The New York Herald Newspaper, March 15, 1873, Page 5

THE MEMPH AND BL PASO, General John C. Fremont Explains His Relations with the Road. Not Responsible for French Misrepresentations. Condemned in a French Court in Default, but Not Notified. THE FRENCH AGENTS THE CULPRITS. Te THE EviTor OF THE HERAL) = ‘The ateontiow of the public has been vehemently called to proceedings against me now pen‘ling ina French Court. Tnis compels me to ask attention to sume statements, which must necessarily be brief to keep within the space [can properly ask from the newspapers. At the same time it is dim- cult, with justice to mysel!, to treat justly in this Way the transactions of several years and meet the loose, comprehensive and ignerant charges made against me. I am obliged to say “against me,” for.the reason that, although there are many others against whom the action is pending, and all of these French citizens, my name was the ‘enly one given to the public. These charges are, im fact, that the Memphis, El Paso and Pacific Rail- road Company represented a fraudulent enterprise, @nd that its securities were consequently worthless; that fraudulent misrepresentations were made to ‘effect the sale of these securities in France, and ‘that I, as President of the road, was concerned in and responsible for these transactions, Cable despatches to our newspapers further say that when cited to answer the French Court I failed to «appear. In making me the prominent figure on vwhich to throw all the responsibility the articles of accusation style me the President of the road. .Iwas not President of the road until January 1, 1870, These transactions were in the Spring of 1869, and NO SUMMONS HAS BEEN SENT TO ME to appear before the tribunal. All my knowledge regarding this trial comes irom private and wholly wnofticial sources, The accusations now before the Court were pub- lished ané violently agitated in the Paris news- papers in 1869, immediaiely following the placing of the company’s bonds on the French market, in March. In June I went to Paris, and during the four months I remained there Lset out in published letters, pamphiets and newspapers the character and condition of the Memphis and El Paso Com. pany and of its securities, and actions were brought against the newspapers and individuals most active in attacking the company. And again, three years ago, these accusations were brought before the Senate by the Committee on Pacitic Ratiroads with the greatest weight that could be given them. The chairman of the committee, Mr. Howard, of Michigan (republican), was fully on the side of the accusers openly aided by the American Legation at Paris, and it occupied the attention of the Senate for several months. The question was finally closed on the passage in the Senate of the Texas Pacific Railroad bill (the continuation of the Memphis and El Paso) by a debate which continued three evenings, going late into the night. The debate was on the direct proposition by Mr. Howard that my name should be struck from the list of corporators in my own Measure, upon the ground that the Memphis and El Paso Company, of which I was then President, had injured American credit abroad, MALICIOUS AND UNSUSTAINED CHARGES. The ground taken in opposition to Mr. Howard ‘was that the charges against me were malicious and unsustained, and that my name should not Only remain on the list, but be placed at its head; and on this issue I was sus- tained by the nearly unanimous vote of tne Senate. Following the searching investigation of the session, this unanimous approving vote of the Senate I hold as one of the most valued honors of my life. These attacks were made in a way I could meet, and they failed whenever they were brought to the test of investigation. They did not prevent the consummation of the Southern Pacific Railroad measures. Congress passed the charter by an almost unanimous vote, notwithstanding the most ejaborate and venomous assaults, at the time when railway grants were scrutinized with the utinost possible severity, and after every fact con- nected with this measure had been fully ventilated. Last Fall I learned from private source that an action was to be brought at once before the French criminal courts against certain French citizens who had been en- gaged for several years, from 1867 to 1869, in nego- tiating the company’s bonds, and that it was in- tended to involve me in taese proceedings. A friend went for me immediately to Paris to inves- tigate and take whatever steps might be necessary, and who engaged most eminent counsel for the purpose. Mr. Allon, the counsel engaged, after inquiry in the proper quarter, ascertained trom authority that the case would not be taken up until alter the arrival of one of the chief persons complained against, aud who was expected to reach Paris in December and who could be interrogated. Mr. Allon was positive in his epinion tuat no proceed- ings could be taken against me withvut due notice, and the case was leit in lis care, with the under- standing that all notices and information that might concern me should be regularly sent to me. ‘This was in November. On February 7 the Wash- ington letter of a leading New York journal con- tained a notice conspicuously headed by my name, and given as “reliably informed trem the Frenci Legation,” to the effect that myself and others had been indicted and were to be tried before a crimi- nal Court; that “General Fremont would be con- demned by delault to appear,” but that the law gave a year in wiich to re-open the case, CONDEMNED BY DEFAULT, This programme has been carried ont. Ihave not been notified, and Lhave been condemned by default for jailing to appear. But up to this time my counsel in Paris had been unable to obtain any information. On the 13th February I received from Mr, Allon twe telegrams. From the first L learned that I had been cited to appear before the French tribunal on the 26th of the month; the second said the cuse had been postponed six days, namely—io the stn of March. But no notification from the Court was sent me, and but for the fact of having engaged counsel 1 should have been even without tutorma- tion, As quickly as could be prepared i sent to Mr. Allon, to lay before the Court a swern state- ment o! my connection with the Memphis-t1 Paso Pacific Road, together with nearly three hundred letters irom the persons engaged in negotiating the bonds. These papers did not reach Paris until the day after the opening of the Court, when I was condemned for non-appearance, as had been pre- viously announced. On the oth of March I received from Mr. Allon @ letter enclosing the first informa- tion he had been able te obtain and a synopsis or abridgment of the articles of accusation against me, ir. Allon, in his letter to me, say: The charges (acte Paceuration) are very severe, whole burden of them is thrown i and the prelimi- ust re the gravity oi the affair. ‘ins to preoccupy the public mind. Will you to come to answer the accusation? You have bi time to do so. Still T must not conceal from you that Your alsonce will permit all the accused to plead then selves innocent at your expense. All will ne a4 and once that you hare been condemned by dewiilt it ‘will, perhaps, be diflicultto reopen the case upon terms of reat impartiality It you doaot conie at the day fixed L will make it knows that you were not regularly noified; and, in the event of A judgmentey detault, I will protest, reserving your right 01 opposition. Mr. Allon, seeing the disadvantage at which Iam Placed, furier sageesced tlst, In event @f my coming, it would be wel), in order to show how much these accusations Were at Variance Witi the tenor of my whole life, to bring with me “all ¢he documents, ali the tacts relative to yourself, to your works, to your travels and te your services." 1 quote this only to shew ,the laborious ang almost, impossible nature of the defence I was sud- deny calied upon to make in @ foreign law court. This letter reacheé me the hn alter jadginent by detauit pad been pronounce already been announced through the Fre tion would be the course of the Coprt. n Statement and documents and private and official letters sent by me alse reached him the day after the default had been taken. There was NO OPPORTUNITY GIVEN ME FOR DBFEN, or explanation. These papers give the fMcernal | history of the transactian now called in gnestion. They show that the finaneial operations jx Pari including necessary steps in this country, were e clusively the work of the agents espeeisiiy em- ployed and liberally paid by the company to 'O- uate its bonds, and these agents were, without eX- ecption, foreigners, and, with one exception, eati- vens of France. Thede’ ability and Integrity Were continuously vouched for by tue representatives on the French goveruineot at New York. Letters strongly to this effect are now mn the hands of ray counsel at Paria, The plan of this neyouation and the execation of it \ evr Work of these agents Their Whiora DeVyo thwb vuu seseuhod aly iver: NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET. Terence witn these plans and required to be left unmedested in their development. As I was in- Tormed, the Memphis, El Paso and Pacific Company was the bois ‘American company admitted to the French market, ‘THE BAIT THE FRENCH TOOK, ‘The groundwork in the plan of the nts and whe inducement presented the French govern- ment for the admission of these bonds to the French market were the stipnlation en the part o1 the company to purchase the raul jd engines re- quired in the construction and operation ef the roud trom French manwiacturers, thus opening out anew fleid to the French industry in the South- western United States. ‘Lhe Memphis and Ei Paso was not a national road, and was not, therefore, bound to use American iron. This gave it-an advantage over other Ameri- can roads which had their agents in Paris, and se- cured for it that favor of ‘the imperial government which Is now made by the cablegrams one of the accusations against it, The letters of application to thts effect, and giv- ing the basis Jer the admisston requested, w: addressed by the agents ef the French Ministers, and such as needed the official signature of the company were sent here to be signed. The private letters accompanying these, which are now in the hands of my counsel in, Paris, peguire that “these letters shall be signed witheut the alteration of a word, and that no‘time shail be lost in asking use- less explanations,” They complain of the inac- tivity and delay ‘of the company and threaten actions for heavy damages if their plans should miscarry through these delays. It is in this connection that I desire distinctly to Say that Whatever may have been the misrepre- sentations and mistakes committed in this ter, they originated in Paris and belong there. These misrepresentations and mistakes were not in any way suggested by me or known to me until after they were made, They lic between the Paris agents an THE FRENCH HOUSE OF PARACLIS & CO., ‘who bought the company’s bonds and placed them upon the Paris Exchange. At the time they were so piaced the Memphis and El Paso was a ‘lexas State road, and as such was publicly applying to Con- gress to be made a national road, with @ right of way to the Pacific. The attaching of the word “transcontinental” to the style and title of the company in Paris is among the charges of misrepresentation eontained in the proceedin betere the Court, This was not the act of the company. It was net placed upon its stock or bends, nor upon its official paper, envelopes or signs in New York, These all bore the style and titie of “Memphis, El Paso and Pacific Railroad Company.”’ Transcontinental was the title adopted for its Whole projected line to the Paeific, and placed upon its bills whicn were before Congress applying for the national charter and title, but ‘used nowhere else. It was anerror of the agents, and scarcely could be cailed, under the plans which had been set befere the public, a misrepre- sentation, lt seems rather to huve been an expla- nation. In regard to the money obtained upon the bonds, muck tue larger part remained in France, and all the material which had been furnished in the execution of the contracts then paid for from it. For that portion which passed through my control, and which was used ior the road and in its interest, my accounts have been rendered to the receiver appointed by the Courts of the United States and France. For all that be- longed to this plan ot building up the Southern ‘Transcontinental line and bringing it to a consum- mation in the passage of the Texas Pacific Rail- road charter in the Senate, a period covering from 1867 to 1870, 1am willing to accept my 1ull share ef the responsibility. ‘The accusations now under trial in Paris charge that the Memphis and E! Paso line is all a chunerical speculation and fraudulent schem ‘AN IMMENSE INTERNATIONAL FRAUD.” There is no newspaper reader in the United States who does not know that the line on which the Mem- phis and El Paso Road is projected is the best in the country, as the resuit of the examination trem the forty-ninth to the thirty-second paralie! of lati- which had been made for the government, s. The Secretary of War reported this line to in all respects the best for a railroad to ic, 1t will hereafter prove to be the really and true commercial route, The ractical lemphis, El Paso and Pacific Company, endowed with the to Py ‘Yexas, had applied te Congress for @ national charter, with every reason to expect the success which it afterwards completely realized, The plans had been communicated to its agents and laid be- fore the public here and abroad, In carrying out these plans and at the very time these attacks were made upon it it had acquired the stock con- trol of the Memphis and Little Reck Railroad— a nearly completed road—tae franchises of the Arizona ee tan and the franciuses of a right 8,000,000 acres of land the San Diego and Gil Company, with the right to 9,000 acres of land in the port of San Diego. This left only a break of 150 miles between the Mississippi and San Diego. It was at work on the western end at San Diego, and of the material contracted for in France some seven thousand tons Oi rails and ten engines had already arrived at New Orleans, and on the road track laying had elready begun. The State of ‘Texas kad had passed the Transcontinental char- ter, afterwards adding a large land grant, and the road was applying to Congress for the national charter, to cénsolidate its plans, when it met its first serious opposition in the re- pean in the Senate of these attacks rom French sources, 80 that it Is Bettas untrue to suy that the projected Seuthern Pacific Railroad as based upon the Memphis and El Paso was specu- Jative and unsupstantal. It eccupied the best line for trade between the oceans, having for its ports the whole seaboard from New Orleans north, and was in the most favorable conditions and promised to be a splendid success, advantageous to tne United States in the extension oi its commerce, and to France in opening out the Southwest and West te French industry. 4 THE SECURITIRS ISSUED IN FRANCE were those of the Memphis and El Paso proper, and they showed what they were upon their lace, and these were aifected by the plans of the road only as its extension and importance were likely to in- crease the value of its securities, and this work had all been ip progress openly before the pubiic tor several years, and was so carried on in the con- fident belief ofits emtire success, and no misrepre- sentations of its character were made on tlis side. In my communications to the Freneh Mintster of Foreign Affairs, as in all others, its character and resources were distinctly set out, as they were in allthe printed pampbicts containing its charter and franchises and the laws of Texas and reports in regard to it which were sent abroad. no room for mistakes except through an ignerance in the French public inconceivable on. this side of the water. All that was then stated is true, and a that was claimed for the road is fast being real- ized. SILENT, ACTIVE AND MALIGNANT HOSTILITY. Owing to the clamors from these French sources, the road had to pass from my hands, but M. Allou has the written statement from my counsel here that the protection of the bondholders was my con- stant care. As already stated, 1t has been always intended to absorb the Memphis Ei Paso in the Southern Pacific road now under construction, In this way the bonds would be fully provided for, Having in these attacks been made the impersona- tion Of mistakes and errors that were not mine, and my proofs to the contrary shut off, 1 am compelled to speak in a personal way. Following these transactions and drawing its support out of them the has been directed against me asilent but active and malignant hos- ulity which has forced me to relinquish into the hands of others the profits and results of years of well-planned labor, entailing upon me heavy losses and tuwarting and embarrassing ai! my undertak- ings. J. ©. FREMONT, BROOKLYN BURGLARIES, Capture of a Thief. A number of burglaries have recently been com- mitted in East Brooklyn, and the police have been on the loekout for the thieves, At two o'clock yes- terday morning a jellow was captured at the resi- dence of Mr. Wilson, at the corner of Halsey street and Marcy avenue, whom the authorities suspect of having plied his nefarious business to @ consid- erable extent. He is a mun of abont thirty-five years of age, five feet ten inches in height, of strong, wiry build and dark complexion. His ar- rest was effected by private watcaman Buchayan, who tracked lim frem Fulton street to Mr. Wil- son's residence, where he disappeared. The watch- tan stood ciose by the window and waited until the thief reappeared, when he seized and threat- ened te shoot him if he made any resistance. ‘The burglar was surprised, and quietly accompanied his captor to the Niuth precinct station heuse. When questioned as to lis name and business he refused at tirst to make any reply, but finally he stated that his name was Edward Hannon and his busi- ness was that of an engineer. He was taken | before the Chief of Police and qwestioned | as to his identity, but he was very reticent. All the Chief could get outer him was that he had just come from Philadelphia. Me refused to give his place of residence. The police subsequently ascertained that he resided with his sister, Jane | Wihikie, 245t. Andrew's piace, and, on searching the house thoroughly, found a large amount of silver Ware and other property, witch is believed to be the proceeds of burgiarie: The value of the property taken possession of is over one thou- sand dollars. The prisoner was taken bere Jus- tice Maven and sent to jail so await trial, CUSTOM HOUSE CUSTUMERS, Another heavy seizure of amuggied articles was mede by the Custom House officers on the Hamburg sieamer Westphalia yesterday. Severai pieces of lace, worth about 00, with other valuables, were taken possess of and conveyed to the Seizure room in New York. ‘There are several Jews traveling by those steamers at this season, who endeator—in many cases wit! scensé—to turn an honest penny by detrauding Uncle Sam. The agents @! the latter are now after them with eharp sticks. CORNER LOAFERS. To TOE ExtTOR OF THE HEnaLD:— Wall you please let us be heard through our val- uable paper? There is agang of young loafers who take the pleasure of having corner of Kighty- fourth etreet and Third avenne all to homaelves and insuit every person Who pawses by, Not jong eiice they beat and rebbed @ map in Lighty-sixth sureet while he was going home trem his business, We have complained to the police; but whether they do not care to molest them we do notknow. by * inserting tne above you wil) ona the RESIDENTS OF THE NEIGUBOBNOND., » Maiibel dds Ais» There was | THE NEW STATE CAPITOL. Selfishness of a Legislator Toward the Vienna Exposition. Why the Senate Would Not Send the Model of the Capitol to the World’s Show. A Description of the New Capitol—An Expected Change in the Commission—Cost of the New Structure—The Appropriation. ALBANY, March 14, 1873, There is just now a friendly little straggle going ‘on between certain parties hereabowts over the model of the new Capitol, which is at present ex- ‘clting much attention. It will be remembered that @ resolution was introduced in the Assembly some ‘time ago, by requestof a number of architects in New York, asking the Legislature to allow the model to be taken to Vienna, there to be ex- hibited as ONE OF THE GREAT AMERICAN CURIOSITIES, The Assembly promptly passed the resolution, ‘but whon the Senate got hold of it, to the surprise | of everybody, it retused, by a majority of one vote, to let the great and good Austrians have the pleasure of controlling Albany's glory even for a brief month or two. The reasens given by the fiery Madden for his opposition to | taking the model away are peculiar and | quite Ulster-countyish. He is a great ad- mirer of art, is Madden, and is said to spend his leisure hours in the study ef the works of the old masters and devotes every weckly recess to the exclusive contemplation of the beauties of a model of the Vatican and St. Peter's, at Rome, the handi- work of a lineal descendant, some have it, of one of the greatest architects of the twelfth centary, Now, the chief reason of Mr. Madden’s wanting the Capitol model to remain at Aibany is that is altogether, in his opinion, too gorgeous an affair for a republican people te submit to the admiring gaze ofa people blasted with tke curse of an im- perial government. Wouldn’t this accursed peo- ple naturally roll up the whites of their eyes in holy horror at the extravagance displayed by a single State in our transcendent Union in building a Capitel rivalling in splendor of architectural de- sign (and expense) the palace of a monarch? At least Mr, Madden his this idea about the matter, In this connection I may as well give you AN IDEA OF WHAT THE MODEL IS and why Albany has good ground for wishing to show it abroad, It is beyond doupt one of the finest models of a public building ever constructed in this country, We all know what the general acceptation of ofthe term “model” is when used in connection with a building nowadays. It refers Edwin A, Merritt. The architect is Thomas Fuller, under whose supervision the butlding is being constructed. At the sume time that the pro- osed change in the Commission will be considered ‘he Legisiature will make the necessary apnropria- tion to carry on the work on the Capitol Tie amount will probably be $1,509,000, ‘The change and eg rere will be made in the Annual Sup- ply bill, ART MATTERS. The Coming Kensett Sale. A few evenings ago an interesting resolution was adopted at the “Kensett Memorial” meetng at the residence ef H. G, Marquand, The reso- lution was to the eifect that, whereas Mr. Thomas Kevsett, of Baltimore, had consented to present the coliection of works by contemporaneous art- ists owned by the late J. F. Kensett, and valued at $14,000, te be placea in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, on condition that the sum ef $20,000 be raised te purchase a selection of his brotner'’s Werks, the whole to be known as “The Kensett Memorial,’ a committee be appointed to pro- cure the necessary amount, was unanimously adopted, and a committee was appointed, consisting of J T. Johnson, chair- man, and W. Huntington, R. M. Olyphant, H. G, Marquand, R, L, Stuart, Thomas Hicks, R. Butler, Vincent Colyer, R. Hoe, W. E. Dodge, Jr, M. K. Jesup, G. M. Spier, R. W. Hubbard, Thomas G, Ap- This resolution pleton, R. Stuyvesamt, J. W. Rhinelander, W. J. | Hoppin, E. D, Morgan, Howard Potter, P. Godwin, Rev. Dr. H. W. Bellows, Kev. Dr. Osgeod, G. Wiliam Curtis, D. L. Suydam, J. H. Sherwood, W: Whittredge and S, A. Strang. Aprivate view of the many pictures to be in- cluded in the Kensett sale was liad at the Academy of Design last evening. The collection will be open to tke public until the even- ing of Saturday week, March 22. The exhibition will be open from nine to five and from eight to ten. The sale is to take place at Association Hall every even.ng during the last week in the present month, under the management of Mr, Robert Somerville. Meanwhile we think th public have hardly appreciated hew wonder. Tully industrious ir, Kensett was duriag the last three months of nts lite, passed at Darien, Conn. Between thirty and forty studies, sketches and pictures lert mis brush during that incredibly short space of ime, They now adorn one of the rooins of the Association Building. The 1ellowing 18 a complete list of thei: 'wilight on Content- ment Island,” “Twilight on Sand Island,” “Study ol Rocks, Darien,” “Sunset Sky,”” “sunrise on Long island Sound,” as seen from the window of Kensett’s bedroom, Darien; “Passing Of o1 the Storm,” “study on Long Island Shore,” “fwilight in the Cedars,” us seen from tke door of the artist’sstudio; “Salt meadow in October,” “After Sunset” (untinished), Twilight After the Shower,” fhe Old Pine Tree,” as seen from the deor of the artist’s studio; “Newport Kocks amd Bay” (un- finished), ‘ake George,” painted irom memory; Sky,” “Aiter Sunset at Darien,” vening at Contentment Isiand,” “Gather- ing Storm on Long Island = Sound,” “sunset,” — “Kensett's Islands,’ as seen off the studio; “Sunset on the "8 Neck, L. 1,” with the lighthouse not yet intro duced; tober on the Marshes,’’ back ol Content- ment Island; “sunrise on the Sea,” “Sunrist Loug Island Sound,” “Sunset in the Woods,” +I light im the Cedars,” “The After Glow—twilight “Twilight end Evening in Cedar Grove.’? We have before us a batcn of letters, never pub- wi- it, simply to a so-called fac-simile of the edifice, which | ished, from distinguished men, ali testilying warm- gives a general idea of what the building is without | ly to tue late Mr. Kensett’s worth as a man and being made accurate in measurements, This model of the capitai has been constructed on a scale of a quarter of an inch to the foot in its every | part—that is, every foot ef measurement of every window, door, balustrade, tower, &c., of the Capitol itself is represented in the model by a quarter of an inch scale. Thus, for instance, any particular part of the building that is 100 fect long is 100 quarter inches in length in the modei—that Is, two leet one inch, It can readily be perceived, there- fore, that the model is NOT A HASTILY CONSTRUCTED TOY HOUSE, built for simple show. It took six men fifteen months to build it, under the direction and super- vision of Mr. John Clemishire and Mr. Bryce, the carpenters of the Capitol, It is quite impossible, ina brief article like this, to give anything like a description of it as it now appears in the house specially built for its safe keeping, Where it is the attraction of hundreds of visitors daily. It is painted white (the new Capitol is to be of light- colored granice), and ata distance, by the aid ofa long sight opera glass, appears to the eye just as the Capitol will appear When completed. It may be that this glass sight delusion has a great deal todo withthe number of old people—princtraliy architects irem various parts of the State—who callto examine it day aiter day. They probably feel that they will never live to the day when the Capitol is a fait accompli, and that the “deimsien”’ is too precious a thing under the circumstances to be neglected. I unaerstund that the architects from New York city who have been so urgent to have the model GO TO VIENNA are to make another effort tnis week to get the Senate to reconsider its adv, vote 1 a few weeks ago, and, judging from present indications, the members who are airaid of scandanzing “an effete system ef government” by letting it fo to the Exposition wiil retire within their demo- cratic Skelié amd allow their less particu. | lar brethren to give the requisite — permis- sion. But just here I may avali myself of this | mode! talk of mine to say a word about the Capitol | and give you a few figurative dimensions which | will enable the yeneral reader to understand at the same time the £1Ze 01 the model aud the prospects ofits big brother. The real hard work on the Capitoli—the immense foundation work—is at an end now, and tue beautiful granite walis are al- ready rising above the high enclosure which sur- rounds the building on all sides, The first stery on the southerly side, as iar as the oucer walls ure concerned, is completed, and tis alone brings it onalevel with the roof of the present Capitol. The assembly and Senate chambers will be in readiness (furnished and all) for the ses | sion of 1s75—the = Winter alter — next— | and by 1876 the entire building — will be ready for all the departments and bureaus of | the State government which are now scattered about this little village tothe utier bewilderment of every human being who comes here trom tar or near on “official business.” To accomplish this very desivable result will necessitate a great deal of Steady work on the part of the Commissioners; | but if they display the same perseverance anid energy they have during the past year there need be no fear that our embryo Senators and Assembly- men will have to WASTE THEIR SWEETNESS on the death-dealing air of the present tumbie- down State House. ‘kere is rot a day in tie week that the work is not supervised by Commis- sioners Harris and Rice, the President and | Secretary of the Commission, They are | here, there and everywhere, the minutest | details of every branch of the work receiving the | same diligent ‘attention from them as the general | whole, and to them in great part is due the great progress that has been made in getting the work done so rapidly, a8 Well as efficiently, as it has been done during the past year. Now let me give you some idea of THE IMMENSITY OF THE STRUCTURE, and thereby, ionic a better conception of the work done on the model by Mr. Clemishire and Mr. Bryce. ‘he number of the windows ip the build- ing, including those on the tower, is 442; doors, in- | cluding those on the balconies, 60; pilasters, with carved capitals, 730; round ‘columns, | 280; square banisters for corridors and balconi s The width of the building will ie 300 feet when completed, and of the basement 386. ‘The height from floor to ceiling of the basement 15 23 leet 6 in, first story, 26 leet 4 incn second etory, 27 «* inches; third story, 24 feet 1L inches. ¢ is to be 370 feet high and the ventilati® Bare to be 160 feet and the cor- ner pavi ™ ° + feet. The art gallery is to be !o- cated on ‘tvs ilrst story, and is to be 30 feet 9 | inches by 132 "eet. The Court of Appeais room is | 70 by 77 feet 6 inches; the Governor's room, 36 by 63 feet 6 inches; the Grand Central court, 92 feet 6 inches by 137 feet 9 inches; ventilating courts, 34 by 36 leet; Attorney General’s room, 82 feet 3 inches by 34 feet 6 inches, including Adjutant | neral’s, Secretary of State's rooms, The Senate Chamber is to be 67 by feet and the Assembly Chamber 20 by 96 feet; the: State Library, 283 by 68 feet; Regent's of University’s room, 34 feet 3 inches by 42 feet $ inches; Law Library, 59 feet 9 incie by 73 Jeet 6 inches; main hall jor staircase, 35 by 6 feet, inciuding post offices, cloak rooms, committee rooms, &.; gallery floor of the Senate Chamber, 87 by 96 feet; of the Assembly Chamber, 87 by 143 feet 6 inches, includiug all committee rooms, rec- ords, shafts for light, &c. One of the greatest drawbacks to THE SPYBDY CONSTRUCTION OF THE BUILDING in the past has been the niggardly way the Legis- lature has dealt out its appyopriations forit. Itis generally conceded that ti& plan for the building at the start was made en altogether too grand a scale ; but after the work had veen fairly begun and the foundation ail completed it became the dut of the Legisiature not to delay the work by a pol- ley of economy that had no real basis. It would have been far better, many people think, if an estimate had been obtained at first as to what it would cost to complete the building, and then the whole appropriation could have been made ina lump. A man who wants a house built makes his bargain with a contractor and keeps him to it. How absurd would he be ti, after employing a nan to build it, he should dole out tke money from | week to week and never give a thought to how much the work would cost him inthe endy But in this Capitol business, a8 in everything else our stupid Legislatures ot the past years have done, { dare say, “what can’t be cured must be en- d@ured,”” THE COMMISSION AND THE CosTs It is said that a change i# to be made soon in the Commission, the two liberal republicans, Depew &e, 70 and Merritt, being the prospective victims, The Value as an artist. Daniel Huntington (to quote from these letter writers) declarcs that ‘as an artist his rank was of the highest.’ George H. Boughton says, “AS am artist and asa man he was aS near periection as possible.” George A. Baker, writing from Rome, avers that his works “have iven delight to the hearts of allwho have any feeling for the great mother, Nature, in her most serene and jovable moods and aspects.” Thomas Hicks bears tribute that “his noble and beau- wiul spirit is deeply impressed upon the memories otall who knew him.” The Rey. Dr. Bellows ac- knowledges that “his sweetness of dis; osition, ready sympathy, lively appreciation of the merits of fellow artists, humility in regard to his own works, delicacy of feeling and prudence of speech, made him @ universal favorite among his brother painters.” And at the latest meeting of the Century Club the Rev. Dr. Osgood paid, orally, such a tribute te Kensett’s genius as very few living artists could possibly deserve, These testimonies, spontanceusly and unso- licited, are very significant and of such public in- terest just at present that we make no excuse for quoting them, The Artists’ Fund Seciety. For the information of those who snatch at every bit of detraction in regard to associations founded for a benevolent purpose, It may ve as well to state that nothing furtive or surreptitions has ever, to our knowledge, marked the proceedings of the Artists’ Fund Society with regard to the money realized by that bedy trom its aunual sale of pictures, It has now been in existence twelve years and has a fund of $60,000, Upon the death of any member $2,500 1s paid by the society to that member's family, To enable the Society to do this every member is required each year vo contribute a picture, which, according to the valuation placed upon it by a committee appointed for the purpese, Isexpected to bring $100 at the sale. If one picture will not do this two or more are accepted trom the same artist, the idea being to reach at least the $100, If the picture or pictures bring less than this amount the loss is the Society's; if more, the surplusage goes (o the contriputing artist. There is no sortol reticence or concealment in the So- ciety’s management of this matier. No attempt is made on the part of the officers to deny that tne facts are as we have stated, and if the public was not aware of those facts it is certainly not because the Artists’ Fund endeavored to hide them. Francisco Marra, One of the busiest of studios is that of Francisco Marra, 832 Broadway, @ studio where you are apt te lose yourself among photo-miniatures, oil and water colors, crayon sketches, pastels, india ink studies, and those brilliant little elaborations that owe thelr beauty to the new aniline process, which, we believe, Mr. Marra was the first to apply. | | Every one who has inspected Carleton’s window , OF Carrillo’s, above yadway, must have observed any quautity of ‘‘counterieit: presentments” of weil Known people, from Ciara Morris up lo Chris- tine Nilsson, from Lucca to Livingstone. It 1s generally known that these are ver; erly done, but itis hot generaily known that Mr. Marra does them and that he was the first to wake a practical application, at a by no means expensive rate, of the principle which has brought out under the Fifth Avenu Twellth street, on B: and soit and brilliant. Apart 8 incidentals, howeve Yr. Marra's studio is attractive by reason of the large | quantity of Pompeiiun photographs that are to | seen there. They were sent to tlm direct from Naples, and no duplicates exist in this city. Yo readers of Bulwer’s celebrated romance, and to ali whe are fond of ferreting among the love and lava of those antique volcanic days, this series of plio- tographs Will prove pecuilarly interesung. ‘iney are altogether uniaue, finely executed, considered 4s productions of art, and valuabie because they give @ compendious and picturesque view of & locality and a time which will always be remem- bered among the most interesting im history. Miss Cooper's “Angel of Peace.” About two weeks ago we alluded to an oil painting, entitled “The Angel of Peace,” executed by Miss , Cooper, and visible at the residence of Mrs. Roome, 273 West Eleventh street, in this city. Miss Cooper is young, ambitious, industrious, talented, modest and ingenuous. She has struggled hard, long and courageously to attain her present level; has, with singular abuegation, rejected ali those trivial ve- nalities by which notoriety is teo often purchased, and has endeavored to be content with progres: slow but sure, “The Angel of Peace” is the e | pression, not of her ideal, but of the bellef that she will one day be able to interpret that ideal with vastly greater power. She possesses many of the elements of good, conscientious artist, and 4 thoroughly percolated with that indomitable spirit which has already advanced more than one Woman to almost tle front rank of painters. ‘fhe Angel of Peace” was painted, not for President Grant, but for the White House, the walls of which it now adorns, Tife face of the angel is that of a very fair blonde, with waving hair, and blue eyes fixed in trust and hope, A star, radiant and mys Uc as those with which imagination decks spiritual foreheads, glitters on her brow, The flesh-tints are delicately rendered, and the entire picture 18 tne best from the hands of a female novice that we fae seen jor a longer time than It is casy tu recol- Mme. De H. Hazard, sculptress, intends giving 9 brief series of art receptions, with music, recita- tions and classic tableaus vivants at her rooms, No, 50 Union place, northeast corner of Fourth av- ; enue and Seventeenth street. The first entertain- ment will take place next Monday evening, at lialf- past eight o'clock, will be private in its character and serve as an introduction to the others, Mine, Hazard intends shortly toreturn to Eurepe. Some time in A) re Will be a sale Of her statuary, as well 48 of her selection of antiquities aad souvenirs of Napoleon [U. and Kugenie. The general hours of ox. hibition are from ten to five aud seven to ning. The statuary consists of “Abandonata,” a group of three figures in rare Cristola marble, with verde de Genoa pedestal; “La Pace Generosa.”’ & group of | three figures in Carrara marble, with Paor pedestal; _L' Esperance,” @ singie figure in , following 1s the Commission a8 it stands at pres- ent:—Hamtton Harriss, William A. ar he Dave G Kingsley, Delos De Welk Cuaunoey ab Deve ites tola marble; * “Antinn,” single figures, exeented in Carrara ; “Rustic Felicity,” two SAG AKUTeR Wii Verde de Gsuya Dedga tales, 4 medallion portrait of the future Queen of Italy; Medallion family. portrait; and sooneagens Dorteals of Victor Emmanuel and the Pope, in plaster. Photographs fer Vienna. ‘The 108 photographs exhibited on Tuesday even- ing by Mr. William Kurtz, the photographer, at the rooms of the Palette Club, 126 Second avenue, have been packed for transportation, aud wili leave this port for Vienna to-morrow. They embrace spect- mens of every size, and form @ very valuable and attractive exponent of photographic art. Brooklyn Art Association, ‘The twenty-ninth reception of the Brooklyn Art Association will be held in the New Art Building and Academy of Music, Brooklyn, next Monday night, at eixht o'clock. These receptions have persistently increased in interest until now they are looked forwaré to with something of that ex- citement which « nters into the idea of sensation. A fire occurred last night on the third floor of the tenement house 447 West Nineteenth street. Damage, $50. The letter box on the corner of Fifty-second street and Eleventh avenue was broken open and rebbed yesterday morning. John Harris, of 102 Madison street, was severely Injured yesterday through falling on a meat hook be - Vesey street, He was seut to the Park Hos- pital. A fire broke out last night in the four-story brick building 866 Sixth avenue, cccupled by Albert Brandt as a grocery store. The duinage was only slight. Frederica Hopper, a cook in Schropps’ restau- Tant, 660 Grand street, was severely burned yester- day by her clothing taking fire. She was sent to Bellevue Lospital by tke police ol the Thirteenth precinct, The next lecture in the free course of scientific lectures for the people at the Cooper Union will take place in the great hall on saturday, March 15, ateignt P.M. Subject—“The Seven Senses.” Lec- turer, Dr. It, W. Raymond, The body of Eli Peru, a Frenchman, was found in his room at 404 East Kighth street, yesterday, with is throat cut, It is supposed he committed sui- cide in a fit ef despondency at being out of employ msnt, ‘The Coroner has been notitied, Coroner Kessler was yesterday notified to hold an inquest at the Morgue, on the body of Richard Ward, a youth of nineteen years, whose death was the result of a fractured leg received on board the tugboat American Eagle, by the breaking ot a haw- ser, The accident happened on the 23d ultimo. Bernard McCarty, @ man sixty-seven years of age and born im Ireland, was aimost tnstantiy killed yesterday afternoon at 521 keade street, by a@ bale of goods falling on his h. irom the hoist- ing apparetns. Deceased lived at 48 Ryerson street, Brooklyn, Coroner Herriman was notified. Rumors were current yesterday that Dr. Ham- mond and other medical experts had been ap- pointed a commission to inquire into the sanity of George Francis Train, now a prisoner in the Tombs, Whetter such action has or has not been taken is | Mot yet known to be @ lact, noting defluite having yet beew elicited from the proper oiicials in rela- tien to the matter. At half-past nine o'clock last night a fire broke out in the attic of the three story brick building, 220 Sullivan street, that caused a damage of $2,000, The house is the property of J. Cooke, of 83 Karrow street, and the Several floors were occupied as dwellings, The damage to the building 1s estimated at $1,000, Mrs, Jackson, who lived on the first floor, suffers a loss of $600, Insured. On Thursday night Patrick Foley, thirty-two years of age, who lived in Fordham, was arrested by Oficer Regan, of the Eleventh precinct, on a charge of intoxication, Yesterday morning, on removing him trom his cell to go to Court, Foley fell in the street, he being sick, and was taken Station house, Dr. Nuciay, who was ‘ed the patient to be taken te Betlevue but betore the ambulance arrived death sued. ‘The body was sent to the Morgue and Coroner Kessler notified, The Convention of Irish Societies met at Hiber- nia Hall last night to make final arrangements tor the celebrution on the 17th inst. The order of pro- | cession not being completed, the committee re- ported pro; . A vote of thanks to the HERALD jor publishing the line of march was passed. Some little discassion was induiged in regarding invited guests, but nothing decisive in regard to thetr accommodation was done, It is understood that those invited are to be provided with car- Tiages at the expense of the Convention, Yesterday Thomas Pleasonton, residing at No, 28 | Thowpson street, appeared before Justice Hogan and entered a complaint of felonious assault against Atwood Davenport. Pleasonton ts a hack- man, ang Thursday night wiile driving through the Bowery was hailed by Davenport, who re- ested hith to drive him to the Libby Hotel in Varren street. Pleasonion did so, and on de- Manding ois fare was conironted by Davenport with a drawn pistol. The latter pointed his Weapon at the driver and with a volley of oaths told him he would give him that for his fare. An officer of the Twenty-seventh precinct coming up, arrested Davenport, who was held by Justice Hogan tor examination, An interesting lecture on the “Classification of Ali Human Knowledge” was given last evening be- fore the Polytechnic branch of the American Insti- tute, in hail 24, Cooper Union, by Professor P. H, Vanderweyde. All human knowledge he divided | into two great branches, viz., sclences and arts, These he subdivided tnto their various subordinate parts in a moat precise and concise manner. peheduies containing the first five specific classif- cations were distributed amor the audience for study and comment, and were apparently appre- ciated asa standard epitome of everything worth knowing. The whole lecture consisted im an ex- planation of tiese printed classifications, which showed, to say the least, the laborious study and care whicn tie Professor must have expended in this arrangesient. THE CITY FINANCES, + The Comptroller Responds to the Sen- ate—TKhe Costs of All Mandamus Pro- ceedings Less than Fifty Dollars Since He Came tnto Office—The Comptroller's Legal Powers Discussed, The Comptroller has sent the following letter to the Senute:— gw York, Derartsi T OF FINaxce, MPTROLLEN'S OFFI oh 13, Bid ABLE THE I P Ihave the honor to transmit in accordance with the resolution of the Senate, a statement showing all costs and fees pail by the present Comptroller of the elty of w York, sinee his accession ty office on judgments and ts of ay Court. this sta vem appears that mses paid on ments and orde! were commenced since the present Comptroller took ollice other than vacation of asse unt to the sum ot 3674 9, In addidon to has been paid $1,244 78 tor costs in th of procee inks to vacate assessn 8, vaid by me in cases and proceedings comméne ive months to ten years betere my accession to offic ‘The first Inumation of them came to me when the exceu- tion. was or was about to be Issued. They amountin all 208, OF the above amounts $1,292 YL were: paid neriff of the Coanty for ta n ber of he c his fees on execution. Mandamuses commenced ins y et me into offee the principles laid down by this department for the audit of claims have in ninost every i been sustained py the Courts, thus inaugurating a pew system of audit, which will, Thehieve, prove very advantageor 7 18 to of the el ‘hg costs paid by the city in the Ii taken fogether, will not amount to $50. d to state to the Benate what amendiments to tI yy laws respecting the obtaining of judgments rotwet its interests. ex against the city are necessary to Tnx communication to the Lezislature of 1872 I stated the imperative necessity of authority to raise means to meet the clalins against the city ef years prior to [S71 No lngislation, however, Was consumimated to accomplish this purpose, had ty | with the lakes es nd of this chardeter as best [ could, with th i that the present Legislature would authori to pay sich of them as has yained currence stalutes as they raise money” on ments obtained against Jomptrouler to Fevenue bonds to pay Judg- the city, so that while there 4s no woney in. the treasity to meet these old claims under this interpretation of the law if @ suit Is eoutmenced on one of them ment against the city obtained, the imprest be that money ean be provided to pay it, This view of the faw is well adapted to mvite lidgation aed to incur costs and fees, speetiuliy sugyest that authority be given to provide means to pay honest claims against the city. Thave found « disp art of many fair minded men to appreciate the dificulties of the Departinent in respect to these old claims, and to wait till the Lewisiature authorizes the means to pay th Moesof the claims of the years 187) and 187. ciently provided tor, but for those of earlier years there isno inoney in the Treasery, nor is there any legal ne- thod of obta.ning it. Trevominend thai the portion of section 5 of chapter 3 of the Laws ot 1871 that provides for giving preference on the calendars of the Conrts to cases against the city be re- peal Phere ts a tendency on the part of claimants to press law oifice i be clat prererence in the ade to result m injury to the publ The revenues of the oft New York are very larg interests, y of Sheriff of the county of and I think the pablis int wou be subserved by the abolition of alt fees on fons agaiust the city and county, With very great re- Gh ANDREW H, GREEN. Comptrquer, ~ | given, in conseq' 5 NAVAL. Rumors of Changes and Promotions—How the New Retired Officers’ Bill Will Operate—Tho “Tne” and the “Outs’—Proposed Trip of the Juniata Across the Atlantic to Survey for a New Cable Route. Wasuinaton, March 12, 1873, Your correspondent has been among the naval oficers here lately, and wishes to say the passage of the clause attached to the Naval Appropriation bill placing all retired omcers of the navy off duty has—though it brought with ita salve to wounded feelings, in the shape of seventy-five per cent of pay—kicked up an excitement among the navy officers, amd they officially die hard, while the navy of the active list are jubilant over the places which they can now get, formerly pretty much only di- vided among the heavy stay-at-home sea-dogs of the navy. Rear Admiral Wilkes cannot, under this law, complete his surveys, which, by the by, were made frem 1836 to 1839,unless it be con amore. Kear Admiral Selfridge will have to vacate the California navy to give place to an officer from the active list. Rear Admiral M. Smith must vacate the place as Governor of the Naval Asylum at Philadeiphia, Rear Admiral 'l. Bailey leaves the Lighthouse Board, Rear Adiniral C. 8, Boggs vacates his posi- tion as Seeretary of the Lighthouse Board. Rear Admiral H. Waike also leaves the Lighthouse Board, Rear Admiral J. Alden will have to come home from the command of the European squadron, and rumor assigas his command to Rear Admiral A. Le Case, who, it is stated, will go outin the United Staies steamer Alaska, now fitting out at the Navy Yard, New York, Captain S. Carter is reported as detailed to com- mand her or to relieve Captain Temple, now com- manding the flagship Wabash, of the Mediterranean squadron, Rear Admiral J. F. Green will be relieved from the command of the North Auantic squadron, and Rear Admiral Join L. Worden or G. H. Scott ex- pect orders in his plac The gnowing ones here say the latter oficer will be the¥one, According to list of retirements, Rear Admiral W. Rk. Taylor, B. F. Sands, Cnarles Studman and George Eminons will retire from the actite list on april 1, his be 80, Commodores Almy, | Stroug, Parrott and Reynolds will be promoted to the grade of rear admirals, and Captains Spotts, icholson, Corbin and Thompson will be promoted to commodores, and Commanders Davis, Semmes, Mixton and Young will be made captains. This will involve sending a rear admiral to relieve Rear Admiral yior from tue command of the South At- lantie squadron, also 4 rear admiral to relieve Rear Admiral Studman, now commanding the South Pacific squadron. Doubtless the commo- dores just about to be promoted to rear admirals would like to air their fags abroad, and Dame Rumor has it that Rear Admiral (soon to b Strong will relieve Rear Aduiral Taylor and Rea Acuniral Parrott will relieve Rear Admiral Stud- gain, the orders of these officers will make places tor commodores, and Commodore Trenchard is spoken of as the reliet of Rear Admiral Strong, » Commodore Nicuolls to relieve Kear Admiral Parrott, The officer who will take The Bureau of Ordnance is being canvassed in naval cireles, Rear Admiral Worden and Commodores Howell and Mullany are all spoken of, Kear Admiral John Rodgers, it is said, will vacate his place on the Naval examination Board and take Rear Admiral Sands’ place at the Naval Ob- servatory, while others will be ordered to fill the places upon the same Board vacated by ‘renchard and Woolsey. Master C. V. Morris, one of the life-invested re- tired officers, will vacate his position at the Navy Yard here; and it is surely well, for this is one of the positions that heretotore, as Lord Dandreary Says, “mo man could tell” when it would be vacant. Biessed Retired law, say the active list oMicers, who have hoped against hope for this place. Surgeon W. Johnson vacates the Naval Hospital at Philadelphia, Surgeon Thomas L, Smith leaves his special duty | at Washington, Surgeon L. B. Hunter goes from the Naval Asy- lum, Philadephia. Medical Director W. M. Wood, Inspector General (just think of the idea of a general im the navy') must leave his nice billet and retire to @ private life, Medical Director C. D. Maxwell vacates his spe- cial duty at this place. Paymaster H. Bridge, more frequently styled Paymaster General bridge (here we have another naval general), must retire upon retired pay. Pay Directors Pettit and Boggs, too long with soft places, leave their arduous duties to more active-minded of the active paymasters’ list, and so it goes, Chaplain M. Noble vacates his Navy Yard billet here and another will take nis piace, Naval Constructors Lesthall and Delano go where the woodbine twineth. The iatter has been so long at the New York Navy Yard that report has it he fancies be owns the yard, and it is not surprising, from the way the ‘retired ofMlcers held fast to places, A few boatswains and carpenters must vacate the places they hold, aud the navy out of all this will start with fresh energy. I think had Congress done nothing else for vhe navy this ses- sion but pass the Ketiied bill they could have said they liad done well. and they stand prepared to receive the thanks of the people. ‘rhe United States steamers Alaska and Mononga- hela are, rumor says, assigned to the Mediter- ranean squadron to take the places of the Ply- meuth, now on her way hoiue, and the Brooklyn sald about to bring home Rear Admiral J. Alde The Shenandoah, of the same squadron, com home this Summer. This is reinforcing the Euro- pean squadron with a vengeance. As the HERALD suggests the rapid increase of the European squad- ron, we here find that instead of an merease this squadron will be decreased by one vessel. It is stated here that the Juniata is being fitted toruna line of soundings across the Atiantic in the interest of some company who desire to lay a cable across. When tuis duty is done—and it is an excellent Way to employ the naval vesseis—why should not this vessel remain to increase the Mediterranean squadron, now surely needing an incre » Jin view of tie various change of governments taking place in Europe, as the HEKALD very properly said some days agoyY If the Mediterranean squadroa is now tne creased, when the services of the vessels are no longer needed they can easily be ordered else- wher Commander Breeze, it is said, will be ordered to the Naval Academy in place of Captain Carter, and Captain William N, Jetters is detailed to relieve Commander Matthews, at the Newport torpedo station, This last is somewhat of a surprise, for Captain Jeffers is & most accomplished naval oficer, and has made naval ordnance a special part of his profession. His friends have been look- ing forward to his being selected as Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance here, tn place of Rear Ad- miral Case, who goes to command the Mediter- ranean squadron. Captain Simpson is reported as about to be or. dered to relieve Captain Jeifers from the command of the United States ship Constitution, Commander Matthews, it is said, goes to the Pacific, to assume command of a United States steamer fitting Out at the California Navy Yard. BROOKLYN SANITARY AFFAIRS. The Grain Nul nee—Burial of Smallpos Patients. Ata meeting of the Common Conncil Committee on Health, held last evening, the grain nuisance at Woodruff & Robinsen’s storehouse ruins and the burtal of smallpox patients were discussed at length, With regard to the smouldering grain, the odor of which has been permeating the atmosphere of South Brookiyn ever since the fire, which oc- curred in the month of November, Health Officer Otterson informed the committee that the offensive material is being removed now ag rapidly as possible, and within the next two weeks the jast of the vile stuif will have disappeared. ‘The burned grain is towed up the Sound in barges, by steam tugs, to New Haven, where it is sold to farmers for the fertilization of the arid lands ot Con- necticut, Dr, Ottersen called particular attention to the indiscriminate system of burying smallpox victims in the same piace with those whe have died of other diseases. The disease was disseminated to a great extent by people who have been Bursing smallpox patients com| in contact with well persons. It had also been demon strated that the obnoxioas malady was ire. quently communicated through the coached used at funerals. He urged that = the Common Council drait and pass an ordinance re- quiring that certain undertakers be licensed to attend to the removal of the smallpox dead, and the hearse used and the coaches occupied by the nurses attending the funeral shall be kept apart from other vehicles and shall be used solely ior said purposes. A sub-committee was appoiated to repare an ordimance embodying the views of tie jealth Officer apon this subject for tue action of the Board of Aldermen, THE SALT WATER COMMITTEE. A meeting of the above committee was held yea terday, when additional evidence was taken as to the water supply from Pougtkeepsie, The Mayor of Poughkeepsie was present, and stated that the Water supply from the Hudson to this city could ba completed in ‘wo mouths, and urged the adoption Of this plan. The evidence f the City Engineers was not ence of Lhe Absence Of these oftk clals, Th i adournk dad until Toesday | Meat as eiey eu U elwem