The New York Herald Newspaper, December 15, 1876, Page 5

4m, | Agamemnon, “THE KING OF MEX” His Loves and His Tragic Fate, THE SPADE AND ITS CRITICS. Dr. Schliemann’s Work Diseussed by Professors Packard and Huntington. DR, ERASTUS EVEREYT’S OPINION. If, as we may believe, Dr. Schliemann has really dis- eovered tho tomb of Agamemnon, the event will bo po of the most important that has occurred in the world of letters. The King of Mycenw was tho con- ial figure in many of the legends of the early Greek pocts and dramatists, Numer sung him the leader of the Greeks in the siege of Troy, and as he was the first of warriors so ac was the inost ardent of lovers, His deeds aro nover sung excopt there be a woman inthe 250, but, like the dissolute lovers of # later ago, he ‘was not allowed peacefally to enjoy his prizes, as wit- ‘ness his denunciation in the Iliad, Book I, of Calchas, Vhe soothsayer, who, when the Greeks pefore Troy had Deen smition with a plague, declared the withholding of the captive maid Chryseis by Agamemnon from her aged fathor, Cbryses, tho priest of Apollo, to be | the cause:— Augur accurst! denouncing mischief still; Pruphet of plagues, forever boding iil! Sul unwst that tongue son ding message bring, And still thy priestly pride provoke thy king? For this are Uhanbus’ oracles explored To teach the Greeks to murmur at thetr lord? this with talschonds is my hong stained, 's heaven offended profaned Skilied in cach art and crowned with every grace, Not balf so dear were Clytemnestra’s charms ‘When first her blooming beauties blest my arms, If one-balf the qualities attributed to Agamemnon $n this speech were his it is little wonder that Clytem- Destra, in her turn, was faithiess to him, and that \n tho end he was murdered by the woman andthe lover who had dishonored him. His quarrel with the mighty warrior, Acutllvs, aroso out of another captive maid, the black-eyed Briseis, whom Agamemnon in- Bisted on taking {rom Achilles because he had been obliged to give up Chryseis to her father, But Cly- temnestra had another cause of complaint against her busband, which it would be difficult for any mother to forgive, even in sho very face of the gods, This wrong was in the sacrifico of his daughter Iphigenia on the altar of Diana, Speaking of this sacrifice Agamemnon is made to say in “Iphigenia in Aulis’ of Eurtpides:— J Jove my children, else T should be void Ot reason. ‘To dare this is dreadful to me, And not to dare adtal. 1 pertoree Must do it, The sccne detween the mother and daughter when this cruel fate was announced 13 not “wrought up,’’ as our modern dramatists wonld have it, but Eurip- ides gives it with sufficient force to show that to ber the announcement of a place among tho gods for her child were vain words of comtort, This is the scene Detween Clytemnestra and Iphigenia:— Why, nother, dost thon shed the: havo a crnei cause that rends m; ‘orbear, nor win by. Clip not those crispe: Nor rove thee in the CLy.—What hast thou sai lost Asobylus regarded the faithlessness of Clytemnestra as due to the sacrifice of Iphigenia, and in the opening Hines of the chorusin “Agamemnon” the old men of silent tears? heart. my spirit. ¢ this. say child, snell nm wa yronsod, woe. child. When thon art Argos are mado to sing:— Mailed chiefs, whose bosoms burn ern; For battle, heard in silence Cries that called a father’: And set at nanght pe tere, cries at ‘And ber sweet virgin lite and blooming Oar Now whon the xolemn prayer wus said, ‘The father gave the dire command To the priestly bund, Men with strong hands and ruthless tore® To lift from earth that maiden fai Where she had sunk in dumb dex And tay with robes all cover Hushed in a swe her beauteo Dumb sullen bauds to stop her ery, Lest aught of an unholy xound Ho heard to breathe those altars round, Which on the monarch's house might hang a deadly spell. With this complaint against her husband and tho consciousness of her guilty love for Ayisthus, it was of the greatost importance to Clytemnestra not to be _ Burprised by the return of Agamemnon, For this urpose she had signal fires arranged all the way from iiftone to Troy to announco the capture of 1 When tho fires are lighted Clytomnestra doomed city. sings :— * Soon shall we know if these Highi beecing lamps, res, Theso watches kept. these intercham. A i cious dream, Ti But soon a herald announces tho fall of Troy, and it ts not long until the “son of Athens” ent the gate vf lions, which are standing still, borne in a triumphal tar, with Cassandra, his mistress, in another. Cly- bemnestra greets him with hypocritical joy. At her commands the ground he treads js covered with em- broideries of costly purple, and he is paid the honors of a gov. Cassandra, too, is welcomed, but by her rophetic vision she foreaces the death prepared both r her and Agamemnon, and cries:— 0, woe, woe, woe! Ob, earth! Oh, gods! Apolio! Oh, Apollo! As ho comes from tho bath Agamemnon is struck the !atal blow by his faithless wife and her paramour, and again Cassandra sings:— Love to sing the dirges of the dead, My own death knell, myself my deatu ‘The sun rides hich but soon will set for y te thee by thy last Nigh who will me honor do, y 1 murderers wreak tho blood Of the poor slave they murder in his chains A nelpless, easy, unresisting victim ! Alas. for mortals! What their power and pride @ A little shadow sweeps it from tie earth! knell ring! And if they preg 4 the fatal hour Comes o'er the record like a moistened sponge And blots it out. - Tradition pointed to the tombs where Agamemnon and the others who fel) victims to Clytempestra’s wratu and fear were buried, and Pausunins bears testic mouy to the spot where tradition fixed their grav i: is these monuments which Dr. Schliemann has just uncarthed, with tne treasures they contained, upon the value of whrch we continue to give the views of leading American scholars and savans this morning. VIRWS OF PROFESSOR PACKARD, OF TALE. Ip a conversation yesterday afternoon, at Yale Col- Jege, with Professor Lewis R. Packard, professor of the Greek langnage and literature, that gentleman said to a HeRatv reporter that he bad read the notice of Professor Schliemann’s discoverjes at Mycenw ‘with great Interest, Abont ten years ago he Visited the site of the ancient plaice, while on a trip through Groece, aud then saw the wall apd gateway of lions roferred to by Pausanins as boing there in 200 A.D. Yet the matter of these tombs of Agamemnon and others is quite another affair, Professor Packard claimed tbat thero is no procf, and it is not probabie that any can ever be pro- duced, to show beyond a question.that these tombs are those of the murdered guests at the banquet ot Cly- temnestra and her Jover. Ho remarked, in illustration of his doubts, that 1 would be easy for an explorer to exhume such antiquities anywhere in the vicimty of a pluce whero legends located them, and to aver that Uhey were genuine, yet ho cou:d not prove it, Pau- Baning gives an account of having seen certain struc- tares then reported to him, by tradition only, as being the “nog piace of Agamotnon and the others, but his account js not so minute that Dr. Schliemann ively identify his discoveries thereby, and if based bis account only on traditions, which alune he had, tt is easy to infer that Prote: ‘bo mistaken, It ig a loi time of Homer's ha and the mystery has. deepened during tho additional sixteen hundred years that bave passed. Protessor Packard, whilo not Prepared to accopt the theories of Dr. Schliemann, re- marked that neither did he wholly discredit them, He failed onty to bo convinced that the nature of these allegod discoveries waa such as ty have any important can Pausduias Dearing on existing uncertainties in Greek history, yet he admitted the importance vf the treasures which had been unearthed and beheved that their inscriptions, style of workman- ship, &c., may furnish important information to the scientific wi either fresh or corroborative of tho accuracy of accepted theories. Mycenw ober ancient places of Greece are in a Jand of fable to the antiquarian Who seeks for facts, and Dr, Sehiiomann, said Protessor Packard, ie undertaking a grand work ingendeavoring to bring forward discoveries which shall settle questions on which there are widely contiicting opinions, Jn response to an inquiry, Professor Packard said he had’soaght all obtainable information relative to the Doctor’s discoveries on tho site of ancient Troy, ‘Dutefailed to fud any convinemng proof that Troy had really been found; it was a large city, in the locality where history places Troy, and that I) that is posi- tively known about i® VIRWS OF PROPRSSOR HUXTINGTOR. Professor Huntington, professor of Greek in Trinity College, Hartiord, was called upon by a Henat. representative at his residence on Tuesday noon, and left a pleasant dinner party to devoio =a few «moments to —archwological topics. fie remarked that he had read Dr. Seti mann's letter w the King of Greece, and bad the highest admiration for the wonderful perseverance of the man in the cause of science, and of his magna- gimity in transferring to the government all the bad found, Professor Huntington regarded the discoveries ns of the most important character and while be Mind the dificalties of establst dng the fact that tl structures are the tombs of Aga- memnon and his friends, he was prepared te accept NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, Dr, Schliomann’s theories a3 correct, inasmuch as they are so well fortifiedsby Grecian historical writings, Pausapias, writing two centuries after Christ, refers to these tombs, to the traditions concerning their oc- cupants and to the deadly-term:natmg feast, and the pe nature of his Jead Lim to be regarded y antiquarians as one of the most reliable of Greek historians, 1s is clear that Professor Sebi iB, however much he may be criticised, has rather the dest of the argument, for he has circumstantial testi- wony of a strong character that be has discovered the jtable tombs, while bis critics, at ihe best, can only aver that the proof is wanting. Professor Huntington said that complete details of the discovery will be awaited with very great interest by tho learned men of the world, and it ts possible and to be hoped that they will be of such a nature as to establish at this late day the truth of what was only a tradition at the time of Pausanias, DU. ERASTUS EVERETT’S OPINION. A Henaup representative waited yesterday upon the above named gentleman, who is professor of the clas- sical languages and literature at nn go nt ‘he Doctor was just about dismissing his fair pupils as the usually dreaded interviewer entered. Professor Everett,” said the man of the press, ‘1 have called upon you in order to elicit your opinion with regard to the recent discoveries purported to have been made by Pr. Schl nn at Mycenm,” “Well,” said the Professor, ‘I would say at the out- sot thac'l was as much gratified as I was surprised at the tidings conveyed in the columns of the Henatp touching Schliemann’s discoveries; and before I go farther 1 wish to say that it is a most encour- aging sign of the times that the most tm- portant and influential newspaper of this land, and perhaps of the world, devotes so much Of its energy and resources to matters purely scientific and hiterary as distinguished from those that aro of a purely political or material character, Such a course ‘on the part of agreat journal cannot fai to procure it hosts of friends among tho educated, who haye long looked for something like the spirit which of late years, whenever opportunity offered, ihe Hrraty has hever faiied to evince, “Now, touching Schiiemazn’s supposed discoveries, I would say that they will not, if thoroughly verified, increase my faith tn the Hiad, which has been so cay- alierly treated as amyth Ly many modern writers of history, And 1 will give you my reason lor so speak- tug. The invenuion of euch characters and incidents as those depicied in Homer would be a much more sur- prising thing than their actual existence, and 1 am, of } Course, naturally inchoed to take that which is most consonant with the ordinury ran of things. “Tam aware that in this t differ essentially from the school which, since the year 1826, has chosen to throw discredit upon nearly the whole of ancient bistory up | to within three centuries of the Christian era, But f have always bad an abiding faith in the rehabilitation, it J may so call it, of the great Ggures of ancient his- ind 1 have never had any moro ‘Istence of Homer’s beroes than T bavg of such characters as Heory V. or Gloucester, Blount or Buckingham, in the plays of Sbakespeare, Men do not sit down and invent characters like illes, Agamemnon or Priam it they have had no etence, ”” ‘Then, toieave Mycenw for an instant,” sald the ARRALD man, ‘it would seem to be your opinion that Dr, Schliemann did actually come upon the ruins of ancient Troy and upon the palace of Priam?” “Lam of opinion that Dr Schhemann did discover the site of ancient Troy and that his deductions aro sufliciently borne out by facts 1 am aware that many supposed authorities controverted his statements rather bitterly; but ft isa very easy matter to deny and carp when one bas not been at the trouble of mak- | ing discoveries. 1t would be possibly more difficult for these doubting Thomases to say what the ruins dis- covered by Schliemann are if they deny them to be those of Troy. Men who know a great deal are in the habit ot contradicting such statements as those of Schliemann with very great caution, Literary fledg- | lings tnd less diMeulty in questioning everything, | This isa very cheap method of covering ignorance, which is always aggressive on the negative side of every question. ’? i “Thon aro you inchned to believe, Professor Evorett, that Schliemann has uctually discovered the grave of Agamemnon??? “It would be unwise to Wnture ap opinion upon that point until we have in detail all the evidence which Dr. Schliemann Bas to adduce in favor of his present assumption, As far as | have been able to gather from the columns of tho Hekanp, which is the only newspaper that bas given the news, it seems to me that the assumption thet the tomb discovered is actually that of Agatnemnon is uot, as yot, suiticiently borne out, either by direct or collateral’ testimony. In all these cases the only thing which could give positive certainty would be the discovery of inscrip- tons or such treasure ag would absolutely fx the date of the interment of the oecupant of the tomy, Now, jn the time at which Agamempon ts supposed to have Hved it was not customary to mako inscriptions on funereal monuments, and, consequently, much will have to be Jett to inference both on the part of Dr. Schliemann and on that of tho literacy pubic.” “But | presume you are tolerably satisfied that Dr. Schhemann hus made an important discovery in the Peloponvesu: “About that i do not think there is any doubt, and i in so far I am of opinion that his discovery is one ol greatimportance, All sach discoveries like those of Ve Cesnola have a very important besring outside thor merely archreological aspects, They are indi- rectly acheck upon the scepticism which has from the time you were a boy upto the present so mnu- dently asserted itself. The iconociasis will now have to turn round and pare the existence of these things, which, supposing their theories to be true, ought pever to bave existed. And here I may say that 1 am a firm beitever im ancient history as it has been handed down to us. In view of the possible con- firmation of the accounts furmsbed us th the ancient and De Cesnoia as of the very tirst importance, and ! do not think too much credit con be g:ven to the Nr York HxRap Jor tbe spiendid enterprise whieh it hi 80 long exhibited in this and ail kindred matters. Such undertakings honor and elevate journalism and reflect immense credit upon the men who conduct newspapers in the way in which the New York Hgrato has for so many years led the van."” ARCHBISHOP BAYLEY'’S HEALTH, classics, Llook upon these discoveries of Schliemann | LIFE INSURANCE. SMASHES. A Glance at the Continental’s Glaringly Falsified Accounts. SOME SUGGESTIVE FIGURES. The “Sceurity” That Was Inseeare—Who Shall Insure the Insurers! INTERESTING TO POLICY HOLDERS ——_—>-—— In the absence of any effort on the part of the re- ceiver of the Continental to satisfy public inquiry the results of a careful examination of the published ro- ports of that company are given below for the beneft of our readers, It should be remembered that all cal- culations are based npon the company’s figures, which many good authorities claim to be unreliable, Still, upon this basis even, enough is shown to potnt out gross falsifications and misstatements. A leading ipsurance journal, ued at Boston, Mass,, recently published a series of tables purporting to show the condition ot the company on December 31 in each year {rom 1860 to 1875, inclusive. A com- parison of these tables with tho detailed annual stato- ments of ®e officers of the company, furnished under | oath to the Insurance Department of this State, show but few differences, and all of them are in fayor of the company. The apoual statements afford the clearest evidence of a system of Lookkceping 80 com- plicated as to almost defy the ‘skill ef tho most experienced accountant to unravel ut, A well known insurance actuary toll the Hyrayp roprosentative that it was useless to try to determine the condition of the company’s aflairs, as there were At present no reliable data upon which to proceed. Another gentleman, who is thoroughly versed in the intricacies and wilful complication of accounts by officers of corporations, pronounces tho bookkeeping of this company the worst hoe has ever examined, In fact, this opinion ts general among insurance experts, | and thero are not a fow who boldly affirm that tho ac- counts of the Continental have been grossly falsided from its organization, A fow examples will suffice to demonstrate the correctness of this assertion, The company began business in 1866 with a capital redid $100,000 Total..... Expenses, cash.. Policy bolders, cas! Baiance seeeee Add outstanding premium: Total assets December 31, It will be observed that tho ums” were estimated worth their faco in cash, a very improbable supposition. But even this did not satisfy the cupidity of the officers, for they return their assets atthe date named as $295,845, or $18,850 more than by any possibility they coald be made. The avnual statement of December 31, 1874, shows thot the company then held pre- mium notes to the extent of., 941+ $2,040,143 ‘At that date an error existed in favor of the company of,..... wecces. 416 | Correct balance...........-++ $2,149,727 This amount was increased in 1875 by. 670,873 Total... sssee+ $2,810,600 Deduct pri 1875. oe 604,387 Balance remaining December 31, 1875, .... $2,206,213 Amount claimed by the company as on hand on that uate,,... teeeeeesege 1,987,700 To be accounted for....... If a defictency of ovor $268,000 was possible in one item of assets alone, it is clearly impossible to form an opinion, even approximately correct, as to the real condition of the company upon such data as its officers have given to the public, RACKIPTS AND DISHURSEMENTS, The following bricf statement shows tho entire re- ceipts and disbursements from 1866, to. 1874,.ineln- sive:— LIABILITIES. Policy holdeérs’ cash, ten years, Policy holders’ notes, ten yea: Expenses, cash 4)650,114 Balance December 31, 1875. 6,811,062 Total... e+e $10,679, 760 Most Rev. J. Roosevelt. Bayley, Archbisbop of Balti. more and Primate of America, remains at tho episco- pal residence in Newark, his old quarters, owing to tho impaired condition of his health. His physicians state that, thoagh his malady is serious enough to oc- casion tho greatest care and caution, it is uot by any means dangerous, They had recommended aim a com- plete cessation of Jabor and a change of climate; had adv:sed him to go to Mentone, in the south of France. Upon tho eve of the day of starting with Bishop Corri- gan, in tho Algeria, however, the Archbishop himself thought the sea voyage in winter and the travel on the other side before reaching the *‘sunny south’ of France might result seriously, and so he decided not to go, In a few days he will go Instead to Florida. BOARD OF ALDERMEN. CITY DEBT AND THE BROOKLYN CALAMITY— MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS. Arocgular meeting of the Board of Aldermen was hold yesterday afternoon, with Mr. Samuel A. Lewis in the chair. Aresolution author'zing the exocution of a bust of the late Mayor Havemeyer by Miss Julia GriMn, at au expense not to exceed $1,000, was Iaid over for future consideration, The Ninth regiment, N.G., sends iv a protest against the transfer of thoir armory from present beadquartors tothe corner of Nintn avenuo aud Twenty-soventh street, which was laid on the tabic, Tie CITY DEBT. Alderman Cole offered the following: — Wherens » larze debt hns been inenrrod by the corpora: tion of the city and county of New York, amounting at tho Prosent time to nearly 600,009, on which interest is paid vunuaily, amounting to abont | $9,500,000; this in- dobtedness was contracted at different times for» in regard to ti ists and the city of New Y the bonds of this city are as « ed thas fact sb ‘y favorable t apie capital bensfited ; as United States bon ta abtvin money. 0 n. the bonds had a long term of years to run, before becoming due and payable; first class “lon bonds” aro always favorites with capitalists, and invariably command a premium over “short bonds” of the sume class; therefore: ved, Thut the Comptroller of the city of Now York ructed to take tho necessary steps to insure tlh {such Inws by the State Lexistacare ay will 6 Department to auucurate the following m the bonds now outstandi of the city to be tnd severally herome due and pay Stconri—Sald consolidat d loan ta become dao and payable | Ofty years trom the dute of tho firat issue of the bonds, and A certnin amount thervot to be set apart for the payment of cuts and bther nntnnded debts of the city. 4~Ail tho property of the city, Incinding park markets, Hy pleiged to the seven per cent per anny obtained on better terms. Tho resolutions were referred to the Comptroller, Alderman Hess stating that he understood this official had already taken steps in the direction of the propused poliey. THE BROOKLYN CALAMITY. The following, offered by Alderman Bryan Reilly, was adopted = Whereas the recent terrible calamity which took place in Broo! by m of the burning of the Brooklyn in Jont their tives, makes it in op bent upon the authorities af this city to Be gumrded Similar fate happeuing to the people of this city lors Reyolved, That the Superintendent of Buildings bo and be is hereby directed to furnish this Board at its next regular meeting with a list ot the theatres and other places of a this city which, in is optnion, are not con- structed | tanner as to adord immedi from the same in case of fire. ‘The Board adjourned to Tharsday Lexy Balance December Jl, 187 .e..e.eee. | Capital, The balance of peared to bi The amount th wi sets at tho close of 1875 ap- - $5,811,062 Overestimate. Saati sesecer e+ $418,423 Add to this deficiency in premium notes ‘at samo d i" 268,513 Also i errors in deducting “disbursements jo eee eeeee Total overestimate of assets, Against this eum the company wou bly claim as an offset tho ‘outstanding premiums” alleged, to be due December BI, 1876, 696,222 $74 Difference unexplained, teeeee The next table shows in detail the income ana dis- dursements, yearly, from the date of the company’s organizstion to December #1, 1875, and tho assets at the close of each year, Following the advice of the actuary previously referred to, the ‘outstanding pre- miums’? have been excluded, as, in his opinion, theie value is tov obscure und ingeterminable to be used asa fo basis for caleniation. DISHURSEMENTS. Fotiey | Policy Year. Holders’ | tMolders Cash, | Notes, $1,000) “a 506 pau 85,000! — $2,000) 0, 183,066] 90,608] 36, 742} 414,517] 508, 7841 TA odd . 663,914 54,455 i 2,159,339] 4,050,114 Totals... 16,080,251 Pree minions. $0.0, 635) 204,870 361,610} 631,057, 6996, 185 845,498 a 1,028,811 1,540,154 626 420,004 670. 5, O91 Total]100,000|12, 245,554 ASSKTS, Assels | Excess in| Excess Year. Net Assets) Cravmed | Favor of | Against Dee. 31 Co. Co. $116,173) 804,751 994.825] 1,183,436 878,449 : Prbittil The above ond pr ng assets, not including “out December 31, 1875, amounted to.....66.... This eum, according to the company’s publi: port of receipts and disbursements, was trade up as 1oilows— ‘ Convertible securities and cash. Premiam notes.....+ Coroner Woltman was yesterday notified of the fol- lowing cases of sudden death:—C, Froelich, aged filty, of No, 406 West Forty-ninth street; James Delaney, aged twenty-eight, of No, 429 Kast Twelfth street; ‘ary Ann Farrell, two montis ola, of No, 2254 Cath- arine street; achild at Henry stre a Kast Broad. way; Margaret Finlay, aged sixty, of No, 180 Bliza- beth strect; Patrick Borner, god sixty, of No, 205 West Houston street; Berths Fait, thirteen dage old, ot No, 113 Second avenue, and Aicxancer Trasiow, four months old, of No, 420 Weer !c:riz-secoad etrcos Total. There realizing from th be consicera company’s real cst bond and mortg and other inv clearly there will still remain a la for ribation among the er uniess their interests are ignored on their property sacrificed. In any event the true couree for policy holders to pureve is 10 retain their Clainys against the company until their value te delinitely determined. Thore cam be no aoubt | itany, new bouts | Buch 4 eaw but this result will bo attained within a month or two, ‘at the latest, in consequence of the proceedings now pending ip th b= args Court, Whether or not Re- ceiver Anderson shall be removed it is evident from the present temper of the policy holders and the pub- lie that the affairs of the Continental are going to be thoroughly ventilated. il th done the opinion in the best gircles is that the policy botders should turn a deaf ear to the solicitations of the former agents of the Continental, whe now seek to persuade them to transfer, by assignment or otherwise, their old contracts to the New Jorsey Mutual or any other com- pany. THE SECURITY LIFE INSURANCE AND AN- NUITY COMPANY. Application was made yesterday by Attorney General Fairchild to Judge Brady, in Supreme Court, Cham- bers, for an order dissolving the Sceurity Life Insur- ance and Annuity Company and for the appointment of areceiver, Mr. Fairchild recited the facts set forth in his petition for such dissolution, stating that such Petition was submitted upon a statement made by the Superintendent of the Insurance Department of this State, who had examined into the aflairs of the company and reported its insolvency. He added that acopy of the petition had been served on Mr. Wet- more, the V President of the company, he had come betore the Court to ask that it should be wound up pursnant to the results of tho examination by the Superintendent of Insurance, Having made this statemevt he asked if there was any Opposition Le (he granting of the petition. Mr. Underhiil stated that be represented the trus- tees of the company, who had just held a meeung in regard to the maiter, and that oa their bebalt he de- | Sifed A posinonement of the case, Mr, Fairchiid staved that he had come from Albany ‘expressly lo attend to this case and be was soliclious that the matter should be disposed of at once, Mr. Undernill said that the company had milhuus of assets and sevoral thousand policies ottstanding, und the mat- ter had been called into court on three hovrs’ notlee, fle thought that an adjournment was only jar under the circumstances, ax no allegation had been made ot improper disposition of assets. Mr. Farrctild said he understood that the company ype'essiy bankrupt, a8 could be shown at once upon an exhibit of its alla Judge Brady asked whether there w admission of ihe allegation of insolvency, as, ifthe fact were denied, it would be necessary to take proot. Mr. Underhill and the Vico President beld a consal- tation for a few minutes, after which the Jatter acknowledged that the company was insolvent and Wilingness Was expressed Lo take at onee the neces- I steps tor the company’s dissolution, Fuirebild then read the following statement of the assets and lites as given by the Superinten- any denial or Capital stouk. $110,000 ASHRTS, Real estate above encumbrances: 130,000 | Mortgages ($80,000 in Albany) 97,000 Unrted States and city bonds ($30,009 in Ale hany)... x Premium notes and loans ‘ae Uncollected and preferred premiums, Tot $1,943, 000 + $3,200,000 + 140,600 Unpaid losses, resisted and Total liabilities as to policy holders,.....$: Alter reading the above statement Mr, Faire! added that of course premium potes were not roal assets for the purpose of a receiver, fic said that the Teal assets amounted to about $400,000, meluding real | estate amounting to $90,000, Altor a brief discussion {t was agreed that the bond | required by the receiver should be $100,000. The usual order required in such cases was passed up, and subsequemtly Judge Brady announced the appoint ot Mayor Wickham us the receiver, sucv appoin! being acceptable to ll partios. Ii Mr. Wiekbam a cepts be will probably file the required bonds to-day. | CHEAP TRANSPORTATION. MEETING OF CANAL BOAT OWNERS AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES. A meeting of canal boat owners and others inter- ested in the maintenance of the canals and choap transportation was beld yesterday afternoon at No. 10 South street, This meeting wag called in pursuance of tho action taken ata former meeting of the boat owners of the State of New York, held on Friday last, when were unanimously adopted a preamble and reso- Intions of the following tenor:—That the State ca have been too long mismanaged and overburdened with the support of useless and extravagant official: that the canal boat owners cordially acquiesce in the declaration of the peoplo of the State, recorded at the last elortion, that the canais should be put under the charge of one head, appointed by the Governor, and that formal action should be taken looking to the recommendation of a suitable man for the position and tho appointment of a committee to confer on this subject with leading merchants of the city, interested in the question. A committee was appointed at that meeting consisting of three members, Messrs, John S. Brown, Sylvanus Stakley and Wilitam Keller, and the moeting yesterday was called by these gentlemen, “'Tné' meeting Was called to order at half-past one o'clock) quite a full attendance beng present. Mr. J. C. Murphy, of No. 7 South sirect, occupied the chair and was clected to preside, Mr. James Gallagher being chosen secretary. Tho first business betore the meet- tng was the reading of tho records of the last meeting, expressed in the preamble and resolutions referred to above, The resolutions were received and adopted Unanimously, without amenament. Remarks on t question informally vofore the mecting—the nomin: tion of a suitable man for the position of Superintend- ent of Public Works—being held order, Mr. H. Goodrich, of Nu, 7 South street, addressed tbe mi jog. He spoke of the general interest felt on tho subject, and of tho necessity of taking some | action to preserve the special business interems represented on South strect. He complained of the eneroschmonts ot the railroad monopoly and the wretched mismanagemont of the canal officials. A large reduction of toll rates was Decessary to prevent u pal busmess being diverted to other channels, lt was essential, too, that men acquainted with the Mavagement ot canals uld be called to the front to Alsplace the present incompetent and expensive Incum- denis. Mr.Jobn 8. Brown followed in a similar strain, and the nomination of a candidate for the Governor's appointment was then called for. Betore any turther action was taken, however, Mr. Theodore W. Lacs, representing the Cheap Transporta- tion Association, of No, 110 Pearl treet, took the floor to offer the eaggestion afterward embodied in the jorm of a motion that a committee be appointed to | confer with the representatives ot the various busi- ness interests in the city affected by the proposed movement, and to recommend some efficient, honest mannger lor the posi whose appointment would be satisfactory to all parties concerued, This motion, after some aiscussion, was unanimously agreed to. Tho appointment of the committee, to consist of five, was jolt to the chair, The meeting then formally aa- Journed. Jin conversation with the chairman and other promi- ent bout owners of Mouth streeta Henan reporter ned that the business interests of thin district aro atavery low ebb. Boats arc heavily mortgaged to the boat builders, and, failing 10 return even a low rate of mtcreston the investment, the owners and their famihes are im many caves reduced to the sorest destitution, For the last two years, owing, it is said, to the Ingh tariff on canal tranr portation and the controlling influ ence of the railroad monupolios, the capital Incked up | in boats has been a steadily josing investment Few, | ave been buvit during the past year, ose engaged to the business of boating can ght, however, that a considerablo ameloration would be eflocted in the coudition of these poorer boat owners by the pro- | the manner of conducting the canals, | might probably be made tn the expense of their niauacemont ‘by the State as to justily a re- duction of toils, the diminution of the receipts from this cuuso being further mede up by the expected 1 crease of bieiness, Ali unite in looking forward with hope to the probable good eficcts of the new adminis- tration. THE PETROLEUM “CORNER.” For somo days past there has been an unusual activity m the ail trade, and the facts of the excite. ment and of the careful manipulation of the trade so as to ereate a corner, both in crude and refined oil, aro somewhat interesting. A concert of action between the producers of crude oi! and the refluers was partly undertaken somo months since, but the foreign trace, which was fairly active, got no opportunity to set the screws in motion antl within the past ten days, when the crowding process was put in force, and many shrowd operators, taking advantage of the demards and ot the fact that most of the refiners have large contracts on hand, bave sold out at profits which revive the palmy days of the oil excitement, when Pennsylvania began giving ite wealth to the world irom ite flowing o1! wells, THR FORKIGN DEMAND. There are now loading at New York and engaged to load petroleum, early 100 vessels, and it imestimated that (ese cargoes will amount to not less than 400,000 barrels—more than enough to consume all the supply available for tho present month and that of January at least, while Philagelpbia and Baltimore have each a large proportion of petroleum vessels ting car. La pag of the vessels lying m demurrage while waiting The sales in New York atone, tor the past week, hav aggre) «4 about 60,000 barrels of refined oi), and th price-has risen froin twenty-seven cente to thirty.two cents, and, in some cases, one cont higher; while the actual reports of the stock in hand in the oil et districts show a decrease of over 600,000 rrels irom the reports of December, 1875, The ex- ports for the week ending November 25, from this city, were 4,209, 960 4th £100, 00d speculation is tively m any kind of ¢ tact, and many of the brokers aro buying and selling contracts after the Wall strect fashion of a quick turn on asmall margin, quietly pocketing thotr diferences. while the refiners suilets | companies 1s somewhat peculiar, | light than the taxpay DECEMBER 15, 1876.—TRIPLE SHEET. THE CITYS LICHT How the New York Gas Brigands Can Be Combated. A KEROSENE EXPERIMENT. What the Banded Companies Say—All Very Innocent. Tho sudden waking up of the public to tho question of what tho gaslight of the city Is to cost and by what means the city can best protect itscif from the extor- tionate demands of the companics has been, in an almost literal sense, a bombshell into the camp of the monopolists, The fgures as given in the HeKaL yesterday bave placed the matter in a fair light beture the public, and tho representations of some of the gas company people aro, taking them just as they stand, but lame apologies | for an action which meets condemuation on every hana, ‘THE CITY V8. PRIVATE CONSUMERS. The argument. used by several officers of tho gas The companies put in bids whenever the city’s contracts are to be given out, and they know all about the requirements, nd so | they do not grope about in Use dark in accepting a | contract and living up to tts requiremonts. Another | peculiar argument in use is that the gaslight district of the city 14 so spread out that there must needs be something obtained which shail pay the companies for the space to be traversed by gas mains in districts where there may be a small number of gas lamps erceted for which the company operating on the street may charge the city, The comparisun of the tguros shows that while there are certain fixed rales intended 10 regulate the charges upon private houses and ordinary public buildings, the charges develop the fact that the city who oeeupy house reason to know, from thair own experience, how little remedy there 13 and how little satisfaction in contest- tng the rates whdn the bill comes in, A COMPETITION OF COMPANIES. One of the alleged reasons tor the exorbitant bid upon the city’s contract for providing gaslight from January ‘1, 1877, until January 1, 1878, is previous contests amorg the companies, The Mutual appears, accord:ng to the representations of the Manhattan, to ave been the thora in the side of tho other compan. 108, But this alleged compotition does not appear tn tho bids made ferthe new contract, The Mavhattan and the Mutual are at the same rate—#i6 per lamp and tho difference in the other bids ts simply a differ. ence of convenience, ‘THE GAS COMMISSION, All the members of the commission are in earnest upon tho matier of oxpediency and thy Corporation Counsel, .Mr. Whitney, ts conversant with every turn and twist by which the companies may be forced into fairness by legal or legistative means, There was no formal niceting of the commission yesterday, and while every member is determined to mako the fight a bitter one, and to yield nothing against the interests of the ta: payers, the recommendation mao, through the Board of Aldermen, is un earnest of what may be done at Jeast by way of experiment. . Per 1 influence has been brought to bear upou every member of the Board, aud, in view of the pi ent depression 1n business, of the actual necessity ior lightening the burden of the city’s taxation tastead of increasing the load, many of our prominent citizens | Were yesterday megiccting all business but that of ur- guing the advisabliity of making the war against the Monopelists un eurnest one, and using their influence with the City Fathers, “We can’t stand it, and we won't stard it, sir!’ sald a prominent city official to a Heap reporter yester- day, “This gas question comes up at a bad time for ‘city, When we are only atorinight off from New Year's, and there is no contract In force alter Decem- ber 41. But the tight must be mude now and we're going totry the experiment of lignting one of the streets with oil, and seo if ubis won't teach the com- panies wisdom und compel them to tair dealing. “Look at the sales of gastight companies’ stocks,’’ ; “they're not quoted in the Board tii sold at They are pet investments on account of thetr dividends, und the last sales of the Maahatian, some time in October, were at 244, when in September the price was 249 agd a traction, ‘Tho now company, the alutual, seil at par, notwithstanding its immongo outlay for pipes and improvements, and the Metro- politan 1s quoted at 146, { think, of thereabouts, They gan't cry poverty, and we mean this time to havoa fair deal *” Tho same story reaches us from prominent house- holders and storekecpers, aud the matter of lighting a section of Fift enue by oil was brought up io tho Bourd of Aldermen yesterday upon resolution of Aidere man Reilly and unanimousiv adopted, THE QUESTION OF RIGHT, While, in one gonse, the city.is at the mercy of th gas companies, the opinion of the Gas Com 1oners 18 that there {8 no better time than the present to test the matter, if the attempt be desperate aud the remedy uncertain, Thattnere are no other companies to bid for the contract is @ strong ground on one side of tho matter, but it 18 expressed os an opinion by some of the best lawyers tat the dangor to the city’s peace acd property from a eutting off of the supply could be construed into a wilful negiect and an attempt to over- tep tho recognized rates of payment whieh, if per- miated in, can be used as an arguinent for legislation against the monopolists, ’ THX COMPANIKS STULDORN, So far as the bids are concerned, the oMcers of tho companies who are in the ring are decideuty reticent, They claim to Dave acted under quite as youd advico as the city offciuls, and whatever the experiment of the hghting of Filth avenue, from Washington square | to Fifty-ninth street, with oil may ve, they aro as ready to awatt the report of the experiment as the Gas Commissiovers ana the Board of Aldermen, They are evidently prepared tor the rejection of the bids, and, up to yesterday afternoon, at a inte hour, had an- hounced no intenvon of lowering tho tigures on tho offer already made, unless, a3 is barely posatble, some one of the combination should give way, which none of the high contracting parties seem to fear. THE ALDERMEN OX GAS MONOPOLISTS. Alderman Bryon Reilly offered the jol.owing resolu- tion yesterday On the gas question at the meeting of the Board of Aldermen, which was adopted by a unun- imous voto:— Whores t the several gaslight com- into # courbh sit thi y by which the expen: 0 largely increased we of the prevent depres t rednetion fa the pri tho production of Minmminating xu» rae to the public Interests to yield to the exact gas companios, who are or should be un- der the control absolutely of the local authorities, in so tar at leust as tho cos: of tho gas used in Hghting the streets, If hot in respect to the gas consumed by private individuals; to citizens ax is now used for supplying Resolved, That the Mayor, Compt ‘of Public Works, wh now author with the ets, be and thoy a take into considerat Comminsror to make arranxe- for lighting ou liy requested to ting o b vy respectial the propriety of won and supply of wirposes simuar to that now in use Tnruishing our ettizens with water, and that in order to ide temporarily tor lighting tho streets the vity oficsrs al ion be aud they are berevy requested to suvati- tute ofl of other lini jorint im the eity Inmp- posts now erected ou Fifth avenue, trom Washington sqaare to Fiity-ninth street, ax An oxperiny nd in order to test practicability of Hihting thy of the city by osher ans than by the nse of Hlaminating gas Tho resnit of this prop xperiment and the propriety of the manainc- tuto of was by the city to be reported to the Board when doomed of public interest to do so. Alderman Howland called up an ordinance authoriz- ing the Inying Ot yas mains in Seventy-sixth street. Alderman Pinkney opposed the passage of this ordl- nance, as he did not feel, under oxisting circumstances, that these gas companies should receive any consider: ation whatever from the authorities until they are Drought to a senso of duty im charging reasonable prices, Alderman Bryan Reilly argued from similar reasons. Alderman MeCurthy explained that the property ixth street would be injured by & neglect to pass th: inance, desired to con- Rect their pipes with gas and Croton water maina The ordinance was laid over, THE EXYLANATION OF THE COMPASI¥S, Mr. Charies Place, secretary of the Mutual Gaslight Company, whose offices are on Union square, made an- swor to the reporter's question, “What explanation bas this company to give to the charge ol entering into acombination with other companies to wud the city in the price of Phas is all misiake about the combination apd the overcharge to Why this @ompany is entirely in oppos reat. It was this company that, whon it started four years ago. broke the baa oil 4 then existing. The city had beou charged as hi $53 a lamp, and the your wo started wo brought the monopoly down to ‘How ia it you beewg the city in your bid of $36 for next year $7 60 more for 11,500 cubic feet of gas than You would the private consumo: “That is just the point l wish toexpiain. The price of each jump at the ss a Fate of $2 60 tor iithoo cubte feet would be $2850. We hi 8,500 iamps \o supply. Each inmp costs us one cent a day for ligating, or $3 66 for the year round, That brings the figure up Wo $82 16, The next expense we have to beur, ac- cording 10 the specifications insisted om by the Gas Commission, is the replacing of all ginse broken in ibe etrect lamps, the painting and keeping Jo repair of the pillar and jantern, and when ba p a sireet to lay down a main the Department of Public Works is authorized to come in and restore the pavement, charging us 100 per cent more than the price at which we could do the work ourselves. For all these I put down to the expense of cach inmp $3 85, ie makes the totai $36, the precise figure of our f “But don't you think your charge much too high, consi tig how low the price of coal has fallen?” Weil, I don't know how wo contd fi lower, You see atl of us Argnow it a 2 ia for competition t eb, vt |. ‘We present we 5 can’t compete with the others for the 1,500 city lamps on what they call their territory, because there is now two feet of irostin the groan at such a time would involve time. allest show for competition and we will avar of 1. The proper way for the city would be to m the Ist of May {nstoad of the lst of January the date for putting in the bids. Then we could begin right of with our operations and defy our rivals, Win we «ud so betore, that is last year, before Comptroller Green altered the arrangemont, we hghted cach lamp for eight months at a cost of only $15 50, or at the rate of a little over $20.a year, 1s would be the height of folly for us now to attempt the same, because aftor opening the ground we should only have it filled with ice and snow; Operations would be stopped, and our contract to light 1,500 lamps now lighted by the others could never be tullilled tll spring, “Who are the others “The New York and Maphattan ran more or less to gether, Some of the directors iv one belong to the other and rice verea, We are opposed to them and also to the Metropolitan, which, like ourselves, stands alone, The Harlem 18 on its oWn hook and has ater. ritory ali to self, so that you perceive there 18 no such combination as is talked about. Tho reporter oMce of the Mai ing place and Fitteenth — stre The | president was away, like the — pres of the other companies, He saw, however, a man named Swith, the secretary, who, from the top of a stepiad | dor, through a pait of spectacles, frowned down on the reporter and said ue hag bo explanation to give; that if he had it wonid take titi six momihs; that he was unequal to the t «1 that anyhow’ the reporter wouidn't und it bo heard it, ut why do you charge the city a higher figure than you do private customers ??” “ob, well, Uiore are five hundred reasons for that We don’t (and here he spoke bitterly aad lrowned feartully through his glasses) charge the city a higher ligare than we do private customers. We charge the city just the same. That's all f ean say,” Comptrolier Jobn Keliy is determined to urge that these bloated gas ¢ tes shall come down ih thotr prices tn accordance with the times, and he sees no reuson why they shoutid not. eM A distinguished law aid to Lue reporter yester- day :—"*Tno only proper way to settle this tween the city and tie gas companies dbout to be paid per year for cach street lamp is to submit It toa court of arbitration composed of men who have Om inany of the companies or in politica, half a dozen men of the Chamber of Cou! merce and let an arpitrator be chosea and both sides argued, and the people would feel satistied with the result, But there is danger i loaying Uma thiag to politicians, These gas companies are very weaithy, and { have no doubt they Would give a good d in their monopoly. But to have a law passed by , Just the same as they have Suglind, Scotian maxnnuin dividend of any gas company tee per cent aod compelling all surpius to pe used in the reduction of the expense of gasto tho public consumer, Of course the private consumer would share in the benedt of the reduction thus eftveted, Those New York com- panies hold their stock at over 300—in fact (here 15 ne geting hold of any of it, They have been making chormous profits at the expense of the people to whorn they are indebted for their franchise ” LL THE CITY MAKE ITS OWN GAS? sted that the etty and mantfacturo its own gas, und place itunder the ontiol of the Croton Aqueduct Bureau, #0 that the two necessities, water and pos, might be furnished the people at the cheapest possible rates, To this it objected that the politicians might get hold of the terprise and turn it to their own prot, Sucha schema would be possible and protitavie tothe taxpayers under @ botter order of things—n honester ely government and fewer bungry place hunters, For the present the gus supply must be left where it is, but suly much more rigid legislative control than obtuims at prosent, THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE. WIRE TESTING—MR. HILI. AND HIS ACCUSERS— THE QUESTION OF AN ASSOCIATE ENGINEER, The work of testing the samples of wire for the Brook- lyn briage was continued yesterday morning at pier 29 East River, and the roport of the engincers will bo laid before the Board of Trustees on Monday. Tho tests on the short pieces have been uniformly succes# fui, but tne long pieces of 50 and 120 feet havo not stood tho strain in such a satisfactory manner, Yesterday alternoon a Hexatn reporter calicd at the oftice of Mr. Albert Hill, consulting engineer, and found that gentleman rather dissatisiied with the vague answer to his interview that had been mado by the bridgo people. The following conversation ensued;— Revorrer—Mr. Hill, did you read tho article to this morning’s HeRaLp, atving the views of tho bridge employs as to the statements made by you? Mr. Hi.—I did; and as the bridge employés ap pear to question my motives I shall be obliged to agaia make uso of your columns, with the view of fully substantiating everything I have stated, I havo been drawn into this controversy yery much against my will, and nothing was further trom my mind than to make a personal atiack upon any of the gentiomen connecied with the bridge. The gentleman who sard that my statemont was made ‘'meroly tu the interest of some disappointed stect manulacturer’’ les—under a misapprehension, 1 am inno connectod with, nor have I been retained by, any steel or wire manu- fucturer, and propose to let the burden of the proof of this assertion-rest with the party that made it, In re gard to my statement not vetng founded upon facts, all [have to say is that a careful perusal of the 8; fications wil fully demonstrate to any ore that 1 not gone beyond the evidence furnished by them. Revorter—Who are the engineers in charge of the work? Mr. Hirt—I do not know all the engineers connocted with the work. The most prominent among them are W. A. Roebling, chief engineer; Mr. Martin and Colonel Paine, Reronter—1 suppose Mr. Roebling is in immed! charge of the work, and personally directs all the engi+ neermg operations coanveted with the bridge? Mr. Hint believe that is the cage. At the same time | know ho bas been suffering from ill-health for some time past, and that for this reason, as well as hia immediate connection with the firm of John A, Roob- ling's Sons, Mr. Lioyd Aspinwall, as carly as March 6, offored a resolution in the Board of Trustees tor the ap- pointment of an associate engineer, Rerorter—Was that resolation of Mr, Aspinwall’s acted upon ? Mr, Mitt—Mr. Thurber spoke in favor ef acting upon the resvlation, but some member, 1 do uot ro- member which, expressed a foar that the chiet en- ginocr might consider it discourtcous, and if he soould take offence at such action he might resign and leave them, wherenpon the motion of Mr. Aspiuwall was laid on the table. PURCHASING WIRk, Rerorten—Havo all the wiros so far furnished for tho bridge been made under the first contract ? Mr, Huun—[ do not know how imuch has been far- nished under the Urst contract, but at the meeting of December 5 Premdent Murphy said that In pursuance of the power resting in bim he bad made contracts for thirty tons of wire to commence the cables—one with Roeblings, of Trenton; ono with Haigh, of South Brooklyn, and one with Washburn & Mowen, of Worcester, Mass. of ten tons each, He also said that the engineer thought it advisable to have two storm cables of one and a quarter inch diameter provided, and the Roe! lings, of frenton, had offerea to furnish them within three weeks at one cont a pound less than was bid by any one else, and to make them up to tho standard of the Chrome Steol Company, and, on motion of Mr, Stranahan, Mr, Murphy was authorized to make thut contract. Reronter—At the time Mr. Murphy was authorized to make this cuntract was Mr. W. A. Roebling a mem- ber ol the firm of the Roebiings of Trenton ? No, sir. At the meeting of Septomber 8 offered to nud the following clause to the 8 for the main cables then in the bands of ‘¢ Committee:—"Bids from any firm or company in which any trustee, officor or engineer of the bridze has an interest will not be reecived or con- sidered, nor will the successiul bidder bo allowed ta sub-let any portion of this copiract to any the Exeeut such person or company.” In explanation thereot Mr. Howitt said that ho was a — partner in oa) firm dealing ta wire, but ho considered himself and bis firm as precluded ftom bidding on the contract, and justly #0, He had pre- souted the clause for consideration out of justice to the trastees thomeelves. At the November meeting Mr. Marphy announced that Colonel W. A. Roebling, the chiet eugincer of the bridge, had sold out of the firm of John A. Roebling’s Sons and was no longer 4 member of that tirm. THE ASSOCIATE ENGINEER, Rerorter—Was that resolution of Mr. Aspinwall’s to appoint an associate ongincer ever taken up againt Mr. Hitt—I believe at the Novomber meeting Mr. Aspinwall called up his resolution, Mr, Stranahan objected and then it was suggested that Mr. Roobling T motion was mended and passed that the committee of thr: ould be ay tor se to seo whether an associate wi needed, and believe that was the Inst of it, Revontan—Have you any further statement te make? Mr. Hint—I have not volunteored and do not pro: pose to furnish any statements unless compelled to t= self detence, DRESS IN SCHOOL, To tur Epiton ov tnx Hexay:— Will you be kind enough to give the following « place in the columns of your valuable paper in reply to D,’s Jetter in Tacsday’s txsue, condemning the ex travagant dress of teachers and pupils in public schools? Should D. inquiro further be will find that the only tonchers who can wear costly dross afd — expensive jowolry are thoso having wealthy parents, who can woli afford to keep their daughters out of school apd feave their positions for needy women, io course such teachers waeteets salary only as pin money; but the majority of teachers boin obiiged to support themselves and often contribute to the maintenance of tho family cannot afford to thdulge tn any extravagance. Itis an’ injus. bare mber of hard working teac! te alltor the faults of a few who are this connect: mal oto wd ble to we exact #1 .* im unable he NT, MES BABDY, » Giuad of teachers PESO SOREN Es oY