The New York Herald Newspaper, July 11, 1873, Page 5

"" LIFE UNDERGROUND, Our Commissioner at Howe's Cave Makes Profound’ Explorations Into the Bowels of the Earth. He Wonderingly Wanders by the River Styx and is Ferried Across by Charon, HE LANDS ON PLYMOUTH ROCK. Subterranean Courtships and Marriages, or the Mysteries of the Bridal Chamber. The Haunted Castle and the Bot- tomless Pit. ‘The Devil’s Gateway, the Giant’s Study, the Pi- rates’ Cave and the Fat Man’s Miscry—Kiss- ing Gate and Its Tradition—A Cup of Cold Water Drank in the Valley of Jehosa- phat—The Roofiess Rotanda— The Dead Lake Beyond. Cave House, Hown’s Cave, N. Y, July 9, 1878. Society shows some similitude of sense when, in her meanderings after the glittering will-o’-the- wisp 0! pleasure, she iorsakes the crowded quag- mires where are sunk so many skeletons of idle hours, and wanders along the secluded borders of etreains, the fringed edges of sylvan lakes, or in the pensive shadows of deep and quiet giens and the yawning vaults of miraculous grottos, Nature im such places presents herself in phases both beautiful and marvellous, not yet tamed by the trite footstep of the indifferent tourist and his one thousand and one deputies, But society does not Often follow this sage course. Her eyes and ears g#eem closed to the language that may be read and Mstened to in these hidden alcoves of the colossal Mbrary of the earth, and if-she is ever led into them by the example of some one of her troop, ‘who comprehends it more deeply and widely than the rest, it is with stupid, sensuous indiiference that she inhaies the aromatic breezes, views the emerald waters, the rich-hued foliage, the grandly majestic hills or the awe-inspiring cavernous won- ders. She cannot be weaned from folly, even by the influence of poetry ‘and romance in their na- tive reality. While Saratoga and Niagara are now thronging and simmering in the July heat, this out-of-the- ‘Way, hill-encompassed, quiet and cool resting place is as nearly forgotten as if it did not possess one of the seven wonders of the world. ‘The iron horse has just begun to climb the hills with energetic puffing through his great nostrils, when the bell announces a station and the train stops—stops on the very verge of a deep, green valley, into which ‘one looks from the car windows with a half shud- der and sees nestled far below, among graceful and gigantic eims, small, homely farm houses, in Picturesque contrast with the deep, verdant meadows and the sombre-wooded hillsides. The train speeds on around the sharp, jutting edge of yonder precipice, Its rumble is faintly heard through the great mass of the hill behind you. You find yourself standing beside the track with your gaze fixed upon a grand and lovely prospect et your very feet. The elevations of the ridges COAST UP BY ANCIENT GEOLOGICAL STRUGGLES are not so greatas among the Adirendacks, but they are sufficiently so to leave an impression of their boldness and immensity of breadth upon the | mind, and so mellow and harmonized in color and #0 strikingly beautiful in form as to create a gentle, not violent, but appreciative feeling of admiration— @ very comfortable and epicurean realization of pleasure. The golden and amber shadings of the sunset hues were lingering as if they were in truth, as the poets say, the loving caresses of the dying day on the rounded hilitops, and a thin haze formed a sort of coronal for the dark, rich-tinted Yorests that cover the summits, A mile southeast of my lookout, snugly ensconced in adeep gorge which begins at the top of an in- termediate ridge between two immense hills and extends to the bottom of the vailey, dumping a small turgid stream into the clear current of the Cobles Kill, is the home of Howe, a comfortable red-painted farm house, with snow white shutters and plethoric granges. The gray-haired old man ‘who now, at the age of three-score and ten, sits tn its porch at eventide comfortably smoking his pipe, is no other than the discoverer of Howe's | ‘Cave, next in size and equal in interest to the MAMMOTH CAVE OF KENTUCKY. In his decline of life he shares more of the glory Of the discovery than of its profit, having, through some folly of his own, relinquished his right of pos- session for the paltry sum of $15,000, while, a few years ago, he refused for it $75,000 in cash. Law struggles did it. The entrance of the cave is now | owned by ex-Senator Ramsey, and, there being no other access to its interior, the possession of the whole is not disputed. Thirty-one years ago, on an afternoon in May, 1842, Howe, with his shot-gun on his shoulder, was Scrambling up the hiliside on which I now stand, He was chasing a fox, which had escaped his fire. His dog was in full pursuit, but suddenly the fox ‘Vanished, and as suddenly the dog stopped before a dark cavity, barely large enough to admit a man’s body, and which seemed to lead into the very bowels of the earth whieh are mentioned in Scrip- ture, There came from within strange and infer- al noises. Howe approached and then stopped aghast, but soon, mustering courage, he entered on bis hands and knees, dragging his rife with him. He went in as far as he could without losing sight of the daylight that shone through the en- trance, and then returned. THE DAMP WALLS WERE COVERED WITH BATS, and hundreds of them were circling in the air and uttering diabolical screeches, Far in the distance he heard the rushing and whispering of falling and dripping water and the rumbling echoes of his cautious footsteps. His curiosity was intensely excited, He secured a neighbor as anally, took ‘with him a quantity of candles and entered the cave asecond time. For fear of getting lost they ‘used twine to mark the way by which they came, fastening itat the entrance and unwinding It as they proceeded, Their explorations extended as far as @ placid and motioniess shect of water, quite deep and perfectly clear, where, as they had no boat, they were obliged to paase. Subsequently, however, @ boat was built on its banks, the other shore was reached, and by degrees the exploration of the cave and its many side passages was pushed tothe present limit of knowledge of its extent. Some of the avenues were so very small that Howe and his companion were obliged to drag themselves through lying flat on their bellies: but many of these were alterwards artincially en- Jarged, and at one time a team of donkeys anda tramway were employed in removing dirt and dévris. Howe had an eye toa possivic fortune, and, before the secret of his discovery was known, ie the land about the mouth of the cave. je then erected a large hotel and invited visiturs to his wonder gallery, charging a fee lor admit- tance and the service of a guide, Until two years @go, however, it never was widely known, aud his eute! was not very successful, although he spent much money in striving to advance it. His hotel was burned down, andsince the cave has been sold a new building, much smaller, but more pleasant, better kept, and having all the tmprove- ‘ments of the age, has been erected. It commands g very fine view of the surrounding scenery, and, bei immediately over the place of descent into Plutonic regions, is very convenient for tourists. Howe in his old age mast feel somewhat dis- sted with the meagre fruits which he has reaped m his good luck; tp he can find plentiiul ex- rae of the neglect and poverty of discoverers an his inventors if he but read the pages of modern Moat ot the people who come here make only transient visits, stopping a day or so on the way to Sharon, tle i jagara or the North Woods. Bat during each o! the past ten years the cave has orn and more popular as a resort, and is ow get down as one of those things that “a jeiler Aoust see, you know,” or else be accounted nobedy. i} | | yet been seen by aid of torch, Jamp, rocket or cal- count to answer for puns and other mis- | demeanors, At the end of the “Wind- | Ing Way” is a large and lofty chamber, | NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY Bo the fasnionabies see Once in & while a connoisseur of sclence comes along, an wishing to study nature in her fastnesses, tor ws or montha. Several of such gentiem or ladies have themselves been known to get fast in the rocks that bound the narrow passages, in their too great eagerness for exploration, and have been hauled out backwards. But these inci- dents serve to enliven the very dull atmosphere of the place, while they have no sericus consequences. A party 0! colored individuaisof a very inquiring tura of mind made a tour of the cuve one day 1n company with several strongly built black botties, for which while onthe way they showed great al- fection. One of them became venturesome, and paused too long ON 7HE EDGE OF THE “BOTTOMLESS PIT.’ This was whiie Howe wa When the negro fell he made but found iooting on lantiy rescued. the pit has a bottom, and it is no longer exhibited as being very wonderiul, Every visitor who passes reer @ stone into it, and this bas gradually led it up, A vast deal of genuine fun is enjoyed by parties of girls and young fellows who explore the cave, Most of the young ladies throw off conventionalism With their iashionable garments and become unre- strainediy iin: er ia their demeanor. The first siep to be taken Is preparation Jor the journey into the realns of Erevus, Tender feminine mortals are attired m sailor costume, with loose panta- joons, strong shoes and giazed cays. Some o: them look very pretty when thus their beauty unadorned is exposed; but others, sad to relute, are like the phantoms of their jormer selves, The change it is customary to ascrive to a fear of the horrors of the gubterrancan journey, which it is imagined might at first well ‘cause the velvet cheek to pale and the gentle form to trembie with apprehension. But a strange fact—but, nevertheless, true—is that the ladies are reputed to show more pluck aud perseverance in exploration than their masculine superiors, and, allwougi this redounds to their credit, it sadly up- sets the charitable explanation of the mysterious things mentioned above, Hach of the party is pro- vided with & lantern, THE GULDE CARRIES A TORCH. The first mile of the way most frequented by visitors 18 lighted with gas. We go down a flight Ol stoue steps for a distance of twenty-live ieet and pass through @ stone arch. The cavern opens before us, ‘fhe way at first is perfectly dry and jevel and the alr grows colder as we proceed, but produces no discomfort and seems purer than that of upper regions, At in- tervais we enter immense halls, where tue roois vault upwards apd become almost invisible. The walls are decorated with pendant stalactites and the Noor with solid stalaymites, some of which have the appearauce o1 pests driven in the ground, and are still imperceptiviy but surely growing to greater size. THE “BRIDAL CHAMBER” has all toitselfa peculiar interest. It 19 a wide and loity cavern, at one.side of which 18 a recess or gallery, reached by means of artificial steps, At their summit is a spot on which were soleimnized the marriages of two of the daughters of Howe, His enthusiasm over his cave was so great that he thought it was the most fitting temple for such a ceremony. Portions of the courtship, it is related, also took place underground, but tis statement is not authentic. ‘Ihe wed- dings were very brilliant, ‘The immense and gloomy hull was lighted up by a hundred tapers, tixed in niches in the rocks, All of the guests were gathered in thé main portion of the cavern, while tie bridal purty, the officiating minister and the arents of the bride stvod in the gallery which I ave described, visible to all the spectators below. ‘Tre words with which the knot was tied rolled in iui] and sol mn articulat.on through the great cav- ern and were taken up by the echoes and answered back. I wonder if they didn’t seem ratner ominous to the bridegroom, thus bandied about by internal voices? However that may be, the fiddle and banjo were shortly aiterwards put in motion, and the toes and heels of all present meandered over the siippery floor of rock in time with WHAT SEEMED A SUPERNATURAL ORCHESTRA, The distant soundiess chambers grouped the melo- dies with seeming joy, and gave them Lack in new and deeper utterances, so that a thousand instru- ments seemed played upon at once. A banquet in these sombre and ghostiy walls followed the first dance and then the pleasures of Terpischore were renewed with tenfold more hilarity until old Earth voaned hideously irom her bowels at the heediess desecration of her thoracic tube. No other mar- riages were ever consecrated in the “Bridal Cham- ber,” although many lovers take advantuge nowa- days ofa very convenient nook in the wail to seal their vows over again with gulity hisses, while the guide with goodly intent goes abstractedly and un- observingly forward. In the “Liaunted Castle” you | sit in a niche while I look at you and try to discover in the pale light your resemblance to a ghost. “Music Hall” is a lofiy chamber, where a slab of wood {s let fell on the floor, and the sounds roll through the dark spaces like the roar of near artillery. ‘The most disagreeable human voice here 1s musical, and seems like that of THE END MAN IN THE CHOIR OF THE ANGELS, Stelactite ‘ormations through this portion of the cave are very fr2quent and tine, and are named (rom their resemolince vo certain ovjects. Prominent among them are “the harp,” “the organ,” ‘Lady Washiugton’s hood” and “Washington's epaulet.” The ‘stygian Lake” is soon after ward reached, a stretch or water @ quarter of # unile long, whose bot- tom at places sixty feet below the suriace is always perfectly perceptible by the ight of a torch. The ferryboat is a rude scow, made of planks. Our Charon is our guide, @ good natured being with a slightly cadaverous face, a grizzly unkempt beard of gray and straggling hair, @ pale watery eye, a giant frame and bronzed, bony hands. His name is Martin Hager, and his travels and adventures have been numerous. His figure against the biack backgronnd of the darkness in tne bold reliet of the light of'a torch looks grotesque and almost unnatural, and you feel an icy tremor when you set your foot upon the damp bottom of his crait, es- pecially ti you wear thin shoes. ‘The jake winds through picturesque masses of rock arched overhead and decked with fine spec® mens of the stalactite formation. A few rods from the outer shore ts AN IMMENSE NATURAL PIER supporting the roof and composed of sdlid black marble, After the landing at the other end on “Piymouth Rock’ we walk along @ narrow beacit for some distance beside the silent tide of the River Styx, whicn Lere stretches almost across the cave. Further on is asmall stream that goes in ghostly garrulousuess over and under the rocks, filling the ear with uncouth and supernatural nois: It dis- appears at length, having a channel perhaps hun- dreds of feet unverneath the avenue trod by man. ‘rhe incongruity of the associations aroused by the names given to various portions of the cave is Imaicrous, From the “Stygian Lake” we land on “Plymouth Nock.” and then journey beside the “River Styx” through the ‘Devil’s Gateway,” the Museum," the “Geological Rooms,’’ the “Giant’s Study,” the “Pirate's Cave” until we come to the “Rocky Mountains.” THE “DEVIL'S GATEWAY” 1s 9 stooping passage which has pelts been more cheerfully cenominated the ‘Grecian Bend,” and the descent irom it is_made by the “Indians’ Stone Ladder.” “Uncle Tom's Cabin,” standing by the wayside, isa gigantic stalagmite, the sides of which are corrugated s0 as to resemble the un- even surface of logs. The. “Giant’s study’ con- tains great imasses of iallen rock, which resembie immense volumes lying In disordered heaps. The “Rocky Mouutains” are extremely difficu't of pas- sage, but when that tribulation 18 over we descend into the quiet “VALLEY OF JEHOSAPHAT,” where is a clear poo! of sweet er and a cup sct imaniche of the rocks. A Me od taken at this point is grateful and refreshing. e Journey now hes through the “Winding Way,” the most curious subterranean passage in the world, It issoextreme- ly sinnous that it is stated, upon scientific observa- tions which have been taken, that after waiking jor about twenty minutes the traveller stands within a very jew feet of the point from which he started. It is Very narrow, admitting but one person at a time, and in some places even this Is very dificult. It is magnificentiy adorned with crystals hangmg in the form of stalactytes. The “Kissing Gate” is lormed by two large formations of stalactites and stalagmites, between which the process of kissing is oiten innocently indulged in by the im- roper young ladies whom I have referred to, It is said by tradition that a kiss stolen or given here never fails of having @ happy resuit, The “Eye of the Needie’’ is, a8 may be imagined, a very narrow passage. A lormer guide, Wuose name was Camp- voll, Was the unfortunate cause of many a pun, dis- respectiul towards a certain ancient and reverend book; but he, poor fellow, has since gone to his ac- from which open three passages, none of which have ever been iully explored, Many visitors never go jurther than this point, but of those who do it 1s asserted that the gentle sex are in the majority. So much for curiosity inordinate that even caverns cannot compass. 1 did not wish to be outdone in enterprise—wihich I claimed as my particular and proper qualification—and therefore determined to venture onward. We crawled feet foremost, after the manner of the crab, through an aperture in the rocks, about two Jeet in diameter. Itis called “paT MAN'S MISERY ;"" but I think that the implied except.on in favor of lean men is wholly unwarranted, Aiter burnin, my hand against the lantern which curried we emerged into 9 passage, in which we walked upright again for a few paces, and then came to another ser- pentine way, through which we crawied on our hands and’ knees for about twenty minutes. We then found ourselves in the “Ko- tunda.” To fi describe this — wonderful chamber is almost impossible. Its roofhas never cium light. Its walls are almost perfectly circular in form, and for a hundred ieet upward slightly converge, but then widen in, and their tines are lost to the eye in the distance andthe dark- ness, THE “ROTUNDA” IS CERTAINLY FIVE HUNDRED FEET IN HEIGHT, and may possibly reach very nearly to the surface of the earth. Rockets have been thrown up toa height of over three hundred feet. About a mile beyond the Rotunda is another lake which is ap- proached only by crawling flatupon the belly for more than half an hour. It has never been crossed, the being too low and narrow for the construction of a boat, What wonders may exist beyond it no one has yet discovered. It is proposed soon to ae, it by some means or other, At this point the distance from the entrance of the cave is determined b; actual measurement to be eit ah i miles and from the in yu Seven hundred feet. Ineloding the side nessages | about Steen miles of the cave have already been explored, lany of the most interesting geological forma- tions found in Howe’s Cave have been stoien by visitors, through the carelessness of the original owner; but it now contuing a8 rare specimens a8 the Mammoth Cave, and a tew that are found nowhere else. A PETRIFIED STUMP OF AN RLM TREE, with a poem of alimb lying beside it, perfectiy natural in shape, is one of its inexplicab'e curlosi- ties, The bark of the stump is exactly like that of the elm, and the lines of growth, as shown by the section of the trunk, clearly indicate the age of the tree. The puzzling facts are that it must have been cut by human hands, and then, too, the earth: quake which deposited it so far under ground mus' have occurred long before the advent of civiliza- tion and axes, So the qrestion now is, Who chopped down the tree with lus little hatchet? euane things, however, do not trouble the gedl- | 8. When you return to the daylight, ont of the cav- ernous depths of the earth, the change of atmos- here sometimes produces a slight faintness, but he sensations alterward felt are very agreeable. One of them is the gratification at the table of amuch invigorated appetite. The atmosphere of the cave is said to possess great properties ior the cure of consumption, but it must be of a peculiar kind, About twenty years ago an invalid took up his resl- dence in the cave and remained there both day and night. He grew much better; but when finally he returned trom his hiding place to the light of the sun death seized him and he survived not. The place where lie had his furnace for cooking his food, and where he stretched his bed on the rocks, is still shown to the visitor by the guides, and is & waaeiog Monument of the fate which he could not ART MATTERS, Pictures at Mr. Moore’s. Now that there is so profound a lull in art mat- ters, the fact that a few new pictures are visible at Mr. R. E. Moore’s, 31 Union square, deserves atten- tion. Of these one is fresh from the studio of Mr. William Hart, Itis owned by Mr. Moore and has been named by him “The Passing Shower’’—a titie not by any means remarkable tor originality, and not largely expressive of the character of the com- position. Recognizing, however, the difficulty of 80 christening a work of art as to indicate all that it attempts to express, and nothing else, it may be remembered thas ‘A Passing Shower” is ex- quisitely {fresh and crisp in treatment. A July land- Scape spreads ita rich green charms before the eye, @ pona ripples lightly in the foreground to the right, the white steeple of a church gleams in the middle distance and a string of cows seems to be approaching the observer from the backround, whence they are driven by a boy, evidently dis- tracted between respect for real estate and a Ratural animosity against cattle. ‘the landscape ‘glows with the recent washing of the rain; the looming clouds are swollen with recollections of the elapsed shower; the solemn cattle, preserving a demure dignity inthe midst of their ignominy, advance with contemplative, self-possessed, un- ,quickened pace; the water is self-wrinkled in its equable ebb, and the entire landscape is flecked and softened with the sunshine and shadow of a capricious July day. Mr. William Bart also bas a small picture— “October’—in scene and sentiment alive witn the rich and serious russets of that month, abundantly relieved with dark, iuxurious crimsons. One of the most dignified and fascinating com- positions, recently from the pen of Eastman John- son, is entitied “Catching the Bee,” and represents @ young giriengaged in that perplexing occupa- tion as she stands beside a vine-trellised wall. ‘The attitude is unaffected, self-unconscious, iniormed with: a natural dignity which nothing could en- hance or distaro. The contrasts and comparisons of color are at once flortd and delicate, and the experiment of idealizing a practical incident 1s charmingly successiul, A woodiand scene by Whittredze is deftly per- suaded intoa channel for conveying that delicate sense of the inherent pensiveness of iorest episode with which Mr, Whittredge has a peculiar degree ofendowment. The brook, that melts out of view as imperceptibly a8 the supra-lacing boughs lose themseives in each other, subtly suggests the tangled vastitudes of forest life, These pictures are all new, and are seen here for the first time. Next week fresh compositions by 8. R. Guifora and James Hart will be on hand, American and Foreign (Art Agency. At 70 West Thirty-fourth street has recently been established an “American and Foreign Art Agency,” which is entitled to mention as the neat- est and most recherché little institution of the kind in the city. The lateness of the date at which, ua- fortunately, it was opened has as yet rendered it un- familiar, either by name or locality, to the majority of the art public, announce their intention of pursuing renders it probabie, however, that with the beginning of season a good deal of weil warrauted attention be diverted to this quarter. The rooms are fitted up with a boudoir-like brightuess, and though the quarters are small they are not cramped, and prom- ise to accommodate quite an appreciable quan- tity of good domestic and foreign pictures. Oil palntings, water colors, engravings, etchings, bronzes and carvings are to be embraced by this agency, which, it 18 to be hoped, will supply one gratification more to those who hanker after legiti- mate nooks of art. Metropolitan Museum of Art—Hourteenth Street Branch, Since the Di Cesnola antiquities were first opened to the New York public a few weeks ago about two thousand people have visited the branch of the Netropolitan Museum in Fourteenth street, where the antiquities are displayed. For six montus General Di Cesnoia and the corps of assist- ants provided for him by the trastees of the Mu- seum have been working with great industry, and the result is tobe seen in countless numbers of vases, cups, saucers, patere, statnettes and statues, appropriately mounted and la- belled. In addition to this a@ catalogue is nearly completed which gives a general run- ning account of the principal antiquities, More has been accomplished than, we think, nine-tenths of even the more intelligent visitors are ready to concede, and the day is now approach- ing when the distinguished discoverer ot these treasures proposes to return to Cyprus, there to renew his diggings, convinced, as he is, that the ysotl of that isiand contains still rarer riches within its bosom than any he has hitherto disentombed. General di Cesnola will probably sail from this port on the 22d of August, and resume the duties of his Consulate immediately upon his arrival at Cyprus, The election of his successor becomes. therefore, a matter of immediate and pressing interest, and any one who dves tue subject the justice to think intelligently upon {it would be surprised to learn that it Was not betng earnestly discussed by the trustees. We do not know whether such a dis- cussion is going ou or not; but if if is not is it not time that it should be? And, whether it is or not, it is Unquestiouably desirable that the appointment of General Cesnoia’s successor should Jai upon a man as admirably and exceptionably qualitied for ¥. high and responsible a position as our Consul at Cyprus himself. It is desirable that such an office should ve filled by one possessed of the tulents and the culture necessary'to the ade- quate performance of its duties, utterly independ- ent of all questions of political or personal favor- itism, It would be an unutierable pity for so mag- nidcent a collection to be placed under the super- intendeucy of asmatterer in archeology, whose only claum was his ambition aud whose only quali- fieation his cupidity. The liberality, the culture and the social standing of the trustees as a body encourage the hope that no considerations but those of a kind likely to ao good to the Museum in general und to the Di Ces: 4 Nola collection in particular will obtam. It is easy to imagine the latherly solicitude with which the unveiler of these wondrous entombments will part from them tor an indefinite time, and it is im- possible not to hope that that solicitude may be affectionately discouraged by their being placed in ‘ge of wise and drsinterested hands, which the labor of taking care of them a labor of love. Whatis needed tx not an archwological trifler, not a dilettante on the outskirts of art, out @ patient and enthusiastic devotee, a man who unites the plainest common sense to the nicest and exactest erudition, aud who, able to organize and direct, possesses also that subtle ana calm dis- crimination Which ts the appanage of the pioneer in actence. LIBERAL REPUBLICAN GENERAL COMMIT’ | TEB. Ata meeting of the Liberal Repablican General Committee held last evening at 453 Fourth avenue, T. E. Stewart, presiding, alter some unimportant routine business had been disposed of General Cochrane made a speech, dweiling on the prospects | Of the party, national, State and local, and con- cluded by urging that a convention be held at which the views of delegates from all the States should be had. Mr, Pullman, of the Kightcenth district, pro- posed a series of resolutions reflecting ridiculously on the boat geal of the city Commom School Department, by which teachers need only work 214 days of the year, and only five hours a day at that, while most other people had to work ten, twelve or fourteen hours «day. ‘The resolu- tions also burlesqued the custom of teachers being absent (rom duty on account of sickness, and their having July and August for a vacation, after hav- ing done as little as possible the other months of u ar. Mr. Pullman said he did not want any credit for the resolutions as a literary production. A motion to tabie the resolutions, as they were not legitimately a snbjecs for the General Committee to take action upon, was lost, and they were re- ferred to the memite tp Gis unen jons. 4 marks relative prospects Fishan the meeting adjpuragg, some re: party from Judge The course that the proprietors + JULY Tl, 1873.—TRIPLE SHEET, THE MUNICIPAL MUDDLE. | THE PuBiIc DrPARTMENTS, 'Is “the Old Knickerbocker” Trying a Coup d@’Etat? Signs of Weakening by Some of His Aldermen— Do They Want to Join the Combination t—Al- derman Kehr, the German Leader, Sent for—Not to Form a Cabinet, but to Get Advice and Promises—Kehr Makes Statements to a Herald Re- porter and the Mayor Denies Their Truthfulness. The publication in some of the papers yesterday announcing that Mr. Kehr and other members of the combination against the Mayor's nominees Were expecting arrest hourly and that they were searching Jor bail, might have created a sensation yesterday at the City Hall had not the HERALD contained an interview with the Mayor, in which he deprecated such proceedings and intimated that no attempt would be made, at least with his concurrence. There were yesterday about the Hall a few Aidermen who ridiculed tne idea, and even Alderman Kehr, the chief of the alarmed party, took occasion to ridicule it and denounce it as a sensation, There is no doubt, however, that Mr. Kehr and other Aldermen have been in the habit of talking pretty freely, and some of them may have dropped remarks calculated to start the rumor, Others of the combination seem to be so anxtous to have their names appear if the papers that they run abont the Halland loudly denounce Mr. Beers and other supposed reformers. The HERALD reporter has assurances from republican sources that it is not the intention of the friends of the Mayor to give members of the combination @ litle brief notoricty by summoning them be- fore the courts. On the contrary, one of the most confidential advisers of the Mayor in the Board of Aldermen yesterday said to the representative of the HERALD:— “I charge no improper motives to my associates, and no proceedings will be taken against them, They, each and every one of them, doubtless have valid reasons for refusing to confirm we nomina- tions; but while I respect the judgment of my asso- ctates, I am sorry that they will not unite with us republicans in rejecting all of them if necessary.” “All of them ?” asked the reporter, in astonish- ment. “Has the Mayor and you, his supporters, become convinced that his nominees are not good ones ”? “Oh, no! not that; but if they rejected all the Mayor might send in the names of better ones (the Alderman put special stress on the better ones), and then we would get good Police Justices.” “You gentlemen of the Mayor's party make a mistake if you think the combination like the pres- ent incumbents,” said the reporter. ‘Several of them have said to me that they would like to see at least two of them in Kamschatka or ——.”” “I don’t doubt it,” said the Alderman. “I have said to them that I am not satisfied with the nomi- nees, and ifthey will take them from the table I will jom them in ejecting a portion of them.” “How many?” queried the reporter. “Well,” said the Mayor’s Alderman, after a pause, ‘I think all but four, Understand me, none of them are my nominees, The only one I recom- mended ts an old soldier of distinguished record (name given), Who would reflect credit upon the Bench, He was not nominated; but we should take from the table and reject.” “exactly, and I will vote on most cases against confirmation. I put the whole thing on principle. We ought to give the old man (Havemeyer) a } chance to send in better names that suit us ail.’ ‘The above was the subject of the interview with one of the most earnest adherents of the Mayor. iH Pade minority are disposed to meet the majority halt way and romige On cand)s. dates, 80 ag to end the deadtoct. ior ane that one of the combination is a candidate for Couey Clerk, another for Register and a third for Sherif and that the whole een ol coufirma- tion hinges tipon these oitice: Early yesterday morning a rumor few about the corridors of the City Hall to the eifect that Mayor Hayemeyer had sent for Alderman Kehr, with a view of breaking the combination, Politicians who knew Mr. Kehr placed but tittle reliance on the story, and the reporters of the press took less stock in tt, and @ few hours later the rumor had passed out of the minds of almost everybody. To the utter astonishment of the lobby, a little later Alderman Kehr was seen to enter the Mayor’s pri- vate office. What occurred there can only be given on hearsay. About nalf-past tour o’clock a HeRaLp reporter encountered Mr. Kehr on tne northern steps of the City Hali and an interview occurred something after this fashion :— RePoRTER—Ah, Alderman; what news? Mr. KeHk—None except that L have been with the Mayor. ‘ RgPORTER—The deuce you havel Let’s hear it if it’s not confidential. Mr. Kenr—Well, George Star came to me last evening and told me the Mayor wanted to see meat half-past ten this morning. I went there, entered his room; he looked up and received me politely. Isaid, “Mr. Mayor, 1 was asked by Mr. Star to see you at half-past ten.” ‘the Mayor looked u egnicag he hadn’t sent for me nor had he seen Star ita month, REPORTER—What Star do you mean? Mr, Ksuk—He is now Commissioner of Emigra- tion. ReProrteR—Well, Mr. Kehr, go on; what did the Mayor say? r. Kehr here hesitated, and the reporter, des- pairing of drawing him out, ehasited his tactics, and, patting him famullarly on the back in the pres- ence of Assistant Alderman Coddington, who had come up, 6ald-;-— “You did not weaken, Ipresume? Stand to your colors and in the uext election you can be ‘City Register, vice Sigel, But what was said by the Mayort”” Mr. Kehr blushed and finally spoke:—“I don't want any office, I stand on principie, ie Mayor first said he had not sent for me; then he satd’ he had not seen Mr. Star for a month; then he said he had not seen him in three weeks, and finally he said he had not seen himyin @ weck. I turned to ‘0, When he called me back. I went back and old ir. Kelly’ —— RePorTER—What Kelly ? Mr. Kenr—that old gray-headed friend of his, Mr. James Kelly, said to me— ReroRrrER—Was tt in the presence of the Mayor ? Mr. KEHR—Yes; Mr. Kelly told me that we could arrange matters. He said if | could get Mr. B——s, Emil saver and other Germans to come down as a deiegation aud state what the Germans wished I could have what I wanted. RePORTER—Did the Mayor make any promises? Mr. Kek—None, directly. Here a German came uP and said, “I helped to nominate you, and—(excitedly)—you have gone over to Tammany Hall!” The reporter and As- sistant Alderman Coddington, expecting to wit- hess 40 assault between the intruder and Mr. Kehr, ceased speaking and listened, Mr. Kehr was not alarmed, and for ten minutes spoke rapidly, de- claring that he would never vote for the confirma- tion of the Mayor’s nominees for Justices, believ- ing that the law was unconstitutional. He con- vinced his German friends of his purity of mo- tive, and at this point the HERALD representative withdrew, satisfied that his presence was no longer necessary to protect the distinguished Alderman from an assault by a fellow countryman. What's up? What the Mayor Says. A few minutes before six o’clock a HERALD rep- resentative was admitted to see Mayor Havemeyer, in the company of Comptroller Green and the Mr. Kelly referred to above, Mr. Havemeyer distinctly deciared that he had not sentfor Mr. Kehr, and denied that any overtures had been made to him, Mr. Kelly sustained the Mayor's statements, and from the humorous manner of the Mayor the im- pression was left upon the mind of the reporter that somebody had attempted a practical joke upon one of the German Aldermen, From the interview given above with one of the American Aldermen, who is noted as being one of Mr, Havemeyer’s most enthusiastic adherents, it is safe to at least surmise that an effort 1s being made by the friends of the Mayor to conciiate, at least, some members of the combination, with a view of ending tue dead-lock. A Conference at the Mayor’s Office. Late last evening a distinguished party were closeted with Mayor Havemeyer for over an hour. Among them Were Assistant Corporation Counsel Andrews, Tax Commissioner Wheeler, Comp- troller Green, ae Kelly, Chamberlaia Lane and Deput; mptrolier Storrs and General Pinckney, Clerk of the Board of Aldermen. The nature of the conierence could not be posi- tively ascertained ; bat it was understood to be in relation to the proceedings taken by Patrick Mal- len, one of Tweed’s officials of the Bureau of Eiec- tions, for the recovery of salary. When the HERxaLp reporter left the room in which the conference was heid, all had gone except the Mayor and the Comp- troller. It was then nearly six o’ciock, and the Comptrolier was still pi engaged in reading manuscript documents, POSTPONEMENT OF THE ERIE RAILWAY ELEOTI ‘The Board of Directors of the Erie Raflway met yesterday for organisation and the election of om but as there was no quoram the mee! was adjourned Wo pexk Wednosdae, rf ben A Tour Through the Principal Public Departments—The Flow of Emigra- tion—Interesting Views of Commis- sioner Van Nort—Lager Next Sunday and Sunday After Next. A HERALD reporter who visited the various pub- lic departments of the cliy yesterday gained some valuable information. At the office of the COMMISSIONERS OF EMIGRATION he learned that permission will probably be given to land the passengers of the City of Washington at Castle Garden, The number of immigrants who have arrived since the Ist of July is 8,016. The number of immigrants this year reaches the re- spectable figure of 168,273, as foilows:—In January there arrived 6,460; in February, 6,277; in March, 13,421; in April, 42,743; im May, 52,197, and in June, 39,160, The number of cabin passengers was also very large, but could not be exactly ascertained, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Commissioner George W. Van Nort, when he is not employed in giving audience to politicians, de- votes the leisure to an examination of his pay rolls, looking to retrenchment, Within a short time over two hundred laborers have been discharged, owing to a reduction in expenses rendered neces- sary by the cutting down of appropriations by the Comptroller and his associates. The following reductions were made puptic yesterday :— Yhere were removed five sweepers of public bulidings and two men on repairs of pipes ani hee cocks, and the Commissioner has made the follow- ing further reductions of salaries :—Engineer-in- Chief on Boulevards Roads and Avenues, from $6,000 to $5,000 per annum; three inspectors of sewer connections, from $4 50 to $4 per day each; one watchman at Croton Lakes, $3 per day; oue laborer at.City Hall, $2 per day; one Assistant En pom on Croton Aqueduct, from $3,000 to $2,500; wo foremen on aqueduct repairs, irom $4 75 to $4 per day each. ‘The total saving effected by re- movals and reductions of salaries to-day 18 $8,485 per annum, The subject of the supply of Croton water is re- ceiving considerable attention, “This is one of the severest droughts,” said Commissioner Van Nort to the HERALD reporter, “we haye ever had. Tue quantity of rain in June was only 71-l00th of an inch, which is less than during any previous month according to the rain gauge of ‘the Department. The natural fow of water from the Croton river is now less than three hundred militon gallons daily, while the daily consumption of the city 1s one hun- dred millions, The deficiency is now made up irom the storage capacity im the Croton water shed dis- trict, comprised of the naturat lakes and pouds and the new storage reservoir at Boyd's Corners, on the west branch of the Croton river, which has been made available through the energy of the Department. The city is thus relieved o1 the great inconvenience of a short water supply. This storage reservoir is an artifictal lake, constructed between two mountains, and is two and @ half miles long andjsixty feet deep. It has a capacity of 3,000,000,000 GALLONS, and will afford an ample supply ter thirty days.” “Land has been condemned for another reser- voir,’? pursued the Commissioner, ‘in the Middle Branch, about two miles from Brewster's station, which will contam 4,000,000,000 gallons when com- pleted. ‘The plans are now being prepared.” “The Department has been engaged in laying water maif¥ for the purpose of delivering water at specific points in the lower part of the city, which. shall not be tapped on the war thus giving # better head and a larger voiume of water.” x “AS regards stone pavements,’ the Commis- sioner coutinued, in reply to the reporter’s ques- tions, “we are employing less than half the lorce that was employed last year on repairs to stone pavements. This is owing to the fact that the appropriation has been reduced from $150,000 to $90,000, while it ought to have been raised, Numerous COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE by the Board of Health and private citizens, but the Department will do the best 1t can under the circumstances, The subject of wood pavements is one Of great concern to the vepartment, as shey are in a very bad condition. The appropriation has been reduced from $85,000 last year to $30,000 this year, which is entirely inadequate to afford reliet.”” The reporter thanked the Commissioner for these straightiorwaid, business-like statements, and went to the Department of Docks, 346 Broad- way. Commissioner westervelt said there was nothing new in the Department, and, after looking over the routine business that had been disposed ot during the day, the reporter repaired to the | office Of the cw anger ieee na BOARD OF EXCISE. Commis-ioner Voorhis told the reporter that no i ler orders had been given for the enforcement of the Sunday law for next Sunday, all the previaus statements Of the newspapers to the coutrary not- withstanding. This, he said, was owing to the fact that the Commissioners bad issued as yet no licensea, baving been employed in recetving. appii- cations for licenses and investigating the chaructér of the applicants, &c, After Cito | of these ap- ications the law wiil be enforced. But next sunday and Sunday ater next the city will still have its usual supply of lager. Some four thousand «1X handred proprietors of saloons—there are about eight thousand in the city—have made application during the last six wi 3, since the 2d of June, and $354,330 were re- ceived in that time, About one hundred and stx | have been refused, as they ‘e invended jor places kept for immoral purpos These saloons were in the Fourth, Sixth, ighth, Fifteenth, Twentieth and Twenty-second wards, About two thousand five hundred saloons have licenses that have not yet expired, Alter disposing of the FOUR. THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSES the Board will send lists to the Police Department fiving the names of ali who are authorized to sell liquors in each precinct, and it will be the duty o1 the police to close all saloons that do not appear on these lists, It is aremarkable fact that some one hundred and filty saloon Keepers are desirous and willing to close on Sundays if only their neigh- bors are likewise compelied to close. As itis, they say they cannot close without losing their custom, At the Fire Department there was but little news, Seven firemen periorm all the duties of the bellringers now, and, where they had tormerly three bellringers in a tower, there is but one fire- man now. The stopping of the ringing of bells is working Well, and the Department has more men at fires now than it ever had beiore. THE POLICE JUSTICES. The Mooted Question of the Constita- tionality of the Police Justices Bill | Likely To Be Settled—A Writ of Habeas Corpus for @ Prisoner in the Peniten= tlary Granted—An Argument Before Judge Davis. The Police Justices question is likely to receive a very speedy solution. Mr. W. F. Howe has ob- tained a writ of habeas corpus for a prisoner in the Penitentiary named Mary Brown. The argument on the writ is to be heard on Monday next, before Judge Davis. The petition sets forth the 1oliowing facts:— That your petitioner is now under an illegal and un- just seitence, imposed by Judges who arrogate unto, hemselves the title of ‘Justices of the special Sessions of the Peace holden in and for the city and county ot New Yor that said Jud; are not Justices ot the Special ns of the Peace, are stp Police Magistrates, and not Justices of the Peace, and have no power, right of authority to constitute said Court of Special Sessions of the Peace, and, that petitioner's farther detention by the order, of said Judges is contrary to law and in direct violation of the constitution. If the above allegations are correct, and are sus- tained by the Court, the result must be that about twelve hundred prisoners will be virtually lib- erated from their imprisonment in the Peniten- tiary. If the District Attorney contends, as no | doubt he will, that section 25 of the judiciary article is not repealed by any subsequent law, then the effect will be, according to that argument, that the present Police Justices cannot be displaced by the law passed during the last Legislature giving the power to the Mayor and Aldermen to appoint Poitce Justices. Section 25 reads as follows :. Surrogates, Justices of the Peace and local judicial officers provided for in section 16, in office when this article shall take effect, shall hold their respective offices until the expiration of their terms. The argument ts looked for with considerable interest by all classes, inasmuch as it is difficult to see on which horn of the dilemma justice will poise its scales. It is more than probable that the deciston Will, in any case, practically decide the question of the constitutionality of the Police Jus- tices bill. COMPTROLLER’S RECEIPTS, Comptroller Green reports the following amounts 4 paid yesterday into the city treasury, viz. :- BURRAU OF ARREARS. From arrears of taxes, assessinents, Croton rents and interest... . $10,309 COLLECTOR OF ANSRASM ENTS, From assessments tor street openings and impro ments and interest... tl BUREAU 01 _ From market rents and fees and laterest on bond and mortgage....... Weeeveecreres 76 71 ° 170 ne and penalties, 18,000 | rent . ef From permits to tap water pipes. ‘SI RNGINRER LN CHARGE OF From sale of vitrified stoneware pipe. Permits to connect with sewers, & Total . KEROSENE EXPLOSION, Two Persons Burned. At nine o’clock last night a fire occurred in the lager beer saloon 300 First street, Willtams- burg, caused by the explosion of a kerosene lamp. | Thirty-eighth street, The = En .. ‘Was extinguished without inflicting any dam: to the ; Hosves, twelve} age, and his sunt, Mrs, years ‘ Cal ie Ni ~ < las severely, but not danger: bat Alexander 5 THE OFFAL BUSINESS. The Health of the City in Danger. The New York Rendering Company Failing in the Fulfilment of Its Contract—The Run- ning of the Offal Probably Taken Ont of Its Hands—Pest Holes of the Metropolis. The Board of Heaith has at last become sensible of what the sanitary interests of the city demand. With. cholera threatening us at our very doors, im the middie of @ heated season, apathy would be criminal and unpardonable, and many flagrant abuses and nuisances which in times past were Suffered to exist without let and hindrance are now being thoroughly investigated. The principle upon which the city authorities, particularly the Health Board, transacted the business of the people has been anything but creaitable. The system seemed to be that "the rights of the many who were poor should be sacrificed to those of the few who were rich, and manufacturing, rendering and soap-boiling companies were allowed to erect establishments to carry on their business in the most populous and poorest portions of the city. ‘There 18 nothing of more importance to the pub lic health than the prompt and speedy. removal of offal outside the city limits. In hot weather a dead dog or dead cat left for any iength of time in a locality is afmost certain to breed disease from the foul smelis and pestilential odors which proceed from it. When a carcass becomes mixed with other refuse, decayed vegetable matter and accu. mulated Mith, the stench becomes: disgusting and the odor can be felt a block away. In hot weather the mortality among animals ot all- kinds is enor mously increased, especially in the case of horses, which from the effects of work they have to do drop dead by scores. Itisno unusual thing ona day when the thermometer is among the nineties, on walking up Broadway, to finda horse lying prostrate in every two or three biocks, Decompo- sition is, of course, exceedingly rapid, and if the animals are not immediately transferred bad re- sults are likely to ensue. There is anotiler feature in connection with THE OFFAL BUSINESS which in hot weather, is also likely to become greatly aggravated. ‘This 1s the refuse which accu- mulates in the vicinity of the city markets. Meat, at all times liable to speedily spoil, becomes rotten and putrid when exposed to the heat of a burning sun, and in a few hours will have become totally unfit for human food. The stench it throws out is almostas bad as that which comes from a horse which has been dead twenty-four hours, and it ia equally detrimental to heaith, Our markets, a8 a general rule, are crowded with purchasers from all parts of the city, Ifthe putrid meatis allowed to remain it is liable to communicate disease all over the metropolis, and not & moment should, there- fore,.be lost in transferring It to where it can be no ‘longer dangerous, ‘ihere are innumerable other things in the shape of offal which cannot with safety be permitted to accumulate; but those mentioned are the most important. In the Winter months the nuisauce is, 01 course, not near so great, The severity of last Winter rendered it almost impossible that evil resuits could ensue from the exposure of the body of a cat, dog or horse. They were buried under mountains of snow and ice, and remained there for the Witter months, and when they were dug out they were frozen so hard that they could be made into can- non balls and fred off without thawing. In tho vicfnity of Baxter street strange stories of missing italian organ grinders were told ae the severe weather, and when the snow was cleared away it was whispered that, like the dormouse, they had been trozen in for months, but, unlike the dor- mouse Ci did not come out so merrily—nothing bela dans of them but scraps of leatuer and organ handles, ‘The contract for the removal of offal is at present Im the hands of thé New York Rendering Company, “iuich ‘has its headquarters at the toot of West The contract was originally awarded in 1865 to the “LONG ISLAND BONE LABORATORY Company,” but was subsequently transferred to the Kendering Company, Which is @ part of the old concern, The eement was drawn up on the 1th day of April, 1565. Fifteen thousand dollars was the sum fixed upon jor compensation, ‘This the company was to receive in adaition to the use of the dead animals for tat boiling, soap melting or any purpose, exclusive of sausage making, which the company desired. All offal was to be removed to the foot of West Thirty-eighth street. There they might be melted, ground or pounded, but they Were not to remain more than twenty-four hours, at which time they were to be transierred somewhere outside the city limits. The articles to be transferred tnciuded all Kinds of dead animals, bones, fish, tainted meat, &c. he blvod and offal “were io be removed in tight coverbd boxes to the steamers, which were required to be in readmess at all tunes on the river and ut all hours of the day. One cart was to be in ‘waiting in the ently of each station house. Boxes were provided at various points, where complaints could be lodged, and the dead animals complained of were in all cases to be removed within tweaty-four hours after each complaint had been made. For some ttme after the contract was made the company was very zealous in carrying out 1ts pro- visions, but this zeal svoa reiaxed, and in the end the company did very much as it pleased with the offal. Lit were convenient to keep the carcasses at the rendering establishments for a longer period than the law permitted they were kept, and if it Was not convenient to send for dead animals when complaints were made THEY WERE ALLOWED TO REMAIN. It has been going on in this way for years. Not long since the writer observed a dead dog lying for four mornings on Broadway and Houston street, and there was no atfempt made to remove it, If one waiks through the poorer portions of the Fourth, Sixth and Eighth wards the spectacies wich salute the eye and the smelis which the nostrils. encounter simply disgust! On Oak, Cherry and Baxter streets filth of all ig has accumulated on the sidewalks, and groups of half naked children wal- jow in the mire, inhaling the vile miasma which is Fy ttering disease around. On Sullivan and itompson streets the same nuisances abound in equal if not greater degrees, so that a journey into the interior of Africa 18 not attended with half the dangers of a@ trip to the chosen home of the Airicans in this city of Civilization. Stagnant pools of water filled with dead — cats, rate and dogs, mingled with rotten vegetables, ashes anit cinders, are to be met with everywhere. Like “coming events” these pest- holes “cast their shadows before,” and you can scent the carrion long before seeing tt. It is a dis- grace to a great city that such places should be al- Towed to exist, and the jaule is about equally divided between the Street Cleaning Department and those who carry away the offal. The loose wy in which the business is trans- acted has at ist attracted the attention of the Bourd o1 Health and action is being now taken in the matter. The President of the Kendering Com- pany informed the Board of Health at its last meeting that he could no longer carry the offal out of the city limits, as tiie dock was filled with rub- bash, President Chandler tnformed him that if he failed to carry out the provisions of the contract there were other parties who were willing = and read: to 10 80, and he informed the Rendering Company that their docks must be cleared of all rubvish by to- day or they will have to stdép rendering. It is almost incredible what an amount of filth can ac- cumulate on these docks ina single day. The fat is melted out of the animals and the bones are utilized, and then the balance of THE CARCASS IS THROWN AWAY as useless, It remains upon the dock, and when it is considered that scores of horses and other ani- mals are subjected to the melting process during a day the effect can be easily imagined. ‘The company has a very large storeroom, in which the fat 18 kept in hogsheads, and those who enter the interior of this storehouse will not care to do 80 again, as the smell isanything but agreeable. The boilers are situated on the dock, near the edge of the river, and here the business is done, Fortu- nately there are very few houses in the vicinity of the dock, and the boiling is not, therefore, 80 per- nicious as in other districts of the city. The com- pany of late has not kept sufficient men to do the work which is required by the city, and yesterday there was no appearance of bustie around the dacks, though it was the last day al- lowed the cOMpany to clear away the rubbish. ‘There are numerous applications for the contract which is in the gilt of the Board of Police; and 1 the rendering company faila to do its duty thee are plenty of persons Who are anxious to take i place. The interests and health of the city ime peratively demand that this offal removing bust- hess should be properly attended to, and now that the Board of Health bas taken the matter in hand, it is to be ae that there will be no letup upon those who fail to fuifll their contract. To THE Eprror or THE HERALD:— How ts it that the police ana citizens walking | through East Seventy-cighth street daily have submit to the foul smeils which arise from the ace cumulation of fermenting Manure in the stables of Dr. Middiebrooks, Nos. 170 and 172 East Seventy: en ae the Board of Health ex amine those pre § and compel th @ ut in a sewer to let off the water, and order him to remove his manure daliy instead of weekly? by that you will give this article a space loping eh Fa