The New York Herald Newspaper, February 25, 1875, Page 4

+ of ice, whieh, for all purposes of navigation, has Rot been completely penetrated, unless we may allow that Capta n Scoresby accomplished it in 1817 to the west #f Spitzvergen, or Captain Hall in 1872, or that, as has been claimed, whale sips have casually done it, tor it is asserted by the oid Dutcn Mavigators that whaling vessels have sailed to various degrees of latiiude vevond Spitzbergen, @ad there is exiant an old Duteh chart which | Places a ship at tue North Pole, and one even be- } yond it. THE OCEAN CURRENTS. In this connection it is not unimportant to take & passing glance at the ocean currents, Although the Gui( Stream is in reality lost im the middie of the Atlantic Ocean, there is a steady drilt of waters to the north and east tn consequence of the prevailing southwest winds in the North Atian- tle region. Tue eifect of this drift is to carry the | ice to the northeast, and henee the sea is iree at all seasons far beyond the North Cape of Norway, and very little ice is at any time encountered below the southern capes of Spitzbergen, But here the greatest obstacles to navigation have always been met; and it was @ knowledge of this fact -which, long ago, led me to the conclusion that from Spitzbergen to Nova Zembia there was an almost continuous ling of land. ‘nis land | has at length been actually discovered aud par- | tally surveyed by those accomplished aud inde } fauigable explorers, Messrs. Payer and Weym- | precht, both of whom, as I understand, nounced against the existence of an open Polar | tea; but, unhappily, they were unaole either to | cross over or pass througn any channel dividing portions of tnis land to its northern boundary, Could they have done 80, they would, as 1 ve- lieve, have looked out upon open water, | Kane did, and as { did, Jrom the | svuores of Kennedy Channel, Now tue current in this latter chapuel sets steadily | southward, and [ have always asserted that tne true scheme of Arctic navigation 1s in tue direc- on against the current, and not withit, My Iriend, Captain Silas Breat, has advocated a | theory that by following the current, which sets | northward from the Pacifle through Behring | Strait, and in like manner from the Atlantic in | the direction of Nove Zembia, we would find the true gateways to the Pole. But this, Ica out think, is reasoning from an imperiect considera- | hon of the natur@ and condttions of the ice. | Wheat tae ice drifts away to the south it is md of, and Bafin’s Bay 18 aiwost Wholly [ree irom ice | during the latter part of every summer. The same, as 1 nave show4, is also in a great measure true of Smith Sound, excep. as the ice is packed upon the Greenland shore. ice, it is true, may be detached from’ the eXtreme northern shores or Greenland and the islands beyond Grinnell Land, and, by drifting with the current south, may biock up Kennedy Channel | and prevent a passage; but tis, as I nave shown, @id mot take place iN 1354 nor in 1860, nor (unless \n Robeson Channel) in 1872. This is, us I believe, whe true route to the Poie. Certain smilar con- @itions are observed north of Benring Strait, Where we find a large body of land ina line ola southeasterly setting current, and in the léa of Which a vessel might probably make its way into the Polar water. 4S TO THE GENERAL SCHEME of the Smith Sound route my plan has never shanged. The following is a very brief enumera- ilou Of its advantages:—Pirst, land is @ pase of »perations; second, tne certainty of open water st least a8 lar pas tie entrance to Kennedy Chan- tel; thira, iu any event the opportunity to coloaize & party of hunters and natives on tae Greenland side of Smith Sound, aud to perform sledge journeys beyond that in the spring. The first of these has already been touched Opoa, and its importance will be manitest to any- body, With respectto tne secondI have twice shown by personaiexperience that open water provbaoly exista om the west side every season up to the early part of September, which is the mos: open season, As to the third, the colony was the key to the plan which | Jormed while on the spot | tn 1880-61, ond which it was my intention to carry out im 1862, and should have done so had it not been for the war. Had I been able to return that year I would nave started with two vessels—one a email steamer, the otuer a sailing vessel for a Storesiwp. Pusiing througn Bafin’s Bay—a feat which can be accomplished any year without dim- cultyin the month of August—provided always that the old exploded theory ts avoided of bugging | the land ice—I would then steer for my old harbor at Port Fouike, just iuside Cape Alexander, on \be Greenland shore. Here 1 would secure the suxiliary vessel, construct temporary houses tor the hunters, land the stores and set peopie to work collecting game and prepariag jor a pro- longed stay. It would not be necessary to retain the storeship. She might ve sent home, and in j this there would ve no more diificuity than in sending her across the Atlantic. A sailing ship cam go and come from Smith Sound with ease endsafety. The so-caled middle ice’ of Batfin’s Bay is altogether a delusion. | ha¥e passed it omee@ antler sai! in fifty-five hours, a uistance of 300 Miles, and again in forty-eignt hours, and, if | tne rule I bave laid down of avoiding land ice is adopted, in nine cases out of ten the ship might come and go withou: meeting ice enough to en- danger even the most unprotected vessel. For | the purposes of a storesn!p @ salling vessei is in- deed better than a steamer, inasmuch as sue will carry more freight, and steam, up to the moutn of | Smith Sound, is not essential. DETAILS. Having secured the culony, as a base of support and supplies, and of security in the event of dis- aster, I would posh on with the steamer, and, teachiug the west coast, woula enter Kennedy | Cnamnel and Robeson Strait, AnJ ouce in Robe- son Strait I beileve I should find @ practicauy Bavigable sea beyond. Failing, however, to get through, a8 Captain Hull did, 1 would ngve anew point Of departure; aad, even im the event of the wreck of the steamer, I believe tue Pole could be Still reached wit voats, which, aiter being dragged on sleds over tne ice beit, would be aa BVailabie asa ship, while at the same time, in the event of a great misiorture vefaliing the exped. Mon, the colony at Port Foulke wouid iurnisao a Rew organization, and the whvle expedition would not have met with irreparable disaster, as was the case with the Polaris enterprise. Ag to the time of jeaving the colony at Port VYoulke, {should think about tue 20:n of August the mst tavorabie, or only trom that time to the middie of September are the waters of Smitn Sound and the channels and seas beyona Gavigabie. The early part of Septemoer ia tne Most iavorabie period of the year, and ‘here is no ase in attempting the cavigation of Polar witers | (m any quarter before the Istof Aavust. J can but think the risks run oy previous expeditions to p@shing into Melville Bay so early as June, as they Lt done, 94 great mistake. Wait until tue ice is completely brokeu up and rotten; strike out Into the middie of tue bay and mike @ snort ran (mstead of delaying ior a monto or two, as many of the Eugilan expeditio.s have done, keepmg tonstantly in sight of the snore, and never aban- Qoning any suore leads. This advice is based on experience. Sach was my plan eighteen years ago, and It is my plap to-day, I believe it reasonavie, and ex- perience convinces me that it is quite practicable, 4 even believe that the chances of success are @reatiy in tavor of tue frst part of ths schewe: that isto say, that the ice-belt can be oroken Shrougd with a steamer, the open sea navigated, aod the Paciiic Ocean reached by the way o! the borin Pole, nis, | say, is possible and even prov. able, though the Nottn Pole itself suouid be the objective point of tae enterprise. The risks at- vending ther prosecution of a voyage toward Bebring Strait would be, io «ii provaouity, much greater than tuat atteading the eutrance irom wmita Sound. THESE VIEWS im substance I expressed to the Geographical So- @vety iu @ paper read before them in 1857. Ihave repested them ever since, and, naal o aole to Garry out my origina pian of a @ apd aD auxiliary sailing vessel, 1 have not the least doubt that 1 would wave reacned the Morth Pole in September, 1860 ; and if the Boglian, | ‘Who are to follow apou my track, will be governed | by these rules, | bave no Lesitation in saying they Will Deve a comparativeiy easy task before the out One involving very little risk of iife or serious | @Meniiy—taa: i401 course, provided the sens0n | | donbuul utinty for any permanent hard work. | altaough I may menuion tha: 1 have once, over a | phetr , by persistent effort than by any effort irom any NEW DETAILED MAP OF LLESMERE, E Humboldt Glacier “Awedidh Exp THE RECENT AMERICA 17 Beer 3860-22 July 1470 5 therly puiat of laud seen 0 70 730 So SCALE-NAUTICAL MILES YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 18 GERMAN AND AUSTRIAN 75.—TRIPLE SHEET. ARCTIC DISCOVERIES. Is Roule walled 1 Nova Zenmln 60 p-to m4? W, o f/x Wap) proves ordinarily favorable. In the event, how- ever, of inabjlity to push through Smith Sound with a steamer, and the work devoives upon sledge and boa: expeditions a large force and a well or- ganized plam will become necessary. Then a sys- tem of depots will have to be estavlished, and this can only be done emectively by a large body of men. I say men, because dogs, which are tne beasts of burden native to the region, are Oo! very They are good for swift travelling, but are inferior to men a® Mere transporters of stores; be- sided they consume more food, and will not drag as heavy @ burden each. As a rule the English searchers for Sir Joon Franxiin, dragging their own sledges, have performed better | work than the journeys generally made with dogs, horrible track, accompilshed near.y 1,300 miles in sixty days with a team of very inferior animals. In this connectton it may not be inappropriate for me to observe that the greatest benefits may result (rom international co-operation, and this I most heartily desire may be accomplished. If the English would, as is proposed, as I understand by themselves, aoandon their project for the present year and give time for other nations interested in the matter to lay their plans, I think that a sum. cient torce could be gatherea in Smith Souad next year to positively insure success, nO matter what embarrassments mignt come to the summer navigation, Your suggestions in this respect are timely aud admirable. ON THE PART OF THE GERMANS there is a cecided inclination to once more try conclusions with the ice on the east side of Green- land, and there has been talk about an expediion by way of Benring Strait, In any event I should hope for a well adjusted plan of co-operation from every quarter. Geograpbically speaking, the most interesting part of the unexplored regions of the North ites immediately to the eastward and the westward of Smith Sound. Should the Germans succeed in forcing their way through the ice in Javorite direction I can conceive of the probabilities of (heir meeting With any expedition that might go through Smictn Sound to tue ex- treme north coast of Greenland, For I believe that the general position of the coast of north Greeniand 18 already established, That it does Rot trend away to thé eastward beyond latitude seventy-five is abundantly shown by the tact that the ice, under the influence of the southerly setting current and the northern wina, is jammea Upon the shore, a fact which proves conciusiveiy | that the laMd trends to the northwest. I do not, therefore, think the route i that direction as prom- ising @s the other. 1 thimk it probable that there ix ap expansion of the sea northeast to Spitzbergen and nertuwest to Wasuington Land, waich jorms @ great reservoir, as 1t were, for the southerly setting ice. To the westward of Grinnell Land, toward Prince Patrick Land, there is @ similar res- ervoir With @ similar settmg current, both of wind and aea. These regions are separated by Smiin Sound and its continaing channels, and with, as I have observed, iand as @ basis of operations, here Lbelieve a higher latitude cam be attained other quarter, THE ENGLISH AND AMERICAN SEARCHERS for Franklin have brought the system of travel with sledges down to uci afine point that very little need be said—the principle being lignt sieds, concentrated food, warm clothing and little extra baggage—the snow hut of the Esquimaux being used jor night shelter, In my longest journeys 1 have never carriéd more than ten pounds oi extra baggage to the man, ana never used a tent nor other fre than @ smail lamp and furnace for cook- ing. ‘Tbe food should be careiully prepared at home, and nothing is better than the ordinary Pemmican, which is but dried meat mixed with tac | and hermetically sealed in caus or kegs. The idea Of subsisting upon the resources of the country shouid not be entertained for a moment. Aud no one should pride himself upon being able to live after the fasbion of the natives, who eat enormous quantities of fresh animal food, oftentimes quite raw. The question of getting to the North Pole by siedge and boat is a question of science, and 3 much as Upon anything else, into how jace ope can crowd @ cay’s rations Haif & pound per day of prepared meat, with a littie bread, I jound to be a saficient ration forany man im the coldest weather, satisiying bunger as weil a8 the needs of nature. Under similar circumstances an Esquimaux, upon his own diet of seal flesa and biuvber, wouid not sustain bim- self ou much less than twenty times that quantity. | If the question of getting tothe Pole depends upon sledges and boats, there cannot be too large @ jorce of men, for the depot system, uo to tne biguest polotof land, wiil become an abaolute ne- cessity. It was througn the mere lack of puysical force in my sbip's company that I was not able to get my boat irom Port Fouike to the Polar Sea in 1861. Filty mea could have accompiisned ali that I desired, while ten could not, and the excessive jabor ultimately broke them down, ang 1 wascom- peiled to abandon my plan Of a buat voyage tothe Pole, which [am more than r conviaced can be made irom the open water oi Rooeson sirait, THE ROUTES. I have not failed on ali proper occasions to pre- sent to the public the great advantages of Smith ‘Suuad route to the Norta Pole. I have done tunis against the judgment of the distinguisned geog- Tapher, my ireud, Dr. A. Petermann, of Gotna, Wu0, iO discussing the question, deciared Smith Sound to be a mere cul de sac, an hypothess for Which there is no more evidence than there is for bis projection of Greenland across the Arctic Ocean to Behring strait. I have done it also against the general doubt of the exisience of an opeu Polur bea, It is gratiying to see at iengta that they are coming to my way of thinking, Dr. | Petermann lops of coe end 01 bis imaginary Green. | land and couceaes that Smith Sound into | the Arctic Ocean, and the Engiisn and Ausirian | Arctic expiorers unite in saying, alter a jong | period Of undeliei, thar wmitd Sound is, alter ail, tne true bighWay to the Pole, and the Kogiisa pro- pose te prove their nite Dy af eSperiment, | With the English 4 NEW EXPEDITION. Now, let us have by ail means a new Polar Expedition, to co-operate harmoniously in the fleld which is ours by right amd is so conceded by every nation. No known land upon the globe stands so near the Pole asthe land there discov- ered by Americans, and this land bears American names. We tind there Grinnell Land and Grant Land and President Land and Washington Land, and webave Robeson Strait aud Kennedy Uhan- nel, and we have Cape Jeiferson and Cape Consti- tution and Cape Union, and we have our flag floa ing nearer to the Pole than any flag nas ever been Planted upon the land, and this, too, within leas than 500 miles of the Pole. Ido not believe that the obstac.es im the way of the accomplishment of these 500 miles are so serious as 1s generally supposed, I know by experience What 500 miles of travel in that region means, jor I have made It twice over with sleds in Smith Sound, ana with open boats have made 1,000 mules of travel through ice and over the ice in Baffin’s Bay, The conditions of the sea and air cannot be more severe in the immedi: vicinity or the Pole than in the regions which I have tra- versed, ana, indeed, there 1s very strong evidence to prove that the climate about tne Pole is more mild than twenty degrees further south, while I am equa:ly persuaded there is less ice and more water, which, by its contact with the air, pro- duces @ modification of the climate. During my journey northward frum Port Foulke, across Kane Basin, I encountered a steadily locreasing temperature, wbich was more Tapid than the corresponding increase that took place on board the vessel, as was shown by a subsequent comparison. This, how. ever, is only Oue of a multitude of facts tenaing to confirm @ theory, long entertained, that the culd- est spot On the earth is not the North Pole. The climate at Polaris Bay was very moderate, accord- ing to the gre rejorts which we have irom the Polaris Expedition, and the sea did not close Up until long aiter the winter nad fairly come upon the party. The vegetation seems to have been quite rich, presenting &@ striking contrast to the meagre vegetution of the Greenland coast iur- ther south, While musk oxen, which have become extinct in the Vicinity of Smitn Sound, were dis- covered by the Polaris party, in considerable pum- bers, browsing upon the rich pasture lands which were discovered. CONGRESSIONAL AID, I cannot think there is any doubt that, f1the subject be properly presented to the Congress of the United States, a sufMicient appropriauon will be made to continue this line o: exploration, iu which American enterprige has beceme conspicu- qus in a peculiar line of scientific researcao, think it would be a pity to allow any other mation to step in and reap the reward which seems only to be awaiting another effort. To see England take up this American route alone, and to see her swallow it without division is, 1 confess, some- thing of @ mortificaiion, especially when I consider that no Corresponding project is at present under consideration by the American government. The cost of such an enterprise would not be great—a mere trifle compared with the good resuits to come; and as for men, the mavy, con- spicasus for its gallantry, intelligence and public spirit, possesses oiticers like Command- ers Greer and Merriman and Lieutenant Commander H. C. White, whose experience in connection with the Polaris search has qualified tnem jor such an enterprise. Indeed, you could bardly go amiss in the selection of officers, as well to command as to take subordinate piaces in the organization of such an enterprise, while as for crews they could be obtained jor that service moore readily than lor any other. The vesseis are giready made to band. Newioundiand possesses @ fleet of fine steamers of about 800 tons each, built expressly fur the arctic seat fisheries, Sheathea with Wood and iron and wita @ solid iron cutwater they are able to penetrate the ice with but little risk. They are butit upon @ model which admits Of their rising Under pressure rather than nave their sides stove in, as Was the case with the Polaris, Whicn, constructed without any view | to such Arctic navigation, aithough strength- ened as perfectly a8 any vessel could be strengthened and fitted in every way worthy of the government, was totally unfit jor ice encounters, snd, therefore, with the first suock sae Went to pieces. ‘Ihe vaiue of these Vessels ls not above $50,000 or $60,000, and J tnink it a misfortuve that when the government had tne Tigress, which 18 one of the vest of tne feet, in their po on, Sle Was not retaived for farther enterprises Of this character, Any one of these vessels, Lowever, couid undoubtedly be readily secured, Asior myself, itis well known to those interested in Arctic explorations tuat i have not lost any of my inierest im tue subject, and thatif an expedi- too should be orgau.zeu vy private meuns | stand ready aud wiling @iways to take command of it aud to lead i iuto tue Meld of my oid conficts, If Congress should appropriate the junds to organize @0 expedition under sue auspices of the navy, the command Wuuid, 1 suppose, naturally devoive upon @ aval officer; bu: in any cuse, whatever may be done, | stand ready at any time to give my beatty Cu-operaiion, wuetoer it be in practical advice oF in practical work, 1, 1, HAYES. SMALL WARD FOR HONESTY. Adoiph E. Schneider, @ young man empioyed in store No, 2 Astor House, picked up iu iront of the Central National Bank, cormer Broadway and Pearl street, ac two O'ci0ek yesterday aiterovou, @ large envelope containing sixty-iour $1,000 sinking {und bonds o. the Uaion Pacific Raliroad, the Murke: value of which is OVer $70,000, Young Scuneiaer, on examinailon, di W J. Ue [ re )\S7BRRIA THE CENTENNIAL. EX-GOVERNOR BIGLER ON THE PHILADELPHIA TEA PARTY—A FEW OF THE GOOD THINGS WHICH IT WILL ACOOMPLISH. Ex-Governor Bigler, who bas returned from Philadelphia to his Old quarters at the St. Nicholas Hotel, was out all day yesterday seeing our na- bobs, With a view o: drawing out of their cana- cious pocket? some of those numerous thousand doliat bills which tney love to tite there, He had been away in the Quaker City to attend the great tea party, @fuil account of which was given in these columns. This party, if will be remem- bered, wasgiven for a Very practical purpose. To drink tea for sociability’s sake is all very well; but to realize money for the Centennial, and thus help $0 jnsure the success of the most patriotic enter- prise in this country, is better. What he said of ite floancial success will appear of more than ordinary interest. “Do you think much money was realized by it??? asked the writer. A GREAT POPULAR SUCCESS, “I don’t know whether the amount realized was @ very large ohe,” the old gentleman replied. “So lar ag all the elements ofa great popular success @re concernéd, it certainly possessed them all. An enthusiasm, @ patriotic solicitude for the suc- cess of the Centennial was manifested whicu re- flected credit upon all who took part in the dem- onstration,”” “But yoa don’t think that a large amount of money was realized?’ “as I said before, I really cannot tell. However, the amount was probably not very large, as you could see ata glance that it was an affair whioh must have involved a great outlay of money.” “How is the work on the bulldings going on?” “While the last Arctic spell lasted, no work of course could be done; but since the weather has moderated the grounds have been thronged with laborers, “On what Duilding are they working now prin- cipally?? “Principally on the art gallery. They are set- ting the granite now, The work is proceeding with very great vigor indeed.” i CENTENNIAL PICTURES and drawings are im great demand it seems, for the few at the city office of the Centennial Com- mission are being applied for with great eager- ness by many Euro,eans, who wish to send them to their business iriends in the Old World. Yes- terday alternoon an Euglish gentleman, among others, called at the office and was per- fectly delighted at seeing one of these fine drawings, which, he said, would be viewed with very great interest in London, He gave it a8 his opinion that the number of Eng- Mstimen who would attend the Exhibition in Phila- deipnia would be very large, as there were many Peopie, he said, who Were just watting for a good Opporwuni'y or “a good excuse’’ to pay a visit to this country, He was the representative of @ large machinery manwacturer in Loodon and his firm would probably apply for a consider amount of space. Some of these druwinys wel sent even to Sweden during the iast few days, and a few are to be traasmitted to Japan or Onina, IDAHO TERRITORY, which has sent quite @ large contribution of money, Jor her, to the Centennial Board of Finance, will have an interesting exposition 0! miuerals at tue Centennial Exninition. Under the direction of Mi. Thomas Donaldson, @ vast number of specimens of gold and siiver ores fave been collected ail over the Territory, and some 120 boxes filled with these precious metals are ready ior shipinent to Pniladelpaia. It is rather,a humiltating fact that Idano, that poor ana out-ol- the-world Territory, scar juily reciatwed irom barbarism, should have already contributed her quota (on the oasis of the gressional estimate), wulle weaithy and luxurious New York ts wowully benind with her share. “If New York would do as well as Idaho done,” the Financial Agent re- marked yesterday, “:he managers would be very well satisfied.’ It will certuinly not redound to the credit of the Empire State when the fact is puo- ligned to the world that, considering its wealth, it has done less for the Centenniwl than idabo ‘Territory. GERMANY’S INTEREST in the Centennial is constantly growing and the @pplications are increasing every day. li wa noceworthy lact that the Fatherland manifests Mote interest in this American event than any other of the European countries, England not ex- cepted. The Germans of this country devote also much attention to the Centennial, The address by the leading citizens of New York and the other documents Oi interest which have been printed vy the centennial Commission huve ail beeu trans- lated {nto the language of Schiller and Gvetne and obtained wiae publicity. A German gene. Man called yesterday at Mr. Bigier’s office ana applied jor these German trausiatious in order to send them home tu the Father! He sala tnat many of the German-Americaus now residing abroad—and they mumvered several hundreds— Would be certain to come vack on the occasion of this great American celebration, which had cre- ated much iention among them. There ts another int ting jJact which should be men- Uoned in tals Coonection, uud that is that EVERY AMERICAN ABROAD ouzht to return to his native iand next year, in order to witness the crowning event of this cen+ tury in America, Among toese there are many wWuo, among che dissipations ol Paris, among tne joliit.es of Vienna aud amoung tne rural beauties of tue Rhine provinces, have aimust lorgutren the land o1 (heir birth. ana it is to ve hoped that tue Centennial will prevent their patriutic love for America {rom dying vut completely by calling them DaCK aguin tu tuese Shores, Lhe Centennial breaks upon a great many other phases o: Ie, It 18 quite certain, for instance, that the summer exodus to Kurope, whico is tue Megas of impoverisuiug this gouutry by nuiLOns Auu Millions every year, will be very si.gnt 1udeed in 1876, The Centennial be tue ali-absorbing atiraction to every American, And, instea: of spending bis money in Par and Luudon, the American »ieasure-seeker wili bestow it woon New York aod Philudelpiia, which will ve A RTcat auvantage to business, Thes: ure but the amailest of the Many praiseworthy ieatures of the coming Jair, ST. PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION. A meeting of the officers and delegates of the various divisions of tie Ancient Order of Hibernl- ans Was held jast evening at the New York Acsem- piy Rooms, First aveuue and @nty-seound street, to Make arrangements jor the celevration of Bt Patrick's Day, on ‘he 17th of Maron. ter. ence Reilly presided and Lawrence LUBEER nored ua Secretery, The Dawes of the mal ja ChOseD froin @aen Of the tHirty-two" divisions Ww. nounced, aud the ususi tostructious re; iors | hua'T, Dorsey ‘ndee ssiecvor as iardais ol , ry | Hee bud tue Grand Marsual Wil be 60 the BOE! wOOHED WALL STREET NOTES. 4 GENERALLY QUIET DAY—WESTERN UNION SEEKING A NEW LOAN—CENTRAL NEW JERSEY’S EXHIBIT—UNION PACIFIC EARNINGS— THE DENVER AND RIO GRANDE RAILWAY. The street was less sensationally acted upon yesterday than the day previous, and the stock Market and foreiga exchange showed a better tone, while goid wes weaker. 038A UPON PELION, The Western Unton Telegraph Company are, it is said, engaedin an effort to negotiate a new Jean (amount not stated) through Morton, Bliss & Co., of this city, and Morton, Rose & Co., of London, It will be recollected that the company nas re- cently negotiated aloan of $5,000,000, whicn wa: to take up former loans, due November next, amounting to something like $4,500,000, The inference of the street upon this matter | was that Western Union was becom. ing embarrassed by accruing responsibilities on contracts connected with the new bulld- ing, and were also seeking to make pro- vision {or the necessity imposed upon them by the Atlantic and Pacific opposi- tion to reducing their rates without passing their next quarterly dividend, now nearly due. | Of the truth of these “Wall street rumors” thos@) familiar with the financial record of the company | can judge more intelligently than the general public, It is well to state that upon inquiry at the office of Morton, Bitsa & Co, the effort at nego- taung the new loam was acknowledged without @xplanation. ORNTRAL RAILROAD OF NEW JERSEY. The report Ol tne operations of tuis company for the year 1374 is just pubushed, from waicd the following is extracteu. SERVICE OF THE ROAD. The service of the whole road, as compared with that of the previous yeat, bas veen as folows:— 1873, 1874, Miles run by passenger trai a “fag MOST 116318 iy ‘un by merchandise . Reaves erase 1,023,895 3272.98 4,813,298 Inc. 77,201 Dec. Des: steate | Dec. 188,270 Mules run by coal train: Total by transportation . 5,001,478, era end construction trains. 265,247 259,810 4,563 Total miles runby trains 5,265,725 508,018 Deo. 183,707 PASSENGERY, FREIGH! AND COAL. A comparmfon oi the passenyer business of the year 1374 Witn tue previous year gives the lollow- Ing results:— 1873. 1874. Number ot passengers. 4,40),326 4,614,587 Inc. 213,261 Miles travelled by pas- + 48,443,769 60,739,853 Inc. 2,201,084 A similar comparison of merchandise business | | | | Inc. gives as svllows:— < 1878. 1874. Number of tons car- ried ‘ +. 1,44).880 1124742 Dec. | 315,838 ried one Mille 85,725,870 65,925,312 Dec. 19,800,058 erchandise trafic bas suffered more irom the panic than eituer tue passenger or cual busi- ness. To THE PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT stands as {oliows :— Gross earnings during the yea: Balance canal earuings... It has been debited as follows;— (ate ad expenses. . $4,140,601 18 mt of Lehigu and Ratiroad.. State taxes.... Dividend account. ) -—— $8,182,996 28 Balance to credit of reserved fund ....... + $108,969 32 BUSINESS OF THE YAR, The business Oo! is74 has felt sensibly the panic of and the receipts have lallen off $291,785 16, ‘Ihe expenses also show 4 reaucwion, though not senger bDusmess has moe than h increased $104,939 09. Mercaandise ireight hi Jalieu Of $325,602 43, and coil receipts $¥y,185 48, Everythiny has worked smoocbiy on the road, REPORE OF THE UNION PACIFIC BARNINGS, The Union Pacific Railroad Company nave just issued their annual report to the ioi.owing ettect:— The company own the fvliowing securities:—~Lo vhirty per cent o1 any Vaiue of tue siocK, cagn @nd Casn items, $103, due irom United staves fovernment, $98,988 64; Colorado Ventral Kuil- Youd stock and bonds, $3,485,0v0; Utan Central Raliroad stock, §5u0,000; Ulan Southern stock and bonds, $1,000,000; Utah’ Northern bonds, $66,620; Omaha Bridge bonds, $6,161 35; Union Pacific Kallroud stock, $3,244; Allantic and Pacific Veie- graph Company's stock, $2,400,05v; St. Louis, Council lugs and Omaha Karoad bonus, $2¥,211 31; Washtogion County (Nebraska) bondi $15,000; Douglas County ievraska) bonds, $160,000; due irom Central Pacific and ower roads, 40,170 71; land grants (notes), $2,823,530. Total, 11,350,006. REDUCTION IN CABLE RATES, Some of the inierences noted in a paragraph above regarding Western Union may be referavie to the suojuined ann uncement. s mr. Orton, Presiaent o1 the Western Union Tele- g@taph Company, lias received the folivwing tele gram from tue Londoa manager of the Angio- American Cable Company :— “Oo abd uiter the 1st of May, 1875, the tari from New York to tue United Kingdom ane Frauce Will be reduced to firty cents per Word, god, company’s word system o1 Charging Mess: be extended to tue vontinent of Kurope and to ali other Countries, 60 Jar a8 tmis Company's rates are concerued,”” THE CONDITION OF OUR RAILWAYS. The report of the Denver god Rio Grande Rall- Way makes tue jollowing @xivit Of earnings tor the week ending February 13, 1875:— Freight... Passenger. Gross earnings, main line 12) miles Gross earnings, main line, same uw! wponding week 19/4... Increase, 181 10 per cent, THE EAST NEW YORK ABDUCTION. Thomas Lyons was on trial in the Kings County Court of Sessions yesterday, before Judge Moore, on Charge of aoducting 110m ber bome, Alice Cud+ worth, toirteen years of age. Lyons was @ la- borer, employed by the {ather of Alice, who liv near Cypress Hills, Though ne was married and by DO Means prepossessing, the couple appeared to eutertan an affection lor eacu o:her, a cosen letters passing between them. On the g0ta of November jaar, Lyons placed @ laader against the W.udow of the wi.i’s beuroom, Where she bad been loved im by ber parents, SUG, wt Nis solicitation, Gencended Bua wereed tO eldpe WITH Diu he JolloWibg moruiny Wus discovered in a ba Where ane vad been uvandoued by Lyons. giri te t he bad cummitted an outrage t 7. her prior to ¢ BbAuetons The deieuce aimed tha. Alice Cudwoi Was Dota wrtuous irl, ‘the jury fougd @ verdice of guiity of abdauce tit conbubimage, With & ten to | such competitions, for the bili dues not 8) eak | wonld be eighteen cents. | combined with the exireme cal RAPID TRANSIT. The Difficulties Caused by Many Conflicting Bills. EX-ASSEMBLYMAN CRARY’S. BILL: The popular discussion of rapid transit has ine duced the prepargtion of several bills intended to secure that longed-for and requisite boou, Some of these have been presented to the Legislature, and there are still others now prepariug. These bills have been prepared by an iudividual or by cos teries, and not one of them has been referred to & popular association fur appruval. Those that are belore the Legislature, or ready to be pre- sented to that body, embody only part of the de- tails that they should embrace, and they all con- fict. No attempt bas been made to harmonize them, or rather to compare them go that their best features could be culled and framed into asingle bill, in whose support all persons who desire rapid transit could unite, The consequence, tae inevilable consequence, unlesi @rewedy for the defects mentioned is procured, 1s that there will be such @ division in the Legisla ture, caused by tne various propositions, that nq bill will be passed this session, and rapid transit Will be only a project for many more months, The only remedy is, first, tolearn how rapid transit can be procured by constitutional means, and; second, to unite the peopie in active support of @ bill expressing such means, Some of the legisia- tors appear to be acting tatuousily, and some private individuals are imitating them, All these persons declare that they want rapid transit even while they urge plans, every one of which i sanctioned by the Legisiature will excite litigation, and ree motely deier the achievement of rapid travelling facilities. They prepare bills providing for the construction of a railway by the city, although there is a@ number of wealthy peopie, property owners, who are determined to resist the con struction of the rauway »y tbe city, and who will go as iar as the Court of Appeals to learn what are proper “city purpuses.” While such an inquiry Was continuing no work could be done on the pro= posed ratlway by the city’s employés. Leaving the matters reierrea to above, @ felere ence will be made to the bill which is now being prepared by Mr, Cnarles Crary, Prealdent of tae East Side Association. In framing it Mr. Crary ls assisted by Mr. Wheeler H. Peckham. That is, Mry Crary says that Mr. Peckhim aids him, and tne latter gentleman assents to the assertion. Still there is something about Mr. Peckkam’s m4nner that causes tne writer to believe thut tue ‘great relormer” will pever put upon paper all tat he kuws g@out rapid transit, nor, in- deed, about anything else. fr ne’ aia some other peope would be as wise ag Mr. Peck and, periaps—though (heaven forfend—jast rly, The bili which ts im Mr. Crary’s na revigal ig meant for the amends ment of the General Kallroad act. Among its proe visions are those whose snbstance 18 given be.ow. After a number o! sections which are intended to amend the Raliroad act in ite geuerai charac- ter, there comes a section which provides that the Boards of Street Opening and Improvement, or other boards having the power of opening and | laying out streets, im the cities of the State, shall iodivate and lay out routes for raiways through such cities, aud snail specify the charac- ter of the railway Jor eacn route—whetier ele- vated, underground or depresaed. ‘The routes thus indicated are not to be exclasively those Which are needed at present; buat the aurhorities must lay «tt such routes as will provably be needed tor ratiway travel in tne fucure, as tbe cities grow. AS soon as the routes are {aid out privare corporatiohé may occupy them immedt ately, but eacn shali give @ guarantee bond. to ve deposited witn tue principal flauncial officer of the city, to inaure thatit will carry on tne work da: others are that the corporation shall build the f mile of ite railway, within @ year, and shall ¢ struc: the rematoder of it at tne rate of two mi! § zene until the structure 18 Ontshed. When tmp or more cosparafions compete for one Toate the Comptrolier of rhe city or a like oficer @hali put up jor sale auction the privilege of the route, and it Shull be soid to shat corporation which bids highest and is most responsible, ne only revenue to tue elty will ve procured Srough charging any corporation jor the privilege o1 its Toute, When auch @ privilege is not competed for by another corporation. The iramers of tais oul Qe not make any provision by means of which the city may be reimuursed sor expenditures 1D bave ing surveys lor routes made, aod in preparing the rauiroads, They consider that tne enuances ment of property vaiues and of revenves irom taxation Will sudicientiy repay the city for its ¢xe penditures, and chat the Fallway corporation shoud not be burdened with taxes. Another section of the bil provides that as there are in existence & numver of charters 108 Tapid trausit they shall all become invalid; but, if any of them @re not forieited by non-user, the companies owning such charters shall, doon Te orgauizing under the vill within thirty days alter 1t8 passaue, be permitted to occupy the routed which are designated by their Cuarters; and such routes have beep laid out by tne- Board of | Street Opening or like autnority such reorgunized companies SQull bave the rigit to them ‘against all opposition and competition, ‘he reurganized cowpaaies must, however, dv their work #ccorde } Ing to the stipulations o! the vill, ‘The Lil 18 not Completed, because the matter of larea is yet UDder G.scussion, ‘his is undowvtedly one of the most Important of the detatis tant will affect the value of rapid transit to the general community. Ii the fare is made high tne rapid transtt ratlway wili not be avauaple to the poor, and ic is ior the poor that such a railway suould be built, Indeed, uniess it can draw their patroa- ake, it must be@@ iailure. No long discussion 19 needed to prove this. It is evident that there are hot enovgo Ror’ in the upper pa.t of the city wno can afford to pay as nigh as thirty-six cents a day for traveling to support a rapid transit railway. The present bili provides that the fare for passage on @ Steam railway from tne Bat- | tery to Forty-second street shail be ten cents, and that rwo cents shall be charged for -acb adal- tional mile. Estimating ope svanee. from fortye street tothe Harlem-Kiver at tour mi.e+— it is really almost six miles—the char.e for @ passage from the Battery to the aforesaid river No poor man, or even moderately Well-to-do, vould atfurd to ive iu Hare | lem, if he worked down town, and pa‘ronize the steam railway. The fare on that railway would represeut to him $2 16 per week of sik days, and $112 32 per year, This latter sum added to the hire of nis apartments or house | im Harlem would procure bim very comiortapie enis towara the lower part of tne city, whence he could cumtortaviy waik to his business place. Mr. Crary is, however, not wedded to tre above estimate o: fare, aud ts engaged in scudy to Geteimine the rate that poor men could pay and the rauway company or companies accept. Shere 1s at present in the bill a provision that the ratlway companies shall reduce their rates of fare (to Workinginen /Uring Certain hours oO the apar 8, | moruing and evening, anu shall provide special cars tur the use of persons wio take advantage of sucn a reduction. Tois was Meant us @ sort Ol set-off to the ocherwise high rate of fure, ‘fnulg provision will undoubtediy be stricken out of the bill when the rate o/ \are is again settled upon, jor tne reason = =twuat «at $618 repugnant to the feelings of @ great many people; and because special cars meant for and used by not Over-clean people are nol proper vehicles ior sober, cleanly, but poor men to ride in, Tne Special Rapid ‘Transit Committee of the Aidermen will make their report to the Board to. day. Iv wil be quite a lengtny document, and thoroughiy discusses the erabetit aud disade vantages O/ the city itself buliding @ road. THE FOG YESTERDAY. A dense fog yesterday rendered travel across the rivers a muiter attended with consider+ able danger, and caused much delay in the arrivals of business men residing in Brook- lyn ana Jersey City, During the entire day the whistles were kept sounding, sod this, mantiested, prevented any serious accident. Avout ten o’ciock in the mornjng one of the Fulton ferryovats nad @ uarrow escape from @ collision with a schooner, woich was GMfting up the river without ang noiwe to indicate her preseuce. Her vowsprit soraped along the side of tne ladies’ cadin, causing much con On the North River side tie delays wee irequent aud longer continued, Un several occasions tne boats missed their slips on tue Jersey wide and were obliged to put in at otre No macerial diger. ence was observavle im the time made oy the ptaten Island bowtsrunningt tue North side, aud they continued thelr trips without tntermis wioo, ‘Jae foy exteuded to sandy Huok aud over tae Sound, aud tue sleamers irom Providence, Boston, New London and sconington due ia tae morning did not arrive, in tue streets the fog was a source of discomto: and danger. (he streets were silppery Wiihal ax the digusirous effects of @ fail were oiten seen ip the mud-vesmeured garments of sone paveer vy, The sidewaiks were dirty: the ladies’ skin were feariaiy ve aga! 5 the bout biacks 1ound uo pal ronage, tor It Was Of 00 use; there Was no pleasure in walking and more or less Ganger in riding) there Was Do sau, 50 Pala, Ro ooid-—only tog and dmud sad slusa and ait wenerul diaaate