The New York Herald Newspaper, April 6, 1876, Page 4

“RAPID TRANSIT. | Work in Progress on the Battery. The Pearl Street Route to Third Avenue and the Third Avenue Line Described. INJUNCTION PROCEEDINGS. THE Notwithstanding the vexatious litigations and the op- Position of legislative bodies, whose members seem to be more anxious to protect the interests of the horse car companics than those of the masses, the prospects for the legislation of rapid transit are de- cidedly cheering. The New York Elevated Railroad, | although met with opposition at every step, is showing most conc! ly that fast travel is possible | here as in London. Between 6,000 and 7,000 passen- | gers aro carried daily on the line, and it is believed if | trains were run more fréquently the travel would | greatly idcrease, For some time the company has been engaged in bullding turnouts at various points on | the line with the ultimate view of connecting them and thus form a double track from the Battery to the Central Park. They have already constructed about a mile and a half of these turnouts, which would form one-third of the completed double track, One of the longest turnouts is now being built from Eleventh street to Twenty- fourth street, a distance of one mile, The injunction | now before the courts to prevent the construction of a turnout in front of the Pacific Hotel has been a tem- porary check, but it is believed that when the court considers the interests of the public as compared with those of individual proporty owners the injunction will be dissolved. The company has these turnouts under contract to be finished by May 1. Unless htigation de- lays the work they will be completed on the date named, and the company will at once ran trains on ten minutes headway instead of twenty minutes, They ex- pect to complete the entire extra track during the sumner, and they will be able to run trains on from three to five minutes headway or less if travel de- mands it THR BATTERY EXTENSION. The contract for the construction of what is known as the Battery extension, so as to connect with the South ferry, has been given to the Passaic Iron Com- pany, which is actively at work putting the iron to- gether. A large force of workmen began on Monday: to lay across the Battery Park the foundation, which consists of flagstone six inches thick, upon which is solid brick masonry about six fect high, tapering from Seven feet square at the base to four feet at the top. The whole will be surmounted by a cast iron plate one and a haif tons in weight, inte which the,base of the pillars will be set and bolted. The foundation extends seven feet below the suriace and ts amply sufficient to bear any weight required, There will be a double track over the edge of the park, supported by two lines of columns. The architeat of the Park Depart. ment has prepared a very pretty design for ornamental columns, which will make the structure present a pleasing effect. The columns, and the entire structure, in tact, are to be entirely hidden by vines and trees, and at points where the roud crosses the walks of the park the road bed is to be made water tight, This sec- tion, it is expected, will be completed in five or six weeks. THY KAST SIDE EXTENSION IN PEARL STREET, The eompany have under contract with the same firm the construction of the section running through Pearl street and New Bowery, {rom Broadway to Chatham square, which will be completed by August 1, unless the work is delayed by litigation in the courts. The style of structure is to be very much like the pres- ent road on the west side, 80 far as strength, &c., are concerned. It is, however, to be a double track, with columns on either curb, and the road spanning the Greet, as shown in this diagram :— OUTED ENE ADORED RAR EAT OAD RE RE SIDEWALK! AERA ROMANE OR OSS RRS R OD Ree SIDEWALK CT 2G (RGRORE (RRORAES ROEM Ee While this section is being constructed the com- | pany intend to push the work rapidly on the other | Sections of the east side line, so as to have a double track road in the centre of Third avenue and the Bowery, extending to Second street, completed before autumn, j TAK THIMD AVENUR STRUCTURE will be a double track, immediately over the present horse car tracks. ‘There will be trasses extending up side of the truck to strengthen the structure nt accident inthe event of derailment It will occupy twenty-one feet of the street ceutre, and there will be efghteen tegt three inches in the clear be- | tween the columus and the curbs, which will be ample for travel on the avenue, Tue structure will be ornu mented with gas lamps and other appurtenances, to Make it present a sightly appearan It is ealeulated to be much stronger than the present Greenwich street structure, and Chief Engineer Com right repogis it will carry almost doable the present | rolling weight. "The company are now constructing new | six and a half ton engines and twelve cars to be ready | for the increase of travel expected when the sections under contract are completed. THE GILUERT ROAD. | President Foster and Chief Engineer Gilbert aro | actively at work on their plans tor the double track | Toad through Chambers street, Wost Broadway, South | Filth avenue, West fhird street and Sixth avenue to | Central Park, which is under contract to be finished by the Ist of August. They repert no opposition and no Iitigation, The property owners seem to be satistied, although a meeting, composed principally of horse way employés, was held at Germania Hall, in the Sixth avenue, Inst Sunday, It will be a double track road, in the centre of the street, built of the best iron, with steel rails, capable of sustaining a moving load of 2,000 pounds per lineal foot, and carrying diteen ton engines. THE CAPITAL Both companies have ample capital to say that betore this season next y i double track lines tn fall ope Dourts ant injunctions asked for in the interes ‘ar companies. THE INJUNCTION PROCEEDINGS. In the Special Term of the Court of Common Pleas, Botore Chief Justice Daly, there was a large crowd yes. terday to listen to the argamanton the recent order granted to show cause why the Injunction prohibiting further work on the Elevated Rallroad extension, pro- cured at the instance of Mr. Patten, proprietor of the Pacific Hotel, as nominal plaintiff, should not be con- tinued, Messrs, Mathews and Dillon appeared on be- half ot the railroad company, and Roger A. Pryor and Mr. Strong for Mr. Patten, Mr, under the act of 1867, an injunction can only be | granted against this road by a Judge of the Supreme | Court. Chief Justice Daly intimated that he considered the | Bection referred to unconstitutional Mr, Mathews next argued that the complaint says | We road was ‘uly incorporatea”’ under the acts of 1867, 1868 and 1873, without any allegations of these | kets being unconstitutional. Now these acts empow- | tred them to run over Greenwich street and make ex. | tensions, Moreover, Judge Brady has given a decision act of 1867 that section 11 uf the act Is con- applicaions for an injunction prete Court. marked that this was just the argued in the titst plac Court, on which he had mus' The Chiet Justice potnt he wished to ha the jurisdiction of given any decision. Mr. Mathews said he only wanted to raise a prelim:- vin, not | i pary objection to pring the case before the General | The Chief Jastice Said he coviiat receive a prelimi. | nary objection without discussion. } Nit. Pryor reminded the Court that ev if in did | hold the acts of 1867 and 1868, under wh: the com- | to hold their purchases, to be unc tetonal, t were rejected by the act of 1873, chapter 239, section 1, which gives the Common Fleas con. | and coextensive jurisdietion on all civil cases | Supreme Court. Mr. said the Pacific Hotel, west side of Green- wiak street, Wus,beld Iv t+ Ly the relator, and tue jee of Mathews raived the preliminary point that, | P the land was held by the orginal grantee. Last week the defendant proceeded to build @ turnout and switeh, and made excavations into the relator’s vaults under the trom further encroachments, He contended furthe: that the acts of 1867-8 were unconstitutional ; that ibe time for constructing the road expired in 1873, and at all events made no provisions for the turngut; that the road was a nuisance, with the smoke, oil, &c., and it had given no notice of the taking of the relator’s d forthe turnout, and bad made no provi s damages under the Geyeral Railroad a Mr. Mathews, in reply, said this action struck at the | whi je principle of rapid transit, After millions of ere spent and a road rau from the Battery to airal Park, and after nine years, Mr. Patten found that they wero a nuisance. It transit they might as well puil do ‘The tact was, it bad been especis acts of 1867'8, the land in that vicinity belonged to the city, Every allegation cf wrong in any way is met by the defendant's opposing pape, and im such cage an injunction cannot be upheld, He here quoted a decision of Justice Seldon, 16 New York, as to the title streets opened from 1807 to 1813, being entirely vested in the Corporation ; Wetinore vs. Story, 22 Barbour. He submitted afli- davits showing that the road was not a nuisance, that no one but Mr, Patten was making an objection to tbe umerous turh outs constructing at various points, and which were necessary in order that trains could run every ten instead of every twenty minutes, and thus making rapid transit a success, Mr. Pryor, who next addressed the Court, spoke on the question of the constitutionality of the act. The people, he said, had no business to invade the rights of citizens under the pretence of public convenience, The question was whether the plaintitf exhibited a legal right, or a legal wrong properly remedied by the injunctive: relief, The plant! tmpeached the validity of the act under which the defendant claimed to be incorporated, aud held that it was only icorporated under the General Railroad act of 1860, No obstruction of rapid transit was sought by plaintiff He only asked to en- | Join an additional new trespass, the coustruction of the ‘turnout opposite his premises, Detendants operated their road for Years without any turnout, Which 1s an additional track, by which the train can swing from its main track across to the other side of the street until another trato passes, and standing within eleven fect of the plaintiit’s window, whisthng, screaming and light of dropping it oil and obstructing the his hotel, practically destroying his property and making it valueless for hotel purposes. He argued that if this be illegal and unautborized it clearly inflicts a special injury for which aa injunc- tion 18 @ proper remedy. “The records proved the plaintiff to be the owner in fee of the lot from the cen- tre of the street to theriver, An attempt was made to tuke bis property for public uso without compensa- tion, Butevenif the plaintiff had no title to the ground up to the middle of the street, unless the de- fendants bad authority of law, they wero creating a public nuisance, and if any sustained special sammage he wus entitled to un injunction. He then took up the constitutionality of the act under which the defendants fre proceeding. He said that the act of 1857, which stripped the Court of Common Pieas of its anciont, honorable and beneficient jurisdiction, Ww nconstitutional, because being a private bill with only one subject 1n its title, whereas 1t contained threo separate subjects. The act-of 1968 likewise he claimed to be unconstitutional, because it expressed two sub- jects in the title, Supposing, however, both to be con- stitutional, the time for the completion of the work ex- pired October, 187% To overcome these difficulties an act was passed in 1875, which, however, was unavail- ing. iner showing the alleged unconstitutionality of this act, he urged in conclusion that the Court should exert its Injunction arm to intercept that unspeakable out- rage contemplated by the de/endants, ‘Alter a briet rejoinder by Mr. Mathows, Judge Daly took the various briefs of counsel and the other papers for examination preliminary to giving his decision, GREENWICH STREET AGAINST RAPID TRANSIT. The large dining hall of the Pacific Hotel, No, 172 Greenwich street, was crowded last evening witn the enemies of the Elevated Railroad. The German ele- ment of the Fifth and Eighth wards was largely repres sented, and it might almost have been thought, to wit- ness the Teutonic indignation against modern invasion of old notions, that the first settlers of Manhattan Island had come again on the scene to sturdily assert their preterence for old custums, Mr, Edward Heath took the chair at half-past eight o'clock, and Mr, C. Wolverton acted as secretary, The dirst reference by Mr, Andrew Little was to the injunction proceedings detailed above and the argument made by counsel in favor of the property owners. The various committecs made “reports im writing to the meeting, which were read as follows ‘On Ninth avenue, from about the numbers 435 to 763 the property holders were called’ upon, and thirty-seven “names of real estate owners, Who agreed to take at once active means, and to submit to assessments lor the purpose of testing their rights in the courts, from the lowest to the highest, were signed. In their report it was stated that they were suiferers by the Elevated Railway from various causes, the principal being the darkening of their stores and dwellings; the shaking of their build- ings by the passage of the trains; the dropping of oil and refuse on the sidewalks, and general injury to convenience and business. Mr. Andrew Little, chairman of the committee of the Third ward, stated shat he nad called on filteen property owners, who had unanimously agreed to be ussessed for the ‘purpose of abating the nuisance now existing, ag their real estate bad depreciated about forty per cent since the running of the traina on the Ele- vated road. Mr. Patrick F. Lyons, of the Fifth ward, reported that he beld in bis hand thirty-two names of business men and property owners who agreed to stand by the opposition to further encrouchments. A German real estate owner declared that he was not opposed to rapid transit, but was opposed. to his property being ruined without compensation. The committees were con- tinued the same as annuunced in the Hexatb—Measrs, Cheny, Duity, Lite, Graham, Lyons, Pollock, Patten, Kelly and Dolman—tor the purpose of further action alter the injunction decision shall be announced, BARRETT’S CRIMES, THE FUGITIVE LAWYER FOUND TO HAVE BEEN A FORGER, Yesterday rumors were circulated that implicated the fugitive, William C. Barrett, in one of the most glaring forgeries ever perpetrated im this city. Kun- hardt & Co., agents of the Hamburg line of steamers, | were said to have been victimized to the amount of $20,000 through a collision case in which they were the defendants. A Hekato reporter visited the office of Messrs, Kun- bardt & Co. and had an interview with one of the principals, in which he elicited the following remark- | able story :— In the autumn of 1874 Mr. William C. Barrett was acting as legal adviser for the frm of Kunhardt & Co., and defending them in a suit for damages brought by the owners of the Harriet Liveley, originating in a collision with the steamer Hammonia, of the Hamburg 4 The case bad been pending for some time im Nue. the courts, and Messrs, Kunhardt & Co. finally fn- structed Mr. Barrett to bring the matter to an issue, Propositions for a settlement were made to the lawyers of the Iibellants, and on the 8th of November, 1874, Mr. Barrett called on Messrs, Kunbardt & Co, and said be had made arrangements to settio the claim for $19,000, and that he would call for a check for that amount on the following day. On the 9th of November he called and presented a legal document to which Was attached a small slip of paper, bearing the signature of G. F. Botts, Clerk of the United States Court, certifying that theedocument was acorrect copy. The paper itsell was a release from all claims on the part of the libellants. Messrs. Kunbardt & Co. were satisfied and gave a check for $19,000 on the Corn Excbange Bank, payable to the libellants, Messrs. Witham Ives and John Waters, Then, thinking the matter ended, they put the document in their safe, and the whole affair passed away from memory. AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE, A few days atier the departure of Mr. Barrett for Europe Messrs Kuphardt & Co, were surprised by re- ceiving a legal communication, stating that the col- histon case between the Hammopia and the Harriet Livsley would be brought to trial the following week. ‘They (mmediately hunted up “he legal documents they had received from Mr. Barrett, as well as the check, which had been returned from the Corn Exchange | Bank, and paid a visit to Messrs. Reatield & Hill, Mr. Barrett's late partners. On stating the case Messrs, Redfield ana Hill had their books exammed and in- formed Mr, Kanhardt that if Mr. Barret had received any such sum he must have used it for his owa private use, as it was not charged to the credit of the firm. Messrs. Kunhardt & Co. then went to the lawyers for the libellants and were soon ‘satistied that Mr. Barrett had appro- priated the money and forged the signatures on the back of the check, as the lideliants, Messrs. ives & ‘Waters, were absent from New York at the time it was aid. The case will probably give rise to some interesting litigation, as Messrs. Kunhardt & Co. wil! sue the Corn Exchange Bank to rocover the amount. The latter paid the check as it came through the Nassou Bank, where it had been deposited by Mr. Barrett, and they probably were satisfied with Mr, Barrett's indorsement, ROBBING A PENSIONER. James G. Rogers, alias Dalrymple, was arrested yesterday on a warrant procured by Pension Agent James Meleer, of Brooklyn, and taken before United | means to passage through the city at fair rates and States Commissioner Winslow on a chargé of forgery. | It ts alleged that the accused, who was employed as clerk in the Pension Office, was recently sent to the Post Office with several levers containing checks for pensioners, accused of opening a letter contain- ing $90, addressed to a woman in Binghamton, and taking out the money. A couple of days later he forged the pension indorsement ana drew the amount of the check at the Na- onal Bank, The woman itor the money was intended is unable to write aud makes her mark instead, All checks aro stamped “Pont Office,” gud Rogers stamped check which We presented at the bank. He then leit Brook. lyn, apd, going to Washington, listed in the United States Marine Corps under the name of Dalrymple. He was transferred to the United States ship Colo- o, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, On the iaiter sel Mr. MeLeer found bim and caused his arrest, ‘The pfisouer is held to await examimation, NEW YORK HERALD, i} | ment as cheaply as possible. CHEAP CABS. Consternation Among the Livery Stable Keepers. WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY. “No Matter What the Laws Are the Prices Will Be the Same.” A NEW DEPARTURE FORESHADOWED, The District Telegraph Company in the Field. ~ The feeling against the extortionate dealings of the hack proprietors in this city grows apace, and the ne- cessity for reform in the methods of enforcing the rates of charge prescribed by the ordinance published on Tuesday in the HERALD 18 now more gonerally un- derstood. The ordinance is a fair one, when compared with ordmances of former years, but it is of litue value, because no greater eflorts are made to force compliance with it, Undoubtedly the licensed hack- men are furnished with copies of ‘the article’? which is to govern them in the future; but these they carry in their pockets, and unless the public are familiar with the ordinance no check can be placed on rapa- ejous drivers. hg In the drst place, the wayfarer has no means, unless Previously aware of the fact, of learning the distance he has been conveyed, so that he may be compelled to Pay the fare allowed for three miles when he haa only been driven one, and, in the second place, custom has always permitted the driver to get his own rates. For these reasons the livery stable keepers and owners of cabs, when spoken to on the subject of ‘hack extor tuoa,”* are only too ready to lay the greatest share of the blame upon their employés. They say, deprocatingly, that the public should not condemn them for what they have not been able to control, Their vehicles are sent out to tho stand at the disposal of the drivers, and the latter invariably make their own bargains with customers, which bargains are not as advantageous as they might be to the customers, The truth is, however, that livery stable keepers have been in the habit of making rates to suit themselves, so that scarcely any two in the city are governed by the same rates. Urdinances are worthiess so far as they are concerncd at present, and complaints are made by the hundred without producing any visible reform or relief COMMON RXTORTIONS, The abuses so annoying to the public at large are of everyday occurrence and so prevalent that little atten- tion is paid to them. Even the sufferers do little more than remonstrate with the hackman. No one’ ever thinks of invoking the aid of tne police, The upi- versal custom is to growl and pay, Ail sorts of in-+ stances of extortion are related by people who have been forced to give ridiculously high prices for cabs, Their mere recital would hardly be deemed true. . For example, a gentleman residing in the Ninth ward hired a hack to take him from the French steamship dock to Brooklyn. He paid the ferriage to that city, and when he reached his destination he dismissed the hack. Of- fering to settle, he was surprised to learn that his bill was $7. He bad occupicd the hack not longer than an hour, He foamed, fretted and contested this charge, ‘but the driver was inexorabie, and to save an unpleas- antecene the gentleman paid. The queerest part of: the transaction follows:—This passenger hired another cab at Miller's stablo, in Brooklyn, on the same aay, to bring him back to the foot of Canal street in New York. The charge for this second journey was only $3 Again, the custom used to be, and is undoubtedly still in well ordered livery stables, to keep a printed schedule of rates hang conspicuously in the office, go that one could know what ho was bound to pay either for time or distance. The usual charge by time was $1 50 an hour below Forty-second street, if the horses were not kept continually on the move. Now, the livery stable men ask what thoy please asa rule, and are nearly always unwilling to let bucks on time at all They wantadistance fixed and set their own rate for it. TUR LAW NOT ENFORCED, Section 7 of article 3 of the new ordinance referring to rates and prices of tare says that “To and through Central Park from any point in and between Four- teenth and Forty-second streets and returaing, with privilege of keeping carriage three — bours, the fare shall be $5.” There ts not a back- man in this city that abides = by this Jaw, unless he deais with a customer who can control him, As arule the charge tor this drive ts $8, and even at that fare the average hackinan does hot care to go. Section 9, which reads that the fare shall be $6 fora hack toand through Central Park, trom any point below Fourteenth street and north of 175th street to Kingsbridge and returning, with priv- tiege of keeping the carriage three hours, is almost totally disregarded, Of course, the hackmen acknowl- edge that it ts the law; but they do not considei them- selves bound to take a man such a distance simply be- cause he offers the legal fare, As the bookkeeper at Reilly’s stable said to a Heap reporter on Tuesday, “Lhe ordinance is well enough in its way, but people that want hacks will pay the price that is asked tor them, The ordinance won’t make any difference in our business,” said the clerk. ‘Things will go om about the same.” WHAT RATES WOCLD SUIT. There is a great diversity of opinion as to the rates that might be considered by both passenger aud pro- prietor tair, The latter consider the rates prescribed by the new ordinance very reasonable; the former, at arule, pronounce them too high, The proprietors complain, Like everybody else, of the “hard times’? and the high wages they have lo pay their help “It is all. very weil to speak of the London and Paris rates,"” said a livery man yesterday ; you don’t know how much more it costs to run a couch here than iu either of the other eities,”? “Well, how much do you pay your drivers!” said the repo “Oh, all the way from $12a week up. Some men, especially old hands, we give as high as $18 a week.” rer. there are no actually fixed rates for the wages {of the help. Every stable keeper conducts his establish. The hands do not con- For example, im a livery. table on the West side of the town, below Tenth street, the drivers say that they do not get more than $12 on an average, Where, then, the wag «i other ex- penses of running the business are irregular, it 18 to say, with any accuracy, just Low cheaply a cab and its outfit can be splaced in profitable service, No two men agree on this point, The whole craft, however, is in unison thus tar—they will get what’ they can from the pnblic, They kuow that, under existing cir cumstances, they cannot be checked, The ordinance may have been passed and printed, but it cannot be eniorced successtully they think. ANEW SYSTEM TO HE INTRODUCED Among the expedionts suggested for getting rid of the cab grievance, or in some degree modilying it, 1s the establishment of a cab system by the American Distriet Telegraph Company, or their forming a con- Uract to act in conjunction with some firm already en- gaged in runing such vehicles. It was thought that @ combination of signals might be ari a cab could be telegraphed for and despatched to any place having communication with the company's otfces, This would do away with delays, and, by hav- ing a stated schedule of rates established, overcharges and the impositions so much in practice wouldg be uarded against, As there are in many private resi- Sences and’ in nearly all the hotels and other publie places telegraphic communication with 's offlves, this scheme could goon be systema- tized and reduced to practical working order, To acer themselves well paid. eh ged by facilitate it oitices might be established within easy | distance of cab stands, or cabs belonging to the com- pany might constantly be kept in waiting. Various busmess men abouttown to whom the ‘was brouched regarded tt with favor, and stated their conviction that some such system is sorely needed and must sooner or later be introduced. They said that the difficulty of securing transit by means of such vehicles occurred to every one having any occasion for their Irequent use, and the well known aptitude of their drivers for imposing upou passengers had created @ general disinclination to employ them except in cases ot urgent necessity. They thought that the system proposed would be one likely to subserve the interests of every one, as it would afford ready and commodious consequently would increase the demand for cab ser- vice. To ascertain how practicablegsuch a sy be a H<xano reporter calied upon Mr. B. W. Andrews, President of the American District Telegraph Company, and, after submitting the proposition, requested his oprnion of it, “Wny,’? said Mr. Andrews, “I am just engaged im perfecting such an arrangement as you suggest, Owing 10 certain peculiarities of our signal system 1 would be diMcult to adopt precisely the pian you bave proposed, bat I ¢ in Course Of settlement a contract with @ jarge cab company woleh, | think, will enable me to ages sought. "” Mr. Andrews then detaned the f tem, ‘There ta, between the com oases ity. Ip all of these cards will be lett, on whieh are printed a list of the diferent kinds of Yehicies employed in cab service, With the charges for different periods and a space desiguating Particular stable leit tor any THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 187 \ “tive minutes were occupied in goin cases, th are to be When a vehicle tn wanted 8 bo wetgraphe the ives the the time, with his signature card is then delivered at the company’s office by the cabman, who there receives compensation for his services, leav- ing the passenger to setile with the District Telegraph Company. “Il baw steps to introduce this system, “and within the next two weeks I am led to believe that 1 shail be able to de- clare it in tical we ng shape,” “Butdo you not thiuk,’? said the reporter, “that immediate communication with the cab stand would expedite matters and a against delays in tho de- livery of the ” “Oh, 1 think the diff, rence in timo is very immater- ial. The messenger boys can reach gny spot from which a telegram is sent in two minutes at the most, and Teceiving full particulars about the vebicle Zeit annoying mistakes may be effectually rded against. Besides, the establishment of other sig- nals would be necessitated by the bang yoo suggost, and this would tend to distort and complicate the system now in use. I have seen a mention made of the remissness of tho messengers in to-day’s Hen- LD which, though evidently intended in a kindly spirit, is Somewhat too sweeping, and is apt to mislead public opinion, From our books 1t appears that there are four thousand calis received at our offices daily, yet in six months there are only twenty instances reported of delays, running from twenty to thirty minutes, From the Hxnaup article, however, one would judge that these delays were of far more frequent occurrence. They have been most generally occasioned by accl- dents arising from no fault of the company’s em- ployés, but trom causes altogether beyond their reach. For instance, it sometimes happens that the Atlantic or Western Union wires drop down upon ours, abd again, in storms, our communication is once in a while broken off, and cun only be restored when the wires are repaired, I have also known messages on a certain occasion to be intercepted by malicious persons cutting the wires, but such accidents are of extremely raré occurrence, and I anticipate uo trouble from them, 8o far ag the cab system 1s concerned. By exacting a daily report of the number of messages ‘received at each office every hour we are enabled to 80 distribute ouremployés that an adequate force is always on hand.” Mr, Andrews then went on to say that he In- tended during the centennial seasun to supply not only cabs but guides, interpreters and commissionaires, for whose services strangers visiting the country would have occasion. P A GREAT WANT. To Tux Epitor ov THe HERALD; — Your article yesterday on cheap cab fares strikes the nail on the head—it refers to a want greatly felt in this community, What is the use of being progressive, en- terprising and all that if we cannot bring it practically to bear on an everyday comfort like this, It appears to me that the whole difficulty lies in our confused and uncertain ideas of distance, mystified by the compll. cated details of the city ordinance, Tho mystery of the distance of any given residence to, say, the Cort- landt street ferry, is 80 deep that wo are'at the mercy of the driver, when his compensation by law depends ‘on the distance travelled. My suggestion is to discard the question of distance altogether from the municipal ordinance and make time alone the basis of compensa- tion, Say, for instance, every cab is required to have conspicuously on the inside the following, where all who run may read:. ‘Two persons, for less than half an hour. ‘Two persons, for three-quarters of an hot ‘Two persons, for one hour... Jn the glance of an eye the confused stranger, as well us the better acquainted citizen, can sec by his watch what he has to pay, mo matter where be wants to go. As you say in your admiravle article, thousands would freely and constantly use the cab for short trips of ten or fifteen minutes, if it only costs fifty cents, in preference to the horse car, which does not take him directly where he wants to go. Th:s compensation, being about double that allowed in London, ought to be suflicient here, The driver would have no chances for extortion by exaggerating distances, The cab owner would be amply compensated by the greatly increased use of his vehicle. The community would be relieved trom the necessity of bargaining beforehand on the possiblity ot dispute afterwards, A simple comprehension of the whole subject will prevail, The driver would go home every night with his pockets full of honestly earned money, and everybody would pe happy. New 'Youx, April 5, 1876. HOROLOGE, 4 JEHU'S OPINION, To tux Eviror or Tax Heratp:— “You treat the subject of licensed hacks all one sided. I think ff you had got some information from a respon- sible party in the business you would have givena different description, or none at all. ¥ou don’t say anything about the cost of running a team and car- riage in New York, but you quote the London prices, which receipts per day would not pay the driver's ‘wages in New York, only one of the many tema The thing you propose has been tried by the New York Tramsier Company, a Bot, pay. ‘The becknoy. coaches are the poores! @ present prices, anything you ch ipohen Look at the condition of the majority in the business; go among the carriage mak- ers and seo the trouble they have to get tne notes pad given them for new work and repairing, simply bo- cause there is no money in ranning @ coach—the cost being Sve dotlars a day, saying nothing about interest, sick, lame or dead horses, or accidents they are liable to, There is no more reason why our prices should be regulated by law than the high prices you charge for advertising, which 1 have otten paid i paper. I don’t think you will publish this; but 1 think if you cannot do something to better the condition of the unfortunate in business you should not do or say as to make it any worse JEHU, sw York, April 4, 1876, OUR DISTRICT TELEGRAPH AND CHEAP CABS. To rux Epiror ov Tae Hrratp:— In your issuo of to-day I noticed an editorial headed “Our District Telegraph System.” Having some knowledge of the facts in the case I desire to commu- nicate them to the public through your columns, The reason of the decline in promptness and certainty of the system is not the result of culpability or negligence of the officers in charge, but in the messengers them- selves, which is induced by the over strictness and subordination they are being brought to. As a proof of this you say, and rightly, that in the beginning it was noted for promptness, &c. Now, a little ov year ago there were got up certain new rules, which Bubjected the boys to fines of either extra hours or money deducted from their pay. This change was fur- ther strict by the fact that they were spied on by offl- cers of the company, and every little incident taken advantage of to fine them, Now, such a system, as any body knows wno has had experience with boys, will work @ contrary effect to what it is intended for, and nurse in the boys’ teehngs a spirit of opposition which can be very effectual when Toused and combined in 500 or 600 boys. In connection with this District Telegraph, 1 think it would be the best instrument for the establishment of a “cheap cab system,” thereby combining fire, police, messenger and cab calls in one instrument. Hoping you will sce fit to publish this statement, 1 remain, respectfully yours, MP. T. Nuw York, April 5, 1876. MUST HAVE THEM, To tax Epitor or tax Heratp:— 1 read with Interest your editorial in this morning’s paper on “Carriage and Cab Fares.” It does indeed seem strange that we cannot have a ‘cheap cab sys- tem” in this city. As you truly say, the average citi- zon will not use a cab or carriage here unless absolutely compelled to do so, on account of the exorbitant charges of the hackmen. In more ways than for pleas- ure riding are cabs needed here. Last week, having a very sudden and alarming case of iliness in my family, I was obliged {o go at once to the house of our physi: cian, some distance off, Not a cab or carriage was in sight (aud even had 1 secured one, the driver, seeing my haste, would bave charged me three or four times the proper fare), so I was forced to go bv car, and as itconveyed me leisurely to my destination you can perhaps judge how tortured I was in mind. Thirty- and retarning from the doctor's, and in Loudon I could have gone the same distance, by a “two wheeler,” in fifteen minutes, @t a cost of about eighteen pence, Some few years ago, upon returuing from Europe, I was struck (and “stuck! too) by the great contrast iu cab fares hero and there. Taking a four-wheeled cab from my hotel in Paris to the railway station, a distance of about three-quarters of a mile, 1 was charged three francs (about sixty cents), including my trunk on top and the pourdoire, Arriving in New York, at the White Star dock, I took a@ carriage to Brookiyn and was only charged $10! Agitate the stehenp cab system” here, if you please, Mr, Editor, It would prove a blessing to our city. c New Yous, April 3, 1876, CATHOLIC TEMPERANCE UNION. ‘The National Catholic Temperance Union has agreed to confer upon the boys of the Catholic Protectory at Westchester, N. Y., the aegree of Cadets of Temper. ance, entitling them to all the privileges of full mem bers of the Order and to be represented at the National Convention, without the payment of initiation fees or monthly ducs, Next Sanday Alexander Patten, Presi- dent of the New York State Diviston of tue Catholic Temperance Union, will initiate the boys, under the auspices of Rev, Brother Tellow. The services promise to be of an interesting character and will be partic pated in by a tes from pearly every temperance organization of this ity. The band of the holic Protectory, composed exclusively ot boys from four- teen to eighteen years of ago, will ceremonies at the dedication of the massive temper- ance fountain at Philadelphia on the Fourth of July. POLISH CATHOLIC CHURCH. The Polish Catholics of this city have recently com- pleted a mew church in Henry street. The church needs iaty Any! A much, and contributions are asked for a 1 Wo be held during Easter week, to raise 6.~-TRIPLE SHEET, _ daily OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE. The Coming Contest of the Universities’ Crews. Probabilities of Cambridge and Oxford Meet- ing in Fours at Philadelphia. Purxey, March 23, 1876. It is amusing to observe the tone, almost bordering on indignation, in which our daily journals here regard the increasing interest now taken in boat racing, and particularly in the annual contest between our repre- sentative University crews, and how they look back with something akin to regret on the good old days when the now absorbing ‘Water Derby” was witnessed by only a few enthusiasts and professional watermen. Is seems bard to thom that a temporary mania (as they Tegerd it) of the public mind should necessitate the mastering of an entirely new dictionary of slang by un- bappy journalists, and 1 see an article in one of our rs of which the writer evidently prides bim- self on his ignorance of all terms and phrases connécted with the ignoble pastime, and thinks that if the publio were in their senses they would do the same. Horse racing 18 a national sport, carried on pretty nearly all the year round, and honored by two or three columns of each journal every day; it is nobly and widely patronized, and therefore must be held of vital importance independent of intrinsic merit, and the man of the pen, therofore, thinks it an Englishman’s duty to be well up in all stable “lingo.” Boating, however, is very different to his mind. Match- ing the bodily prowess and powers of endurance of eight gentlemen against eight more in @ contest of four and a half miles, where no landsharks or bookmakers dare attempt an interference with a view to getting “the straight tip’ or “doctoring” one of the competi- tors, sinks below all comparigon with the performances of a member of the brate creation, though it be the noblest one, In these the bookmaker may safely stake his capital on the assurance that, in the worst cvyont, be can ‘manage’ the jockey or “doctor” the likely winner, and so the sport becomes inore ékciting from the additional uncertainty as to whether tho best animal wili be the winner. The fact 18 that high’strung and unwholesome excitement of this kind hag almost eliminated from our fashionablo sports the only elements that clevated them, skill and endurance, and substituted for the healthy exerciso of body and mind a wearing and Gegrading influence. Howover, disregarded and des- pised though it be among certain classes of our country- men, yet sufficient interest has been created by tho ar- rival of TUE CREWS AT PUTNRY to draw thousands to the banks of the Thames, even in the middie of a blinding snow storm, to witness the début of the light and dark bluea. The Oxford men put im an appearance on Monday last at about twelve o'clock, taking up their quarters at the Fox and Hounds as on former occasions. They lost no time in jJaunching their Clasper, and at three o’clock in the afternoon startea from Mortlake, on a strong ebb tide, increased by land-water, to do the whole course of four and a half miles, which they completed in 21m. 803., uncommonly fast for a first attempt. THR DARK BLUES, x Thoy row together like ono man, and seem no more troubled by the rough water than ifthey were propel ling a man-of-war's gig. Lord Londesborough has kindly chartered @ steamer for their coach to lecture them from, They have brought with them two ships, both built by Clasper, and it is still uncertain which of them they will employ on the day of the race; -| but they are as nearly as possible alike, and there is little choice. Clasper’s boats are famous for the *‘stiff- ness”’ of the build, and are unsurpassed for travelling buoyantly through a heavy sea, so that if tho 8th of April happens to be rough the Oxonians will have a decided advantage in their craft. No chango has been made in the crow since onr last letter was sent, ex- cept that Williams has been removed from No, 7 to No, 3 and Marriott has taken his place. No, 7 thwart seems to produce awkwardness in its occupant, who- ever he may be, (sega lg to some slight dofect in the construction. slide seews to be hardly opposite the. gee ay this may possibly be the cause. eras, w ofttemtes as. No, 2, the long course and hard work come heavily on bim, and looks each day aferhe returns trom exercise asif he had had about enough of it. The other men look well trained and of powerful calibre, and there is a subdued air of conscious superiority about them that asgures ono that they have little doubt in their own minds as to the result of the coming race, THE CANTALS ‘were somewhat later in their arrival on Monday, but they did not ‘allow the grass to grow under thelr feet notwithstanding. After sotthng themselves down tor an bour or soat a private house in ‘The Cedars,” Put- ney, which they have ronted for the occasion, they jod to the river and made trial of the Thames at about half-past three. The ship ee. are at present using haz been built for them by Searle, of Cambridge and London, under the superimtendence of Dunton, Mr, Searlo’s foreman, who has now gained a great reputa- tion as constructor of stiff and fast boats. The craft measures 66 feet from stem to stern and is 9 inches deep at No, 6's thwart, easing off to 7 inches at the bow and 6 at the sternpost She ts 24 inches in beam at tho widest vent and taken altogther is a creditable piece of workmanship. Messrs. Swaddle & Winship (a name familiar to you) have been engaged on a second ship for them, which is now finished and, we expect, will reach Putney about Friday next, the 24th. As to the component — of the crew as much is scarcely to be expected rom them in the matter of “form” as from the Ox- onians, considering that only two members of a pre- ‘vious contest are to be found in it as against six m the Oxtord boat, Consequently a great deal of loose and “independent” rowing is observable, and when they encounter Fough water their appearance is such as to draw remarks efviolent disapprobation from the casual Spectators on the bank. Those, however, who look more closely into the merits of the team do not think so despairingly of them, and when we allow for the fact ‘that hitherto they have been pertorming on compara- tively smooth water (the Cam being screened by trees upon its banks), we shall net be so discour to find them inferior to their adversaries during the first week of their practice on rough water. The Oxonians, it must be remembered, have had high winds. and waves to battle with all the time of their six weeks’ training previous to this, $0 the Thames at pres- ent is in comparison smooth to them. ‘THE CAMBRIDGE STROKR. The light biues, however, have a great number of redeeming points, Their stroke is long and sweeping, and if they could manage to put a little more dash into the beginning, would be unexceptionable. Some of the men, Nos. 4 atid 6, for instance, scafcely drive ‘the oar straight through the water, while No. 5 bus never eradicated his besetting sin of deepening his oar as he goes back, thus taking up volumes of water on itand consequently rendering his recovery dificult, Such faulis as these are of course aggra- vated aud made more observable by the change to rough water, but three weeks’ training on the Thames may be trusted to make great improvements in this respect, Taking THN CREWS AS 4 WHOLR, and supposing that they progress pars passu from the present time there can be little doubt but that Uxtord will wim tne day; bowever, the more room there is for improvemeut io such aifairs the moré rapid that im- provement generally is, 80 we expect the light blues to take more expeditious strides in that direction, as in their case there certainly is no lack of room, and the | odds on Oxford, which are now at 7 to 4, will, without doubt, come down'cousiderably before the day of trial arrives, Taking matters as they stand now most people pin their faith to Oxford, out I dare say shorty atter ‘tuis reaches you the flash of the wire will have shown you the truth or falsity of their surmises, PROBABILITIES OF TWO UNIVEROITY CREWS ROWING AT THR CENTENNIAL As regards the answers to the invitation for Phila- delobia this summer, | have had two interviews with Mr. Close, the Cambridge University Boat Club Presi- dent, ou the subject. From my conversation with him 1 gather that thero is a certainty of one four-oar at least gong over, but whether that one will be an official and representative crew from the university or & private undertaking on the part of some of the under- graduates, or, it may be, one from each of these sources, will depend altogether on the resylt of this race, Men do not like to venture ou an expedition 80 important and expensive until they have first found Out what sort of metal they have available, From Ox- ford the answer is much to the same effeck They aa yet have every reason to be satistied with themselves, #0 4 believe that one crew at least from each of the universities may be expected by you with confidence, THE FOCR-OARKD RACK I spoke of in my last jevter as antict here, to con- tend for the name of Champion crew and the honor of rej ting us as such at Philadelphia, bas unhappily failen through, at least tor the present, owing to the difficulty found in adjusting preliminaries, su “venue,” of trial of speed, &c. Such troubles seem to be always difficult to surmount in the case of profes- sionals, but though it is given up for the present we must not therefore calculate that we have the Jast of it, as it is more than likély that 1t wilt be on the tapis again before long. PRACTICR WORK. p ang yd be peda to the river to have begs 9 glimpse ¢ rival crews beiore despatching this, Mt seems to me that even in the four ‘short days the Cambridge men have spent on the Thames progress bas been such as oven to sanguine hopes, They have ‘water, and now lilt the boat i al; at | H ; | capital piece of ro for it. There seems very little to choose between the crews ek same indeed, only that there is always such a tei to crack up the time of the non-favorite more than it de- serves, 1 should say that Cambridge had the better chance, However, it 1s well known that men who have. tried their feat ya before and know their powers never do their utmost in mere practice, and the irreproach- able time and swing of the Oxonians count for a groal deal in such a long and trying contest. IRISH RIFLEMEN COMING. THE COUNCIL OF THE IRISH RIFLE ASSOCIATION DECIDE TO SEND A TEAM TO THE CENTEN NIAL—THE CORRESPONDENCE, Dvatix, March 23, 1876, The instability of human resolutions was nigh re ceiving a fresh illustration yesterday. The Council a the Irish Rifle Association met to receive the forma report of the deputation appointed to solicit Majo Leech’s co-operation in organizing an Irish team fot the Centennial rifle matches in America. The Majors reply, a8 you already know, was favorable. He wat -present yesterday, and read the following letter from Major General Shaler :— New York, Feb. 28, 1876, CRE Uh Tins: hla alle alee isi, * Now, my dear Major, please thank your friendt way ‘companies in’ my name, nos only for thelt brance of me, but for the splen Tioraiity, but! we wilt asa you the best we ean it - rt 1e best we of and ‘help te here this your. We have will come over and Test for au olagton Wenkee prise, and only. ask you to Seis Sah teen We iad tate al teem eae Oates tae From ‘Australia, one from Prince iward Island, from Ireland, and will England send one? The Americans can hardly to win st such @ field We shall feel terribly disappoint sented. How can she stay coming? sincerely, hope Str with hls presence, "We have friends thet we can hardly: bin and Is that he will deel would assume to influence ot! ‘not gotten up this mateh for the ry ti sh witl y particular coual but for tho of Inaugurating = veries of matches’ tn whlch re possible number may pa is the anniversary of oar pean Mer Menlcgierts ane ee aa se it #0. tigerent nm act as Saybody. “We extend our Bands aad open oar arme te all ritiemen that represent separate colonies, If we Mited but one toam from Great Britain aud’ Treland we m Chandn, Prince Ha. of the same gove jon you ‘recogmize is ach, rishmen, Scotchmen, men Csnadians as and way should not wet We haye followed in the tracks of Rifle Association of Great Britain in this, as we alo dre Oy gah fertssinog “1h we shal ond an representation. can’ do anything, dear Major, 10. bring st about, ehaif be to you, Ouir, people all say that we will m from Ireland, bat you have not — 50, . 0) rt Kn great influence. xpressions of it and esteem Accept most cordial expressions oy SANDEE SUALER. In the discussion which ensued it was iy Mr. John Rigby that before finally sending a reply to the Aerican {invitation they shoul Sir Henry Halford, onthe part of the National Rifle Association of Great Britain, proposed to make an: further arrangements, instead of the ‘Imporial’? team, which had been abandoned. But it seemed to the meeting that already, out of deferonce to British views and wishes, too much time had been allowed to elapse before replying to the American invitation; and a Tesolution was adopted unanimously ‘that the American invitation be accepted on the part of Iro- land.’ The secretary was then directed to reply to the president of the National Rifle Association of America, accepting their invitation on the part of the Irish riflemen, A sub-committee was also appointed to frame rules for the preliminary competitions to select the Irish team, Mr, Rigby then moved and Major Leech seconded the following resolution, which was passed :— 2 Resolved, That a challenge be sent to the riflemen of Ameria, through the Amateur Rifle Club of New York, to shoot u return mutch on similar terms to those already ‘at Creedmoor in 1874, and Dollymount in 1875, save as ta targets and rifles, whitch are. to be Creedmoor targets, and any rifle according to Creedmoor rules. The te take place as soon as possible after the Centennial matches. You see the men who were defoated at Creedmoor and Dollymount do not like to lie down sheir defeat. Their motto is, Resurgam, * ‘the Freeman's Journal estimates the expenses con- nected with sending a first clasg team to America at $5, and has called for a national subseri Major ‘h has promised to contribute $2,500, THE CHALLENGE FORMALLY ACCEPTED, Yesterday the National Rifle Agsociation received the following letter:— " ‘TION, No. 110 Gnarvor Senust bunuin, Marcy 25, ‘0. at UBLIN, GaN Te canbe ty vee bemeal. phabe tela Rifle Association tu acknowledge the rs of the invite. tion of the National Kifle Association of America tothe menu of Ireland to be represented in the matches con- templated in honor of the contenuial anniversary of Amer- jean independence. : Tho Council eknowledge with much pleasure, on behalf of Irish ritiemen, the invitation in the cordial spirit in whieh 1% has been tondored, aud t-am to dequaint you thet they pro: tosend a team of Irish rifiemen to compete for the “championship of the world” upon the international oceasion of the centennial of American inde} n the honor to be, gen servant, To ‘ue’ Puxstoent axp Scuetany oF THE NATIONAL RULE ASSOCIATION OF AmERICA. SALE OF THOROUGHBRED SsTOCK, Asale of thoroughbred stock, the property of Mr, Pierre Lorillard and Colonel McDaniels, was held yes- terday morning at the New York Tattersalls by Major Charles W, Barker, the well known auctioneer. The sale attracted a large attendance of prominent gentie- men, among whom were Mr. Louis L. Lorillard, Gen+ eral Aristides, Welch, of Chestnut Hill; Charles W, Bathgate, Dr, James Bathgate, James Galway and James Carr, Mr. Lorillard’s lot wero the first offered at the ham- mer, and Persuader, a good looking chestnut, five years, by volver, dam Kinnikinick, by Ringold, wat knocked down to Mr. J. H. Robbins for $210, The next lot was an old veteran Canwell, an imported chestnut horse,seventeen years, by Stockwell, dam Mary Bell, the dam ot Strachino; he was sold cheap at $133. Atlas, a chestnut gelding, four years, by Asteroid, dam by Revenue, started the bidding and after some competition was awarded to Mr. F. B. Linklater tor $400. Stockland, a three-year-old chestnut + gelding, by imported Canwell, dam Melrose, by Chidde Harold, was Pooh by Mr. Charles Codart for $250. Merlin, a own gelding, three years, by imported Eclipse, dam imported Merry Wife (own sister to Greenslecves), by Beads was given to Mr. J. C. Drayton for $100. ‘The last of Mr. Lorillard’s lot, Vivien, a tour-yeur-old chestnat filly, by imported Leamington, dam Coquette, by Lexington, was bougtit by Captain Moore, of Mo- bile, for $300, : Colonel McDanicls’ lot comprise a bay colt, two its, by Oakland, dam Sarah B., by Planet, which fell for $100 to Charles W. Scott, A two-year-old chestnut felding, by Oakland, dam imported Eastern rw bagghe | mene a eo ae Gibua ont rong. A two-year-old bay gelding, Eo entay tanto, was bought by Mr. Jou Maton for anda chestout mare, eight Se Geiserss, dam by imported Sovereign, was ‘aaete to Major A. P. Green for $125. A number of wagous, harness and blankets were also sold during the sale. TOURNAMENT AT ARMS, The trial combat with military weapons, between Colonel T. H. Monstery and Professor Regis Senac, is to take place on Monday evening next at Tammany Hail The contest will no doubt attract # large audi. ence, as both the combatants are well known proficients in the use of arms, PACIFIO MAIL. SIARTLING RUMORS AS TO THE FUTURE OF THE LINE. From various sources a Heratp reporter gathered yesterday ominous facts in relation to the above unfor- tunate steamship company. Said an ex-director:— “There is no doubt that the indebtedness of Pacina Mail to the Panama Company ia in the neighborhood of $500,000, and that the warfare between Trevor W. Park and Jay Gou'd will continue to the bitter end. ‘Thus far the victory rests with the former. In spite of injunetions the Panaina Kailroad, under the guise of the Panama Transit Company, 1s successfully running steamers in opposition to Pacific Maii, and now that the former company Is determined to charge local rates on all through freight across the Isthmus, traific by the old company’s steamers soon must cease.’ Un the othet it is asserted, by those in the confidence of Jay Gould, that tho late’ issuance of $2,000,000 of bonds was to enable the Wealthy managers of the mail com- y to absorb them, to ft object they steamers of the company, suct City of Tokio, City of San Francisco and pasties W be with im her thdrawa from and the steamers be employed ob tas ay ag tiroly, that being profiiabie trade and acting AS 4 DIRNCT FERUER TO THR UNION PACIFIO Railroad, This seems plausibie, General J. G. McCulloch, Vice President of the Panama so ee ne the reporter that no new developments teteriieeciny a, om tat aah money steamer of the it San tle for Aaprowail ‘Would cortaimly sail on the bring the best iron as the City of Peking, Acapulco,