The New York Herald Newspaper, March 22, 1877, Page 6

4 ~ UPPER NEW YORK Plans for Improving the Twenty-Third and Twenty-Fourth Wards. NEW PARKS AND PARKWAYS. President Martin's Suggestions and the Benefits To Be Derived by Carry- ing Them Out, ceeupeontinennnee ‘Tho Department of Parks will in a few days issue the report of President Martin, made December 20, 1876, to the commission, on the subject of laying out the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth wards, which em- bodies many of the suggestions made in the report of the landscape gardever and te cngineers, published some months ago in tho Hxkatp oxclusively. Mr. Martin calls attention to his report on the same sub- Ject made on the 30th of March, 1875, wherein the ex- pense of coustructing the roads and avenues laid out was estimated at $4,200 per acre, not including sewers, and $6,500 per acre, including sewers, FEATURES OF THK NEW SYSTEM, The sub ect of laying out this district, Mr. Martin ; says, is of paramount importance to the city and to the property owners. Tue city is now built up to about Fitty-ninth street, From that point north- wardly to 15th street, for a length of about five miles, the land has been subjected to the rectangular plan of Streets and avenues and to level grades, The work of constructing these streets and avenues is about half completed. The plan was so extravagant, the cost of construction has been so enormous and the length of time needed to do the construction work has been so great that the occupation of the region with buildings will be indetinitely,delayed, and the property mean- while overburdened and swampod by the load of taxes and assessments, Beyond this, extending from 165th street and the Harlem River to the northerly line of the city, is the region now under consideration, over which the oid plan proposed to extend a system with the same do- structive effects, and trom which the new plan pro- poses to save it, The cardinal principles of the new system are:—That the region shall be connected with the bueiness part of the city by lines of rapid transit; that, by sewerage and drainage, it shall be made boulthy; that it shail receive the advantages of a proper treatment of the Harlem River; that it shall be laid out in accord with the general topog- Tapby, with the future and ultimate occupa- tion and the distinct character of its differ- ent sections; that tho title to the land needed tor the public use stall be acquired ona speedy and eco- nomical method, and that the mode and order of con- structing its {improvements shall not be such as in the Meantime to depopulate the region und destroy the value of the property. ADVANTAGES TO COMMERCE. The city, Mr. Martin maintains, needs an affirmative policy, based upon the principle that the prosperity of a city i8 secured when all its citizens are engaged in profitable und productive labor, te concludes that the patural advantages of the city for interval and foreign commerce are unsurpassed; that the fucihties for local trunshipment of treigut veing behind rival cities bas driven commerce to Loug Island, New Jersey and elsewhere; that what 1s needed is to bring the Tujlroad car and vessel side by side, He suggesis ao a Temedy the construction of a rapid transit elevated railroad upon we city border, * * ® A belt rail- roud for commercial purposes, such as has been above described, ana the enlianced value it wou.d give to all the piers and bulkheads, he believes, could be made a Very productive source of city revenue, The increase Of the tax valuation of tbe property within it by busid- tpg up the business and industries of the city, and by facilitating the settlement of all its material growth within its own limits, s0 as to be subject to its own taxation, is another natural result, in ui8 opinion. Mr. Martin strongly urges the’ importance ot rapid transit along the line of the Hudson River and in Wegichester county, so as to relieve the city of a den- sity of 100,000 people to the square mile and distribute them in the outlying district avout 20,000 to the square mile, ‘These considerations, he says, lead inevitably to the conclusions (hut of ali (he streets and avenues the su- preme importance belongs to the railroad routes that thread through the district and connect it, across the Harlem River, with the lines of rapid transit to the | City Hall, Tiese railroad routes should ve laid out upon the principle of perm:tung the construction of a guriace road, or one through an open cut of slight de- pression, ut such a grade that rmtersecting streets and avenues may cross it in un under or over grade. They should be so frequent longitudinally as tu bring every poiut in the Whole area within a quarter of a mile of a station and have suitable cross conuections. THE PLAN POR Pak The features of the plan tor parks and parkways which has been worked out on the ground, ure that, | instead of massing the area devoted to park purposes in ove of two places, there will be a distribution of the aren in a greater Dumber of places, connected by parkways of sufficient width for tue adjacent country to be planted out, so as to preserve the appearance of a park to the persons who walk or drive along them. ‘ybis plan can be weil illustrated if we suppose that, | instead of taking the Central Park in one mass, the same number of acres had been taken tn several parks along the banks of tho East and North rivers, aud on the commanding and picturesque portions of the Central Par! then had veen connected by broad parkways. ‘The quantity of land taken and the cost would buve been no lurger; but the drives would have had five times their present length, and tne Variety of character and prospect would have becn much greater, ‘Ihey could have been designed to in clude ull the points of beauty for which this island is matchless, The effect on tue value of property Would not have been limited to a border avenue, but would have extended over the whole region. These parks will vary in extent. ‘Ihey will be connected by park- ways from 200 to 400 fect m width, so as to present the advantages of a iarge park with every variety of Surlace, and brouglit iuto contact with every portion of the whole rey HLIC IMPROVEMENTS, ‘The report awelis at lenuth upon improvements pro- posed to benefit the upper end of the island, among which are cited the opening of Mell Gate, the proposed channel connecting the Hudson and Harlem rivers, the Hines of rapidtransit up Third and Eighth avenues, | the construction of two pew bridges across the Harlem River, one atthe head of Madison avenue crossing to 188tn’ street, and an elevated bridge north ot High Bridge from Tenth avenue, at 181st street, to Fordham Heights. The constraction of these two bridges, Mr. Martin be regarded as the right thing to do now lan for the embankinent aud treatm of the river aud the tunpels under it, which may be constructed to give unobstructed vavigation, have all Deen studied out, and the plan is as near completion as it cun be until the Hnal revision at the point of execu- tion. The construction of these bridges will not defeat that | ultimate plan, but will demonsirate its necessity and hasten it This is the practical thing to do, and the thing that can be done now with an expenditure thatthe resent circumstances justily. The work ou those two ridges bas advanced ‘as tar in plan and preparation af can be done until the expenditure for the con- straction is authorized, THE POLICY OF EXPENDITURE, Notwithstanding the fluctuations of the times, Mr. Martin continues, this city has grown, and will tinue, taken in long periods, to grow as a metropolis, ‘with tens of thousands of population and tens of mil- hons of taxable property, year alter year, The vital point in the prosperity of the city 18 to secure this ine crease of population and wealth within its old pound. | aries and to subject them to its own taxation, During the last ten years 400,000 of population and | $500,000,000 of taxable wealth accruing to the | city’ have settled upon Long Island and | in New Jersey, and become subject to | their taxation, "During the next ten years the natural increase must be attracted to settle in the | city itself, If uhis is dove, vacant lots ap town which now pay $20 taxes will be built upon and taxed as houses und lots, and thug pay $200 taxes, and the $1,000,000,000 of real estate, now the main resource of the city for taxation, will ve increased to $1,500,« 000, which would ‘effectually relieve the burden. If this is not done, Long Island and New Jersey will | be enriched by gathering our increase, the ruin of | vacant property up town Will become completo, aud a part of the taxation now thrown upon vacant property | Op town must be borue by improved property down | towa, and ils taxes increased, THK OBJECTIONS TO THE PLAN, This leads at once, euys the report, to the staplo objection that the prosecution of theso’ works would increase the public debt It is conceded thar it will, bat the extent is comparatively smell, The results will be large enough aud important enough to warrant the expenditure. It will add miliions of dollars to the real taxable value of real estate und tucrease the re- wources of the city fur the purpose of taxation, The city has already received fvorn taxation, imcreased on the strength of these projected timprovements, as much as it has expended on them, und its per- manent income 1s now millions larger becauso of these improvements. ne city’s ontlying suburbs, comprehended in its systom. of parks and bouievards, starting with the ntral Park, even with extravagant plans and ex- penditui bave illustrated these advantages. Under an economical administration they will evince how muill- { dollars in results may be accomplished by the Xpenditare of thousands. When the recurrent period Of prosperity comes. the-e results will come, Itis the spolicy of the city in economic times to prepare for them; and no extreme reduction can be more unwise and more injurious to the future of the eity than in the moneys exponded on these objects. THE NEW HARLEM BRIDGE. Ata meeting of the Park Commissioners yosterday on it was resolved to wpone the receiving of ern tha Heriam Brigge whinext Weduesiay week. RAILROADS AND RATLROAD EMPLOYES, THE STRIKING ENGINEERS OF THE BOSTON AND MAINE DEPEATED—SHALL REFUSAL TO WOKK BY RAILROAD EMPLOYES BE REGARDED AS A CRIME ?—INTERESTING LEGISLATION PENDING IN MASSACHUSETTS, Bostox, March 21, 1877. ‘The striking engineers of the Boston and Maine Rail- road have “thrown up the sponge,” and the managers of the road are at length masters of the situation, It is the first instance in which the Brotherhood of Loco. motive Engineers have been defeated 1n attempting to dictate terms to employing railroad companies, since they have been so successfully resisted, th road companies have in turn initiated a movement for the forming of a combination, the ultimate purpose of which is THE BREAKING UP OF THY ENGINKERS? BROTHERHOOD. A meeting of the superintendents of the New Kkng- Jand roads was held in this city a few days since, at which the proposition was favorably entertained, and there will shortly be a second convention, when the organization will be perfected, While the Boston and Maine Railroad has won a victory in tho contest it has suffered to an extont impossible to calculate on ac- count of delays and witharawal of patronage by the public, the majority of whom aro in sympathy with the Engineers, ‘The railroad corporations are anticipa- ting substantial assistance through Legislation in the various States, which shall make the abandonment of trains by employés a criminal offence, and a billof that kind has already been re- ported in the Massachusetts Legislature. It seems, however, that the bill did not have the full sympathy ef the Committce on Rallroa for to-day there bas been a minority report submitted by Representatives Osgood of Salem and Hawkes of Lynn. Those gentle- men dissent ontirely from the severe legislation woich their colleagues recommend, and as their views are of GREAT INTEREST TO RAILROAD EMPLOYES, Luppend a full abstract, After alluding brieily to the Boston and Maine strike, the minority memberg of the Committee go on to say that the inconvenience and in- Juries sulfered by travellers was in many instances quito serious, and such abandonment cannot be Jjustitied whatever may be the merits of the dispute between the corporation and its employés. ‘To what oxtent the Legislature, however, Justified in interfering by penal statute between employer and employé, in the interest of the public, is & question of great del- icacy, and one which requires very careful considera- tioa, The exigency should be very great, the public necessity very pressing that. ould, Heh the passage of a law depriving the employé of that personal liberty which our form of government guarantees to all. The greatest inconvenience suffered by travellers in the recent strikes on the Boston and Muino and Grand Trunk ratlroads was on account of the abandon- ment of tratns wt points short of their regularschedule destination. It seems to the minority that this is an offence which calls tor the imposition of severe pen- altics, whether committed alone or in pursuance of an agreement With others, Itis an act which may endan- ger the health, and possibly the Ife and limb, of the traveller; but they cannot agree that It should be made a criminal offence for an engineer to resign bis office and refuge to start with the train from its first point of departure, even if his resignation be in tui therance of a dispute between the railroad col ration and its employés. Such intorfor- ence with the personal rights of un employé does not seem to be culled tor by tho ex- perience of the recent strife; nor 18 it suggested in the report ot the railroad commissioners, who recommend, in concluding their report, the pas- sago of a penal statute to cover the offence of “the abandonment by locomotive engincers of their loco- motives upon railroads in furtherance of any combina tion for a strike, except at the regular schedule destina- tion of such locomotives. ’” By the bill of the majority if twoengincers having a dispute with the railroad corporation resign their oflice and refuse to start out their trains they are liablo to imprisonment, 20 matter what tho merits of the dispute may be or which party is in ight The corporation may discharge the engineers at the end of their day’s work if they are hired by tho day, as is ihe case with most engineers, aud there is no remedy; but if the engineers discharge themselves or resign their office they are still liable to indictment if they refuse to run the train, In this case (here is no public exigency to be met, for the resignation of two, or many times two, engineers ou the great railroads of the State would not seriously affect the running of the trains. It may be answered that it would be extremely difcult to convict under those circumstances, but -it seems to the minority of the committee that no law should be passed that renders such a conyic- tion possible. If the bill of the majority wall not bear thts intrepretatios thon it docs uot dilfer from the bill offered by the minority, which provides clearly that if an engineer resign before the time fixea for starting the train from its first pownt of departure, within the limits of the State he shall not be liable, but which otherwise holds lim to us strict an account. HAS THE LEGISLATURE A RIGUT TO INTERFERKY Tt may be argued that the bill of the minority would not prevent a “trike,” but only regulate it, Grant that it 1 so, for the sake of the argument. A “strike”? 4s the avandonment of their employment, by a body of employés, in consequence of sore dispute between them and their employer. What right has the Lo; laiure to interfere, except so far it is nec sary to protect the public? Whi it is tue undoubted right of employés to leave their employ- me ‘t a8 equally the rignt of those employés who ebvo =» remain, or of any others who fil the places of thuse 59 leaving, to ve protected avarist violence or iumidgation, and any attempt in thak direction should be severely panished, ‘he minority of the committee, therefore, while fully recognizing the fact that the public right in rela- tion to a railroad corporation is different trom that in relation to any private corporation, believe tbat they suiliciently protect the public interest when they make ita crim:nal offence = First—For any railroad employé to abandon a loco- motive or train of cars between the potut of first de- parture and the point of final destinauion, 1m violation of the rules and regulations of the ratiroad corpora. tion, or to refuse, between such points, to ald in mov. ing ‘any car or train of cars wuich such rules and regulations require him to move, Second—For any person to obstruct or injure a locomotive or render in unfit for immediate use, or to abstract theretrom any tools or appliances with a view of delaying and himdering the passage of trams. Third—Kor any person to uge Violence toward an employé, or in any manner intertere with him while in the periormance of nis daty. The minority of the committee, in submitting the foregoing report, also present a bill covering the three points speciticd. and providing as penalties heavy fines aud imprisonment. THE WORKINGMEN. WINTER'S WORK OF THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRIS- TIAN ASSOCIATION—DIMINUTION OF APPLI- CANTS FOR VOLUNTARY COMMITTAL TO THE WORKHOUSE. Tho Young Men’s Christian Association, among other of its admirable purposes, has a standing com- mittee whose duty 1t 18 to look alter the employment of young men, This committee also oversees the em- ployment bureau of the Bowory branch of tne assocl- ation, which has to do more immediately with tho poorer classes, At the rooms of the association, Twenty-third strect and Fourth avenue, dur- ing the past winter months the number of applicants for situations seems to have been small and the number who obtained employment propor- tionately so, the figures boing for Decomber:—Num- | ber of applicants, 63, of whom 11 got employment, while the applications trom employers for clerks numbered 14, In January the nutnber of applicants for situations was 72, 13 of whom obtained employ- ment, while the employers’ applications numbered 14 in February thore were 69 applications for employment, 13 of which were successful, the number of employers’ applications being 17. Durmg the winter months of 1876 the totai number of applications tor employment was 895, rep- resenting twenty-three different nationalities; number of situations filled was 95, and the number of employers’ applications 152 The amount expended during the three months 1m relieving applicants was $1477 11 The following 1s the report of the Bowery brauch of the ussociation for the past taree mouths:— THR BOWERY BRANCH, Attendance at devotions! meetings, 6,52 to hospital, 21; letters room: } situations furnished, 38; lodging baths,’ 203; garments, 193; free meals, 11,968 sold at five cents ewth, 13,678; different men’ aided, 444, Totab atnount of dovations Irom ull sources, $9,838. ‘Total expenditures tor reliel, $1,228. The receipts (rom meuis gold aided 1m the matter of ‘expenses, bat the prospect seems to be that unless heip is forthcoming the work of the present seasou wil be closed With @ depleted treasury, As help t4 extended to needy young men who are straugers ta the city, during ali seasons of tho year, summer a8 well as winter, « depleted treasury nieans a cessation of reliet to applicanis. During the past tour years thts branch of the association has not been closed but onc and then only for a few days, When funds were sup- plied. ; Men sent eceived for visitors to tho 2,215; WORKHOUSE APPLICANTS. Warden Quinn says that applicants for voluntary committal to tbe Island have entirely disappeared from the Towbs, In the eariy part of the winter and until a few Weeks since there were duily from fil- teen to thirty idle workingmen who were reduced to so low a degree of destitution as to be compelied to sock (his last resort in orer to gave themselves from absolute starvation. With the opeming of the night shelters a relief was afforded which saved some thousands of poor men from the sad experience of a winter in the Workbouse. But even With the assistance of these lodgings tue itiner- ant mechanics, not knowing how or where to gain relief, went to the Workhouse in large numbers rather than beg and starve iu the streets. The disappearance of all this class of the destitute is a good indication thut the Idle men are gradually finding employment either in this city or elewhere, Commissioner Cox, of the Bourd of Charities and Correction, attended daily at the Tombs to look after these special cases trough the winter. and did @ vast amouut of good by the | hus careful and judicious dispasal of tho unfortunate men and womeo who came before him. SIXTH WARD ROUP KITOUEN, ‘There is in the Sixth ward, in the basement of the building corner of Leonard and Centre streets, a soup house for the poor, where a meal can be secured jor five ceots, A Hexacp reporter visited this place a day or two since to ascertain how these friendly institu- ‘go who professed to be r, absolutely reiused information as to who the kitehen, who its existence, or, waa was \re- in fact, anything at all about it, Incidentally the information t the owner of ponsible for ‘was gained that the place is called the St, Paul’s Guild Soup House, and that originally it was the ring of the charity of Trinity p: , but that now it is overseen by two churches, the names of which were refused. Why there should be any cog 3 about this institution it fs difficult to comprehend, ‘he man in charge was excessively ‘smart’ in the expression of his determination to give no information, ‘The gentieman who had asked the Hxnaup reporter to Visit the place was astonished to ascertain tho existing condition of affairs in the soup kitchen, and, a3 he is A promivent public official, he will doubt take measures to discover the ot the secrecy, suggested that as tickets are offered for ealo in large numbers there might be some point in this, The re- porter was sed permission by the man in charge to see one of these ticke! CHRISTIAN IMPECUNIOSITY. ‘The Young Men's Christian Association of Brooklyn is in debt about $7,000, and various means are being devised by the directors to obliterate tho indebtedness. Some advise that personal pledges of subscriptions bo made, while others favor the soliciting of donations from friends. It has been resoived to merease the membership by enlisung the co-operation of pastors of churches, A proposition to reduce the annual dues from $3 to $1 1s also boing considered. Retrenchment is strongly talked of as the motto for the association, CITY CHARITIES. Comptroller Kelly yesterday transmitted a circular to different asylums, reformatories and charitable in- stitutions, entitied to per capita allowanco for the care and support of inmates, Ho stutes that nearly $1,000,000 has been appropriated by the Board of Estimate and Apportionment for this purpose for the year 1877, and calis attention to the fact that the city 18 under no legal obligation to pay more than the amount lixed. He argues “that some measures should De adopted to check the expenditure of the public money for such objects and limit the annual addition to the burden of taxation imposed by the present sys- tem, which is out of all just and reasgnable proportion to the increase of taxable property.”’ He also points out that ‘the original design of founders of several Institutions have been lost sight of, and instead of depending on private contributions for support they are now mainly, it not wholly, supported by taxation through the operation of special legislation, ? sI. JOHN'S GUILD. To THe Epiror or THR HERALD: — In the notice tn this morping’s HeRALD of the meet- ing of St, John’s Guild held last evening it is stated that resolutions offered by me and adopted by the Guild “opposed the action already taken looking to a prompt and public investigation’? &c. As thiserror of the types so entirely perverts the meaning of both the mover and the meeting I respectfully ask space to say that the word “opposed”? should ‘read “approved.” By inserting this correction you will much oblige JOHN P, FAURE, New York, March 21, 1877. MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR. ‘WAS JAMES KEEFE MURDERED AT CENTRAL MORRISANIA ? Suspicions of foul play were freely oxpressed in the Twenty-fourth ward yesterday in connection with the death of James Keefe, whose remains were brought trom the Ninety-minth Street Hospital to the home of his widowed mother, at fordham, Las Sunday morn- ing deceased was found by OMcer Philip Reily, of the Thirty-fourth precinet, lying in an insensible condition near the Harlem Rallroatl track, a short distance south of the depot at Central Morrisania, When discovered by the police officer, about nine o’clock, the man lay on tho west side of a slight embankment, a few fect distant from tho rails of the down track. The snow was thawed immed! ly around unfortunate man, evi- dencing that he had been there for several hours. As guon us assistance could be procured he was carried to the railway station and later in the day con- veyed to the hospital, where he expired on Monday afternoon, Deceased. who was abont twenty-five yeurs old, was a mason- und plasterer by trade and lived with his mother at Forabam. He was in the employ of @ Mr. Vau Nostrand, living at Tre- mont, and bud been engaged doing some wark down town for some days previous to Sut Mt i» said that Keefe’s employer was in the habit of pay- ing hia men seri-monthly, and that os the former was working some distance ‘from the shop Van Nos- trand weot to Fordbam on Saturday alternoon and paid the mother of deceased nis two weeka’ wages. It ig further stated that Keefo left nis work carly im the afternoon and came up to Morrisania tor the purpose ot celevrating St. Patrick’s Day. Nothing detinite seems to be kaown, however, regarding is move. ments after he quit bis task or until bo was found insensivie, It was at firet supposed that the mun had been struck by the midnight train while walking on the track, bus this theory Is pow scouted by many in view of the fact that tho only in- jury be bad sustained was a blow or concussion, whicn iraotured the skuil on the top. ‘fhe force employed was suflicient to drive in a portion of the skull on the brain, which protraded from the wound. It 19 argued that had deceased been struck by a locomotive sume of bis limbs must have either been broken, or at least considerably bruised, while it is understood that no otner mark of injury was found on the body. Those friends of the deceused who {vor the theory of foul play intimate that the fatal blow might have been dealt by some person who knew that deceased was paid every two weeks, and seeing, perhaps, that he was under the influence of drink followed him for the purpose of robbing him of his wagos, supposing he had them with hun, Tt ts also rumored that deceased while drinking tn Morrisania ou Saturday might displayed a considerable sum of money. This latter, however, could not be traced to any rellable source, GENERAL NEWTON TO LECTURE. General John Newton has consented to give a lecture for the beneflt of the New York Central Dispensary, at Cooper Institute, on Tuesday evening, April 3, on the improvements now making in the East River and their future importance. to the metropolis, The lec- ture will be illustratea by a number of experiments showing the nature of the combustioies and the mode of their adaptation to submarine blasting, This is the only lecture that General Newton will give on this subject, ORMAL SCHOOLS. Puexsxit, N. ¥., March 20, 1877, To tuk Epiror ov tHe HERALD: — In your issue of to-day I uotice an article on “Nor- mal Schools,’’ written by Me, Smith, to which I wish to reply. While norma) schools are a beneilt, in some cases, to the State which supports them, in many m- stances they prove greatly detrimental to its educa- tional ability, Most of the graduates from the normal schools go through @ process of ‘cramming’? tor three years, Th:s, as every one must admit, is no way for young men or women to prepare themselves tor the duties imposed upon a teacher, Thorough and careful preparation in every branch 18 neces- gary to success, This can only be obtained vy years of careful 1abor. Those who generally enter the normal schools (of course there are exceptions) are a class of persons, who, thinking that tho pay of a teacher is good and the labor easy, seek to gain an education from the State tree of charge, and then pre+ vend to teach somerhing about wich they are ignorent. Toe gentleman says that the State bh taken great pains to furnish a school in whieh teac be titted for their work, Ie then asks if tho annot do something to furnish them with places, It seems to mo enough if the State is willing to lurnish them an education free of charge. They shoutd then rely on their own el- forts, If 4 teacher who has taken “a thir- teen weeks’ course in some private academy” succeeds in getting @ license when they fail in tue Same examination, in which they bave an eqaal chance, 18 (hig a reason tor them to denounce private wende- mies? Rather, they should uphold them, Were they Vetter prepared than the “non-professional” teachers of whieh he speaks, woulu they not be grauted diplonias in their stead? A tour years’ course im any of our private academies of any note will certainly prepare one ag well for tenching as a threo years’ course in the Normal School. There wre just as able and eflicient teachers im our academies as in the nor. mals, and why may they not be us competent to turn out good teachers as the Normal, Private academies are Indispensable to our United States. They accom: pligh objects which cannot be accomplished by public schools, Even if they do not bold the high position \ every scnooi should, shall they be denounced ver some graduate of a normal school is, probably, defeated in ovtaining ® situation? Yours most re- spectiully, . W. F. COOPER, Student at Peekskill Military Academy. CHURCH AID. A course of four entertainments will be given in the Grace Baptist church, Fifty-third street, near Seventh avenue, Rov. Spencer J, Kennard pastor, in aid of tho “purchase fund’? which the congregation are rapidly raising. The first of the course will be this evening by the Rev. George H. Hepworth, who will deliver one of the series given in his own church during t winter, 1b 1s anticipated that tnere will rge attendance, The Grace Baptist Church took ap tho first collection among their own mombers on Sunday last und realized something over $10,000, a very satisfac- tory amvunt for so young a@ religious body. The other entertainments will bo given om the evenings of tho 2000 ingt. April 0 aud EX-MAYOR HALL. HIS UNEXPLAINED ABSENCE—THEOBIES OF FRIENDS AS TO HIS WHEREABOUTS—PROBA- BILITY OF ME. HALL'S RETURN IN A WEEK. ‘The fact that ex-Mayor A, Oakey Hall bad not been seen or heard from by his family siece Friday morning last, and that he had not been seen at his office since Friday evening, about seven o’clock, gave rise yester- day to a feeling of considerablo uneasiness in the city among his acquaintances, as well as to very muny exaggerated tories relativo to himself aud bis probable whereabouts, His absence from his office and his usual places of resort was a subject of remark among his brethren of the Bar on Monday alternoon, but a due regard for the feelings of Mr. Hall’s tamily and his friends re- strained its publication, The mischiet, however, is now done, and the air is filled with exaggerated state- ments and mysterious allusions, for all of which there 1s not a shadow of evidence, except the one fact above mentioned—that Mr. Hali bad not been seen at his office since Friday evening last. All of Mr, Hall's friends ridicule the idea of anything serious having happened tohim, It has been stated that Mr. Hall was deeply involved financially; but this was contradicted yesterday by a well known theatrical manager, who said that Mr. Hall had done considerable business for him, and had even very recently retused to accept any monoy for his services, on the ground of friendship, Until a reasonable explonation, based on facts aud not on idle rumors, 18 offered, it ia safe to assume that Mr. Hall, tor reasons best known to himself, hus chosen to leave tho city for sometime. A friend of his at the Lotus Club was of the opinion that he had gone to Europe. Itis to be hoped that the wish of the entire theatrical and legal fraternity that he may soon be re- stored in perfect health to all bis friends may floda speedy fuldiiment, Whilo there is no defluite ground whatever to fear permanent mental derangement, itis possible that the great mental anxiety which bas been weighing upon him during the last few yoars may bave told heavily upon his overworked brain and thata healtk{ul period of repose may be beneticial both to his physical and mental condition, NO INFORMATION AT THE HoUsB, Mrs. Hall, being called upon at her residence, No. 18 West Forty-second street, yesterday, by the writer, sent word that she was so fatigued from the multitu- dinous visits of ber friends that tt would be impos bie for her to see any one, and that she could give no information whatever. Other members of the tamily made the samo statement. No particular distress seems to be felt by the family, although there 1s un- doubtedly a flurry of anxious solicitude, AT WALLACK’S THRATRE, Mr. Lester Wallack said he had not seen Mr. Hall for some time. All he could say was that he hoped Mr, Hall would soon ‘turn up all right.” He expressed high reapect for Mr. Hall’s qualities as a man and sin- cere solicitude for his wellare, Mr, Wallack in- cidentally also spoke of the failure of the police force to find any trace of the missing man tn terms not ex- cessively flattering to the ‘finest police force in the world.” Had this occurred in London the Scotland Yard detectives would, in his opinion, have discovered « clew betore this, Mr. Wallack ex- pressed bo very great confideace in the probability of our New York detectives ascertaining his whereabouts, Mr, Theodore Moss said he bad not seen Mr. Hall since Thursday, although his brother Chark Friday, Neither Mr, Wallack nor Mr, Moss had any theory to offer to accouut ior Mr. Hall's strange ab- sence. MR, BROUGHAM KNOWS NOTHING, Mr, John Brougham, who has so long been associated with Mr. Hall im the Lotos Ciub, hud not seen him since Friday, and could not acvount for his absence. Mr. Hall was fond of travel and chunge and he had an idea perhaps be had gone to Europe, and through a whim failed to acquaint his tamily with his departure, Mr. Brougham did not believe in the probability of M Hall having met with any calamity and hoped that his absence Would soon prove itself a mere temporary one, the result uf & mere whim. A LEGAL FRIEND'S VIEWS. Watson W. Moore, of tho law firm of Moore & Miller, Tribune Building, bas been for some time a warm personal friend of Mr. Hall, Mr, Moore bas bad a number of sonal suits in which Mr, Hall has appeared as his attorney, and m this way the two gqptiomen became more or less intimate, Mr, Moore was with Mr. Hall on Friday =, A representative of the Herawp culled upon ar. Moore at bis office and asked ‘what his theory was in regard to to Mr. Hall’s absence, Mr. Moofe sand :. “In my opinion Mr. Hall has gone to Europe toat- tend to some important cage Jor a cl ot his.” “It has been stated, Mr. Moore,’ said the reporter, “that Mr, Hall was laboring under toancial difficulties and that they may had something to do with lis sudden and Unacco! ture y?? “I know personally that there is nothing wrong in Mr. Hall's financial matters, He may have been em- Darrassed, but his departure was in no way connected with financial matters. He 1s a man of pride and honor and of very sensitive feelings, and I know would do nothing dishouorabie. He has at this timo no trust funds in his possession, and the theories in that respect are in consequence absurd, and further- more his income from his prolessien is’ large and con- tly increasing, and more than enough to cover his Mabilines. ”” “Are you at all familiar with Mr, Hall’s family rela- tions?” “To a cortain extent, yes. My intimacy with Mr. Hail has convinced me that no mun has pleasanter re- Jations at home, or 18 more devoted to his fumily, He always seemed to be unusually fond of his wife and children, and always gave « good-byo kisa to each of them before leaving.” “When did you see Mr. Hali last?’ “I saw him last on Friday afternoon, 1m most excellent spirits.” “GreMy’s?" STORY. Unquestionably the most important testimony in support of the theory that Mr. Hull has gone to Europe is that of his clerk, James P, Numann, known to Mr, Hall’s friends as “Jimmy, “Jimmy” has been with Mr, Hall tur many years, and has necessarily become Jamihar with his affairs, At firet “Jimmy” would say nothing as to Mr, Hali’s disappearance, and it was only with the greatest reiuctance that he imparted to the HeRALo representative the important information given below, Mr. Hali’s business, ‘Jimmy’? stated, had not fallen off, as had been said, but was, on the contrary, con- stantly fncreas For some time past he had been inyesting tn Bauk of Enyland notes, which he de- posited in his safe. These notes aggregated, he thought, severai thousands ot doll i He was then s. On ‘thursday preceaing the Friday of Mr, Hall’s disappear- ance, Mr. Hall drew several hundred dollars— six ‘or seven bundred—in large bills, and was particular to get it in large bills. A small band mirror and a bottle of medicine were missing from te sate on Saturday morning, as Was aiso the money and Bank of England notes, The steamer Ger- manic, of the White Star line, sailed from her dock at four Oclock on Saturday morning, and in all proba. bilty Mr. Halt sailed in ber, This was “Jimmy’s’? frank view of the whole matter. . “WILL NOT BE RACK FOR A WERK,”? Jobn H, Thomas, a lawyer confined tn the Tombs on a charge ot forgery, was to have been tried on Monday, On Friday last he sent word to Mr, Hall that he wanted to see him regarding his case. Mr. Hall culled at the City Prison on Saturday moruing at eleven o’clock and asked Keeper McClellan to baye Thomas brought down from his cell to the room see apart for the accommodation of lawyers and their clients, which Was done, That this interview occurred on'Saturday 18 established by the statement of Thomas, by tat of another prisoner occupying the same cell’ and of Keepers Finn and MeCiellan. Tuomas told a HekaLp reporter yesterday that Mr, Hatl, when he calfed, said to tim that he would have lye trial adjourned over until next week, adding, “1 am guing out of town und will not return uptil Friday or Saturday next” Thomas, who desired to make Mr. Hall acquainted with the character of some evidence in the case began to explain the points in detail, when Mr, Hall suid he was pressed for Umo, and requested ‘Thomas to inake vul a brief of the facts and seud it to his otfice, Whicn Thomas did, ‘Thomas further stated that Mr. Ha med to be in full possession of his usual health and spirits, and showed no sigh of abber- ration or despondency, When Mr, Hall was leaving the Tombs Warden Quinn bade him good day, aud Mr, Hall returned the salutation ju a hurried manne AT THK STKAMSIIP OFFICES. A Hearn reporter paid a visit yesterday afternoon to the oflivos of the different «teainsitip companies in order to ascertain whether any person answering to the de- xeripuion of Mr, Hall had recently sailed from this port, Steamers belonging to the National, White Star, Toman, North German Lloyds, Compagnie Transatlan- tique, Anchor, and Williams & Gurou fines satled last Suurday, but after examining tho books, Mr Hall's hame was noy found in the pussenger list One of the Clyde steamers for Havana also suiled on Saturday, and they had no passenger booked in the name of Hal Most of the clerks knew Mr. Hull by sight, aud in answer to the inquiry of the Herauo reportor stated that he had not veen in their office and nobody bad secured a passage in his name during the past week, It he bad applied for a passage tn person tuey would certainly have known of it, us thoy were nearly wil fumiliar with bis personal appour- ance. STRANGR AND CONTRADICTORY RUMORS. It was currently-reported down town yesterday that ‘Mr, Hail had been seen in the Astor House on Saturday morning, but a careful tovestigation of the rumor by a Henatp reporter provod it to be untrae. That Mr. Hall took breakfast in the Astor House on I'riduy the investigation has established beyond doubt. When M Hall beeakfasted at the Astor be x to the diving room on the Vesey street side, where guests havo to write their orders on a blank card, ‘To this regulation the discovery of bis presence there on Friday morning is duc, Onv of the checks at the cashier’s desk tur Friday was written by Mr. "s hand and signed by him, but the Saturday bundle reveais uo trace of nis Weil known chirography. Toe genuiomen who wore so positive wbout having & the ex-Mayor on Swurday auswer, when confronted with the evidence, ‘May be it was Friday. The subject of Mr. Hali’s disappearance was treely discussed umong the officials at the City Halt yester- day, All of then wore famaliar with the ex-Mayor us Lm prominent city official, and all spoke ju sympathy NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY,. MARCH 22, 1877—TRIPLE ‘SHEET. with the peculiar cireumstances surrounding the case. ‘They remembered him as District Atturney fand —, avd bore testimony to his genial manuers and eminent bom ay while holding thoge positions. br wed Wilham H. Quincy, order of urrest deputy in the ‘met Mr, Hull betweeu two and three o'clock on Friday afternoon, the date of bis disap. pearance. ‘The ex-Mayor appeared then to bo in as good health and spirits ag ever in his lifeaod converse with his ugaal vivacity. They made an engu ment for Saturday, the nature of which Major Quincy did not explain, and Mr. by bis manner, conveyed ed ® positive impression that he meavt to koep it at the time and place specified, During the day several persons called at the Mayor’s office for the pr of ascertaining any news that might be received thore; but the day wore on without the slightest development in that direction. Mr. John Hardy, chief clerk to the or, said a rumor had come to him that Mr, Hall was taken suddenly ill on Friday night. and had been removed to the house of afriend, where he still remained. ‘nis story, how. ever, was discredited. Severn! other wild rumors, which could not be traced to a reliable foundation, were also circulated around the City Hall during the jay. Superintendent Wailing said that he knew nothing about the case, and that he has no theory on the sub- ject of Mr, Hail’s absence. Inspector Dilks and Police Commissioner Erhardt had heard that Mr. Hall had goue to Boston to argue a case. Edward Hall, clerk in the Court of General Sessions, a nophew of the ox-Mayor, said that ho was in court all day and that he bad not tho slightest idea of what had become of bis uncle, Recorder Hackett was under the impression that Mr. Hall went to Europe on Saturday, and that he would pot return again to New York. At the Lotos Club, in which Mr. Hall was elected a member of the directory last Saturday, no definite in- formation could be gained, ARCTIC EXPLORATION. ITs HISTORY AND ITS UTILITY—LECTURE BY JUDGE CHARLES P, DALY BEFORE THE XAVIER UNION, Notwithstanding the bad weather the rooms of the Xavier Union, at No, 20 West Twenty-seventh strcet, wero well filled last night by tho members of the soclety and their friends to hear a lecture on the “Uulity of Arctic Exploration” by Juage Charles P. Daly, of the Court of Common Pleas, The lecturer was assisted at the ond in tho illustration of several theorios regarding the ante- glacial period of Arctic vegetation and animal life by Professor Charles 8. Boyle, who explained the preces- sion of the équinoxes by means of an appuratus of his own invention, The lecturer first gave a history of the different expedit,.as that have been made with a view to Arctic discovery, and concluded with an ex- planation of the utility of their discoveries, Judge Daly begun by saying that bis chief difficulty in tremting the subject was its vast cxtent, Its history extended ovcr threo centaries, and during that time there had been more than one hundred and forty-six different expeditions for geographies] exploration or scientific discovery. The results of those various ex- peditions were contained in over one thousand vol- umes. Two questions presented themselves in con- sidering the subject—Wahat in the past had been tho object ot arctic exploration and what shull be its fu- ture? Its object had veen threefold—the flaberies and commercial advantages, the diacovery of a northwest br northeast passage to India, ana thirdly, goographi- cal exploration and scientific discovery. TUR FISHERIES. It was a singular physical fact, Judge Daly said, that there 1s no portion of the earth’s surface so teeming with animal lite beneath the watersas the Arctic region, ‘Thereiore 1t was resorted to for thi pose of fishing from u very eurly period. Ofrey, a Norwegian navi; tor, in the ninth century landed on the northern const ot Europe and found ik already peopled by barbarous races, ‘Tbe Russians were actively engaged in the fisheries there during the Nfteenth century. The pur- suit bad been actively continued for over two and a half centuries: In 1676 the Datch had 130 vessels engaged intho trade, Between 1661 and 1756 there were 17,461 voyages made to these regions by Dutch navigators alone, Indeed the fisheries were so actively engaged in that t seas became compara. tively tished out and their bas mucp decreased of Jate. Whalers also, chiefly American and Scotch, frequented these seas, The decrease in the fur and whale trade had, however, been compensated for by the invention of weaving textilo fabrics {rum wool by ma- chiuery and the discovery of petroleum and coal gas. THR PASSAGE TO THK INDIES, The uext branch of the subject dwelt upon was the attempts to discover the passage to the Indies cither around the norchorn coast of Amorica, Europe and Asia, He reviewod at length the history of the different expeditions started for this purpose, The Portuguose in 1600 discovered the coast of rador, Sebastian Cavot in 1517 penctrated as far north as 67 degrees ol lat!- tude, In 1523 a French expedition was tho first to enter the harbor of New York; this, however, was disputed, Tn 1624 the Spaniards’ reached the shores of New Evgiand, Soon al see Hugh ilipag hoy sed around North Cupo and dipoovered Nov Zembla, wine tering thore and returniag to Kogland tbe pext'Year. In 1594 Barendt, a Dutch navigator, discovered Spitz- bergen, and 273 yeurs afterward, only a few years ago, abother expedition found the huts, papers aod books that bis crew hud left behind, just where they had left them, and all preserved by the jco, Another Dutch expedition in 1596 was saidto have discovered Franz Joseph Land and to bave gone as far north us 84 degrees, In 1773 Captain Cook’s expedition took pluce und in 1818 Sir John Franklin’s, 1n 1820 John and James Ross discovered etic pole of the earth near Hudson’s Ba; In 1860 Captain Jlure discovered the k North western Pat ticable for the uses of commerce. were dwelt upon ut length, The farthest point north ever reached by nan was attained by Aldrich—latitude 83 deg., 20 min., 26 sec.—in the last Arctic expedition tn 1876, UTILITY OF THESK DISCOVERIES. Tho utility of the discoveries mage by these expe- ditious 1% us Vast as the subject, continued the lec- turer. They are useful in investigating the physical phenomona of the glove, to physical geography, to meteorology, und to all ‘the physical sciences, ‘They also contribute to the advancement of astronomy, bo- Cause 1n these regions the spectroscope can be applied most advantageously to the discovery of the composition of the worlds around us The discoveries of animal and Yegetable remuius in projusion prove that during the miocene period there must have been a much greater heat at the poles than at present. Great deposits of coal bave been discovered there, Forests ot fossil firs, oaks, elms, plantains, laurels and magpolias have been found, Ivory from fossil elephants has been found in great profusion along the north coast of Siberia, This has grown into qatte a trade, In 1821 20,000 pounds of ivory was exported from these retic regions. All the White ivory tbat we now use comes from there, in contradistinction to the yellow ivory that 1s obtained from living animals, The only vegetation now found 18 a small sample of willow, mosses, lichens and scurvy grasa, ‘Tho question how these fossil remains got there, Several theories were presented by the lecturer that had been entertained at diflerent times, Lyeil, the geologist, thought that in former times there were not so many elevations on the eurth’s surlace and the heat was better distributed at the poles, Dr. Hunt thought that the earth’s atmosphere was formerly heavier and more charged with carbonic acid, Another explained it by supposing that the earth’s axis was torwerly more inciine {to the plane of its orbit, An- other thought that it was due to changes in tho excen- ‘risity of the orbit, Dr. Boyle, who was present at the lecturo Jast night, heid the theory that the cooling process to which the earth has been subjected began at the poles and conse- quently animal and vegetable life first made their ap- pearance there. Judge Daly said that he also nad a theory, and that was that we didn’t know much about itand could not know until @ greater collection of facts had been made by future expeditions. In conclusion the lecturer said that one great ad- vantage to be gatned from these discoveries Was abet- ter conception of the truths of God as revealed in His works. ‘There could be no couilict of science and re- ligion because they were both derived from the great Author, A theologian mighterr in the mont of a scientific fact, but religion could never conflict with science,’ There was nothing that filled the mind of man with such a Majestic conception of God or such a sense of His goodness, Whether we turned our attention to the indnitely great as revealed in the wonders of the side- real universe or to the {infinitely little as revealed in the microscope, we were strack with the same admira- tion in tho contemplation of that divine power that 1s 60 wonderlully adapted to all His creatures, A YACHTSMA) S DINNER. THE NEW YORK YACHT CLUB AT DELMONI- CO'S—A PLEASANT EVENING AMONG YACHTS- MEN. The mombers of the New York Yacht Club dined last night at Delmonico’s, and, judging trom the large at- tendance, there can be but little trath in the report that the club was in a demoralized condition, The Tecent oction of the club in rescinding the motion to give up both club houses and deciding to retain the town house on Madison avenue restored the confl- deuce of the non-yacht owners and preveuted a num- ber of resignations being sent in that would otherwi have mare their appearance in tho secrotary’s office, The dinner last night was given im order to bring the members together in a social way and seo how they feit in regard to the coming soagon, From the large attendance and the enthusiastic sentiments ex- pressed by those present thero is not much fear that the New York Yacht Club will pass out of existence in 1877. A DISPLAY OF TROPHIES One of tho features of the dinner last night was the magnificent display of plate that adorned the tables, representing a number of the cups carned by different members of the Club ag trophies of the speed of thor yachts, ‘There were four tables in the room, one placed paralicl to Broadway and the other three at Tight angies to the frst named, The famous vid Hun- dred Guinea Cup, erroneously known us the Queen's Cup, and won by the yacht America, bad been bril- hantly burnished up for the occasion and occupied tho centre of the single tal Tue handsome cundelavi won by the Daunticss in the race with the unfortunste Mohawk stood on each ond of the table, enp won by the Magte in tha Cambria’s voar anda 3! subreription cup alsowou by tho same famous yasht were memeutocs of the brilliant yachting career of ex-Commodore Frank Osgood, The Cape May Cup won by the Sappho, the Challenge Cape May Cup won by the Dreadnaught and then by the Enchantress, and the cup won by the Comet in the N. .C. regatta in 1875 also ornamented the same table, The three ot tables actually groaned with silver trophies of many a closely contested race. There were the Commodore’s Cup won by the Columbia in 1872, when she was owned b: Cup won by the Tidal rf at Newport won i the Sappho in 1571, sloop prize wt by the Addic in 1871, Brentou’s Reef Cup won by the Sappho in 1871, and the Lge a Purse at the N.Y. ¥.C. Regatta of 1866, won by the White Wing, all on one table. On the next table were two cups wo: by the sloop Madcap in the N.Y.Y.C, regattas of 1875 aud 1876. The cup won by the Dauntiess in the rm with the Livonia m 1872. The Commodore's Challenge Cup, Sandy Hook to Brenton’s Reet and re- turn, won twice by the Rambler. Tho won by the Tidal Wave, N.Y.¥.C. regatta of 1875. The Commo- dore’s Chalieuge Cup tor sloops, won respectively by the Addie, Gracie and Vision and the cup won by the Sappbo im her match with the Dauntless in 1870. On the Inst table the Magic was again represented by a cup won im 1569, when sne beat the Eva, Silvie and Madgic. Amoug other pieces of plave were the Cortuthian Regatta Cup, won by the Idler tn 1874; @ subscription cup won by the Tidal Wave in 1870; the Commodore’s Oballenge Cup, for schooners, 1871, wor three times by the 'idal Wave sand once each by the Magic, Cometund Madgio; Subsetiption Sloop Cup, won by the Addie in 1871; Flag Officers? Cup, won b: tho Madcap 1n 1876, and last, out not least, the hand- some cup presented by the Eastern Yacht Club, and won by the Columbia agai the combinea feet of the Eastern and New York Yacht Clubs, THE DINNER, ‘The tables wero very tastefully decorated, and at soven P, M. the members sat down to dinner, with Commodore Nicholson Kane in the chair, A string band occupied the gallery of the dining room and played throughout the evening. Alter tho dinner had been duly. discussed Commo. dore Kano made a few introductory remarks and pros aed “Prosperity und Success to the New York ‘acht Club,’ a toast which was responded to by Mr, Holly Hudson. “Our Sister Yacht Clubs” was thea drank, aud responded to by Mr. Colgate. A tele egraphic despatch Jrom tbe Eastern Yacht Club, of Boston, who wero enjoymg their annual dinner, was then read by the chairman, aud an appropriate re- sponse transmitted forthwith, Commodore Kano was then called upon and mado some very sound remarks, reierring especially to the prospects of the club, Mr. Hudson also rev mended the adoption of a resolution to make the dinner an an- nual affuir, Several other gentlemen, including Mr, Fitch and Mr, Jaffray, entertained tho guests with some remarks, and the party did not separate until near midnight. WILL THEY: FIND IT? VULCAN'S TRANSIT PREDICTED FOR TO-DAY —LE« VERRIER’S LATEST ULTERANCES ON THE SUB= JECT—IMPORTANT AMERICAN OBSERVATIONS—~ 18 VULCAN A MYTH? To-day, according to tho most recent statements of M. Leverrier, the eminent mathematician and astron- omer, the supposed intra-Mercurial planet, Vuloan, should plough its darkening furrow across the disk of the sun; and at the various observatories, public and private, astronomers, professional and amateur, are at this moment engaged in investigations that will probably result either in affirming or denying the verity of M. Leverrier’s calculations, According ta Mr. Henry M. Parkhurst the direstion of tho motion must be approximately {from east to west, and im order that it should be visible at all a magnifying power of at least. ten mast be employed, while to ro- veal it ag a round black body it must be enlarged about ono hundred times, Its rate of motion must be such as to cross the solar field in four or fivo hours, If, theretore, a spot should be observed, the diameter of which excoeds about 1-500ths the sun’s diumetér, or which moves toward the north, south or east, or which travels materially faster than six or cight min- utes of one degree per hour, such spot cannot be identified with Leverrier’s supposed intra-Mercurial planet, According to the same authority the predicted transit tor which astronomers are observing the suu's disk to-day, should take place about seven o’clock P, New York time, so that the best points of obser. vation 1n the United States will be upon the Pacific slope, whilo its next transit, September 20, will occur at about oight o'clock A. M., and will be best observed in this longitude or in Europe. LEVERRIER’S THEORY, The expectancy which still continues in astronomical Circles relative to tho transit of Vulcan commenced in September, 1876, when M. Leverrier telegraphed ta the various European and American observatories that the supposed intra-Mercurial planet would probably traverse tho sun’s disk in October, and requested that caroful observations should bo made, It is needless to Bay that the request was literally complied with, and the result was very disappointing. The planet failed to appear, and the doubt as to its reality remaips as potential as ever, although the probability that such a body exists rests upon very conclusive mathematical data, Vaulcan’s existence was announced by the eminent astronomer at a session of the Academy of Sciences, held in December, 1875, Summarizing his results, the existence of certain unaccountable Urantan perturbations led him to calculate the mase and position of yet undiscovered Neptune, and on pointing bis telescope to that position Neptune stood revealed. Similar perturbations in the motion ot Mara are produced by the great asteroid ring, interior to it, and on the samo theory the perturbations of Mercury are only to be explained, according to Leverrier, by the existence of a yet undiscovered planet (or planets) vithin its orpit, ‘This supposed body has received the name of Vulcan, in advance of its actual discovery. In 1859 M. Lescurbault, a physician in Paris, an- nounced thut he had ovseryed the passage ot the black disk of a new planet across the sun. Tne details of this und other observatio® were at once examined by Le Verrier, who, on August 28, 1876, communicated to the Academy of Sciences a letter from M. Woil, the eminent Swiss astronomer, in which the occurrence of a black spot by Weber, of Pruasia, on April 4, was mentioned and deseribed. Wolf, Schmidt (the Athen‘an astrouomer) and Weber ali ex- amined tue solar dirk on the following day and no spot was then visible. On the other hand, Ventosa, of the Madrid Observatory, saw on Apri 3, at twenty-thr hours and eighteen minutes, a sun spot and nowed 1 position, Now, Weber at Peckeion saw his supposed plauet at twenty-five minutes past four on the fullowe jug day, and calculating back trom Weber’s position for a period ot five hours and scven minutes brings the supposed planet to the exact point where Ventosa saw and noteda sun spot, Weber's observa- tion remuimed a vexed question among astronomers until last fail, when Mr. Airy, the British Astronomer thengily a coup de grace, by produc- photographs made on the day of his claumed discovery of Vulcan, which showed that his supposed planet wus in reality a sua spot, without o penumbra ‘and surrounded by a small group of facul: Leverrier now nade anew collation of some thirty observations taken since 1750, and from data obtained ta 1820 and 1856, and from this collation he ea: conclusion thatthe Vulcanian year was only 2 days, with a circular orbit, and predicted a transit of Vulcan ou October 3. RECENT AMERICAN OBSERVATIONS. On Sunday, July 23, 1876, Mr. Samuel Wilde, of Mont- J., observed a round body on the lett lower tho sun’s disk, ‘Tho rstrainent used was a six and @ quarter inch rolracting telescope, with a solar prism to secure a clear white light. Mr, Wilde ob. served the puenomenon for about thirty minutes, com. meucing at three P, M. On tho same day, at three P, M., another observer resident at Montclair observed the Same phenomenon at the same point on the sun’s disk, with a two anda balf inch glass. It stood ou. on the .eft lower portion of the field clear and sharply defined. ‘this observer studied the phenomenon ior about three-quarters of an bour, wuen intervening ciouds put au end to further examination. [tw stated, also, by toe Rey. KE. R. Craven, oi Newark, N. J,, that tho late Professor Joseph 8. Hubbard repeatedly assured him that be had observed tue transit of an jutra-Mer- curial planet at New Haven while he was using the Yule College telescope, Suil another American ob. server, Mr, KR. Covington, while on duty near Fort Van- couver, in Washington Territory, in 1860, has seen the sume round spot on the sun’s disk. Neither Protessor Hubbard nor Mr, Covington took memoranda of thoir ovservations. 1+ should be added, as a preface to to- day’s study of Leverrier’s calculations, that bis latest Utierances state the period of Vulcan at 83,0225 days, upou which basis reconciliation of the now con- flicting data, granting that many or any of them ai moranda of the transit of a planet, may possi! thout arbitrary rejections, Tne clams of Mr. John H, Tice, of St Louis, must not be nogiectod in reviewing the recent literature of Vulcan, Mr. Tice states that ho observed the transit of Vulcan on September 15, 1859, ourly in the fore- noon, and gives its apparent diamoter to thut of the sun as 5 to 67, His observation commenced about eight o'clock, the planet having Just entered upon tha eastern limb of the sun, @ little south of its equator, ‘The sun being near the horizon, it was considerably enlargod by refraction. The planet was about two hours in making the transit. 1bho way out of the con. ficting dat » Mr. Tice maintains, to look for Vulcan at its greatest eastern or western elongation, at whics its tremendous proportions will render it visible jay or more under the proper conditions of atmos. To test this bypothesia he looked for it in 1876, the sky being exceptionally clear and blue one afternoon. and was successful. It was situated ae five or six apparent solar diameters north west of e wun. Such, without entering into abstruse statome - tolligible pniy to astronomers, is tho present wate "Mt the facts as concerns the problem that this morning agitates the scientific brain, If the transit should not boop bag Hoot Nowa will tond to cast ridicule on the boasted intallibility vt Leverricr, a doabt be sooepted as Anak” bi iit FIRE DEPARTMENT, At jeting of tho Board of Fire Commissionera yesterdyy proposals for material and supplies to be used in tho department wore receiv naideras an of them was deferred boat iy j i :