The New York Herald Newspaper, December 20, 1871, Page 6

ns oe a NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES “GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AMUSEMENTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING, NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broaaway, between Prince and Houston streeta.—Biack Crook. BOWERY THEATRE, Bo AND BRoTuEr BEN. ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Fourteenth stree.—Tux Great REPULLIO—ALLEGORY AND TABLEAUX. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—T1® BALLET PAN- ‘TOMIME OF HUMPTY DUMPTY. Matinee at 2. BOOTH'S THEATRE, Twenty-third et., corner Sixth av.— HaMuEr. ‘s ‘WOOD'S MUSEUM, Broaaway, corner 35th st, —Perfor: ances afternoon and Srening. Tox? or LEAVE Max GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of @h av. and 28d st— CHARLES O'MALLEY. FIFTH AVENUB THEATRE, Twenty-fourth street. — Tux New Drama oF Drvonce, STEINWAY HALL, Fourteenth street.—Nrussom Con- LINA EDWIN'’S THEATRE, No. 790 Broadway,—OP: Bourrs—BAuoE BLEUE,” \® "™ Broadway.—Orzma WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway Joux Gantu. sit hmareepvhens wie MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S BROO! _ ROMANOE OF A Poor Young — range THEATRE CONIQUE, 514 Broadway, Wut, NROKO Acieae” Matinge they Oot” VOCALe UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Fourveenth st. and Bi way.—NEGRO AOT8—BURLESQUE, BALLET, ‘on ‘antonce: TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSR, Ni ywery.— Nxouo ECOENTRICITIRG, Buuuesquas, ‘So me 7 BRYANT’S NEW OPERA HOUSE, and 7th ava.—-BRYANT’S MINSTRELS. SAN FRANCISCO MINSTREL H. — THE SAN FRANCISCO MINGTRELS. Sirsa pciare a ‘33d st, between 6th NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteentn strest.—ScENES UN ‘THE RivG, AcROBaTS, 40. Matinee at 235, NIXON'S GREAT 50! |E] 1 - eXMIQNS GAPE AOUEHERN crRCUS, 8 2ratwar TRIPLE SHEET. New York, Wednesday, December 20, 1871. CONTENTS OF TO-DAY’S HERALD, ee Pace, Je Advertisements, Fe ht es ‘ashington: The it in the House on the Labor Bill; ling’s_ Compromise on the Retrenchment Commission; The Mormon Machiavelli's ‘Latest. | ‘Move— Civil Service: Message mn : dent Grant Accompanying the Report of the Commissiouers—The Grand Duke in Can- ada: Enthusiasm of the Inhabitants of Ot- tawa—Lecture Before the Long Island Histori- cal Society on “Delsarte.” 4—Congress: The Labor Question in the House; Sumner After the One-Term Principle; The Control of the Telegraphs; The Retrenchment Commission Laden win References—More Broken Banks—President Grant’s Republi- cans—Meeting of the Kings County Demo- cratic General Commitiee—New York City News—iypographical Internationals—Fires, S—Washington Society: A Graphic Pen Picture of the Social Session at the Capital; The Hale- Chandler and Muller-Stocking Wedd1 3 Jol Robeson About to Enter the Sea Matri- mony—The Mexican Piracies: Interesting Let- ter from Mr. George Wiikes— Affairs Around . the City Hali—Lectures. Last Nignht—Ruoning Notes, Political and General—Filth of the Streets—“Hivhwaymen at Work’’—Foreign Scientific Noves, G—Editoriais; Leading Article, “The United States and cg Late Mexican Filibustering Raid io Lower Catifornia”—Personal Inteill- nce—Death of Louis Gassier—Amusement 7—Cable “Telegrams from _ Fre grams ma oT England, Russia and Portugal—News ‘ror ivases and ‘Cuba—The Florida—The Snow Storm— Miscellancous Telegrams—City Judge Bea- ford—Personal Intelligence—wife Murder in Westchester County—Amusements—Tne Com- mittee of Seventy—Literary Cunit-Chat— Foreign Items—Business Notices. S—Proceedings in the Courts—‘The Erie Railway War: Jay Gould’s Claim of Ownership of 12,734 Shares of the English Stock Denied by. the Court—An Eight Hundred and Fifty Dollar Rovbery—Paterson Courts—The Fourth Ave- nue Mantrap: Great Meeting of Indignant Property Owners—Obliging and Polite Con- ductors—The Smallpox in Brooklyn—Street Cars and tne Smalipox—intemperance or Homicide—Fire Excitemeat in Paterson—Per- sonal Notes, @=# Visit to Chicago: Report of the Relief Com- mittee of the Uhamter of Commerce—Kings County Penitentiary Keepership —Shocking Machinery Casualty—Made a Bad Job of It— Free Fish Culture—Financial and Commercial rts—Domestic and European Markets— Marriages and Deaths. 10—Mrs, Wharton's Trial: The Health; Habits and Temperament of General Ketchum; Strenu- ous Efforts of the Accused to Get to ope— Murder and Lynching—Affairs in Utan— Amperics—Shipping Intelligence—Ad vertise- men 11—Counterfeiting: Trial of Miner, the Alleged V4a~Countertelver:, Close of the Testimouy for the Prosecution—Why Not Abolish the Navy ?— Mrs, Halpin and Her Visitor—Proceedings of the Boards of aldermen and Assistant Alder- men—Advertisements, 12—Advertisements, Goxp 108}.—Gold went down to 108} yes- terday—the lowest point in over nine years, Tae GoveRNorsHIP oF Georaia for the unexpired term, which was to have been held by Governor Bullock, has, according to our despatches, fallen to James M. Smith by an almost unanimous vote. Tax GovERNMENT OF ONTARIO RESIGNED. — In consequence of the adverse vote of the Legislature and the vote of censure passed upon the government the Attorney General yesterday stated to the members of the Assembly that it was impossible they could be expected to carry on the government under such circumstances, and that, there- fore, they were prepared to resign, Tok San Juan Bovunpary Qvestion,— In pursuance of the High Joint Treaty of Washington, the memorandum of the United States’ claim in this matter has been handed over to the Emperor of Germany by our Minister at Berlin, Mr. Bancroft. Relying, then, upon the calm and impartial judgment of the Emperor and bis righthand man, Prince Bismarck, we have nothing further to say on the subject, except that the object here in disput? between us and Great Britain is a little military island, in a navigable boundary inlet on the North Pacific const, which would hardly fetch a thousand dollars ‘under the hammer for industrial purposes, Civ. Sxrvicg Rerorm.—The President yesterday submitted to Congress the report of the Commissioners entrusted with the im- portant duty of devising rules and regulations for the purpoee of reforming the civil service, together with a brief message, in which he recommends such legislation as may be needed fo carry the suggestions of the Board into effect. The conclusions arrived at by the Commission are unquestionably sound and wise; but we do not believe that the reforms they advocate are at sil likely to be adopted at the present time, and hence their report will probably be of little practical utility, Still it is gratifying to see that the public attention is Alrected to the question of civil service reform, and it is to be hoped that before long the movement commenced In this city will reach the fountain head and make as com- plete » reformation at Washington as we hope to bave seoured in New York, NEW YUKK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, DEUEMBER 20, 1871.—TKIPLE SHEET, ‘Tre United States and Moextoo—Tke Late Mexican Filibustering ald ‘2 Lower California. Isthere no way whereby law and order, systematic industry and commercial enterprise can be established in Mexico? Is that splen- did country on our southern border to be con- tinned indefinitely a prey to her fighting revo- lutionary factions and in her chronic condi- tion of anarchy till utterly exhausted and laid waste? Is there any reason why the policy of the dog in the manger should continue to be the policy of the United States in reference to Mexico? While our people are asking these questions some of the public journals of the Mexican capital are boldly advocating a United States protectorate as the only remedy for the never-ending bat still beginning Mexi- can revolutions, The time, then, is eminently favorable for a movement in this direction, and there will soon be brought up @ case be- fore a United States Court at San Francisco which may contribute very materially to settle the problem of “manifest destiny.” We allude to the case resulting from the late Mexican filibusterinz outrage in Lower California, as detailed in the letter from Mr. George Wilkes on the subject which we pub- lish this morning. In this letter we have a very interesting sketch of the contract between the Mexican government and the Lower Cali- fornia Land Company, and of the doings of the company down to its expulsion by this aforesaid Mexican filibustering band. It thus appears that the company, when forcibly dis- possessed and driven out, were in a fair way to build up an exceedingly prosperous colony, and that in the orchilla moss they had found a mine of wealth of incalculable value—more valuable than the richest of gold mines. The Mexican Collector of Customs at La Paz and Seiior Cobos, who, as it appears, turned traitor to the company, happened to be in San Francisco the other day; and, being discovered by some one of the dispossessed company, they were arrested and imprisoned on a charge of piracy. Upon this charge they will be re- quired to answer before a United States Court, when, in the development of the facts in the case, we shall learn how the Juarez govern- ment became implicated with these aforesaid filibusters and how far they acted under its authority. We have no doubt that the discovery of the unlimited wealth secured by the land company concerned, in those extensive fields of orchilla, excited the jealousy and cupidity of the Juarez government, and that the company was dis- possessed and driven out because, while it was desirable to get rid of a colony which might become more powerful in time than its master, the rich resources of orchilla the company had brought to light and the quantity they had col- lected for shipment—four hundred thousand dollars worth, more or less-—were too tempting to be resisted under Mexican ideas of fair dealing, The average Mexican goes accord- ing to that anglent rale— i ‘The simple plan, a should take who nave the power, they should keep who can. Whatever may be the action of the United States Court upon this case, it is a case which must lead to = demand for reparation and res- titution from our government upon that of Mexico; and as General Butler is concerned in this land company we may be sure that there will be no trifling with these Mexican filibusters, nor with this alleged treachery of the Juarez government, We may look before long for a resolution in Congress from General Butler requesting the President to inquire into the facts of this filibustering affair, and to report them to the House, together with the facts upon which the charter of this land com- pany was revoked, and whether its agents ‘and servants were or were not expelled by author- ity of the Mexican government; and that he be requested also to report to the House. the supposed extent to which our national Treas- ury is defrauded by the conveniences afforded to smugglers in the border ‘‘free zone” of Mexico, and what measures in bis judgment are necessary to establish in Mexico the law, order and usages of a civilized people, Such a resolution would be both proper and expedient under the existing condition of things in Mexico, It was under the broad plea of humanity and the common rights of civilization that Napoleon the Third under- took his Mexican protectorate; it was under the plea of the Monroe doctrine of European non-intervention in the domestic affairs of our repoblican neighbors that Napoleon was induced to abandon his protectorate. We have thus become responsible to the world for the good conduct of Mexico; and if, as the mock- ery of an independent government, she con- tinues a constant source of annoyance to European nations dealing with her, and a scandal to republican institutions, it becomes our duty to take her in hand, It {s folly to attempt to blink the question of our respon- sibility. We believe, too, from the opinions in reference to a United States protectorate recently published in certain public journals in the city of Mexico, that Mexican property holders are ready for this protectorate; and we are strongly inclined to the opinion that a resolution from Congress, authorizing General Grant to sound the government of Jnareg in reference to the annexation of Mexico, would develop a powerful party im that country in favor of the project, We have always regarded one conspicuous act of General Scott while in occupation of “the Halls of the Montezumas” as a deplor- able mistake, Let ue again state it. He was in military occupation of the country, and it was not his fault if the Mexicans supposed he could do as he pleased with it, At all events, a “Committee of Notables” called upon him and offered him the supreme government of the country as the agent of the United States, & dictatorship, with a salary of a million dollars a year, if he would only say the word, But General Scott found in African slavery, as it then existed in the United States, an In- superable difficulty to this bargain. He could not harmonize negro slavery in the United States with negro civil and political equality in Mexico, and so he declined the offer of an empire which would have cost us nothing, and which would have given him « million s year to begin with as our Territorial United States Superintendent of Mexican Affairs, We have since bravely got over that African slavery difficulty, aod now, with our people—white men, red men, yellow men and black men— all on the same level as citizens, we are ready for Mexican annexation any day. We have already appropriated more than That half of the territory once possessed by Mexico, in the annexation of Texas in 1845, and in the cession by the treaty of 1848 of all that vast region now embraced in the States of California and Nevada, and in the great Terri- tories of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and part of Arizona; and in a subsequent purchase from Santa Anna for ten millions of another good slice added to Arizona, All the vast re- gion covered by these States and Territories, except the cattle-raising districts of Texas and California, was considered by Mexico worthless and mainly an uninhabitable deser!. We see, however, the enormous elements of wealth developed in these apparently desert regions by American explorations enter- prise. The same may be sald of Lower Cali- fornia. In the possession of Spain and Mexico it bas remained for hundreds of years a thinly inhabited desert; but no sooner is the penin- sula turned over to a Yankee colonization company, and no sooner does the enterprising Yankee take hold of it, than a new source of wealth, richer than mines of gold, though trodden over by the shiftless natives for hun- dreds of years, is first by these new American settlers brought into the market, May we not, then, reasonably assume that, with the annexation of Mexico and the occu- pation of the whole country by our govern- ment, the inquiring and enterprising spirit of our people will soon reveal the resources of those older States to be ten times greater than the discoveries or estimates of the indolent Mexicans? Surely the time approaches for the settlement of this question of “manifest destiny ;” and if the opportunity now offered to General Grant fora greater achievement than the treaty which secured us that vast country extending from Texas to California is thrown away, some other party will take it and turn it toa good account. Let the Call- fornia Land Company, in the Courts and in Congress, push their case, and the larger ques- tlon involved will carry them through. The Russo-German Entente. A number of distinguished Prussians who have been visiting St. Petersburg took their departure from the Russian capital yesterday on their homeward return trip, The highest national Russian honor was bestowed on them at the moment. His Majesty the Emperor Alexander, the Grand Duke Constantine, with the Princes of the Russian royal family, ‘‘es- corted” them—‘‘escorted” is the, word used in the report—to the railway station, Each mem- ber of the Russian imperial party was clothed in the full uniform of the Prussian army in compliment to the guests of Alexander's Court, The ..value of this. press news despatch is marred to a very great ex- tent by the fact that the reporter has not told us who the much-honored Germans were. If they belong to the family of the Emperor William we can account for the display, ac- cording to the time-honored rule that ‘blood runs thicker than water,” the admixture of the blood of the Romanoffs with that of Ger- man royalty dating from the merriage of Anne, daughter of Peter the Gréat, to Charles Frederick, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, and the birth of Peter III, of Russia as the fruit of the union, The accession of Peter II. brought the throne of Russia to the present reigning family, The Russo-German imperialist re- union in St, Petersburg yesterday was evi- dently a magnificent display—one which may portend a great deal more than what follows from ordinary leave-takings, even among per- sons of exalted rank, Tag Erm Ratuway Litiaation.—Yester- day, in the United States Circuit Court, Judge Blatchford rendered another important decision in the suit of Heath and Raphael, the English shareholders, against the Erie Railway Company and Jay Gould. It will be remembered that the claim of Heath and Raphael was that 60,056 shares of Erie stock, which they alleged was their property, should be restored to them by the defendants. After a lengthened legal controversy an order was made by the Master transferring forty-seven thousand and odd shares to Heath and Raphael, leaving the question as to the owner- ship of 12,734 remaining shares still to be determined. Jay Gould petitioned the Court to declare that he was owner of or had an interest in these 12,734 shares; but the Judge has met this petition by an adverse decision, in which he vacates the order suspending the delivery of the twelve thousand shares to the English stockholders, This is another defeat for Erie. Erie has had plenty of law, and it is now get- ting it hot and heavy, Tne Graxnp Duke ALEXIS AND THE Prorte or CANADA seem to agree so far as the sentiments of loyalty to monarchies in the Old World and the established power and reputation of the great house of Romanoff is concerned. Our despatch from Ottawa describes a brilliant ovation to the young Russian yesterday. After being enter- tained by the Governor General, Lord Lis- gar, and having driven through the city, @ public welcome was given him in the Senate Chamber. A short address was read by the Mayor and replied to with much feeling by the Prince. Immense crowds congregated around the entrances to the Senate, and wherever he went he was enthusiastically cheered and heartily received by the inhabitants of the capital of the Dominion. In the evening Lady Lisgar held a reception, at which, of course, the Prince was the principal guest, Tae ORtgans Princes IN THE FRENoH AsezmBty.—The Prince de Joioville and the Duke d’Aumale took their seats in the Na- tional Assembly of France yesterday. They ranged themselves in the centre of the mem- bers representing the party of the right, Their appearance as citizen legislators pro- duced no sensation in the parliamentary body. We learn, also, by telegram from France, that the government of the republic has refused to sell the crown jewels to private parties, This will prevent the occurrence of a deal of out- side speculation of a very demoralizing char- acter, Perhaps the gems may be needed at home fn France, snd at an early day, Tus Ko Kxvx Triats at Columbis, South Carolina, are progressing, and under the ad- ministration of the Judges of the United States Courts several of the members of the organ- ization have been found guilty, Yesterday the Grand Jury brought in several additional indictments, and will doubtless soon make a grand onslaught on those within thelr jurisdic. oa, Congrces Yesterday—Tho Senate Still Pur. suing Corrupt Offiginie—Debate in the Hense on the International Society Bill. The civil service reformers in the Senate seem determined to follow out the scent on which they have been running for the last week in pursuit of official corruption. Senator Conkling, apparently realizing that the oppo- sition to Senator Trumbull’s demand for an investigation was placing the administration and those who sustained it in a false and un- tenable position, took up his own stand among the reformers, and went for a full investiga- tion of the “General Order Business” in the New York Custom House, and to find out whether Mr. Leet—who enjoys the monopoly of that business—shares his profits with other officials. Mr, Conkling was even in such an amiable mood as to accept an amendment to his resolution, offered by Mr. Schurz, directing the same committee to inquire whether unauthorized charges are made for storage and carting in the Custom House business in New York, and as to the accept- ance of presents by officers from their subor- dinates, and as to connivance at frauds in passing passengers’ baggage, and as to various other actual or supposed peccadilloes on the part of officials, With his amiability still un- exhausted Mr. Conkling accepted another amendment, suggested by Mr. Bayard, of Delaware, instructing the committee to in- quire also whether Custom House officers have been or are being used as instru- ments of political or party patronage. He also accepted a proposition, offered by Sen- ator Tipton, of Nebraska, to inquire as to. whether New York Custom House em- ployés have been used to influence or control State Conventions. Mr. Blair, of Missouri, also got in without objection a resolution to inquire into the propriety of Minister Schenck’s connection with the Emma silver mine, But when Senator Sumner, presuming on the more manageable temper exhibited by the administration Senators, raked up his old St. Domingo troubles, and wanted an investi- gation into that subject, Senator Conkling’s tolerance suddenly gave way, and he ob- jected absolutely to the resolution being offered. If all the other scents, however, are honestly and persistently followed out, it is but fair to expect that considerable game will be bagged. Apropos of this subject it may here be stated that the report of the Civil Service Commission was sent to both houses yesterday by the President, with an approving message. Of other subjects that came up in the Senate yesterday it is enongh to allude to a resolu- tion, offered by Senator Chandler, of Michi. gan, to refer to the Committee on Commerce that portion of the President’s annual Message relating to the telegraph postal system, which resolution lies over; to a bill, introduced by Senator Edmunds, of Vermont, to punish stock gambling by publie officers, and to a proposed amendment of the constitution, presented By Senator Stewart, of Nevada. This latter, which was referred to the Jodiclary Committee, proposes that the ‘Constitution shall. be so amended as to provide that there sball be matiotained in each State and Territory a system of free common schools, and that neither the United States, nor any State, Territory or municipal corporation shall aid in the support of any school wherein the peculiar tenets of any de- nomination shall be taught. The House bill, appropriating four millions of dollars for the Chicago Custom House, was passed in the Senate, and a new Georgia Senator (Mr. Norwood, a native article, not a carpet-bagger) was admitted to a seat, in dis- regard of the opposing claim of Foster Blodg- ett, who was ruthlessly sacrificed in the house of his friends, In the House the entire day was occupied in the discussion of the bill reported last week, either from the Committee on Education and Labor or from the International’ Society, for the creation of a commission to inquire into the relations of capital and labor. Those who opposed the bill put their opposition prin- cipally on the ground that it was a subject which came properly within the jurisdiction of committees of the House or of bureaus of the government, and that there was no propriety in getting up a needless and expensive com- mission, Mr. Kerr, of Indiana, a strict con- structionist of the constitution and an old- fashioned demo:rat and free trader, ar- gued that Congress had no _ business whatever with the question; that the proposition was a hypocritical attempt to gain proselytes to the republican party from the ranks of the laboring classes, and that the practical way of serving those classes was by abolishing high tariff duties, and thus reduc- ing the cost of all articles consumed by the people, Mr. Wood and Mr. Cox, of this city, and Mr, Slocum, of Brooklyn, enforced some- what similar views, the latter naming for com- missioners three well known citizens connected with the labor movement. The discussion was not closed at the time of adjournment, but will be resumed to-day, and very probably a vote reached on the bill itself. The House had also its propositions for investigation, The Committee on Bank- ing and Currency was instructed, on the motion of its Chairman, Mr, Hooper, of Massachusetts, toexamine into the causes of the recent suspension of national banks, and to consider if any additional legislation is necessary to guard against such suspensions in future; and Mr, Kinsella, of Brooklyn, wanted to have an inquiry into the appoint- ment of clerks and laborers in the New York Custom House and Navy Yard for election purposes. Objection was made, however, and Mr. Kinsella must only content himself with bringing the subject to the attention of the Senate Committee on Retrenchment, Wiiuiam M. Tweep Disposina or His Propgrty.—A despatch from Albany, whioh we publish to-day, statos that an affidavit was yesterday filed in the courts by Messrs. Peck- ham and Stoughtenburgh, charging that the “Boss” has disposed of property at Fort Washington, at Thirty-ninth street, Fifth avenue, and also his yacht, for prices considerably leas than the marketable value, and that he is doing this to avoid the judgment to be rendered against him by the people. It would seem that the “Boss” no longer stands upon ceremony, but has taken the initiative, intent, beyond « doubt, of preparing for the worst, whstever It may he, The Poctry and Philosophy of Suew. The first regular snow storm of the present winter was experienced in this clty and at other points, different in latitude, yesterday. The reports which have reached us by tele- grapb, with the statements of our local ob- servers, are published in the HgRaLp to- day. They indicate the commencement of what is known’ as a “white Christmas” season and the approach of a cold, and it may be, blustering New Year. Few objects of nature elicit more admiration than ‘“‘the beantifal snow.” A magnifi- cent shower of snow stara, if seen in the trop- ics, would excite, perhaps, as much wonder and amazement as one of our November meteoric showers. A popular and eminent physicist has applied to the thousand forms of snow crystals now known to exist the words which Tennyson applied to the small sea- shell :— heal ao tary well a shal ot aa But while there is a poetry in snow there is also a profound and beautiful philosophy which the most practical man cannot ignore in its bearings upon his everyday welfare. A few months ago the dreadfal fires of the Northwest swept with cyclonic violence over its fair flelds and prairies, and this far distant land of the hardy settler was compelled to lay bare its breast to the rade blast of winter. Now, however, as we have learned by the telegrams of the past weeks, a beaign hand has spread over the desolated region a mantle of warmth and protection. Metedrologists show us that, from its loose texture, and from the fact that it contains about ten times its bulk of air entangled and stored away in its interstices, the snow mantle isa most admirable covering for the earth, arresting the earth's radiation, which otherwise would be lost in the outermost confines of the atmosphere and in the inter- stellar spaces. recent and extremely interesting researches in the climatic influence of snow (which we will mention) will enable us to forecast the prospects of the N orthwest for its next year’s crops and for recuperation from this year’s disasters, : In August M. Wojerkof, member of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society, gave an admirable summary of results he had obtained in the study of snow:in various coun- tries, and his’ conclusions agree with the observations of other scientific observers. It deems satisfactorily proved that wherever the snow mantle appears regularly winter crops are always sure, be the cold ever so intense. In the steppes of South and East Russia, where but a very small quantity of snow falls in winter—and this small quantity is frequently blown away by the strong winds—winter crops are scarcely attempted at all. On the north- ern coasts of the Black Sea summer wheat and Indian corn are foun d to grow very finely, but winter wheat is a precarious crop, while to the north, in Pod olia, where the forests afford protection against the wind and snow falls copiously and cannot be blown away, the winter wheat is the principal crop. It not unfrequently happens in times of great cold that the soil is forty degrees warmer than the surface of the overlying snow. This remark, of course, applies to unusually cold snaps of weather, But it has been observed in Russia, about one hundred and twenty miles south of A rchangel, that even the mean temperature of the air and soil for the winter greatly differ, the mean temperature of the former being thirty-two degrees or lower, and that ofthe soil being forty-one degrees, or nine degrees higher. The same difference has been shown for the southwest of Siberia, where the air is forty-one degrees and the soil fifty degrees. As soon as the snow is melted the climate assumes its trae continental character, The influence of forests and mountains in equalizing the layer of snow and, by prevent- ing immense drifts, giving to it all its bene- ficial effects, must not, however, be over- looked. While our Northwestern forests have suffered much by the late fires, yet they are sufficient to accomplish this important office, They certainly are not so universally destroyed as to render the whole country treeless steppes, like those of Russia. But there is here a most important suggestion for the economist, and especially for the railroad agents and civil engineers, which must not be overlooked. Last Febru- ary in the south of Rassia, where the forests had been completely destroyed in the march of Russian civilization, most of the railways were entirely stopped up and their trains ceased ranning for some months; and such a calamity will certainly menace and overtake our Pacific railways, unless the forests that skirt them are protected. In this respect the Northern Pacific will have some great advan- tages over its completed rival, because it passes through a milder climate and a country, as yet, not so much cleared of its native timber. The early arrival of the great snow fall in the Northwest and the regions devastated by the fearful fire-blast will have the double effect of preserving the soll fruitful for the farmer and will in the spring melt away to moisten and loosen it for his use, The former process of preserving its heat will be peou- Marly well secured by the early spreading of the snow mantle, before the earth has had time fully to radiate its summer and autumn stores of heat, and thus to become highly re- frigerated, There is inall ibis much to ex- cite the gratitude of the country in behalf of its afficted Territories and also to encourage the hopes of the Northwest, The study of this subject has an important significance to the interests of the merchant and the rail- roader, as well as to the farmer, in forecasting the future of this great section of country, Carwtuas Honmars—Tar Herarp Ap- VERTISING COLUMNS. —The advertising columns of the Hratp at this holiday season comprise & very interesting and important department of the paper. Well may the reader ex- claim :— ‘What ts it but a map of With all ite ductuauions tod sts Yast concerns? There is no better medium than the adver- tising columns of the Hxratp through which to reach the many thousands who are at this time of year selecting presents that may be treasured up for long, long years, like pre- cious souvenirs of the past. We therefore commend to those who are about invoking the spirit of Santa Claus and conjuring how they This fact, taken “with some) Can best please the little folks and make the hearts of the older folks glad, to consult the advertising columns of the Hesatp for almost . anything they may desiro in the holiday as well as in the more substantial line of every day's busy life, nd bpaneennnpeemenerrewe Judge Bedford and His Sinndorers. About six weeks ago Judge Bedford called the attention of the Grand Jury of the General Sessions to the fact that the gross frauds committed against the city had never been thoroughly investigated, and reminded them that it was their duty to inquire into those alleged criminal acts and to indict any persons they might believe to have been implicated in them. It is a singularly significant circumstance that ” ever since he took this position Judge Bedford has been the mark for the virulent attacks both of the organ of the old Tammany Ring and of the organ of the new Albany Ring. The partisans of Tweed, and all professed champions of muni- cipal reform, have been equally persistent in their endeavors to impugn the motives and to defeat the object of Judge Bedford, which is to bring to justice the persons who have conspired to rob the city of millions of dol- lars. Among other assaults intended to drive the Judge from his purpose is one ema- nating from the Times, which charges that Jndge Bedford during his term of office corruptly claimed and received from the city a certain sum of money as ‘“‘extra pay.” In reply to this slanderous in- sinsation Judge Bedford publishes a bold. and manly letter, which appears in the Henratp to-day, setting forth the facts in the | case and demanding an immediate and search- ing inquiry into his share in the transaction. We have no doubt that the investigation thas courted by Judge, Bedford will result in his thorough vindication, and. .we hope that the malice and enmity of partisan journals | will not swerve him a halr’s breath from his strict line of duty, or. be suffered to interfere for an instant with the effective prosecution of / “all who are alleged to have been implicated in the gross frauds that have admittedly been committed against the city. Tne Harrrorp Courant (republican), exe Governor Hawley’s paper, remarks that “General Butler does not find it convenient ‘to preside at the dioner to be given in, Wash- ington to Mr. Washburn, Governor elect of Massachusetts; therefore it is probable that Senators Sumner and Wilson and Secretary Boutwell will find it both convenient and pleasant to be present.” To this: complexion has Butler come at last. Deserted by friends and not loved by foes. But Butler and Hawley were never very good friends. THe IMPEACHMENT oF GoveRNor Soort, * of South Carolina, is to be postponed until after Christmas, when Mr. Bowen has sworn to convict him after the order of the reformers of New York. He scouts the idea of allowing the matter to pass over, and says he bas com> mitted himself to the task of punishing him and likewise all other guilty officials. He brings up the amount of bonds issued fraudu- lently to upwards of twenty miltion dollars. Another such a reckoning, and they will beat us in New York ‘‘out of our boots.” Tue Sprincrietp Republican (Vite Presio dent Colfax’s organ) touches nopon South Carolina Tammanyism in this wise: — Governor Scott and Treasurer Filet ee Carolina, seem likely to suffer for the k less manner In which they have increased the debt ana ruinea the credit of the State, a neg me ppeod impeachment having been i@ House yesterday Dy a vole “whlen sbows that they will probabil Vv 8002. deposed from the offices which they have a. Disgraced!) Were they not of the Colfax radical faction? Personal Intelligence. State Prison Inspector Fordyce L. Lafiin is at tae Metropoittan Hotel. William 8. Groesbeok, of Ohio, is at the Fifth Ave- nue Hotel. Captain Rupton, of the Bri:ish Navy, has quarters at the New York Hotel. Governor Marshall Jewell, of Connecticut, yester- day arrived at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. . General James Cunningham, of Boston, isstopping at the St. Nicholas Hotel. George M. Pullman, of Chicago, 1s temporanly residing at the Brevoort House. Dr. Livingstone, of Lowell, Mass., is sojourning at the Everett House. Congressman 4. W. Kellogg, of Connecticut, ts a domiciled at the Fiith Avenue Hotel. Ex-Congressman Elt Thayer, of Boston, has taken quarters at the Astor House, General James Craig, of Missourl, is among the sojourners at the st. Nicholas Hotel. Colonel Charles A. Converse, of Norwich, Conn., is dwelling at the Sturtevant House, Juage W. H. Kelsey, of Genesee, is among the residents at the Grand Central Hotel. Colonel B. N. Collier, of Rio Janeiro, has quartere + at the New York Hotel. Judge Stanley Woodward, of Vermont, has arrived at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Colonel W. H. Travers, of New Orleans, is at the Grand Central Hotel. Ex-Mayor Wells G. Fargo, of Buffalo, yesterday arrived at the Astor House, Sir Hugh Allen, of Montreal, has apartments at the Fittn Avenue Hotel. N. H. Crosby, proprietor of the whilom great Opera House in Chicago, is domiciled at the Fifte Avenue Hotel. J. M. Walker, President of the Chicago, Burling- ton and Quincy Railroad, is at the St, Nicholas Hotel. Boris Danzas, the first Secretary of the: Russian Legation under M. Catacazy, and now Charge d’Adatres until the iegitimate successor of that gen— tleman shall arrive, arrived yesterday at tho Bre~ , ‘voort House. Arthur Cheney, proprietor of the: Globe Theatra, in Boston, 1s sojourning at the Matson Dorée. Rev. Robert Collyer, the witty divine, of Chicago, is stopping at the St Nicholas Hotel. Ycstorday morning he performed the marriage ceremony be | tween Miss Olive Logan and her ideal “nice young man,” Wirt Sykes, and in the evening he: lectured , im the happiest manner on “Bobbie Burns, the Ploughman Poet,” at une Brooklyn Academy of Music. Genera) Ben Butler and his Secretary, M. A. Clancy, yesterday artived at the Fifth avenae Hotet from Washington. DEATH OF LOUIS GASSIER. The news of the death of this arte acerca baritone, at Havana, will bring feelings of regret the minds of many opera Aabdituds, He was bora im 1823, and graduated at the Conservatoire at Paris ‘with the highest honors, which entitled him to the right of an appearance at the Opera tn that city. ‘He made his début in Auber’s “La Barcarolle,” and then sang for several seasons in Italy, wis career in America, under Uliman, and at Havepo, under Marotzex, is well known. Ne waa @ favorite in London for many years; but his once magnificent Voice dwindied down to sogond rate quality of hae earthy as Assistant District Attorney unjustly and + wee aa