The New York Herald Newspaper, June 12, 1874, Page 5

THE PROPOSED NEW STATES, New Mexico and Colorado as They Are—Their Past History. Mining and Agricultural Resources of the Two Territories. Their Previous Efforts to Enter the Union. Congress having, by its recent action, shown that it ts ita intention to admit New Mexico and Colo- Fado as States into the Union, a description of ube two Territories is given herewith. It will be seen that at a very carly day the administration of Gen- eral ‘laylor used all its infuence to tnduce the peo- ple of New Mexico to form a State constitution, and promised that Congress would carry out the design. In the case of Colorado it will be observed that repeated efforts during the past fifteen years Rave been made to pass from the Territorial con- dition, and that Congress passed @ Dill admitting it ag a State of the Union. The bill was vetoed by President Johnson. NEW MEXICO. It has been said that there is no country pro- tected by our fag and subject to our laws of which 80 little is Known to the people generally of the United States as the Territory of New Mexico. Its very position precludes an intimate intercourse with other sections of the Unton, and serves to lock up a knowledge of the region within its own breast. Its natural features difer very much irom the rest of the Republic, and the manners and cus- toms of the inhabitants, handed down from their Spanish ancestors, are both new and Strange to our people. One hundred years before the settlement of New York the Spaniards had established themselves in New Mexico, subdued the natives, built churches and erected forts, many of which remain in good con- dition up to the present day. Unlike California or Texas the inhabitants have remained unchanged since the United States acquired New Mexico from Mexico. The Spanish language 1s spoken in the Legislature, in the courts and is used in all legal documents. It is the language of all the people, jor the Americans and Europeans who have settled in the Territory soon acquired a knowledge iit, The popuiation in 1870 was 92,000, but there ig no doubt that it has increased since then to 140,000, at least three-fourths of the number being of mixed races. Of course Indian blood largely pre- dominates, and it will not be strange or surprising that unusual ignorance prevails, Only a small proportion of the population can read and write, but great advances have been recently made in the cause of education. There are now nearly 150 Dublic schools in operation. ‘Tne country has a genial climate, extensive jertile tracts and un- bounded minerai wealth and it only requires the application of energy and capital to make it a de- siravle section ior settlement. As it is there has been considerable immigration of people direct from England who have jocated. on the Maxweil grant. DESCRIPTION OF NEW MEXICO, The Territory occupies that central region be- tween the rivers Arkansas on the east, and Color- ‘ado on the west, and ts bounded by Mexico on the south, by Arizona on the west, and by the pros- Perous Territory of Colorado on the north, 1t con- tains 207,000 sqnare miles, an extent of country greater than New York, Pennsyivania, Ohio and New England all combined. It was obtained from Mexico under the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo. The physicat formation 13 a type of the whole of that vast region known as the Great American Central Basin, whose distinguishing features are extensive and arid elevated plains, lofty and bar- ten mountains and narrow valleys along water sourses, The middle part 1s drained by the Rio del Norte and its branches. The other principal streams are the east tributary of the Colorado and * some of the west tributaries of the Arkansas, A continuation of the great rocky chain runs through the eastern part of the Territory; and numeryus (soiated peaks are found In other sections. A large part shows evident traces of recent volcanic ac- tfon, and in many places the surface is seamed and cut up by immense ravines and canyons. E THE FIRST SETTLERS were Spaniards, who about 1530 were attracted towards it by reports of the richness of the gold mines, It was then known as the “Country of the Seven Cities.” In 1538 further information was obtained concerning the country from De Baca, ~ who sailed trom Cuba to conquer Florida, but in consequence of shipwreck he and his companions made the wonderiul journey through what ts now Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, to New Mexico, ‘and joined their countrymen on the northern bor- ders of New Spain. De Baca confirmed the reports of the great wealth of the country in gold, sliver, copper, zinc, mercury and tin. The aboriginics had then made considerable advance in the arts Of smelting and the working of metals, for there ‘were on their persons ornaments of gold, silver nd copper fashioned by moulding and welding. Ap expedition was despatched from Mexico in 1640 with the view of permanently occupying the country. The Indians were jound mild and tnof- fensive, but in consequence of the cruel ‘conduct of the Spaniards an insurrection broke out; the invaders were compelled to retreat trom Santa Fé, but tbey soon regained their foothold and sub- dued the natives. In 1837 there was a rebellion against the central authority tn Mexico, which had passed an obnoxious tax law. The revolt was suppressed; not, however, without some dificuity and bloodshed. JHE AMERICAN CONQUEST. Soon after the declaration of war against Mexico in 1846 the United Stutes determined to organize anexpedition for the conquest of New Mexico. The troops for the purpose were raised in Mis- sourl and placed under the ‘command of General Stephen W. Kearney, of the First United States dragoons, The whole force, consisting of 1,700 mounted men, with sixteen pleces of cannon, started from Fort Leavenworth in June, and after @ march of fifiy-eight days entered and took pos- session of Santa Fé, without opposition, in the mame of the United States, Kearney issued a proclamation to the people, assuring thém that they would be protected in their persons, property and religion, aud that henceforth they would be considered American citizens. He immediately organized a Ter’ ‘torial goverment, hada suitavie code of Jaws dralted and appointed properly quali- fied Americans and Mexicans to administer the Same. There was & completachange made in tue institutions of the country without THE SHEDDING OF ‘A DROP OF BLOOD. Notwithstanding the apparent submission with good grace of the inhabitants, some oi the wealthy class were dissatisfied with American rule, and entered into a’ conspiracy for its overthrow. The time fixed for the rising was in January, 1847, but the plot was discovered, ‘'nere was some fighting, and a number of Americans, includ- ing the Provisional Governor Bent, were killed, Meantime the country became agitated. Texas began to assert anew her claiin to ail that part of New Mexico east oi the Kio del Norte, and to carry out this purpose sent agents to erect ail that Bec- tion into the county of Santa Fé. The pecs e ing averse to Texan rule, disregarded this as- sumed jurisdiction and refused obedience. Two parties now sprung up, one in Javor of @ State and the other of a Territorial government, which en- gendered excitement and wu. Slavery was at the bottom of tue trample. The federal govern- ment, i would appear, favored the State move- ment, as General ‘Taylor and his Cabinet desired to avoid the responsibility of acting on the ques- tion of enforced servitude, which would be required of them if Congress should establish a Territorial ‘or- ganization. Several agents, in an official capacity, arrived from Washington to carry out this policy. ‘They apnounced to the people that the President ‘was determined that New Mexico siiould be erected into @ State, in order to settle the slavery issue, and also that of the Texan boundary. The Terri- torial party yielded them their preterences, Ac- coraingly @ convention was called and a constitu- tion framed in which slavery was inhibited. It ‘was adopted without opposition. A Legisiature ‘was chosen, which met July 1, 1860, Two United States Senators—Francis A. Cunningham and Rich- ard H. Weightman—were elected. While thesc things were going on the Compromise bill of 1850 was passed, Which included an act organizing a Territorial government for New Mexico, which at once took precedence of the State organization, ‘The new government went into operation March 8, 1851, During the past twenty-three years the Territory has gone on quietly, hardly attracting Jt did net. however, escape some any attention. OT the consequences of the civil war. Contending forces occupied for @ time its soil. AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES, The soil of the country 18 generally sandy ana poor; yet by irrigation it made to produce abundapt crops. Tne most fertile part be- low Santa Fé, where it is not uncommon to gather two annual harvests. The general aryness of the climate will always confine agrioulsare to the val- leys of the water courses, Which rarely contain water during the tire year. All ciagses of cereals grow ip great abundance, even with the primitive methods empioyed, and there can be no doub! when better appliances are used by a more energetic people New Mexico will prove fully as rich as 'exas or Caluiornia. Figs, grapes, png lemons, peaches, apples and may catttval with much profit. For many ears the muking of wine has been an important industry. Sheep raising has also become an important business, There are in- stances, it is said, of men who arrived in New Mexico @ jew yeurs since, with not a8 much asa dollar capital, Who, by irugality, iudustry and per- severance, have becoine owners of, valuable sheep ranches. Tne grazing iands are very extensive, an ol the Texas stock men winter their cattle tn the Territory by reason of the fact that it affords better snelter and better food, MINING WEALTH. As stated before, the mining resources are most extensive @hd valuable; but they have virtually remained unproductive for centuries merely be- cause the right kind of people have not undertaken their development, Last year the produce was over $2,000,000, Coal—both bituminous and un- thracite—has been discovered im many places. It burns well, and is reported to be ag Cd as any mined tn Pennsylvania, About 100 miles south of Santa £6, on the hign table land between the Rio. Grande and Pecos, are some extensive saline lakes, in which salt 18 <a tn large cakes, Tne Ter- ritory receives ali its supply of this necessary article from the source named, anc @ consideravlo quantity 18 carried into Texas, WANT OF RAILROADS, It ts confidently expected that with a State organization New Mexico wily begin a new career, The English language tbe = substitutea for the Spanish in the transaction of pub- lic business, ahd @ new description of oMctals—men who understand the wants of the country—will. be placed st the head of affairs, It ts true the great mass of the popula- tion trouble their minds very httle as to whether or not @ State or Territorial government exists, but there is @ large emigratiou of people trom other quarters continually coming in, who conceive that it would be to their advantage to make and enlorce theirown Jaws. The great want at present 1s rail- road communication. There is none in the Terri- wry, yet ratiroads are fas! approaching. Within two years it ts expeeted that both the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé and the Denver and Rio Grande roads will penetrate through New Mexico, and the Texas Pacific slowly approaching its confines, COLORADO, Colorado has been called the Switzerland of America, but it is as large as the British Isiands or Germany and 38 three times the extent of seve- ral of the most important Northern States of the Union. It embraces 10},500 square miles and is bounded east by the State of Kansas, south b: New Mexico and Texas, west by Utah and nort by Wyoming and the State of Nebraska. It origi- nally wasan integral part of Kansas, with which beiligerent commonwealth it sad in its infancy several anzry disputes concerning jurisdiction, the same as New Mexico had with Texas. Three cen- turies it was visited by a party of adven- turous Spaniards, who, aiter establishing them- selves in New Mexico, made their way north in search 0! gold, but fatling to discover any of the precious metals abandoned the rexion. It re- mained almost unexpiored and uninhabited, ex- cept by wild Indians, up toa very recent period, Ita admission as State of the Union at this date speaks volumes for the en- ergy, progressiveness and general capacity of “Americans. Several conventions have been held in tne Territory during the past seven- teen years, at which it was resolved to pass from the leading strings of the Territorial condition and become @ sovereign State, but the popular voice declared against the change, as also President Jonn- sou, On the last occasion when the question had been ovata ae | to the people and voted upon ailirmatively, 6ven aiter Congress had enacted a law to cairy out their wishes, PIKE'S PEAK. |” In the present century the first discoverer and explorer of Colorado was the energetic and fear- less Captain Zebulon M. Pike, who traversed the country and gave an interesting account of what he saw. The highest of the ory Monn- tains, which with its spurs covers the entire sur- face of the ‘Territory, was found by that traveller to have an elevation of over three miles and a half, and from him it acquired the name of Pike’s Peak. His footsteps were Jollowed later by Colonel J. H. Long, but nothing was learned of the extensive gold wines that vave since made Colorado and the surround ing region of country rival California in the rch- ness 01 its hidden wealth, All that was learned amounted to the act that the Rocky Mountains in this quarter occupied more suriace and that their altitude was greater than in any other part of their range. It happened, however, that in 1857 a party of Cherokee Indians were en route overland 0 California, and on their journey discovered gold on the banks of Ralston Creek, a small anfuent of the Soath Platte. They anuounced their good luck, aud the report spread itke wildfire through the country. The effects of the commercial col- lapse in that year had caused many adventurous spirits in the West to peer into the obscure beyond them to find a new field of enterprise. In the month of February, 1858, a party of nine men lett she State or a with & view of Doniement the east slope of the Sierra Madre along tne hi oi the South Platte from Pike’s Peak to the Black Hills, After arriving there they found not more ‘than half a dezen white men iubabiting the vast tract of country. The Southerners, however, went to work, dug lurge and deep holes tn tue wet saad, and in @ ‘ew days » ashed out LARGE QUANTITIES OF VIRGIN GOLD, This was che actual first beginning of mining in Colorado, which has resulted in the Denver Branch Mine, opened by the government in 1862, coming and iesuing bars amounung to $26,000,000, not in- ciuding the production that did not pass through that institution, but remained with private parties to be disposed of elsewhere. A lew ol the Geor- gians returned to Kansus and revorted their suc- cess. Pike’s Peak being the nearest natural object the new gold flelds were christened by that name, ‘Tbousands of adventurers who had been waiting Jor @ confirmation of the discoveries immediately started for the treshest El Dorado. They flocked io irom the Mast and from the West, irom New Mexico and Utah. these two Territories veing ‘to the north and south of Pike's Peak, ‘Towns Came into existence as if by the magician’s wand, whieh are now as Well ordered, as well laid out ind as substantial as any in New York, Ono or Connecticut; and a short time showed, beyond doubt, @ firm political body was formed, with all the natural resources, to make it worthy o1 be- coming @ State o: the Amefican Union. Denver was the first city 1ounded; then came Black Hawk, Golden City and Georgetown. Colorado went on gaining in population, and the Increasing yield of 1t8 mines created the highest hopes ior its future prosperity. On the,6th of June, 1859, a convention was called to meet in Denver, with the view of lorming a State constitution and applying ior ad- mission into the Union. On the same day THE LATE HORACE GREELEY arrived in the city. He addressed a public meet- ing and advocated the formation o! a new Com- monwealth, and trusted that one might be made aud brought into the Union without going through the trouolesome and undesiravie form of ‘Verritor: organization. ‘the town of Greeley was name alter the distinguished journalist. It is necessary to mention here that tn 1855 un attempt was made to get Pike's Peak set off [rom Kansas ay @ sepa- rave terriyory. Kansas having organised the region the previous winter into a county of that State, named it Arapahoe, and procured the election of county oficers aud members of the Legislature. The Convention above mentioned, consisting of 167 delegates, aiter constderabie discussion de- termined upon the formation of a new State and prepared a constitution ior submission to the people, which, i rejected, taen there was to be torme: THR TERRITORY OF JEFFERSON, and a committee sent to Washington to have the gold region set of from Kansas. The vote was ainst State organization, the numbers being 2,100 to 660, Kansas stili persevered in its efforts to exercise jurisdiction over the miners and to | collect taxes, but the opposition was so strong and determined that nothing could bo accomplished, The settlers organized a system of regulations and a code of laws for themselves Wuich gave security to the holders of mining claims, and, by prompt aaministration of justice to offending partes, kept turoulent and dangerous meu On their good behavior. In 1860 a Legislature was elected, but no one paid attention to ita pro- ceedings. The whole matter of government was settled in February, 1861, by Congress passing a bill organizing Colorado ag a Yerritory, with its fixed boundaries. ‘The popotation at this time was about 30,000, o: whom 21,000 were over 21, and Icss than 5,000 females of ali ages; there were ouly s0 negroes to be found. Steady progress continued to be made in material and social development. This, too, despite the heavy drawbacks tncidental to establishing @ Commonwealth in a compara- tvely unknown country, without railroads at the time connecting it with even the fronder centres of civilization, and surrounded by thousands of either hostile or treacherous savages, Near the close of the Thirty-eighvh Congress a law was en- acted, in reaponse to @ petition of the citizens, to enabie Colorado to organize ‘A STATE GOVERNMENT and to enter the Unton. Under its provisions a convention met in Denver July 4, 1864, and iormea @ constitution, but it was rejected by the people in the October soliowing. Next spring the war of the rebellion was ended and the Territory still made further rapid progress, Railroads were ap- proaching and the aspect of affairs was Jar more encouraging than in the previous year. After some brief discussions all parties joined in making another attempt to organize @ State of the Union. A convention met and once more framed a consti- tution which was adopted at the polls by the people. A State organization was effected in all hte details; Governor, jature and judicial ofmicers elected. The bill was passed by the Thirty- ninth Congress with little or uo opposition, but PRESIDENT JOMNSON VETORD IT, It has to be stated that the question of establish- ing @ State government has not engaged much attention in the Territory during the past five years. The latest Denver papers, instead of discussing such a question, refer to the early adjournment of Congress as attording an opportunity for General Grant appointing some intend or reiative of his Governor. The present bopulution is about 40,000, a very unusual propor+ | had beaten him, and he was thereupon committed tion being msies of legal age. It ts, however, @ population compact, self-reliant, weil organized, social! d ly, ambitious and spirited to & ree. The interests of Coiorado are to & great extent national; it occupies a commanding tion as to the Kocky Mountains; itis going ahead ip everything. The present prospects of the gold and silver mines are as brilliuut as they Were in 1864, and as it has been stated pelore, $25,000,000 of the precious metals have been coined or made into bars einee 1863 In the | Denver branch mmt. ‘Tne progress that has taken Place during the past jew years in improved Methods, in cheaphess of labor, in agricultural productions, tn close proximity of railroads and genera! enubling Colorado to develop its gold and sliver miues at half the former expense, have placed the Territory ina most enviable condition. TBE CAPITAL, Denver, the capital, has now a population of ; about 7,000; Central City, 3,000. and there are sev- eral other towns with populations ranging ‘roin 1,000 to 2,500. The very first house ever erected in the neighborhood of Denver was in the fall of 1857, by John Smith, an old trapper. A year passed ve- fore another structure was built. The first white | family. that settled in tue place were back- sliding Mormons named Rooker, iresh from Utah, The first trading house opened was in October, 1858, and other parties from New Mexico followed quickly alterwards in the same business. In Jaly, 1800, Clark, Gober @ Co, established @ mint and commenced coining mone; This was atterwards bought by the government, in pursuance of an act ol Congress, passed in 1862, providing for the es- tapilahment ofa branch mint in Denver. The amount of gold und silver received at it in 1873 was about $2,000,000, THE RIO GRANDE BORDER. The Pronanciamento of the Mexican Authorities Against Lawlessness—The Border Counties Demoralized and Fed- eral Authority Powerless—All Ports of Entry Ordered Closed Except Mata- moros, but the Order Disobeyed. The Galveston Daily News of the Sth inst. has the following special despatch from Brownsville, opposite Matamoros, under the date of the 4th:— ‘The President or Mayor of the Common Council of the city of Matamoros, Francisco Fuentes Farias, by virtue of authority vested tn him by several de- crees of the Supreme Government of the State of Tamaulipas, opcerins the prosecutivn of all cattle thieves and horse thieves, has published, under date of May 26, 1874, @ ctrcular, calling on and commandain; all officers and employés. within his Jurisdiction, and also the rural police, to take active measures to arrest and oring to Matamoros all cattle thieves and horse thieves. de orders the presiding omcer of each erecines to call a meeting Of all the neigh- bors, and read the circular to them, Among the pressing Causes that he sets forth as of urgent ne- cessity for these proceedings, he says that not only do parties of armed Mexicans cross to Texas, but that the whole jurisdiction of Matamoros is deso- lated by them. That even the poor iarmer, who owns but one or two yoke of oxen, and the wiaow who owns two or three milch cows, on which de- pends the subsistence of her large and helpless famuy, are irequently thrown imto the deepest misery by finding that thelr oxen or thelr cows have been killed tor the sake of the hides, which is all that the robbers care to take with them. He also calls their attention to the daily, almost hourly, complaints of the residents on both sides of the river, asking for protection and re- dress; aud points out to them that it will notonly be a dishonor and & disgrace to Mexico if the thieves are not put down, but that it will be the ruin o! the country. He directs that the Chief of Police of the Ranchos shall prevent any passage of cattle over the Rio Grande, either way. He says that since such ru- mors have been so freely circulated, censure has been attributed to, and complaint made of, the citizens of the tap deel that they are engaged to some extent in this traffic. In truth, his circular is a virtual admission of such trafic being car- ried on. 18 circular would lead persons to think tbat he designed to puta stop to these expeili- tions, if they did not know that such influence would be brought to bear as to secure the ied ment o! officers to superintend or prevent the pas- Sage of stolen cattie and hides, who would be so interested as to conceal, and even deny, any such charge when made. Jam informed that the Mexican Ministry have ordered ali ports of entry on the Rio Grande, ex- cept Matumoros, to be closed: but the Collector of Customs has postponed complying with this order, and written for further instructions. It is said Jears are entertuimed that if this order is carrica out the pegple along the river will revolt, Regarding cattle stealing in the counties on the frontier, | was inlormed to-day that men who re- turned and irre taxes on irom 2,000 to 5.000 head last year only return as many hundred this year, as they say the others are gone—supposed to be stoler, The Pursuit of Hamilton, the Jersey City ‘Treasurer—William Goddard, the Bond Thief. A special despatch from Brownsville, Texas, to the Galveston News of the 4th says:— Lieutenant Smith and Special Police OMcer Enkin ‘Went irom here on the Stn of May, with an escort of Mexican cavalry, to overtake and arrest Hamil- ton, the Jersey City treasury defauiter. They went to San Luis Potosi, following Hamilton's trail, which they struck at Sap Fernando, At San Luis they were only twelve hours behind Hamilton; but they weve informed by the District Juage that if they attempted to arrest Hamilton without an ap- proval of the warrant by t! overnment of the State, they would be arresi themselves, This warrant, he stated, must explain Hamilton’s crime, aud Governor Canales, of ‘famaulipas, should make requisitions on the other Governors, The officers met many American strangers tray- elling 1n*Mexice. They heard 01 ope who, they learned on their return, answered to the Geacrip tion of William H, Goddard, who stole $60,000.worth of United States bonds from Birdseye, Cloya & Bayless, attorneys, New York city, last year. The Judge afterward agreed that if the oMcers would pay certain amounts he would have Hamil- ton arrested. They could not comply, and there- Jore returned. It 18 sald that Hamilton was protected for some days by General Cortina, who, though not in ottice now, has simost unbounded imfuence in Mata- moros. A POLICEMAN’S VICTIM. pena AEN LS Patrick Lynch’s Ante-Mortem State-, ment. Coroner Woltman received at his office yesterday ® notice from Dr. McGuire, of No. 225 Seventh street, requesting bim to take the ante-mortem statement of a man named Patrick Lynch, who was lying in a dangerous condition at No. 427 East Filty-ninth street. The Corofer and his Deputy Dr. Shine, proceeded to the place designated, and found the man Lynch in a very critical condition. He had several wounds in bis head, which, he said, he had received at the banda of an ofMfcer of the Nineteenth precinct who: me he did not know. Being asked by the Coroner if he thought he was going to die, he said ne was, and that he had beea anointed only a short wh before by the priest. His statement of the manner in which he was as- sauited was then taken down, and is in substance a3 follows :— On Wednesday last, about two o'clock, while standing on the corner of Sixty-second street and Third aveaue, waiting to get an opportunity to speak to Mr. Harkison, the foreman over a new building which was being constructed at that pa an officer approached him and wanted to now i he wished to see any one. Lynch’s business at the place was for the purpose of ask- ing for a ‘‘job,” but he did not tell the officer so, and merely gare him @ negative reply. The po- liceman walked off a pace or two, turned suddenly round and said ~I have ordered you three times already to leave here.” Lynch said he was mis- taken, or tf he was no@he must elther be drunk or crazy. ‘Ihe officer said, with an oath, that he was @ liar, and.made @ stroke of his club at Lynch, The latter avoided the blow by dodging ronnd a lamp- Post; the oilicer followed him and clubned bim until they reached the west side of Third avenue, Lyneb made'an attempt at resistance (his first), but he was soon overpowered, and but for the timely interference of anotner officer he would have been probably killed there and then.+ He ‘was then removed to the station house of the Nine- teenth precmct, and from there to the Fiity- seventh street Poilce Court, where he was put wnder $800 bonds to appear for trial on a charge | of assault aud battery. That same evening he got out, but it was not till the following morning that he was attended by @ surgeon, wh® dressed his wounds, At the Conctasion of the foregoing statement OMcer Louis Schiessner, of the Nineteentn pre- cinct, Was recognized by Lynch as the person who by Coroner Woitm: to the charge o! Captain Gunner until to-day, When he will have to give batl in $1,000 to await the result of hie victim's injuries. Patrick McCarthy, of No. 226 East Filty-seveath street, will corroborate Lynch’s ment, ANCIENT TROY, New Discoverics—The Stratum of the Period of Priam’s Father. According to the latest news from Athens the arrangement now come to between the Turkisl government and Dr. Schilemann seems tobe, says the London Ttmes, that the latter is to employ 100 to 150 laborers for three or four months at Hissar- lik, and that whatever is found by them is to be the erent of the Turkish government. In the || meantime the Turkish government has not been inactive. The large slabs on the road which were discovered at Hissarlik at a oon of thirty feet have been removed, and below that pavement a much more ancient pavement of large chalk-stono slabs has now been brought to light. While the stratum which Dr. Schliemann and other Euhe- merists assign to Priam and his family extends only from thirty-three to thirty-two teet below the surface, these new excavations reach from thirty to filty-three feet. Those who believe that | there must be some kind of historical foundation | for ail mythological and epic poetry will have to assign this new stratum to Laomedon, Prinm’s father, whose Iiion was destroyed by Hercules “with only six ships aud fewer me,” NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 1874.-TRIPLE SHEET. BOARD OF ALDERMEN. Communication from the Armory Com- misstoners—Resolution to “Investigate” the Commissioners of Charity and Cor- rections Negatived. This Board met yesterday, Alderman Richard Flanagan, in the absence of President Vance, pre- siding. The minutes of the previous session were read and approved, Alderman MonugimeR moved that the Commit- tee on Streets be discharged (rom the further con- sideration of the subject relative to the petition of T. W. Gager, who applies for permission to sprinkle Grand street with Croton water. Alder- man Monheimer stated that he Pad called several meetings of the committee, but could get no quo- rum. Alderman BILitnGs explained that he had agreed with the committee to wait for the statement from Commissioner Van Nort on this subject, and thus the matter rests, The motion to discharge was adopted, and the Gager matter was referred to the Committee on Public Works. Alderman Morris offered an amendment to the ordinance in relavion to steamboat runners, which merely includes ‘steamships and railroads,” which was adopted. A Dumber of vetoes by the Mayor, returning sev- eral ordinances passed by the Common Councti to regulate and grade up town streets, were received and placed on file, The Police Commissioners requested the Common Counctl to establish a public pound in the Thirty- fourth and Thirty-fifth precincts, An ordinance to this effect was passed. { A motion by Alderman. Kehr, that when this Board adjourns it adjourn to the 9th day of July, lost on @ tie vore. The Armory Commiasioners transmitted the fol- lowing communication to the Board, which, on motion, was received and ordered printed :— To tHe HoNowan.e THR BOARD OF ALDERMEN In response to the resolution of your honotable body, passed May 18, aking inquiry concerning the action of the undersigned, heretofore appointed Commissioners of Armories, beg leave to report as follows :— That they were duly appointed as such Commissioners on th ih day of June, 1873, and have respectively taken and filed the oath of office. ‘The law under which their appointment was made, re- quires, in the parchase ot sites tor armorics, the approval of the Mavor and the Board of Supervisors’, in the plans and spectficatious for buildings, the approval of the Board ‘visors and the Major General commanding the ion, and that all claims for material turnished ald ‘or by the Comptroller. rt standing the limitations placed on the Com- missioners they are required before entering on the du- ties of their office toxive a bond to the pecole of the State of New York in the penal sum of $50.00), with two or more sureties, tobe approved by the Coniptrolier oi the city and county of New York, and filed in his office, conditionea tor the faithful periormance of the duties required of them. These bonds were in proper form and with surety in each and pre- sented to the Comptroller tor his approval about the Ist day of July, 1873, he bonds of Messrs. Shook and Bixby were approved by the Comptroller shortly after the filing of the same, batthe bond of Mr. Cowan, beheved and known to be prover in form aud ample ‘in security, was held under | il a a by that otficlal for a period of nearly ten mon: After this lengthened deliberation, these bonds hav- ing been approved, the undersigned have organized as a comunission by the election of F. M. Bixby as President and James ~ as Sec! 4 proceed to the discharge of thelr duti . ‘The investigations made by us induce the beltet that | substantial and suitable armories and arill rooms can be constructed, accommodating every organization in the First Division, atan expense not ‘exceeding in the aggegate the cost in rentals and repairs to be paid for armories within the next four years, at estimate d on the expenditures tor such purposes in 1873, and that these structures can be completed so as to meet the requirements of the several regiments as their present armory leases expire. five of which terminate in 1374 and twenty within the next three years, All of which is Fespectrall submitted, FRANCIS M, BIXBY, ) SHERIDAN SHOOK, CHARLES GOWAN, $ Commissioners. Sows 11, 1874. Alderman Ottendorfer—These Commissioners have been removed, and this Board cannot receive their communication. Aldernian Kehr said the Mayor had no right to remove these commissioners; Alderman Ottendorfer wanted to know why? and was answered, “By the law iteelf.?? Alderman Riley thought that if the Mayor would pay a little more attention to other boards, especi- | ally to the one at which he went to sieep pending | an investigation, it would be mach better. Aldermen Mouhetmer, Morris and others par- ticipated in the debate, which was finally cut short by receiving fie communication and ordering the same to be printed, Alderman Van Schaick presented a petition from | O’Donovan Rossa praying for reliei from obstruc- | tions by the railroad company in front of his prem- ae which was reierred to the Committee on Rail- roads, A number of general orders were called up and disposed ot. ‘The ordinance relating to the Permit Bureau, as passed by the Board of Assistant Aldermen, was taken up. Alderman Billings offered an amend- Ment to that no suits stould be commenced | against merchants for receiving aua delivering | goods, and such suits as are now pending be dis- continued. ‘I'he ordinance as amended was passed by a vote of 11 tol. A motion was made to concur in the resolution offered last Monday by the Assistant Aldermen, concermng the use of the form “I'he Mayor, Alder- men and Commonalty” by the departments, which Occasioned cousiderable debate, which at times took a wide range. ‘The matter was subsequently rererred to the Counsel fo the Corporation jor liis opinion, with the request that he furnish the said opinion by the 10th o1 July, when tne Board will meet again. The resolution calling upon a joint committee to investigate the affairs of the Commissioners of Charities and Correction, tutroduced in the Board of Assistant Aldermen, dune 8, was cailed up un- der the head of “papers from the Board of Assist- ant Aldermen.” Alderman Kehr stated that the Mayor was now investigating this subject. (Derisive laughter.) Alderman Morris —As the Commissioners of Ac- counts are now examining into the affairs of this Commission, it is useless for this jomt committee to go to the trouble in this matter. @ vote being taken, seven voted in the aff_irm- ative and five in the negative. The chair declared the motion to concur lost, Afew more unimportant general orders were Peet after which the Board adjourned until ‘uly 10, COMMISSIONERS OF DOCKS, Weekly Report of the Chief Engineer— Miscellaneous Business. The Dock Commissioners met yesterday after- noon at two o'clock, Commissioner Westervelt in the chair, The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. . The Secretary, Eugene T, Lynch, read the appli- cation of the New York, Alexandria, Washington and Georgetown Steamship Company asking for Permission to remove one of their offices to Pier 87 East River; of Frederick ©. Scumitt, steamship’ broker, requesting to know the terms on which the Board would be willing to lease the upperside of the dock at the foot of Twenty-fourth street, NortygRiver, and of the Knickerbocker Ice Com- pany asking permissiun to erect a small shed tor an engine house on the pier at the foot of Forty- third street, North River. The petitions were re- ferred to the Executive Committee. The weegly weport of the Chief Engineer, Charies K. Graham, was submitted. It 18 as fol- lows:— At the hele bg floating steam derrick put in Position the eight base blocks of crib No 6, now ier No, 1 North River, and loaded eight pier focks for the same crib. Tne blocks for cribs Nos. 6 and 7 are completed, cones cabic yards hav- ing been manufactured during the week. Eighty- seven cubic yards of concrete were put in erib No. 7and the iormation level completed and made ready for the masonry, The carpenters finished their work on the improvements at the boat land- ing and worked on the centre for the new pier No. 1, ‘The blacksmithing consisted of bolt forging and routine work. At the Christopher street section 193 piles were driven and tlurty cut off, besides driving the clus- ters of piles required for “finders” at the ferry. ‘The dredging amounted to 8,725 cubic yards, in- cluding the work done by the Morris & @ummings?’ “grapple.” Tue ferry company have been put- ting up the sheds and other appliances which were Tequired, and the lerryboats went ito the new hg the south side of the ferry slip on the 6th inst The new pier at the foot of Jane street, North River, has been completed, with the exception of putting on fenders and eight systems of braces. At the Canal street section on the new pier 24, | 96 piles were driven during the week, making 368 in all, and carrying Out the pier 207 feet from the | west side of the old pier 42%. The work done at the department yards, at Gansevoort street and in Bast Seventeenth street, and by the veying party and office employés was as usu The report was accepted, The petition of the Harlem River and Port Ghester Railroad vompany for a lease of tne upper side of pier 51 East River and the lower half of pier 62, and the application of the Stonington Steamboat Company tor perniission to make jand- ings at the pier at the foot of Twenty-third strect, mney River, were reierred to the Executive Com- mittee. The Commissioners then adjourned till Thurs- day nex. A YOUNG GIRL MISSING. Miss Margaret Lynch,’ a young lady fl. teen years of age, has been missing since the Sth inst. The missing girl resides with her parents, at No, 28 | Carmine street, New York; 18 about five feet high, dark complexion, hair and eyes, and dressed in blue aber! calico dress, black silk cape and | black jockey hat. She leit her aunt’s house m Williamsburg-on Monday to return home, since which time no tidings have been heard from her. SEASIDE AND COUNTRY. A de Towa people brag of Clear Lake, as 8 resort. Grand Isie, in the Guif of Mexico, is the Long Branch of the South. Sir Joho A. McDonald, of Canada, has gone to Cacouna for his health, The American aud Arlington hotels, Saratoge, opened this week, Washington and Virginia residents are stamped ing for Potnt Lookout. P Cape May has an ancient lady who has worn the same bonnet since 1812, The Orchard House, Oid Orchard Beach, Saco, Maine, is @iling up rapidiy, ‘The Mountain Top Honse, on the Biue Ridge, at Rock!ord Gap, Va., is open. Tne Coleman House, Far Rockaway, offers pieas- | ant inducements to visitors. Collector Arthur and family have engaged rooms for the summer at the Cooper House, Coopers- town, One story Saratoga trunks are to have another story added to them this season, so that they will Me easier. The streams near Kingston, N. Y., are full of speckled trout, and many parties are up there- trying their Inck, Mr. Charles Kerner and family, proprietor of the Clarendon Hotel, New York, have taken rooms for the season at Dean's, Lake Mahopac. The steamer Natty Bumppo has commenced her regular trips over Lake Otsego, running between Cooperstown and tne head of the lake. The Queen’s Royal Niagara Hotel, at Niagara, Ontario, will be conducted this year by Captain ‘Thomas Dick, of the Quecn’s Hotel, Toronto, Mrs, Van Kleek, No. 268 Filth avenue, and tamily, | and Thomas Ball, the shipping merchant, have en- gaged rooms at Anderson's, Lake Mahopac, for the season, Piny Point, near Washington, so popular in the days of Henry Clay, has got rid of its great nui- sauce, musquitoes, by having aswamp adjacent to it burned over, Rocky Point Hotel is not only a well known and popular summer resort on that most pleasant of bays—the Narragansett—but it is justly celebrated for its famous clam bakes, ‘There will be a Sunday train to Cooperstown this season, leaving Albany about e ght o'clock A. M. and Cooperstown at ‘our o’clock P. M., per Albany ana Susquehanna Railroad. For picturesqueness of scenery and purity of the atmosphere few places can excel the Delaware Water Gap about Mount Tammany and Mount Minst, and the Falls of the Pocono. A Berlin correspondent speaks of a fan com- posed of crimson carnations, forget-me-nots and White azaleas, the handle of straw. This would be pretty for use at watering places, Tennessee has thirty resorts, and a Memphis paper says, all the managers have asked it to take the advertising bill out in board, lodging and water. Tennessee editors do not like tne latter. The Clifford House, Plymouth, Mass., opens next Monday, several improvements having been made during the winter, which will make it even more comfortable as a summer resort than last season. The “Oceanic,” at the Isies of Shoals, which made such a fine reputation during its opening Season, last year, reopens on the 15th, Already muny applications for rooms have been received. Milwaukee men go fishing at Pewaukee, Ocono- mowoc, Menasha, Elkhart Lake, Muskego, Rock Lake, Nashotah, Delafield, Hartland, Geneva Lake. The names of these places are attractive, what- ever the fishes may be. Some gentus proposes to establish a windmill passenger balloon between North Conway and the Tip Top House, White Mountains, and carry pas- sengers for $2. It would be about as safe as some of Milliken’s ricketty stages. A Saratoga man who went to Ballston Spa and got in the lock-up for inebriation, says a local paper, explained his mishaps to iriends at home in this wise:—‘"I merely happened to intimate that I thought there was better mincral water at Sara toga than at Ballston, when I was at once seized by the police and locked up.” The Boston Saturday Evening Gazette remarks: Everything looks very bright, beautitul and fresh at Lake George. A handiul of sensible tourists are already in the neighborhood, and pleasure boats glide up and down the smooth waters as gracefully as of yore. There isno more romantic and beautiful summer resort in America than the region about Lake George. It may interest the “champion baggage smasher’’ ; to learn that a New Yorker who last season had 200 worth of trunks destroyed has had five new ones made to order and supplied with compart- ments containing five poundseach of nitro giyce- rine. He proposes to travel from Maine to Texas, covering all the watering places, and will have a coroner along to hold inquests upon the victims, PRACTICAL PHILANTHROPY. Anniversary of the Home for Incurablics at Fordham=—Formal Opening of the New Structure—Interesting Ceremonies. ‘Bhe eighth anniversary of the Home for Incura- bles, at Fordham, was held in that beneficent in- stitution yesterday alternoon. Although the assem- blage present was not so numerous as might have been expected from the rapidly extending reputa- tion of this nobie charity, it was easily perceivabie that those in attendance, who were mostly from the upper walks of life, took a deep interest in the Home and its aMicted inmates. Before the exer- cises commenced a tour of the building was made by the visitors, the ladies especially entering each tidy room (the bed covering of which vied with the walls in almost dazzling whiteness), and by their kind inquiries and cheerful chat beguiled the sad-looking patients into at least a temporary feeling of happiness. The structure itself presents an imposing appearance and is Most commodious in its proportions, Unly the central portion and the south wing are, as yet, completed, thé north wing and chapel remaining for the contributions of friends in the immediate iuture to erect, ‘The actual cost of the structure thus far has been about $92,000, exclusive of the $30,000 munificenty donated by ® New York lady wherewith to purchase the site. Nothing that modern architecture could suggest has been omitted to make the of itg Kind. Lt will at present easily accommodate seventy-five paticats, many of those whose means enabie them to pay a crifing sum weekly occapy- ing separate apartments. As the new building was only recently taken possession of by the patients were appropriate to its formal opening. ithe Rev, William Huckell. of Morrisania, offered a prayer, and Martin E, Greene, Vice Presi- dent of the Home, read a brief sketch or review of | what the Institution had already accomplished, SpE ctoresnes himself hopetuily of its future pros- cts, Peter. Dr. Taylor, of the Tabernacle chureh, New York, upon invitation of the President, then de- lvered an impressive address, In the course ot his remarks the speaker, after alluding to the evidences of Christianity which are concomitants ot the age, said that the ancieng cities of Athens or Rome might be searched in vain for a buiiding | devoted to the mintstrations o1 charity. Though there were many then, a8 now, who needed sym- pathy and succour, the weaithy citizen walked the | streets indifferent to their sufferings as the | pampored, hound which ate at his feet, in ex- | patiating upon the sorrowful significance of the | word “incwrables,” he said, aithough it is not | engraved over the portals of this institution, “He | who enters here, leaves hope behind,” yet the | term ‘‘ineurabie’’ has in it adepth of pathos which no human tongue can describe, Their misery and | sufferings make # strong appeal to our hearts, for | the hand of God 1s upon them, and there is no | relief except in death. We are most partakers of | the Divine nature when we are giving of our means and doing good to others, Judge William E. Curtis also delivered an ap- propriate address, during the delivery of which he summarized the efforts made in the past by New York and Westchester county 1n the causes of re- ligion, education and the administering of charity, Alluding to the Home for Incurables, he said that the little vine we watered with tender solicitude six or eight years ago, bas since grown and expanded, until now We see its spreading branches that the weary and afflicted will fin: fort beneath its sheltering care in time to come, The annual meeting of the soctety for the elec- members chosen being Frederick W, Steve! * Well Skeol and Benjamin Aymar. arte According to she report of the superintendent the past year commenced with forty inthe Home. Since then eleven pave died, while to-day there are forty-eight inmates, seventeen of whom are iree age oni During the period named 8 Her reiatives suspect (oul play. three iree beds have been endowed by Grace church, New York, : 5 building a model | and officers, & portion of the ceremonies yesterday | fiving promise | rest and com-,| tion of managers resulted in the re-election of the | old Board, with but three exceptions, the new | TI IMPORTANT CABLE PROJECT, Proposed Revolution in Deep Sea Cable Laying. Great Reduction in Rates Between Eng- land and America. One of the most important projects of the day ts that of revolutionizing the present expensive and laborious system of laying ocean cables by the sub- stitution of a lighter cable, but one of equal dura- biity with those now in use. Before proceeaing to sutmit some brief remarks in regard to the actaal condition of the lignt cable business at this time, we should state that the impression prevail- ing here that @ company has already been formed in England to carry out the project is @ mistaks. It is true that preliminary steps were taken in London in the early part of the present year to organize the “Light Cable Telegraph Company,’” pursuant to the compantes’ acts, 1862 and 1867, with @ capital of £380,000, in 38,000 shares of £10 each; but the undertak- ing met with such persistent and potential opposition from the present enormous cable mon- opolies that it finally fell through, and the raising of subscriptions, 80 far as Great Britain was con- cerned, was for the time abandoned. It is now proposed to give the capitalists and people of the United States, particularly those of New York city, an opportunity to organize a cable company on the popular cheap postage principle that will prove not only @ profitable investment but a solid benefit to the public on both sides of the Atlantic. THE LEADING SHIPOWNERS AND MERCHANTS connected with the American trade tn London, Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester, we learn have promised their cordial! support to this under- taking, and it is confidently anticipated that when once set fairly in motion in tne United States they will cordially co-operate with others in obtatning cheap telegraphy between the United Kingdom and America. The capitalof THE AMALGAMATED COMPANIES for transatlantic telegraph cables amounts to. the enormous sum = of £7,000,000 or nearly $35,000,000, The effect is that these companies find tt expedient to charge four shillings or $1 per word to enable them to pay @ reasonable dividend on their capital. The LIGHT CABLE now proposed to oe constructed will be less costly, and can be laid by any ships of ordinary size without: the employment of-either government vessels or those of such huge capacity and expensive man- wement as the Great Eastern. Moreover, the machinery to be used.is very simpie and compara- tively inexpensive. The present Atlantic cables are covered with ten homogeneous iron wires, each wire being covered with five Manilla hemp yarns. As soon as the tron begins to rust the ‘Strength of the cable, both in iron and nemp, be- comes gradually reduced, until the whole strength of the outer covering is destroyed by corrosion. The cable now proposed to be laid will be covered soiwly with tarred manilla hemp, which by itself is practically indestructible in salt water. It will sustain twenty miles of ite length in water, whereas the present cabies, when new, are able to bear only eleven miles of their length. The bottom of the Atlantic is described a8 being well adapted for such a cable, and 1t ts only at the landing places and in shoal water that shore ends and inter- mediate sized cables will be required, PROSPECTS OF PROFITS. The receipts oi the Anglo-American Company may be taken on an average at not less than £2,300, or about $11,500 per day, whiclr represent the cost of the transmission 01 11,500 words daily at. the present tariff of four shillings, or about $1 per word. The new company proposes to adopt @ tariff of ONLY ONE ENGLISH SHILLING PER WORD, and, should the Anglo-American company adopt the same tariff, all experience tends to show that, with such a consideravie reduction tn the charge, the number of messages will be so far increased at the reduced rate as to produee at least the same income as that derived from the present tariff. Hence those who fear pecuniary loss by compe- tition need have no serious apprehensions on that score, and even if hey have, the tremendous pub- Uc benefit that will ensue from the establishment ‘of the new cable ought to surmount any objections of this kind. On the above calculation it ts esti- mated that 46,000 words, at one suilling per word, will be datly sent across tne Atlantic, and if only one-sixth of this traffic is received by the new company, it wili transmit about 7,000 words a day, which, at a shilling 4 word, for 300 working days in the year, -epresents, after de- Qucting ordinary expenses and interest on deben- tures to be issued, a net profit ol twenty-two per cent on the capital of the company, an requires the transmission of only five to six wi per minute, which can be accomplished through this cable by the ordinary instruments now in use. The company, however, has acquired the exclusive right to use for the cables to be Inid between the British Isles and North America, Heighton’s pat- ents for improving and increasing the sensitive- ness of telegraphic instruments, by which the rapidity of transmission may be considerably aug- mented, say, to tiiteen words per minute. Con- tracts have been made with ties in relation to acquiring certain patents; also with cable manu- facturers for the construction and layii eable this year, via the Azores to Haltfax { e route, however, may be changed from Ireland to New- foundiand, the,twenty years’ charter, with exctu- sive privileges; of the present companies expiring in about one year, or in time for the new cable to be laid and im working order), Three hundred miles of the new cable is now ready to be Jaid and Will be, if not otherwise di: d ol, a8 soon as the new organization 18 perfected and the necessary funds subscribed or raised in this country or else- where, REPORTS ON THE PRACTIOABILITY OF THE LIGRT CABLB, A number of electrictans and sctenMfic experts in cable telegraphy have given their views in re- ard to the practicability of making and lay- ing @ light cable across the Atlantic. Among these are W. UH. Preece, Engi- neer of the English Post office telegraphs; J. Bordeau, Chief Engineer and Electrician of the Submarine Telegraph Company; R. 8. Culley, En- gmeer-in-Chief of Government Postal Telegraphs ; Captain V.«#, Johnson, Royal Navy, Surveyor of the French Atlantic Cable of 18697 Cromwell F. Variey, Electrician and Engineer of the same com- auy. Favorable testimony from such well in- formed sources is a sufficient guarantee that the laying of the new cable is entirely feasible. Whether it will prove a paying investment de- pends in & great measure upon the manner in which its affairs are conducted. But that a reduc- tion of seventy-five cents per word—that is from one doliar to twenty-Ove cents—will greatly pro- mote cable inter-communication between the old and new world, and thus enhance the te receipts, has been demonstrated by previous expe- rience in similar matters. Mr. William W. Morice, of Lonaon, is now in this city at the Clarendon Hotel, engaged in the business of explaining to our people the advantages of this new and impor- tant ehterprise, and we understand he has al- ready received favorable assurances. from some of our merchants and capitalists in regard to the suc- cess Of lis mission. THE TRANSIT OF VENUS. Russian and German Preparation for Scientific Observation. Active preparations are in progress in Russia and Germany for the observation of the transit of “Venus. The governments of the two empires some time since resolved to act in co-operation, and Privy Councillor Dr. Struwe, the well known Russian astronomer, ts (June 1) in Germany, to make supplementary arrangements and visit the sections tor observation appointed at Berlin, Stras- burg and Schwerin. The German government some time since allowed 152,180 marks $37,000) for the purpose of observation, and pronitsed’ the services of one or two mMen-ol-war, Lt has now de- tached the corvette Gazelle for that vessel is till placed at the service of the as- tronomers, The gentiemen about to proceed to Kerguelen on the part of the German govern- ment are: -Dr. Boerger, Director of the Observa- tory at Wilhelmshaven; Dr. Weinck, an astrono- mer from Olen; Dr. Studer, oologist, from Berne; the photographer Bolzin, and the mechani- cian Krill, both from Schwerin. Another astrono- mer will be added to the expedition, but no selec- tion has as yet been definitively made. THE OOLLISION“OFF GOVERNOR'S ISLAND. About two o'clock this morning, when the tide Serves, an attempt will be made to raise the Ireight barge Rockland (sunk while in tow of the ateamtug-Buffaio), belonging to the Erie Rail- Way, and which, with her mach-damaged cargo, ts valued at about $15,000. The crait in question, it may be remembered, was sunk on Wednesday, aiter being in collision with the steamer United States, (rom Fall River for this city, which vessel sustained no injury and proceeded to her wharf. Rockland was examined yesterday by the sub- martne diver, Mr. W. J. Jenkins, who discovered 1X patients | & hole four feet i | and four and a half feet broad in her, alter which he fastened canvas over the. oh. Her cargo, as might be expected, is se-~ siy damaged. The atvempt to get her off this woruing will be made yy! Fuller, which will tow the tor repairs, the Wrecking steamer sockland to Jersey City A swt las already been commenced | OD Fhe SUD/OCL,