The New York Herald Newspaper, March 14, 1874, Page 11

NEW ENGLAND. + A Winter of Weary Suffering for Me- chanics and Laborers. Great Distress Among the Poor of Rhode Island. MAINE INDUSTRIES CRIPPLED. New Hampshire Manufacturers Hopeful and Provident. POVERTY IN PROVIDENCE. Bilent Mills, Empty Manufactories and Starving Familics. PROVIDENCE, March 12, 1874. There is perhaps no manufacturing city in the Eastern States where the panic of 1873 has been more generally felt than in Providence, although there has been a partial recovery trom the state of coma which was occasioned by the Stoppage of the A. & W. Sprague mills, there is still a great deal of distress in the city and Suburbs, Business men are at present very hope- fal, and speak of the panic as only a temporary lull in the prosperity of the city, and constantly affirm that now there is work, aud plenty of it, for those that are willing to earn their bread. This, however, is not the case, as, without examin- ing into the statistics of the lanor at present employed in the factories and machine shops, a short drive in their vicinity will show hundreds of men loafing round the corners, and, Micawber like, “waiting for something to turn up.” ASa@ Tule, mill hands are a peculiar class of people, and do not like leaving their homes to seek work in other districts, even when there 1s ademand for the skilled labor which they are prepared to give, Last evening I had quite an interesting conversa- tion with a manufacturer trom New York who had come on here toengage help. He goes back to- morrow without having accomplished the object of his visit, as the operatives declined to leave their homes and prefer subsisting on charity to earning their bread by honest Jabor. Ispeak more espe- Clally of those who have been thrown out of em- ployment by the stoppage of the delaine mills at Olneyville, just outside of Providence, Those mills, when running at their full capactty, employ about 1,800 hands, and at present are entirely closed and will probably remain in an inactive Condition for some time to come. GREAT DISTRESS, There is naturally a great amount of distress in such a community, and, although the charitable in- stitutions have been doing all in their power to al- leviate the suffering, tuey feel that these people should make some effort to support themselves, and not live on charity when they can obtain work, although it may be some distance away. The machinists as well as the mill operatives are also experiencing very hard times, The railways throughout the country suffered more or less trom the effects of the panic, and the locomotive manu- facturers, finding orders falling off, have been obliged to retuce their muster roll, and one com- pany alone are running 500 less than their full com- plement. In Pawtucket, a manufacturing town about four miles out of Providence, the mills have kept pretty well at work during all the dull season, and some of them were even running over- time during December. In that town the ills are chiefly manutacturiug spool cotton, bruid, wad- ing, &c. They have, however, experienced the evil effects o1 the panic, us, through the tightness of the money market, some of the millowners were nearly forced to stop work, but eventually suc- ceeded in keeping their hands employed. VISITING THE MANUFACTORIES, My first visit in Providence was made at the works of the Nicholson File Company, and there I jonnd business progressing in a prosperous man- her, ag they were running at tue full cupacity of the factory, ana expected in another mouth to employ more help. The wages of their hands nave been reaped about ten per cent, A short dis- tance lurther ou I came to the Rhode Island Loco- motive Works and ltound a more gloomy state of atatrs. This company manaiacture locomotive engines and last year were running 885 hands, but Taliroad iuterests a ae 80 severely by the anic that tueir orders have been reduced over tty 4 cent and they are now ruuning only hands for nine hours per day. No reduction has been made in wages and the officers of the company are confident that they and | will have more oruers than they can fill in the | course of the next three months. On my way to Olneyville I stopped at (wo small milis that jointly employed about 600 hands, ‘The first of these, Paine & Sackett’s, was running on half time dur- ing November aud December, but since the 1st of January they have been working their iull com- plement—eleven hours a day, ‘hey have made a Teaguction in Wages amounting to about five per cent. The Valley Worsted Mills are now running 850 moh which is 50 more than they had em- ployed in January, 1573, ‘hey have made no re- duction in wages, and ran three-quarter time dur- wg November and December. About this time last year they stopped a portion of their machinery and ran for about six Weeks with only two-thirds bi their usual compiement, The manager of this concern is of the impression that the prospects of business in their line are better than usual. STOPPAGE OF WORK AT OLNKYVILLE, At Olneyvilie it became at once apparent that there was something wrong, as, although I got there about eleven o’clock A. M., l saw about 100 men loafing around a corner ofthe street in front ofa dirty looking ginmill, The cause was, how- ever, soon eXpiained when, on my arrival at the Ddelaine Mills, 1 jlound work entirely stopped and the place deserted, with the exception of a clerk in the ofice and aiew workmen who were em- J finishing ouf some goods in the dye works. the Delaine Mills, when working, employ 1,700 hands, and, although many of them are scattered @round the country looking for work, there are still several hundred lounging about and subsist- ing on charity. ‘The American Screw Company is quite a large Institution and has three shops that employed last year about 1,260 hands. Business at present is not quite so lively, and they ure running about 250 hands short. They work elgnt hours a day, and during November and December they only worked ou three-quarter time, ‘The Providence Machine Company are running about forty per cent under their usual complement, and during November and December they stopped work aitogetner. They gre now runnipg eight hours, which is two hours under fuil time. Business with them is growing better and they expect to be running their full number of hands eariy in April, The Providence Tool Company employ a large number of hands, and at present are employ- ing about three-quarters of their regular number. They have reduced wages about ten per cent. The Cor! Steam Engine Company are working ten hours, with four-fiiths of their full complement, THE DECREASE OF EMPLOYMENT. The following are the statistics of the labor em- ployed during corresponding periods in the above mills :— 1873, 1874, Nicholson File Company. 180 185 ode Isl. 00, 1400 330 + by00 200 aa serew Company (three shops), 1,256 1015 ovidence Macnine Company. re) sy Bee Toe! Company. + 1,850 1,412 Tliss Steam kngine Company, 500 400 Total, 1048 4,152 ‘The above figures speak for themselves and may Gane idea of the suffering that there must ave veen in this city when forty per cent of the Working classes were out of employment. THE WORK OF CHARITY. A visit to the Overseers oi the Poor was then Made, and there I iound the gentleman in charge with bis hands full. He said that be had not seen #0 much real distress since the winter of 1857-63. at bis he was supporting about 276 families, br 1,000 persons, which was three tim many as were On the books at this time last year. COMPARISON WITH THR WORK IN 1867-58, The following statistics of expenditure during she ge ot December, ey and February for t 1601-58 and 1874-74 may be inter- esting on 1857.58, 1878, 1874. 575 49 $2,274 75, 308 1 2134 48 558 87 $0,300 21 From the above it will be seen that in 1858, com- mencing in December, the expenses gradually in+ creas id were heaviest tn February, whereas In the present season of distress they were heavi- in December, and have been decreasing ever tince, Aa [was anxious to obtain some formation as to al paid urate in- the amount of distress in Uinoy- visit to the Rev. Mr. Davis, who, Assisted by his wile, nas done much towards alleyi- Ating the general suffering. The Olneyville Re- lief Society was organized on December 6, and up to February 6 bad received in all contri- butions and is Of the cash value of $1,732, Of ‘Unis $660 came in cash and the rest in provisions, two tanuisda or 250 individuals, nnd 1 that a great deal more could have been done if they had the means to work with. TEKRIBLE POVERTY. In the conclusion or his report the following ap- peal is made:—*‘We could take you to homes to- hight where sanken cheeks and hollow eyes woulda speak more eloquently than any words of tongue or pen; we could take you to a chamber where a little girl lies dead, and the widowed mother, with two other litte ones, both burning with fever, sits watching and waiting and praying for the means to give her dead child a decent Christian burial. We could take you to the cheerless home of a mother whose worthiess husband has left her, with two helpless babes, the youngest not yet two weeks | old; and to another where the mother lies dying, where on Saturday there was no wood or coal, or fire. We could show yon places like these until you would feel, as we do, that there is still need of generous aid for Olneyville.”” The aboye appeal | was written early in February, and although things are alittle better at present there is still much need of belp for that distressed district. THE MILLS OF MAINE. a Condition of the Operative Class at the Manufacturing Centres—Charity Pre- ferred to Work. LEWISTON, Me., March 10, 1874. Twenty years have passed away since manufac. turing fret took root on the banks of the Andros- coggin, and during that time labor has built up the handsome and prosperous city of Lewiston, and Auburn, & sister village on the opposite side of the river. These are now the great manu- facturing centres of Maine, and afford employ- ment to over 10,000 operatives. The panic was, of course, felt here to @ certain degree; but, owing to the liberal and far-sighted management of the mill owners, work Was never stopped, and the people suffered no distress, I am speaking now of the cotton and woollen mills, as in the shoe trade in Auburn there was a temporary stop- page of work, but at present all the factories are running. There has really been no distress whatever, as the Overseers of the Poor claim that they have spent less in November, De- cember and January of 1873 and 1874 than they did in the same months of 1872 and 1873. Some hands were out of work for about a month or six weeks, but they were nearly all, people who had saved enough to tide them over the dull times, ‘The city appears to bein a flourishing condition, as handsome brick buildings are being erected in all quarters, and @ magnificent city building, probably the handsomest in New England, has just been erected at a cost of about $250,000. Walking down the main street my attention was at- tracted to @ sign hung out of many stores—Ici on parle Frangais’—and on inquiry I found, to my astonishment, that vhere were nearly 3,000 French innabitants, all of whom were from Canada. They have been here two or three years, and are reported to be very efficient workmen, who live on comparatively little and save their earnings. As a rule the operatives in the Lewiston mills live better than im most other manutacturing cities, as their board. ing houses are well kept and furnished with some approach to comfort. THE EFFECT OF THE PANIC. This morning I had a talk with the agent of one of the largest mills in the city, and learned some rather interesting facts, He said that he thcught the proauctton of the Lewiston mills was larger at | the present than it ever had been, and there was a prospect of a very lively year’s business. At the <ime of the panic they all experienced considerable trouble; but it wad deemed bad policy to stop work, and, consequently, @ slight reduction was made in wages, and work continued as before. At the present prices weavers (princi- pally women) receive about $1 25 per day, und the men earn from $1 40 to $150. The girls are boarded and lodged for $2 50 per week, of which the corporation ‘pay fifty cents on condition that the girl is regular at her work. By this it will be seen that the girl earns $5 50 per week clear’ after paying her board and lodging. PREFERENCE OF CHARITY TO HONESTLY BARNED BREAD. He said that mill hands were, in general, hard people to satisty, and in defence of his theory cited an instance of five men that he engaged a few months ago in Manchester at asalary of $2 26 per day. He was obliged to send for them to some other manufacturing town, as the work required | was of a special order, and not understood by Lewiston operatives. When these,men arrived he opened a new branch of business in the mill and was getting along very pleasantly when the five all struck work and demanded $2 50 per aay. They had in the meantime discovered that they were the only workmen of that class in the city, and consequently thought he would be compelled to accede to their demands, That, how- ever, could not be done; so the work was stopped, and the five men have remained idle ever since, and | during the past 1ew days two of tbem have made applications to the city for reliet, He also said a friend of his had lately been to Olneyville, near Providence, and, alter considerable trouble, had engaged five families to come to his milis and work, As an inducement he had to give them a Blight increase on wages and pay all their expenses on the road. shey worked for him a week and then went back to Olneyville, where there were good free dinners to be had without work, THE FRENCH CANADIAN EMIGRANTS. During the past three years a great many French Canadians have settled in Lewiston, and, as I learned from this agent, are largely emplosed in the milis, and make a very good class ot help, being very steady and and saving. The following table will suow the amount of help employed in the larger mills of Lewiston and Auburn :— MILLS. Bates Manufacturing Company, Hill Manufacturing Company + 200 800 Continental Mills « 160 340 | Lewiston Mills.. + 253 600 Androscoy Mills, + 850 750 | Barker seeeee oo - 6 225 | SHOR FACTORIES. | A. Cushman & Co.... 225 | M, Craits & Co 26 | James Monroe & C 225 15 | Little, Smith & Co. - 6 65 D. Harwood & Co.. 61 wy) TOMS, ..00.ssccscccsecsseesceee ee 12650 8,922 CONDITION OF THE OPERATIVES, In Lewiston there are altogether some eighteen | corporations, owning ten cotton mills and five | woollen miils, These mills give employment to | 8,970 1emales and 4,674 males, who jointly earn about $2,600,000 per annum. This gives them an average income of $340 each. in Auburn there are 1,084 females and 2,394 maies emploved in the shoe trade, and they earn annually the sum of $850,400, or about $273 a head. This would amount to about the same as that earned in the mills if their work was steady; but for about three Inonths, during their dull season, the shoeshops are entirely closed. In the cotton mills the operatives work eleven hours per day, commencing at six A. M., an working till noon, commencing again at one P, M, and working until fiteen minutes past six P. M. On Saturdays they knock off at a quarter to five | 2 0 that, on the whole, they have sixty-six hours per week ai work. THE CHARITABLE WORK, I paid a visit to the Overseers of the Poor on ‘both sides of the river, and found that the strain on the ay purse had been less than usual, and considerably so when we came to compare the | months of December and Janvary of 1872 and 1873, | The only poverty that has troubled Lewiston has been the strolling cases or families that have come | from other distressed districts in search of work. In such instances as that the Overseers would aup- port them for about a week while making their Qppiications tor work, and, should they fail in their mission, they were then sent back to the piace they came from at the expense of the city. The Overseers said that duriug November and Becom. ber there were a good many people out of work, but accounted for the few applications for relief in two ways—firat, the larger portion of those employed in the milis Were Maine people, and when work ceased, instead of loafing arouud, started off for their homes and paid a visit to the old man, who was probably some farmer in a loca- tion not far distant. BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF THE PROHIBITORY LAW, Comparatively lew people trom other States came to Maine in search of work. In the second instance, they said that numbers of families had mopey saved, and er accounted for that by the pronibitory law, which is strictly eniorced in their city. Lean vouch for the strict enforcement of that law, ag, although 1 saw one man drunk, l could not get a drop ior love or money, There ‘was not even a confiding drag clerk who would risk a pre- scription of the alcoholic oder, and consequently 1 did without tt and saved a quarter. 1, therefore, can thoroughly Sapreciats the remarks of the overseer, aud understand how the operatives, freed from temptation, can save a good many quarters. Lewiston and Auburn have a combined popula. tion numbering about 24,000, and itis increasing nearly ten per cent per annum, NEW HAMPSHIRE’S POOR. Thrift Among the Laboring Classes and Very Little Distress—How the Panic ‘was Passed. Dovags, March 10, 1874, This section of the Eastern States, more espe. Clally New Hampshire, appears to have entirely escaped from the distress that Was occasioned | throughout the country by the panic of jast Octo- ber. I arrived yesterday in Saco, Me., and found everything there in the most flourishing condl- tion, Saco and Biddeford are really one and the same town, but are separated by the River Saco, Which, however, has been bridged over in so many Places that to the stranger it is hard to decide at Many times in which town he is. The advantages of water power that the river offered first induced the establishment of mills in that section, and in 1824 the York Company commenced work. They have gradually added on to their buildings, and now are running some four or five milis, with & force of about 1,000 people, two-thirds of whom are women. During the panic they were nearly com- pelled to stop altogether, but eventually man- aged to continue on about half time, after a reduc- tion of ten per cent had been made on the wages of their operatives, THE LACONIA MILLS have been in operation for many years and are run by Boston capital. They employ about 1,200 hands, and during the dull season ran on two- thirds time. A reduction of twelve per cent on the wages was also made atthe same time, but as business improved about one-half has been re- stored, The reduction in wages only ailected the weavers, as the mechanics retain their original pay. The operatives in these mills work on a scale of time which is graduated to make the working time throughout the year average eleven hours per day. Work with them always commences at half-past six A. M. and concludes at half-past six every evening in the week, eXcepting Saturday. On that day it stops at six P, M. in April, May, June, July and August, and during the winter months the time varies {rom ten minutes to four P. M. until six P.M. There are a large number of French Canadians settled in Saco, and, according to the report of the mill agents, they furnish the best help that can be had, WAGES with the girls vary from $6 to $16 per week. Fair weavers can earn about $7 50 per week, but one young French lady made $88 in five weeks’ work, She is an exception to the general rule, although there are many that earn $12 per week. The girls board cheaply in Saco, paying only $1 75 a week, to which the company add fifty cents, making $2 25 in all. About thirty per cent of the hands em- ployed in the Laconia milis are of French extrac- tion, The Pepperell cotton mills belong to the same corporation, and give daily employment to about 1,500 hands. Their wages are now about panic, The wages of the weavers average about $1 per day, although many earn a good deal more. During the dull season this mill ran on three-fourths and five-sixths time. French predominate among their operatives, and appear to be mcreasing iN number. The Saco water power machine shop gives employment to about 350 hands, and is One Of the Most profitable indus- tries in the city. During the panic there was no distress at aliin Saco and Biddetord, and though some of the mills cut down time they discharged no hands, DOVER. I arrived in Dover yesterday, and after dinner paid a visit to the Cocheco cotton mills. Dover is one of the old landmarks of New Hampshire, and was settled in 1623, three years alter our fore- fathers took up their abode in Plymouth. In 1szt attention was drawn to the immense water power of the Cocheco River at that point where the town bow stands, and the mills were erected, They have been gradually enlarged and increased ever since, and now give employment to some 1,100 hands, Adjoining tne mills are the Cocheco Cotton Print Works, the most successiul industry in the city. The print works turnish employment to 300 men and about 60 women. The men earn trom $9 to $27 per week and the women from $6 50 to $15, according to their ability. The print mill makes use of 1,000-horse power, given by the river when water is plenty. In case of emergency they use steam. During the panic both ot these institutions ran full time and discharged none of | their hands. No reduction was made in wages at the print works, but in the mills the weavers were cut down about ten percent. in the course of an interesting conversation 1 held with the superin- tendent of the print works I was informed that business was rather dull at present, put they had made no retuction in their goods during the panic season. On the 25th of January they lowered the price of their goods one-half cent per yard, which still leit them charging one-iiall per ‘cent higher than any other manufactory in the rat These works do such a large business that the sister mill can only supply half the cloth they have occasion THE BOOT AND SHOE TRADE is one of the important inaustries of Dover, and gives employment to about 1,200 hands. The dil- Jerent ymanwactories employ from 50 to 250 hands, and are at present ali runmng, with good business. During the panic they all stupped, with the exception of one or two of the leading houses; and, if the shoemakers of Dover had not belonged to the thrifty order, there would have been con siderable distress, thrown out of empioyment appeared to have money laid by, and were, Consequently, spared the necessity of applying to the city ior relief. Busi- ness is now very lively in the shoe trade, as one house that in 1873 sent out 6,703 cases of goods hus already shipped over 2,000 in the months of Janu- ary and February. The wages earned by operatives $2, and will average about $1 50 per head. There is a large woollen mill, just outside of Dover, run by F. A. & J. Sawyer, that employs about 800 hands, and kept busy without a stop during the dull season. Dover is one of those quiet and steady towns that are not easily affected by the ups and downs of other business communities. The majority of the inhabitants do a regular business, bringing in fair pe and do not seek aiter any quick jortunes. had considerable trouble in fMnding the gentie- man in charge of the relief of the poor, as applica. tions for assistance were so rare that he seldom came to his office. Working people in Dover ap- pear to be nearly all landed proprietors and to own their own houses, ANOTHER PROSPEROUS TOWN. ~ During the alternoon 1 took a flying trip to | Rochester and found an equally prosperous state | of alfairs. That town is also on the Cocheco River, but about eight mules higher up the stream. The Norway Plains Woollen Manufacturing Company run three mulls and employs about 360 hands. They manufacture all kinds of flannels, tweeds, blankets, &c., and ran tull time during the panic, alter cutting down their Wages about ten percent. ‘Ihe Cocheco Woollen Manufacturing Company is another large institu- tion of a similar order that gives employment to about 200 hands. During the panic they made no Teduction in their wages, but ran all hands on three-quarters time. The Gonic Woollen Manufac- turing Company have also a large mill running that turns out all kinds of fannels, tweeds, &c. They employ about 100 hands. There has been no distress at all during the perky season, and there ‘was less disbursed from the charitate fund in 1873 than during the previous year. “THE RIGHT TO GO TO HELL.” [From the Wright County (Iowa) Monitor.) Recently, at a revival meeting in the north part | of the county, the exercises of the evening were closed by & general invitation to all who wanted to goto heaven to rise, The entire congregation, with a solitary exception in the shape of a boy, rose to their feet. The conductor then varied the invitation by asking all who wanted to go to heil toarise. The solitary exception rose to his feet. Of course the good people were scandalized, and the result was the arrest of the youth and his trial for disturbing the meeting. he boy wanted to go to hell he had a pertect right to do so, and that such condnct did not necessarily disturb the meeting within the meaning of the iaw, and, dismissing the case, the boy was sent on hig way rejoicing. FLASHES FROM THE PRESS, Ah Yon, a Celestial, 1s to be tried in Butte county, California, for murder, An unusually large peach crop is expected in Delaware the coming season. The Archbishop of San Francisco advises Catho- lics not to join the Patrons of Husbandry. “andrew J. Faller, Nashville, drunk four weeks, morphine—dead,” is the way & late suicide is put. Licking county, Ohio, is the greatest sheep county in the State. It contains nearly 300,000 head. There are now in store at Dubduque, Iowa, 110,000 busneis of oats and 80,000 to 90,000 bushels of wheat. It is said there is coal in abundance within three Miles of Westport, Pa. Also that iron ore abounds in that locality. The bill giving up the dead bodies of unciaimed ia and criminals in Chicago for dissection as become an Illinois law. It has been shown ina case in Minnesota that two men c@n start @ bank on $10 capital, take in pel ana ron away with $20,000 in thirteen months’ time. A clergyman writes to the Baltimore American that ita attempts at criticising Mra, Van Cott aro a8 ridiculous ag the efforts of @ mouse to nibble oif the wings of rehangel. Aman at Carlisic, Ky., was recently fined $2 50 for shooting another man. The m: ite said there was so much crime and lawiessi in the town that it was his imperative duty to “make an example of him.” Five Governors of New Hampsiire sat at one table at a supper lately given in Manchester by tho ow Rdg rial aa were Messrs. id Herriman, Toey mi be styled a board of governors, eight per cent lower than they were before the | works are ran entirely by steam, and the cotton | to use, and the balance is purchased tn Fall River. | As it was, those who were | in this branch of business vary trom fifty cents to | But to the intense dis. | | gust of those liberal souls, the Court held that if NEW YORK HERALD; SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1874—TRIPLE SHEET! THE ISTHMUS CANAL. The Interoceanic Canal Com- missioners at Key West. Programme of the Party at Nic-| aragua and Darien. Departure of the Gettysburg for Greytown. Key West, Fa., March 2, 1874. The United Staves steamer Gettysburg, hav- ing on board the Commissibn appointed by the government to examine the relative merits of the Nicaragua and Darien ship canal routes, arrived here this morning from Pensacola, After taking on board a deck load of coal she will sail directly for Greytown, The officers composing the Commis- sion are as follows :— Major Walter McFarland, United States Corps Engineers. eouceia W. H. Heuer, United States Corps En- gineers. | “Professor Henry Mitchell, United States Coast Survey. General Jacob Ammen. s. Walton, civil engineer, inmander E, P. Lull, United States Navy, of the Nicaragua expedition, Lieutenant J. W. Miller, United States Navy, of the Nicaragua expedition, A. G. Menocal, civil engineer, of the Nicaragua expedition. Lieutenant J. T. Sullivan, United States Navy, of the Darien expedition, Commander T. 0, Selfridge, United States Navy, will join the party at Aspinwall, These gentlemen have all been chosen for their special aptitude to the work before them, Major McFarland’s experience in the army eminently fits him to report upon the various engineering difficulties and advantages of both lines, while the long term of service of Captain Heuer, at Blossom Rock, Harbor, and the more extensive operations at Hell, Gate places him among the best authorities in Togard to the cost of the excavation and blasting of rock. Professor Mitchell’s long term of duty in connection with the coast survey, as well as | his Known scientific abilities, mal on the subject of harbors authoritative. General Ammen is a gradu- ate of West Point, and before the war was for 4 long time Professor of Military and Civil Engineering in the universi- ties of Indiana and Georgetown, Ky. During the war he commanded a brigade of Ohio troops. Mr. Walton is a civil engineer of high repute, and has made a specialty of the canal question during the past few years, being at present a member of the State Board of Engineers for Louisiana, THE PRELIMINARIES, On the arrival of the Gettysourg at Greytown the Nicaragua route will be thoroughly examined from the Atlantic to the Paciflc. Professor Mitchell will, with the assistance of the officers of the Nica- Tagua expedition, make a thorough investigation | of the harbor of San Juan del Norte, its history, tue action of the currents o! the ocean and the flow of the San Juan River, with the view of determining whether or not the port can be restored to its original depth, and, what is more important, made permanent. The commission will then take pas sage in one of the river steamers, stopping wher- ever it may be deemed necessary to make a recon- noissance of the line surveyed by the expedition of 1873, They will then proceed by steamer across the lake and take up the western division, noting the position of the contemplated locks and the character ol the Surrounding country. The commission will then return to Greytown and then take the Gettys- burg to ep tay ely or possibly proceed to Panama by the mail steamer, which tcuches at San Jnan | del Sur, on the Pacific Coast. At Panama Com- | mander Selfridge will join the party, | and the Darien route will be traversed from west | thoroughly to, east. Here again the harbors will receive spécial attention, and the character of cutting nec- | essary to open the proposed tunnel noted. The | possibility of the restoration of Greytown Harbor, | and the practicability of Commander Seliriago’s | tunnel are the main points of discussion by the | gentlemen of the commission, as they are the only | engine6ring diticulties to be overcome, and on the | relative merits and demerits of these projects the | ultimate choice of a route seems to depend. j THE NICARAGUA ROUTE, as the Nicaragua line 1s the first to be visited, | the following résumé of its advantages, obtaine: trom the notebook of one of the officers of last | year’s expedition, may be ut interest. ‘rhe Territory of Nicaragua is situate much nearer | the United States than that of Darien, and there. | | fore, ta a politico-economical light, a ship canal | constructed at that pomt has a great advantage. On account oi the configuration of the | eastern coast little distance ts saved on the Atlan- | tic side, but the voyage irom San Francisco and other Occidental ports to New York is shortened | over 800 miles by reason of the southeastern ex- | | tension of the Isthmus, The climate bf Nicaragua 1s much more salubrious than that of the | countries nearer the Equator, while the coun- try, being populated and comparatively open to the westward of the lake, supplies of all descriptions can be always cheaply and readily ob- tained, though this does not nold true of the eastern division, The Rio San Juan is navigable for steamers of light draught, and the transportation of stores and material necessary during the con- struction of @ great work can thus at all seasons be insured, The route at first sight seems un- desirably long, & defect that, on closer perusal of Commander Lull’s report, partially vanishes, the siackwater navigation being in the interior of the country, instead of near the mouth of a) river subject to the treshets of a tropical summer. THE LAKE OF MIARAQUA isareservoir for ali the surrounding country, and, like all inland seas, is not subject to sudden changes of level; and the four dams proposed to deepen the San Juan are in no danger of demolition trom causes which, at any other place, would destroy them the first year after their erection, The lake foc | ninety-eight miles long, with an average width of thirty miles and depth of thirteen | fathoms, discharges by its only outlet—the San Juan—enough water to supply locKage for the ea- tire fleets oi the world, and to feed at the minimum fourteen canals of twenty-six feet depth. The elevation above the take on the | Western side {8 but seventy-eight feet, | and this but a spur of the divide, close to the lake, | and extending but @ few hundred feet, Through this @ thorough cut is to be made, when the de. scent to the Pacific proceeds by ten locks. It would | seem that the difticulty of constracting a canal through the lagoons and marshes back of Grey- town has been greatly exaggerated. No dikes will have to be thrown up, for the solid land ends abruptly about five miles irom the sea and the waters of the canal are here locked down twenty feet directly to the level of the ocean, whence ft will be seen that the opening of a chap- | nel reduces itsell simply to a question of ha the lagoons, some of which are already ten feet deep, and ail surrounded by solid tanks. THE CHIEF DISFICULTY. The construction of the harbor at the eastern terminus is the most difficult point in the whole | problem, as the action of the sea ia continually shilting the bars about the old “Boca” of tne San Juan proper, and the jreshets of the San Carlos and ba yo rivers still deposit Immense quantities of siit and detritus. The civil engineer is very confident, however, that—as the canal proper leaves the San Juan above all large tripu- taries—the clean water will itself materially assist any dredging that may be necessary | to restore to Greytown its original harbor, or, at the least, enlarge it Fey se | tor the accommodation of the few ships detaine | there, ontil.they can be locked up to the lake, where they may remain quietly at anchor tn fresh | water, free trom the storms of the ocean, loadin, with the products of the country, repairing al damages With timber of tue best quality, and pro- visioning for the coming voyage of the Pacific. With all these advantages in view it is natural that the members of the Nicaragua Expedition should be enthusiastic over their scheme, but it rematus with the commission, who will look with- out partiality at either route, to determine tow- ard which the balance of favor will drop, and to return, having in their possession the “secret of the Strait’? so earnestiy sought for by Columbus and the brave seamen of the sixteenth century. A TOPEKA (KANSAS) HORROR. A Boy of Seventeen Years Kills an In- offensi Neighbor—The Body Hidden in the Cellar of the Murdered Man’s House—The Young Assassin Views the Corpse with Entire Composure. A correspondent of the Chicago Tribune, writing from Topeka, Kansas, March 3, says:— Since the Bender horrot in Labette county was discovered there has been nothing that so much excited the peopie of this community as an atrocity that Came to light last night in this ee A A whole family—jatner, mother and son—by the name of Olds Were arrested on suspicion of havin, murdered & neighbor named Daniel Ferris. He Kept & grocery and provision store on Sixth ave- nue, herr the east side of the city, and was carry. ingon athriving trade, He slept in hia store, and seurcely ever leit, doing his own cooking, and having few intimate acquaintances in the city. wendy) asd pradent 8 er, and was gene’ to nave a Pg of money. Olds, thd Ron, Who is about seventeen in San Francisco | i3 Opinion | | @ muscle. years of age, has not done any work this winter and was known to be without money. His being flush jor several days past excited the SUSPICIONS OF THR NEIGHBORS, and Mr. Cottrell informed J. M. Hightshoe, a rela- tive of the deceased, that Ferris had not been seen abvut his place uf business lor the past two days, and that he had better jook into the matter. Mr. Hightsnoe, on receiving this word, called on Omicer Streeter, and, with Sherif’ Wade, Marsual Han- | nan and Deputy Sherif Davis, went to the store of | Mr. Ferris, which they found in possession of | Frank Olds and his son Fred. These men, who are | ‘well Known in this city, and who have been seen | carrying goods away from the place at various times during the past two days, as stated by per- sons living in the vicinity, on being QUESTIONED BY THX OFFICERS, faid that Ferris had gone East on the night train for the purpose o: getting married, and would be back in two or three days. This was denied by Mr. Hightshoe as an impossible thing to happen; for he | felt sure if such had been the tntention of Ferris it would have been communicated to him. On further questioning the Oldses, they made contra- dictory statements, saying that Ferris had gone Sourh to remain some time, and, in short, 80 con- | ducted themselves that they were arrested and; tocked up in the County Jail, The officers then proceeded to SEARCH THE PREMISES, and after a short time it was shown that their fears were well groundea; for it took but a little Wile to look through the place and to find biood on the stairway leading to the cellar, The exami- nation was continued by digging in twoor three places iu the earth, and under a pile of potatoes which were there, and, covered about a foot deep, THE DEAD BODY WAS VOUND, but tt was not disturbed, just suMcient of one arm ane uncovered tO slow the officers they were | right. Coroner Sheldon was at once called to the scene, and, summoning a jury, proceeded to the fearful task Of unbarthing ‘the remains, After removing the potatoes and digging down about a toot the corpse was lifted trom the place where the villains | who committed the bloody deed had hidden it, and brought up into thestoreroom. An examination showed that Mr. Ferris had been shot through the head, had his throat cut almost from ear to ear, and was buried in this shallow hole withall his plothes on, The ball had entered the leit side of the face just below the temple, and gone clean through the head, coming ous a little lower on the | otier side than where it entered on the leit. An examination of the store showed @ hole in the plasteriug, with blood scattered around, where it 48 probable that the bullet struck, Alter being viewed by the jury THE REMAINS were placed in charge of the Sheriff and removed to the Court House, where they were kept till morning, and tie inquest was held to-day. Mr. | Ferris was about turty-five years of age anda | most excellent man. He had lived here about a year, coming Uo this place from Indiaaapolis, Ind., wiiere he leaves two children, he being @ widower. He bas also numerous relatives in that city, where he was greatly esteemed by all who knew him, and he has. made many friends here by bis quiet, | unassuming and strictiy moral deportment, THE CORONER'S JURY commenced at nine o’clock, and witnesses were | | examined by Sheriff Ryan, County Attorney for | | Shawnee county. The court room was packed till | | it could not hold snother person, and hundreds went away unable to gain admittance. The | churches were about deserted, and ali day long | in the Motel and on the street nothing else Was talked about or thought about but this second. edition of the Bender tragedy. The air was full of wild rumors, but, of course, ‘most of them were sensational. There was strong talk of lynching the guilty parties, but cooler counciis prevailed, | and this evening Comparative calmness 1s restored | among the excited populace. Mrs. Ellen Jeffries, @ hear neighbor o! Ferris, was THE FIRST WITNESS |, pat upon the stand. She swore that she heard the report of @ gun about seven o’ciock Thursday evens ing, and a scream immediately afterwards, and then all was still. The bail passed through from side to side, below the base of tbe brain, and did | not neceasarily produce instant death, But the murderer’s Knife soon stopped the victim from making @ noise, Mrs, Olds, THE MOTHER OF THE MURDERER, was the next to testily. Her testimony was straightforward, without any seeming equivoca- | tion, and itis generally believed that sue was | kept in ignorance of the heilish deed. Her tes- | timony was very damaging to the son, but as yet nothing has been developed to associate the | lather with him in the commission of the horrible | crime. She said Fred told her and his father that | Mr. Ferris had employed him to take charge of his | store while he went Bast to get married. She identified a carbine found under the counter in the store, and a pair of bloody boots, found under Fred’s bed, as belonging to her son. She testified with 43 much composure as though it was an ordinary civil case in which she had no personal | | interest, | THE SUSPECTED MURDERER, Fred Olds, was next placed upon the witness | stand, and his testimony occupied the time irom vhree o'clock till dark, Your correspondent never saw so much nerve exhibited by a hardened crimi- Dal as is possessed by this sligbt stripling of seven- teen, He was led to the side of the corpse and asked if he could identify the murdered man. He | auswered, “Yes, I can; that is David Ferris,” ‘The Doctor took hold of the nead while he stood | close to tae boay, and suddenly pulled it to one side, exposing the horrible gaping wound in tie neck to bis view, but he never quailed nor moved He has red hair and cold gray eyes, and his face is somewhat ireckled. He said that he had visited the theatre on Friday night, and alterwards visited several saloons in Company with several young companions; gid how many drinks and cigars he had re iow Iuch money he had spent jor them aud muca he alterwards lost at cards with an indifference that would have done credit to the hero of a hundred murders. eons Attorney Ryan trapped him into making several i} INCONSISTENT STATEMENTS} but he would try to expiain without even for a mo- ment losiug his preseuce of mind. He identified tue gun aud boots as belonging to him, and ex- plaimed that he had taken the gun to the store and left it there several days betore for tue purpose of | trading with a young Iman Who sometimes visited the store. He denied being any place where he could have got fresh blood on his boots. His shirt sleeve had a large spot of blood on it which he had evidently tried to wash out. He claimed tuat it was STAINED WITH TOBACCO JUICE. The store was closed all day Friday, yet he claimed that he had been in the store and contracted with Ferris that day at twelve o’clock, and had re- ceived $25 from him to replenish the sup- plies of the store, and he had met him again that hight about eight o’clock, near the store, in company with a sirange man. He said that Ferris told him that he was going Easton the nigit train, and wanted him to take charge of the store in the morning. His story was very thin, and he kept contradicting himself and MAKING MATTERS WORSE every time he tried to better it. About six o’clock Judge Haulback came into court, and appeared as counsel for the witness, and told him to refuse answering any more questions. Histestimony was then read to him, and he corrected it ina number of particulars; but, under the advice of his coun- sel, refused to sign his name to it. ‘the Court then adjourned till nine o’clock to-mor- row morning, when the inquest will be renewed, with Frank Olds, the father of THIS PRECOCIOUS MONSTER, on the stand, The old man runs an express wagon, and has always been considered an honest, indus trious citizen, Pubiic sentiment is undecided as to his guilt or innocence, but it hardly seems possible that he has no guilty knowledge of the deed, THE RED FIsNDS. Particulars of the Recent Apache Out- break—Horrible Butchery of Women and Children at Old Camp Grant. | {From the Arizona Citizen of February 14.) The Citizen last Saturday announced that the Apaches on the San Carlos reservation left there on the night of January 31, and that they had attacked @ ranch at old Camp Grant, and a freight train near the agency, killed some people and destroyed property. The particulars have since come to hand, and also accounts of other de- struction of life and property. These several depre- dations are herewith described in order and with care, upon information obtained from Ramon Romano and A. C, Benedict about the one at old Camp Grant, and of Mr. Taylor concerning that at | San Carlos, and of BE, N. Fish concerning the one above Florence. THR MASSACRE AT CAMP GRANT. About ten A. M. of the 8d a band of Apaches ap- peared at Smerdon & Romano’s ranch buildings at | old Camp Grant, then occupied by Mrs. Machado and her two children and three other persons. Captain Pedro seemed to be leading the Apaches. He had frequently come there with @ pass on nunt- ing excursions, and hence his presence excited no alarm. He addressed the inmates in a triendiy tone, saying be was friendly and trom San Varios with @ pass. He asked Where Ramon Romano was and when he would be back, and immediately alter receiving the replies opened fire, and then ali jommed in the aitack. 1t is not cerial Apaches there were, but a boy who the large corral was filled with them, and the empty cartridge sheila witch cover the ground and all evidence snows that there were Ofty or more, and but few on horseback. HORRIBLE MUTILATION OF THR VICTIMS, Mra, Machado was shot through the heart, Her Mttle daughter, about five years old, was shot in the thigh, and the bal ranged down through the ankle and foot, was Janced in the right side, leit hand was nearly cut off, her entralis were out, a ail in ail presented a sickening view. The baby, a boy about nine months old, was shot through from pide to side about the middie of the body, and the rem unfit for description here. or achado was oe ed about filteen feet by the hair, and the bodies of her children put upon upon ail a bar of iron and an ox yoke. The 8 Were Not stripped of their clothing, Jesns Vasquez, about eighteen Py old, Was Killed by shots in the breast, hip nd left arm, A boy ra by Raton Roi ms agod about thirteen years, wae provably burne | three Indians fired on him, but that death. His body was too badly burned to be cen tain what injuries he may have received before death. A gun was found by hisside. The body was sO nearly burned up that It could notbe handled, and was buried where found, as well as cou! ye. A BRAVE BOY WHO ESCAPED THE SLAUGHTER, One boy, about fiiteen years old, escaped badh le remuines burned and wounded in the wrist, in the house until all others were Killed, He sn all the loads from his pistol and threw is mto the fire, then took a gun used by one of the others ang darted out, and by chance escaped, and started for Tucson, and when about nail way here was met by the troops and citizens going out, and was iuduced to return. A careful examination of the battle ground confirmed the truth of the boy’s ac« count of the dreadful affair. The boy who es- caped is an Indian, but was captured from Co- chise’s band when very young and taken to So- hora, where he was raised by the Corellas family. He 13 now in Tucson, under the medical care of Dr. Handy, He isin much pain from his wounds and sickness induced by exposure. The Doctor extracted a piece of iron from his wrist, but po balls seem tohave struck him. One side ts terri- biy burned, and his recovery is doubtful, The bor Tecognized among the Apaches Captain Pedro his brother, @ brother-tu-law of Eskimingin, known Be aw tine," AOS lg cr others who had fre- quentiy come there to bunt, ha’ assed i San Carlos, ving wt ie L088 OF PROPERTY, The loss of property is about as follows:—Destruce tion of house and ali 1urniture, clothing and other contents; about 60,000 lbs. of corn, 9,000 Ibs. of beans, large quantity of flour, sugar, salt, soa) coffee, carpenter aud smith’s tovls, a lot of hogs an chickens, eighteen head of catile and one horse, THE P UIT AND TRAIL, As stated last week, on the receipt of the news on Wednesday, General Carr sent Captain Hami- ton and about tauty mea out there, and A. Benedict, Messrs. Smerdon, Romano and Mae cnado aiso went. They arrived on Thursday, an@ on that day and the next buried the badies,’ The troops went on to San Carlos and the citizens rex turned. The trial ofthe Apacies was down the San Pedro tn the direction Of Saddle Mountain, ATTACKING A TRAIN. January 31, in the evening, the San Carlos) Apaches, evidently the Same oues that afterwards committed the murders above described, attacked the train of Barnett & Block, which was encamped hear the agency, killiug Charles Armstrong and wounding another man whose name we have been unabie to obtain, These are the circumstances as nearly as we can get them. Tne Indians came into the camp and made the usual professions of triend- stip, and then took a Winchester rifle {rom Arm- | strong and with it slot nim twice in the head near the LS es and ouce in the body, and shot auother man in the upper part of the thigh, but the wound Will not prove fatal, Hight mules and three horsed are missing and are supposed to have been taken by the Apaches, The tndians were drunk witn tlz- Wit, aud they soon jound and tapped a barrel of whiskey be.onging to Hagus & Daly, and made way with all but a gullou or two; they also took four sacks of flour. No other damage was done the train or its freight. TROOPS IN THE FIELD. Word was at once sent to San Carlos and then ta Camp Grant. Lieutenant Rice was soon out with IMs avaliable force at 5an Carios, and Major Brown, commanding Camp Grant, immediately sent Cup. tain ‘Taylor and avout fiity men to report at Sam Carlos, at Which place they arrived on the 2d, Og the oth another command of troops was sent out from Camp Grant by Major Brown. Excepting four blind squaws anda Witte Mountain Apache boy all leit San Carlos and took their property with them, and their rancherias were burned! ‘They also took forty government Springfield rifea and considerable atimunition. ‘Their trail led irom where they Killed Armstrong down the Ari= | baipa canyon and evidently to oid Camp Grant Wich piace they reached on the 3d and comm the five murders recited. ANOTHER FIGHT—ONE MAN KILLED, Sunday last, about ten o'clock A. M., Bix aye en attacked three men in camp in Round Valley, about sixteen miles up the Gila trom Florence, and shot and killed one of them—R. E, Wilson. ‘These men were in the employ of H. C, Hooker, and were bound from Wickenburg to Hooker's rauch, near Camp Grant. ‘They had &@ wagom drawn by two horses aud one riding horse. the Indians took the three horses, three saddies, all the blankets and clothing, and appear to have hur» ried away Withont damaging the wagon or any- thing leit in or at it. One man got to Florence the same evening and reported both his companions killed, but auother soon reported himself all right, except some damage to an ankie by jumping down an embankment in effecting bis escape. Seven teen citizens of Florence, all armed and mounted, started early Monduy morning and brought the body of Wilson, the wagon and other property to Florence, where the body was buried. IMMIGRANTS SHOT AT. A party of immigrants are encamped about ten Miles down this vauey, One oi them reports that on Tuesday he was out in the Rillito Valley, a mile! and a haltlrom camp, alter their stock, and that he esca) ‘With all the stock, He reports that one ball through the rim of his hat. A QUESTION FOR WHITE PROFLE, To THs Eprror oF THs Heratp:— Will you please inform a subsenber of ,, JOUR paper if the colored people are excluded from the | charitable institutions of this city? A colored man, pretending that this is the case, ap) ine ge the benefit of the Home for eople. By answering this you would, perhaps, reveak @ great wrong or stop an imponttion. led to Colored A CENTENARIAN. .{From tne Newburyport Herald.] On Tuesday noon we were returning from Dover, on the new and finely equipped Portsmouth and Dover Railroad, when we noticed the always po- lite conductor, H. F. Pickering, watting upon very old but hale and robust gentleman to a seat. From the conductor we learned that this old per- son was Captain Thomas Card, who will be just 100 years old on the 17th of next August, and that he ‘was riding to-day for the first time in his long life upon any ratiroad, coming from Sawyer’s Milis to Dover Point, five or six miles, having been there to cast his vote. While the road was under con- templation of building Mr. Frank Jones, the Pres- ident, With the surveying engimeers and others, went over the proposed route, They stopped ac Dover Point and made inquiries of a man well ad- vanced in years as to the ownership of some land through which the road was to pass. He was him- self the owner and would like to have the road come through his land, but when asked what amount be should expect as damages he replied that he must consult “the old man,’’ the old mar being the same Captain Thomas Var EUROPE, [Degree te SELF-ACTING MALTKILNS: AND SCOUB. ing Machines, manufactured 2 PETRRS, Machine Works, Eupen, Rhine- DERLAIN, 15 RUE DE LA PALX, PARIS, Ambrosial Cream for Shaving. Fashionable Periumery for the hai Kaw Lustre tor the hatr, Eau de Cologne (preparation speciale). by FRAN: asia. FURNITURE. —WEEKLY AND MONTHLY PAYMENTS FOR « Furniture, Carpets and Bedding, at B. M. a PERTHWAIT & CO.'s, 155 and 157 Chatham street, Ap immense stock aud low prices. LARGE ASSORTM. OF CARPETS, FURNITURE and Bedding, at cash prices, by, weekly in- atalments, at O'FARRE warehouse, 410 Eighth ave- a d Thirty-first svreeta, we: at Orr Li , between Thirtieth a GENTLEMAN WILL DISPOSE OF HIS ELEGANT Household Furniture, tn lots to suit purchasers, On the dollar, comprising Steinway & Son Pianotorte, 26; latest siyies Parior Suit, cost $600, tor $200; 1 de 5 $45; Carpets, nearly new, S0c. y. ‘omnplete, with Dressing Case, $180; 1 do. Bureau, Bedding, £e.; Boo! Centre Tables, Extension Table, Buttet, Chairs, Brouzes, Paint Ings, &.; must be sold immediately us the house is to be altered. Cail at residence 120 West 23d st., near 6th av. TTENTION 18 that we have added a RETAIL DEPARTMENT to our business, aud_are now prepared to fil! all orders for PARLOR, LIBRARY, CHAMBER and Dining Boo Furniture with which we may be favored. These, are all of our own manufacinre. Mattresses and of the best quality made to order. £00, SMALL NOTICE OF A GREAT BARGAIN, RHONER reAN KP AND WERY. A. Xiohiy carved and gilt Parlor Sait, ‘4 BO! thers; five Bedroom Suits, Pianoforte, Oil Pi Carpet, 4c. Please catl at residence 21 Bast 2th st, ant Broadway ; it will pay you. {PRIVATE FAMILY LEAVING CITY WILL DI! AL poseot their Furniture at a sacrifice, magnifoe| drawing room Suits, covered silk brocade of the description, made to order, cost $450, tor $200:do., $1004 do.,8840; superb rosewood Pianoforte, four rot corne: celebrated maker, for $300; carved rosewood Carpets, Mirrors, Paintings, Bronzes, Bure Steads, Wardrobes, Mattresses, Extension Table, Silverware, Glassware, Cutlery. House was months ago. All in exceilent order, W. RS IVINGSTON, 36 West loth street, n PRIVATE FAMILY WILL SELL AT A SACRI, AA fee thetr entire Household Furniture, ensieting of Decker & Bros. Pianoforte, satin Parior Suits, Library. Dining Furniture, Chamber Sets complete, vig., Bed steads Dressing Case, Bureaus, &c.; Centre Tables, fine Bedding, Paintings, Bronzes, &, ‘ay, or Sum gay at private residence, 21) West ‘Twenty-first street. ic] ‘0 Limited price on any OA AND FURNITURE AT THE WEST ices; thy yr cash prices; weekly or = AR maunee 986 Third avenue, between 27th and 25th ita. G 28>, SECOND HAND AND MISFIT CARP: sizes and rich patterns: Engen russels Waar at the old piace, 112 Fulton street, William and Nassau, side entrance. ra 7 ‘West Fourteenth street, rpuis Day, Great sai . CE icecnewe le Pamir Pi LOWE WANT ANTED—FURNITURE.—I wey & tua Aix Huratiace 9 ae, house, So SMe Post onice, PAYS MISCKELLANEOU! EES re Aue A 01 outs ia to