The New York Herald Newspaper, December 3, 1874, Page 3

ve “mouth are bounded by “league beyond league of | AFRICA. Mr. Stanley’s Expedition Into Africa. THE HARBOR OF KIRALO ISLAND. Social Life Among the Savages. EXPLORATIONS ON THE SEA SHORE, ‘TanzIBAR, Coast of Africa, Oct. 21, 1874, The next day, delayed by calms and head wind, ‘wecast anchorin the harbor of Kwale Island, ‘The people are Wangwana, subjects of the Zanzi- bar Sulten, and may possibly number 300 souls, alltold. The one village which it boasts is on the ‘Western side, close to the port. The island 1s sit- wated in latitude 7 deg. 25 min., south. The mouth of the Dendeni River, on the mainiand, 1s to be econ nearly northwest of Kwale. The first thing that struck me as remarkable op this island was the large number of gigantic Doabab trees, It seemed to me, when well screened from view of the ses by foliage, that I had suddenly stepped into a portion of Ugogo, ‘The next things that caused me surprise were the very large and. very small hens’ eggs that were Proffered to me for sale. The large eggs were of the size of geese eggs, while the small eggs did Mot much exceed in size pheasant eggs. Goats were numerous and cheap; two were purchased by us ata dollar each, The people seemed not to bave much occupation. Those who owned land Possessed domestic slaves to cultivate it, while they themselves chat and sleep, sleep and chat trom morping until night, and through the night ti morning. From Kwale we salled, after 9 night’s anchor- Qge in the port, past the islands of Pembaga and Koma, the latter of which 1s inhabited by a few people who obtain a precarious living by planting millet and holcus and by fishing, and: steered South straight for a broad opening in the dense foliage which lined the mainland. Arriving | before this opening, which we sook to he River, one Of thé mMidatMs sf tne Runjt we were favored with a stiff nine-knot breeze from the southeast, and as the water appearea Gark green, indicating considerable depth, we sailed boldly in with all satl set. When quite Within this mouth we observed one broad avenue of water, leading south-southwest, and another south-southeast, equally wide, but, being ignorant Of the exact course of the true river, we anchored at the distance of a mile and 4 half from the sea, loge to that part of the land near which tne two branches conflowed. When we had communicated with this shore, which we ascertained to be the Island of Saninga, we learned that, led by accident, we had halted but a few yards from the spot wbere the steam launch of the Shearwater haa anchored ia 1878 prior to her departure up stream in 1873, We had not been at our anchorage ten minutes before @ colored gentleman of stoutish build and cleanly, good-natured face was seen paddling Slgngalde our yessel, who introduced himself as Moent Bana-Kombo ben Ahad, which, rendered into English, means Lord and Master Kombo, the son of Ahad, chief of Saninga Island. according so @ previous generous act, he had brought with him a wetghty chicken and three fresh eggs, which we reciprocated with a gift of royal Dabwan! clotn. Kombo, the som of Ahad, chief of Saninga Island—who, though the Wangwana of his village | etyled bim “Jimrie,” I prefer shall remain as he ' Gesignated himseli—was wise and learned respect- | ing the geography of the Rufiji River, and volun- teered, for the information of the curious white + “see, Lnat’s all”—Temi Probably | ‘ NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1874.-TRIPLE SHEET. ful of the depth of the river, 1 caused one of the young Englishmen to sound with s long doathoo! eo cry Sometimes | felt anxiety, going at the rate we did y upknown fiver, “Just touched, air,” oF “Getting meen the uller after conees os mr a8 almost Invariably followed o ‘No botiom” again. m ny In this manner we proceeded for two hours, Until We came aoreast Of a large creek sepa- rates Salati laland from Surveni Hand, SPER. through inattention and a feeling of o' ty, We missed the channel and in ® short time weré @ground, whieh sprung the iroo pinties, The Dalliards were let {all, the rudder ansbipped, and We proceeded to straighten matters by pod ookape ing the pinties ana outing out a portion of the rudder. Ajew moments later the damage ‘Was repaired and sail Was hoisted again, and the centre of the stream was tried, only, however, to run aground @gain. We labored with sail and oars to find a feasible channel for some time, but failed, and [ began to think that my predecessors must be correct in their estimate of the commer- ¢iai utility of the Rudjt until, hugging closely the northern bank, we heard tne cry of “No bottom,’ @nd proceeded on our Way as smoothly as though tne Rufin River was many fathoms deep. Five miles from this place we came to where the Kikunia mouth of the Rufiji branched from the Simbooranga in a northeasterly direcwion, appar- ently & much more be on Bea stream than the latrer; but the id that, though the Kikunia Was narrow, it Nas deep. Two miles higher up We arrivea at a broad, take- like expanse of Water, out of which branched to the southeast @ muca htier stream than the Simbooranga, This was tl ou, the prin~ cipal mouth of the Rufji River. It was studded ‘with beautiful islands, Its lengthy, straight, broad reaches of water were banked by enormous and lofty wiobes of foliage; its islands and banks were the homes of vast numbers of aquatic birds; bhip- Popotamt sported in its depths; on the Tray spits of sand numbers ol crocodiles asked in the bot glowing sunahine, Alto- gether i¢ was & grand picture, and most alluring to the explorer. Over the mighty ox- panse of water blew the freshening breeze Of the monsoon, urg! our good little vessel at a quick- enea speed, and waving the topmost boughs of the forest, exposing the sheen and glister of their leaves, besides cooling our bodies and renewing vigor within us, until we laughed in mockery of the malaria of the extensive delta, and our healthy appetite began to rage for food, An hoor iater the thick, tall forest, which had hitherto covered every space save that occupied by the watery channels o/ the delta, began to thin sensibly, and vestiges of former cultivation ap- peared. Now and then a tail, dark cluster of trees, Overgrown With convolvull, was seen, at the dark shadow and gloom of which one or two of my wen, new vo Buch tropical density of vegeta- tion, shuddered, ? y noon we had passed the most easterly feéder of the Ruflji—the Mbumi River—and were Opposite Miehweb, The Mbumi tasues from the Northwesé, apd 1s avout sixty yarda wide at its mouth, Canoes ascend even this tributary a con- siderable distance, + Miehweh is the name of a small colony of villages and a district which May extend about four miles slong the northern bank of the Rufiji, The tnhab- tants cultivate rice flelds, the products of which hey. exchange with the Banians of Kikunia and Pemba Bagamoyo, &o., for cotton, cloth and pice. In order to illustrate the disposition of the Ratives, I will describe an incident which oc- Curred near an island called ane! opposite Miehweh. A large flock of birds, kingtishers and whydahs, were shot at with a riffle bail, which, piercing the flock, waa seen to ricochet a consider- ble distance face 18 Malle, We Ye- ee wei iiad Moceeded hye bank, tected aeveral canoes eying to outstrip us. Pour continued their way, while one canoe separated from the otner, which, taking advantage of the dead water slong the lee Of some islets, Was soon able to overtake us, One of our guides balied the poutary. canoeman and asked him what be wanted, He answered that he had come to inquire who we were, and for what purpose we came to the Rufiji, and why we firea bullets, to the imminent risk of people fish- ing in the river, His reply and questions were veo with that force, volubiity ana rasping arshness I remembered 80 well were the ghat- ed of tue voices of the Wagogo when angered, he gutde repiied mildly that we had come to bea tou, “Tosee? Sec what?” “To see the river?! “What for }”? “To see, hy? God knows! The white men trange things. They put it down in a book, and that is ali 1 know that ever comes of it,)? “Bub! How lar do they intend to go?” “As far as there is plenty of water for the boas in the Rufiji.” “Inside t?? “Yes, inside’? “Hunl The Rufijt extends far—many days’ jour- ney—and there 1s always water tn the Rafji,”” “The white men intend to go and see for them- selves bow far there ts plenty of water.” “How much do they intend to give me for shoot- ing on the river yy” : ‘“Nothing.’? is: 1 The vreeze came down over the tops of the people of the white people’s country, “Ul. yah,” several interesting facts. The two white men of the “smoke boat,” Dr. Kirk and Captain Wharton, he remembered perfectly. They asked him endless questions, until he was quite tired—‘choka sana’’—and put down ever so | many things in a little book that he, Kombo, the | son of Abad, had told them. “Very good. Is there much water in the Rufiji Biver 1” “Plenty,” answered Kombo, confidently. “What do you call plenty ?”" “Deep water—very deep.” “Good! “How many pima ?” (fathoms.) “®ometimes five pima, sometimes four, some- times three; but always plenty.” “Do you know this river from what you yoursel! have seenvtth « “No; I haVenever been up.” | “an! then how do you know there is plenty of | water in the river ?’ ( “Hun! have I not my people who go up and come down ?” “Why do your people go up and come down ?” “To trade, of course.” “What do they trade ?”” “sThey take up salt and cloth and bring me | ‘masan-durast (gum copal), which 1 send to Zanzi- bar to sell,” “Very good. Perhaps you can lend me one of your men who know this river to show me the ‘way and to talk for me to the people in the in- terior?” * “Yes; I can let you have two, one of whom | showed tne way to the white men of the ‘smoke- | boat.’ ‘We had entered the Simbooranga mouth of the Rufijl River, and we were told this was not the largest debouchure of the river, Its noble breadth of suriace, its depth of clear green water promised well tous, Inthe centre of the stream an ocean steamer might float In perfect security, though there is a fall of ten feet at lowest ebb in the water. aninga Island possesses one village and its | ition before the mouth of the river Is indicated the presence of a few tail palm trees, which reat thelf @Viceful leafage above the surrcanding | Vagetation, Looxtag westward, wouthwatd and northward we note that thé two branches of the broad stream Whidi conflow near the Simbooranga i gigantic iohage, by lofty summits of resounding | Mangrove woods, which grasp the depths and grapple with the foods.” Dingoti Island forms the southern boundary and Simbooranga Island the northern boundary of this mobile entrance to the Rufifi delta. Near the shore of Saninga there were two small dhows, which are employed in conveying wood for building purposes to Zanzibar. Sometimes they algo convey rice and gum copal to that Arabian port. A few Bantans live on Dingoti Island, who keep Cows and cultivate the ground, and sometimes trade with the villages up the Rufji for rice, which is of a most superior quality. Early next morning after our arrival in the Sim- booranga, we sailed up the right branch, which came from the southwest, Our two promised guides accompanied us. That the reader may understand our experience of the navigable utility Of the stream we were about to ascend, to gave neediess repetition it must be borne in mind Rt) our deep rodder, common to Yarmouth yaw our vessel to draw five feet of water. Ii being the southeass monsoon, we were fortu- Bat favored with a strong bre from that ection. The Wave ly flew the ebb up stream. Concrary to what we had ani Pet bend and ay te ene he scenes which @ river, a8 We secended, et losed were of exceeding beauty. Both banks Of the river were clothed with dense foliage of Varied green of a untiorm height, which gave it SD appearance Of a broad canal, with a tall, green Redge on cach etde. We had ascended some five a miles before the despite the ebb quatge youn ive clans P men tc aady in to & mu @ay, and ime rather sweet to the taste. nf namber of creeks were seon ot jhe river. Some bp i considerable size on lormed, connected whe Kunia mouth of the leit side joined the wii the more southern and er mouth of the Ruffi, the Magambu, each of which I promised myseli { should explore. As I xoted these internal channels of this great mart- time delta, [ became more and more | @ its exploration promised to disclose someth afferent from tae reports sent to England b; jacessors, Every few momepta when douby trees, bellied the sails out mull end targe, and the Wave passed by the prurient native irresistibly. Hali an hour later tne Pamioumen district west of Miehweh was reached, with the tide and wind now strong in our favor, and soon aiter we came to Bumba, the remaining mouth of the Rufiji, which relieves the channel of the river proper of its volume of water. Bumba, accoraingly, 18 also an insignificant stream compared to either the Magambu, Simboorauga, or the Kikunta, Its ap- pearance and breadth corroborated the guides’ report. Lower down the Bumba divides its waters among the Nguruweh, Otikiti, Siniaya Mtote, Njemjia, and Mdwana moutns. f At Kisembea, situated at the head of a long reach of the Ruiiji, whose course here came irom the southeast, iarge numbers of people flocked to the banks of the river to observe the strange phenomenon of alarge boat towing another one aud going jast up stream by means of sails. They nad leard of a ‘“sinoke boat” baving ascended a3 far as Agunta, lower down, but they had not seen it, though they marvelled mucn that such things ould be. ‘Tney were excpeding!y inquisitive, and wondered that white men should come go far to “see” only water. Long after we had passed them we noted that the strange incident was being discussed by the interested groups, wao nad greectly (astened their eyes upon the boats and their vélongings as they glided by them. Beyond Kisembea, the Kufji’s course has & straight three-mile reach from the south-south- west. Ithas @ breadth varying from 400 to 250 yards, and tbe channel is aeep and easily found by observing the banks of the river. At no place could we find soundings with the boat-hoek. Any river steamboat maa in America could, so far, have found no fault with the stream, It was marked by every characteristic of a navigable Tiver. From the sea up to Kisembea, & distance of twenty-two miles as 1 made it, the largest steamer that floats on the Mississippi River— which I believe has a tonnage of over 5,000 tons— might ascend and descend without impediment, Tbe Wave ran aground twice in that distance, but it Was our own iault—we had missed the proper channel. When we bad ascertained it we found plenty of water, and no dimculty, Marenda district, which succeeds Kisembea as we ascend, is very populous, and small villages are found in clusters. The plain is exceedingly Jertile, and produces rice, holcus sorylum, Indian corn, sweet potatoes, vegetables in abundance; |* cocoanut trees are frequently seen, while plantain is most prolific. At sunset we ancupred in midstream opposite Jumbe, at & distance of forty miles by river from Sanings Island, congtatalating ourselves that we the had done a Sc day’s work and at having ascended at least twenty mules higher up the Bafiji thén wn: her white man, and with a con- viction strong \n our mmds that my predecessors had libellea catia. e pol AWS, Mthous_putbglent 1 deapétéved melt Of enofS as soon as we | auchored to couvey my most respectful salsams to the chief Jumbe,and to iniorm him that I should be deligited make friends with him, which message was cofdially received by him, at the same time that he took occasion to send tokens of lis regard hn the shape of five cocoa- nuts and one chicken, Had I not ‘done the diplomatic thing, our guides informed us tiat we would very lkely i been visited by triver thieves” during the night. | Kext morning Ju bringing with came, him more substantial jokens of friendsalp, and quite a retinue of chids, until our boat, already well loaded, had her wales but @ 100 above water. Alter reciprocating Jimbe’s acts of friendship, the first questions I najurally asked were relative vo the length, breadth and depth of the Rufiji River; the countries rund about him and the slave trade; :tsland rdute, and what the pros- ects Of opening legitmate commerce between Bim, his people and neighbors with white people. What tnformation may Ye emoodied in the follow- ing remarks have b gleaned from him, the Chiet of Saninga, the guides and Hasson bin Saitm el Shaksi, whom I met)next day on the Rafiji River. ree its length and All parties united in imerming us that the Raft Biver rises in Gan; Ugangeb according to Arabic and Swahili ers, which, as near as I can make out, With & delire to be a8 accurate as possible, is south by west of Unyamyembe, The main branch, known the far interior as the Rwaha, comes /rom south of weat from Jumbe ; lesser branch, but an imjortant one, is called enga, and comes from the southwest, irom posst- jountains as the north- ard through Northern fas Sango or Usanes, gains power and vol- any email eer which Urort, penis of Urori, use this stream in its waters; they hunt hippo- Pi eof its teeth, and hides to make their shields; they convey itter and iat long distances up and down in canoes to trade for salt; they voyage on it fer important hunting ex- cursions; from all of which | gather that at a dis- tance of 240 geographical miles trom the sea tne Rufiji is of magnitude sufficient to be utilised by the natives; and from Din Salim e! Shaksi, who has crossed it several times in Urori, I be: heve it is about fortyor fifty yaras wide, with numerous fords in 15 a re the rater nv comes tp to the nips—say aboat feet deep. rs ¥ 4 IBNRY M. STANLEY. @ pastoral land The Warori, or | 'MHE NATIONAL BUILDINGS, Report of the Supervising Architect of the Treasury. REPAIR AND CONSTRUCTION. Noble National Structures | Rising All Over the Land. A New Custom House Recom- mended for New York. Wasuinaton, Dec. 2, 1874, The Supervising Architect of the Treasury has made his annual report, the contents of which are quite voluminous, It states that sites for public bulldings ordered by Congress to be erected in the following cities have been obtained, either by purchase or by condemnation of the property, ac- cording to process of law:—In Helena and Little Rock, Ark.; Ward Rapids, Ind; Pittsburg Pa, (the citizens aiding); in Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Utica; at Albany, N, ¥., and Evansville, Ind, The long pending efforts of the department to secure the remainder of the block in Boston on which the Dew Post Office was built at last seem to occasion hope of success, Memphis, Tenn., has presented to the government a block valued at $300,000, for the erection of the proposed pubilo building, for Which Congress had appropriated $25,000, Efforts to secure a site for the proposed public building at dersey City, within the amount appropriatea— $100,000—have failed, and an additional appropri- ation is reported as needed. Additional room ts Teported to be required in Louisville for the site of a Custom House, and its purchase is recom- mended, The Custom House ground at Norfolk, Va., hes been sold at auction, being no longer required by the government, The New Orleans Marine Hos- Pital property has been sold for $100,000. The Marine Hospital at Pittaburg has been put up at auction twice, but the highest bids received have been unsatisfactory. BUILDINGS COMPLETED. The Custom and Court House and Post Office at Knoxville, Tenn., 1s complete; also the builaing for the same purposes at Portland, Oregon, The erection of a new and separate building for @ Custom House and Appraisers and Public stores is recommended. The United States Mint at San Francisco is completed and ready for opera- tion, The Court House and Post Office at Omaha is filished. The extension of the Court House and Post Office at Indianapolis is nearly completed, and is partially occupied. The Post Office and Sub-Treasury at Boston ts also nearly completed and partially occup:ed. The New York Court House and Post Office will be completed and Occupied before the close of the present year. The Custom House at St, Lonts ig rapidly building. The Custom House at Chicago has the north, south and east fronts building and the west front commenced. Its completion “at @n early date’ is promised. Work on the public building at Hartford is suspended. The Post Office and Court House building 1s rapidly approach- ing completion, which will probably happen during the present fiscal year. The work on the Court House and Post. Office at Trenton 1s progressing, but the limitation Of its cost will prevent the use of iron beams above the main story, and it is recommended that authority be granted to complete the building in adurable manner. The dimcuities in the way of obtaining stone forthe Court House and Post Office at Rateigh, N,.C.,.are overcome. The KOCK- land Custom House will be finished in the spring. It is ‘earnestly recommended that an appropria- tion be made for the completion of THB OUSTOM HOUSE IN NEW ORLEANS. Its construction was begun under a commission of Congress, who made many costly changes in the plan. Its total cost has now been reduced as much as possible. The Custom House at Charies- ton was begun under similar auspices before the war. lt is recommended that tne time fixed for its completion be extended. The foundations and basement of the new appraisers’ stores at San Francisco have been completed. The Custom House has been so badly shattered by earth- quakes that, although repaired by anchoring the walls on ali sides, it must be rebuilt at an early date or a new building erected. Arrangements have been made to fit up the old Mint as an office ior the Assistant Treasurer, and work will be commenced as soon as the transfer of the Mint to the new building ts completed. This will, however, be but a temporary arrangement ana 1¢ will be found necessary to provide the Assistant Treasurer with accommodations in the Custom House buiiding, and to remove the Post Ofice from the Custom House to some more éligibie location at no distant . Work has been commenced on the Court House and Poss Ofmice at Philadelphia and on the Custom Hous Cincinnatt The great size of these buildin, New York and and of the new post offices at joston and custom houses at Chi- cago and St. Louis and the new State, War and Navy Departnient butiding in this city, and the elaborate character of these stractures has ine volved so great an expenditure of time and labor that it nas been found tmpossible to commence work on the proposed buildings at Covington, Nashville, Little Rock and Dover during the S- ent season. Arrangements have, however, been made that will imsure their commence- Ment as early next season as the weather will permit. Work has been commenced on the public buildings at Parkersburg and it 1s now weil advanced. Work on the Custom House at Port Huron and the public buildings at Lincoln, Neb., is in progress; also on the Marine Hospital at San Francisco. Repairs and improve- ments, which have been made in THE N&W YORK TREASURY and the office, aré mentioned in the report. The Custom House at Buffalo Iras been remodelled, repaired ana rejurnished, It is, however, too small for the necessities of the public service. The repairing of the Be ates Leet pei is House at Bai RAG OF the Oustobt Wouse Be ALE Waukee. Like the custom houses at Buffal 0, Detroit and Cleveland, er, it 18 entirely tod small, and ny ve Corey oe gn additional bulging vides approaches ‘ag Gusto) 0U8e at Ba ton, ve have i et and the puildi aired. The buildings at Platts- burg, Springfield, liL, KUsworth, Salem, Newbury- port and Wilmington, Pel, pave been thoroughly refitted and are noW ia good condition. REMODELING AND REPAIRING. Especial attention 1s called to the necessity of remodelling and improving the Custom Houses at Pensacola ana Loursville. I desire to renew my Tecommendations that: aathority be obtained jor the purchase of the premises now owned by the Merchants’ Navional Bank of itimore, which are @ portion of the old Merchants’ Ex- change building, tne remainder of which was purchased many years since by the government jor @ Custom House and Post Office. @ portion DOW owned by the government is incomplete. Ihave in my previous reports called attention to the great increase in the business of the port of New York, to the importance of making an addi- tional provision for the accommodation of the Customs Department in that city and to the fact that the present Custom House would be in a short time entirely inadequate for the transac- tion of the pubiio business. These opinions have been verified by rience, and itt has been found necessary to rent two large buildings on Exchange place, between Beaver and Hanover streets, whict have been fitted and arranged for the Naval office, and connected with the Custom House by a bridge across Exonange place. Telief 18, however, but tempo. House being crowded to such an impossible to transact business therein in a proper manner, Indeed, the interests of the government demana that a building more than four times the Oapacity Of the present one be provided for cus- toms purposes, NEW BUILDINGS NAEDED IN NEW YORK. The building. now occupied was, aa is well known, originally constructed for the Merchants’ Exchange Company and ia not a suitable piace for the transaction of the business of the port of New York, the rooms } a8 @ rule, small and tn- sufficiently lighted. It cannot ex] that officers oan petform their duties in @ satisfactory manner when crowded into rooms that have neither roper ventilation nor adequate light. Efforts Rave been made to rem these ching and, while they have been uredly succ the defects in construction are 80 radical that it is impossible to devise any adequate means of overcoming them. I therefore recommend that authority be ‘Obtained to ascertain the necessities of the public service and procure, if possivie, a suitable site for ®@ Dew building. I also desire to call attention to the im portanc gan appre) riation for the erection barge oMce on the Battery An appropriation for the purchase of a for and construction of a dock for revenue and as @ landing place tor foreign. passe was | @ by @n aot approved Maroh 2 1867, The site been purchased and the doce completed. avo | anches in ctreumferens it is now used by the revenue service. No sppro- ppanes ae however, been made for the erec- iD of the proposed barge oMice building, which is indispensabdie to the proper enforcemens of the customs laws, The Collector of C ustoms ni again called attention to the importance of such provision, @nd | earnestly recommend that an ap- propriation be obtained therefor, In ay report I stated that bounded by West, Hubert, Washington and Laight streets were rented jor las Ol the Appraiser’s department, and that the work of adapting them to the requirewents of the government was then in progress. These improvements have been com- pleted and the buildings are now occupied and are well adapted for the purpose, but, though of greater capacity than the old ouildings, are still too small for the proper classification and transaction of the ousiness of the Ap- praiser’s department and should be ex- ‘ended, the lot being of ample size, I therefore recommend that an appropriation de procured for the purchase of tie property, which can, under the terms of the lease, be o! tained forthe sum specified thereon at the ap- praised value, or by condemnation at the option of the Department. The appraisal of the property, recently made with a view to determine the rent, has proved that the price at which it 1s offered 18 much below tts value, It appears, therefore, that advantage should be taken of tuis action at an early day, there bein; lar as | am advised, no suitable property in the city of New York that can be ootamed on such advantageous terms.” ‘The remodelling and extension of the Marine Hospital at Louisville ts recommended. It ts | desirable that tne hospital at Detroit be sold and a more eligible site purchased for a cheap pavilion hospital. The recommendation to rebuild the east front of the Treasury is renewed. The | necessity of it is represented as pressing. There is not suffic! room within the butlding ‘tent for the persons there employed. The architect also recommends the providing of accommoda- tiona for tne flies of the department, many tons of which are ee in the public corridors, and the removal of the steam machinery irom the building. The erection of a fre-proof brick build. ing 18 proposed for the files, the printing bureau | aud such branches of the department as can be | Sea without inconvenience to the public ser- THE EIGHT-HOUR LAW. The injustice and oppression of the eight-hour law is adverted to and its repeal recommended, as the only means o/ placing the employéson pub lic and private works on an equal footing. Attention is called to the fact that the only pub- | Me buildings of unusual size not commenced, whoaé construction is now necessary, outwide the District of Coiambia, are the new cistom houses needed at New York and Pitteburg, and the court houses and post oif- ces at San Francisco and Brooklyn, Be- yond these, no probability exists that any uildings of great magnitude and cost will be re- qatred for many years to come, The buildings now in progress are pen stany well advanced to- ward completion, and as two of the more import- ant will be completed during the present fiscal | Year, it will soon be seen that the estimates for public buildings have reached @ maximum and will diminish very rapidly soon. Supervising Architect Mullet concludes with the statement that the public buildings in general are aow in & better condition than ever before. PROFESSOR JUDD'S TRIAL WALK. An Exhibition at the Rink—Preparing for the Great Bive Hundred Mile Feat. Professor J, R. Judd, who on Monday next will undertake the great task of walking 500 miles in six and a balf days, a teat often attempted bat never accomplished, gave an invitation exhibition of his pedestrian abilittes yesterday afternoon st the Eink, in presence of a large gathering of ladies and gentlemen representing the best society of the city. In addition to the trial performance the occasion was selected to publicly measure the track on which Mr. Judd will endeavor to per- form the feat, so that during the effort there will be no disputes regarding distances made. The Rink presented an appearance of much animation, and Gilmore’s band being in attendance, the ex hibition of walking, with the enlivening mustc, was greatly appreciated and applauded. Con- spicuous among the throng was the committee from that live association, the New York Athietic Club, who responded with alacrity to the ivita- tion to note the track measurement and bear om- | clal testime to the correctness of this Portion of fi reliminary work. These gentlemen, all favorably known in athletic circies, were ‘Mesats, W. G, Sinclair, Harry G. Buermeyer, H. C. West, M. E. Burris, A. W. Curtis and A. W. Sprague. They materially aided Mr. J. kL. T. Smith, City Surveyor, in his work of ascertaining the length of the track, and without much delay Shia Duginess Was accomplished ana the announce- Tour Mace that it was 8% inches over the re- quired distance on each Isp, it being 754 feet, 53 and measured 18 inches from the inside line. The track is 3 feet 6 tnches in width, and 1a of dirt, covered with sawdust. About halt-past Seteg cece Professor Judd, with his trainer, Harry Edwards, made their ap- pearance and were greeted with kindly applanse, soon a8 quiet was restored, Manager Wilcox introduced the athlete to the audience, when the Professor responded to the renewed greetings by saying that the feat he intended to under take he was aware was an extraordinary attempt, | requiring — skill and endurance, yet he nos ventured without ing what was endeavor to successiully perform the and should he accomplish it everythtng would be done fairly and nbonorably, Then the Athletic Club mmittee called upon the Professor to commence trial five-mile walk, im tne last half mile of which he was to car: 00-pound anvil ome quar- ter of a mile ana waik the last quarter backwaras. The excellent pedestrian was soon at work, rat- | tling away close on to a six-mile gait, with a good | deal of swing to his arms and shoulders, his style calling forth many words of commenda- tion from those who know what fair walkin ig, while the laaies were delighted with the modest demeanor of the per- former and astonished at the little exertion re- quired to easily ta accomplish the teat, which be performed the time as annexed:— x. sores 10 34 10 8. a hf The result when announced called forth much applause, and the ladies and reatly pleased with the exhibition of pedestrian- mand strength. On Monday the Professor will commence his 500-mile task, appearing on the track at nine A. M., and the following members of the New York Athletic Club have volunteered their Services, relieving one another on the judges’ stand:—Messrs. W. H, Stafford, H. G. Meeker, 0. M. Maxwell, W. Sinclair, F. A. Reunell, D. M. Stern, O, MeCready, T, H. Hanneke! ms PA. Curtis, M. G. Burris, W. L. Stowe, G. T. Hudson, R. W. Rathbone, H. 0, West, A. P. Eggieston, D. W. Karr and C. H. Ourtis. WESTOWS FIFTY MILES, In odedionce p the fequete of a number of lead- ing civi#ehe of Newark, Mr. Edward Payson Weston gave & second exhibition of his feetness of foot and power of endurance at the Newark Rink yesterday. He undertook to walk fifty miles inside of ten hours and succeeded, thus improving upon his best previous time. He made the fifty miles in 9 hours, 88 minutes and 58 second, Weston began his walk yesterday at tw o'clock. His first mile was made in 12.44, gecond was in 10.68; third, 10.51; fourth, 1 eleventh, 10.25, and last, 11.14 The first twelve Miles was walked in 2h, 11m. 628. THE OHESS TOURNAMENTS, The Down Town Chess Club. The tournament of the New York Down Town Chess Club, now being played at the Café Cosmo- Politan, No. 1} Second avenue, is progressing rapidiy and considerable enthusiasm over the re. suit is Manifested by the participants. The great disparity in the number of games played by differ- ent members Is because the contestants play with the first comer instead of being matched by lot. Is (s impossible to foretell the result, but at present Messrs. Doyle, Greenberger and Andrews appear to be ahead. The result will be decided by the number of matches won and not by the games. Three games are played in each match. ‘The following is the score up to to-day :— esse RSE 2 i) aS] sl 1)Doy! ao }0 1pDavis. oO Jt jo Gotan it ix ii 1,2 2G) 3 oli a OP move. 2}s 3 HH 1 yk | oe 4,0; 30,1 i 14) 217 16 | 0) bop Ll |B Hl i lk i a3l 6} Saclio i 0 < 9 Q| i os ls 0 v4) 0/0 | 2 0 6\ spencer 13) 121 | 6 | 4 0] 6) Livingstot 5) 8) 0) 2 3 | 0 alidonter. asloo je to and that he should | ntlemen departed | | HAVEMEYE premues, | Draping the Public Buildings and Lx- pressing Regret for the Deceased. FUNERAL PREPARATIONS. Arrangements of the Sub-Committee for the | Public Procession. 4 atrictly domestic privacy was maintained at the residence of the late Mayor yesterday. None but intimate frienas of the family and those di | rectly connected with them were allowed to enter the room where the body was lying. In conse- quence of the postponement of the funeral to a day jater than was originally intended, no change has been made tm the aisposition of the remains, They are still on ice in the extension parlor at the termination of the hallway where the undertaker arranged them on Monday evening after the re- moval from the City Hall. It was expected the ob- sequies would take place to-morrow, but upon re- ceipt of a message from Mr. W. F, Havemeyer, Jr., who lives in New Orleans, they were putof until the day after. Mr. Havemeyer telegraphed that he desired to be present at the burial of his father, and could not reach New York before | Friday night, It was then decided to await his arrival. The work of araping the public buildings and oMices in black in honor of and mourning for the late Mayor was continued yesterday. All the archways, halls and corridors in the City Hall bore testimony of the feeling of those who have been associated with Mr. Havemeyer. The coat-of-arms on the wails of the rotunda, as well as the Comp- troller's office, the Governor’s room and the frames of all the pictures tn it, the Sherit!’s, County Clerk's and Surrogate’s offices, with the greater part ot the New Court House, were all heavily clothed in the sombre emblem of death, Over the front entrance to the central ofice of police an elabor- ate festooning of black was hung and the Com- misstoners’ offices on the second foor of the build” ing were similarly dressed. A bust of the Mayor, standing on President Matsell’s desk in bis private Toom, was covered with crape and the doors and corridors leading through the floor were made to | show @ respect and memory for the dead. The buildings occupied by the Department of Publio Parks, on the corner of Sixteenth street ana Fourth avenue; the Department of Docks, on the corner of North street and Broadway, and all the other baildings where public offices are located were costumed in black, showing an universal and deep regard for the remembrance of the departed, THE SUB-COMMITTER of the Joint Vommittee of the Common Council went to work early in the morning to arrange a lune of march for the funeral cortége and decide upon the different bodies of which it should be composed, and determine the place each should assume in the procession. Before visiting the family to ascertain their feelings on the subject, Alderman Jonn J. Morris, to whom the greater share of the labor had fallen, called on Ms, Mat- sell, President o the Board of Police, to get nia view of the best disposition to make. Mr, Mor- ris and Mr. Matsell remained sometime in council and agreed upon an arrange- ment, which they decided to submit to ‘he other memoers of the sub-committee before finally settling the matter. This pro- gramme of the funeral proceedings was afterward explained to Mra. Havemeyer, so that it should go to the committee with her consent and approval. As large a force of police as‘can be spared will be detailed to escort the funeral, under the command of Captain Byrnes, of the Broadway squad. A place in the iine was reserved immediately in the rear of the Governor of the State for several mayors of neighboring cities, who are expected to attend the obsequies. Mrs. Havemeyer, being opposed to @ public exposition of the remains, none will take place, Tne family are anxious to have everything relating to the last | services conducted in the most private manner possible until aiter the ceremony in the church is ended. None but the very intimate connections of the family will be admittea to the mansion in Fourteenth street on Saturday morning, and the Tehgious exercises will be conducted there m their Presence by the ‘pastor of the church deceased was in the habit of attending. After the services, and when the ladies of the household have re- | trea, the rematns will pe entrusted to the care of the workmen of the late Mayo! sugar establish ment, who have applied to Mrs. Havemeyer for the privelege of being ALLOWED TO CAREY them, and they will bear him to the church on Fourth avenue and ikdeit ere street, where the public sacred ofices will be performed. On the termination of the services at the church the meal d will be transferred to the custody of the civil authorities, who will then prepare /o! the passage gn the streets. The gener appearance of the city was almost the samo auring yesterday as it was the day before. Flags were floating at half-mast on all the public buildings and many of the commercial houses. Expressions of regret for the deceased and admira- tion Jor his straightiorward, upright character were heard on every hand. uch of the good tuat had been done in his iife- ume for the people and was half forgotten turned Cetra the minds of the puplic and deepened their esteem. Acknowledgments of his generous intent and desire of pure govern- ment were constantly made, and even those who had been his most determined op nants confessed to the beneficial results of - selfish courage in Official life. The effect of his administration would have, it was said, a conserv- ing influence for long after bis passing away. Among pane or at least office-seekers, or those of them who had wanted office for some time back and disappoin' all ani- mosity was buried and they spoke of him reverently as he appeared most prominently in their minds as a noble example of the metropolis’ | wealth and enterprise. Few men, it was samit- ted, so well represented bis class in education, culture, dignity, generosity and firm friendship asthe late Mayor. Those were honored who were allowed into his intimacy, and the man who bore the titie of his friend was able to contemplate a | connection no ordinary circumstance would ever be sufficient to destroy. Oficials who were in the habit of meeting him while he ruled over the city felt most forcibiy the strength of the Mayor in these characteristics, and their action since his death has fully oorne out the truth of all that was ia PUBLIO FEELING regarding him yesterday. In going sround the city one met on every side signs of regret for his sudden death and sorrow for his family. Scarcely @large store, warehouse or public oMce in the city saw the sunrise and set without being wit- ness to some kindly thought of him or recollection | ofa par riy estimable trait of character. His remarkable character for private chari- ties was called up and passed from tongue 9 fonrué, showing how well the peopie new him and delighted in his hearws large bounty. Opief Justice Shea, Judge Joachimsen | and Judge Gross in the Marine Court had but re- | sumed their labors of the General Term of the Court the previous morning. All three were seated on the bench when the messenger an- | nounced the death of the Mayor. Alter @ consultation Chief Justice Shea made known to hose present that the Chief Magistrate of the city was dead, “called suddenly fr the svene Of his many honorable and arduous labors by the hand of death,” and that the Bench /elt it to be @ proper mark o! respect to the deceased to journ = th Court. During the de- livery of the short announcement the Ohief Sustite was sensibly affected, and his brother Jadges shared the distress. The Board of Educa- tion assembled in the afternoon and listened to a | discourse by President Netison on the occasion of the general grief. Commissioner Farr offered a series of resolutions embodying the regret of the Board and bearing additional proof to the integrity and firmness of purpose with | waich Mayor Bavemeyer performed the du- ties of his office and extending to de. ceased’s family the heartfelt sympa of the Commissioners. Commissioner Beardsly, in | King to the motion to adopt the resolution, ‘The sudden death of so eminent a citizen te Chief Magistrate of our city hae filled the hearts of the members of this Board with peculiar sorrow, for not only have we lost a friend who manifested his personal confidence by con- ferring upon us the honorable position we occupy, but the great cause of public tnstrucuon to which we are obliged tn the dis charge of our oficial duties to devote so much of our time and services has been deprived of a steadtast supporter and advocate. It may be truly said that om every occasion wien time and opportu ty would permit the encou- Paging voice of our distinguished departed friend was raised in behalf of the educational interests | committed to ir charge nd we can all bear testimony to the value of advice and active co-operation. The interest taken by him tn the ablic achoois and colleges of his native city will be long and gratetully remembered by all school oMoers, teachers, pupils and others who love and cherish these noble institutions, also made by Commissioners Baker, Townsend, Halstead and others. After resolving to attend the funeral in a body, the Board adjourned. THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS also held @ special meeting at the Piremen’s Hall in Mercer street for the same purpose. President Joseph L. Perley occupied the chair and ali the Remarks were ; PEL SEIN Commissioners were present. Upon the calling or the members to order Commissioner Perley stated the object of the meeting, @0d at the same time alluded to the joss the community had sustained in the death of Mayor Havemeyer. Commissioner Hatch followed the President. He gave expres- sion in suitable terms to bis esteem for the de- arted and pi ted aseries of resolutions. in hem he referred to the unexpected death of the deceased, recalied his sterling ability throughou & long and honored iife and testified to the hig Veneration entertained jor him by all his fellow citizens, Alter adopting the resolutions the Com- missioners decided to unite the Fire Department witn the other municipal aatuorities in payin: the iast tribute of respect to the deceased, an: ordered that a battahon of eight companies be detalied to attend the funeraL It was or- dered thas the headquarters of the department should be draped wita mourning, which should be allowed to remain ag it was put up until after the day of burial The Board agreed to attend the funeral, and then went on with other busineas O! the departmens. A lige spirit prevailed among the officers of the Seventh regiment. They held @ meeting in the afternoon and passed resolations, Colonel) Emmons Clark, on behal! of the regiment, | Sent & message to the sub-committee to imiorm | them that the members of the regiment wished to tender their services us an escort to the !uneral on the day of burial. The casket ip which the ; Femains are to be inclosed is of the plainest de- scription, but as suvstantial and lasting as can made; no useless decorations wiil Se a lowed on it and whe hearse in which it will be con- veyed tothe ehurch has been ordered to be in Keeping with the same moderation, Among the Commissioners of Docks @ teeling similar to that whiou prevailed throughout the city was enter- tained. The Commissioners met in the afternoon and passed resolutions of condolence with the Widow of the deceased and respect for nis many sterling virtues and laithiul services, They deter- Iained to with the puolic in giving expression to their high appreciation of the honesty, integrity, capacity and faithiuiness with which the deceased, throughout a long career, both active and successful, discharged the man irksome duties imposed upon bim by his iellow citizens, as well a to nis private worth. Tne Board tendered its heartfelt sympathy to the amicted family in this hour of profound sorrow and grief, aad decided, as a mark of respectiul venderness for the deceased, to postpone the next regular meeting for one week. As & jurther sign of honor to the dead, it was resolved to keep closed ail the offices of the department on the day oi the funeral, and that the Commissioners and sik ‘those attached to it gnould attend the obsequies, ‘The sub-committee decided last night at @ meet- ps held atthe house of Alderman Van Schaick Oo hold over the punuesiinn of the order of arrangements until Friday morning, 80 a8 to be able t make any change in tue places of persons or bodies in the line that may be deemed nece: sary. Eleven o'clock was fixed upon the hour for the funeral, Cards of mission will be necesary to obtain @ trance to the churob. Associations of aitizens that wish to take part in the obsequies will be assigned positions in the cortege on application to the committee of the joint committee, On nearing Twenty-second street and Foarth avenue Ww: cross into to the South Fer The services of the Old Guard, the Seven Eighth and Twenty-second regiments were cepted, and tt was thought probable that other military organizations woud proffer their services before Saturday. While the procession is passing down Broadway the chimes of Trinity and Grace charches will be rung and the fire aiarm bells will be tolled. The committce arranged to send requests to all store keepers aod merchants along the route of the procession to close their warehouses during its passage. Oommand of the Tanbary, on the occasion has been intrusted to Brigadier General Ward, and he has ordered the several regiments to be on the ground @t half-past eleven o’ciock. Tne plaza in Fourth avenue been selected as the place of meeting. STRIKE OF CARPET WEAVERS. ‘Higgins & Co.'s Factory Closed for the Present—Fifteen Hundred Operatives Idlie—The Strike in Other Mills. Laboring people just at the present moment seem to think thas labor is so much more valuable than money that they are all determined to strike for higher wages. No sooner do the ‘longshore- men have their little tantrum over aad partially agree to go to work than the carpet makers take thelr turn at the old contest of labor against capital. A H&RaLD reporter called last night upon Mr. B.S, Higgins, of the firm of BE. 8. Hig- gins & Co., carpet manufacturers, Forty-tuird street and Eleventh avenue, whose hands to the nomber of 1,500 struck on the lst of December because the firm nad reduced their wages from ten to fifteen percent. The following is Mr. Hig- gins’ statement:—‘‘ We employ about 1,500 peo- ple, one-ball or thereabouts of which are boys and girls. Our pay-roll runs from $56,000 to $60,000 per month, and that is an average pay to each weaver (the weavers are girls) ot from $1 75 to $2 25 per day, according to dexterity. The boys are generally very green when they enter our employ, and at first do not earn much, bat we have always made it arule to advance them as fast as they were wortn it. The mechanics earn from $275 to $3 50 per day, and never before, even when gold was at its highest premium, bave we ever deducted one cent rom the wages of those who worked for us. Our reason for so doing now is that the market is glutted with goods in our line. We have a large Stock on hand and do not care to increase it more than ts absoluteiy necessary; but considering the Jact that so many people are out of work we dia Not care to discharge our people and so thought to economize till business grew better, by re- Gucing their wages. We were, jarther- more, prompted to this action from the fact that our neighbors set the example. J. & J. a) of Phitadeiphia; Beattie & Son, of Littie Faille, N. Y., and S. Sandiord, of Amsterdam, N. Y., reduced their wages, and their operatives strack. We could do no less than to follow their example. The moment we found that the strike was to be general we at once shut of steam, and told the people we employed that when they had agreed to come to work on our terms the factory would be open. We nave a large stock of goods on hand and can afford to wait, though I be! many of our operatives have money laid up they’ may consider that they can also wait. Ne- cessity alone compelied us to take this step, and while We are not materially tnjured at present the strike we wish to help those who have labore: for us, and when they come back on our terms we will resume work." In relation to how the operatives felt Mr. ins stated that nearly all of the giris were periectly willing to resume work at once; but the section hands—that is, the men who ha’ charge of the looms—would not allow them. “This,” said the gentieman, “is ine source of all tne trouble. A few leaders lead the masa of the operatives, and they are too biind to see that their interests suffer by being thus led.” Mr. Higgins believes the strike will notiast long. His working people are friendly to the firm, and he says that no show of violence was offered whatever. The strike was orderly, and nota threat maae. The HERALD reporter then made & trip to tha Neighborhood of the strike and’ chatted with @ | Dumoer of the workmen. They seemed to think that their wages should not have been cut down, and seemed determined to hold out. Nothing against the firm, however, entered into their re- marks, nor did they express any intention to in- teriere with others should the firm elect to employ strangers. Some of the girls who work in tne face tory Were also Visited, and, with few exceptions, they rather denounced the strike move- ment, and though they aid not admit the 7 it was evident by their tone and movement thas some influence was at work to prevent their re- suming work. Many of themexpressed their de- termination to resume work at the firm’s rates am soon as they would be allowed to do so, expresain; the belief that when times were better the oli rate of wages would be paid. Several hoped thar by Saturday the diMculty would be adjusted and that they would be allowed to enter upon their uties once more. For theirown sakes and thet of their families, the owners of the factory trast that in a few days they willsee the folly of their movement and return to them oid places and re. same work, THE PLANING MACHINE PATENT. The manufacturers of planing and moulding. Machines Will hold a meeting to-day at ten A, M., at the St. Nicholas Hotel, for the purpose of taking some united action in opposition to the Woodbury jatent, granted in 187% This patent claims the invention of ‘pressure on planing and moulding macnines. @ are 63,742 ol these machines in the United Staves, on which the own. ers of the patent demand $160 per year cacn as royalty, making an annual revenue, if they get it, Of $8,598,720. RAID ON A BROOKLYN POLICY SHOP, For some time past Captain Bourne, of the Second precinct, Fifth ward, Brooklyn, has beem the recipient of a large numver of complamte from citizens concerning & policy shop at No, 1? Charies street. The place was the resort of blacks and whites of both sexes, and bas been re~ Qiided a8 & nuisance in ‘he neighborhood, At te hour last oight Captain Bourne made a deacen upon the place and arrested the princi La Brow! a Wilts ley, the writer. Th paraphernalia of the shop, consisting of of the drawings and @ biackboard, were alsa seized and will be used as evidence nat the proprietor. The arrested partes were locked up in the York street station house. ‘A VIOTIM OF BUM Yesterday afternoon Omicer Smock, of toe Tem | precinct, found an unknown woman, apparently | about thirty-five years of age, lying “scp na basement on Eldridge street ina state o intoxication, She was conveyed to Bellevue Hos~ Pital, where she lingered in @0 UNCOMICIOUS COD ; dition until nai:-past nine o'clock last night, whem phe died, The vody was removed to the deaq house and the corover notified