The New York Herald Newspaper, March 5, 1869, Page 8

THE GAS MONOPOLIES. nner Third Day of the Legislative Investigation ‘A Slight Matter of $2,000,000 Overlooked by the President of One Company-The State Meter Inspector On the Stand—Testi- mony of a Victim of the Monopolists, ‘The investigating committee on the gas question resumed operations yesterday morning, All the members were present except Wm. Weed. The maguest, as may be seen from the following testi- mony, Was sharp and severe and succeeded in elicit img several interesting and instructive points. James M. Halstead, one of the directors of the Hariem Gas Light Company, was the first witness called, Te was examined by Mr. La Bau and testi- fied as follows:-—I have been a director about three or four years; am thoroughly conversant with the dinances of the company, as I am a member of the Finance Committee and the accounts pass through my hands once every six months; the last accounting was in January; the profits were about eleven or twelve per cent; we have but 4,000 consumers, but our expenses are, I think, much less than those of other companies; 1 cannot state positively the cost of manufacturing gas, but I think it is about $1 50 per thousand feet; I am not able to state the average price of coal; we have com- pleted processes for cheapening the manufacture of gas, but I cannot describe the processes or how much the saving was; we have declared dividends during tue last year twice, five per cent each time; 1 tuink i was about the same the year previ- ous; I think the first year the dividend was about seven per cent; we have purchased some few additional lots to extend our the purchase was made out of the earnings of the company; the district of our company 1s alt the ad norch of Seventy-ninth street; the price of gas was reduced on January 1 from four dollars to three dollars and a half per 1,000; the stock of the company at the last sales was 195; the par value of the shares is fifty dollars each; the increased value of the stock, I think, arises from the increased value of the property belonging to the company; I ‘think the vaiue of the additional lots purchased last year was between $5,000 and $9,000. Charles Roome, President of the Manhattan Gas Company, being sworn and examined ty the chair- man, testified as follows:—Have been president since 1854; have been connected with the company some thirty years; We are working under the general law; had a charter, but gave it up two years ago because I believe that a gas company is really a public ser- d the management under the general law is nest taan under any charter; I do not know uy clause m the law to protect the consumer; nothing in the law that [I know of be asked or the price at is now $4,000,000; Legislature; I really ior; we have no e paid five per cent y When a dividend was nd durmg the past tour i per cent; previous to ) stockholders receive out of the profits; e except what was @ paid for out ido not kao e ck Was paid in; { do not think that ave been patd for out of the earn- of coal is fr apest co we © pounds in r, it will, of cour he tests are made ata some 30,090 const ap act wilich gives every gas company exact a deposit 1rom eve} pplicant ior gas, as secu- ayment of gas bills, at the rate of twice of & monti’s bill, for which futer- est is paid at the rate of seven per cent per annum; our meters are all stamped wits the State Inspector’s seal; we are not obliged to trust people the amount of 2 bill; we do not cut of the gas irom anybody without giving notice of our because the Legislature had no rigit to give any intention to do 80; the dividends are declared by the ‘wors; their names are Heury Young, ps, John J. Cisco, Samuel Sloane, Moses Istine, Jona R. Ludlow, Percy RK. the stockholders cali at the office ends; we have no surplus fund; 3 We ‘use We can make 10,000 feet from @ ton of coal; we are charging three dollars per thousand; we are satisiled that tarce dollars gives a good, fair profit; | am not connected with any other conipany; we charge the City fifty-tiree doliars per year for cach of the street lamps; we do not charge the consumer the United States tax or anv other c! cH wWhea the Legislature passed the law forbidding reot for meter we raised the price of government tax 1s incladed in the price minute book will show ali the divi- prodts of the company; when we gave up our charter certificates of indebtedness were given to the stockholders at the rate of about one-half of ‘ai, On Which we pay seven per cent interest, Mr. Mitchell, the chairman, put the question in regard to any extra dividends or extra profits having been paid to stockholders several times and in seve- ral didereut ways, but the witness persisted in Stating that there were no other methods, directly or indirectly, of income to the stockhoiders, until the cvunsel for the company, who was present, whispered to the witness, when he suddeniy remem- dered that there nad been this issue of certificates of indebtedness to stockholders, on which seven per cent interest Was j-ald. Exemined by Mr. La Bau—Our stock is $50 per ghare; the amount paid to stockholders last year ‘Was about $500,000 paid out of the profita, and in @ddition we paid seven per cent on the $2,000,000 of certificates of indebtedness; there has been no Startling improvement in gas manufacturing in my time; when we first commenced we made 80,000 or 000 feet of gas per day, now me make 100,000,000 . Der montit. Examined by Mr. Bergen—We have no privilege ‘which will bar any other company from o1 and furnishing gas in our district; gas has Icreased in cost since the war, consequent on the Icreesed ey of material and labor; before the war ‘we charged $2 50 per thousand. Q. Will you be pleased to state how it 1s your com- — can furoish gas at five cents on the hundred % iess than the other companies? A. I do not wish to interfere with any otuer company, but our company is satistied with the returns; | know that the power of our gas is jourieen candies; there is a Clause in the law obliging us to furnish gas to every @pplicant, but it does not state that we shail trust, and we, 10 seoure ourselves, demand the deposit; we have sometimes hundreds of changes in a day; our Geposits amount perhaps to $200,000, b ‘Litchell.—Lf @ person refuses to give a de- 0 give the ’ @ thing as bad debts d the story tor thirty years that gas bilis are higher when a small amount of gas 4s used than when a larger amount Is used, put | defy any person to demonstrate that fact, if it be fact: 1 mever yet saw a gas bill that was not too high; we only know what the meters state; our inspectors are ed to make an estimate of the amount ; the bookkeeper sometimes estimates he meter ceases to register; we have bad several cases where holes have punched in the metors and the gas stolen. By the Chairman—Where we find the value of the @mount of gas consumed is greater than the deposit, . a larger deposit: it will require more poor as than good gus to give good light; I cannot state Whether the poor gas would go through the meter and index faster than good gas. Joseph A. Savbaton, sworn and examined by Mr. Borge: { am engineer of the Manhattan have been in the busiuess twenty examination went into the merits of the meter used by the company and the photome- OD 1 tests made, but nothing was elicited further thau had been previously learned from the examina- tion of the other engineers and the cuemists who have been examined by the committee, In regard the matters connected with the Manhattan uas- light Company nothing of tmportance was learned further than given by the President of the company, the preceding witness, William yDavidsou, inspector of gas meters for the Biate of Ne York, eworn and examined by the Chairman—I am a dealer in gas fixtures, as well as belng inspector of meters; Iam at my place of busi Mess trou) balf-past eighitA. M. to Bix P.M. inspect the moters only when there is a dispute between the companies aud consumers; I receive $2,500 saiary ‘as Inspector; I pay my deputies and expenses out of thai. How can you pay deputies and ex! es sao penses out of r annum? here are deputies only where meters are made, and they are made only in New York and Alvany; am not A practical me- chanic; I have never received any present or considerations from an company or individual; authorized to charge the actual expenses mcurred in the inspection of meters about which there are dis- putes; [ have received, perhaps, two hundred dollars 8 year for such expenses; I was appointed by Gover. nor Feuton; my deputies are practical men; lama _ im the La FA res 0o.; my leputy here is empl my firm as well as bei 20 ‘uspector; I have not heard of any complaints r] to the lucorrectness of my tests. By Mr. Lergen—I understand the principle of mea- suring the gas; I have an gory Which will hold certain number of feet of air or gas, and this vol- ame of air or gas I pass meter, and the dials on the meter must indicate the amount of the volume; I have held the position About four years; | was not appointed solely for ing fitness for the position; before my appointment only Khew about meters as much a8 was necessary for my business; when @ meter about which there is a dispute is brought to me | give a certificate of the percentage of error to the disputants; I have to make ‘about a hundred or two tests per annum; the differ- ences are really slight; the highest | have ever had is about eight per cent; the errors, as far as have come m der mygnotice, have been twice in favor of the sonsumer to once in favor of the company. ty the Coairman—'Ibe complaints generaily come practical gas meter constructors, M. L. Callender, editor oe Gaslight Journal, fled that the Dest gass at St Louis the price is four dellare pet e A ee 13 four do} r spoumsal wad Boston three dollars and a half; The power of the gas in those cities is about teen candles; in New York it is from fourteen to sixteen candles; I think it would be diiicuit for the Legisla- ture to late the price of gas and the standard Hal vary so niuch ii this country; the. prige of goal vary 80 mu country; Price of coal is lower now than it was three yet the price of gas has been increased; very material difference in the quality nished by the companies in this city; I do not think the other companies could very well furnish gas at the same rate as the M: titan; 1 receive notices of dividends declared by some of the companies; I could not judge as to whether there was reason to warrant the increase in price of gas furnished the city from twenty-eight dollars to fifty and fifty-three doliars per year; I thik I could tell from observa- tion the number of feet a burner would allow to 88 through; the street lamp burners I should judge were five feet burners. By Mr. Bergen—The companies have furnished me, by request, records of the illuminating power of their gas; I think the cause of the fine gas in Boston and St. Louis depends on the coal; the cost of the coal in St. Louis ts considerably more than tt is here; the yield of gas there is rather less than in this city; they use the Peoria coal there; careful Management and experience in operations of gas works will materially reduce the cost of gas; I thik & better quaitty of gas could be furnished at a lower price. The witness then went into a lengthy and elaborate explanation of a process which was evi- dently a pet of his, and which he claimed, of course, would give much cheaper and much better gas than the companies now give. Wiltiam H. Roberts of No, 89 Union square, a con- sumer of the gas furnished by the Manhattan Gas Company, testified that from April 1, 1868, to Decom- ber 29, 1868, the bills varied very much; I was using about sixteen or eighteen lights; from April to or tember the montily bills were from $16 to $18; in the middie of October the bill increased to the following month to $71 10, and the next $105 90; I compiamed to the president of the com- pany and he stated that the meter must be out of order; the: gas com} sent @ man who in- spected the meters and he could not turn the gas otf; I sent for Mr. Davidson and paid im $2 50 for the inspection; he sent @ man who that the meter was eleven per cent against me, although he just now swore that eight per cent was the highest he had ever found; I then went to the bd 3 and he told me the com- pany’s inspector Tound it nine per cent against me; that they would split the ditference and deduct tea per cent from the bill; their gas fitter and his soncameto my place and could dnd no leak; I ordered the meter to be taken out and since then have been using kerosene; I mentioned to a clerk in the employ of tie company that I had a notion to sue the company; he assured me that it would be useless as the company Would be sure to beat me; I then agreed to take the ten per cent deduction, On motion of Mr. Bergen the cominittee went into executive session, afler which a recess was taken uutil three P.M. a Alter recess the committee reassembled, and JohnH. Adam, President of the New York Gas- light Company, betug recalled and sworn, wes ex- amined. He stated that he had received the sub- peena to bring the books, but he wouid not bring the books because he believed the committee had not been aathorized to make any such nination, aud ears ago, ere is No of gas fur- 80; to such power or authorize any committee to request & corporation to produce any of its papers or records more than it would those of any private individual. The witness was very tent in his assertion that he would not do as the committee desired un- less the Supreme Court of Errors directed him to do so. He went on to inform the committee what he termed the ridiculous absurdity of the questions put by the commitiee. ‘The Chairman then intimated that the committee might find it necessary to place the wituess under arrest for coptempt. Witness stated tat he would take the risk of the arrest, and let the matter go to the Court of Errors. ‘The Cuairman—We do not propose to bring this maiter into the Court of Errors, but to make a report to the Legislature. Wedo not regard any gas com- peo as aprivate concern. We are here to ascertain OW tie consumers of gas can be protected against these monopolies, and we wisn to ascertain posi- tively how much profits the companies are making and the amount of the dividends they are enabled to declare, 80 that we may know whether or not the com- panies can aiford to furnish better gas at a lower price, and as you refused to state anytiing about your dividends the other day we want those books here, and if you persist in refusing to bring them I will put it to @ vote of the committee whether we shall report the fact to the Assembly that the orders of the committee have been treated with ake Witness was working ‘iimseif up to a ligh pitch of nervous excitement, and frequently attempted to interrupt the chairman. He finally called the coun- sel of tae Manbattan Gas Company and requested him to note the legal objections he would make. After a short consultation the counsel stated that before the question would be put in regard to arrest- ing witness for ake he would inform the commuttee that witness would answer any questions that they might put to him, but that he decimed to bring the books on his individual responsibility. Witness stated that after the testimony given by one of the stockholders, which he saw had been given before the committee, he had no objection to answer any questions, ‘The Chairman then said he would waive the ques- tion of arrest for contempt for the present. Examination resumed.—The receipts of the com- pany during the = year were about $2,000,000; the Teceipts for gas im consumers can be got at very easily from the assessor's books; the amount of sales 18 @ matter of public notoriety, aud at $3 50 a amounts to so much money. Being reminded by Mr. Bergen that the committee wanted the answer from him, witness stated that ba ye Would not be $10,000 out of the way. its last year were 000, $30,000. of which was for interest on securities, and $7,000 or $8,000 on sales of securities. Mr. Newcome’s testt- mony is in the main correct; but the proiits from the manufacturing of gas are not such as would in- duce anybody to continue in the business; our pro- irty is Valued at about $4,000,000; we have a very Eitgs surpine fang; the last sale of stock the price ‘was $300. Here the witness leaned over and requested the chairman to let that question in regard to producing the books rest as the books could not now throw any additional light on the matter. Examined by Mr. LaBau—We have never tried to increase our capital stock by legislative enactments; we have been afraid to £ to Albany and ask any- thing, because we know it would cost us a great deal to get the laws By the Chairman—Do not know of my own know- ledge that such is the case, but it is a very natural inference, just as natural as that an apple falling from a tree, if It fall in @ curved line, must have been subjected to some imfluence to vring it into the I know that persons live im the couniry round about Albasy who live on what they make by having laws passed; I have never had anything ao with any of these people ‘self, and do not wish to have; do not know personally anybody who has paid any money for such @ purpose, but 1 know it 18 done; I know it by inference: | Know it tor the same reason I kuow there is a London, although I can’t prove it; why it is just 48 Inuch a fact and just as plain as that two and two toake four; | know it, as I said, ouly by inference. During this pleasant little dialogue, which two or three of we members joined in, the witness, who, by the Way, is @ sickly looking and evidently consump- tive individual, had been gradually increasing tie pressure on bia nerves, and as the couversation waxed warin he becaine very much exeited. counsel who sat beside him tapped him on the knee and otherwise tried to get him to shut off the Now of his vindictiveness, but it did pot avail anytiung for some time. Examination resumed by Mr. La Ban—Q. Do you know that the Manhattan Company has had its capi. tal stock increased three or four times by the Legis lature? A. Yes, I know they dia. Q. Do vou know that that company have to pay anybody to get the laws passeiy A. (Witness getting much excited again)—Yes; I know they had pay a heavy fee to enable counsel to go up there and attend co the matter for then. Here the counse: asked permission to state that he | Was present in the interest of the Manuattan Com. a, and that although the witness had consulted iin he (Witness) Was not acting under his advice, He ee that the payment of the counsel fee by the Manhattan Gas Company was not pertinent to ‘the question at lasue. Mr. La Kao—C not; bnt the witness has thrown out an implication which is unjust, and I ask the question m justice to the Manhattan Com- pany ro also in justice to the members of the pre- sent Legisiature. To witness—You do not know positively of any money having ever been paid to any member of the Legisiature? a. [ do not; I only infer that. By Mr. Berzen—You only think so? A. Oh! I'm as certain of it in my own mind— $ ‘Then you only think so? A. Well, yes. Legisiatare by sight, , Q. And you don’t want to, I suppose? This litte splurt having been shut off by the ad Vice of the counsel, who reminded Mr.jAdam that he ‘was talking to members of the Legislature, that his action Was very w: and that he certainly owed the committee an apology. ‘The examination was resumed, and in reply to the question as tothe amount of expenditures Witness stated if you subtract $454,000 from our receipts you wiligetit. J think thaton a business of 500,000,000 of feet we are than we were four years brite be Dually making improvements; Prices were s when coal was fifteen ‘do! ana now the same: have ‘ 000 assets in United States a8 8 surplus fund 19 Bob increasing iD Value; it costs | Are you acquainted with any meuibers of the Legisiature? A. | do not know @ member of the tis w make gas than at since the com- ‘mencement of the war, ex: com; our dividends on a paper basis have been $500,000 at the time of the commencement of the war; I receive a salary; Seon hall enone eran itis $4,000 a year; our receipts are $2,000, year; our profits and there is not a are about twenty-five V3 railroad leading out of New pay more than that; we have a nominal capital, which does not resent the pipes we have in the und; we pay laborers two dollars per day, and luring the war paid one dollar and seventy-five cents; we could get laborers now for less than two dollars a day, but they would be poor men, and we wouid rather Be, a liitie more and have better men. Examined by the Chairmafh—I do not know that we are furnishing any better me this week than we have been in some time ; [did notgive any orders to that effect; that is a t! our company will never do, no matter what the rej of this committee may be or what the action of the Legisiature may be; the only chauge we have made is that we have gone to the expense of having a photometre constructed for pe roast of the committee, which will be ready 12 & few days. ‘The committee then adjourned until ten o'clock this morning. A large number of complaints have been received by the committee since if opened its session and the session will be continued during the day and evening. This evening the committee pro- poses to examine any consumers wio may present themselves to give testimony in regard to any griev- ae they have suifered at the hands of the com- panies, ‘ * Other Legislative Investigntions. The Assembly Committee on Rallroads organized on Wednesday afternoon at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Subpenas were issued to Commodore Vanderbilt and other prominent ratlroad men, but the witness said the tume allowed was too short to prepare the necessary evidence, and the committee did not take bs evidence yesterday. ‘he committee appointed to investigate the affairs of the merchants’ Union Express Company met at ‘74 Wali sireet, but no witnesses were examined. THE GRANI-POLLARD MURDER TRIAL, Unabated Interest in the Trial~Tke Theory of the Alleged Powder Marks—Close of Evidence for the ProsecutionTestimony of General Henry A. Wise. RicuMonpD, Va., March 3, 1869. The interest in this remarkable trial, which has been in progress for the past three days, continues unabated. The testimony taken so far is but a repe- tition of that given at the inquest held on the body of Pollard. J. Marshall Hanna, the detective Crad- dock, Major H. P. Clinton (who occupied the rooms in which Grant was discovered after the killing of Pollard), the policeman Moore and two negroes tes- tifled substantially as they had done before. The only thing additional was the statement of Major Clinton that young men were in the habit of visiting his room at ali hours, and that Grant had asked him for a key, which he gave. The court is daily crowded from early morn till late at night. Several new witnesses have been examined without eliciting any more tmportant evidence than that already reported, As yet no de- fined policy has been developed by either the prose- cution orthedefence, The former—perhaps adopting the presumption of the guilt of Grant from the motives he had in avenging the slander on his sister, the manner ia which he was discovered at the time of the assassination, locked inu room the window of which overlooked and commanded the spot where Pollard fell, and surrounded by murderous weapons, among which was a double-barrelled gun with one barrel discharged, and al! the singular chain of cir- cumstances pointing to Grant as the murderer—will try to convict. On the other nand, the defence, placed in the critical position of having a bad case, will use every endeavor to create a aoubt in tho minds of the jury that Grant is the real murderer; that Pollard might have been shot from the window of the room adjoining that in which Grant was dis- covered and acrested, or that the assassin might have laid concealed on the roof of the building over the parapet of whici the fatai discharge of buckshot was fired. One of the chief cireamstances on which the pro- secution has hitherto relied 1s the alleged powder stain marks on the window sill of the room where Grant was found, pointing in the direction of the wall, on the opposite side of the street, indented by the buckshot, About these marks considerable difference of opinion exists. Some allege they are not powder marks, but are biacking or paint marks, and others say their line do not indicate the spot where the shot took effect, but, if extended, ‘would reach a point some eighteen feet to the right of the indentations upon the wail where Poiiard fell; and itis also forcibly stated that with the muzzle of the gun resting on the upper portion of the window sill, over these marks, the lower part of tne sill would obstruct a discharge In its passage to the fatal spot—that a shot to go clear of the lower and outer sill would reach @ polat clear above the heads of auy street passen- gers. As yet the article that is supposed to have caused the homicide has not been produced, the ong gen declining because it gives some justiica- jon to the assassmation, and the defence being un- wiiling to admit their client committed the murder under any circuimstances whatever. Perhaps it will be brought out in due time, besides other very im- portant and ttevesting testimony on both sides. Dr. J. B, Brock sworn, testiiied—There was one wound in the face, another on the right side of the neck, several on the shoulder and one on the left of the spinal column; noticed the apertures from which the balls had been taken; the wound on the left of the spinal column seemed to have been made, a3 were the others, by a ball entering the body; there Was noting in the location of the wounds that would indicate the direction, except that the wonuds on the shoulder must have been made by shootlug irom an elevated position. Witness could not conceive how they could Lave been made in any other way, Jobu S. Stubbs, sworn, testified that, as a member of the Coroner’s jury, he had made an examination to ascertain whether a gun had been fired from that window ; @ black mark extended across the sill and Pointed direcuy to the indentations upon the wall on the opposite side of the street; the marks left the impression upon the mind of witness that a gun had been fired from that window. J. Marshall Hanna, associate editor of the Southern poe being recailed, testified—Heard the splash of the backshot on the walls of the house; know that the indentations were made by the shot fired on that occasion; the marks on the wall present the game appearance now that they did then, except that their fresiness is gone. Major H. P. Chnvon recailed, testified that he had never had a doubie-parrelied gun in his room and did nct see any firearms there te evening preced- ing the homicide. ‘Thus ended the testimony for the prosecution, the commonwealth reserving the right to Introduce such evidence as might be deemed proper during the progress of the trial. General Henry A. Wise was then Introduced as a Witness for the defense and belug sworn testified that be visited the scene on the day of the homicide about one or two o'clock and marked the pecullart- tes of the place; wituess iound that Fourteenth street ran porth by northeast and south by south- west; on the west witness saw the spots of blood and seven indentations on the wall; witness at the request of counsel yesterday visted the scene of the murder and, with itapiements such as be could ob- tain the use of, measured the distances with a view to solve the mystery of the shooting; he ascertainea that the spot where Pollard foil was seventeen feet from tis office door, enty seven feet trour Main stree’ runs north north. the window sills of the and t h third oor of the were, in round Duybers, avout dove the spot where Mr. Poll fi e; eet Was about forty feet wi the line of tix f dow supposed, GEMETAL NOTES, Fast day tn Connecticut, Friday, March 26. There are nearly 1,500 convicts in the Sing Sing Prison. A large paper mil! has just been finished at Kansas City, Mo. The smalipox ts rapidiy spreading among the begroes of Kentucky. One farmer aear Springfield, Oto, has twenty-five Qcres plauted in strawberries. The Lynchburg Virginian strongly advocates the @stabiisisoent of @ shoe factory ju that city. “Westward the star of empire takes its way.’ The Cheyenne people say they are golag “Down East” When they wake a trp to Omaha, Last year's cotton crop is estimated at 2,800,000 baies. ‘The largest crop ever produced ia the United Bates was that of 1900-61—,487,000 bales, John M. Seabury and Pateey Parrish were married @t Nashy on the 22d ult. The bride; un is seventy four years old and his binsuing bride eighty- two. A Bourbon county (Ky,) ox on exhibition in Mont- mery, Ald. of the Durhain breed, is eighteen ands high, thirteen feet in length, eleven and turee- fourths feet around the girth, six years old and Weighs 4,540 pouuds, In the Uhiich estate case, now on trial in Negra | gy to the value of $1,200,000 is involved in the lasue. It seems to be the oit-told tale of & weak old man surrounded by harpies, two or three Wills and Jat pickings for the lawyers, The Kentacky heiress cave hae been disposed of by Miss Mckinley being discharged from the custody the St. Ursacne Academy and placed ander whe care of her deceased motier's second cousin, Mra, Amanda Shatter, of Thibodeaux, Louisiana. ‘The jury of inquest at Fall Riv 10 It ised Soko the cirortntvansis 5 Toei donee bs torre . Davis, on the 4tir uit, t 8 Was cauved by the agency of polaon, but of what kind and by Whose hands administered they cannot ray. strike about Tar refuse to accede to. tain 2 SUBURBAN INTELLIGENCE. NEW JERSEY. poeneeeenneeerooeoy Orange. Tas New Cnarter.—A new charter for this town- ship has passed both branches of the Legislature, and now only awaits the Governor's signiture to be- come a law. The new document is claimed to be a great improvement on the old patched up concern. The new charter provides, among other changes, that hereafter the offices of Treasurer and Collector of Taxes will be combined, and the duties per- formed by one person, who Will be appointed by the Common’ Council, and not, as heretofore, elected by the people, Insvead of letting the town meeting de- clare how much mouey will be raised by tax for 3, the power will be vested in Ce ER are to be chosen in eac! shall be voted for in each, The town tleker will be Samael nate arias so ons a charter election takes pI B as ee no n have been made by either political party. ‘Trenton. INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT GRANT.—Few inct- dents transpired in this city yesterday indicative of the momentous ceremony which was being solemn- ized tn Washi by the inal tion of General U. 8. Grant as osident of the United States, The temperament of the people ridiculously partook of the character of the weather, being gloomy and in- animate. The only recognition of occasion was the suspension of a mammoth Grant and Colfax banner across Green street and the booming of a solitary cannon at noon iv the vicinity of the State House. The Legislature was unusuaily phiegmatic and een AS be entirely unconscious of the im- 0€ Of THE NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE. In the Senate yesterday Mr, Hopper introduced a substitute for the Riparian Rights bill, which pro- vides that ali acts and parts of acts giving the Boards of Chosen Freehoiers of any of the counties of the State the power to grant licences to reclaim land under water below low water mark lying in the tide waters of the Hudson river and New York Bay are repealed, and such grants shall be made by three commussioners to be appointed by the Supreme Court on petition of the parties desiring such grant, and they shall ascertain what compensation ought to be paid the State for such grant, and on payment of such assessment by said party the grant shall be made. The bill for the extension of the Montclair Railroad to the State line was warmly discussed. ‘The President of the Senate, Mr. Little, said he was opposed to the principlepf bonding townships for the construction of any ri |. The vill was finally post- poned till Monday evening. A bill was also intro- duced te ee the Hudson County Connect- ing Ratlroad. is act is applied for by private par- ues to run a railroad across the lower end of Hud- son county for the purpose of transferring from main lines. Mr. Taylor introduced a bill to re- al & supplement to the act incorporating the jersey Cityand Bergen Railroad Company, as the provisions of the supplement are set forth @s pre- cluding the municipal authorities of Jersey City and other parts of Hudson county from legitimately making improvements to their public highways and obstracts satd authorities in laying water pipes, sewering, paving, &c., to the detriment of the citizens, The Senate then adjourned till Monday evening, In the House yesterday bills were passed extend- ing the time for the completion of the Newark and Orange Horse-car Railroad and incorporating the Board of Trade of the city of Newark. The bill to incorporate the Essex County Mill Company was in- definitely postponed, The bills for the relief of creditors agaist absconding debtors and authoriz- ine Boards of Freeholders to erect and maintain poorhouses were lost, The Senate bill for the or- ganization of the State militia was passed. A num- ot unimportant blils were passed upon and the House adjourned till Monday evening. WESTCHESTER COUNTY. UNION INAUGURAL PRAYER MEETING.—Yesterday, at the hour of noon, in Yonkers, the congregations of the different places of worship in the village met at the Reformed church, where Divine aid and guidance were invoked for the country, and espe- cially for the President who was avout that time assuming the governmental reins. Remarks appro- priate to the occasion were made by the several clergymen who were present, the services being characterized by unusual solemnity. INFANTILE MortTality.—During the past two months the mortality prevailing among the juvenile portion of the community at Yonkers has been far im excess of anything witnessed there in many years, and still continues with unabating signifl- cance. Although the village physicians are said to be kept busy night and day, the number of deaths does not appear to diminish. A malignant form of scarlet fever, diphtheria and influenza are among the principal complaints, It is supposed that the extreme uilidness of the past winier has superin- duced the unhealthy period named. EDUCATION AT NeW ROCHELLE.—Thoe Board of Education at New Rochelle, at a meeting held at the residence of Dr. Albert Smith, reported the two pub- lic schools in the district in the best possible condi- tion and the attendance much larger than at any previous period. Tuey passed a resolution in favor of asking for an appropriation of $5,000 to defray current expenses lor the Cay I ‘on and a) Anted Messrs. B. D, Lefevre, G. H. Devean and J. . Deveau, inspectors of election to oficiate at the approaching election for schools. BurGiaky at Croron Lakg.—The residence of George E. L. Hyatt, in the vicinity of Croton Lake, near Pines Bridge, was forcibly entered a night or 80 since by unknown parties, who thoroughly ran- sacked the house. Mr. Hyatt and his family being at present in Europe the premises were found un- guarded by the intruders, and right well did they embrace the opportuuity offered for plundering. Selecting whatever articles of value caught their at- tention in the several rooms the marauders left what they did not want in the most studied confusion, and endea by entering the preserve closets, where, after partaking of sweets satiety, they wantonly scattered the remainder on the floors. Owing to the absence of the family the precise value of what was carried of is uuknown. LONG ISLAND. Qveens County CHRISTIAN CONVENTION.—A county Christian convention will be held in the vil- lage of Flushing, under the auspices of the American Christian Commission, in the Methodist Episcopal church, beginnivg ou Thursday of next week, atven o'clock A, M., and to continue in session morning, afternoon and evening of Thursday and Friday, BurGLary aT Sac Haksor.—On Tuesday evening last the dry goods and clothing store of Mr. Wm. Fordham, at Sag Harbor, was entered by thieves. ‘The thieves, after @ general ransacking of drawers and overhauling of shelves, succeeded in securing about $400 worth of clotting and dry goods, with Wwhicu they made good tueir escape, and at lasi ac- counts ciue to neither property nor thieves had been obtamed, The entrance was effected through one of te rear Windows of tue butiding, LipGEwooo Resekvion.—Work onthe new reser- voir at Lidgwood Hull is soon to be commenced. The basin has been staked off and laid out by the engl neers, itis tbe one of the largest in the country, and will take three years to complete. The excava- tions for the reservoir have commenced, and the work on the new engme house wiil 800a be resumed. A line of pipe three feet in diameter is to be laid from the epgme house on Atlaniic avenue to Ridg- wood fill, ‘These extensive improvements are to be Gnished at an estimated Cost of $6,000,000, Jamatoa Vine DevaRntMENT.—From the report of the Chief Engineer ox the Jamatca Pure Department, issued yesterday, it appears that during the past year four fires have occured In the vitlage, and pro- perty to the amount of $10,760 was destroyed. This is much less than the loss sustained in 1867, In that year property Valued at upwards of $48,000 was de- stroyed by Dre, The chief engimeer earnestly advises the parchase of a new truck, the oid one not being in good working order. A new supply of hose is aiso needed. Of the 1,060 feet in the departin only 600 feet is fit for use, i ‘i. Faogen TO Deati.--On Tuesday last the body of a German woman. apparently about forty years of age, was found on the railroad track about two miles south of Roslyn. She came from New York on Monday afternoon on the train that leaves that place at four o'clock, and got on the Glen Cove train by mistake, mstead of the Hempstead train, to which place it was her intention to have gone. When nearing Rosiyn the conductor discovered her mistake, at which station she t of, and there i or from as was no later Roslyn tne informed her conductor she would remain until mornii he take her back. It is generally believed that she at- tempted to walk the distance, when becoming over- come with cold after accomplishing only dis. tance above named. She was dressed in red Diack plaid, ligut biue cloth sack and worsted hood. FISHRILL LANDING, A WoMAN SHot.—Yesterday afternoon, while a that if would NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1869—TRIPLE SHEET, ‘REAL ESTATE MATTERS. The market for estate yesterday exhibited a continuance of the which has been its char- acteristic feature for months past. The several sales were well attended and realized a fair appreciation. Below we give particulars:— NEW YORK PROPERTY—LY Mi WILKING AnD ag gESERSSERESE EE . +3 ar = ey fe ‘Ay dwelling. BY A. JOURNEAY. 1 aide of Reade st, between Church st and West ros balinersng i Hat lati pee EB. H, LUDLOW AND 00. et cot tn no tm Bo en 2. . ax83 11. ee ae tenses 38,000 14 story brick store and lot, No 45 Pearl rupol See eo td Britag meee lot Rixs7a59- R509. 84,000 ¥ JOSEPH M’GUIEI B Me 8 story brick house and lot on the s e corner of Charles 1 b Bat <* tildridge and F. sis, aud known as Nos i 01 44 and 46 Delancey st, whole lot 100.3x100.2. fone houses and lots Nos 238 and 285 Elizabeth * Note ened WEBB. one BROOKLYN PROP! —] OUN! er 42d st and th av, 25.2¢100. ide 8th av, adjoining, $5x100, side 8th av, adjoining, 25x100. ide Sth av, adjoining, 25x100. side 8th av, adjoining, 2x100..... ide 8th ay, adjoining, # HECEPRECEMBEREEENE Eg 35x100. 2 aide 8th av, adjoining, 25x100, each, 1 anu dint sh 36,33100, i i 1 i i 4 dots Hot Tiot 160 Blots moar &th a 45 1 lot, 8 w cor 7th av and 42d st, 20 8 lot, w's 7th av, adjoining, same size, each. 10 § ins wb teh or, edjotniag, soins size en ie Ww a 7th ay, same Tiotyn's dist st, heat Stn av? 25x1002 300, Jlot’adjoining, same size 205 1 lot 00 lots 190 dots 169 Tieton io oiniagrsame llot nai 156 Blots 1 Llot adjoining, same size. 165 atue Mansion, fe8 story. overlooking New York bay and har’ boy, with 93 lots of ground, averaging 25x100 ft, on 0, w cor 68th at and 2d av, indluding the water right... .85,000 Blots or of fth av and ih st Brooklyn, each lot 2xs0 eacl Real Estate Notes. Mr. George L. Kingsland has sold nine acres of land in Hudson Park, near Spuyten Duyvil, to George G. Saunders, of Otsego county, N. Y., for $22,500. ‘A house and lot—the latter 60x1d0—situated on Church street, Tarrytown, has been sold by Mr. H. H. Grebe to Mr. B, Meeker, for $4,500. Mr. W. F. Minnerly has purchased a lot, 50x125, on ae ttpen avenue, Tarrytown, from Mrs. £. Birdsall ‘The Hudson River Railroad Company having been recently presented by a citizen of Tarrytown with seven lots of ground, some distance south of the present site of their passenger depot at that place, contemplate erecting on the land donated a com- modious and handsome depot, half the expense thereof to be borne by the citizens of the village. Official Transfers of Real Estate Yesterdny. TRANSFER IN NEW YORK CITY. nnon st, @ &, 175 ft n of Rivington st, 245x100. 000 Clinton eg No 65, 16.8x100... fa + 6,000 Cedar st, ‘ns, No 13. «17,050 st, se corer 81,500 Ludlow bt, w 8, 100 ft # of Rivi ‘000 No 499 Dyckman 8,000 Plot No 138, Dyckman estate. 200 Pine st, # 8,'No 34, 91.8365.8. 350 Ridge st, es, 100 fk n of Stanton st, 363100. 218/160 Rivington st, na, 104 ft @ of Suifolk st, 23xi00. 118,200 Sutfotk at, es, 195 ft a of Riviny 2100... 200 Sth at, os, 114.9 ft w of av O, 400 Sth st, No 747 B. 23x97. 500 Sth st, 8, 600 Stn st, m8, 723,000 oun an 28,000 Jans ad, 28,200 a8 5,000 16th st, No’ 000 22d at,'a8, 00 27th at, ns, 220 760 Slat sty nw, 316. 2,000 20th af, 9 6, 200 11,800 iat at,'n 8, lot B4.0x98.9. 4,000 46th wt, #8, 225 24,100 49th st, n 6, 195 ‘6 ns, 325 700, ns, 182 600 38, 85ft 000 nf, 250, 127,00 ne'cor 18,50) ith st, n © cor 000 os, 100 700 ‘Toth at, w 8, 105 62d at, 's 8, 81.8 Sth at, # 6, lot S7th st, n6, 125 7th st, n 8, 150 ‘Pith st, ne corner No LEASES NROOWDIED Ix 1075 (basement, £c! te Nos 74 and 16°87, per Prove No 110, 5y1 feed 25 Beth at, vy Fear, ai ot, No 105 B, S400, 6 youre, Saar, Now 307 abd 09, b yenrs ted 3 reo ‘TRANSFERS IN KINGS COUNTY — sty foe roadway, Bier sts a, B60 Clinton st, e Columbia an e #8, 505 Cen of M: Herkimer at n 8, 22) ft w of Ut Hewes at, n's, 1/86 ft 0 of Bedford Hopkins st aud Tompkins ay, # w corner, 26x10 John at, # #, 108.10 ft.o of Gold atract, 2xL00. . Johnson st, 6 4,125 ft w of Graham ay, dxid0. Leiferts sty n #, 47 (L¢ of Grand av, 244140. Leiertas st, 0 8, 71 ft ¢ of Grand Linden and Wyekou oust Rt, @ no} Lorriiner’and Ainalie stm 0.6 Gor, 930.- Monroe st, ns, 185 ft @ of Bediord av, Gixiis, Nobie st, 0 #, 345 {te of Pranklin at, dixlw. North Honey at, o &, 100 ft n of Richardson North Henry at @#, 183 fen of Kichasdson North Henry at, ¢ #, 10 ft u of Kichardson North Henry sto 4.1.8 fen of iklchardaon w fe rr of Harrison av, 20.25) Ko ast isnot Rana b Skii/hman at an Mo 4 wi hi “ Skillman st, © & 427.6 {8 01 cor, Vax). cuby av. 13.93i00..$ 43x90. 1. State st, Boernm st, 6,000 Taylor ‘ay, Q0xll 000 iad + w rant at, 16.8x34.5, Son ‘Ist at, n tse of Fane ss os ve 40) Ist sl, fh © #, 100 ftw of North ith at, Giixico, Ho South Lat st, n @ s, 96 ft 9-6 of 10th mt, 26.77. os ‘2d at, n @ 8, 1811 ft aww of North lat st, 18.1 5,000 3A aa a 176 Cw of Teh, wy, Haid 000 foe Hanatieenty eras Es er, Homi Tih at, nwa, Aad fe nw ot 32 478 ait, 252100. 146.1 tt nw of 6th ay, 16.8 W 126 ft mw of Tet wt, Mxi00.. TAL fh @ Of 5th wt, Samex at, ‘| Bouth' Peunsyleaaia.a¥, Wa a y Beanaivanta av and Vanderpool si, nw cor. }8 tracta.16,000 ani 2h Vanderpool corner. over 2 indefinite plots, each about | acr LLEVILLE. Division st, ne, 225 ft w of Augusta B Sears’, 725x200, OLIN TON, "0 ns, 66 fte of Augusta st, 182100. Cong sh hea Springdale ay 8, R Birdsall’s, 50x100. Britton’s, 100x127. .... Biases ain tne MILBURN, Plot Crowel’s, 3) acres... ° and Cedar ava, 8 w corner, § 28-100 acres. TRANSFERS IN HUDSON OOUN'Y, N. Je—d. 7 Bx 131 ft e of Brut lot ‘Mott map, 9 8 Map, 25x100..++4 Reta ory. 88, lot Se Wristea Dy 8, lot 180, Wright’s map. 25x! pummit lots 4, 6 block 197, Ogden map. it 4 plot 8, block 11, Brambuil map, 25x10. . Loteb, 9, bidek 1, Héspe « weber inap, Busi0d Bi ie at, P Reilly's, 25x10 . we Went Gratiot gy 18h Ror of Baise Wilkes ste aus ft from Borgen av, 702100 NORTH BERGEN. Lewis st, cor of Moller, 50100. Lewis at, near Moller, lot 19, block I, 25x10U... Ist at, Bergenwood Park, A N Nandet’s prop, 100x100 . at, 8 8 i South 6th st, ns, lot 177, Man; Lot 28, bl , THE INSURANCE COIPANIES.. Methods of Doing Business—The Brokers an@ Canvassers—Inducements to Commit Incene diarism— Investigation by the Fire Marshal. Some interesting investigations have been made recently by Fire Marshal Brackett into the responsi- bility and management of a number of the insurance companies of this city,in the course of which he: claims to have developed some facts that are of startling import to a large portion of the community. New York is the great centre for the insurance business of the country. There are probably 200 companies, foreign and local, with their head offices or branches in this city, and, as a matter of course, there is a spirited competition among them to mo- nopolize the business, The law under which they act is in many respects faulty, and facilities are- offered for irresponsible corporations to work them- selves into popular favor, and by skilful manipuls- tion of figures in their annual reports deceive thetr patrons as to their actual status in the insurance world, Many of these companies are known to be entirely responsible and deserving of public confidence, but that there are others which, if the truth were not skilfully covered up, would prove spurious, no one who knows anything of the surance business and the loose manner in which policies are secured will attempt to deny. Hence it important that their internal affairs should de closely scanned. THE “GO-BETWEENS.” Nearly all the insurances are effected by two classes of persons—brokers and canvassing agents—who may be styled ‘“go-betweens.”” Com- paratively few palcies ate ene a nied on @ personal application ry who deairen to 4 msured, A pre property owner imagines that he has not the time to spare from his business to make a personal study of the standing of companies and decide upon the ones from which he can secure the most liberal terms. He consequently trusts to a broker to negotiate the iusurance, ‘The brokers drive a thriv! business, and in time become individuals whose influence i not to be ignored by companies. The corporations that desire to extend their business are, as a matter of course, forced to secure the patron- age of the brokers, and, seq they are prompted to accept risks at a lower rate without closely exami the nature of the hazards. Their great incentive is large divi- dends on as small a capital as possible, and to accom- plsh this they must not be over scrupulous in their ventures. The brokers thus in time control the in- surance business of nearly all large establishments, and feather thetr own nests while sacrificing the in- teresis of the red {gr the benedit of the com- panies who veuture most. -~ ~~ But there is another class of go-betweens wno are’ be ogi dangerous, They are the local canvassers who live by the percentage divided upon policies influenced by them, Their patrons are Esa contined to small property owners, and they —— themselves out over the city in search of bi Thetr perceniage is a ita nominal sum, and there is @ natural temptation to carelessness in their negotiations. Rarely do they take the interest of the companies into account. ‘Their fees is the great desideratum sought after, The more policies thi secure the more pay they secure, aud the result that in many cases they do not stop to inquire into the character of the party to be ured, nor the value of the property covered by a policy. If the application will go through the head oilice it a Aig toserve tucir ends, An evil-disposed party, who is on the eve of failing in business, or one Who has a large stock on hand and no prospects of a spoedy realization of its value, has every induce- ment offered to insure for twice its value in the still hour of the night when darkness veils him, apply the match and secure a handsome proit, provi he has sutiiciently covered his tracks to dely detection. THE ATTEMPTED CONCEALMENTS OF THE COMPANIES. No responsible insuraace company should jear a full and careful examination of its affairs at any tume. If it be solveut the publication to its patrons. Of its losses in each and every ire should not cause alarm. Yet how few will periit tis information to be given to the public press, the only medium through which insured parties can learn of the misfortanes of the companies in which they have so much at stake? The great ity of them have persistently endeavor to suppress this information, as it presents at the end of the year (when they come to make up their reports) @ mystillcation of figures, by @ skillful accountant, to blind the public us to their actual status. The Fire Marshal of the city is also kept in tho dark in this particular, and a may sustain in one month losses that equal one quar- ter ita capital stock withvut its patrons being aware of it, Under these circumstances, there is urgent ne+ ceasity for the passage of 4 special law compel the companies to furnish tho losses monthly or oftener to the fire Marshal, wlere te public can examine the statements and leara the actual losses paid, It is gratitying tosee that lire Marshal Brackett has. at last become impressed with the importance of ex- the abuses practised by these corporations @nd their accredited cauvassers, During the tavestlyation of the fire at Abraham Marx's (No. 79 Suffolk sirect), who is held on his own recognizance by Justice Shandley to answer the charge Of inceudiarism, it transpired that he had an insurance of $1,40)—5800 in the and $000 the Paciflo Insurance com- panies—while his property was worth only about $400, According to the evidence given below it appears that the agent of one company at jeast is not in the habit of protecting his co: in issuing risks to parties and taking ventures that should we alarm in the community, whose in- torests are so closely bound up in the solveacy of corporations doivg business in the city and en- virous?— Joha Prager being sworn deposes and that he lives at No. 23 Rivington street; am fire end life insurance agent; f know Abraham Marx; he ap- plied to me for instrauce aovut tires months since; he wauted $800; I visited his apartments at 7 Suffoik street; I made a thorough examination of his household etiects am positive they were worth $900, and I secured him a poticy of in- surance in the Pactiic Coimpany two days subse quently for said amount; | have no remembrance of hearing Mr. Marx say he had effected a previous tn- surance of $000; [ did not ask him the question; [ am not in the habit of asking parties who apply for jnsurance if they are or are not insured eisewhere when the amount described is no larger than the above; | consider it the business of parties when ap- plying to me for a policy of insurance to make known whetier they have another policy, and not my busi- ness to ask them the question, in cases, as before stated, where the amount applied for is amail (be- teen $500 and $600), The more insurance I 8 the larger my commission, From the afidavit below tt appears that no survey was made of the pi named to detertmine the actual value of roperty insured. Robert M. G. Dodge being sworn says:—I am in the employ of the Pacific Insurance Company; about eS ae pag Lond Ana ane broug! application for in- surance on saat clothing, &¢., belonging to- ae ae care street, pens of 3000; company issued ; some time’ after °Marx” came. to. the offiée “and made application to have privilege for $800 other insurance by the Rutgers Insurance Company; he had their policy; that policy gave him the privi- lege of 8000 other insurance; Lasked him how much: room he occupied; he told me he occupied the floor; Lalso avked him if he had that much furniture; he said that was about what it was yon] Lam not. en {i Rutgers Insurance Company; we did not nk one there to look at 1%; the privilege was then put on for $800 other insurance in the Rutgers. —eienrennallecenceieseiseess Fricntrvt Derraviry.—The officers of the Louts- ville, New Al; and Ohi recelved a private des from which briefly gave one of the of shame and crime sver written, Ime agro Redu since she gave toa it min ame and rem dis-