The New York Herald Newspaper, January 25, 1874, Page 3

Commissioner Van Nort’s Report for 1873 Compared with that of 1871, Tho Street Pavements Cost Last Year $1,250,974, Against $1,698,060 in 1871—-$285,376 Saved Last Year on Croton Water—$22,000 Saved on Gas—$967,400 Saved on Sewers—The Total Expendi- tures Last Year $5,977,462, Against $7,929,899 in 1871. Suggestions by the Commissioner for the Repaving of Streets and Improving the Upper Portion of the City. The following correspondence between the Mayor and Commissioner of Public Works has called out facts showing a great reduction in the cost of executing public. works, as compared with the year 1871, when Tweed had the contro) of the matter. The expenditure in 1873 was $5,977, 402, Or a reduction o/ expenditure of $1,952,437. A care> fol perusal of the report will enable the property @wners to see at a glance the character and cost of the various works completed, Mayor's Orricg, NEw York, Dec. 2, 1873. My Dear Sin—Please lurnish me, at your earliest convenience, With a comparative statement show- ing works in progress in 1871 and the proximate Cost ol the same, and the works in progress in 1873 and the proximate cost of the same, Yours, &e., WM, F, HAVEMYER, ‘fo Gro. M. VAN Nort, Esq., Commissioner of Pablic Works, DEPARTMENT OF PuBLIC WORKS, COMMISSIONERS’ OFFICE, New YorK, Dec. 26, 1873. Hon. Win..1am F, HAVEMEYER, Mayor of the city of New York :— Sik—Herewith, at your request, I transmit to you an abstract of the operations and expendi- tures of this: department for the current year, compared with the year 1871, as far as practicable ; also the condition of the works under its control at the present time, and am yours very respect- tally, GEORGE M. VAN NORT, Commissioner of Public Works, STREET PAVEMENTS, Of the 448 miles of streets laid out on the map of this city 374 miles are legally opened, 315 miles are regulated and graded and 2713, miles are paved. ‘There are 87 miles of cobble stone pavement, 145 miles of belgian or stone block pavement, 21 miles ot wooden pavement, 43; miles of concrete pave- iment and 14 mies of Teliord Macadam roadway. On the repairs to the 232 miles of stone pave- ments during last year 360,000 square yards of Beene have been laid and relaid at a cost of The appropriation has not been sufficient to put all the pavements in good order; however, the Streets are in @ much better condition than for Mapy years past, which 1s due to the system of carrying on these repairs by day's work instead of Wy contract, as formerly, when a large portion of the appropriation would be absorbed by the profits of the contraetors. The expenditure for repairs to wooden and con- crete pavements was $40,000. This amount was entirely inadequate for the work to be done, and only the most necessary repairs, principally on streets in the commercial part of the city, have ‘een or could be made. In acne these the decayed wooden blocks have ‘been re laced by stone blocks, and on this plan, ‘with a liberal appropriation, the worthiess wooden Feri re sped could be gradually repiaced by dura- stone pavements, It is estimated that 61,000 square yards. or one- ixth of all the wooden pavements in this city, will Tequire to be relaid orremoved during the y¢ar 1874, If repaired with wood the cost will be about $3 per square yard, or $183,000. If repaired with stone blocks the cost will be $2 50 per square ‘ard, Or $162,500, while the stone blocks are tn- ‘ately more durable than wood. In either case ‘the appropriation for the repairs to wooden and concrete pavements ($50,000) is utterly inade- quate; and to tax the city at ouce tor replaciug the worthless wooden and concrete pavements ‘would be too large a burden upon the taxpayers. ‘But the conuition of these pavements is such that athe adoption of measures providing for their un- provement can no longer be postponed. | would, therefore, recommend the enactment of a law ‘authorizing the Common Council, whenever the Commissioner of Public Works shall be satisted Rbut the expense of mKing the necessary repairs ‘an any street, paved with wood or concrete, shail ‘exceed one-iourth of the original cost of such pave- ment, to order such street to be repaved with Beigian or stone block pavement. One-half of the expense Of such repavement to be borne by tue city at large, and one-haif to be assessed upon the Property owners on the line of the street or avenue. ‘The trequent opening of streets for the laying | and repairing of gus pipes, and for connecung wuildings with sewers, Water ana gas pipes, is most injurious to the pavements, as they are rarely re- placed in as good condition as they Were belore the openmg was made. How trequently the street ‘pavements are disturbed in this mauner may be in- | Jerred irom the fact that they cover about 540 miles | ol gas mains, 349 miles of croton water pipes and | 820} miles 0: sewers, and that more than 74,000 | ‘buildings are each connected with sewers, water | @nd gas pipes. Excepting the Telford Macadam roadways on the pleasure drives and avenues in the upper parc of | the city, no other than stone dlock pavements | have been laid during the past two years, and no pavement has yet been introduced or sutliciently tested im this city which, under our climatic con- ditions, can compare with the stone block pave- ments for durabinty, cheapness and adaptability to ‘the requirements of our local trafic. For pleasure drives and for suburban roads and avenues, how- ever, the Teliord Macadam roadway is preferable, The progress previously made in replacing cobvle stone pavements with Belgian or granite blocks has been arrested by a provision of the charter re- quiring the consent of a majority of property @wners to authorize the repaving o! any street. During the year 142,473 square yards of new atone | Dleck pavements have been covering six miles of streets, Twelve miles Of streets have been regulated and graded and sixteen and one- haif miles are now under contract for regulating and grading. Great progress has been made in the construc- Won and improvement o! the avenues aad pleas- Ure drives in the upper part of the city. ‘The Boulevard, from Fiuty«ninth to 155th street; the seventh avenue, from 110th street to the Harlem River; the Avenue St. Nicholas, from 110th to 150th street; Seventy-second street, Irom Eighih avenue to the Riverside drive, and Tenth avenue, above 165th street, bave been completed and thrown open to public travel during the past year. More ‘than 360,000 square yards oi Teliord Macadam road- ‘Way have been constructed and one and a half miles of sewers built. Tuere are now fourteen Miles of Macadamized roadways, serving at puce athe purposes of pleasure, travel and the local ‘trafic in the upper part of the city, making the ‘best portion of our island accessible to our popu- lation and available for dwelling purposes, ‘The expenditure tor these improvements for the year 1871, under the direction of the Department ‘of Public Parks, was $1,608,060, aud for the past year it was $1,250,974, CROTON AQUEDUCT, RESERVOIRS AND DISTRIBUTING SYSTEM. ‘The occurrence of several disastrous conflagra- tious in some O1 our large cities during tue past Jew years, has attracted more than usual attention to the means We possess Of meeting or preventing simular visitations, and considerable fear and anxtety have been [elt, lest our water supply should Prove insuiticient in such an emergency. Projacts aor introducing salt water from the adjacent rivers, and for tapping the Hudson River at some point | mbove tide water, Were advanced and discussed, either of which would involve an expenditure of over $10,000,000, ‘The Commissioner of Public ‘Works and his engineers, however, maintained that, with far less expenditure, an ample supply oi water for ali purposes could be drawn from the Croton River, the only thing required being the construction of large reservoirs jor the storage of ‘water, to be drawn upon during dry seasons, The experience Of last summer has fully vindicated aheir views. During an almost unprecedented drought of over two months, more than two thirds 1 the daily supply of water was drawn from the new storage reservoir at Boyd's corners in Put- Mam county, the aggregate quantity so drawn Weing 3,700,000,000 gulions. ‘his reservoir was completed last spring, and has @ capacity of 3,000,000,000 gallons; without tt a water amine ‘would have been inevitable last summer, The land required ior the dam of another storage reservoir, to contain 3,700,000,000 gullons, bas been pur- chased, and preparations made to proceed with the coustruction of the dam at an early day. ‘The consumption of Croton water hus increased it amuch greater rate than the population, hav- if Teached 104,000,000 gallons per day, or more thap 100 gations daily to each tuhabitant; at no distant day it will have outgrown the capacity yor the present aqueduct, the maximum of which is piruction” Of 116,000,000 galions per day. The con- Tuction of an additional aqueduct will then come necessary. The excelient condition of the aqueduct and its accessories, which have performed their lunctions muninterruptedly for more than thirty years, is con- | to go anywhere than it will to stay at home. resistea on the E agve! that the former Commisstoner had 1 a vo make any such agreement; that, if if was made, it was void nd could not be enforced, and that under the act the matter still rested in the discretion of the present Commissioner, ant that his judgment was Lat it was not necessary for the city to take euch lands or water rights. ‘The claim set up by the company amounted to about $500,000; but the Supreme Court sustained the position of the Commissioner of Public Worka and decided that he Was not compelled to carry out a verbal agreement made by his predecessor. ‘The alterations of the aqueduct on Tenth avenne, between Ninety-second and listh streets, com- monty Known as the “Big Pipe Work,’’ have pro- gressed very favorably and rapidly, with a greatly reduced force and expenditure, This work was commenced in Seprember, 1870. Last year, at the beginning of the season for out-door work, the en- tire force employed on the work was reorganized, and the results of this reorganization may be seen in the following comparative statement of force employed, work done, and amounts expended previous to January 1, 1873, and since that date :— From Sept. From Jan. 48, 1870, to.Jan. 1 to Nov, 1, 1873. 30, 1873. Average force employed. ort a4 Pieces ot pipe receive 1024 a7 Lineal feet of pipe Imid ooo. 10,400 19,900 Cubic yards of rock and earth exca- ated... ek sees 120,000 28,670 Cubic yards of foundation and pro- tection walls constructed. 4,000 35,800 Cubie yards of masonry buil 800 1,612 Lineal feet of sewers Duilt. 6,44 1921 Cubic yards of earth filled In: 30,400 30,000 Amount paid for tron pipe, $326,574 $380,532 ‘Amount paid tor Jabor and’ sundry materials. .... seme +» $1,863,946 $206,297 ‘Thite work will be completed next summer, when the masonry aqueduct will be removed, and the aa poceg ied by it sold for the benedit of the Sink- ig Fund. The high service reservoir and ir at Car- mansville, for supplying the extreme high ass on the island with water, Was brought into use last year. . For the distribution of Croton water throughout the city 25%, miles of pipes, varying from 4 to 48 inches in diameter, was laid during the eleven months ending November last. The ‘ezate length Of such pipes now laid in this city is 349 miles, exclusive of about 11 miles of pipe used or conveying the water to the reservoirs, ‘The receipts for water rents for the year ending December 31, 1873, were $1,428,931, and the cost of collecting such rents was 074. During the ear 1871 the amount collected was $1,207,089, nd the cost of collection was $119,608—~ thus showing an increase in receipts for 1873 over 1871 of $221,842 and a degpeané {il cost of collection Of $63,534, or a Ash ain to the city treasury on this account of $255,376. Owing to the stagnation in business Quring the past three or four mohthy jhe Consvimption of Croton water for manutacturing purposes, especially for steam boilers, has greatly diminished, causing a cor- responding decrease in receipts for water rents. LAMPS AND GAS, A large saving has been effected in the cost of lighting the public lamps. Early in 1872 the Com- missioner of Public Works requested the several gas companies to reduce the price of gas for pub- dic Jamps, and they agreed toa reduction irom an average Of $51 per annum for each lamp to $42 50, and liter to $39 per lamp, The condition which they first made, that their bills for gas turnished the city in 1871, amounting then to some $800,000, should be paid before the reduction would take effect, was finally waived at the earnest solicita- tion of the Commissioner of Public Works. ‘The re- Sult is that the expenditure for lighting and main- taining the public lamps has been reduced from $1,151,146 in 1871 to $793,766, in 1872 and to $745,653 in 1878, Since the 1st or January, 1872, the Commissioner of Public Works has removed 526 extra lamps, which had been placed in front of saloons, restaurants, stables, hotels, private resi- dences, &¢., and which cost the city $22,000 per annum to light and maintain. fhe number of extra lamps yet remaining is 835. An investiga- tion to ascertain how many of them are not covered by resolutions or ordinances of the Common Coun- cil is still being continued, SEWERAGE, The work of improving and extending the sys- tem of sewerage has been yigorously prosecuted during the past year, Ten miles of sewers, 2%4 miles of underground drains, 1 mile of culverts and 87 receiving basins have been constructed. The total length of sewers in this city is 32014 miles, with 3,931 receiving basins. The uncer- ground drains, which have only been in use a few years, have proved very effective and beneficial to the public health and to property owners in drain- ing low and marshy grounds. Many of the ola sewers are so defective in plan and construction that they fatl to carry off the sewage matter, gen- erating noxious gases and breeding disease, in- stead of improving the sanitary condition of the city. The work of replacing them by new and better ones is progressing as rapidly as an economical expenditure of the means appro- priated for this purpose will permit. A large sav- ing has been made in the cost of cleaning and re- pairing sewers and basins, which were formerly gone by contract, but are now done by day’s work. In 1871 the expenditure on this account Was $118,651, and for the past year it 18 $76,660, showing a reduction of nearly $48,000. The aggregate expengitures of the Department of Public Works on aCtounts paid trom taxation during the year 1871 were $2,442,312. During the year 1873 they were $1,529,912, including $55,000 for the maintenance of the Boulevard, roads and avenues which were nof.in this department in 1831. The reduction in expenditures tm 1873, as compared ‘With 1871, is therefore $967,400, On special and trust accounts, for regulating, grading, paving, sewering and otherwise improv- ing streets and avenues, tor alterations of the aqueduct, construction of reservoirs and exten- sion of Croton water mains, the sam of $6,231,838 was expended by the Department of Public Works during the year 1871, and the sum of $1,698,060 by the Department of Public Parks on the improve- ment of the Boulevard and avenues north of Fifty- ninth street durmg the same year, making a toral of $7,929,899, In 1873 the expenditure on all these accounts under the Department of Public Works Was $5,977,462, showing a reduction or diminution of expenditures of $1,952,437. Under a peremptory mandamus of the Supreme Court requisitions were made upon the Finance Department for the payment of $700,000 ior water meters furnished under a contract made in 1370, RAPID TRANSIT. Rapid Transit vs. Comfortable Transit. To THE EpiroR OF THE HERALD :— There is an old Spanish proverb which says, “Do not throw away your dirty water until you get clean.’ Now, would it not be well for those who are agitating the subject of rapid transit to look a little into the present, and not altogether into the future? I contend that we are already too fast as @ people, and that we are continually struggling to attain that point where it will take us less time Ido not believe that the American people, or the large majority of them, so much desire to travel rapidly as they do comfortably, if the truth was known; and the time has arrived when the latter problem must be solved, if not in conjunction with the former, then without it. When the palace cara were first started upon our railroads a small per- centage of the public rebelled at the extra charge; to-day a rebel is unknown, and the entire people recognize the great improvement. I propose while we are waiting five or ten years for rapid transit to look to the present for com- fortable transit. Let us have palace cars on the city roads. Ihonestly believe that if the vote of the uptown people were takenon itthe answer would be a imost universal that it was not a ques- tion of time, but of discomfort; of having to come down or go up at the hour that everybody else goes, of not getting a seatand being obliged to hang on to a strap, Unable to read a paper or do aught but inhale your neighbor's, perbaps, foetid breath and be a fit subject jor the manipulations of pickpockets, How few there are that would be- grudge an extra five cents for the privilege of riding In an elegant car, with a comfortable chair and no one standing up. Ladies would always prefer it, a8 would every Man who could afford the amount, and ifhe could not, then there would he still the five cent cars for him; but there is no rea- son why if man can afford to pay tor a luxury that he should be dented it. because another can- not or will not do the same, “The howls of the press,” as our friend Butler says, have been so persistent against our city rail- roads that they have lea the pubiic to beheve that these useful institutions are nothing more than harpies fattening upon the life blood of our citi- zens, and that they are coining untold wealth. The truth 18 that some of them do not even pay interest on the cost of construction, whiie the very best of them only pay a traction over a cent profit on every Pecoding and could not pay that if it were not for crowding the cars at that hour of the day when travel is greatest. Those who doubt this fact need only go to the State Engineer’s annual Teport for its truth. question if there is 4 single road in this city that would not be giad to put on palace cars to run every filtecn minutes, or oftener, i their charters would allow them to do so; but those wise men from the country at Albany, taking their tone from New York newspapers, hold up their hands in holy horror the moment that any legislation is ape ed to better the working of these roads or add to the comfort of those who are obliged to travel by them. J. W. WATSON. Another Plan for a Railroad. New Youx, Jan. 23, 1874, To THE EDITOR OF THE HBRALD:— There have been many schemes presented, and clusive proof not only of the superior workmanshi da its construction, Rut of the care and viguanee bai ah Aad 8 tot a in order, lemat as been made upon the present Com- Missioner of Puniic Works, by tne Manopac. phen facturing Company, for the pertormance of an alleged agreement between the former Commis- wioner of Public Works and the company, said to ‘have been made in 1870, for the purchase of certain ands at the outlets of and water rights in Lakes Mahopac and Kirk, in Putnam county, authorized Spy an act of the Legisiature of 1871; and upor: the ‘Fefugal of the Commissioner to accede to the de- Mand the company moved tor @ mandamus to ‘compel to out the agreement. Debal at We some have been chartered, but none have as yet succeeded in getting capitalists to take a suMcient quantity of stock to commence to butid a road, ex- cept the one-legged elevated road on Greenwich’ street, Which ruined many of the original stock- holders. my ot is for @ surface road, by steam, on a Street that is 100 1eet wide, two tracks; on @ street seventy-five feet, or less, only one track. Let the track be fen on each side, and be tunnelled or bridged every Other street that ht angles with the track. Have the veht- it 44 to 9 on La ag street keep to the the fence, Yo Ce Oh TOW Me WIYLLAMS, hi right of BNAI Convention of the ‘Independent Order of Bnai Berith” at Chicago—Sketch of tho Order. BERITH. To-day at noon the delegates of the 206 lodges composing this Order will assemble at the Chicago Music Hall, and will frame such amendments to the laws as to their wisdom shall seem fit. Five and a halfyearsago a similar convention was held in New York, SKETCH OF THE ORDRR. The Bnai Berith, or “Sons of tneyCovenant,” is an organization of American Israelites, now num- bering fully 20,000 members, From the preamble to the constitution, from which we extract, the exact objects of the Order can be ascertained :— ‘The Independent Order Bnat Kerith having taken upon itself the mission of uniting the Sons of Israel in the sacred work of promoting ve highest interests of humanity, especially to alle- Viate the wants of the poor and needy, to visit and attend the sick, to protect and assist the widow and orphan, on the broadest principle of brotherly love; furthermore, to develop and elevate the mental and moral character of our race by a liberal support of science and art and the inculcation of the holiest and purest prin- cipies of philanthropy, honor and patriotism; and above ail to promulgate the sublime and eternal doctrines of Judaism So te professors, and to deiend, preserve and diffuse the faith’ of our fathers in society at large as the very emboaiment of ali those dictates of humanity—holds the foilow- ie cardinal principles, t then declares such géneral doctrines as that “all men are brothers,” the ‘social relations among individuals should be regulated by the dic- tates of love,” and finally that “the divine and everlasting doctrines of Judaism are the basis of all civilization and enlightenment,” &c. The Order is thus entirely Jewish in its character, differ- ing from the Masons and Odd Fellows, which are open to all secta, It {9 secret jn its character, hav. Bat ob Ate at Seah se a3 tng a form of initiation, othe, dextee®, signi ah passwords, the ceremonials hardly reaching the solemmity of the Masons, but yet sufficiently im- posing for their purpose, ‘The Order is devoid entirely of any political sig- nificance, being simply socia), literary ana char- itable in its scope, No brother assumts any obli- gation inconsistent with his duties as a citizen of the Republic or as a member of his synagogue or temple. There are at present 206 lodges, averaging 100 members each; a few reaching the number of 250, many having less than 50. ‘The oldest lodge and the youngest lodge have their seats in New York — “New York, No. 1," installed in 1843, having 220 members and an aggregate of $6,000 in funds, and “Zebulon, No, 206,” installed last week, with thirty-seven members and no funds as yet. ‘The Order was founded in 1843 by a few New Yorkers, headed by a man of much intelligence and benevolence—Henry Jones. It may have had, at starting, a platform somewhat opposed to Ma- sonry, but the feeling quickly was subdued, and it entered upon a field of its own in no wise opposed to other organizations, but peculiarly distinct from all, The Order gradually increased, lodges being started in Cincinnati (1849), Philadelphia (1860) and Louisville (1852). [ts advantages were quickly appreciated by the Israelites of this coun- try, so that now there is a lodge in nearly every State and city of importance. Much impetus was given to it between the years 1860 and 1868 by the efforts of Maurice Mayer, now deceased, a learned gentleman, who acted as Grand Secretary for some time, and of B, F. Peixotto, now Consul at Bucharest, who was Grand Saar (President) for three years, and in such capacity travelled about the country injusing great interest in the organization. Since 1868 Jecturing tours have been made with much success by the present President and Secretary, Juliua Bien and Moritz Ellinger; and the Jewish press have kept the fraternity so prominently before their readers that it is not surprising that the in- crease of members has been so marked. The ag- gregate funds amount to $800.000. The Order is diviaed into seven Grand Lodges, arranged geographically; New York, New Jersey and the Eastern States constitating District No.1, and being numerically one third of the entire Order. There is a Court of Appeals to decide litigated questions, the Chief Justice” being ex- Recorder Rosendale of Albany. ‘The supreme authority is the “Constitation Grand Lodge” which meets every five years, and 1s represented officially by the Executive Committee, with a President, Vice President, Secretary and four members, The Grand Lodge officers are thus named :—‘Grand Nasi Av” (President), “Grand Aleph” and “Grand Yoea"? (Vice Presidents), “Grand Bal Haggenzi” (Treasurer), ‘Grand Sopher” (Secretary), &c. The Convention will probably abolish these names, which ave unnecessary and have no special signifi- cance. THE’ WORK OF THR CONVENTION. The Chicago Convention will be a week in ses- sion. Of course mandy propositions of a routine character will be presented, but of the more im- portant will be the following :— 1. To ee, ritual and ceremonies. 2. To abolish the secret character of the organi- zation. 8. To have a general endowment law, by which all the brethren shall contribute a small sum at the death of a brother, to the end that his widow may receive $1,000. 4. To establish a home for the aged and needy of the Order, 6. To support more generally the Hebrew Orpnan Asylum at Cleveland and enlarge it so that it may accommodate 500 children. 6. To establish an official journal. 7. To be represented in the Centennial Exhibi- tion in Philadelphia. 8, To establish an institute of learning. 9, To take action as to the condition of suffering Israelites abroad. It will thus be seen that there is quite an impor- tance in the Convention, and the Jews in this coun- try will look with much interest to the proceed- ings. The endowment matter is one in which the brethren of the Order are especially interested, tor it 18 a species of life insurance that is quite attract- ive. In many lodges the enaowment dues are paid out of the junds, the members paying sumicient annually to cover assessment for deaths. A mem- ber thus secures 4 life policy of $1,000 on an annual premium of irom ten to fliteen dollars. Added to which are the social and literary advantages which many lodges offer, and certain pecuniary benefits In sickness or distress, such as make them desir- able to many citizens, Divisions in Judaism, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Although it is popularly believed that Israei is united In @ compact, solid body, actually such 1s not the case. They, like other religious communi- ties, have their tribulations and schisms. They are divided into ultra-orthodox, orthodox, reform and ultra-reform schools, and while the cardinal prin- ciples underlying tne faith of each are invariably the same, yet their belief in some interpretations of the Bible and the rulings of the rabbies are es- sentially different, and consequently there is di- versity of action as to the binding effect of certain laws, most of which, however, are ceremonial. Tnese differences of opinion should be confined to the synagogue or temple, but ail experience proves that they, like similar Church disturbances, invade and bring dissension into peacelul homes, and even engender ill-teeling in the counting room of the merchant. Aconvention of “B*nat | Berith,’ such as described, and representing every shade of opinion, entertaining “malice towards none and with charity for all,” 1s well calculated to tone down all such acerbities of feeling, and we have every hope oi the good result of their delib- erations while there remains a Wolf to eloquently demand civil and religious freedom; a Frankland to nurse the sick; @ Rosenthal to dispense even- handed justice; an Isaacs to watch the liberties of the free press; a Peixatto to represent our country abroad; a Sanger to plead at the bar of public opinion, and the noble example of a Debora Stiner, who has just sacrificed her young and promising life upon a burning altar of filial affection, Juda- ism and humanity are safe in such hands, SEMI-OCCASIONAL, ‘WASHINGTON, D. C., Jan, 28, 1874, LIGHTHOUSE NEWS. Keepers Exonerated from Charges of Negligence, Newport, R. I., Jan. 24, 1874. W. W. Wales, of Beaver Tail signal, has been completely exonerated by Commander Stephen C, Trenchard, Inspector of the Third district lignt- houses, from the charges brought against nim, for not blowing the horn on the morning ot the 3d nst., by Captain Shirley, of the steamer Electra, piying between Providence and New York. It appears that upon the night in question the wind was blowing fresh, and the Electra was laid to to the windward of the station, and the evidence which the Inspector forwarded to-day to the Daily News shows conclusively that the trumpet couid not have been heard a half-mile to windward of where the steamer was located. In regard to Throgg’s Neck station, the keeper of which, Captain Shirley, reported for the same neglect of duty, has also been exonerated, R. 8. Ltoyd, chief mate of the British ship International, certifies that he heard the bell ringing constantly between the hours of seven P, M., January 2, and five A. M., January 3. Richard 8, Lyons, keeper of the lighthouse, shows by his log book also that the bell was properly rung. NEW YORE CAPITAL IN BOSTON, Boston, Jan. 24, 1874. The application of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York to hold real estate in Bos- ton to the amount of $2,000,000, which is now pending before the Legisiature, meets with strong eee 2a the and that under it the com- pany might eng in oa OF might Gvad n le subjection to AUEDASE IANA Of Shia CRRMOBN LALA LIGHTING THE CITY. Contracts Awarded for Street Lamps— vT Comptroller Opposes Immediate Action, After repeated adjournments the Gas Commis- Stoners, designated under the charter to advertise for bids and accept proposals and award contracts for lighting the city with gas, met late yesterday afternoon in the Mayor’s office, the Mayor, Comp- troller and Commissioner Van Nort present. Mr. Morrison, the secretary, read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were approved. Commissioner Van Nort moved that the contract, for removing, setting and adjusting lampposts, lighting the lamps and keeping them in repair, be awarded the New York Gas Company, in their dis- trict, thgir bid therefor being the lowest. Comptroller Green moved to lay the motion on the table until a disposition of the lighting is made, a8 there may be new bids sent in. Mr. Van Nort replicd that the commission was here for the purpose of acting on the bids already handed in, and not to anticipate new ones, ‘The Mayor likewise remarked that he could see no reason why the first proposition shoula not be acted upon at once, Mr. Van Nort could not see what good can be gained by tactiousness—the three officers named in the law now present were to receive bids, which had been furnished but had not been disposed of. The law says the bids shall be opened, &c. This has been done, and it is now the duty of the Board to confirm or reject the same. They had no right to advertise for new bids if the New York Gas Company is entitled to the award, as they surely are, they being the lowest bidders— they can obtain the contract irom the courts. The Comptroller tried to justily his actions, but utterly fatled, when, on calling the question by Mr. Van Nort, the motion to lay on the table was lost, Mayor Havemeyer voting with Mr. Van Nort in the affirmative. ‘The Mayor then put the original motion. ‘The Comptroiler stated that, as he had no time to compare the figures, he would be compelled to vote ‘NO,!2 Mayor Havemeyer (heatedly, to the Comp- troller) —You have had plenty of time to examine and compare tbe figures, as we adjourned our last meeting for this very purpose, The motion to award was then put and carried, the Comptroller voting in the negative. i On motion of Mr, Van Nort, a sunilaraward wag. made to the Manhattan Company in their district, the Compfroller voting “No.” Mr. Van Nort proposed that a test vote be had whether the bid of the Metropolitan Company be declared irregular, owing to their not naving strictly conformed to the terms of the proposals invited, by acknowledging theif bonds before a legal tribunal. The Mayor moved to declare the bid irregular, whereupon the Comptroller proposed that the bid of the Mutual Company be accepted, The motion was carried, Mr. Van Nort voting in the negative, and desired to have his yote re- corded, Mr. Beards!ee, counsel for the Metropolitan, requested permission to read a protest. upon which Mr. Van Nort moved to reconsider the vote just taken, which was put by the Mayor as chatr- man, pending which the counsel read his protest, setting forth that the company he represented had complied in every respect with the law, furnished good surety in the sum of $100,000, and in their id Damed a sum which would be a great saving to the city, Commissioner Van Nort moved that the protest be received and placed on file, which was adopted, but the motion to reconsider was lost by the usual vote of two to one—the Mayor and Comp- troller against the Commissioner of Public Works, Before the last vote was taken Commodore ©. K. Garrison, who was present and represented the Mutual Gas Company, threateningsy remarked that, if the action concerning the Metropolitan Gas Company is reconsidered, Is (the Mutual) com- pany will not make any new bids, which, of course, decided the measure at once. Tne Comptrolier proposed that bids be invited to light the Harlem and the part of the Metropolitan district not awarded. Carried, Mr. Van Nort moved that the bids of George A. Barney to light two districts be rejected, inasmach as ene gas companies had been awarded the con- tract. Tue Comptroller opposed the motion, which was nevertheless adopted, whereupon the Board ad- journed, During the session the greatest animus was ex- hibited by the Comptroller. He opposed every- thing offered by the Commissioner of Public Works. Among those present at the meeting were Messrs. Augustus Schell, Commodore Garrison, Oscar Zoili- cotter, Charles Place, ana others. Commissioner Van Nort bad with him Mr. Parker, his deputy, and Mr. Tracey, trom his department. The contract for lighting the Harlem district must necessarily be awarded to the Harlem company, they having no competitors in that territory. THE NORTH SIDE ASSOCIATION, ——-- A Sister _for the East and West Side Ascociations—Large Mecting ot Wealthy Property Cwners in Mott Haven Yes- terday Afternoon—Congress and the Legisiature To Be Memorialized—The Constitution of the New Association. The second meeting of the North Side Associa- tion was held in the ofice of the Morrisania Steam- } boat Company yesterday afternoon, The first meeting of the organization was held in the same | office on the 10th of January, and at tnat time a committee, consisting of Messrs. Hugh N. Camp, M.C. Turner, Edgar Williams, William Herring, | Samuel E, Lyon, W. W. Niles, W. Smith Brown, G. H. Foster and Gouverneur Morris, was appointed to draft @ constitution and present a “slate’’ of oficers for the government of the organization. No better idea can be conveyed of the objects and intention of the association than to give the con- stitution which was presented and adopted yes- terday :- CONSTITUTION OF THE NORTH SIDE ASSOCIATION. The North side Association is composed of all land owners or taxpayers in the Twenty-third and Twenty- fourth wards of the city of New York, and has for its object the proper improvement and development of the territory and the protection of the mat r C the citizens; put no questions of a me racter saall ever be brought before the association. ‘The annual meeting shall be held on the fourth Satar- day of January in each year, when the officers and com- mittees shall be elected by ballot. A committee to nominate candidates shall be appointed at a meeting of the association prior to the annual meeting. Special meetings may be called at ay. time by the le Secretary, on the direction ot the President, or on the written request of three members of any standing com- tee. mittee. Ten shall constitute a quorum for business at any meet- ing of the association. he officers shail be @ Presiaent, First and Second Vice Presidents. a Secretary and a Treasurer. The officers and conimittees shall hold office for one year, and until their stiecessors are elected, There shall be the following standing committees, with the duties prescribed to each, to consist of nine rt—The Harlem River Improvement Committee shall have charge of the interests o! the association in relation to the improvement of the navigation of the | Harlem River and Spuyten Duyvil Creek, and the | bridges over and tunnels under the same. Secoud—The Rapid Transit Committee shall have charge of the interests of the Association in relation to the Im- Brovement of the means of access to the lower part of e city. Third —The Local Improvement Committee shall have charge of the interests of the association in respect to local improvements. Fourth—The Tax and Assessment Committee shall have charge of the interests of the assuciation in respect to assessment and collection of taxes and assessments tor improvements laid upon the real estate in the Twenty: third and Twenty-fourth wards. Fith—The Law Commitee shall consider all legislatio proposed which affects the interests of the association. Sith—The Sxecutive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and the Chairmen of ail other committees, and shall have charge of ail interests of the association, and be authorized (0 recommend to the association for action such matters as affect the same. Three members ot @ commitree shall constitute a quorum. The committees shail meet on the day of the annual meeting, or as soon thereatter as possible. Kach com- mittee shall meet when called together by its chairman, or three members in writing. ‘The committees shall pay their own expenses, unle otherwise ordered by the association before any expense is incurred, and no expense shall be incurred until the funds to discharge the same have been raised by yolun- tary subscription. The iollowing ticket, nominated by the com- mittee, was elected :—- President, William B, Ogden; First Vice President, John J. Crane; second Vice’ President, William G. Ackerman: Secretary, Fordham Morris; Treasurer, Edgar Williams, Harlem River Improvement Committee—Messrs, Lewis G, Morris, Samuel E. Lyon, Walter T. Marvin, Hugh Camp, Joseph H. Godwin, Lewis B. Brown, Samuel Purdy, Hiram Barney, Gustay schwab. Rapid Transit CommitteeMesars. Gouverneur Morris, | Richard M. Hoe, Waldo Hutchins, William Smith Brown, Sarmuel D. Babcock, Thomas A. Vyse, William Cauldwell, E.G. Burling, Augustus A. Levy, Local Improvement Committee—Messrs, Samuel R. Filley, | Edgar Williams, Maturin L, Delafield, Charies J. Gillis, Henry L, Atherton, J, Lioyd Haigh, Th Wiliam Simpson, Gustavus Preitfer. it and, Asseannent Committee-—Messrs. Henry F. Spavl ding, M. ©, Turner, Henry P. DeGraf, Jordan L. Mott, fuichard 5. Namilton, Augustus Vani Cortland, 0. i Frisbie, ore Wilkins, Charles W. Bathgate. n jomas H, Faile, ne Committee—Megsrs. George H. Forster, William Herring, William W. Niles, Henry I, Morris, Austin D. Ewen, J. G. H. Blythe, Thomas N. Cuthvers James R, | compliment and veyed and sounded, and for an appropriation of such an species eves Saris Aiden, ating am ry ‘. ing drawing at ‘atte. i eh gas oad Baer ae 5 » in inion ion, * penditure of the suins, to be xed upon by the cominitics, would secure the object desired and would tend to teased the cost of every ton of produce which finds its way by water from the West to the great consuming population of the East, and would hus prove of immense benelt to the people of the whole country, The following petition to the Legislature was signed by all the gentlemen present :— To tue Honoras.e Leaistatune or rug Stare or New ORK — We, the undersigned, residents of the city and county of New York, believe that the law as it now which taxes both real estate and a morta, same, to be double taxation, and hence injurious State in populatio growth and progress of the Wealth, do respecttully pray for the passaxe of the 1 now pendin “Pefore the Legislature providing tor the exemption of mortgages from taxation. Several millions of proverty in the new territory of New York were represented at the mecting, | which was Jarger than the organizers expected. | PHILADELPHIA POLITICS. Sealesecaueapee Democratic Discouragements as to the Mayoralty Nomination—Colonel Biddle and Mr, Littleton Declime—The Co: vention to Reassemble on Monday—A Reform Committee Suggested. PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 24, 1874. To any one who has noticed the recent peculiar drift of Philadelphia politics it must be evident thatthe nearer the election day for Mayor ap- proaches the more broken and disorganized be- come the ranks of the democracy. The Democratic Convention hesitated between a conservative and a “straight-out,” and when, finally, after much discussion, the latter was agreed upon, the gen- theman chosen, Colonel Biddle, positively refused to accept the nomination. Their work, therefore, has been in vain, and must needs be | recommenced, In the meanwhile the op- position, profiting by their misfortune, | gains new encouragement every day, and consid- ers its success sure, It is said that in the Conven- | tion the other day Mr. Littleton, the union nomi- nee, polled thirty votes. against fifty cast tor Mr. | Biddle, the “straight-out,’” the young men endors- ing’the former and the old heads backivg up the latter, ‘SiR, LITTLETON DECLINES THE HONOR. Lasuevening the chances of the union nominee in the Democratic Convention, to reconvene on | Monday, seemed greatly strengthened, and Mr. Lit- tleton’s (riends were jubilant accordingly ; but at about ten o’clock the rumor flew from one quarter to another that Mr. Littleton would not accept the nomination—a circumstance which seemed to | involve reformers, democrats, conservatives, straight-outs and the whole body politic of the op- Position in a condition indescribably chaotic. WANTED—AN AVAILABLE CANDIDATE. There is a general wish now on the part of the democrats to select a non-partisan man, Had | such a general feeling existed in the Convention | vhe result might bave been tar different from what } it Was. As it is now, taking for granted that Mr. | Littleton has withdrawn, there is no telling what | may develop in Monday’s deliberation. In case | the rumor 18 groundless, people seem to feel that | Littleton's chances are very good. NEWSPAPER OPINIONS AND ADVICE. { Mr. Forney, of the Press, reviews the situation | thus:— Nothing definite yet in regard to the Mayoralty, be- | ond the declination of Mr. Biddle. ‘T is a rumor | hat Mr. Littleton has also withdrawn name. Both entlemen are actaated by the desire to concentrate the | friends of the new constitution on one candidat there are other movements to this end. The prevails in the several wards. Citizens’ tickets are framed with great unanimity and discrimination. The | time is short, but with a lite wisdom and fortearance | ali will comé cut right. } The Age insists that unless opposing factions | unite on some popular candidate the Lope of suc- | cess should not be entertained. It says, “Woe to | the venal city when its purchaser is found,” and alter stating the situation at length proceeds as Sohows :— It behooves the inhabitants of the City of Brotherly | Love to drop all party claims and look tor some nobie and patriotic man—such as once rose m Rome, the city ot “brotherly strife,” who, sacrificing his own uiterests, his | own life, ‘succeéded in saving that city and its people | from impending run, shame and disgrace—io lead them { at this time und save this city and commanity trom im- pending destruction. The people of Philadelphia must open their eyes to the dangers by which they are men- aced and beset from bad laws enacted and chiorced by | bad men, They must listen to the warning of good ineii; they must follow their honest, earnest advic wust | disregard party ties and unite upon some man who will | secure the co-operation of freemen, “Ring” victory In February. This i I their fellow citizens, to themselves and families. Monday’s Convention is likely to be of the live- jiest nature and productive Of no little debate. Mr. Littleton’s Reasons for Declining— Hopes of a No Party Nomination, di PHILADELPHIA, Jan, 24—Midnight, the tol It is now positively known that Mr. Littleton | will not accept the nomination for the Mayoralty | of this city. He declines outright in the following | letter :— { MR. LITTLETON’S LETTER, | GextLEMx have received your letter asking me to | accept a nomination for the office of Mayor of this city, | as a citizens’ constitutional candidate. [entertain te | sincere conviction, strengthened by some experience in | public lite, that the management of municipal aftairs | should be’ takea from the tleld of national politics; but it seems that neither of the great party organiz: now existing is Willing to make this concession to 1 interests, and as the suggestion of this nomination to ine, | in the first instance, was based upon the idea that sucti | concession would or might be made, think that ine round upon which I could be expected to accept has en removed. For these reasons, but with my warmest thanks for the | or the kind expressions in y tier, | if, L beg leave to decline personal to m nommation. Very respectfully, — W. B. LITTLETON. To Messrs. William Welsh, A, J. Drexel, John W, ney, George D. Rosengarten, and others. i A REFORM COMMITTEE SUGGESTED. A prominent democrat assures me to-night that When bis party convention reconvenes # will no | doubt agree that.the nomination of a partisan ts, under the existing state of things, inexpedient. He says that almost all the delegates to the Con- vention favor an action similar to that adopted | some time since in New York—namely, the selec- | tion of a Committee of Seventy, irrespective of | parties or cuques, in whose hands shall be placed the power of nominating a candidate who will in | all respects represent. the people and the rue | interests 01 the city. MELANCHOLY DROWNING CASUALTY. g Three Boys Drowned While Skating on a Pond in Brooklyn. Avery melancholy casualty occurred in South | Brooklyn yesterday, involving the sacrifice of the | lives of three boys. The western slope of the | Gowanus hills ig laid out into streets, with broad avenues intersecting. The embankments forming the streets and avenues are very steep, and, | owing to the absence of a system of subsoil drain. | age, there are constantly large pools or lakes of stagnant water in the low lots, wiiich prove a, source of danger to the residents of that section in | many ways. Several lives have been lost during | vhe past jew years by drowning in these stagnant waters, in various seasons of the year. ‘The coid snap which set in ou Friday might last formed a thin coating of ice on theae ponds, and the smooth | surface presented Was most tempting to the boys, who, being home on Saturday, sought to induige in the joys of skating. About eleven o'clock several small boys, among whom were Stewart and bu- ward Arthur, brothers, aged ntne and eleven years respectively, and William Cravatt, ten years old, ventured out on the {frail ice of the pond on seventh avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets. They | had not been long on the ice when it gave wa: immersing the unfortunate boys in the water. | ‘Their companions on shore summoned help, and | the party, with the exception of tie boys men- tioned, were rescued. The bodies of the Arthur brothers and Cravatt were recovered and taken to | tue residences of their grief stricken parents, who live in the meighborhood. Police Surgeon Brady was early at the scene and did all in his power to resuscitate the boys, The Coroner was notified to hold av inquest over the vodte: THE CHARITY BALL, | Seventeen years ago a remarkable wedding took place in New York—Fashion and Charity were | united in holy banns—and on each succeeding yeat | since 1857 the anniversary of the memorable event | has been duly celebrated by a ball, given for the | benefit of the Nursery and Childs’ Hospital, an un- | sectarian and cosmopolitan institution. Since tle year mentioned thousands of friendiess children oer been protected under the wgis of the happy couple, Next Thursday week, February 5, the eignteenth Annual ball will be given at the Academy of Music, | and no efforts will be Spared to make tt the grand- | est affair ever held in New York. 8 the edit of | the metropolis will lend ther presence, purses and | efforts to insure its success failure is impossible. Jubilee Gilmore will provide the prominade music Angel, Chauncey Smith. ‘The foliowing was offered by H. N. Camp:— Resolved, That the several committees shall have the power to increase their numbers not to exceed eleven on any one committee, and also to fill any and ail vacan- cies caused by resignation or death, The resolution was referred to the Executive Committee, Mr. H, N. Camp also offered the following pream- ble and resolution ;— . Whereas the opening of the Harlem River and Bronx Kills, these waters navigable tor vesscls of large size, would prove as much for the benefit of the commerce of the whole country as it would to the State and city of New York, and has the same claim open the goverti- ogre the waters of the Mississippi or any other water cot solved, That the Harlem River Committee be a tnorined i memorialize ‘Oeatena ” the name of thi yer a in ‘Souvteg Uprvs Orssh Me have the me and the terpsichorean melody will be rendered by Lander. There are a few boxes left, which can be | had by applying to Mrs, A, H, L. Townsend, of No. 297 Fifth avenue. MURDER IN OPEN OUURT. New ORLEANS, Jan. 24, 1874. In Galveston this morning, in the Criminal Court, the case of the State against J. B. Helm, for the murder of John Ferguson, was called for trial, but owing to the non-arrival of witnesses the roceedings were delayed, the prisoner remain- ing in court. John Ferguson, ason of the mur- dered man, succeeded in approaching the pris- oner, between the railing and table, unobserved, and, presemting & pistol at Helm’s head, fired, kill- ing bim almost instantly. Young Ferguson was ‘ang bis Gade 1 DOW helng Investigated, } | tor them. | to be deposited in its tinal | expected support to the idealism of | Re 3 THE NEW TRIBUNE BUILDING. Laying of the Corner Stone by Miss Greeley— A Memorable and Interesting Cere- mony—Interesting Particulars by Mr. Whitelaw Reid. ffad the venerable sage of Chappaqua been slive yesterday an additional wreath of well earned laurel would nave rustied among the many which he gathered in the pursuits of journalism, as weil 43 in private life; and if it 1s permitted for the spirits of the great dead to revisit the terrestriag scenes of a past busy life, the surely the shade ot Morace Greeley hovered over the (to him) once sacred spot where his daughter laid the corner stone of the new ?ribune building, The scene was Bot imposing—it was touching; the ceremonies Were not graud—tuey were simple and appropriate7 yet the occasion was an important one. It was that of placing the corner stone im an edifice Whose Proportions are to be magnificent, and which 1s to last for ages. It 18 to be, as itavere, the monament of @ great man’s success—the lasting witness of the intellectual! achievements accomplished by # commanding mind, The ceremony of laying the corner stone of the Tribune building that is in course of erection om the well known old stand of our able contempo- rary, atthe corner of Spruce street and Printing House square, took place yesterday afternoon at a quarter past four. The boarded up enclosure where the works are going on was necessarily shut to the public, no provision having been made for the admission of even members of the press, who, apart from whatever interest they might feel as citizens, had peculiar motives of a professional and literary nature to be present at this signal triumph of journalistic genius, The most ardent weil-wisher for the 7rtbwne’a success could not have desired @lovelier day than yesterday. The weather was exceptionally beau. tiful; the cerulean sky was unmarred bya ck even of the size of a Quaker’s hat, and the genial air that brought a healthy glow to the youthtul cheek of blushing maidenhood carried on its wings ng traces of Boreas’ biting blast. By two o'clock crowds of citizens, chiefly fro, among the turdy sons of toil, began to collect in front of the new edifice. A pile of bricks tacin, the enclosure was taken possession of a clusteD, of struggling humanity, who had the hardihood to climb its perpendicular sides, Presently a row of jime barrels and several blocks of granite along the sidewalk were also occupied by eager specta- tors, It was a long time {or the impatient muititude to wait, from hal-past two o’ciock, when the cere- mony Was to take place, until after four, at which hour the ceremony commenced, Nevertheless, the crowd bore very good humoredly the delay, the in- terval being enlivened with what were intended to be wonderfuily witty salltes of the smart ones, Who always succeed in mal their presence known at every public gathering. The omnipresent munt— cipal police were “un the ground.” They always are im those places where there is least use Ove of the Slash ae gentle. men who has the privilege of drawing a Salary for wearing the armorial bearings of the | State of New York on a blue fleld over his heart, signalized his zeal by a daring charge, club im hand, against the enterprising individuals who had mounted the brick pile. He succeeded in cap- turing the stronghold ; but no sooner was his back, turned than the audacious public (enemy) sagail’ successlully assaulted the disputed position. From the pleased expression on the faces of the: expectant crowd, the exit of Miss Wedste Mr. Whitelaw Reid and their party from the old Office was telegrapved to the timid or unlucky ones awong them who had not secured stands im front, The box, containing a number of papers and documents to be placed m the base of the corner stone, & brass Cube of about ten inches square, closed on the top by a screw,plate, Was now ready ‘1 resung place. Mr. George Kipiey. President of the Trioune Associa- Uuon, took his stand in front of it and read a paper: substantially to the following eifect:— We have assembled to-day in commemoration of the past and for cousecration of the future. Horace Greele | as a than oF no less profound convietions than of Loity aspirations. He was a believer in the progress of thought, and the development of seienco; in the progress of s0- ciety and the development of humanity, Under the in- fluence of this inspirauon the Tribune was established, more than thirty years ago. [tis our purpose to clothe the spiritual gern with a material body, to incorporate, the invisible lorces which. iuspired the heart op our’ sounder 10 a visible form, in the shape of a goodly tempie. ‘The ceremony which is how about to be pertormed typt- fies the union of spiritual agencies with material condi- tions, and thus possesses u siguicance and beauty which: anticipate the ch | | About ten y iw the death of Hegel, in 1851, wit Yeur, the tendeucy of thought on the Con- tinent of Lurope, which had been of an intensely ideal or spiritual character, began to assume an opposite direc. tion. Physical researches rapidly took precedence of metaphysical speculation. Posilive science was in- augurated in the place of abstract — philosophy. Tue spiritual order was well nich eel by’ the wondertul achievements of the material oF= er. A new dynasty wrose which knew noti Joseph, and the ancient names of Plato and Descartes und Leibnitz were dethroned by the stalwart host that took possesaion of the domain of I science. Buti u e umes indicate the commencement of @ r age accepts the results ot physical re~ es to regard them as the Limit of rational! ing matter into molecules, and mole-| toms, the most illustrious cultivators of| pliysical scieuce cheerfully coniess that they arrive at invisible forces which no crucible can analyze, n microscope detect, ho arithmetic explain. ‘The alleged! waertalism of Tyndull and Huxley thas affords an up- rkeley. Miss Greeley now touched the closed brass cube and placed it under the hage granite block) destined to receive it. Miss Gabrielle Greeiey then read the lollowing list o! papers that were enclosed: in the box:— Copy of Daily Mrifune, January 2%, 1 Weekly Tribune, January 2, 187. Tribune, January 21, 1874; copy of Prinune Almanae vance sheets). 1874; Mr. Greeley’s “Recollections of « Busy Lite.” Tribune's Memorial of Mr. Greeley; Con-) gressional Directory; Manual of State ot New York tor, Is73; Clerk’s Manual and Croswell’s Manual for 18743, hecond Annual Report of the Department of Public! orks of the City of New York; the Origin of the Croton. Aqueduct in the Clty of } My rd containing oficial list ot city oticers and sabordi- Rates; Bylaws aid Agreement of tle Trivune Association 5 fridune Lecture Extras; photographs ot Mr. Greeley, and his daughters; engraving of Mr. Greeley and his) tamily; Mr. Greeley at his desk in consaltation with his! managing edito cider stockhol ticles or Mr. G in October, 1871; picture of the new building; memoran- dum by Whitelaw Raid of the date of beginning the demolition of the old Tribune building, of laying the first stone of the new one, and other facts connected with the: enterprise: copies of the remarks by My. Kipley and, Miss Greeley in placing the box in the stone. THE OLD TRIBUNE BUILDING. After this Mr. Whitelaw Reid read the following, memorandum of facts and dates concerning the former Tribune buildings and new one, which was then deposited by Miss Greeley in the box, being the last thing placed there :— ‘Tax Truwe Orrice, Jan. 2%4, 1874 This box was filled and deposited in the corner of the new Trijune bulletin board by Miss lda L. ureeley, the eldest daughter ot the ionndet of the Tribune, on the af ternoon ot tis, the 24th day of January, 1874. ‘The Trine was first published in Ann street, between Nassau and William, streets, under circumstances nar-, rated in Mr. Greeiey’s “Recollections of a Busy Life,” copy of Semi= 1874; copy or Wer herewith deposited. Abullding was first erected for i use on of ‘the present site in 1842 by hompson. the father in-law of Thomas: Mekirath, ireeley’s first . In 1845 this, was buried down, ingie, issue, although it lost many of its books and accounts, It was then again issued from the old office In Ann street” for # sew months, until a new and larger building wag erected on a part of the present site. This was occupies during the remainder of Mr. Greeley's life, although for some years plans 1or @ new one had beer in contempla- tion. In January, 1873, at the first annual meeting of the, stockholders ‘atter Mr. Greeley’s death, it was anani- d to enter upon the erection of a new which'should be worthy of the future they in- tended for the — Drilmen Notice was given to. all tenants to remove on the Ist day of May, 1873 The various departments of the business of the paper were crowded into the building on the rear of the 7ribunet Property, udjacent land was acquired, on the 17th hay, 1873, the demolition of the old building Was be- an. “dtr. Richard M. Hunt, the architect whose design Had been accepted, meantime. periected. his plans, com tracts were awarded and the erection was begun. On the 3d of July, 1573, the first stone on the south corner of the new building was laid—s slab of granite 6 teet 7 inches lon $ feet Sinches wide and Is iuches, thick, placed on inass of concrete 18, inches thick, re at ing on clear solid beach sand 2 teet belo the curb stone and 2913 feet pelow the position of thiat OX. 6 work thus far has been done under the direction, of eter t O'Brien, ot New York, the granite being fut nished by J. G. Baiterson. of Hartford, Conn., and the iron by the Union Iron Mills, of Buffalo, 'N. ¥. ihe arehi- tect, Richard M. Hant, and bis immediate representa- ive, Edward B. Raut, retain the general supervision, Only the froni on tiie City Hall Fark, 9 feet long by $8) feet deep, has yet been . The rest of site still oveupléd wi business of the Tribune and by tena who cannot yet be required to remove. oa the oof Dati’ re hy Bs work nainder of the bui ne forward ihe entire edifice ts to a front of or H the City Hall Park, 100 feet on e street, and width between Frankiort and Spruce atreets of 168 feet. Tt ia to be mine stories high, exctusive of basement an sub-cellar. Its height is to be 150 feet, and the height its tower above the foundations 285 teet, Its mal are to be stone, brick and iron.’”” Miss Greeley then deposited the above in t box and closed it. It was immediately placed 1 the cavity, on which the stone was lowered, the Tridune family, who alone witnessed the sime, ple ceremony, adjourned to a collation preparedy elsewhere, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIO. WORKS, Commissioner Van Nort makes tne following statement of public moneys received by the De~ partment of Public Works during the weex ending yesterday (Saturday) :— | For Croton water rent and penalties. For tapping Croton pipes. For vault permits.