The New York Herald Newspaper, January 20, 1874, Page 6

& 6 NEW YORK ‘HERALD cE URRE o AND ANN STREET. —— nen JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR, —_—_+— All business or news letters and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New Yous Heraup. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. Rejected communications will not be re turned. peau LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO. 46 FLEET STREET. Subscriptions and Advertisements will be received and forwarded on the same terms as in New York. AMUSEMENTS T NIBLO'S | GARDEN Rroadwi between ouston stiree! ome JAPSLER gESRINS, ris P.M; THE BELLES OF THE KITCHEN, ; Closes wt 10:30 P.M. Vokes Family, Mr, ‘Lemugwell, WooDs MUSEUM, Broadway street. JACK ROBINSON'S MONKEY, at 2 P. M. até:P.M. ACROSS THE | CONTINENT, at 3 P. sab ll P.M. 0, D. Byron. GRAND OPERA HOUSE, and | Tweaty-third strect.—HUMPTY Fifth avenue j Closes at 1045 P.M, DUMPTY ABROAD, at 7:45 Mr. G. L. Fox. FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, ighth street and Brogdway. SARATOGA, at 3 ‘Twenty: P. M.* closes at lu: P. M. Harkins, Miss Fauny Davenport. mee WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broadway and Thirteenth street MONEY, at 3 P. M.; closes at 1:20 P.M. Mr, Lester Wallack, Miss Jedreys Lewis, ROOTH'S THEATRE, Sixth avenue and Twenty-third stre A FEMME DE FEU, at 7:45 P. M.; closes at 10:30 P. M. Mea B, Booth, OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway, between Houston and Bleecker. streets. — VAUDEVILLE and NOVELTY ENTERTAINMENT, at8 ¥. M. ; closes at 11 P.M, BROOKLYN PARK THEATRE, opposite City Hall Brooklyn.—KIT; OR, THE ARKAN- | bAs T LLER, at SP. M.; closes at 10:45 P.M. Fs. Gyanten BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery —SCOUTS OF THE SIERRAS, at 8 P. M. atilPoM. Mr. 1 Frank Payne. -; closes GERMANIA THEATRE, Fourteenth street—AUF HOHER SEE, at 8 P. M.; closes at 11:15 P.M. | METROPOL! TTaN THEATRE, jo. 585 Broadway.-—VAR: i. 45. M.; closes at 1030 P. M. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. 21 Powery.—VARIETY ENTERTAINMENT, at 8 P. M.; Closes at Ll P.M. BRYANT’S OPERA HOUSE, ‘Twenty-third street, corner of Sixth ayenue.—CINDER- ELLA IN BLACK, NEGKO MINSTRELSY, &c., at 5? ‘M.; closes at 10 P. i HALL, ANINNIES, at 3 P.M. and ROBINS Sixteenth street.—THE Pi: ats P.M. Great J seet cad Letagee pt PIL ireat Jones an rayette place. -PILGRIM'S eo ats P. iia closes THE NEWS oF YESTERDAY. 'To-Day’s Niet ade: of the Herald. “GENERAL GRANI’S NEW DEPARTURE! NO- TICE TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND ITS MONSTROSITIES’—LEADING ARTI- CLE—SIXTH Page. IMPORTANT CONCESSIONS [0 PROGRESS AND CAPITAL IN MEXICO! EARTHQUAKE . SHOCK—Sevesta Pace. THE SPANISH MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS * PREPARING A MESSAGE TO THE OTHER GREAT POWERS! A COMMUNIST COLONEL CAPTURED AT CARTAGENA — SEVENTH Pace. . ENGLISH CABINET DISAGREEMENT! BULLION VAULTED—SEVENTH Pace. PASSPORTS ABOLISHED ON THE FRANCO- ITALIAN FRONTIER! A FRENCH CULTRA- MONTANE JOURNAL SUSPENDS—Sevenrn PAGE. THE SLAUGHTERER OF THE VIRGINIUS VIC- TIMS IN HAVANA—IMPORTANT GENERAL NEWS—Sgventu Pace. A PHILADELPHIA ATROCITY! AN APPREN’ MURDERS HIS MASTER AND MURDER His MISTRESS—Firtu Pa JAPAN TROUBLES OVER THE QUESTION OF OPEN PORTS! MI TER BINGHAM AND THE UNPAID INDEMNITY CLAIMS—Sxv- ENTH PAGE. ANOTHER NOMINER F "PREME BENCH! AITE, OF OHIO, @ NATIONAL SENATE—Turep THE WASTERN INFLATIONISTS BENT UPON ! POSTAL BANKING AND TELEGRAPHY—tuirp Pac THE NATIONAL CURRENCY INFLATION BUBBLE PRICKED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRE- SENTATI ! THE FINANCIAL DEBATE IN THE SENAIW:! NO FRANKING PRIVI- LEGES 10 BE OBTAINED—Firtn Pace. MARSHALLING THE AMERICAN NAVY IN WEST INDIAN WATERS! GRAND NAVAL EVOLU. TIONS IN NEW TACTICS! THE PERSON- NEL OF THE FLEET—Sgvetu Pace. APPOINTMENTS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE YESTERDAY! SPEAKER HUSTED AND LOBBYING “REPORTERS!” STEAM TRANS- SHIPPING FACILITIES—Tenta Pace. THE MUNICIPAL STATUS AS PRESENTED BY THE CIVIC CHIEF MAGISTRATE! FAULTY LEGISLATION! GOVERNMENTAL NEEDS— FourtH Pacs. DEATH OF THE FAMOUS SIAMESE TWINS, CHANG AND ENG! THEIR LAST HOURS— SEVENTH PaGE. THE COLLEGES’ REGATTA! ADVANTAGES OF THE SARATOGA COURSE—THE CHAMBER- LIN-WILKES LIBEL SUIT—THE SUNDAY LAW—FOURTH PaGE. SHARP FLUCTUATIONS IN STOCKS IN WALL STREET YESTERDAY! TRADE PROS- PECTS—Nivta Page. A MAGNIFICENT SOLUTION OF THE CHEAP FREIGHT PROBLEM—THE ARMY WORM— ASSAULT ON AN ENGLISH DUKE~Furrn Page. LEGAL NEWS! THE HOWARD, ROLLWAGEN AND OTHER CASES—THE UNFORTUNATE ARAPILES—THE FOG—EiouTn Page, Tae Carer Justicesarr.—Mr. Waite, one of the minor figures in the Geneva arbitration case, is reported as nominated for Chief Jus. tice. It was somewhat of @ wonder why he ‘was sent to Geneva, but as there wore able lawyers in company that appointment was of the less interest. But why is he nominated for Chief Justice? No other reason is appar- ent save that Grant is determined to nomi- nate the man that he considers best, and not the man that the country considers beste RIETY ENTERTAINMENT, at | “aLF\ “<4 Lae TA NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, -1874.—TRIPLE SHEET. “| General Grant's Sew Departure—Notice | and his resolution to have a Chief | Mayer Havemeyer’s Message—The Fi- Justice of his own choosing has already mancial Condition of tme City. te the Bepablicam Party end ite Monstresities. General Grant ia reported to have said on Friday last to some prominent republicans who called upon him at the White House:—‘I begin to think it is time for the republican Party to unload. There has been too much dead weight carried by it. The success of our arms during the rebellion and the confidence that the republican party was strong enough to hold up any burden have imposed all the disaffection in the Gulf States on the adminis- tration. I am tired of this nonsense. Let Louisiana take care of herself as Texas will have to do. I don’t want any quarrel about Mississippi State matters to be referred to me. ‘This nursing of monstrosities has nearly ox- hanusted the life of the party. Iam done with them, and they will have te take care of themselves." These words from such @ speaker are of the sort to “give us pause.” There is, of course, no doubt that they were spoken as indicated, | and in the absonce of definite statement to the contrary it is to be supposed they were remembered by some one of the prominent republicans referred to and repeated outside with substantial accuracy. The authenticity of the words being thus reasonably clear of doubt, we are of opinion that none of General Grant's famous utterances will prove more memorable than this one. From the time when Grant informed a rebel commander that he proposed ‘to move immediately on his works"—when the country first became clearly acquainted with his name—the few words of this silent man have had a greater effect upon the popular mind than the orators, with all their speeches. His accidental ex- pressions have been caught up and conned over, and have generally been found to cover the whole case they dealt with in that rapid yet complete way that is almost national with us; and the secret of the success of Grant's phrases is precisely in the fact that they are an exaggeration of the practical spirit in speech of a people that hates to waste words and wants what is said to be thoroughly to the point. They are neat statements of thoughts that find general acceptance because of the keen perception they indicate, or be- cause of their apt relation to existing circum- | stances, And the utterance given above is in character with those heard before, and will have equal influence in giving definite direc- tion to a wide and vague public opinion on the subject it handles, It is a summary of the condition of the dominant political party, and it indicates the most threatening symp- tom and the practical remedy, and deals with the subject, too, ina tone of resolute impa- tience that is in sympathy with the feelings of the people. From a potential source, therefore, we have these points: —-That the republican party has been ‘‘nursing monstrosities,’ and that these have nearly exhausted its life; that in future these monstrosities, which are reconstruction difficulties, ‘must take care of themselves,’’ as the official head of the party means to cut them loose; that the party has been carrying a great deal of dead weight—that is to say, that it has been playing false with its support- ers by foisting into the party purposes and pro- grammes various issues and facts, that had no relation whatever to those principles which alone the people supposed they were support- ing when they voted republican tickets; that the leader is of opinion the party ought to unload this dead weight and turn honest; that Louisiana, as well as Texas, ‘‘must” govern herself; and, finally, greatest point of all, that General Grant is ‘tired of this nonsense.’ The phrase ‘nursing monstrosities’ de- seribes accurately the general activity of the republican party. If that party addresses it- self to the subject of reconstruction it solves no vexed problem, pacifies no excitement, lays the foundation of no useful progress ; it only nurses some monstrosity conceived by profligate wretches eager to utilize for their own advan- tage public misfortune or national ruin. [If it turns to the subject of great national enter- prises, urged by the needs of communication with the Pacific Coast, it does not stimulate and encourage a healthy material progress; it nurses the Crédit Mobilier monstrosity. And so through the category. One cannot touch a topic of public interest but the action of the republican party in regard to it resolves itself at once into the mere nursing of some monstrosity instead of the honest performance of some legitimate function. Neither need one go far into the measures with which the party is identified to find the dead weight that threatens to carry it down. Indeed, it is difficult to say what is not dead weight—to indicate any one purpose which the party advocates now earnestly urge that may fairly be called a vital, throbbing portion of the party principle. All the finan- cial policy is dead weight, because the party principle would require a strict economy and the administration of the Treasury in the in- terest of the people. But it is all done in the interest of jobbers. All the nominations are dead weight, for they are bargains. Recon- struction, the carpet-baggers, the usurpation of power supported by troops—all this is dead weight, a millstone, that if not speedily dis- engaged will carry republicanism to the bot- tom. Was there ever in the history of politics a party whose leaders had so crippled it with gratuitous loads of issues not related to its principles and outrageously offensive to the people? But General Grant, being “‘tired of this nonsense,"’ thoroughly disgusted with the antics of the party leaders, is not the man patiently to countenance. and assist a policy whose inevitably ruinous consequences he clearly perceives ; and he indicates the ten- dency of his revolt against the enormities that are loosening the hold of his party on the people. He intends to separate himself en- tirely from the Congressional policy and to inaugurate a policy of his own, at the risk of any probable issue with the leaders in Congress; to cut away the dead weight and carry the party nearer to the popular impulse. It is o project that, if wisely acted upon and successfully carried out, will add to his laurels as a soldier the fame of s great political leader, without which fame his name will be impressed on the history of the time like that of many others, as a brave and skilful soldier, but with which his name will eventually stand alone in the history of the great American crisis. An issue between Grant and the leaders in Congress is the imminent fact of the day, shown how easily such an issue may be made, Should General Grant's endeavor to free his party from the burdens that it unprofitably bears receive the co-opera- tion of any considerable portion of the party leaders success in the admirable project pro- posed would be certain and easy ; but it is far more likely that he will awaken the hostility and meet the furious opposition of the party leaders, and then his ultimate success will be gained in a struggle that may make its tri- umphs all the more precious to the public. It is clear why the party leaders will oppose him. They are no longer interested in the successes of the party, but only in the net result that such succeases may secure to them individually—that 1s to say, they are more in- terested in the dead weights than in the legitl- mate party vitality; and the proposition to cut away all the grand schemes of plunder and all that corrupt system of administration that is the ruin of the party North and South is sim- ply a proposition to cut away that which they hold more precious than all beside. Any new departure in this direction, therefore, they will oppose with characteristic ferocity, and they will, of course, endeavor to assimilate the course of the President to that of Andrew Johnson. But the result will be an exposure of their motives and the public exhibition of the fact that the leaders care nothing for the purposes that the people have at heart in party victories. This will be fatal to their standing in popular esteem, and we may see almost 18 marvellous a political mortality as we saw in 1860. Inevitably such » disintegration would result in the formation of a middle party; for which, indeed, on altogether different reasons, the time ig ripe. All the legitimate purposes of the original republican party are gained, and its dismemberment must follow the loss of its objective unless it changes ground, and the only ground it cam take is to move a little nearer the opposition, dropping its extreme on one hand as the democrats drop theirs on the other. This would be to repeat the liberal movement of the last campaign, or the frame of that movement; but the ani- mating spirit would be different, for here the impulse would not be captious or personal. This would not be an intrigue of candidates, but would be inspired by the generous patri- otic purposes of the need of good govern- ment. And in the machinery of this new party General Grant could dictate the sueces- sion, and he would have the glory of restoring and reinvigorating with fresh purpose the party that has saved the country from asmed foes and may yet save it from the assault of insidious plunderers. Communism in New York. Agitations in the name of the workingmen are sufficiently common in this and other cities ; agitations by the workingmen are un- known. Even in Paris, the scene of the organized revolt against all law and all order, against property, liberty and religion, the workingmen were the victims of persons who follow political and social agitation as a regu- lar pursuit. It is always the same. Every- where there are men like the “Citizen Banks’ and ‘Citizen Samuels,’’ and other citizens of the Communistic meetings. These men, with a great deal of vanity and very little brains, with conceited notions of their own impor- tance, and generally without any good quality, mental or moral, to balance their pompous impertinence, stand forth as the self-elected champions of industrious and decent work- ingmen, and if the workingmen at large paid any attention to the subject it would be to scout the association of men who could have no sympathy with their feelings or distresses, because they have never known what it was to labor, still less what it is to want. Specu- lators in distress like these ‘citizen’ agitators generally manage to dupe some dissatisfied laborers sufficlently to get them to contribute a pittance toward the expenses of a meeting—to pay for rent and gas, and, may be, a bandof music— and from the start they extend their opera- tions to a larger sphere ; and as the collection grows they thrive, for they never neglect the important duty of gathering the workingmen’s contribution and keeping themselves well supplied from it with all the comforts and luxuries of life. Agitation becomes thusa very profitable pursuit, and some of the ‘‘citizens’’ have made fortunes out of it. In hard times they gather their richest crop, for the men who would leave them alone altogether in prosper- ous days gather then to any cry that promises an amelioration of their condition. Wherever workingmen are discontented or distressed and lacking in intelligence agitation of this sort succeeds sooner or later in inveigling them into the meshes of the schemers and in getting them into trouble; but in this city the workingmen have hitherto been too sensible to put themselves into the hands of such people, and we believe that they will con- tinue to hold aloof from the agitation, which, though made in their name, advocates a social revolution that would be their ruin, and by which they themselves would be most injured. ‘Tue Proposep Nationat Boarp or Heaurn.— A bill to prevent the importation of contagious or infectious diseases into this country is now under the consideration of Congress, and is calculated to supply a pressing need, by establishing a complete system of quarantine regulations, under the management of a spe- cial bureau, to be called the National Board of Health. The medical officers of the principal departments of the government will conduct the bureau in question. Such an undertaking, if carried out ina true sanitary spirit, will prove of inestimable service, as the various State systems now in existence often fail to harmonize on even the most essential points of quarantine regulations. CANNIBALISM IN THE Wust.—It is reported that the Indians at Vermilion Bay, Minnne- sota—ninety miles north of Duluth—are in a state of actual starvation. The failure of the wild rice crop and the absence of the usual annuities and provisions from the government, on account of the unfaithfulness of the gov- ernment agents, has occasioned this distress. It is stated—but the statement is hardly to be credited—the starving Indians have actually eaten some of their own kindred in their des- perate efforts to satisfy the cravings of hunger. Whatever may be the facts in the case, it cer- tainly is the duty of the government to insti- tute an investigation into the matter, aad where its agents are found to be at fault let prover remedies ba annlied immediately. The charter makes it the duty of the Mayor to communicate to. the Common Council at least once a year a general statement of the finances, government and improvements of the city, and to recommend such measures ag he shall deem expedient. Mayor Havemgyer's Message, which we publish to-day, has been issued in accordance with this provision of the law. It is a singular document, almost as full of lamentations as the Book of Jeremiah, containing some good suggestions, some anti- quated notions belonging to the last genera- tion, some errors and contradictions, and much of the claptrap of the small politician. Like the well-known Mr. Jarndyce, the Mayor finds the wind in the east the greater portion of the time. He complains of his lack of power over the subordinate departments; complains that any of the heads should have been kept in office when the new charter was passed; complains that the Governor is given a voice in removals; complains that the public schools cost too much; that too many ornamental branches are taught, and that too much money is expended on books ; complains of legislative meddling in local affairs; complains of the annexation of the Westchester towns as a ‘‘danger to tho future of municipal liberty,’’’ and complains that the powers of the Common Council are not greater than they are, although some of the Mayor's experience with the Aldermen would not seem calculated to inspire him with much confidence in that body. It is no doubt true that much of the legislation for the city of New York has been “in the interests of political intriguers, of departmental schemes and of so-called party necessities;" but wo fear that the principal offenders in this direc- tion may be looked for in the ranks of those political reformers of whom Mayor Havemeyer was once the honored head, and among the officials who now find the most favor in the Executive chamber. We can approve those suggestions of the Mayor which urge economy on all the depart- ments and on the State Legislature in the laws it may pass relating to the city of New York. Our present financial condition is by no means encouraging, and unless the system we are now pursuing shall be speedily changed our credit is likely to become seriously impaired. Tho gravity of the situation makes us regret that the Mayor has been induced to put forward a deceptive and untruthful ex- hibit of our financial management—an ex- hibit which, while giving figures correctly, makes grossly false deductions and seeks to mislead the people for the sake of covering up the blunders and incompetency of the Finance Department. We are informed by the Mayor that the total increase of the city and county debt in 1873 over 1871 has been a little under fourteen and a half millions, and we are sup- plied with an array of figures which seem to corroborate that statement. Seven per cent in- terest on the amount of the pretended increase would be $1,015,000. But further on in the Message, as an excuse for the increased taxa- tion to which we are subjected this year, we are told that ‘three millions more are required to pay the interest on the debt” in the present year than was required in 1871. In com- menting on our previous misgovernment the Mayor states this increase in interest more specifically. “No better index,” he says, ‘‘of the ruinous financial policy of a swindling administration could be found than in the fact that, while in 1869 the amount which it was required to raise by tax for tho payment of interest on the city and county debt was $2,805,926 86, in 1871 it had risen to $6,147,232 51, and in 1874, when the results of past misgovernment are beginning to come to light, the amount required for interest is $9,120,513 86." Now, nothing can be plainer than the fact that if our debt had only increased fourteen and a half millions our interest account could not have increased three millions, for we can pay interest only on debt, and three millions interest represents an increased debt of about forty-three million dollars. We shall examine hereafter the de- ceptive exhibits to which the Mayor has been induced to give the sanction of his name, It is sufficient now to say that there has been a studied attempt on the part of the Finance Department to conceal the real condition of our finances from the people. Even up to the present time the Commissioners of Ac- counts, whose examinations have been em- barrassed at every step in the Comptrol- ler’s Office, have failed to ascertain the extent of our floating debt. But the Mayor should have mado a _ candid and truthful statement of the worst, so that the evils which threaten us might have been provided against and averted. Our city bonds go begging; tut little of our indebtedness is paid; an extension of credit is the only way out of our difi\culties that can be discovered by our presen¢ financial managers; our debt is increasing); our taxes are growing larger every year. There has been more jumbled and contradictory legislation in regard to our finances in the last two years than in the pre- ceding ten years, and our whole financial policy has been one of patching and tinker- ing. It would have been more satisfactory and more beneficial to the city’s failing credit ifthe Mayor had told the taxpayers bluntly their exact condition; the total amount of our liabilities, including floating debt and unpaid claims admitted to be just; the heavy amount of money tobe raised and the difficulty of raising it. This might have been less gratify- ing to the Finance Department, but it would have been more honest to the people and more likely to assist our credit. On the important subject of the water sup- ply the Mayor states that the consumption of Croton water has reached one hundred and four million gallons a day, while the maximum ca- pacity of the present aqueduct is a delivery of one hundred and fifteen millions a day. This iso small margin, ond it is evident that an additional aqueduct will ere long become a necessity. Yet the Mayor, while admitting this fact, opposes the construction of any more storage reservoirs. During the long drought of last summer our water supply would have been short but for the storage reservoir at Boyd’s Corners, on the west branch of the Croton, containing nearly three thousand mil- lion gallons. Another storage reservoir has been mapped, planned and located on the mid- dle branch, near Brewster's Station, to con- tain, when finished, four thousand million gallons. This work should be done at once. No false economy and no departmental jeal- ousy shoukl be suffered to risk that greatest of all public calamities. a failure of our water anpply. We regret to aay that Mayor Have- meyer's Message contains too many indica tions of the favoritism and prejudices of » small politician; but, on this very account, ita suggestions will be cautiously weighed, both by the Common Council and the State Legislature, The Grand Naval Review. We cannot too emphatically commend the Navy Department for its zeal and enterprise in causing the rendezvous of ‘all that remains of the United States Navy in the Florida Channel for the practice of ‘‘naval tactics under steam.’’ Commodore Foxall A. Parker, the first to reduce to an exact science naval evolutions of this character, will be the chiet of staff to Rear Admiral Case, and will per- sonally superintend the operations of the squadron. The event will be a new one in the history of the navy. Sudderly called from fying up “in ordinary,” hastily repaired and rigged at our naval dockyards, or summoned from foreign stations, the finest steam frigates, sloops and iron-clads at the service of the de- partment will- readily prove to the observer how weak we are in vessels, but how strong we are in skilful and experienced officers. It is a pity, therefore, that Congress cannot at- tend the review in a body, and learn from ac- tual observation what-kind of a navy we have; for it will ,all be thore m_ the Florida Channel, and a similar occasion may never occur again. We remember to have read not long ago from the pen of a dis- tinguished Senator from Masaachusetts this pretentious phrase:—‘The last great naval battle has been fought.” And then he went on to say that it was folly to build iron-clads or to think of increasing the naval armament of any nation, and pictured the absurdity of allowing the people of the United States to indulge a feeling of fear that their harbors can ever be entered by foreign iron-clads and their shipping and cities demolished, ‘for have we not the fatal torpedo?” These dan- gerous destroyers are well enough in their way, but they cannot afford space for officers and crew or powerful broadsides ; neither can they be manned and sent to remote seas to protect our shipping and national honor. In one sense at least the torpedoes have been an unfortunate invention, for they have mis- led our lawmakers, who in their haphazard legislation are generally guided by the crudest of generalities. Building Contractors and the Side- walks. The condition of many of the uptown streets in which building operations are being carried on is disgraceful toa great city and danger- ous to life and limb. In some places portions of the sidewalk have been removed and a plank or two is substituted, over which a pe- destrian of Blondin proclivities may exercise his agility to his fullest bent. Not even then a balance pole is provided. Occasionally the precarious plank is omitted at times, and a tramp through snow and slush becomes neces- sary. During the past few days it was no agreeable or safe undertaking to pick one’s way across one of those improvised sidewalks or over the frozen heaps of earth piled up in their stead. That there have been numer- ous accidents in such mantraps is a question about which no doubt can exist, and that the majority were not of a fatal character will not suffice to remove the slightest degree of culpability from the shoulders of the build- ing contractors, who are responsible for such a state of things. Fora clear violation of the law, as this undoubtedly is, the most accessi- ble and efficient remedy is to place the matter in the hands of the police and instruct them to especial vigilance against these nuisances. The arrest of a contractor or his representa- tive would exercise a healthy influence and tend to diminish the cause of complaint. The Board of Health did good work in the market districts ; let them now turn their attention in this direction. It is not necessary to wait until a half dozen necks are broken. Action in time is preferable, less expensive and more in accord with the duties of guardians of the public weal and health. Tue Fiow or Mowzy ro New York is having an effect upon the stock market and values. Prices, throughout the list of stocks generally, have advanced and seem to be likely toadvance. Speculators seize the opportu- nity afforded by an easy money market to ex- tend their operations, But the question arises, Is this reaction from the panic going to lead us to over-speculation again and the use of the money for that purpose which ought to be applied to legitimate trade and to increasing our productions? It rests with the banks to determine whether this easy condition of the money market shall promote legitimate business and production or stock gambling. The flow of money here shows that the interior of the country is recovering from the panic. But portion of it may have been attracted by the recent low price of stocks. If so, the rise may check to some extent the money sent hither for investment, It is grati- fying to see the improved condition of the money market; but we hope it will not revive unhealthy speculation, and, as a consequence, another financial disturbance. A Dovstron Wivrzn ror THE Ice Crop anp Oruzer TumNas.—Since our second Janu- ary thaw of this winter has set in, with its fogs and rains, the ice companies up the Hudson are beginning to be doubtful of a good freeze and to count upon the chances of a short crop of ice and high prices for their reserved stocks next summer; dealers in skates and sleighs are becoming doubtful of a profitable market for their goods; our suburban retreats for sleighing parties are doubtful of a paying season; and our young people, who had set their hearts upon many delightful sleigh rides to the music of the bells in Harlem lane, and to many happy meetings on the Park lakes, are doubtful whether a single day's sleighing or skating will be theirs to the end of the winter. But meantime the prevailing mild- ness of this winter, so far, has been a godsend to the poor, especially of our great cities, and the liberal rains which have fallen to a great extent insure the country against an exhaust- ing drought next summer. And we may have plenty of ice yet before the winter is over. Eantaquake at San FRANcisco AND IN Mexico.—T wo slight shocks of an earthquake were felt in San Francisco yesterday and no damage was done; but it will, perhaps, not be long before we hear of more serious shakings of the earth's crust from California to Central Amoriga: for along thasa western. seaboard mountain chains of the Continent evena alight shake at any particular point is apt to be fol- lowed by similar perturbations along the whole line. The fact is confirmed by our special telegram from Mexico city, which records the occurrence of a shock of earthquake in the territory of the neighboring Republic. Rapid Transit—Let Heard. Rapid transit is the greatest boon that could be offered to the citizens of New York. Every man is interested in securing it. The publie health and morals would be improved, the value of property would be enhanced, the rate of taxation would be lowered, rich and poor would be alike benefited and the growth and prosperity of the city would be insured by it. The Legislature now in session has the power to pass a law by which the speedy con- struction of a steam railroad through the city,. either by the city or by individual enterprise, can be rendered certain. Heretofore, the corrupt schemes of the lobby and the greed of legislators have defeated all honest projects. Let us now insist that the people shall be no longer trifled with, but that the subject shall be legislated upon in good faith Te secure this our citizens should take up the . subject and allow their voices to be heard. No person cares what project may be adopted or by whom a road may be built, so long as the great need of the city is supplied. We have had under- ground plans, viaducts and elevated roads proposed, and there may be some yet un- developed scheme which may be better than all that have yet been discussed. We invite from such of our citizens as may be prepared to offer suggestions brief communications setting forth their views and plans, and we will find space for them in our columns. The subject is one of vital importance to the people, and ita intelligent discussion will be of public advantage. Out of all the projects that may be conceived it surely will not be diffi- cult for the Legislature to hit upon a plan, without the aid of the lobby, which will give us a steam railroad through the city within the next two or three years. the People Be Foreren Dietomacy 1x Japan.—The question of opening the Empire of Japan generally to foreign trade is being pressed diplomatically on the government of the Mikado by the rep- resentatives of the foreign monarchies, The subject is exceedingly distasteful to the Japan- ese Cabinet, and the ministerial agitation of it is likely to excite a nativist disposition te retroact against the commercial concessions generally. The matter is quite important, as will be seen by our telegraph news report, published elsewhere. The attitude of the United States Minister is, as it appears, medi+ atory and conciliatory between the contending parties—a prudent course, which, if pursued skilfully, may inure profitably to the trading interests of America. Mexican Procress.—By Hxnaup speciat tel- egram‘from the Mexican capital, under date of the 15th inst., we have an encouraging report of the condition of affairs in the neigh- boring Republic. Congress was disposed to encourage public works calculated to develop the internal resources and foreign trade of the country in a free and apparently indepen- dent spirit. Peace prevailed all over the terri- tory—a rare and almost unexampled event in the modern history of the ‘of the nation, PERSONAL “INTELLIGENCE. Judge James Forsyth, of Troy, is staying at che Glisey House. Miss Clara Louise Kellogg has apartments at the Clarendon Hotel. Ex-Governor Warmoth, of Louisiana, is again at the Futh Avenue Hotel. Judge Israel 8. Spencer, of Syracuse, is stopping at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Paymaster S. T. Browne, United States Navy, is quartered at the New York Hotel. General John 8S. Clark, of Auburn, N. ¥., is registered at the Sturtevant House. Congressman W. R. Roberts arrived at the Metro Politan Hotel yesterday from Washington. Lieutenant Governor John C. Robinson, of New York, yesterday arrived at the Metropolitam Hotel. T. B, Blackstone, President of the Chicago, Bur- lington and Quincy Railroad Company, is among the late arrivals at the Windsor Hotel. Owen Hines, the wickedest man in St. Louis, is dead. He belonged to a respectable family, but led a most dissojute and depraved life. Hoe left: some property, and died owing nobody. The Washington Chrontele recalls the fact that Associate Justice William Cushing, a distant rela- tive of the Judge, was appointea Chief Justice by Washington on the resignation of John Jay. Senator Sargent, of California, who ventilated the Cushing-Davis letter, is a native of Newbury- port, and was formerly a neighbor of the man he has succeeded in “crushing out’ as Chief Justice. Rev. Mr. Hammond, the Western sensational re- vivalist, has failed to create any excitement im Alton, Ill. The Altonese, as a correspondent from that place proudly asserts, read and tnink for themselves. The Boston Traveller significantly suggests that: if the letters of certain other prominent men writ- ten during the rebellion should now be published; Caleb Cushing would not be the only man placed: under a clond. A seventy-four year old Ilinoisan bought a foot. stove in Jacksonville the other day, and was: quite indignant when some one suggested that it was for himself. It was for his mother, ninety- four years old, and still in vigorous health. The sister-in-law of the Secretary of State of Tilinois and a niece of the late President Lincoin have been appointed librarian and assistant librarian of the Slinois Legislature. This is liter- ally keeping things literary ‘in the family.” Masked marauders have a different way of doing things out West than hereabouts. In Des Moines recently @ masked party waited on the lady president of a relief society and left with hera handsome sum for distribution among the poor. An unmarried man died recently near Boston, aged eighty years, @ graduate of Harvard, with the degree of “A. B.”” He was @ bachelor by diploma, @ bachelor by celibacy and Bachelor by name. Grim Death at one fell swoop swept off the whole batch. The missing, and doubtless drowned, Mrs, Ade- line Badger was Hawthorne’s model for his beau- tifal character of Hilda in his “Marble Fawn.’ She was, in her girlhood days, a member of the great novelist’s family, and travelled with them in Eng- land and Italy. Simpson K. Donavin, formerly reporter on the Baltimore Exchange during troubious times, has Been elected Clerk of the Ohio Senate. He some- times had literally to “‘carve his way" through un- ruly mobs to obtain matter for his paper. He a native of Pennsylvania. A MYSTERIOUS CASE. Provipenck, R. L, Jan, 10, 1874. Mr. Samuel M. Goodman, the Pawtucket mano facturer, who has been missing since the evening of December 23, when he took the train for New York, has been heard from in Liverpool. He writes that he has no recollection of what hap- pened to him after he reached New York until he awoke on @ Liverpool steamer, many miles from Jand. He wea ipangally apgpertaagad When be lefty