The New York Herald Newspaper, November 21, 1872, Page 5

GONFLAGRATION IN JERSEY CITY, A Tobacco Inspection Ware- house Destroyed. LOSS $600,000. An Entire Block in Flames—Bravery of the Firemen—What a Blunder in the Alarm System Cost—A Gang of Thieves Bouted by the Police—Hoboken Sends Its Aid—An Immense Concourse of Spectators. ‘Owing to the recollections of Chicago and Boston ‘Whe breaking out of a fire in any of our large cities $8 gure to create unusual commotion among the inhabitants, as it proved last evening in Jersey City, when a fire broke out which kindled Into a conflagration that struck the thousands ef spectators with terror. A few minutes after six p’clock.a flame shot up from the moulding mill .on Fourteenth street, between Hen- @erson and Provost streets. - On the goute of this stood the large to- bacco-inspection warehouse of A. 8. Jarvis & o., of New York. Within the latter building, which was 400 by 200 feet and one story high, with ® loft, were stored about forty-two hundred hogs- heads of tobacco. Before the alarm was sounded the whole of this building had actually taken fire, and when the fire companies reached the ground the task before them was a gigantic one. Just ‘as the first length of hose was adjusted a portion of the loft iell in, and twenty minutes afterwards the roof sank with a crash. A WHIREWIND OF FLAME swept in a southerly direction, carrying the lighted brands, which ignited along frame building south of the main one und used ‘also as a storehouse, At one end of this smaller storehouse ® watchman and his family resided. The {nmates cicared out all the furniture and prepared for the worst. At this time the boys of No. 10 en- gine were stationed along the north side of the smaller storehouse, but when the flames SHOT ALMOST INTO THEIR FACES they had to take to the roof, where they could operate to better advantage. No sooner would the fire adhere to the sides and roof of the smaller bnilding than it was quickly extinguished. Never td fremen work with more vigor and effect. Ten companies were on the ground, including two from Hoboken under command of ex-Chier Engineer Curran. : GENERAL SHALER, of the New York Fire Department, was an inte- fested spectator of the scene, and was, no doubt, calculating the chances of the contest should the great metropolis have to encounter the fire fiend, le janwhile, A HORDE OF THIEVES were prowling around the burning building, and gome of them succeeded in carrying of handfuls of half burned tobacco that tumbled outside the build- ing when the roof fell in, They were on the point of repeating the expo when @ posse of police from the Second precinct SWOOPED DOWN UPON THEM. Captain Van Riper instructed his men to give no quarter to the prowlers, The crowd of spectators swelled into a vast multitude, and the task allotted to the police was no eas) and Gilkinson one, till Sergeants Mok eag arrived with twenty men om the First precinct. Mayor O'Neill was here and there ana everywhere, giving counsel wherever needed. The flames cast their glare far into the gloom of the gerey. SAY Heights and Wes: Hoboken and lighted up the little Dutch city at the toot of the hill, Away in the distance of nearly two miles the horse cars could be seen ascending the hill, The ever-increasing multitude were enjoying AN ARTIFICIAL DAY, At one time the wind suddenly shifted and blew a piercing, stitf breeze to the eastward, threaten- Ing destruction to a pile of lumber lying on the east side of Provost street and placing the im- mense tobacco warehouse on the southeast in great jeopardy. Mr. Harold Henwood, the superintendent of the warehouses, sat in his office in this building till the work of destrac- tion was half accomplished. Had this main ware- house) caught the flames no one could tell when the ravages of the devouring element would cease. Firemen ascended to the roofand kept it moist- ened with streams ot water. The lames HISSED AND SEETHED and occasionally sent forth an angry howl that al- ways evoked murmurs from the multitude. ‘The lumber pile was yet safe, and all that was combustibie in the mouldii mill was So much was gaine for the But the aks mass of fire within the rallelogram of brick, with large doors to fan the lames, was virtually unabated, ithe west and north were TERRIBLY EXCITED tilt the change of the wind vrought a feeling of re- ief, “Never,’’ satd Captain Van Riper, “did I en- counter so excited a crowd. Why, whey were almost wild!) And it was no wonder. Any man [who saw that fire when it leaped heavenward from ite abyss alter the roof had fallen in might well TREMBLE FOR JERSEY CITY. Chicago’s destruction proceeded from a small, a lcomparatively insignificant fire, and here was an immense conflagration burst suddenly upon an jawe-stricken community. The fire was controlled by the hardest work, but ith tobacco, as with cotton, the total extinction it occupy this entire day. The stock, hich consisted of Kentucky and Virginia leaf to- bacco, is as much damaged by water as by fire, 80 hat the Wales or portions o1 bales saved from the mes are nearly all damaged, The residents on ninety to one hundred éach. The” stock “was parties, and was fully in- The insurance on stock held by an inspec- on bond, asin this case, is transferable, and is equivalent to a storage receipt. je loss on the building will not exceed $40,000; insured in New York and English companies. ‘The loss on the moulding mill is $13,000; insured © $11,000, This concern was owned by Abraham ollard, but the manager of the establishment was $. Perrine. Thé machinery is but little dam- ged except what will result from the heat, Before closing it is proper to state that. IF AN ALARM HAD BEEN SOUNDED PROMPTLY he damage would have been comparatively frifing. The engine company from Lafayette cid jot Move till the third alarm—the regular call for yhem—and yet when they arrived at the scene little been done to eheck the progress of tlie flames, much raise caunot be given to she Jorey City Fire Department for its chicvements las' Chief Engineer Farrier orked even harder than any of his subordinates, md even the Vlerk of the Board of Fire Com- issioners addressed himself to the’ drudgery rhile hevaied threatened. Jersey City esciped this time, and the authorities il do Well to obviate alarm blunders besore the ext fire breaks upon them, THE INSURANCE INTERESTS, jo Farther Suspensions—Meeting of the Board of Underwriters Yesterday— Rates Increased from Twenty to Forty Per Cent, The companies which sustained losses in the ton fire scemed to feel easier yesterday on ning that there promises to be quite a salvage in some of the risks supposed to be a total loss. here were no further suspensions reported yes- erday, and all of those which were badly affected e actively fal in making up their impair- ent, or are awaiting the order of the Commis- joner of the Insurance Department to doso. Some 0 hd have, by their Board of Directors, de- ded to make up such impairment as the Super- tendent may order, but have not yet levied the sessment. The Arctic and Hoffinan have de- ermined to make up whatever sum the Superin- endent may require them, and have pledged eir directors to do so. The impairment of the mer company is only twenty per cent, while ey have an abundauce of assets—350,000—to y all losses, reinsure their risks and continue sinees without any interruption or embarrase- nt. The Secretary declares that there is no ne- yssity for any assessment; but to place them- ives beyond all chance of criticism, they resolved to make an assessment as i per cent, ‘the Board of Fire Under- ters met yesterday and had a three hours’ ses. The principal business was the conside: of the proposed increase in the schedule of The proposed increase was adepted, and Secretary was ordered to.prepare it for publi- tion. He was not yesterday in a position to give tails, but it is understood that the rates have en increased all the way from twenty toforty r cent on the different clisses and the rates of okerage by five per cent. Mr. Henshaw, the tary of the Board, will to-day be in a position give the details to tie press, FOUND IN THE WATER, fhe body of an unknown man was yesterday in the water at the Penitentiary gate, ckwell’s Island. The remains will be sent to fe Morgue, where Coroner Herrman will hold an THE BROOKLYN FIRE. Singular Fatali of the Walls at Woodraff & Robinson’s Stores—Two Men Buried in the Ruins. An unforeseen accident occurred yesterday after- noon at the ruins of Woodruff & Robinson's stores, which were burned at the foot of Amity street on Monaay afternoon. THE FIRE NOT OUT. Notwithstanding the untiring efferta of the fire- men and the men employed by Messrs. Beard, Woodruff & Robinson, the ruins are still burning, and ifleft at the present time the fire would quickly extend beyond the limits in which it has been thus farconfined. Two steamers have been kept constantly at work and a large number of firemen have taken their regular turns of duty at the ruins. They have been aided by the steamtug John Fuller, which has three large streams on the fire day and night. EFFORTS TO SAVE THE GRAIN, Aportion of the front of the stores adjoining storehouse ‘A’ had been left standing, and there appeared to be a large portion of the grain stored in this part of the building. The owners, naturally, were anxious to save all the grain they could, and directed the streams from the tugboat Fuller to be brought directly to bear upon this portion. They employed men, whom they term VOLUNTEER FIREMEN, toaid them. Yesterday morning a gang of these men, whose names are John Lynch, Patrick Mahon, Michae) Nugent, Peter Murphy, Thomas Beatty and Levergon, were sét to work under the direction of Mr. Robinson, brother of one of the owners, A strong wind was blowing from the river, and a man could not stand upon the dock and hold a heavy, wet hose without becoming benumbed with the cold, The result was that the men were compelicd to relieve each other from time to time. ‘The accident was caused by the pressure of water and grain upon the inside of this portion of the wal), which had been left standing and which tow- ered skyward a distance of seventy-five feet. The constant streams of water caused the grain to become more welgnty, and at last the wall was forced outwi toward the river, burying two of the men who were in charge of the hose beneath the ruins. Very fortunately the others were at a safe distance. Mr. Robinson, who had charge of the men, had A MIRACULOUS ESCAPE from sharing the same fate of the two men, whose bodies are either still beneath the débris of brick and beams or in the dock. The accident caused the most intense excitement among those who witnessed it, and for a time they stood spellbound with blanched cheeks. Any effort to search for the bodies of the unfortunate men would only be to risk the lives of those who attempted it. Mr. Robinson was fearful that an accident might occur, and started to warn the men who were in charge of the hose. He had reached within a few feet of the man who had hold of the hose when he heard a crash, and he jumped back, just in time to escape a portion of the wall weighing about ten tons, The sinking of the foundation caused the outward ends of the planks of the wharf to fly up- wards. Leverson, the man who had the hose, WAS THROWN FIFTEEN FEET IN THE AIR, and before he came down Mr. Robinson says the upper portion of the wall came down upon him. A large portion of this wall, and just where the un- fortunate man stood, was crushed through the wharf. Thomas Beatty is Fopuoeed to be the other man who is buried beneath the ruins, as he could not be found when the men were called together by the foreman. Some of the men seemed to be of the opinion that he did not go to work, STATEMENT OF MR. BEARD. Mr. Beard said:—Just as the wall was falling I was looking towards the men on the dock. Only one man had hold of the hose at the time, The other man was just turning to leave and he must have gone down. He could not have escaped, for he was only a few feet from the other at the time the wall came down, THE CAPTAIN OF THE FULLER INJURED, The captain of the Fuller, Mr. John Rose, who ‘Was also on the dock directing the men, was very seriously injured. He said when the wall fell he was walking on the dock and going towards the man who held the hose. He had called to him; He was going to see what he wanted when the wall came down, He thinks there was only one man killed. He was taken up unconscious and taken into the cabin of the canal boat lying at the pier, An examination revealed the fact that several ot bes ribs were broken and his head was badly cu Thomas Nevins, the chief engineer of the Brook- lyn Fire Department, has been present superin- tending the firemen most of the time since the fire first occurred, and he says that he -warned these men frequently to keep & eafe distance from this Wall, as there was danger of its failing. A search bia be made for the bodies of the unfortunate men -day. The Firemen’s Insurance Company is not among ae one by the fire at Woodruif & Robinson's ores, PIRE IN WILLIAMSBURG. Partial Destruction of an Extensive Malt House—Loss About Eighty Thou- sand Dollars. A fire broke out in the extensive malt house of Altenbrand Bros., Sixth and North Seventh streets, Williamsburg, shortly before five o’clock yesterday morning, damaging the building and atock to the amount of about eighty thousand dol- jars, The fire originated in the kiln house and spread rapidly through the entire establishment, but the firemen managed to confine the flames to it. The loss on building, owned by the Altenbrand Bros., will reach $20,000; insured for $45,000 in the following named companies:—Imperial, $15,000; Pheonix, $10,600; Globe, $10,000; Kings County, $5,000; Williamburg City, $5,000. ‘The loss on grain, which was stored at the risk of the owners, will probably reach $60,000. The losers are Berkenne & Schneider, 15,600 bushels; Ebling Bros., 10,000 bushels; Schmidt & Co., 10,000 busheis; Altenbrand Bros., 10,000 bushels. There ree also about eight thousand bushels malt on and. NEW YORK CITY. ‘The Association to Administer Missionary Ald to the Indian met at the Bible House yesterday. They elected oMcers and appointcd a committee of two ladies in each parish to solicit amd receive aid ior the Indian missious, The coachmakers met in Convention at the St. Nicholas’ Hotel yesterday, Mr. Kimbali, of Maine, Presiding. The only business transacted was the passing of two resolutions—one to the effect that all carriage builders be admitted to honorary mem- bership on payment of proper fees, the other that there be an uniform track of road wagons through- out the country. On the 9th inst, Mr. Halett Odell, of 84 Willett street, charges he gave Theodore Hanser, an em- ployé of his, $500 with which to buy three horses somewhere down on Long Island. Mr. Hanser, it is alleged, got drunk and spent the mone; ae; his iriends—or at least he says he did. Mr. Odell yeaterday caused his arrest and had him taken be- lore Justice Scott at Essex Market Police Court, where be was committed in default of $1,000 bail, Lester Wasserman, a dry goods peddler living at 0 James street, was arraigned before Judge Hogan at the Tombs Police Court yesterday, on a charge preferred by James echan, of 98 Warren strect, Brooklyn, Of assauit with a loaded pistol. At a quarter past eight Tuesday night Wasserman and Sheehan got into a discussion at the house of the former, ana it is alleged by Sheehan that Waaser- man presented a pistol at him and fired, the ball, however, not hitting him. Wasserman was heid to answer in default of $600 bail, Four of the vile dens on Wooster strect were “pulled”? by the police under the direction of Cap- tain McCullough of the Eighth precinct, on Tues- day evening. These places are known as “dives,” and are located in basements; @ cigar etore or some other light business being a blind to their real character, ‘the names of the women keeping them are Georgiana Roberts, Lizzie Bemis, Celina Howard and [da Sharp. They were committed in default of $500 bail each, to await examination for keeping disorderly bouses, The case of Charles Woods, who kecps a place at 656 Broadway, ostensibly for the sale oj tickets toa concert, charged with carrying on a scheme or de- vice of chance in the nature of @ lottery, came up before Justice Cox, at Jefferson Market Police Court, for examination yesterday afternoon. Dis- trict Attorney Sullivan appeared for the people and Counsellor Howe for the defence. Altera careful cross-examination of the complainant by Mr. Howe and arguments by counsel Justice Cox granted de- fendant time to submit points, and reserved deei- sion. PROBABLE FATALITY IN WESTCHESTER, At White Plains, Westchester county, on Tues- day afternoon, James Brundage, aged seventeen, was accidentally shot, and, perhaps, fatally wounded, by Frank Carpenter, a boy of eleven, The latter, it appears, was carelessly handling a eix-barrelled revolver, which was supposed to be unloaded, and while pointing it at Brundage pulled the trigger, lodging @ bullet in his head. The leaden messenger entered on the right side of the nose, and, crashing through the skull, lodged underneath the left eye, where it still remains, ‘The injured youth was in @ critical condition up to last evening, G HOW 10 PREVENT GREAT FIRES, Suggestions and Opinions of the Scientists. Salt and Fresh Water as Extinguishers—How Nitrogen and Carbolic Acid Can Be Used to Overcome Flames—Letters irom the People. ‘Fhe following letters on the subject of protection against fires contain suggestions worthy of careful consideration, 4 Gas as a Feeder of the Flame. New Haven, Nov. 19, 1872, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD :— The world is bound to live or die on its own ex- Perience, and but for calamities would make but little progress, I read an article in your valuable journal of Tuesday devoted to “Mansard Roofs,” condemning them out and out and implying that the Boston disaster was owing mainly to the in- vention of this kind of roof. I beg space in your journal to correct, in part at least, the impressions conveyed by its errors and set forth the Boston Gisaster in its true light, for the world is entitled to the facta and to the benefit of the sad ex- perience, The following I cut from the Elm City Press of New Haven:— ‘THE FIRE IN BOSTON. Several things have been made certain by the fire in Boston and elsewhere, viz, > First—The horse epidemic shows conclusively that steamers to bo tran ported by horses, when the latter are all or nearly all sick, 1sno reliance at'all. Even In this city the engine which. was sent to Boston’ was drawn from Artizan street to the freight station by about one hu: men, Second—The fire hydrants, which, for the want of a sufficient natural head to throw thelr own water, are no Teliance atall. ‘Lhird—That narrow strects, such as Boston and to some extent other cities permit, are very dangerous Ia time of fire, for the flames of balidings on one side of such nar. Tow streets are thrown across the street into the windows of opposite buildings, and thus both sidesef the street are burned, when, lad their streets Leen of a proper width, the fire would not have cros em. Fourth—Gas companies, fire marshals, and chief engi- neers permit the public to rest in false security by the omission—almost universally—of gas cut-off cocks inside feurd stones on sidewalks, relying upon the cut-off in Durning building 1 Which cannot a he time be reached 8 in the cellars where most of the ‘are located. Fi/th—The burning buildings in mn all contributed thelr whole volume of gas supplied tothe building be- cause there was no gas cut-ot the mdewalks, When there are no such cut-offs the gas is quickly let loose, and ity of the pipes pour out their gas into 4 8 makes sure of, not only the de- struction the building, but moneraces heat enough to make quite certain the destruction of the next build- ing, and so on, until an entire city is liable to be reduced toushes, These blunders deserve immediate attention. The above article has been endorsed by many who went from New Haven to Boston on a special train with a steamer to assist in extinguishing the fire. The fire in Chicago to a certain extent was a gas fire. The fire in Boston was in fact a gas filre— after the first beginning—which beginning, from we very nature of the case, Must have been incen- ary. Once commenced the fire proceeded subject to no power whatever; indeed, they almost gave up Bos- ton as lost; and well they might, for block after block of stately massive granite edifices were crumbling one after another as though a superhuman power was placing the torch in every building and in every story. It is certain that omitting to put 8 stopcocks in sidewalks has proved to New ork, Chicago and Boston that gaspipes, which have no stopcocss in the sidewalks do not get shut off in cellars and basements at fires; therefore every building burned in Boston having its Names of gas from Supply ipes pouring into the fire was sure to burn, explode, or 80 heat the next building that its pipes would explode from heat and set it allin a blaze, burst out its windows and throw its flames across the street into the windows of oppo- site buildings. This is the way the fire in Boston progrersed, and having been stopped for a few minutes revived itscit again by heat, causing new ede) of gas and came very near devouring he city. Now, what are the facts? They are these in part at least:—First, gas stopcocks in the sidewalks have been discontinued, and the only shut-olfs are in cellars, and either are out of reach or unknown to firemen and orcupants. We see cities employing scores of steam fire engines and salaried men to master fires, and the expenses are enormous. They employ fire commissioners and fire marshals; but what do these things amount to when the city overnment and their array of oMicials live on, rom day to day, in the face of astounding facts won once looking or casting about for reasons why’ Cities live under “rings’—no matter how small the city the fact is so—and the best men are not wanted in local offices, Slop-shops and corner politicians run our cities and their friends make every oftice they can, and they are annually multi- lied out of disasters such as has overtaken Boston. ‘ansard roofa.come in for a black eye, and more steam fire engines are tal<ed of, more police, more firemen with salaries and an array of inspectors of private houses and public buildings. Who ever knew a title to put braing in a man’s head? Whoever heard of a city managed by busi- ness men above corruption and incapable of fraud? Indeed fortunes are made by some who cast them- selves about and discover how property can be saved when man’s folly or crime has applied the torch. The fact ismenin oMece do not understand the business they supervise any more thun doa majority of the managers of fire insurance com- panies the business of fre insurance. Even the travelling adjusters and general agents do not understand their business, for it is a fact that just to the extent the official machinery of cities and of fireinsurance companies is extended, nominall, for safety, the greater have been the fires an larger the losses, How many public buildings, tenant buildings, buildings tor congregating and the storing of goods, wholesale and retail, buildings for oflices, lactories, &c., &c., have gas stopcocks in the side- walks, or in order, if there, to apply the wrench if fires take place? We venture the statement that, in Boston, New Haven and New York, not one in twenty-five. If this is so then we have intro- duced punpowder (almost) in a large majority of our buildings, which buildings, taking fire, are sure to have the gas pipes severed, meited, &c., thus pouring out fuel tor the fames, ‘This i8 one reason why the disaster in Boston oc- curred. To deny it is arrant nousense, for explo- sion followed explosion there, and the jets of blaze from gas pipes could be seen over the whole burned district. The gasometer was exhausted, and by reason of the universal discharge of pipes in burning buildings, How many _ stop- cocks, or gates, are inserted in supply gas pipes in streets? How often can the be cut of entirely from a burning district. What Chief Engineer of the City Fire Department or what Fire Marshal knows where gas cut offs are in the city he pretends to serve? How many ot this class of men are possessed of a key to shut off gas anywhere? How many steamers have, amon; their implements, onc or more such keys fer use necessary? How many “building inspectors” any- where see to it that gas—this deadly enemy of safety—is properly inserted in buildings? Do they ever see that a stopcock is inserted outside of the building? But it is said the gaspipes are of iron. Very weil; it may be 80; but all gaspipes have meters, and these meters are connected by lead pipes, which melt down the instant heat reaches them, and the whole volume of gas from the main pipes is poured into the building and saturates its entire atmosphere, Mansard roof or no Mansard roof. We undertake to say that no one of these public servants, or fire insurance agents, or adjusters, or general agents or ollicers looks alter any one of these things; and we ada that New York will be burned in part unless these things are attended to, Fire hydrants which are supplied by water with no head, steamers with horses sick in the stables, officials who will not see to the contrcl of gas out- side of buildings, and insurance companies who only know enough to pay losses or percentages thereon and raise the rates, ourht by this time to be set aside for better appliances as connected with public ey Heretofore in Iny oficial reports as Insurance Commissioner I have commented on most of these things, and, now that we are losing whole sections of cities, it is time to use pier oe? language. BENJAMIN NOYES, Late Commissioner of Insurance. Steam and the Results of Combustion as a Fire Extinguisher, To THE EDMOR OF THE HERALD:— Sirn—We have too long been in the habit of searching for available agents for extinguishing fire in the mysterious resources of nature and pro- curing them at considerable cost, when agents that would better answer the purpose and cost nothing are allowed to escape in close proximity to the fiery element which they are able, if properly used, to subdue. Inevery steam fire engine the exhauet steam, also the hydrogen and carbonic acid gas, which constitute the results of combustion, instead of being utilized for extinguishing fire are entirely lost, When we think of the vast volume of incom- bustible gases that can be produced from fuel it is matter of surprise that no method has been adopted for utilizing them. One ph of charcoal fuel during combustion produces cubic feet of nitrogen and carbonic acid and will vaporize seven pounds of water, yieldin, 200 cubic feet of steam ; half a ton or 1,000 pounds o} the same fuel will produce the enormous quantity of a cubic feet of incombustible gases and vapor, weighing together, 19,460 pounds. When steam is mixed with a permanent gas it is more elastic aud has less tendency to condense than before; the small particles of vapor being held in mecnanical ispension by the rarified gases, If the mixed gases and vapor be forced into a burning building, a Tea greater than that of the atmosphere ‘will be at once created inside the building and pre- vent the admission of oxygen itself to support com- bustion, It is well known thay fire will goon exta guished itself if deprived of oxygen. This betng the case, incombustible 3 eq to one-fourth the cape of any bailding wo effectually extin- guish @ are therein. Most of our steamships and large manufacti establishments produce at least 400,000 cubic fee! 2 ean aa and i Ce Ree en minutes. This agent, if pro managed, 1s far more efficient fer ext ing fires than water would be, and has no injurious effects on ‘This immense volume of steam and t be sony conducted h_ suitable tut ae eugine may be easly arranged with an ire el may w attachment fitted to the smoke-stack for conduct- ing the exhaust steam and the results of combus- tion into a building, without affecting their capac- ity for foreti water; or separate boiters and furnaces might be cheaply made to extinguish the fire with gas and steam alone. JOSHUA KIDD, 66 Broad street, Letter from the Ohief Engineer of the Croton Aqueduct. Dxranruant or Pusuic Wonks, Cursr Encinxen’s Orvice, 235 Broapway, New York, Nov. 16, 1872. ‘Ry Gnones M. Van Nort, Esq., Commissioner of Public Str—In answer to your request, referring to me a com- munication addressed ce bie by, ths, Chairman of the Committee on Public Works of the Board of Aldermen, dated November 13, 1872, and enclosing @ resolution of the Board of Aldermen, inquiring into the “practicability of having works erec! on th jorth § River, " at the upper end of the island, of raising salt water for the ‘use of sanitary and such other pur} t also thé probable cost of erecting suc} the necessary pipes for distributing the water throughou the city.” I'would report thatthe resolution is rey in- definite; but assuming that the ah water is intended to be used for fire purposes, for watering streets, for water closets in bos and for washing sewers, gutters, &¢., and that gallons per day be required for these purposes, oe. that the water, shal be pumped toan elevation of it above high tide at its starting point, Thave prepared the following estimate of the cost :— To render such a system of water works at all times available there should be a reservoir at the starting point, with a capacity of at least one day’s supply. The ‘Most souther! it on the island, where land of sufti- cient elevation can be found is in the vicinity of 1734 ry : ‘To build such a reservoir and pumping works not less than thirty acres of land would be required. TN More engines should be used for pumping the watet, which should have at least double the eanectly, of the conduit pipes, in order to have a constant supply while one act of pumps were undergoing repairs, wally at least twenty-five per cent of the power of pumping en- gines is lost in friction, waste, &c, ; it would therefore re- quire engines of at least 4,00horse power, as the weight of water actually to be pumped would be over 3,00¢horse power. To convey 100,000,000 gallons of water from 173d street to- wards the fower end of the island in four mains each four feet indiameter would give a loss of about six fect in head in each mile, and would deliver the water in the vicinity ot the City Hall at an clevation of about one hun- dred and thirty-three feet above tide, The present en of water pipes for the delivery of Croton water throughout the city 1s insufilcient, for the distribution of so laces an amount of water. This defi- ciency is owing mainly to the want of large mai ir from the main reservoir to 8, We are now jaying n additiot six-inch main, which will Great improve the head in the lower pare of the city. With this, with the addition of two other large mains—one on the ¢ast and one on the west side, leading from the Reservoir to the lower parts of the city, and the necessary cross and connecting mains—Croton water can be delivered at an elevation ot eighty feet above tide at any pans on the island, and at many places at from 100 to 105 feet above tide. To lay these additional mains will cost about... $3,500,000 To lay a new system of mains of the same ca- pacity as the present system would cost about 12,500,000 To lay @ system of mains to bring 100,000,000 gal- Jons per day from 173d street toa point where tho present mains stari, at, or near Seventy- mnt bout. e |, for the purpose fine. city street, would com + 4,000,000 Assuming that the land for reservoir aiid piimp- ing works would cost $49,000 per acre, thirty acres would be.. |, 200,000 Construction of reservoll 000 Assuming a double set i pines for 4,000 horse power cach at $10) orse Power, they would cost... 000 Pipes, €c., from pumping engine to reservo about. Eeuies ied Clansonwratases see 800,000 Making a total cost of.. sesse renee s+, $22,800,000 to carry 100,000,000 gallon fer ‘per day trom the vi- cinity of 178d street and Hudson River to all parts of the oy at an average elevation of about 133 feet above tide. It would take several years to construct and bring such system into practical use, and would also involve the breaking up of every street In the city to lay the neces- 8. sary mi The expense of maintaining and operating such & sys: tem after being completed must be more or less conjec- tural, as no such system has ever been brought into use. The actual expense in maintainin : and operating the en- Sines and pumps in the city of Brooklyn to pump 20,000,000 er day 170 feet high is over one hundred thou- sand dollarsa year. We may, therefore, safely conclude that the expense of maintaining and operating this sys tem of pumps would be over five hundred thousand dol- lars a year, and that the maintaining the sysiem of mains and pipes, including stopcocks and hydrants, ex: clusive of general renewal, would be over one hundred thousand dollars a year, making a total annual operating expense of over six hundred thousand dollars. Vast iron is the best and cheapest material now known. for the construction of pipes for conveying salt water under @ heavy head, and there has been no chemical or mechanical appliance brought into use up to the present time which will permanently protect cast iron from the ravages of salt water, and the pipes will rapidly corrode and cannot be counted on to last more than ten years. ‘The necessity of the two additional mains aid the ne- cessary cross mains, above alluded to, for perfecting the present system of Croton water distribution, and placing within reach of the Fire Department such a copious sup- ly of water under a great head that there need be no fear of u great contiagration, having heretofore been fully discussed by us, 1 would respectfully urge upon your con- sideration the’ necessity of authority, at the earliest day, for laying these additional’ ‘mains, and, as @ Precaution against any great, conflagration, that every steam vessel plying in this harbor which uses Cro- ton water shall only be supplied with water on the con- dition that they carry a steam pump with the necessary hose connections, whic! ave a capacity of throw- ing 100,00) gallons of water an hour at an elevation of 200 fect, if their boilers are of sufficient capacity to furnish steam for so large a pump, and if their boilers are not of such a cay the pump ghall be as lai the boller can furnish steain to pump Water under head, and that proper reguiations be established which will compel them tofurnish their boats to perform service at such oints and at euch time as the Fire Department may irect in caso of a large fire. If this regulation was e3- tablished it would include all the ferry and tug boats in the harbor. Respectfully, yours, WARD H. TRACY, Chief Engineer. Letter from Mr. Serrell, Consulting En- gineer of the Croton Aqueduct. New York, Nov. 18, 1872, ommissioner of Public Gxorce M. Van Nort, Esq., Works:— Dra Sin—As requested by you, Thave considered the ject of supplying this city with water drawn from the Hudson River, at the upper end of the island, for, use in extinguishing fires and fo1 itary etl and am of opinion the benefits likely to resuit from such a proceed- ing would not be commensurate with the cost, for the fol- lowing reasons:— First—That the effect of water from the Croton or the salter water from the rivers for sanitary purposes or the extinguishing of fires is 60 similar, in consequence of the small amount of salt in solution in the rivers, that it is unimportant which is used, as not exceeding eight or ten per cent of saturation could be obtained from the rivers at any season or state of tide, and for much the largest part of the year much weakér brine could only he obtained. Ita plentiful supply of brine as strong or stronger than fit per cont of saturation could be ob- tained, its effect In putting out fires would be very marked and valuable, but the injury th goods and buildings saved trom fie bi ofsuch strength would be equal to their destruction ; while the cost of maintaining water works, pipes and machinery supplied with such brine would be very much greater than those supplied with fresh water, in’ conse- quence of more active corrosion trom the salt, Second—That works located at the upper end of the island would be much less efficient in extinguishing fires in the prentes net of the city yen if mere centrally situ- ated, because the greater the distance from the reservoir or pumpsto the outlet, when it is required to use the water, the less efficient the supply becomes, as but. iittle can be obtained at a distant outlet, until the column of water for its entire length in the pipes has had time to Jent to give the supply desired. ar that even with strong brine in # several miles from where it might be Recessa: use it, but little benefit would be derived irom its use in extinguishing fires, as considera: bie time would elapse before an ample supply could be obtained, in consequence ef almost the whole body of water being at rest at the period when its use wasre- quired, Such is not the case with the Croton water. Its constant use at all periods maintains a current in the main pipes, and when a greater supply ie needed itis much sooner obtained than it would be from a column of water at rest. For the foregoing reasons no system of eupply of brack- ish water from the rivers would be as good for extin- uushing fires as the Croton water Is, even if pipes were fic and hydrants set for It us frequently ne they are at present, and [believe that among well-informed eng!- neors the opinion preyalls that the quantity of water at command trom the Croton River and Sts tributaries is ample for all purposes, and that the principal cause of danger from extensive conflagrations in this city is not from seareity of water, but from insecurely constructed buildings; the non-discovery of fires until they have as- sumed great nagnitude ; tle tardy apptcation of suff. clent water after discovery; the insufficient supply of water from the mains when they are first required to furnish large quantities; panic among firemen from ex. | id or the dread o: wind, tol wind and intense cold caused ged in 1835; explosion and panic that of the great fires of P i ery and consequent tardy in Boston, I have before remarked that the quantity of Croton tor atcommand appears to be amp) resent and future wants; the reservoirs are centrally situated for fu- ture supply of the whole city, and with a more efficient system of distribution by large feeder mains, as is now in progress, | am of opinion that all the water that can be needed for Sriogaleine fires and for yo? purposes will be readiiy obtained at far less first cost than the in troduction and distribution of brackish water from the rivers would entail, and at infinitely less cost for maintes nance consequent on more active corrosion by saitand the deposit of salt in the reservoirs and pipes if water trom the North River was used. The manifest diMcuity under any system of distribu- tion by pipes of getting a plentiful supply of water as quickly as the steam fire engines can be ready to use it, consequenton the time required to get the water in the pipes in rapid motion, induces me to recommend the con- struction of cisterns under the streets in the parts of the city most Hable to diastrous conflagrations, such cisterns tob supplied with Croton water and kept full and ready for finmediate use, and be of such capacity as will en- fure a full supply by suction for the most powerful steam fire engine, until the flow of water through the main is sufficient to keep the cistern fully supple |. Such plans would enable and ensure a full supp! yah ‘water for the cre engines whenever they were ready tor operation ; and such coukl be built complete for a sum not exceeding 000 each. Under any circumstances the use of steam fire engines should be continued; for it iy certain that as the quantity of water disc ‘®t outlets from servoir is in- creased the e foree of it for attaining a necded altitude is diminished, and must be supplied by mechant- cal means, independent of the original source. I remain, eupe 5 oe JOHN J, SERRELL, Consulting Engineer. Salt Water for the City—Letter from the Commissioner of Public Works as to Its Practicability.. In reply toa communication from the Chairman of the Committee on Public Works of the Board of Aldermen, Commissioner Van Nort has written the foliowing letter on the subject of introducing sait water into the city, enclosing the reports of Kdward H. Tracy, Chief Engineer of the Depart them; intense cold and high t fire in this ; high winds and Chicago, and’ Inte discov. application of water that lately NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1872—TRIPLE SHEET. - ment of Public Works, and John J. Serrell, con- sulting engineer:— Darantuant ov Pontsc Works, oH Tod, Now 19 eFE Hon. Damar D. Conover, Committee OL aap iR—-Your letter of quopted by the oar of ‘Aldermen’ August 8, itd was ee Tetter that i would «ive the, ve the probabie i per end of the iste C, wale, and such other purposes as it can al and also the robabl ost of opinion ore advisab’ Ry of such wan anders ne ie eonutemplated in resolution mentioned finmedtately on the receipt of your lever t’ dinenea ry and report to me in writing their views in re- intion to it, aud their reports are herewith appended. The importance of the-subject of increasing the supply of water in the compactly built part of this city, as a safe- guard against large fires and for other purpose: gariy e my attention after taking charge of thi mel and thy endeavars have been unremitting towards that end; bul at delays have been experienced trom financial troubles, and for one month the laying of the thirty-six inch main on the East side of the city was de- ; otherwise it would now be completed. vestigations made assure me that with other large mains trom the reservoirs to the lower part of the city a supply of Croton water equal to nA mergency and the needed sanitary purposes can be obtained much cheaper and quicker than by auy other means; conseanentiy T ganuot recommend the plan contemplated by the resolu- ions of inquiry. For further information I would respectfully refer the committee to the reports of Messrs. Tracy and Serre'l and to my annual report for gy sp ane 10, GEORGE M, VAN NORT, 1872, Respecttully, Commissioner of Public Works, NEW YORK AND THE NETHERLANDS. The New Dutch Steamship Line Run- ning to Rotterdam—The First Vessei= £ntertainment on Board, On Saturday afternoon, the 16th inst., the Neth- erland steamer Rotterdam, as pioneer vessel of the first regular steamship line between Rotterdam and New York, was visited by a number of genuine Netherlanders, who, to show their appreciation of the inauguration of direct communication with the Fatherland, presented as a memento to the Rotterdama flag (twelve by eighteen feet) bearing on a white fleld the coat of arms of both cities— Rotterdam and New York, The presentation was made by Rud. C. Burlage, Consul General of the Netherlands, who, after a few Temarks, read the following address :— On the occasion of the first trip of the Netherland steamship Rotterdam, pioneer of a regular direct steamship line between Rotterdam and New York, the undersigned, Netherland residents in New York, earnestly hoping that the efforts may be suc- cessiul and largely tend to increase the commer- cial intercourse between the Netherlands and the United States and establish a more close relation- ship between the two countries, as a token of their lively interest, do hereby present the commander, Jo. Fius, with a flag bearing the coats of arms of both ies Hetrerca and ae York. igned by TWENTY HOLLANDERS, New YORK, Nov. 16, 1872. ssi The crew had by this time been gathered on deck, whence, amid loud cheerings and hurrahs, THE FLAG WAS UNFURLED, which is very handsomely made, The commander, Jo. Flus, responded most happily, and showed his ability to act on short notice and under trying cir- cumstances by having his vessel immediately decked with bunting from stem to stern, and in- vited the party into the saloon, where, after taking some refreshments, they looked through the vessel. It proved in every respect to be A FIRST CLASS SHIP, having the following dimensions:—Length, 265 feet; breadth of beam, 35 feet; depth, 27 feet; and when laden draws nineteen feet of water, with carrying capacity of 2,000 tons; built of iron, with five water-tight compartments. She has com- pound direct acting engines of 800-horse power, which worked admirably on the trip out, which, notwithstanding rough weather and heavy head winds, was accomplished in sixteen days, The vessel proved entirely satisfactory, and it is confidently expected that the home trip will be made in twelve or thirteen days, The Rotterdam was built by Messrs. Henderson, Colburn & Co., of Glasgow ; is straight-steramed, brig-rigged and cost $225,000, THE ARRANGEMENTS for about four hundred steerage passengers are superior to those of most steam vessels, being di- vided into compartments capable of accommodat- ing from eight to fourteen passengers, making this an attractive feature for families or friends who wish to be housed together; while the testi- monials of the passengers who came in her siow that every poasible etiort has been made to provide good care and the best of provisions. The first cabin can accommodate about twenty passengers, ae pineriiny are large, and, like the cabin, finely a Returning from the inspection tour to the cabin, which in the meantime had been elegantly deco- rated with flags an flowers, and contained a table set with a sumptuous repast, the visitors were per- suaded to partake of the hospitality of the Rotter- dam. The dinner was composed largely of Dutch products, and delighted the party greatly, who ad- mitted never before to have had so Dutch “a din- a beyond the realms of the Netherland King- jom. The evening was most pleasantly passed; A GOODLY NUMBER OF TOASTS were drank, among which were “The New Line,” “The Firm of Platie, Reuchlin & Co.,” large owners, as the energetic Netherlanders who he«\ established the same; “King William the Third,” “President Grant,” and a number of others, The party separ- ated at about eleven o'clock, and with a hearty cheer they bid God speed to the Rotterdam. The Maas, sister vessel of the Rotterdam, is ex- pected here the early part of next month, and other vessels are soon to be added to the line. THE JAPANESE NAVY. The Steamer Capron Baliilt for the Gov- ernment of Japan—Her Dimensions and Machinery=The Japanese vs. Corcans= Interesting Information of Their Re- spective Navies. The second of the steamers built by Messrs, Poillon Brothers for the Japanege government is lying at their yard, foot of Bridge street, Brooklyn, and 80 near completion that her trial trip will take Place in a few days. This vessel is named the Capron, and was intended as a transport, or rather as amecavs of quick communication between the islands of Japan; but her builders now acsume that ag there ig a war impending between that country and Corea, she may be heavily armed upon ar- rival at her destination. The Capron, though not so large as the first vessel, the Kuroda, built for the same government, and now ready for sea, is of handsome model, and in ever: pide nay great strength of workman- ship. Her dimensions are as follows:—Length on water line, 125 feet; length over all, 136 feet 6 inches; breadth of beam, 23 feet: depth of hold, 11 feet; burthen, 300 tons, carpenter’s measurement, Her frames are of white oak and locust, and fas- tened with copper and treenails, The machinery of the Capron waa constructed by the Delamater [ron Works, under the direction of Mr. Charlies W. Copeland, superintending engineer on behalf of the Japanese government, and are of the direct acting character, having a cylinder thirty inches in diameter and a stroke of piston two feet six inches, Steam will be supplied by one large re- turn tubular boiler, and the number of independent steam fire and bilge pumps, and all other appliances necessary for the proper equipment of such a vessel and such an intended service, make the engineering department very complete. She is fitted with a spacious cabin and her staterooms, eight in number, are quite large and will be very cosey. Hard woods are used in finishing her houses on deck, and when her appointments are fully arranged the Capron will be a gem ot marine architectare in every particuiar; and should the ‘Tycoon of Japan at say, time wish to make her his steam yacht she is wel! adapted for such a pleasure craft, She will be rigged asa topsail schooner, Captain Alfred Everson will have charge of the Capron, and all her officers will be Americans. Before icaving this port she will be supplied with a twenty-pound howitzer and small arms in abund- ance. ‘The Kuroda, as mentioned above, will soon sail for Japan, being fully ready for sea, She was photographed at ner dock, Pojlions’ yard, on Tuesday aiternoon, and her commanding officer, Captain Haskins, feels proud of his craft. Keferring to the provable war between Japan and Corea, much interesting information is given by the officers connected with these steamers as to the respective forces of the two countries. The Coreans have 266 war junks or thereabouts, and an army of over 000,000 men. The Japanese y is very large, a8 will be apparent from the following intellige! recently imparted by the commander ofthe Russian sloop Boyarine to the Cronstadt Messenger :—On the 14th of July five Japanese men-of-war entered the roads of Yokohama. One of them was @ sloop of British construction, armed with six long 24-pounders, ‘The second, an iron-clad ram, Stonewall Jackson, bought in with @ 300-pound gun and two 10. the fore turret, The three others ar screw gunboats, with three guns ¢: are exclusively Japanese, dressed exaotly like wi e japane: Reouzockan, eight guns. In the, Bay. ‘okosaki, in the Jeddo Gulf, an arsenal has been lished in the solid trachyte rock, which measures 360 by 100 scpenes. ‘There is a dock 407 feet, by 82 feet, and 21 feet in depth, which can receive the largest occan steamer for repair, The cost of ‘this dock was 260,000, Thirty vessels, have been eee here. There is also a Lyng Lok @ foundry and a machine shop, zhich is now turning ont machines for river steansboats, This establishment, although it may never become the central ‘naval depot, still sup- plies the want of the ri fleet!” Japanese government have expe nded over o nillien tive handred thou sand doliara on these worke in six years, 5 AFRICAN COLONIZATION. ne Colored Colonists for Liberia—Arrival ef the Steamship St. Salvador Last Night with 150 Colored Georgians on Board— History of the Liberian Repub- lic—Expedition of the Jasper—Crushing the Slave Trade. The steamship St. Salvador, Captain Nickerson in charge, was moored last night about ten min- utes after eight o'clock at pler 8 A HERALD re- Porter immediately boarded the freighted vessel upon its arrivalat the dock for the purpose of learning all particulars relative to THE COLORED EMIGRANTS which are at present en route for the young African Republic, and whom the St. Salvador had the merit of transferring as far as New York city docks. After pacing in the gloomy dock rather caw tlously and up the gangway to the vessel’s deck the writer came face to face with Captain Nicker- son, who held a lantern in his left hand and waa feeling his way into the cabin with his right hand. The H&RALD reporter introduced himself briefy to the veteran seafarer, and, after doing so, was quietly and formally introduced again to Mr. Win, Coppinger, Corresponding Secretary of the Ameri- can Colonization Society, under whose charge the colored passengers were in search of their native Liberia in “AFRIO’S SUNNY LAND.” Mr, Coppinger and the HeRatp reporter then entered into conversation about the progress of African colonization and the advancement of the Liberian Republic under its present patronage, when the following items relative to the work in progress and coming under Mr. Coppinger’s obser- vation were elicited from him:— “{HE COLONIZATION OF LIBERTA,”? he said, “commenced with the founding of the organization in 1816 in Washington city. After- wards explorers were sent out, who purchased ter- ritory; but the Republic was not founded until 1820. Liberia continued under the control of the Colont-+ zation Society until 1847, when tt declared iteelt @ free, sovereign, independent Republic, and has since been acknowledged as such by the leadin; Powers of the world. The society has sent emi- grants thither every year since 1820, The Republic contains half a million of inhabitants; has about fifty churches, with schools attached, and a college attended by fiity students, ‘The American govern- ment maintains there a Minister Kesident and Consul General—viz., Hon, J. Milton Turner, @ prominent colored citizen’ of Missouri, Liberia owns & COASTWISE TERRITORY of some five hundred miles, and as a Republic, free and independent, has been the great means of breaking up the slave trade by planting settle- ments along the coasts, so that the only slaves now being shipped from Airica are those belonging to the east coast, whom Dr. Livingstone has becn Pleading so zealously for. THE PRESENT EXPEDITION to Liberia will be on the bark Jasper, of the Yates & Porterfield Company, who have made every de- sirable provision and accommodation for the transfer of the emigrants. One hundred and fifty colored passengers in all came by the steamship St. Salvador. They are from various parts of Georgia and nearly all in families, They are being transferred under the somes and at the expense of the society. Many of them mean to join rela- tives and acquaintances in the old land, and are altogether FROM OVER THREE THOUSAND APPL CANT: A SELECTION ANTS for the passage,. This is the first batch of colored emigrants brought into New York harbor tor seve- ral years. Almost all of them are fairly educated and brought up tolerably well in the tenets of the Methodist and Baptist Churches. So much so that the first mate declared their PRAYER MEETINGS AND JOLLIFICATIONS during the voyage from Savannah since Saturday last were exceedingly enjoyable affairs. Mr. Cop- pinger resigns his charge of the Liberian wander- ers to-day, and Dr. Lewis, an African by birth, will be the Aneas of the expedition until ail reach the Liberian coast. The passage will occupy from ee eA) to_ forty days. Sixty of the emigranis will land at Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, and the rest will sail further on to Cape Palmas, Let- ters already received trom MR. ROBERTS, PRESIDENT OF LIBERTA, and also from other prominent citizens to, Mr. Cop: pinger, give ample testimony to the rapid advance- ment of agriculture and commerce there, since the foundation of the republic. Each family on land- ing receives twenty-five acres of land free, and each man citizenship at once. Mr. Coppinger desired to have stated that ee the passage of the St. Salvador from Savanna the emigrants were very kindly used at the hands of Captain Nickerson. The reporter on being con- ducted to the steerage, where all were asleep, could see that they were as comfortably fixed as could be expected. IN THE JASPER, which will sail within a few days (being already fitted out and provisioned), it is said they will not be crowded In the hold of the ship, but have roomy houses on deck. ‘The food is promised to be good and suilictent. These are only the advanced guard of a little army of more than three thousand colored Geor- gians, who wish to go to African soil and build up @ negro republic there, which shall be said io have sprung from the freedmen of the South, On landings, ey: will be placed under the care of Mr. H. W. Dennis, the society’s agent, who is also Secretary of the Treasury of Liberia. Rev. John Orcutt, D. D., the travelling secretary, has taken much interest in the present expeditton, and will be present at their embarkation on the Jasper. It is said the emigrants, after their arrival in Libe have to pass through an acclimatizing fever, whic proves fatal only at the rate of five in every hun- dred cases. Messrs. Yates & Porterfield, the owners of the vessel, with whom the contract has been made to transport these emigrants to that land, have made excellent arrangements for heir accommodations. Not only have they furnished a good quality and sutlicient quantity of stores for their support on the voyage, but houses have been built for them on the maim deck which are spacious, airy and comfortable, THE COMMANDER OF THE VESSED is John F. Webber, a competent officer, There wil also be on board, to take care of the emigrants, Dr. John N. Lewis, @ Liberian, who has just been ‘pee ‘at one of the medical colleges of New england. Th addition to all these provisions for the welfare of the emigrants on their passage, the Colonization Society has bought and shipped stores at a cost of thousands of dollars for their use and support after their arrival. It has also smpped a quantity of school books, presented by A. S. Barnes & Co., for the use of its schools in Liberia. The cost of transportation from this port to Li- beria is $50 per head for adults and $25 for chil- dren. It is expectedthe colonization will continue to have numerous friends and supporters in the future as inthe past, recent explorations having opened to all a wide field for enterprise within African territories, MEETING OF ASSISTANT ALDERMEN. The Steam Street Car Proposal—Experie mental Journey Proposed To-Day. The Assistant Aldermanic Committee on Raib roads, to whom was referred the amended resolu- tion of the Board of Aldermen giving the street railroad companies permissi#n to run dummy en- gines or steam street cars, met yesterday for the purpose of hearing any objections to be urged against granting such permission. ‘The words “horse epidemic” and “thirty days” were stricken out of the original resolution, and the words “three months" substituted, bee Hed Powell and Alderman Richardson, of Brooklyn, and several other gentlemen interested in railroad matters, were in attendance, Mr. Peck, as representative of a steam street car company, explained to those present thesvorkings of the car. It is economical—more ¢o than the cost of a horse car; can be stopped within six feet; there is no noise except ttle pufting, perhaps, ing up hill; the coal u anthracite, and there f no smoke or disagreeable smell therefrom; the engine has a nominal power of five horses, which upon @ grade can pe increased to twenty horse power; the ordinary track is adaptable for the use of the steam car. * Mr. Camp also bag in favor of the use of the steam car, He had, he said, travelied on one at the rate of thirty miles an hour, and it was “braked up” a6 quickly as any ordinary street car. The steam, car is entirely free from smell of coal or joke Or soot, and travels smoothly. The steam be utilized for heating the car in Winter time. ‘All the machinery lies under the car. There were no objectors to the pian present. The committee then adjourned. To-day the committee intend to avail themselves of a ride op the steam car on the Bleecker street ling, ee THE JERSEY POLICE WAR, In the New Jersey Supreme Court, at Trenton, yesterday, the case of the Police Commissioners of Jersey City was taken up. Mr. Dixon, counsel for the defendants, made @ motion to dismiss the ceedings, on the ground of irregularity, and the matter had been fully ‘argued on both sides te Court refused to giant the motion. On further application of Mr. Dixon for a postponement of the final hearing of the case, in consequence of the ab- sence of one of the defendants—Ezektel M, Pritch- ard—from the State, the Court decided that the final hearing will take place on Mo! next, at Ransom Zicuen the relatora—the new Pouce Com