The New York Herald Newspaper, February 28, 1877, Page 4

THE NEW DOMINION. Trouble Between Canada and British Co- lumbia on the Railway Question. TALK ABOUT SEPARATION. 7 ie Pel History of the Enterprise as Belated by His Excellency Governor General Dufferin. SSA LORD CARNARVON ON THE SITUATIO os Orrawa, February, 1877. The longer one lingers in this beautiful capital of the Dominion and intermingies with the public men who are gathered here the more apparent Lecomes the fact that important differences exist between the par- ties in and out of power which are giving the govern- ment no little concern, Prominent among these are the questions connected with the tariff and the build- jug of the Canada Pacific Ratlway, With the rst | do Dot propose to deal in the preseut letter, bul around the other there cluster mauy tacts and considerations that are of interest to the people of the United States, It should be said, in justice to the Canadians of the Pacific siope who hoped to be benetited by this great undertaking, shat while they are disaffected and dis- appointed they are not disloyal; that while some pro- Vincial Jegisiaior in British Columbia may go so far as to introduce a resolution in the local body conveying a threat of or hinting ut secession from the Dominion, no word of reproach against the Imperial government or its noble representative here, the Governor General, is ever likely to be beard on Canadian soil, WHAT THE COLUMIIANS SAY. The gravamen of the complaint of the representa- tives of British Columbia is that the Dominion govern- ment have not fulfilled their pledges in constructing» within a certaim timo andalong acertain route that shall be commercially beneticial to tho people of the Western coast, the line of the Pacifle Railway. They Also say that itis the state of uncertainty into which they are plunged by the failure of two treaties, and the want of confideuce they have im the bond fide imten- tions of the present adminstration to construct the line at all, which naturally contribute to the continu. ance ol the opposition. When they are satisticd that the main hae will be built as soon as it shall have been selected and located the other points at issue between Canada and Columbia would meet with eurly settlo- nt, ‘True, they say, we are vexed at the prospect of 1's delay which has been announced by the Governor General, but even that will not cause us to “tuke a leap im the dark” if the despatch of Lord Curvarvon, the Secretary of State for the Dominion, can restore Lue confidence of our people. ACTION OF THK DOMINION GOVERNMENT meanwhile bas been steadily in the direction of prog- fess, aud, recognizing the difficulties of the situation, the Ministry Lave sought in w szarit of compromise to compeusaie the British Columbians for their disap- | pomtment, During the year 1876 a sum close upon $000,000 was expenued on surveys im the Province | alone, and tlis year a further large sum will be pro- vided for the prosecution of the work. It 1s conceded | by the citizens of Briuish Columbia that the distribu. Uon of these survey moneys in their midst has greatly Stitnulated commerce and indusiry, The total amount | thus Jur expended, according to the statement of Minis- | ter Cartwright, is about $6,000,000, and the work is to be pressed iorward with all the ‘expedition of which the resources o1 the country and the engineering prob- lems remaining yet uusoived will admi, LOKD CARNAKVON tn referring to the suljeci, makes several salient sug- gestions, ile observes: ier much and aaxious consideration and with every sympaiy for the sense of dicappolutmeat nner which the people of British Columbia are laboring I cannot avoid the conclusion that = the objections — which have been tuken to the course of the Dumimion gov- ernment have been couched in more severe and exag- gerated Junguage than a fair estimate of the pecul-r embarrassiwents and the difficulties of the case would | scem to justly.” He suys further that the tutare suce cess of the railway is so largely dependent upou a proper approuch to the sea bemg selected, that Would be obviously improper ior the Canadian govern- Munt to be hurried svto & premature decision vy un- tumely pressure. Before the spring ot 1878 tue Honor. able Secretary of State believes that many points wow surrounded with douvt will bhaye become more clearly defined, LOKD DUFFERIN, It will, doubtiess, be rememb@red that during the summer of 1876 the Goveruor General and suite mae Bp olticial visit to British Columbia, the object being to give to the inbabitants proo: of the good will and solicitude of the Dominion government. He took oc casion to say in a speceb at Victuriu—and, by the way, am informed that there are few public men who can make butter spevches than Lord Ouilerim—that he cume on no diplomatic mission or as 4 wessenger, oF charged with any anuouncement trom the imperial or Dominion government, not to make any new promises or renew any old o1 He then proceeded to review “the old, old story,” and, perhaps, it cannot be better repeated here than from bis own lips: “By the terms oi the treaty wit! Canada undertook to secure with date of unwn the Br two yours from Whe simultaneous commencement at gitber end ofa railway which Was to connect the seu- board of British Coimbia with tbe railway system of ish Columbia the D iniou, and that sucu anion suould be com- pieted within leu years from the dute of union in 1871, THE SITUATION AY THE WKGINXING, “At that Ume everything im Cauuda was prosper- ous; ber fin the G were fluuristing, the discovery of eat Northwest bad inflamed ber imagination; Ii Uaings railway enterprise ip the United states, ally ob this “contivent, Was being developed stuunding exient, In tuct it had come to be dered thacarailway could be flung across the vey MOUntuins as readily as across a buytield, Un- lortinately one viement of culculation was left out of account, and that Was the igverauce which prevailed 1 relerence to Lhe mountain ranges apd passes which intervened between the Husson Bay Company’s Possessions and our Western coast. Io the United States every track and trail through the mountains was wayworn and well known, Wuile ip our v the transconupettal passes were spurse and Unirequented, and 1b Au eUginecring point oi view ab- folutely Unknown. It was auder these circumstanees shat Canada undertook to commence ber Pacitic Rail- way in two yeurs and finish it in ten—a physical ime Possibility. STOPPED BY POLITICS, “Then a serious crisis supervened in the political career of Canada. Sir Joou MacDonald resigned othice und Mr, Muckenzie acceded to power, Now tt ts as- serted that Mr. Kenzie abd bis potitical friends bad always been opposed to many portions of Canada’s bargain with Beitisu Coumbia; but I believe the Pacific Raiway tus no better friend than this gentleman, aud that be Y Opposed (o tbe time terms in the burgein because be beiicved them impossible of accom- Dlishmeut, and an endeavor to fullli them would ruin- ously increase the financial expenditure. “Out of the altercation wuieh ensued there issued, Under the auspices of Lord Carnarvon, a settlement, wherein the Province agreed to the Pacific Kuilway being completed in sixteen years from 1874 and (0 its being begun ‘as toon as the surveys shail bave been completed,’ imstead of at a tixed date, while tho Dominion goverument undertook to tonsiruct at once @ ratiroad from Ksquimault to Nunaimo (on Vancou- ver's Isiand), to burry forward the surveys aud to Spend $2,000,000 a year tu the prosecation of the work. The main body of these terms ure Mr. Mackenzie's. 1a pursuunee of this agreement the Canadian govorument Organized A SERIES OF SURVEYING PARTIES apon a most extensive and costly scale. In fact, the | Cuvef Engineer told me on one occasion that the moun- tains were already as full of as many theodoites and | surveyors as (hey could bold, Canuda bas, tucrefore, used More than due diligence mM her desire to comply with tue ‘Carnarvon terins.’ “You must remember that itis @ matter of the Ereatest moment, ulleciing the success of tue entire Scheme and culculaicd to aifect permanently te future destiny of (ue people of Canada, that aright decision should be ard to the righttul Jovution of the Western portion of the line, and a Minister would be a traitor bo a most sacred trust if he allowed bimsell to be teased, InUuidaled or cajoied into any precipsiate decision On sucha momentous point until every poxsibie route hud been daly ox- amined,”’ ANOTHER HITCH AND 17S CONKEQUE Meanwhile more (han two years Lave passed since the Canadian government undertook vw commence tue construction of tue Kequitmault aud Nanaimo Ruilway, and there is not at preseut a prospect of its being couw- menreed, Mr. Mackenzie Was held respous:bie lor the fachex, bot the truih 18, a stated by Lord Duilerin that Mr, Mackenzie, in accordance with his engage ment, introauced a bill ta relation to railway, wh was passed in the House of Commous by a large wjortty, It went up to the Senate ana was thrown out by @ majority of two, A Widespread conviction existed that Mr, Mackenzie bad surreptitiously pro- cured the defeat of bis own measure, but the Governor Wenersl suid, in a spirit of indignation, “i well you, jn the most emphatic terms, aad I pledge ny hovor ou the point, hut Mr, Mackenzie was not guilty of any euch buse oF deceitful comjuct Had | tuought him gully of ite he would bave ceased Ww bave buen Prime Wiwister or | should bave the country.” To compensate for this {allure and the disuppotnt- Meut iucideut thereto, $750,000 was offered in lieu of the ratiway, or a bouus of ubout $10,000 per mice, the distanec from Lequimault to Nanaimo betng about sev- His Excellency eaid:—‘A certain number of your citizens have sought to impress me with tue belief that if the Legislature of Canada is not compelled by some means or other, which, however, they do not specily, to make forthwith these seventy miles of raliway, t will be strong enough, in the luce of Mr. Mackenzie offer of a movey equivalent, to take British Columbi out of the Confederation, ‘ell, they certainly won't be able todo that. 1 am now in a position to judge for myself ag to what are the real sentiments of the com- munity. When once the main line of Pacitic Rail- way is Under way the whole population of the main land will be pertectly contented with the situ tion Of affuirs aud will never dream of detach- ing their fortanes from those of Her Majesty’s great Dominion. Far be the duy when on any acre of soil above which floats the flag of England mere inato- rial power or brute political preponderance should be perinitted to decide such a controversy as that which we are discussing. The genius of the English race has ever been too robust and sensible to admit the ex- istence of an irreconcilable element in its midst”? As a final paragraph let me add that the report of the Chief Engineer of the Pacific Railway shows that the total length is 2,031 miles, which will cost an average of $25,100 per mile, or $50,978,500. It is said that th coustruction of the last forty or Atty miles will probs bly be one of the most remarkable engineering achievements of our time, The above estimates are exciustve of the land grant of twenty miles on each side of the line. THE HAYTIAN REPUBLIC, 4 FORMAL RECOGNITION BY THE UNITED STATES—SPEECHES OF PRESIDENT CANAL AND MINISTER BASSETT—THE COUNTRY PEACE- ALLE. ; ‘The Haytian Minister, resident in this elty, received official despatches yesterday from bis government at Port au Prince, ‘The advices bring intelligence up to February 12, Quiet reigned ali over the island, and somuch harmony had not existed in a long time. Preparations were uctive for the celebration of the marriage with great éelat ot the President to Miss Wilheimina Wilson Phipps, sister-in law of Reymond Regnier, the Haytiau milltonnaire, ‘The trousseau had already arrived from Paris, also the bride's cake, which was the product of a famous confectioner in this city. MAYTI AND THE UNITKD STATES, The interesting ceremony oi ollicially recognizing the Republic cf Hayti under the administration of Buisrond Caual bad taken place. The Haytian President ar- ranged a special audience, at which Mr. Bassett, the United Stutes Minister, bearing an autograph lotter trom General Grant, was received. Seated with Gen- eral Canal e@ L. Kthéart, Secretary tor Foreign Affairs, and General Louis Tanis, commanding the Do- partment of the West. As Mr. Bassett entered the council chamberu salvo of thirteen guns was fired in his honor, Addressing President Canal, Mr, Bassett sald he had been churged by his government to present to His Ex- cellency an autograph letter of the President of the United States tu reply to the one received irom the President of Huyti noutying the United States govern- ment of bis elevation to power. He felt a peculiar sat- jsfaction in presenting, Wh his own hand, according to the instructions of his yoverninent, the letter of recognition to the President of Hay, At the same time he was bappy to be ably to ussure him of the deep interest taken by the President and people of the United States im the prosperity of the Haytian people and the desire felt to strengthen the bonds of Iriend- ship existing between the two republics, As the rep- resentative of a great power he desired to express his sincerest wishes for the success of the new adminis- tration, hoping that complete success might crown all its works, In reply to Mr. Bassctt’s address, President Canal said bo was happy to receive the letter of recognition trom the Presideat of the Unised States. the deep interest which be nad been told the President and people of the United States took in the weltare of Hayti did not surprise him. The people of the Ameri- can Continent felt a mutual interest in each other. He uesired to express, iu bis own name and in that ot the Haytian people, the warmest mpathy for the great Republic of the United States, Every effort of his government would be wrected to strengthening the bounds of triendship already existing. io a tew days General Grant, whose administration had been so beueticial to the country, would retarn to private life. He boped that his suc- r might be inspired by the sume nobie senti- $ which animated Lim. Generai Canal then proposed the bealth of General | Grant, aud @ round of severRecn cannon accompanied the toa: Inquiries were made yei sulate in this city relative to tne reports recently re- cerved from Kingston of disturbance in Haytt, The reports wero said to have no foundation whatever. TENTH WARD GRIEVANCES, The Taxpayers’ Association of the Tenth ward held @ stated mecting last might at their rooms, No. 108 Allen street. About seventy-five members were pres- ent. Mr. Frederick Fincke, the president of the asso- ciation, occupied the chair, aud the meeting was called to order at eight o’clock. The Committee on Valuation of Property reported that they had com- municated with the Commissioners of Taxes, and had, by their permission, exam‘ned the city tax books. Alter @ careiul twvestigation of these they came to the con- clasion that, in general, property in the Tenth ward was assessed about thirty per cent higher then that of avy of the adjoining wards, On representing this state of affairs to the Commissioners they were au- thorized to receive applications trom all those who considerea their property too highly assessed, und were promised that as soon a8 these xpplicauions were placed in tne hands of the Cominssioners the whole matter Would be examined into and any wrong that may exist would be corrected, On the invitation of the president a large number of property owners then banded in their names as suflering Irom overtaxation caused by the too high assessment of their houses, ‘A discussion then arose on the generally neglected Siute of the Tenth ward, several members commenting severely on the iact that while no public school exists m the ward numerous houses of — illetaine aro ullowed to curry ou their aefarious trade within its limits without — the least inter ference on the part of the police. A moon wage thereupon passed to appoint a committer, who should cali the attention of the Board of Education and of the Commissioners of Police to these two griev- ances and petition for their speedy abatement. Tho meeting then adjourned till next Tuesday evening, the 6ih prox, A MISSING GIRL, A young man called at the Central Office yesterday and reported to the Inspector that bis sister, whose name the police will not divulge, had disappeared trom her residence, in Downing street, on Saturday night. Some days ago, during temporary excitement, sho dropped a remark that she would lead a aiferent life in Henderson strect, Jersey City, but a thorough search of that street tailed tu discover her hiding piace. She was a very pretty working girl, employed in « down- town store, and on Saturday wight lingered until after all ber companions had leit their work, Her frionds bave discovered that she was in the habit of keeping company with an undertaker, doiug business on Eighth avenue, but be could not be found at his place of business: A detective was detailed to aid in the search. id OUR COMPLAINT BOOK, FESTERING GARBAGE, Naw Yor, Feb, 26, 1877. To tax Epitor ov tus HrraLp:— Among the many complaints allow me to call atten- tion to forty-two barrels of garbage allowed to remain in Twelfth street, between Third and Fourth avenues, trom Saturday morning up to the present time—tour o'clock Monday evening. There being oue of the principal Catholic churches situated on the street, it gives occasion for indignant feelings toward one of the principal dopurtinents of New York city. | MUNN. RUDENESS ON FERRYBOATS. New York, Feb, 26, 1877. To tux Epvitor ov Taz Henatp:— 1 have something to say in regard to the ferryboats of the Roosevelt Street Ferry Company. When a per- son js standing im the front of the boat and it is pretty hear in, there 18 a very mean set of gentlemen, if they deserve to be called gentiemen, who push till you bave to fall over the chams. It is not only done on. the Roosevelt street ferry, but on Fulton and Wall street ferries, Now, if this should come to the eye of any of them who do this I hope they will not do it re aQBeR MISCONDUCT OF TICKET TAKERS IN A THEATRE, New Yous, Fob, 20, 1877, To THe Eprror ov Tir Heraty:— I beg you will tnsert the Yollowing, which will prob- ably save further annoyance to patrons of Booth’s ‘Theatre. A party of friends and myself attended the periormance Saturday evening, sitting in the dress circle, During the progress of the third act quite a number of people beside mysell and {ricuds were very much annoyed by the conduct of the ticket collector and another attaché of the theatre with two young women. ‘Their actions were very much out of place, although 16 is Dot necessary to detail them here, Suilice it to say they made noise cnougn to prevent any of the oceu- punts of the reur seats, near the door, trom hearing a word from the stage. The managemont will do well to administer 4 reprimand, thereby preventing # repoti- tion of the offence, Vite RE-GOK! THE MISSING MANAGER—A COR RECUION. In the paragraph concerning the missing manager of the Howe Sewing Machine Company, in Sunday's HeKALD, it was stated that Mr. George R. Pettibone had obtained a separation from bis wile because of tnis- conduct on her part, This we tind was a miswke, ‘The tact i the reverse, Mrs, Pettivone, as it appears trom the records of the court, sued tor and obtained a divorce from ber busband on the ground of aduiwry enty miles The profler, however, wae refused, wid thas the matter stands, Henow Jov, threats and beartburnings da LORD DOFFERIN TO THR LOCAL a An couciuding his speech to the Brnvish Columbians moro thun a year ago, No charge or suggestion against her of any kind bad ever been made. She ts n live ing with fi ys i# known 10 & large circle of Iriends as a most Getimable lady, whose character is | without reproach, NEW YORK HERA OUR PUBLIC PARKS The Morningside, Riverside and East River Parks, COMMISSIONER MARTIN'S REPORT. How These City Lungs Can Be Made Available. PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ADVANTAGES. os The roport of President William R, Martin, of tho Department of Public Parks, nearly all of which will be found below, contains an amount of information and data that will be interesting to the taxpayers and the general public of New York, ‘his report, al- though submitted to the Park Commissioners so loug ago as the month of slay last, was ordered to be printed ouly a few days ayo, and bas not been until now given to the public. The parks now treated of are tho Morningside, Riverside, the East River and the two triangles at the intersections of the Boulevard and Ninth avenue at Sixty-third and Sixty-sixth streets, President Murtin sites that the contract for the Riverside Park. was given last your to Messrs. N. H. Decker & Co, for the sum of $530,000, This, 1t is claimed, 1s about one-third of the sum which under Mr. Greon’s management was‘ estimated for the work, Besides, the new plan, in addition to supplying the want of an avenue, also furnishes paths and drives throughout the entire park. The first plan of the Riverside Park avenue would have, according to Mr. Green’s calculations, cost the city $1,500,000—so Mr, Martin is understood to state. ‘There are at present about 600 men employed on the Riverside Park improvements under tho contractors whose names have already been given above, and 10 the course of three or four weeks, when the frost shall have left the ground so that mason work may be carried on, double this number will be set to work. ADVANTAGES OF THK NEW PARKS. These arons have been wcquired by the sity for park pur- poses at great expense, and it fs proper that something Should be done to bring their great uatural advantuges Into ‘and to make them contribute to the public enjoyment. can be dong 49 as to produce krone guaults ns very slight expense, ‘Tho Central Park possessed no natural duvantage beyond ite irregularity vf surface. Kverything In ithad to be created, and the expense was very great. The two triangles at Sixty-third and sixty sixth streets are small level pieces which need to be graded und lanted. The Morningside, Kiverside and East River Parks ave natural advantages which ure uot to be matched in te suburbs of any eity in Christendom, ‘The Riverside hus been under cure for Use last 100 years of w character best adapted to tit tt for a park, und it is now in the beauty of its lawns, groves and single trees, and of Its points of extended rospect, superior to unything that has ever boon realized In the Central Park, The Mommingside Park is @ steop, rocky doclivity, the principal value of which ix tho broad view trom the avenue that bounds it on the west, with a rough natural surface capable of un effective purk treatment. ‘The Knat River Purk, though but of small area, has good surface and a flue prospect, ‘These parks, in thelr navural condition, now are, so fur as landscape conditions are concerned, as available for tI public use and enjoyment as the Central Purk is, witer its twenty years of cultivation and heavy expenditure, All that they need is to be laid open to the public by a sing roud, drive or waik, which can be done at slight exp ‘They can be made, in three mouths, more servicoabi. publice than the Central Purk is now, aud, as this report Will show, at vory slight expe THK RIVERSIDE PARR, This park ies along the border of the Hudson Riv from Seventy-second to 130th street. and conta an area of SY 38-100 ucres. Jaid out map known as the We on March 7, 1808, under the provistons o Laws ot 1807. ‘The title of the city was acq confirmation report of the Uommissioners of I mate and As je 2d of August, 1872. The mo- tive of this part of the general plan, adopted for the whule tT area from Eighth avenue to the Hudsou Kiver and from Fifty-ninth to 155th street, was not to make @ ‘public pi Ik ow result which was rendered necessary by tho «rades, the grades estublished in the original plan of the city, under the lnw of 1307, sloped from the Kighth avenue down to 4n led Thirteenth avenue. The blu along iver, now known as Kiverside Park, was w grades to be cut down frum 50 to 100 terial used to Bll out to the Thirteenth av successive acts of the Legislature the exter! was chanved and brought nearer to the shore, finally estublished a little west, about 200 feet from’ the Twelith avenue. This cut the grades of the streets ax then eight of trom’ 15 to 30 feet om the water's red the wradex impracticable, ndered impracticable also by the cost of constructing them. Level zrades over suc! even country, which required tne cutting down of on the river bank, it wa» estimated would cost very many times the total value of the property and be worshiews nt that. The leading teuture, thereloce, of the new plan, under the law of 1867, was thut the d back of the biuf' should nd, anit the top and sides of the bluff river be taken ax a public park. tor other purposes, and thiv treatment expense, It presented cause the river Denk had been fora century ove rnamental groands in front of the as fine and 1 imaginary ln the bankis of th rhey were be treated as nti fallin, dow: tot augnificent, Under the law of 1867 an avenue was laid ont of even 100 f thon the top of the biuff on the exsterly border, and the park oecupiod the slope toward When the plans tor the improvement of the a park were taken into consideration and an est coustruction was made it was ascertained that s sepurute treatment of wn avenue and park would resalt in w level racedavenue, which would have to ve sustained on ite or park side by a wall of masonry of it height; that the purk would bo dwarfed | and inaccessible. and that the expense would be very heavy, To obviate these difficult the law of 1873, chapter 850, ® new plan was adopted. Tho Feasons for the change are set forth in the report of Mr, Oln dated 20th January, 1875 document No. 60, Dept, P. P.).. The feature of this plan was, to stato it briefly, that under the park and avenue system should be blended into one. A | system of drives and paths was adopted, which satisfied the requirements of the avenue and the park xt & cost which will be Jess for both than would have teen required for the avenue alone, To accommodate tiix treatment the line of division between the avenue and the park was chunyed to the westward, and more of the park surface was included in the surface of the avenue. Asitnow stinds, therefore, the Riverside territory. in- cludiny both park and avenue, comes under one method of park treatment. ‘The avenue is uot 4 level avenue within parullel lines of even width of 100 feet, bordering on the ark, and separated from it ay the Fitth avenue iy from the Sentral Park, but the whole territory is treated ax park with the Riverside series of drives und paths twid out through it. It serves also the purpose of an avent gives access to the houses on the property line, ‘The ad- vantaye of this to the city and to the public 4s that it en- hances the beauty and diminishes the cost of the improve- ment, and to the property owners thut their fronts are unique in this respect that they border directly on the park and overlook it with splendid river views. Topography of the Territory This Riverside territory extends trom event; cond to 180th street, along the banks of the Hudson Kiver, [tis three miles jong, and from 100 to 500 feet wide. Ite west: ern edge is the Twellth avenue at the river level. | Its east- erly edge is on the upper slopes or crest of the blalf, gen- eraly from 70 to 147 feet above the river. This Intervoning space is covered with sloping lawns, well rounded hills aud steep declivities. The elevations ¢ and as fine views as ar een anywnere on the banks of the Hudson, It is orna- mented with open groves of loity trees and with groups and slazlo trees of reat size, value and rarity. There Is nothing along the whole stretch of the Hudson more pie- turesque und beautiful. Increased Tar Valuation. ‘This land was taken for the public use and the assessment confirmed on the 2d day of Angust, 1572, aud assessed as follows On the city ss... + $3,009,491 On private property. 2 BOKATY $6,173,060 id upon the property extending as the Boulevard, @ distance varying from 875 025 feet. In addition to the burden of t ‘ossinent the tax valoa- tions, on the assumption that the property was enhanced in value, have been incroxsed as follows :— 11th Av. to 1th Ae. to Tax River, 72d River, 36h Valuation, to Sth St. to 10h se Totat. $335,820 ‘B41,800, 610,535 This table includes the property immediately adjucent wo the Ri ‘tho mutlseien ar the bizcke nest ade Ww wn inerense In an equally large proporti Hictous course for the department to t this avenne iu such a way to the property bordering on it Second—To open the region tv the public, so that they may appreeinte and understand the i advantages of this drive Titrd—To open a new park to the public enjoytaont which bas features different from and uch wore attractive than pleasui ade for them, or than any relty in the worl The Improvement for the im drive extending the cotire longth of th me places it fullows the easterly bi ; at others it extends over the park si Or branch rods, reaching the property border. ortis of 108d street, over a fine level gradu, the pl vides for © comb! ol drives bridie road and { Which has so often been thought desirable for the Park. ‘There will be grent advantages attending the conrtruetion drive and finishing it completely, at the present period of low prices. An wlterantive plan Lax been proposed in order to avoid and postpoue, at the prosest tine, the ex ponse of the complete construction by muking «country or Uirt road along the avenue, wt grades which conform to the hatural surivee, without attempting to reach the final xrady of venue, and Hiniting the cost to xs low 4 sum— fay $100,000-—as such wroad could be provided for, In tion with the deriva, it will be proper to finish the r section of the above 11Mth street, known as Claremont Hil, and it for park purposes, with paths, seats und shelters, in natural treatment, This scqtion of the park Js avout half a mile long, and 400 to 500 feet Tt ix # beutiful, round, prowinent hill, reaching 150 Lelzhs, with « flue natiral surtace, and covered with splendid yro ity nutural suriage lias been 53 Joug under cultivation that it f* already fitted for and can Japted to park purpones at slight expense. 1 the work is completed the commencement uf River: ive will ntrai Park through hi is already graded, For the ‘of 75 fret 30 to 400 feet of en descends toward Kighty- OF about BU feet. raptaly nod © nd reaches the the Park and Avenue, ment has Leen addpted, consist avo- , point it rises Tiver's edge, item rock on the uff, bold, projecti height at Eighty: a cry - of bis projectiny i with broad. views. Highty-olchih stroct urves to the eastward around = lawn, which slopes down into a date with wood erowned sides, and rounds out again toward the river at the bold point where Dr, Mott merly resided, just south of stryker’s Bay. crosses r's Bay and shen rises to the hill in ‘urne#s mansion, The main driv e where the elevation leo ry at a high «mil ward Claremont Hill park i moath, rol wn, river's edge with splendid gro: 1 trees, an adm round (Or ell and et playing. archery and pienies. It is here that the rand combinat bridie roads, drives and walks will be located, which in point of de- rospect and natural beauty will be unmatched by any jn any city on this continent. Claremont Hill, at the northern end of this park, as a point of natural beauty and broad prospect is w worthy termination of such » drive. This ill will be opened to the public enjoyment, with its fine tiatural suriace, with 4 century's growth of treen, and with Its continuons and varied river views. liero privilexes cun be permitted to the public for ranging unchecked over the grass, and tor games and other social enjoyments, for which the more highly cultivated surface of the Central Park does not afford room. The Property Ouners’ Claim, ‘The property owners generally have fur years since this assessment hes been laid upon them been urgent In thelr demands that this drive aad park should be improved, and ale: arguments have not been without force, They have sai paid a heavy usse ent, and since then that they have pi heir property which could only be supported by his was tobe a park and so treated as to o their propel ‘hereas, in tact, nothing ax been done tow: and their ‘property has receded to the vaines of ten. y that ull tne speculative value tor which they have been so heavily taxed and assessed hus disappeared, and that in good faith townrd the city should go on with the work. This view has opted Uy the Senate committee in their report, —That the region lying between the Central Park levards and nm River hus been subjected, for purks, ave- in sewers and other minor’ mat ters, to asessments, sin in the aggre sate to ever B20,000,000 this series of grand t it oughs to be eted, and that it pro nuavely smail expense produce re- uits of great perma: benefit to ‘hird That if the improvement be high character and value to the adjacent property inthe power thatthe Central Park bas given high clara {value to the property between Fifth and Madison ‘That this would hasten the occupation and det ‘naracter of the improvements on the adjacent prop: aud ald in sustaining the present high valuations at wh 4 the property ta assessed. for taxation, from which th city ives the seme efit that it would receive if the im- provements wore m Fourth—That this elevated region between the Central Park and the Riverside lark, ou the Hudson K with its hizh elevation, its salubrity and ite superior em of drainage und seworaxe, will bo eventually the sect of the Ouest and most expensive residen:ex of the city, and that if this purk tx completed a0 us to Acceleruty suelt an occupa tion the city will reap the advantages of it by the attrac: tions it will furnish for settlement and the great increase in the value of the property as the busis of taxation, The Public L, Under the provisions ‘of chuptor 447 of the Laws of 1878 tho whole urea of what. was formerly known as ielversid Purk and avenue is placed under the control and manag ment of this department, except that the cost of construct- jug the avenue is to be usseased on the property benotited asin ordinary cases. ‘The advantages of working this avenue will be that at at expense which will contrast very favorably with (he $10,000,000 expended ou the construction of the Central Park, @ new park of equal length, of greater nxtural beauty and advantuges will be opepe at once tu the pubic enjoyment. ‘The prnporty owners will have access to thelr land; the tax valuatio .# of the proparty will be supported. ‘Along the length of this park there, ace seven or olehi sites that will be unequalled in natural beauty and adapta- tion for the public enjoyment. Groves. lawns and springs can be thrown open to the people for excursions and picnic parties, for musical celebrations, for ball, cricket und cro- Guat playing, and tor games and every other kind of social outdoor enjvyment, It is uccessiole nltondy, through its whole length, by the Eighth avenue cars and the bloomingdale 8, and all w divfonal facilities can be givon by au extension of the service of the park carriages. WAST RIVE PARK, ‘This park was laid out pursu: to the provisions of chap- ter 528, laws of 1873. The title ot ibe city wa quired by the cur of the report of the Commissi ry f Matl- mate Assessment on Ist of April, 1878, Its comt wis #115119 84 The day Mxedin tho repore for the open ing was the 15th of April, 1876. The park has a level -ur- fave, with # high bank wbove the grade of Kighty sixth street and along the river front, Anoitd mansion house stundsin the centre, which is in good repair. Extending © covered plutform of iarge area, atrevching edge of the “river, and.) of visitors. to the water's edge, ex att nh city, ‘ompleted it will give to near th modate hundred: form the land ts encumbrances of fences and smalt buildin prevent surfuce of ark is level aud covered with tre thin lawn over the Bust River aud Black obstructed; toward the nort manding and the prospect livened by the vessels tenmbonts which wre constantly oussing. It iacex tho east, js weil shaded in the summer afternoons and Iv visited by the breezes trom the wat ‘hese uAtural advantay people. | The park is accessible by the second Kiulroad, which comos as near as the corner of Eighty et und avenue D, aud more remutely by the Third avenue cars, It can Le reached from tho Central Park by Elghty-fourth and Eighty-sixtu streets, which are wlrondy paved, and it wilt bea central point on the circuit of the Houle- vard. The locsi bouts which ply on the Bast and Harle rivers have landing on the grounds at the fout of Kighty- sixth street, Bequired Improvements This park should bo Improved by cieariug the land of all the buildings on it except the Mar nd the plat form, und they should be pat in good repuir: it should be enclosed by & pluin picket fence und the lund cleared and Testored so ite natural condition of a well shaded iawn. With alittle filling, # xood path cun be arranged along the east ern edge on the rocks. A good water plattorm and landing eun be made with conveniences tor stea:nboats, for sailing vousels, yachts und towboats, and a restaurant similar to th the Cusino in she Central Park cun be extab- the is will open to the public four acres of park, with a well shaded lawn, # fine covered piutforim for the proxpect, good retreshment houses, natural banks und a good wa k along tl ater, with « good bout house and platform, com- pining us many advantages for their service us can be found in any place of the sume aren, ‘Owing to its utural advantaes it ean thus be brought Into the puulic service ut an expense estimated at $10,000. MORNINGBIDE PARK, ‘This park was laid out on the West Side map, filed on the 7th of Marci, 1808, under the provisions of chapter 697 of the Laws of 1867. ' The title of the city was acquired upon confirmation of the report of the Commissioners on the 25th of June, 1870, and its cost was assensed as follows: - On the city........ $823,499 On private property Sei ed sepsexkths: sSETmS This park lies ulony the eastward slope of the hill'extend- ing from the northwest corner of the Central Park toward Manhattanvile. he upland is w level plateau between th Riverside aud Morningside parks, extending trom 110th strect to the Manhattanville vailey wt 130th street, the park extending from 110th to 122d streets. Its upper portion wis the site of the principal contiict ix the battle of Harlem, in the war of the Kevolution, and the only ‘battle that took place on this Island, It is 3,360 feet long and irom 300 to 600 feet wide. On the dustoriy: side It ts bounded by an avenue on the level of the Harlem plains, and on the westeriy by the orningside avenue at the top of the hill, with a levation: to 100 feet above the avenue on the east, This leaves narrow park with a steep declivity along the wind- ing siope of the bhi, Its principal feature wiil be the ave- nue on the west along the crest of the hill, which rises above the surface of the park, and ix supported in a xrout part ot its length by a bigh rotuining wall, Fro oe hue there will be commanding view over the Harlem pluius, Hell Gate and the Harlem and East rivers, which will never be interrupted. ‘The surtvee of this park is rocky and uneven, and wi mit of fine trontment, Plans indicating some of the fe tures have been adopted, The work th do this yeur is the completion of th tract aid wome other work tor its drainage, which aro osti- mated to cost $5,0¢ PUMLIC PLACKS, HOULKVARD AND NINTH AVENUE AT SIXTY: THIRD AND SIXTY-MIXTH STRKKTS. rks were also Inid ont under chapter 697 of Laws ot 1867, ‘The title to the lower one at “ixty-third Streot was acquired dm tho 22d of December, 1870, and to that wt Sixty-sixth street on the Sth of June, 1872. Their cost was us follow: Sixty-third atreo $76,500 On private property . 76,900 Total sess. $153,400 Sixty-sixth stroot—On the city. $26,111 On privave property. 20111 i rr «852,223 These triungies wre those formed by the intersection of the Broadway Boulevard with the Ninth avenue. They ure level pieces of land, except that a tnass of rock bas been lett standing in the dixty-sixth Street Fark. They need rading and planting with sidewalks, They ‘resemble in freation the two trinnyular parks at the intersection ot Broadway and Sixth avenue at ‘hirty-second aud ‘Thirty: filth streets, but ure a little larger im size. The expense attending these improvements ix estimated at $3,500, BROOKLYN'S PROJECTED MARKET. THE WALLABOUT PROJECT—WHAT BROOKLYN- ITES EXPECT TO GAIN, Tho news that tho bill presented to Congress last year by Mr. Bliss, which provides for the transfer of the tract of ground adjoining the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and known aa the ‘Wallabout lands," to the Brooklyn authorities had passed both houses and been signed vy President Grant was received with general approbation by the people of that city yesterday, For the past ten years the authorities of Brooklyn bave dono ali im their power to gain possession of these lands for the pur- pose of having a public market built upon them, and they have been seconded 1 their offorts by the Long Island farmers, who, » number of years since, formed themselves into an organizution for the establishment of a market im Brooklyn. The farmers thought that if this could be dope they would escapo what is termed tho ‘middlemen’ ot the New York markets, get a larger price for their produce, and gu to und from market in great deal less tine, It bas always been an aggrava- ten to Brooklymites to hear the rumbling of heavily laden farmers’ wagons as they passed their residences on their way to this city, knowing that the gurden stu contuined in those vehicles had to be Drought across the river again for consumption, ‘Tne land now secured {8 looked upon generally ae §=«berng )=6most «desirable for. the purposes ot @ market, although considerable expense will have to be incurred by filling tho swampy portion ot it and building appropriawe dockage. It covers an area about 600 feet wide by 1,600 eet long, and lies between the river and Washington avenue, extending from the Wallavout Canal to the foot of Clinton avenue, The government has fenced it in, bat has found no use for it, as the navy yard h proved amply largo fer its purpose, By the establishment of the market on the spot indi. cited Brooklyn expects to obtain a large portion of the trade of the citizens of the upper part of this city, as it is estimated that the new market can be reached by them much sooner by the aid of the Jerries than either Washington or Fulton markets. ‘The terms between Brooklyn and the government for the ground will, it 18 thought, be adjusved without any difficulty, FORGED MONEY ORDERS, A painter, named John Dowling, was arrested in Brooklyn yosterday by United States Marshal Har- low, charged with forging two moncy orders, amount ing to $54 50, on the Brooklyn Post Ufiice, The orders were received from Nova Scotia in October last, 1877.—-TRIPLE SHEET. LR INSURANCE LINGATION. The Oontinental-Butler Reference Examination, RECEIVER ANDERSON'S ACCOUNTS. The North American and Universal Com- panies on the Rack. ‘The newly appointed Superintendent of Insurance, Mr, Joba A. Smyth, left this city for Washington yes- terday morning. He has come into the depariment at 'y active poriod in insurance affairs, and, it Is understood, intends to exercise the duties and prerog- atives of his office with impartial vigor. Mr. Jonn A, ‘McCall ts etill performing the duties of Deputy Super- imtendent, and his triends assert that he is to be per- manently retaived in the position. The Continental reference before William Allen Butler bas nearly concluded its labors. A meeting was held yesterday afternoon, at No. Nassau street, when there was a full attendance of lawyers, wit- nesses and others, KXAMINATIONS BEVORR REVRRER BUTLER. James McDonnell, a tormer agent of the Continental in Brooklyn, was called to the stand and examined with regard to bis personal accounts. His name has appeared several times as a petitioning policy-holder in motions opposed to the Attorney General’s action, while the books of the company show a balance against bim as agent of $10,780 17. Ho testified that his contract with the company was roving ono; under dne of its provisions he was en- titled, after the termination of his contract, to elect to receive a commutation of twenty-two and a hal! per cent ol the axgregate promiums for one year on bis outstanding policies; the balance on the books against him was correct, subject only to this commutation; in May, 1875, he upplied, under the commutation clause, to have the twenty-two and aball percent paid to him; betwoon that time and August, 1876, however, he hu received moneys from the company under the contract, Witness acknowledged to a certaia ailidavit upon which his counsel, General ‘racy, bud obtained judg- ment from Keoviver Anderson, iu which the action tor 8 dissolution of the company was alleged to have com- mouced upon the 2d of Uctober, This suit was for the return of moneys alleged to have bevn paid into the company since the action for a dissolution, Mr. Moses stated that the action was not begun until the 11th of October, and the money had been paid in be- tween the 2d and the 11th, MR. ANDEKSON’S ACCOUNTS. John J, Anderson, the former receiver, then took the stand, aud Mr, Moses pul ip his objections to An- dersou’s accounts, a8 follow: AQ item of the puyment of $3,047 67, by order of the Court, was objected to, because the said order for pay- meut Was obtuined througa the gross negligence ot Ro- ceiver Anderson, Two othe. smail payments were ob- jJovted to eu the same ground, The following counsel teen paid by Anderson as Feceiver were objectrd to;--November 9, George W. Muller, $500, November 10, Dauiel Magone, Jr., $1,000, The payment of ove-bali of the following fees was ob- Jected to:—November 11, William Fullerton, $2,500 January 15, Wiliwm Fullerton, $2,500; December 30, J. L, Hill, $1,100, The puyment of one-fourth of the Jollowing’ wus objected to:—Jauuary 12, Sewell & Pierce, $2,000, Mr, Moses said that these fees were incurred in litt- gation botween the Attorney General of the State aud the Continental Life Insdrance Company, in which John J. Auderson bad no interest. By Way of sur- cuarge Mr. Moses guid that John J. Anderson should be held responsible tor any Joes thut may occur in the trauster of $355,000 trom the Continental to the New Jersey Mutual Life insurance Company. ‘The ground for tuis charge ‘hat Mr, Anderson became ac- quainted with the fact of the trausier shortly alter be- coming receiver, and that he omitted to take action for the recovery until January 2, and then only for $102,000, ‘The referee appoiuted Friday next for Messrs. Moses and Sewell to argue these objections to the receiver's accounta WILLIAM ©, WHITNEY’S LOANS. William C, Whitney, corporation counsel, was called and titled that be was made a stockholder and elected 4 director of the Continental in the spring of 1878; was retained as counsel for the company avout two years before that: beld twenty shures of stock, upon which be received dividends, during 1874 and 1875, 01 trom twelve to twenly per ceut per annum; hud received a loun of $3,0U0 upou this stock and sume Other securities, whicu was repaid two months alter its issue; by oversight, however, neiwner the stock nor ‘ne note bud been taken up; in the early part of 1875 he obtained ‘two loans from the Continental, on Metropolitan ‘Steutosbip Company’s siock aggregating $33,500; the Metropolitan Steamship Company was organized under the luws ol the State of New York; ils stock was selling above par, this was the only joan the Continen- tw! bad against dim, and witness explained that he bad notified Receiver Grace of his willingness to tuke it up a8 8000 as tho Jatter could make out the exact umount due, The witness gave some testimony regarding ihe contract, which he drew up, for the reinsurance be- tween the Continental and the Empire Mutual. He testitied (hat the capital stock of t.¢ Empire Mutual ‘Was especially excluded trom the liabilities to be as- sumed by the Continental, . Reteree Butler then adjourned the examination until two P. M., ou Friday next, when he said the reference would terminate its evidence A BECEIVER ASKED KOR—THE NORTH AMERICAN AND UNIVERSAL INSURANCE COMPANIES ON THE RACK. Judge Dykeman, of the Supreme Court, Kings county, on motion of Counsellor John L, Hull, granted ‘fan order to show cause why a receiver of the North American Life Insurance Compuny should not be ap- pointed and an injunction issue, The order, which is mhade returnable March 3,10 A. M., appoints Wilham H. Leonard referee, and demands that saia company and all its agents and officers should show cause why they should not be restrained and cnjoined according to the prayer of the complaint, and espe- cialiy restrains the North American and the Universal Life insurance Company and its ollicers from doing any further act in the execution of reinsurance, amal- gamation and absorption of the business of the former company. It also orders that the North American, Guardian, Mutual and Universal Life Insurance com- panies shall submit to a full examjnation by the ref- eree and disclose to bim all tho affairs and condition of the affairs of suid companies The suit 18 brought against the North American Lite Insurance Company, the Guardian Mutual Life Insurance Company, the Uuiversal Lilo Insurance Company, Henry J. Furber, _Will- tamzg Walker, Edward Lambert, George ‘T. Hope, Sumuel W, Torrey, John J. McCool, Rovert J. Lancas- ter, Jobn H. Burlev, George L. Montague, Nathan D, Morgan, Jobu H, McUoo!, John Doe, Richard Roe and the people vi the State of New York. ‘The plaintiff to the case is Ethelbert Belknap, Tho complaint sets forth tuat according tothe North Amer- icun Company’s charter its capital stock should con- siat of $1,000,000, divided ito Hity dollar shares. The company’ reserved the right to bave tbe stock retired and repaid to the shurcholders, and in such an event the company should then consist of the ylicy holders, the profits to be divided among them, To ast, by special act, the stock Was cancelled. Tho pen , who holds a paid up policy lor $2,336, bus ept all the provisions uud conditions of the policy. In 1874, 1t 18 alleged, Hebry J. Furber sought to evade the law by agreoing that the Universal Company should control the business of the North America in its own interests, induce the policy holders to surren- der their policies und to take Dew policies in the Unt- vorsul aud thereby to absorb tue business, profits and advantages of the North America, ibe reault was to be worked out by reinsuring particu- lar risks, by lapses, surrenders, &c., of other policies 80 thatthe North America shouid ultimately retire from business and sell and transter its business to the Universal, It was ulso, it 18 alleged, the design ot Furber and others ‘to secure large portions ot the reserve of the North America, being, oF intending to be, officers of both companies and tu draw salaries trom each, Therealtur the Universal, Furver and overs, through unjust, cor- Tuptand fraudulent means and practives upon the ollicers of the North America, resigned trom the Board ot Directors to make room for the Gleetion of porsuns who w ilicers, directors or persons interested in the interests of tho scheme. In the cxecution of this demgn the complaint alleges the defendant, Morgan, reured from the North America, and Walker, Lambert, Hope, Torrey, Lancaster, McCool, Furber, Burley und Montague, aitectors aud officers of tho Universal, be- came direciors of the North America, Furber being Pregident of the North America uad Vico President of the Universal. Agents depreciated the credit of the North America, and a panic was created among thie policy holders, causing them to allow their policies to lapse aud t be surrevdored or sold to the Universal, the reserves in such policies instead of being liberated to the use of the North Americ were turned over to tho Universal, or some person not at present known. Thousands of policies Were surrendered, and many were sold at about thirty per centot the reserve thereon, There was withdrawn from the North America, in 1876, and expended for policies lapsed, surrendered or purchused, $1,428,787 14, besides un item of $571,493 for deaths, losses, aud ‘policy claims in addition thereto.’? The income for 1874 was $209,228 07 and the expenditure $1,910,185 74; the income tor 1875 was $1,474,470 97, Aud the expenditure $3,177,028 62 The business of the North America under tho alleged «cheme, is sot forth as bemg rapidly wrecked und destroyed, and a large part of the reserve is said to have been misappropriated to persona use, nd ought to be immediately returned. In reality the North America hus ceased to do business, except m the respects mentioned, aud this spension has lasted jor more than ayear, [ts obligations to its policy holders are not, however, extinguished and an accounting ought to ov had. The Universal, by re- insurance on gther contract with the Guardian Mutual La obtuined large sums Of money or propery, other companies samed the money with the that 1 wilt be impossible to trace ft with- out an = =6accounting among each of the three companies, for which the pisintit The plaintifi alleges thut money has been loaned op other than bona tide mortgages or investments, and real es- tate has been illegally bought It is alleged that these frauds and wrongs were loug ago Known to the Insur- auce Department of the State, bat no examination has been made, The plaintiff asks for an examiuation of the compank it Forber and the oificers of the North America and Universal be suspended, and that such other reiief tnay be granted as the Court may deem just. COMMISSIONER CAMPBELL’S RECORD. THE ALDERMANIC INQUISITION—A DEFENCE BY THE COMMISSIONER-~STATISTICS OF HIS STEWe ARDSHIP. The Committee on Public Works of the Board of Aldermen, of which Mr, Thomas Shields is chairman, met at the City Hall yesterday afternoon. The main business before this body was in relation to the charges preferred against Commissioner of Public Works Campbell, It was alleged by Alderman Tuomey that the gentleman could not fill twe positions—that of Commissioner and President of the Consolidation Coal Company—and that he erred in appointing Mr, Her. bert O. Thompson ag his deputy. The latter charge is made on the grounf that Mr. Thompson is not capable of filling the position of Deputy Commissioner of Pubs lic Works, Alderman Tuomey addressed the committee, and suggested that, as the Cousolidation Coal Company had failed to again select Mr, Campbell its President, he would not press the charges.iu that direction. Ha would, however, call tor an examination as to the tte ness of Mr. Thompson {or the position of Deputy Com missioner, Mr, Campbell had no right to make suck an appointment, ‘Two years ago Thompson was a messenger in Wall street, and later op be was a clerk in the department at $900 a year, He was next ape pointed Deputy Commissioner at a salary of $6,000. Alderman contended that this was a family ine crest, Thompson being a relative of the Commission- er’s. Alderman Simongon—Are you prepared to that Thompson is vot a proper man for the place Alderman ruomey—1 am not paid for doing that Iv is your duty to make the proper tnuvestigaiion, a one of this commitice, I want, however, to substane Uate my charges against the young man. ‘Alderman Pinkney—Tweed was Deputy Commis~ sioner of Public Works. Ho was not an engineer, Dao you suppose he wasacapablo man? What qualifica- vions oe Mr. Gumbieton possoss that Mr, Thompsum has not pve MR. CAMPBELLS DEFENCE, After some further learned skirmishing between the members of the committee Colonei George W, Wingate, arose and said that he represeuted Commissioner Cum p- bell, who was sick and unable to attend. He contended that even it Mr. Campbell held both positions he was Not prevented trom doing s0 under the provisionsol the charter. Ou the question of attending to public busi- ness the Commissioner was always fully ready to meet that issue. For four yeurs he bad charge of the Fourth avenue improvements, which cost over $6,500,000, One-half of which hud been paid by the city. ‘He was At the same time president of the coal company, and able to attend to botn duties, He was then tendered the position of Commissioner of Public Works, but de- clined until again nominated atter the conclusion. of tne work upon Fourth avenue, Coione! Wingate then went on to point out the efficiency of Mr, Campbell’s ad- ministration, 1n connection with this subject he sub- mitted the foliowing statement:— COMPARATIVE STATEMENT SHOWING THR EXPENDITURES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS YOK THR LAST VIVE YRAKS, 1874, 1876, 1876. On appropriation ac’t, $1,627,165 $1,763,951 $1,451, 023 Ou ‘street improve- ment... sees 4,584,572 8,408,684 2,018,680 On funded debt ac- count for Croton water system, 1,399,393 747,116 = 888,390 Totals ........+.+++$7, 609,131 $5,919,752 $4,357,095 The reduction of expendtures for the past year us— Compared with 1875 is....... 1,562,056 Compared with 1874 11 » 8,252,086 Compared with 1873 1 8,290,748 Compared with 1872 i: 1,469,017 A Separato compurison of each class of expenditures: Jor the several years and the amount of work dono shows that the reductions are principally the result of economy and the abolition of the days’ work ays- tem fra not, of any proportion: decrease in tho worl The current basiness of the depart t—viz, the Maintenance of the Croton water system, strects, Toads, sewers, buildings, public lamps, &c.—has been increased within tive years by the transfer of the boulevards in Juue, 1872; the consolidation of the city and county goveruinents in 1873, and the annexa- tion of the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth wards ia 1874, as well as by the constant addition to street pavement, sewers und water pipes to be maintained, Yet tbe expenditure on theso accounts has been thus Teduced, a8 tollows:— Averago expenditures tor four years pro- ccuing 1876.....0+6 ‘s+ $1,672,053" Expenditure tor 1876, . eee 1,451,023 Reduetion...... + $221,029 Un the expenditure for street improvements the re- duction 18 $1,390,003 80 as compared with the previous year, and $1,033,673 23 as compared with the average annual expenditure for the four years preceding 1376. About lorty per cent of these reductions is due to a decrease in the amount of work carried on, while the remaining sixty per cent may be credited to the aboli- tion of the days’ work system and the snrinkuge of prices for qontract work. An idea of the Ly ettected by the substitution of contracts for days’ wor! may be formed by comparing the average cost of work under each, as tollows:— A a Cost werage Cost Average Nature of Work. by Days’ Work. by Contract. Rock excavation, per oubic yard $4 72 8T Earth excavation, per cubic yard 1 32 22 Earth tilling, per cubic yard..... 1 57 22 Curb and gutter, per lineal foot.. 1 8: 42 Flagging, per square foot........ 82 183 Teliond Macadam roadway, per square yurd....ee..06 401 $1 66 Receiving basins, each..... 450 00 119 00 In the expenditures for the improvement and exten- sion of the Croton water system proportionately the greatest saving has been effected, as the principal por- tion of that work, the laying of water pipes, was formerly done by days’ work, and is now carried on by contract, aud a reduction of thirty por cent, or about $80,000 in the cost of iron pipe, has peen secured by a supplementary agreement to the old contract for iur- nisning pipes. The toliowing are the quantities of pipe laid and the cost of the satue for the past five years: Year. Quantity, Tons. Total Cost, Cost per Ton. 6,880 $301,808 $188 36 928 1,291,219 139 68 9998S. 138 65 271,468 1S1 28 fects 839,865, 96°55 gate aiso argued that Mr, Thompson was an excellent ollicial; that whon Commissioner Campbell came into office he found ihe gentioman with a salary of $2,200 a year. He was then appointed Secretary to the Comimissiover, which position ha held for a year, and When Mr, Gurubleton entered upun his duties as County Clerk he was promoted to the deputystip, In the position of secretary Mr, Thomp- sou bad learned the exact duties of the department and the moe oj conducting 1ts various branches un- der Mr. Campoeil’s supervision, Alderman Tuomey aguin delivered one of his charac- tertstic speeches, when furthor consideration 0: the matter was postponed unui] Tuesday next, BROOKLYN DRUGGISTS ORGANIZING. A well attended meeting of druggists was held yes. terday afternoon in Granada Hall, Myrtle avenuo, Brooklyn, for the purpose of perfecting an organiza’ tion, Mr, Edward A. Sayers presided, and Lous E. Nicot acted as secretary, Dr. Meminger, as chairman of the Committee on Constitution and Bylaws, ayfpointea at a previous meeting, presented a lengthy report embrac- ing a druit of a code of laws for the guidance of those enguged in the business in that city, ‘I'he name of the orgauization 1s to be the “Long Island Pharmaceutical Society,” the object af which will be ‘to unite the educated and reputable pharmacists and druggists, und to encourage better relations be- tween druggists, pharmacists, physicians and the peo- ple at large, whieh shall tend to mutual strength and advantage,” The constitution, as read, proposes to rosirics the sale of medicines and the regulation thereof to educated druggists; to establish a code Of ethics ;%tu accept the United States Pharmacopwia as their guide, bat it does not exclude the use of foreign pharmacopmias., Lt repudiates the custom, now largely in vogue, of paying a percentage ou proserip- tions to physicians, 43 alike discreditable to the draggist and ractitioner, The = giving of medical advice by druggisis to people is also condemned as improper, and those ts’ sO- who shall become members of tho pharma ciety will be required to reler people desiring advice to regular practising physicians. Druggists are Urged to encourage their assistants io attend lectures at the colleges The socivty is wo consist of active and honorary members, Tho ofli- cers to be elected are:—Ono president, three Vice prosidents, a treasurer, a secretary aad Uaree dele- gutes to the American Vharmaceutical Society. Tho mitiation fee will be $2 for each member and tho nual! dues $1. About 100 druggists enrolled their names as mem- bers, and the constitution aud bylaws were thon taken up and discussed clause by clause, but few chaugoa being made in the original drai, A CARD FROM PRE: IDENT ORTON. Nuw York, Feb, 27, 1877. To rae Epiror ov tHe Henaio:— The concluding paragraph of themin the main—very Accurate report published this morning of an interview with me by one of your reporters yestorday states that the Western Union Company “is prepared to carry on Au expensive War if necessary in maintenance of ite right.ul position.” Will you kindly permit me to say in that connection that my meaning was not cleariy understood’ The managers of wis company do not Propose to carry on uny War, expensive or otherwiso, Upon the busincas of uny other corporation, We shall, however, to the best of our ability, transact such busir Ness us the public may intrast to us, and at the same Ume endeavor vy ail proper means to promote and 19 Not Ontitied to hold, and bas so mingled protect the wvercets of our shi Speoualiy, WILLIAM ORTON, Presicek SS oO OO ee EE