The New York Herald Newspaper, November 18, 1872, Page 10

HOW TO PREVENT GREAT FIRES, Communications and Suggestions from the People. Carbolic Gas as an Extinguisher, fo rox EpITOR oF THE HERALD:— In view of the late disastrous conflagration in Boston and the possibility of other similar calami- ties I wish to make a suggestion through the medium of your journal. I have long held the be- Yef that carbolic acid gas might be used exten- sively for extiuguishing fires, Of course | am aware that methods of so using it have already been tried, but I believe without much success. This, I believe, arises from the dimeulty of con- veying it to the parts of buildings where it is most required. My suggestion is this: let some en- terprising man of capital form a company to manu- facture the gas and supply it to houses in the same ‘way as ordinary gas for lighting purposes; it might then be conveyed over youy nets of each house by means of tubes, and applied instantly in any rt where it might be required; means might be Revised to avoid accidents from the escape of when not required, the details of which 1 omit, that I may not beep A too much ef your valuable space. If this method should be objected to there remains another one—viz: to attach a tube of suilicient size perpendicularly to the side or rear of the house, with short branches close to the windows of each floor, for the purpose of attaching flexible hose in case of need. Will some man of means and ability take hold of the thing and make a fortune, at the same time conierring a great benefit on society ? PROGRESS, Utilize the Salt Water. New York, Nov. 15, 9672, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— New York in hot weather—especially in the sid@ streets—has its air so poisoned by filth, standing water and dirt generally, that noone can travel with any degree of Gomfort; i* is perfectly unbear- able. What, then, must be the effect in these local- ties on the health of those who must live there continually ? It is dirt, dirt, dirt that kills New York. Let us look up a cure for this, Utilize, then, the ealt water of the two rivers by pumping it into large reservoirs of masonry, halfa mile apart on the lines of the rivers, considerably inland, then wash your streets with it daily. It will be seen at once that we have an immense water store for large tires when a surplus is needed, Salt water will not freeze over as ulate as fresh. The time will come when New York will be kept clean, and in hot weather washed out daily. The sooner this is done the sooner you will save as many as five hun- dred lives annuully at the lowest computation. Were it steamboat or railroad or the assassin tak- ing off such a number annually “what a terrible thing it would be!” WILLIAM T, HALLETT. Salt Water ana Sterm Engines, New York, Nov. 15, 1872, Yo THE EpiToR oF THE HERALD:— The late Boston fire will serve as an apology for the following metnods of furnishing an adequate supply of water for New York city in case of fire, First, by means of a pair of large stationary steam pumps situated one on each side of the city, about Spring street, each independently connected with three to six lines of water pipes extending length- wise the city, with convenient and great num- bers of hose connections, The pumps in question are to work salt water and be capable of throwing a Solid four-foot stream at a pressure of 200 pounds to the inch in ie of necessity. Every one will exclaim that the cost of boilers necessary to run such an engine would be too expensive. This I will solve. In the first place, a boiler of 100-horse power for each station is all that is required, with stationary steam-generating Spec It may be a novel but also a practical idea in case of necessity to harness our river ere {t into service. At a notice of five minutes ce of our river craft would have completed connections botween their boilers and the pumps in question, urging the monster to greater exertion. All points are practical and wil bear criticism, The supply is _unlailing, power sure. The 100-horse boiler belonging to same would throw a stream equal to about twenty-five ordinary steam fire engines now in use. The steam pump in question could be made condensing when run by low pressure boilers, When not in use as a fire pump it could be used as @ cleansing stream for the sewers. It will not only be a resource in case of large fi but altogether Instead of the engines now in use. The pumping engines, boilers and fitting compiete, lusive of conducting mains, Would not exceed 0,000 put r place, c.8. R. The Fire Question. To THE Lprror- oF THE HERALD:— While this question is receiving the best atten- tioa of the press and the ablest and most practical men in the city I ask permission to add some su, gestions to those I have already made through your columns respecting the availability of the ecean of salt water that surrounds our city for extinguishing fires of great magnitude, or rather to render su fires impossible. The perusal of your editorials and other articles on the subject leads me to do as you have done—namely, to modify my plan so as to embrace yours, or, if you like, to combine the two plans. You propose, as the better method, to obtain an adequate supply of water, and to have it always ready at the right | places to lay anew set of water mains from our | ample Croton reservoirs, Thus, as you say, we shall gain the double object of providing a more adequate supply of water for domestic and other city uses and for the use of the Fire Depart- ment. If I am not mistaken a new set of mains is being laid or has been decided on by the Water Board; but, as I judge from those Ihave seen laid in Madison avenue, of inadequate capacity to meet either of these important object But meanwhile 1 say by all means let us hi mains enough to turn to useful account all the Croton water supply. If there is really enough water Lo meet the necessities of the city, wiether for domestic, Manufacturing or fire purposes, or all combined, in the name of common sense let us supply the means of getting at it, or of making it available, When these mains and the network pipes of adequate size are laid, then let us have the engines | suggested besides, to be used in tue emergency of great fires, The advantage of forc- ing the water head to a height sufficient to throw a larger stream over and on to the tops of the higch- est structures except church steeples will be that the water can be carried in large volumes where best ‘steamers’ can only throw.a mere shower ‘Scotch mist.’? Now, the idea of using the ferryboats for ex- tinguishing firesin the heart of the city I hold to de quite untenable. If such boat were compelled | to carry a donkey engine and forcipg pump it would be a very desirabie precaution against fires on board the vessel itsell, and would often be avail- abie in cases of burning Vessels.at the docks or on the rivers, and also in such fires as the one in Wil- liamsburg last July caused by the explesion of a etroleum tank. For these purposes, as perhaps in inany others near the docks, your plan will be valuable aud ought to be adopted by the Legisla- ture, among other police regulations tor the gov- erptwen of our ferries, now so very Important to New York and its outlying suburbs. ‘The reason why the ferryboat plan cannot be made of much if any avail in the central ridge of the city, which is very well marked by Broadway as far up as Madi- son square, is that donkey engines such as ferryboats could conveniently carry wonld | hot possess one-twentieth the power necessary to raise the needed supply of water to a sufiicient height. I need be [could go into a caleulation to show that no dependence could be placed on this metiiod .of extinguishing fires, even 600 yards from the source of supply. The towers which supply London are, I think, over one hundred feet high, As the surface of Broadway varies from twenty feet at Bowling Green to sixty fect and More at points above Wall street, we should re- quire to have a power suMicient to raige an adequate | supply to an elevation about one hundred and seventy-five feet above low water mark. To meet reat emergencies and to provide ageinst acci- ents there should be three or four engines, and | these should have a capacity of at least 500 hun- | dred horses and pumps aud machinery of all kinds to correspond. As the chief cost after all will b the laying of mains and distributing pipes, the ad ditional cost of providing means to draw from the ean a never-ending supply, to be used only in es of great emergency, would not be large, There is another advantage arising trom the use ofsalt water, It is more eilicacious in quenching | flames than iresh water, Everybody knows the common remedy for stopping the Nlamés ina burn. | ng t himney by throwing # !ew handfuls of ealt on | Thing soot, which falls to the grate or fire- © views of General Shaler on this question are eminenuy scioutife and practical, as reported in today’s UERALD, His proposal is exactiy in con- jormity with mine iu the same number of your Paper, and of a large number of other scientiiic and views have been published in 3 nd other leading journals, It is to abolish the present pretiy toy “steamers,” as our firemen delight to cali the steam fire engines, and elevate by adequate engine power, when and as needed, suMicient salt Water to quench any fire betore it reaches large proportions. If by this simple method | w i transmit by an unfailing law of nature ses fluids to rise through tubes as high fountain heads, we can transmit the power Uls in the city, then we render «anneces: ; avle steam fire a tment adequate sup- an incipient great e, Crude und barbarous pian recommended by that ve oY mov n rif, by having a ply of water to put out NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1872.-TRIPLE SHEET. Let ne see Vaenee ace gna experience or old fogyism will carr; e day in th fmportant matter, ez ENGINEER, NO. 1, A Croton Water Tower at the Battery. New York, Nov, 15, 1872. To THe Epiror or THE HERALD:— Having done fire duty years ago in New York, when the question at every fire waa where to get water and the answer was found in the hearest pond, street pump or private cistern, and having been an interested spectator of the trial of Number Twenty at the Equitable building on Thurs- day afternoon, I was impressed with one fact, namely :—That, should a fire occur in any building of the same neight of sufficient magnitude to re- quire two streams of water to suppress it, our gal- lant firemen would be poucrlegs merely from lack of water. Where shall we get it? Very easily. On the lower corner of the Battery erect @ solid stone tower, which will serve for a light house when the present one is pulled down. Inside the tower erect @ stand pipe of the | requisite altitude and capacity; connect the stand pipe with the present Croton main in Whitehall street with suitable gates, to shut off the connection; extend the fire telegraph to the ferry house, a. d the thing is accomplished. In case of @ large ‘fire, where there was @ probability of the Croton giving out, a simple telegraph to the ferries would secure the immediate attendance of suf. cient ferry boats, using the force pumps they are at present provided with, to attain a good head of water in the standpipe, the gate opened to allow it to flow into the Croton pipes, and an ample supply insured to the engines at the fire. When the was extinguished the salt water could be run off through a waste pipe, and & tew minutes’ wash with the Croton would cleanse the pipes, the con- necting gate closed and the Croton turned on as usual. Other towers might be erected at various Points and connected in the same manner with the mains. The tower at the Battery would not be very costly and could be finished in a short time; would eost nothin: to maintain, could be always ready, and with proper care would last an age, ‘ PRECAUTION, Enlarge the Water Pipes. To THE Epiror oF THE HERALD:— Permit me also to offer my suggestion for the utilization of the waters of our two rivers m case of fire. The great want in the present state of our water supply appears to be that the pipes are not of suficieut capacity to furnish enough water to enable several steam engines to work properly and effectually, and the problem, as I sce it, is how to remedy that defect, and I believe it can be done economically by the creation, at suitable points on each river, of steam pumping apparatus connected with pipes of large capacity, laid at suitable and convenient distances apart, with separate hydrants. Thus, in case ol a large fire, the pumps of any one section, or even of two aoining sections, can be put to work in a@ short time, an furnish a continuous supply to the hydrants and engines of the river water in unlimited quantity. Three of these pumping engines on each river would, in my opiuion, be ample for the purpose. Obediently yours, J Another Big Pipe Man. New York, Nov. 15, 1872, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— I see by yesterday’s edition an account of the experiment on the Equitable Insurauce Company building, where it states that some of the water pipes are but six inches in diameter, and that in case of fire one or more steam engines would suck them dry, thereby endangering the lower part of down town in case of a large conflagration. I would suggest laying of large pipes through every second or third street, the p to lay below low water mark, and torun from Kast to North River, the pipes would be continually filled with river Water, and with Openings at every block, at least four or five engines could place their suction hose at each opening, procure all the water needed, and thereby saving our Croton water, which we prize 60 highly and which at some time may become very scarce incase of a drought. Also, why would it not do for washing and cleaning our streets, which do always need it very much? The above sugges. tions would cost but very little to bring into opera- tion, and we would have plenty of water for fires and plenty of water to clean our streets, SALT WATER. A Solid Man Speaks. To THE EpiTor oF THE HERALD:— Ihave noticed that whenever a fire occurs in any city like those which have devastated Chicago and Boston, there always spring up a number of people in this city who immediately commence to advance @ lot of absurd theories for extinguishing fires, such as blowing up houses, wrapping them in blankets, &c., and all leading to the supposition that we are supporting an institution totally inem- cient und not to be relied upon in case a large fire should occur. Now, sir, this is wrong, aud does great mjusuce to our Fire Department, which I believe to be the best in the world. I have heard different parties remark, What would be- | come of this city should a fire preak out here like those which broke out and destroyed Chicayo and Boston? Now, I assert that we have had larger fires break out in different parts of this city than either of the above, as, for instance, the Academy of Music; the two large fires in Fulton street; the one which origi ed in Beekman and } ended in Witiam street, between Fulton and John | Streets; Chittenden’s, in Broadway; the large fire in West Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth streets, | and others too numerous to mention, And all | these fires were prevented from destroying those portions of the city 1p which they originated by the superhuman exertions of our firemen, and that, too, While laboring under great disadvantages, But Still, in the face of all this, there is a want of con- fidence manifest among a portion of the people. Now, let me say that if, instead of advaniing im- possible theories and ridiculous ideas, the people of this city would insist upon increased water facili- iaws OF nature. each company, the chances of a great fire in New York would be very small—in fact, almost impossi- ble. JAMES F, MULLHOLAND, A Small Pipe Man. To THE Eprtor or THE HERALD:— I think the best plan to have an inexhaustible supply of water for the city of New York is th Lay pipes from the North to the East River—say every six blocks, more or less, below low water mark. Then have smaller pipes from the cross streets to connect with the main pipes that go from river to river for hydrants. The Loge do not require to be strong, for thet will be no pressure on them, comparati' spea ing. Clay pipes willlast a long time. The main pipes shouldbe perhaps about three feet in diame- ter, The ends of the pipes will or should have wire nettings. A SAILOR, Water Towcrs Along the Rivers. TO THE EDITOR.OF THE HERAL ‘The recent terrible conflagrations in Chicago and | Boston naturally set people to thinking whether they are similarly exposed; if so, whether there is any remedy. Itis acknowledged on all hands that New York is ag likely to be destroyed by fire as any other city, and that in such acase the loss would probably be greater than that of all the others com- bined. The experiments made recently on the Equitable Insurance building demonstrate the utter ineMciency of the means. of prevention of a conflagration at the disposal of the Fire Depart- pant. The spray that can be thrown on a building of such a height is werse than useless, as it literally adds {nel to the flames. Any chemist can demon- strate that by an experiment. Nor would a more powerful eg help the matterin the least, as the supply of water lurnished by the Croton pipes down town is too smail to furnish anything more than a spray at 100 feet or aver of elevation. It is evident, then, that if we are to be gate at all, the supply of water must come, not from the Croton, but from the rivers on each side. It would seem as if the Creator designed this city above all it. But, like a'l His good giits, it must be used in order to be useful. The question, then, is, how can this ocean of water be used so as to protect the city from the devouring fire most effectually and economically ? Many plens heve been propoged, several of them in some of their features re- sembling what I would now suggest, but none that I have Seen, as It appears to me, guite satisiactory in all their aspects. Ereet, say six towers on the Fast apd North Rivers, of not jess than one hundred and Ufty feet ligh, at proper distances, with apparatus to keep them covstantly tullof water, Let a mato or large pipe be laid all along the west and east sides of the city, from waich let smaller pipes be laki to another mein, to be laid along #roadway, yn as many streets as may be deemed best; i think every street would be best, Let pipes be raised at Suitable disiances, of four or five inches diametey, as high as the tops of the houses, With hose attached to those pipes, the heavy pressure of fifty | feet or more would in a few moiments deluge the roof with a flood of water that would speedily ex- tinguieh the fire, and certainly prevent its ex sion to other buildings. ilose attached to the hy- drants in the street, with the pressure of a column of 150 feet, would soon drown out the fire below. I have an idea as to the apparatus for supplying the towers with water which I shall not state at present, but which, if it work as lam assured it will by a gentleman knighted by Louis Napoleon for his scientific knowledge, it is not best to give to the public unsouglit, ‘That this plan would cost a good deal is true, but when we take into account the savings from safety from fire, lower insuran watering the streets without | wagons, aud consequent would be sound eminently cost fifty millions, as one stich tire as has occurred eminently “old fogy" body of rich merc know. as the Chamber of Commerce, or plowing ante | become unnecessary. What scienee aims at and | what practice should implicitly foll tion. General Siler is a scien % turn to account, as all ecientite men Ao, the | | adopt recently Would probably cost ten times as much, | without producing any satety, and then would cost as much as 1 would now, I feel confident that a plan like what £ have indicated will finally be 1, a8 it is, in yy Mind, the best and cheapest nbe adopted, I hope it will be adopted betove it is too late, PHILANTHRQPUS, ties, fire plugs and two or three additional men to | They must be put | others to have the meane of safety from fre, and | has therefore placed an ocean of water all around | THE EVENING SCHOOLS. ‘he Night Classes in the City and How They are Attended—The Old andthe Young Pu- pils—A Chance for Everybody. “When Iam solemnly assured,” says the late Superintendent of the public schools of this city, Mr. 8. 8, Randall, in his work on Popular Educa- tion, “by the ablest, most experienced, intelligent and upright educators of the age, speaking without concert, with entire unanimity and the most per- fect confidence, that with only tne limited and im- perfect means now possessed by them and their associates for the education of the rising genera- tion, ninety-nine out of every hundred committed to their charge during the period ordinarily de- voted to elementary instruction may be made ornaments and ‘THE PRIDE OF SOCIETY, virtuous, intelligent and useful men; good citizens, truth‘ul witnesses, enlightened and impartial judges and jurors, prempt to every good work and to every noble impulse of humanity, and fully prepared for the discharge of every duty and obligation of life; when, too, from personal and careful investigation of the records of criminal conviction of the most populous State in the Union, during a period of ten consecutive years, I find that of nearly 30,000 convicts less than 300 had received such education as the best coun- try schools could afford; when I look into our jin- mense and costly establishments for THE MAINTENANCE OF THE POOR and find them almost exclusively occupied by the grossly ignorant and uneducated, not one in a thousand with any pretensions to literary culture; when I deliberately weigh and compare and reflect upon these results, they seem to me abundantly to justify the most sanguine expectations for the future well-being of society and of in- dividuals as the direct consequence of uni- versal, wise and well-directed moral and intellectual culture.” If this was Mr. Randall’s view of the good results of our public school sys- tem he no doubt included in his observations the evening schools, where the chances of making good citizens out of the elements that, uncultured, might go to swell the number of the convicts in our State prisons, are tenfold greater than at the day schools. Every New Yorker has a pretty good idea what our day public schools are, the way they are carried on and the great good that results from them, but there are but few people, compara- tively speaking, who ever gave a thought to THE KVENING SCHOOLS. Indeed, there are many who even do not seem to be aware of their existence. That they do more than anything else to turn the children of the poorer classes from bad ways, to save them, in fact, from @ manhood or womanhood of crime and misery, no one can doubt who has ever taken the trouble to make the subject a study, There was a time when it was deemed quite enough to have public schools in every ward, ‘open to all” in the daytime, But little heed was given to the fact that, no matter how they might be crowded, there would yet remaiz thousands of children who could not take advantage of the privilege of going to the schools and obtaining an education free of cost, for the simple reason that during the day they had to toil from “early morn till dewy eve’ for that wherewith to KEEP BODY AND SOUL TOGETHER. ‘The time came, however, When the Legislature took the matter in hand, and not only the little boys aud girls, but “children of a larger growth” besides, were given a chance. The “season” for the evening schools begins on the first Monday of October in every year, and continues for eighteen weeks, inclusive of the usual holiday vacations, ‘The law ey that no pupils shall be admitied to the schools except those ‘whose ages or avoca- tions are such as to prevent their attending the day schools.” The bylaws of the Board of Educa- tion provide that no pupil shall be admitted who has not attained the age of ten years; yet it would seem that some of the Commissioners are not satis- fied with this provision, and are anxious to change it. It is claimed by a few that no child under four- teen years old should be ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE SCHOOLS, as those under that age are in the way oi the older ones, and instead of learning anything give a ‘reat deal of unnecessary bother. [tis dimcutt, however, to see how the Board can prohibit chil- dren under tourteen from going to the schools. The Jaw is explicit, Itsays that none shall go except those whose avocations or ages prevent them from going tothe day schools; and it needs no argu- meant to show that thousands of children in this city under Jourteen have to work for their living during the day, and who would, if the Board should carry out the “new idea,” be deprived of tie only certain means left to obtain a common school edu- cation, Still, there are many good reasous why the limit) should be fixed at four- teen years of age, and robably — the strongest argument against admitting children under that period is that given by Mr. Kiddie, the present excellent Superintendent. He sa: I~ pils are admitted into evening schools at too early anage, These very young boys and girls (under twelve) do great injury to tie school. They cer- talnly obtain little if any benefit themselves, Be- sides, very uiany young children are drawn from the day schools and placed at work because they can attend school during the evening. These children, in a physically exhausted condition, come to the evening school, but are utterly unfit ior any mental exercise, and very often are found asleep at their desks. Many older pupils are disgusted and repelled by being obliged to -associate with these younger children. Moreover, they are al- ways THE MOST RECKLESS and troublesome of the pupils and require a con- siderabie portion of the principal's time and ener- gies tobe kept in any kind of restraint.” Just what the Board will ultimately do about this mat- | ter can now only be conjectured, but it is to be hoped that they will look at the question in all its aspects betore deciding one way or the other. { If Mr. Kiddle’s argument still holds good as far as the schools show it this year, then their task will be an easy one, It may not be generally known that it requires considerable ‘form’ to secure the admission of a pupil into one of the evening schoola, Although they are open to ail comers yet the privilege is hedged in by some very wise restrictions. Were there no safeguards to guarantee a respectable boy or girl against being thrown into the company oi bad and immoral children it is pretty certain the general character of the schools would not be what it ia to-day. Each applicant has to be accompanied by some responsible rson or has to present a cer- Uificate “attesting their identity and respectability.” As for what is learned in the schools it may be said | that reading, spelling, definitions and penmanship are taught In all the classes, Geography is taught by means of outline maps, and oral explanations | are made in those classes whose grade in arithme- tic is above the fifth prescribed for grammar schools. Arithmetic is taught in part by MENTAL EXERCISES in calculation and analysis, with practical applica- tions of the principles and rules. The scholars are classified according to their progress in study; ac- cording to age and the grades in the branches pre- scribed are made to correspond as near as possible to those of the primary and grammar schools, The classifying of the pupils according to age is ad- mitted on ail sides to be very advantageous, It should be borne in mind that a great many of the applicants far admission are adults—grown men and women who are “out at service’ during the day, and who would naturally feel embar- rassed if put in a class composed of boys ten to twelve years of age to learn how to spell or write. So far as it is possible to be done these adults are put in one class by themselves, and the experiment is found to work admirably, Although’ on the whole the system on which the instructions given at these evening schools is a sound one, in the carrying out of some of the details the: mapy defects, Last January the Superintendent had to call the attention of the Board of Educa- tro, for instance, to the fact that the reading books were injudiciously chosen. Said be, “Some aut, proxy history of the United States is generally used, jrom Which the pupiis can ebtain but little infor- mation, and certainly can receive stilliess improve- ment of an elocutionary character,” and he wisely added, “the book should contain a variety of sul- Jects as well a8 a variety of styles; and Dy means of it the teacher should endeavor to infuse into the pupile’ minds A LOVE OF USEFUL READING, as weil as gant out to them where to obtain it.” Another deiect he had to complain of was the way the children were taught penmanship. The folly of writing copy after copy he justly considered ap- parent to everybody, and advised that the children, or rather the pupils, should be carefully taught the elements of a good style of writing and shown how to execute them with readiness and accuracy, For this purpose he suggested that the biackboard should be used, the teacher exemplifying the yarlous principles laid down, A good idea of how the schools last season were attended may be had from the following table :. Whole No. of Srhotara eqistered. Totals... Total numbe in colored \ GENE WU vine sas ests seresciceivoevsvsedvlune OF this number there were under sixteen years of 779 males and 4,263 females; number over nba ed under 21, males, 3,521; females, 1,884; number over twenty-one years of age, males, ul females, 757. The average attendance during the season was for the males 5,132 and for the females 3,634, less than one-half of the tetal number regis- tered at the opening of the term, i hing the. teachers Noyed in the As a general thing the teachers employs day schools ‘are employed in the night. schools, but the selections made are not by any means exclu- sively confined tothem. It often happens that young men in business anxious to mcrease their in- come profitably to themselves and to their pu- pils by spending their nights in teaching in the schools, make application for the position of teacher and are selected, It docs not follow that because @ man or @ woman makes a good teacher in @ day school that he or she is certain to succeed as an instructor in the evening schools, ‘The teachers here have quite a different set of pupils to manage In the evening schools, and to mould them into habits of study and obedience requires rare tact combined with no small amount of ingenuity and a great dea) of firmness. At one time the greater portion of the positions were filled by young primary school teachers who had neither the experience nor the determination necessary to success, and thus it o!ten happened that while in the same school one class under an “outsider’—not a teacher by pro- fession—who had the firmness and tact required to get along well, Was found to be doing splendidly, another under a timid primary school teacher was going to the dogs—the pupils being entirely beyond control and consequently learning MORE MISCHIEF THAN LESSONS. 'The teachers are nomipated by the various ward trustees and the nominations are sent to the Board of Education, where they are confirmed after the Superintendent decides that the persons nominated are competent. Last term the gross amount of salaries paid to the male teachers Was $27,358 6¢, and to the female teachers $14,216 73. ‘The salaries are paid as {ollows:—Male teachers, principals, $4 50 per night; assistants, $3. Female assistants in male schools, $2 25; teachers, princi- $83 75; assistant teachers in female schools, $2. It should be borne in mind that because there are not inale ahd female schools in every ward the residenis of those wards are not debarred from going to the schools in the other wards. Pupils can £0 to whatever school of whatever ward they see fit, The scloois are located as foltows:— First District.—Miule—Grammar School No. 29, in First ward; No. 1,in Fourth ward; No. 44, in Filth ward, Femate—No, 24, in Sixth ward; No. 38, in Bighth ward, second District,-—Male—Graminar Schoal No. Seventh ward; No, 42, in Tenth ward. Fems No. 2, in Seventin ward ; No, 84, in Thirteenth ward; No. 21, in Fourteenth war Third Disiric Ninth ward, Female—No. 1, in Sixteenth ward, Fourth Distr tle—Grammar School No, 36, in venth ward; No. 13, 1a Seven! nth ward, Female—No. 15, in Eleventh wara; No. 19, in Seven- teenth ward, in —Male—Grammar School No, 16, in , in No. 33, in Twentieth -first ward, —Male—Gramimar School No, 37, No. 46, in Tweifth ward; No. elfth ward; No, 17, in Twenty-second ward; 7, In Nineteenth ward. Female—No, 27, in ith ward; No. 18, in Nineteenth ward; No, 28, in ''wenty-second ward, Colored Schools,—No. 2, Laurens street, near Broonie ; No. 4, Seventeenth street, near Sixth ave- nue; No. 6, 95 Allen street. This Winter's term promises to be a very suc- cessful one, judging from present indications, THE HIBITIONS’? GOOD AND BAD. In conclusion it may be said that many of the evening schools often have “exhibitions” either during the term or at the close of the season, for the purpose of giving the general public an idea of the “progress” of the pupils, These exhibitions are very good in their way; but it often happens that the “bright” pupils, who are trolled out for the occasion, oitentines turn out to be da scholars of the grammar schools, and the exhibi- tion of the progress of the evening school scholars is, therefore, in many instances a fraud, | This ingenious trickery should be put a stop to, and if the Superintendent this year gives all the schools to understand that the dodge must not played, the evening school term of 1872-78 will—in one important particular, at least— be very much unlike its predecessors, 1t should be added that the time of even the vena Jide pupils of the evening schools is occasionally almost ex- clusively taken up from the beginning to the end of the term in preparing for exhibitions. This is wrong, no matter in what light itis looked at. It is true that there is now a regulation that no exbi- bition can be given at the schools without the writ- ten consent of the committee in the Normal Col- lege, evening and colored schools; but if that “consent” is not kept withm bounds there might as Well be no regulation at all on the subject, SWISS INDEPENDENCE. ty lms The Five Hundred and Sixty-fifth An- niversary—The Order of the Three Men Greetings Exchanged by Telegraph—A Grand Concert and Ball—Appearance of the Banquetting Hall—Addresses. The Swisa residents of this city last night cele- brated their five hundred and sixty-fiith anniver- sary of the independence gained on the memorable day when Albert Furet, Arnold Von Melcthal and Werner Stauiler, instigated by the patriot Tell, met in the rocky pass of Grutli to swear never-énd- ing hatred to the duchy of Austria, which then ruled Switzerland. The Swiss Confederation consists of twenty-two Cantons. The sovereign authority is vested in the Federal Assembly, which consists of two Representative Chambers, Liberty of con- science and freedom of worship are enjoyed by all, and education is generally diffused, In a cavern near the Lake of Luzerne the three founders of the Helvetic Confederacy are said, in Swiss tradition, to sleep. The herdsmen say that they lie there, in their antique garb, in quict slumber, and when Switzerland is in her utmost need they will awaken and regain the liberty of the land. There is a large secret association spread all over the United States, calied the “Order of Grutli, or the Three Men,” whose present headquarters is in Washington, and the celebration that took place last night at Coburger liall, 10 Stanton street, was under the auspices of the New York branch of that “association, The decorations of the banquet hall re ol the most splenaid description. The walls were filled with the proper emblems ofeach Can- ton, and a large painting placed at tue extreme end of the halt represents the chosen fathers ot the Re- public in the act of taking the celebrated oath—“All for one, and one for all.’ The banquet commenced about six in the evening, and a conc+rt composed of forty Tyrolese singers opened the festival by a national unthem; then the director of the Society, Mr. Fireabund, ad- dressed those present. In the course of a long speech he said ‘oud years have passed since William Tell began to plan the downfall of ty- ranny in his native land. je memoraple deeds ac- corded to the Swiss hero and his few but noble com- panions who drove from theshore of the tempestu- ous lake the boat of the tyrant Gesler we celebrate to-night, and I am giad to see such a large gathering Oo. my countrymen as 18 at present here. Switzer- land, once elevated to freedom, put on that crown which makes her seem always fair, go-"erned as It is with simplicity of customs, honesty, frankness of heart, the fuil observance of national laws and in- terpational compacts, On the 8th of Jaauary, 1308, alittle after the ancestors of the Grutit reunited the Helvetian shepherds for the first time under the auspices of liberty, our forefathers invited them to renew the sacred oath of the 17th of November— “One forall, and all for one’—in defending the rights of the oppressed people. Here commenced the chivalric episodes of Switzerland's history, wherein the names of Tell, Straugacier, Melcthal, Fierst and their confederates sound everywhere glorious and impressive, Other names of our coun- trymen have been transmitted in honor to our days, and will in all times be chronicled in the most splendid pages of Helvetian history. As the Rome demands were not complied with dissatisfaction grew rife and revolution impended ; imperial, royal and ducal thrones trembled or jell, But the Swiss republicans rose again to a man, and, without giving the corrupt seed time to replant itself, eradicated it effectually and forever. (Tremendous cheering.) The speaker resumed his Seat alter much greeting from the fraternity. The Tand.chorus of the Cantons, which was chanted by @ band of vocalists selected from e of the Swiss Cantons, then took place. Several celebrated Swiss singers then sung patriotic Swiss songs. Greetings were alterwards exchanged by telegraph between the twenty-eight sections of the Grand Verein in the United States, The President then delivered a brief address, alter which the sons and daughters of the land of Teil joined in the merry dance with good prospects of keeping ét up “till the wee sma’ hours.” HORRIBLE RAILROAD ACCIDENT, On Saturday evening between five and six o'clock, while James Williams, the one-armed flag- man at the Roseville station of the Morris and Es sex Railroad, was signaling train he failed to observe the drill engine “Grace” moving down the Montclair branch track, on — which he stood, He was run over and horribly mutilated, the fesit bene stripped from both his legs, and one of them ali but severed, so that it only hung by a shred of flesh. The poor fel- jow was removed to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he lingered in the greatest agony till a quarter to thece o'clock yesterday morning. He leaves a wile aud three children in Meatclair. NEWARK’S CHLOROFORM CASE, Dr. Dold, the Essex County Physician, has made an investigation in the case of the woman, Annie Witmann, whose death on Saturday from an overdose of chloroform administered by Dr. Fredolin Ill, @ prominent German physi+ cian of Newark, was reported in yesterday's HERALD, and gives the extraordinary decision that death was the result of circumstances which could not have been joreseen, The decision has occasioned wisespread comment, as it is equiva. lent ° adeclarution that Lo inyuvst will be or- dered, AQUATICS. —— Sculling Match Betw Bagnall and Addy for £200—The Former the Win- mer. (From the London Sportsman, Nov, 5. On Monday afternoon (November 4) the first of the two important mile sculling matches between Robert Bagnall, of Neweastle-upon-Tyne, and Mark Aday, of Manchester, was deeided at Putney, and appeared to create more than ordinary in- tereet from the fact that short spius of a mile are not frequently rowed on the Thames, while the competitors represented the interests of rival cliques of north country oarsmen, Both men have frequently appeared on the London river, and, a8 late as last May, it will be remembered, they com- peted over the long course for £200, when Bag- Rall won, and his victory brought about different opinions aa to which was the faster man over @ short course. Consequently the men were matched at Newcastle in September to row one mile for £100 a side, the ex-champion, Harry Kelley, posting the money for the Manchester man; and, not satisfied with one trial, a second agreement was signed to row a mile on the Tyne on Novem- ber 18, the final deposit for this match being made on Friday last at Newcastle. Addy arrived at the Bells, Putney, on Monday last, his opponent reach- ing London on the following evening, and since that time both have done some rattling good work. The men had agreed to row according to the old recognized rules of boat racing, and two skills were placed twenty yards apart, opposite the Star and ‘ter, while oid Jol Pheips oiiciated as judge from @ boat oif Rose Bank, the distance be- ing exactly a mile as measured upon the map of the river. Before proceeding iurther we shall give tie principal performances of the men:— Robert Bagnall was born at Newcasile on Febru- ary 8, 1849, and is copsequently in his twenty-fouith year; he stands five feet eightinches.in height, and scaled yesterday ten stone ten pounds, He made his début as a sculler, in open boats, in September, 1808, and, after winning a couple of minor matches in that description of craft, he was pitied against Purvis, whom he disposed of very easily ina scullers’ race from Hepburn guay to the Jarrow Ferryboat Landing, on January 2, 1871, The good form displayed by Wagnall on that occasion at- tracted the attention of the ‘Adelaide school,” and two opponents were quickly found for hit in Ralph Ber Dlen ite and Charles Wilson, both of whom he disposed of in the same week with case, the matches taking place respectively on May Land May 6 of last year. On the formation of the “Ade- laide four? Bagnall was selected to fi No. 3 thwart, James ‘Taylor rowing bow, J. H. Sadler No. 2, and ‘IT, Winship ‘stroke; but on their first essay at the ‘tyne regatta, on June 16, they had to succumb to the superior prowess of Renforth’s crew, which con- sisted of J. Percy, K. Chambers, H. Kelley and J. Renforth, In the Autumn of the sux vise le Adelaide crew made an expedition across the At- lantic, where, with one exception, they took all the valuable prizes offered for four-oars at the principal Canadian and American regattas, Bagnall tried his hand with the sculls at several of these regattas, but, as might be expected with such opponents in the field as J. H. Sadler and Harry Keiley, he jailed to distinguish himself, On his return home no one on the Tyne was found willing to make a match with so formidable a candidate, and it was not un- til last Spring that his opponent of yesterday threw out a chailenge to row from Putney to Mortlake for £100 a side—a match, it will be remembered, Sag nall won easily. Bagnall trained for his engage- ment with James Taylor, under whose care ke put the finishing touch to his preparation at the Ked Lion, Putney. Mark Addy has been before the public for several years, during which time he has disiinguished him- Sell, both as @ sculler and an oarsmut. He is thirty-three years of age, stands tive fect three and a hall inches, and scaled on Satur- day nine stone ten pounds, He made his dcbut a8 asculler on the Thames on January 16, 1866, in @ match witn E. May, whom he vanquished very easily for a stake of £30 aside, the course being from Putney to Barnes’ bridge. On Novem- ber 26 of the tollowing year he defeated David Coombes in a match, over the Thames course, for £50 a side, and tollowed up his success by giving two lengths’ start and un unqualified beating to J, Pedgrift, of Surbiton, over the same course, and for -a similar amount, on April 28, 1588, On October 19 of the same year he experienced his first reverse in a match on the Tyne with James Taylor, for £50 a side, the north countryman win- ning onafoul. In March, 1869, pee! once more made his appearance on the Thames, his opponent on this occasion being W. Sadler, of Putney—then an unbeaten man—whom he defeated with great ease, the stake being £100 a side. Karly in 1870 he was again matched to row James Taylor on the Tyne jor a stake of £100 aside, but unfortunately Was compelled to forfeit the whole of the money in consequence of an accident to his hand on the morning of the day appointed for the race. As stated above he met Bagnall last May over the Championship Course, When Mark was easily beaten. Addy trained for his present engagement under the care of Harry Kelley and H, Lang, and took his final breathings on the Thames from the Bells, Putney. ‘The start was announced for a quarter to four, but the men did not get to their stations until a few minutes after four o'clock, when the tide was swinging up at arattling pace. Very litte wind was blowing? and the water was as smooth as could be wished; but, although the clouds looked threaten- ing, the rain kept off until the race hed been de- cided, A steamer, chartered on behalf of the row- ers, was Well filed, and speculation was very brisk, the Tynesiders putting their money down like men. The betting opened at 5 to 4 on Bagna‘l; but this price was soon increased to 6 to 4d—a quotation that was taken toa deal of money. The London division, however, soon tired, and eventually 7 to 4 was laid on the north country- man. Both men rowed in new boats, by Jewitt, of Dunston, and they were pronounced perfect models; that used by Bagnall was fitted with a sliding seat, but Addy declined to adopt the new fashion. while neither used a rudder. George Drewitt won the toss for Addy, and selected the Middlesex station, where Harry Kelley was in attendance in an eight-oared cutter, while James Taylor acted as Bagnal’s pilot from the bows of another eight. Mr. R. B. Wormald ofticiated as soie umpire from the head of the steamer, and despatched the men to an excelient start at five minutes after four. Immediately the sigual was given Addy set to work with a very fast stroke, and, after a dozen pulls, held a lead ot about three feet. Neither man seemed flurried at the start, as both rowed with a clean stroke, but Addy was much quicker than his opponent, and off Simmons’ yard had increased his lead to @ quarter of a length. Ere they had reached the London Boathouse Entra commenced to overhaul his man, but in doi ng so seemed to work harder with his lett scull, and consequently took an erratic course towards the Suirey shore. ‘This still further increased Addy’s advantage, but Bagnall soon put his boat straight, and settled down with along swinging stroke. After passing the L. R. C, Boathouse a desperate struggle com- menced, ie which Addy was backed several times at six to four, but it was apparent that the Tyne lad was gaining ground fast, as each stroke told wonderiully. At the end of the Bishop's grounds Addy sheered out somewhat abruptly to- wards mid-stream, and for a moment it wouldseem asif a foul would ensue, but fortunately this was avoided, and they pulled perfectly level ior about 200 yards further. When they had rowed three-quarters of a mile the boats drew n together, and mans pulling his lett rather too much, their paddies nearly touched, in tact, the Manchester man’s right hand scull overlapped his opponent's for half a dozen strokes, Alter this they separated and a ding-dong race took place, Bagnall, however, drew away, and, despite a last desperate effort on the part of Adds, won by three-quarters of his boat's length. Further comment is almost unnecessary. A pluckicr race was never rowed on the Thames, as both men struggled with unflinching gameness, There can be no doubt the better man won, and the old adage, “Youth must be served,’ again proved truthful on the present occasion, The time—d min. 36 sec.—was far from good, the distance having been completed in considerably less time on several occasions. The Newcastie division were extremely jubilant over their success, and justly 80, as they may well be proud of such a promising representative, — Aquatic Notes. O'Neil, of Troy, being dissatisfied with the result of his contest with the little wonder Englehardt, has already announced that he will measure biades with him again early in the Spring. The Harvard and Amherst College Boat Clubs have just closed the rowing season in their respec- tive localities, which probably is the grand dnale of the sport for 1872, B os = Dr. Russell Withers takes an occasional pull on the Harlem River, with a few heavy weights at his back, among them Megsrs, John Caulkins, George Henry, Leander Waterbury and John Lindsey. The past season was a most active one in boating circles, and the prospects for the coming year are very favorable, Several important matches are al- ready talked of, and if we are to believe all the rumors about prospective regattas, increased in- terest, &c., we must conclude that in the matter of aquatic Sports we shall not be far behind our Eng- lish cousins in the seasoa of 73, A NEW AMERICAN STEAMSHIP LAUNCHED, CuEster, Pa., Nov. 17, 1872, The Pacific Mail Steamship Company's new steamship Colima, 2,500 tons register, was launched here yesterday, Another steamship for the sume company will be launched ta January. ACCIDENT ON THE BRIE RAILROAD. BUFFALO, Noy. 17, 1572. Acoliiaton occurred Friday evening on the Erie Raliroad, at Cheektowaga Crossing, three miles from here. <A locomotive of one train passed through two passenger cars of another train, demolishing the locomotive and cars, From fifteen to twenty Jadies were in one car, only one ‘whom was sliguly injured im the band, AUSTRIA. “We Wish for Peace, but Must Prepare for War.” Andrassy’s “Unelouded Horizon”—Parliamen« tary Conflicts on a War Budget—Resigna- tion of a Minister—Parties and Their Prospects in Hungary. VIENWA, Oct. 32, 1872 The eventea of the past few weeks in Austria. are further proof of the very old maxim of govern- ments that if you wish for peace you had better pree pare for war. Count Andrassy, our Foreign Minis- ter, had just returned from his famous visit to Berlin, when he was called upon to meet the Aus+ trian and Hungarian representatives, who regulate the foreign relations of the Empire. When ques- tloned upon the resuits of the conference of the three Emperors, Count Andrassy emphatically de- clared that the meeting had consolidated the peace: of Europe; and, in reply to further questions, the Foreign Minister went the length of saying that, so far as he could see, the political horizon of Austria was entirely unclouded. A curious commentary on these declaration# was afforded by the debates which took place in subsequent sittings of this same Austro-Hungarian. Parliament; for the Minister of War, Baron vom: Kuhn, brought forward a prozeatee which, al- though peace, we were told, was more secure tham ever, Would have the effect of strengthening toa considerable extent the military organization of Austria, What the Minister proposed was this:—~ First, that the budget should be increased by $1,800,000 per annum; and second—and this was the more important part of his scheme—that the term of compulsory military service for every Austrian subject should be increased from two to three years, ‘These proposals met with’considerable opposltion, and, curious to say, the opposition. came principally from those who usually sup) a the existing government. After many debates the War Minister's proposals were at last carried by 8 small majority. But since then Baron von Kuhty has found his victory of so unsatisfactory @ char- acter that he has sent in his resignation. Whether the Emperor will or will not approve the War Min- ister’s act is as yet uncertain. If we are to judge by the proceedings of their Parliament, there can be no doubt that the Hungarians are fonder of talkin, than working. The address on the royal message, ior instance, occupied several weeks, and this, too, although everybody knew’ the majority of the government. to be so strong that the result of the debate was praciically settled beforehand. This debate on the royal message was principally remarkable for the amount of bitter personality with which it was filled, ‘These personalities were principally di- rected against Count Louyay, the Premier. Count Louyay is not avery popular man. His nature is dry and unsympathetic. He is regarded as more anxious for personal aggrandisement that for the good of bis country, and people do say that he has made a very rapid fortune, A charge like this is the more grave from the fact that Count Louyay has for yeurs occupied the position of Finance Min- ister, Herr ‘Tiszca, one of the most pro- minent leaders of the — left, openl; al- luded to these charges during the debate on the royal message. Count Louyay replied in tones of the deepest anger; and it must be acknowledged that he successfully refuted the accusations brought against him, However, even false charges, when brought against a man ip the position of Gount Louyay, have their etfect, and there can be no doubt that the Hungarian Premier's position is somewhat shaken. Another thing also happened during the debate which by no means helped Count Louyay. The conservative party in Hungary has Kent altogether in the background since the year 1867, je ar- rangements made in that year, by which the inde- pendence of Hungary was after a long struggle restored, were contrary to the principles of those conservatives, who, while they had some regard for Hungarian autonomy, tooked still more to the centralism of tne’ Empire. ‘The chief man among this group of conservatives is Baron Senney. Baron Senney is entitied to sit inthe Hungarian House of rds. But a few: months ago ie appeared before the electors and asked to be sent as a representative to the House of Commons, He was elected, and, as this was the first occasion on which the conservative party came prominently forward since 1867, the speec! of Senney was looked forward to with great inter- est. The ppecct, was worthy of these expectations. It gained the applause of all sides of the Parita- ment, The enemies of Cquat Vouyer endeavored to make profit out of the success of Senney by put-. ting him forward as a candidate for the Hun- garian Premiership. One opposition organ goes 80 faras to say, “A Ministry under Senney is only @ question of time; Louyay is doomed.” THE NEW SOMINION. A Terrible Murder on the Stony Lak: Borders, Ontario—Loss of the Crew of the Barkentine John and Honry—Ap- proach of Winter at Kingston. PETERSBORO, Ontario, Nov. 16, 1872, A horrible murder has been committed in the township of Dummer, near the head of Stony Lake. A man named Briton, employed asa laborer by a farmer named Payne, murdered the wife and child of the latter. The woman’s heed was terribly crushed and the child was found with its throat cut from ear toear. The murderer was arrested and narrowly escaped lynching, * An Entire Crew Lost. QUEBEC, Nov. 16, 1872, The brig Triton, which went ashore below this place, has been got off and towed up to be surveyed, A telegram from Gaspé states that Captain Vivian, of the barkentine John and Henry, before Teported lost at Cape Cove, anout forty miles from Gaspé, was reacued by Mr. J. W. Holt und another gentleman. The crew were lost. Snow ell here last night. Snow in Ontario. Kinaston, Ontario, Nov. 16, 1872, A snow storm prevails here, and several steam- ers, propellers and schooners have been compelled to put back. NOVA SCOTIA, A Gloucester Schooner Libelled. HALIFAX, N. 8., Nov. 17, 1872, The owners of the brig Ben Nevis have libelled the schooner W. EF. Archer, of Gloucester, for damages: caused by collision in this harbor during the gale of Thursday last. NEW YORK CITY. ———_+—_—_ Late yesterday afternoon Sergeant Porcher, of the Fourteenth precinct, informed Coroner Herr- man that Mrs. Ke'ly, an Irish woman, fifty-fve years of age, who lived in the rear of premises 134 fott street, had fallen on the fire and burned to death. An inquest will be held over the remains, Coroner Schirmer was yesterday called to hold an inquest over the remains of George Paddock, forty-one years of age and a native of Ireland, who fell dead on Saturday evening, while standing on the front platform of car 308 of the Third avenue: line, of which he was driver. The car stood in. front of the Astor House at the time, Patrick Dooley and William McGuire were yester- day arraigned at the Yorkville Police Court, be- fore Justice Bixby, charged with larceny from the person. Mrs. Marian W. Butler, of 136 Madison avenue, was the complainant, and testified that while going along the street the prisoners ap- pada her and suddenly snatched her pocket- OK, Seated $31, with which they ran away. Onicer Foley, of the Twenty-first precinct, arrested them. They were committed, in default of $5,000 bail each, for trial. THE WILLIAMSBURG TRAGEDIES, Captain Woglom, of the Fifth precinct station house, Williamsburg, last night arrested several young men who are believed to have some knowledge of the tragical deathof James Whalen, who was stabbed through the heart on Saturday night. The young men arrested gave the following names :—Henry Steffels, twenty-seven years of age; William Du nineteen; Thomas Cunningham, twenty-two; Michael Rogers, nineteen; John Gon- nolly, twenty-one, and John Dougherty, twenty. The murderer, whose name ig believed to be O'Brien, is at large, The Battle Row Tragedy. The man whose skull was fractured on Saturday night by the Battle Row gang in Williamsburg is still in the City Hospital. Ata late hour last night it was ascertained that his name was Philip Blet- stein, and that he resided at 335 North Filth street, where he leaves a wife and one child, It is ren out that this young man fell on the back of his head, fractured lus skull and by the fall his pockets were turned inside out; but itis not given out that the murderous gang who perpetrated this bloody deed are to-day gloating over the assassination of OMcer John Donohoe. It is true that they perpe- trate crimes for wh they will not blush, aha the police and the justices know it. George Winship was arrested last evening as a witness in this curious case,