of law, and whose high moral character make him eminovtly fit to select witnesses of unimpeachable virtue and integrity. The evidence collected by Marsha! Murray and taken by the committee has been secret, the doors having been carefully guarded by a of the Marshal's men; but yet certain portions of the rocecdings have leaked out, aud we have been m time to time favored with information that the developments were of @ most startling character; that the witnesses proved the most astounding and terrible frauds on the part of the sinfai democracy, and that the report of the committee, when made to Congress, would cause the worid to stand aghast. This has been the condition of aiiairs up to yester- day, and we have been prepared to find ait our lead- ing democrais in the city handcuffed and led to jail by a file of United States deputy marshals, to answer for their terribie offences against the jaws. But within the past forty-eight hours che aspect of affairs has undergone 2 remarkable change, and the facts po eee to be about as follows:—Some cight days information was received at the offices of the Shei and District Attorney that a namber of witnesses examined before the Congressional Committee were manipulated by a well known New York thtef, who hag recentiy found it desirabic to abseut himself from the city, and that before appearing to give their tes- timony vefure the committee they were taken over to Jersey City gy, injected to some prelimi ppg there. riher inquiry disctoeed the fect iat at the famous ‘Taylor's Hotel, reaowued in the history of the Eric war, and in the bir oricai room No. 18, was located a well known Washington detec- uve called Colonel Wood, and from certain tele- graphs aud communications that liad him and a distinguished noble ciuzen was surmised that the evidence iy committee was first subjected to the J) ‘These facts having ted to the suspict« sale manatactare of testimony was benefit of the majority of the commiticc, detailed from the Snerif’s office by orter of tre Due triet Attorney, and yesterday it Was found that some three or four witnesses taken before tle comuntiee were notorious English thieves, cou aericiters and burglars, and the fact was brought Co tie Kaowiledge ofthe committee, Some of these repuat able witnesses were marched down to t cinet station house, and were luuneditely recog. nized by Captain Jourdan, the ablest officer on the Metropolitan force, as professioua! thieves. It 18 rumored that the new “starting develop- ment” did not end here, but that some of the Mare shal’s crop-batre 1 British transfer avents, becoming alarmed jor tuefs liberty, volunteered the statement that they received a consideration of fifty dollars apiece tor the bie information regarding demo- cratic election frauds which ti #0 patrioucally ndered fo Ue investigating Comtolttee, There are aiso rumors afloat that FRAUDS. e SLA th pre- ac witness Who was catled before the cour was re- inetantly ce ed to furnish the nanes of par- ties who, he understood, conta furnish im- prtant imformation in regard to Marshal Murray's policy (or carrying an eet.on, and two others who swore to having Deen offered money by a promivent |.oyal Leaguer at the club house to make “Hite aMdavits for temporary purposes,” to the effect that they had cast “repeater votes for the democratic candidates in the recent election. eve developments have ocvasione! a ic the conumiftee mea, and It is ruuro: York and 1s amo: the committee has bad euough of Ne about to adjourn and try its luck in rural dis trict. They had better goto Peunsyivenia ti they need enlighieument tu regard to election Irands. ‘THE KEYSTONE STATE ON FiRc, A Great Snobterranenn ConflagrationBarn- jug of a Large Coal Field=The Finmes Still Sweeping Onward, {From the Loutsvilie Courier-Journal, Jon. 7.) Woe learn trom parties in whom we believe we may ce the Most implicit: confidence that a great con- jagration is now at the height of its pri celebrated Millar coal mu ongahe! river, at the mouth of the Youghiogheny, fifteen miles southeast of Pittsburg. The fire bezan some time since, and great eiforts have been made to ex- Unguish it, but tone purpose. An attempt to check ite flerce career was made by the erection of mud walls and the pumping tu of larve quanti and by this means the fire wes partiady bat the heat became so intense and the Gas 60 great Lhat the walls were burst, anc are now sweeping ines at tis tines at the rave of sixty yards feared Lie entire feld may be destroyed. Progress has been made by the Mama Chat it is est mated that the cost of extingaisilag (em before they have spread over a space of 1,00) acres will not be less than $150,000. Tweaty-iwo loaded wagons and ail tte tools of the miners have been lost thas far. ‘The Miller mines ate caried on by A. Miller & Co., of witch firm Mr. Charles Mi By beaten Amember. The er fhe ceping, is is great subterranean deluge of fre is aw 5 one of the most valuable on the Moaongahela and extends a distance of eurht or ten miles. it ts dim- cult to say whet will be the result of this under- eae conflagration if tt is uot checked very soon, herever a vein of cow! extends the fire muat follow it, and the whole bittsburg coal region may yet be endangered. Dearit or 4 War pity ham pall age Prax. orseo.—Some weeks sivee Captain Kadin, former: ee one y, fell into & vi st Panvrentar nuit ded. from the injuties received by his jail. Captain Kadin was @ aative of the Aleutian isiands, and was educated at St, Peters. the flames onward with greater force ‘The fire is spreading through the old r day, wnd it is So much burg. ie was for many years in the naval service of the Russian-American Fur Com- pan with the rank of captain, and resited ry ka. He Was employed some tine by the Hussiaw-\merican Telegraph Company, under tae commend of Coionel ©. Ss. huikley, atid mete seve. | Voyages in the Civerent vessels ciaployed In the Sinee that Ume i t Upon several vos-c!s belong Meat Pron his jamiltari:s witht ov uf his experion: equent!y tiie wen in the « or and had onerave aps, of wh Departy on a ‘epiain Kedia wae varied sud te funeral was largely ate vended. Wi gorda, Dee, 10