The New York Herald Newspaper, April 18, 1877, Page 4

4 “THE MAN WHO LAUGHS Dirty Streets a Capital Joke With the Po- lice Department. heaedieaieebaritiemsietatneser ALL THAT I$ NEEDED 1S MONEY-..70 DUMP. ——_—_—_-—__— Genera! William F. Smith, or ‘Baldy,’”? as ho is affectionately called by his friends, being the Presiaent of the Board ot Police Commissioners, may fairly be considered the official motthpiece of the body which is just now receiving the indignation and wrath of a @irt-ridden people, As the Huxanp always likes to give both sides of every story, President Smith was culled upon yesterday for an explanation of the diro state of our streets, “What do you think of the present outcry against the Board for its negligence in not cleaning tho Bireets?’? was the first question asked, The answer to this was surprisingly frank and Straightiorward for w man supposed to be supremely %, Tesponsible for the condition which he admits:—"I think the streets are excessively dirty,’’ said he. “or at all events most of them are, and 1 have no fault to flud with the people who complain about them However, we complain just as much as most other people, and, taking all the circumstances {nto consid= eration, Ido not think auy department—even & sepa- Tate one created for the sole purpose of cleaning the Bireets—could do any more than we have doue.”” “What, then, are the obstacles that prevent you from keeping tue streets clean” ALONG LIST OP AUISSYENT LAUORS. “The firat obstacle is that we bave not enough money and that a large part of our appropriation was spent in clearing away the snow and ice. That was done much against my will, asI believed the jaw did not sanction this diversion of our funds, but uuder a public pressure somewhat similar to that now being practised upon us, The fact that we could not draw more than oue-twelfth of our appropriation in any one month prevented us atthe game time from doing any more than wo did, Another great difficulty is that we have no places where to remove the fith, We havo tried all gorts o. things to obtain relief from the Legislature, but all to no purpose. We triod to have a bill passed allowing us to dll up sunken lots; that was defeated, Another allowing us to contract for tho re- moval of tho stuff by certain parties for a number of yours—you see it takes capital to undertake such an enterprise and peopl» will not embark in it as long as they cannot have it fof a certain numbor of years— was also killed, Then we wanted to deposit it in Littie Hell Gate below the high-water mark.” President Sinith then went into an interesting hbis- tory of this proposition, suowed how it obtained the Banction of General Newton and of ‘the very highest Sanitary authority in New York, Professor Chandler,”” but was fina'ly defeated like all the others of their efforts toward relief. FIGHTING POR A NOBLE CAUSE, ‘This was not all, however, General Smith’s woes were by no means as yet exhausted, “Now, we have some old scows,’’ ho continued, ‘that were bDailt ata time when the Jersey Central took away about half the dirt, but where can we go with them? If we go tosea— aithough none of them are really seaworthy—we are followed by Biunt evon outside the jurisdiction of the United States, On Staten Isiand we have an injunc- tion, on the Kings county shore we have to battle with the Shore Inspectors; here we have to fight the oyster- men, there our men are arrested by the rural police. Why it’s got to such a dangerous pass that we can’t get any laborera on our scows for love or money. Now we say to the Legistature:—*You have refused to sup. ply usa place where we can deposit this filth, and, no matter who removes it from the streets, the city must have a place to take it to; and we hold you greatly re, sponsible tor the present condition of afluirs, Re- wember that we have 32,000,000 cabie feet of dirt to remove every year, Little Hell Gate would have taken this stuff for two years and that would have given us ume to bit upoa and periect a piau of permanent re- het.’ CKEMATION PAVORABLY VIEW Vhat do you think of «remating the garbage?” 1am in favor of this pian persenaliy uf it is within Dur economies; but if it should prove too expensive it Might make lime cheap but dirt dear.” ‘lus sally of the philosuptic President of the Police Boura was greeted by the laughter of Commissioner Nichols, Who was present during the interview, osts us $100,000 a year to luke Lhe dirt trom the city, od if we ca build and run furnaces more cheaply’ t am in favor of 1%, We are making some experiments in that directien wirewdy, and have tw machinery. belo the different sets of us. Our cule! engiueer ts to visit ucighborbood of Philadelphia im a day or two, a limekiln bas been »pecially recommended to This kina of inekila would cost about $2,000,” How many furnaces woud you erect, and ut what places" “An, there’s another difficulty again. We should have to acquire the ttle to the Lind on the piers, and you know (hat must ol tbe piers are not suited for hb us Ol course we should want to erect the wat (he piers and close to the scows, so thut the ashes could ve readily transferred to’ them wi Out uLY extra cost of curtaye. At pier No, 17 East River we could probably ercect a turuace, and, per- Laps, also at the toot of Gansevoort street, on the North River.” HOW IT 18 DONE IN PARIS, “In Paris the street dirt 18 sold by the manieipality at a considerable price to contractors, who wake a fortune by it, Why cannot the same thing be done here ¥”” “Ab, in Paris they only burn wood, and very little of that. They have not one-fourth the ashes there that we ba New York, and they are wood ashes 1m the bargain, Which are cousucred goud manure, Here We get avout uve per cent ol garbage iu our ashes, which imakes them auavailable tur manure." “Why cannot tue mixing be prevented here as well us in PF worla?”? General Smith, who views the whole puzzling ques- ou evidently as & laughing philosopher, replied, with n Paris they bolu the house respousibie, and here only the person who mixes the garbage and nd if you arrest said person bere tor that the Pohee Justice snaps his Wogers ut the pouceman and discharges the prisoner.” Aud to demonstrate tue multitudinous obstructions of the law to we eilicient cleaning of the streets General Smith suid :—"'l dou’t suppose we have ever dumped a scow loud without violating some law or other.” General Smitn’s iteriocutor Jooked at the champion Violitor of the law With adimirauion, Here was a man Who vould violite the law every Ume a scow load was face yet lost nothing of its wonted y “Woat dv you Unink of the Mayor's letter to you ?” “T assume, Out any mppearance of terror at Mayor Ely's missive, “tuat (he Jiayor Was badgered and botbered to death to hang us to a lamppost and means to give Us an op- portunity to show tne public by our answer that we ave dove our duty,” ‘Do you think you can givea satisfactory answer ?’? ANOTHER QUESFION, The laughing philosopher of smiied as be replied, “t tave ausWeF Will be satistactory to the Mayor, but whether it will be vatisiactory to the man who reads tt, with the dust in bis eyes, if another question.” “fhe Mayor siys that the tact that you succecd keeping Broadway and Fifth avenue hive proof that you can keep the other streets cleau, too." Here Commissioner Nichols spoke up:—* Yes, but we crouned Hsrowdway and Fifth avonne of snow and ice right ofl.” “Gould you not kave cleaned ali the other streets, toot”? ‘ “it would have taken $1,000,000,” replied. co Commission | ho doubt that our in tt General Smith SPECIAL TLUS TOO “How about butlaing special tugs? “They would cost about $40,000 apiece, and as we an Bhotld Want at least fitteen, outlay of $900,000, and then, Smith laughed mw a sly w: pare as that of New Yor: they would he require ument us Cheaply as private part id pot pro- b run for less tl Of $225,000, You see that it we can burn the aul tor | $100,000 of even $150,000 a year, we can do much | better," “How about damping tn the Sound’ “Weil, we have tried that, and we nave a row with the Long Isiand authorives on one side and with te Connecticut authorities on the ot the waters of the Sound as tar as Lioyd’s Neck are within the juriae diction of one Stato or the other, and, besides, we are liable to be taken up by the United States authori. ties.” “Is ita creditable pertormance for the great city of New York to bunt for aumping grounds aii wiong the | Sound and ereate different nuisances in every place Y” “{ should say empuaticaily not,’’ was General Smith's reply. ““Whatcun we do, however? Web fougut the oystermen, and t were right. Puoy have a fight to defend their hearths, and why not they their beds? (Here was a pun on oyster bed as the Legisiature is concerned we have exbausted our eiforts for relict.” “Where do you intend to dump now?’ General Smith and Mr. Nichois looked somewhat puzzled at cuch other, but the latter took up the query, saying. We'll try to go OWL to sea as well as we can with (hese old seows of ours.” “Have you bot money enough to clean th thoroughly, provided you bave glaces to ti dirt tor’? MORE MONEY WANTED AXD TWO “IP8."7 Here followed a consultation Letween Mesers. Smith id Nievols with this resait:— lt we bad eight or goud ecows, and if we bave good dumping places, then we could get along with $850,000 or about one udred d twenty-five thousuod dollars per year more than we have how, We have the same appro 4s lung us We Lave the best police in the | | Geveral Smith repied lightly aud with. | | | tugs as | iation this year that we had when the Jersey tral removed, Iree of cost, half the dirt of t west side, And here let me speak of another aiiliculty We uve W conseud Witu—tne repairing of pavements, When tho stones ure reset they put on from four ‘ six inchua of sand, to be worked down the inverstices, By virtue of an ordinance of the Common Council they are allowed to keep this end there ten days, by which time it is ground tuto fine powder, carried by the breeze to the gutter and pavement and gets into people’s eyer, when they get iad and write at once to the Heat, pitching into us! And it is just the same with the sand between ine horse car tracks,” “Most people, including the Mayor and Comp- trolier, regal $2,000 a@ day as entirely suiticient to clean the streets,’ “Two thousand dollars may be a good deal of money, but a 18 Bot very much whon you have to clean 275 miles of streets. ”” That was what might be popularly called « “clincher,” and the writer evaporated forthwith, ez TARDY EFFORTS AT BEFORM. ‘The following resolutions were adopted by the Po- lice Commissioners yesterday :— Resolved, That tho inspectors of street cleaning shall promalgate an order to ail foremen and gangmen to report on Saturday of wel the names of euch and every employe serving under him who shail have proved to be in- dolont or negligent in the performance of iis work, service or duty, or physteully or otherwise incapable of performing full, elticlout day work, or who abuil do. bly work or perform his service In an Improper manner. He shall also cb {uspectors of dumps to inspect on urrival every cart deliv eriay at his dumps and report tmmedintely In writing to the inspector of strevt cleaning the uumbor of any cart which shall contain tess than # full load ot material, and the name of the eurtinan thereof, to the eud that inefficient Aud offending employes shall be ‘immediately dismussed the service. Resolved, That the foreman of wards shall require all per> sons engaged in collecting material after the sweepers remove the whole of the material colleeted in heaps In the streets, 80 that the location of the heaps (or the removal) shall be left broom ¢ ‘Any employe who shall disre- ¢ to immediate dismissal, n. gangmen, cart drivers and epers shall keep diligently to their work during It not enter any saloon, drinkin isos during work wnd usivess hours, The foremen aud ganymen shall report in very disre of immediate dismissal. WHERE WAS IT DUMPED? The Street Cleaning Committee o! the Police Board received a weekly statement from Captain Gunner, which showed that 14,286 loads of ashes and 20,606 loads of dirt were carted away last week, Commis- sioner Wheeler 18 engaged examining the list of em- ployés for weeding purposes. Only able-bodied and eficient men will be retained. INQUIWING ALDERMEN, The Aldermen yesterday passed a resolution direct~ ing the Police Commissioners to furnish to the Board a statement showing the following facts:—The name, occupation and compensation ot every person em- ployed or connected directly with the work of cleun- ing the streets from November 1, 1876, to April 1, 1877; a detailed statement ot all expenses incurred in said work other than the amount paid for salary or wages; a statement of the receipts and expenses con- necwd with the work of street cleaning during the same period, HEAVY POST lnwe OFFICE FRAUD, HOW EDWIN B. GURNEE RIFLED MAILED PACK- AGES OF VALUABLES—HIS CONFESSION OF THE MODUS OPERANDI. Yet another Post Office defaulter has fallen under tho systematized tactics of Special Superintendent Sharretts, designed to exterminate all frauds and per- petrators of frauds on the institution whoso repute- tion Jn that particular line has becn intrusted to his vigilance. For some time past the purloining of valu- ables, made up in packages and intrusted for safe de- livery to the Post Office authorities, has been carried on. As many of these packages reach the Post Office | here from distant cities for transmission to distant places beyond the city detection of the cul- pritgs was somewhat more than ordinarily difll- cult, Mr, Sbarretis’ espionage, however, was re- warded in the dotection of one of the employés in the newspaper aud package distribution department of the Post Office in this city, The suspicion of the Superintendent had fallen upon a man pamed Edwin B, Gurnee, twenty-eight years of age, who bus served three years in that brancb ot the Post Office, A number ot packages as decoys were put up, containing jewelry and valuables of different kinds, to tempt the Buspectod party, if he should, indeed, prove to be the guilty one. These packages were deposited on the table at which be worked, bis hours being trom twelvo at night until eight in the morning. Argus eyes were on the packages and the movemeuts of the supposed purloiner throughout the night, and as the young mun, Edward B, Gurnee, was about leaving the building for = ls shoulders and home Soarretts laid tis hands upon hi told him to follow bim. The sequel 18 svon told. the Superiniendent’s room Gurnee was searched and some of the marked valuables were found upon his person. Conlession and repentance tollowed. Shar- reits did not care for the repentance; it was a full and uncoouitioual confession he demanded. Gurnee wade a clean Lreast of it He confessed he bad been at work —— from packages he had bandied tor ; r over year. 9 custom was to carry off small to his home and then make | iy «of §=«ttheir = contents; if valuable retain them, and afterward caatiously | sell some and pawn other the less valuable be would re-seal, carry them at mght back to his tablo and, when unobserved, place them among the oiher pack- | ges in transitu and send them on their way, When arrested yesterday morning he bad three packages concealed under his heavy winter coat. Two of these were for parties tn (his city, and tbe third was the Super- intendent’s marked package. Gurnce was subseauently taken before United States Commissioner Shields, who held bim for examination, to come off at three o'clock to day, in default of $5,000 bail, Gurnee is very respectavly connected, THE COACHING »EASON, {From the Fiold,] With the approach of May has hitherto come the stir in the coaching world, bat time has been taken by tho forelock this year, and one coach is already on the road, while befure the month has expired we shall probabiy see all the public coaches out that we are likely to have this season, Mr, Walter Shoolbred and Mr. Luxmore commenced running to Cobham on the 26th of last month, doing tho whole journey to Guildford on the 14th inst., while Captain Hurgreaves will have the Portsmoutn, Colonel Grecuhill, Captain Spicer and Mr, Bailey the ‘Windsor; Mr. Reed the Dorking and Mr. Parsons the St. Albans coaches on their respective } roads tn a fortnight or three weeks’ time, 118 impossible to shut our eyes to the fact that there is not the zeal tor ‘the road” there was two or three years ago, and such zeal as exists 18 not to be | found among the promoters of what has been termed the couching revival,” Nobie lorus and couutry geo- tlemen were then among our coach proprietors, but Irom various causes they Lave dropped away, and ap pareutly ‘tuken off therr bars” tor good, Death bas deprived us of some, Tho names of Colonel Whithing- ton, Mr, Jobn Eden, Mr. George Meek, Mr. Henry Willis, Captain Rolls and Captain Byng must now be added to those of Mr, | Chandos Pole and Mr, J, B. Angell, all coachmen and , great supporters of the road, Lhe accident that kept Mr. W. HL. Cooper off the bench ist season will, we fear, prevent him taking @ very active part this year; but still we do not despair of seeing Lim at nis favorite pastime beture the summer 1s over. Lord Caringion has long retired, and only gladdens our eyes at meets of Four.in-ttand and C, C.; aud the same may be said ot Lord Macuulfl, Lord Bective we hear nothing of; Sir Henry de Bathe bas a military command; Colonel Hathorn and Colonel Chaplin have become Benedicts (though matrimony 1s uo bar to coaching, we hope); aud De, Hurman, Captain Otway and Mr. Cuarles Houre make uo sign. The stayers are Mr, Waiter Shoolbred, Coptain Hargreaves and a few others, and but lor them “tne road” would only exist | in tue pages of Apperiey, Malet and Reynardson, Are gentlemen getting tired already of what somebody contemptuously called ‘our lust now plaything ?’? ‘Tbere will be a dinuer at the Road Ciub on the 1st of May to celebrate tne opening of the season, the Dake ot Beaufort 1 the chair, fhe meets of the Four. Haud and C. C. bave not been yet fixed, but the Wednesday before the Derby will probably see the senior ciub at the Magazine, This will answer somo correspondents Who have addressed us on the subject, TROTTING IN CALIFORNIA. GREAT PERFORMANCE OF RAnvs. SAN FRANCISCO, April 9, 1877, | To vax Eorror ov tim Heraip:— Rarus trotted in 2:16 to-day, the fastest mile over | trotted to this State, over a rough track, with a strong trade wind blowing down the backstreteh. §Thitty-ave | thousand dollars in gold was refused for bim to-night, | J. H. CONKLIN. NGE ACCEPTED, | New Yous, April 16, 1877, | To tax Epiror or ras Heranp:— | In answer to Mr. Harding's challenge in the Henan | a few days ugo to walk a fitty-mile match against me, | he allowing me a start of two miles, tor $250 a side, I accept, the match to take place within six weeks, 1 | whl meet Mr. Harding at the office of the Spirit of the | Times to-day, 18th inst., at two o'clock P, ML, to sign articles of agreement and put up a fortett of not | than $1504 side inthe keeping of the above papor, the Sprvt of the Times al-o to be selected as the tinal stakeholder. Yours respecituily, Vrotessor WILLIAM MILLER, A THIEF'S AWKWARD JUMP. Two sneak thieves yesterday afternoon entered George H. Warrenberg’s contectionery store, No, 770 ‘Third avenue, the first floor of which is used as a resi- | denee, and had appropriated property of the value ot $5 66 when Mrs, Warrenverg’s entrance from the rear warmed them. They both started tor the front win- dows and jumped out. One of the young thieves Janded safely and escaped, but the other, who alter. ward gave his name as Frank | io, 463 West Thirty-third street, struck the pavement so as to injure his fuce, legs and His right eye was almost knocked out by the force of the fall, He was ar raigned at the Fitt veuth Street Court yosterday ana hold in $2,400, A oumber of false kuys wore found on Liw | PEDESTRIAN CHALL ard or violution of this order, under the | In | AMUSEMENTS, THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE. “Rose Michel’? is being played in very creditable style by the Grand Opera House Company. The scenery, which was used at the Union Square, was presented at the Grand Opera House, 80 that in scenic effect nothing was lost by the change of location. In some respects the present performance is abead of that which drew so long at the Union Square. Mr. Boniface makes a capita! De Vernay, and we consider that Mr. Seymour’s Moulinet is better than Stuart Rob- son’s, There 1s less buffoonery about it, and more nature and quict delineation of the faithful servant, who 1# not necessarily a fool. Bijou Heron played Louise with a streogth and finish really wonderiul. Wo cannot say much for De Bellevie or the Countess de Vernay, which wore fecbly hangled by Mr. Peakes and Mrs, Wilking, As to Stoddart, the original Pierre Michel, he was as good as ever, and that is saying a great deal. PABK THEATRE, BROOKLYN, The Kellogg English Opera Company gave a per- formance of Ambroise Thomas’ opera “Mignon” last night at the above theatre. It is almost needless to jay that Miss Kellogg played and sang tho part of Mignon in ber usual excelent and artistic manner, it betug ove of hor best characters, Mr. Maas, who sang the part of Wilhelm (tenor), was in excellent voioo and layed with commendable spirit. We wished for Miss Ke Jogg’s Suke that the surroundings bad been equal to ber well known merits, MUSICAL NOTES. It is reported, ou what seems to be thoroughly reli- able authority, that the matter of providing a perma- nent hall for Mr. Thomas and his orchestra bas been taken in band by Mr, Willlam Vanderbilt, and that there is bat little doubt of ite being put through and that speedily. REASONS AND NOT REASONS, DICKINSON ON HER BECENT TROUBLES, Ax Orgy Lerten ro Wnom Ir May Coxcray:— Fiera Avesur Hotes, April 17, 1877. ‘There is an ancient aud admirable proverb relating to the propriety of washing soiled linen at home which I havo no wish to contravene, I take for grantod that the general public has no interest in my personal troubles save as these may affect it, What need, then, for me to say to it that my agent was used by the management of tho Eagle Theatre without compensation to do its work instead of mine throughout the fortnight previous to my engagement; that there was no stage manager or prompter in Mr, Hart’s company down to the 2d of April; that seven pieces of scenery necessary to the play for whicn he or his scene painter, aud not l or my agent, was re- sponsible were not painted at noon of the Monday upon which I was to have first appeared; that the furni- ture had uot been upholstered, the drapery bad not been bought, the paraphernalia of ‘properties’? with- out which the piece could not have been presented, and again for which be and not I was responsible, had MISS ANNA EK, not even been borrowed, much less bought, on that same day; that Mr, Waller, bis stage mana- ger, asserted in the nearing of tue com- pany tbat the piece could not be properly placed upon the stage within a weck of the time he took command; that the advertising has been utterly insuflivient; that the time honored or condemued, yet sull universal, custom of complimentary tickets from the Urst night to the last has been ignored; that even spaper men buve been retused admission, with the imtimation, us one of the editors of a leading city paper informs me, that the refusal was one for which I was responsible, in tbe face of the fact that, in common with all ‘Sensible “show people,’? Jopeuly hola to this custom and courtesy, and the added fact that the only tickets that were sent to the New York press lust Monday were those tor which I bad paid $75 to the treasurer of the Eagle Theatre; that my agent bus been grossly insulted and threatened witb personal violevce by Mr. Hurt; that in Violation of contract a notilication to the company of the premature close of the season was posted; tbat throats were made irom day to day ot ringing down the curtain at night; that blustering assertions of suits at law were made for the manilest purpose of compel- lug me to assume the pecuniary responsibility | of a venture thas was a failure largely by reason jot the theaire and the manager in which and with whom | was so uniortunate as to play; that Mr. Hurt bus stood in front of his theatre and resorted to the unique method of aiding the success of his “star,” aod go of gis own rewurns, by deciaiming on her futlures und shortcomings, and'by insulting com- mieuts on the appearance of that portion of the public tbat came to the box ollice to purchase (rept oy who by reason of literary or social culture w 18. refined apprehension vetoge of un unknown’ rey that be bas spoken of me ip the bearwg alike of friend, foe and the stranger within his gates in Janguage that seems to be equally uataral to the proverbial ‘angry fishwile,” and the gentlemanly proprietor of the gle fheatre; that he has dove bis worst make my engagement a failure and myseif miserable are tacts in the statement of which tue general public has no interest, sol will not state them; that I played to bad business and that everybody ¢lse im these days plays to bad business, but that every other manager has the good sense to put ‘paper’? when there is no money, both for present elect and future gain, since “*puper” draws money, while every seat in my bouse ut ip the vox oilice 18 also of no special pablic, 50 1 will pot amplify upon th points, That Harv’s brother and lwice broke the law alter 1 quitted the theatre yesterday by au assault and battery upon my maid and the illegai imprisoning of the men sent for my wardrobe, part ol wuich le forcibly de- tained; that, according to witnesses, Mr. Hart himself proposed to have me locked up in Ludiow street Juilin language which might be of interest to the student of profane history, but woulu probably be an outrage to the ears and sensibilities of any one else, aro also items unnecessary to enumerate. For none of these reasons did I fail to appear last evoning, but becuse of repeated violations of his cou- tract, which | will not put into print, since they are matters that must be settied 1p a court of law, to which tribunal they have been reterred. Good triends—1 use the term advisodly, since in manifold ways | pave through the last week veen made tw understand that we enormous majority of those who will read these or any werds of mine aro my cordial well wishers—good triends, Lam sorry to be compelled to put so much disagreeable matter before you, agd will hearuily nope that when t again ne face to ace with you next soason at Mr. Daly beautitul theatre you may tind only that that pleas you and notning that annoys, ANNA E. DIUKINSON. “LITERATURE. Tar Jericno Roav; a story of Western life, “A cer- tain man went down from Jervsalem to Jericho, and felt among thieves, which stripped bim of bis rai- ment, and Wounded bin and departed, teaving bin half dead.’’ Chicago: Jansen, McClurg & Co. A good description of Western life is so rare in novels that this story, so fresh, picturesque and true, deserves a welcome from the pubiic. The design is admirable and the execution powertul, The tault of the story 1s its brevity, for there is euough material for a complete novel instead of a tule of 222 pages. The parable of the man who was plundered cn the road to Jericho gives the keynote of the nar- rative, Lemuel Pankett, the hero, Is a poor, wretched, almost half witted youth, who enters the story 6 a roustabout on a Mississippi steamboat, and thus begins his Jericho journey, He there meets nis father, whom he does not know; another deck hand who 1s called the Parson “because he was the mean- est man on the boat.’ A graphic description of an attempt to jump the falls during @ freshet is intro- duced and the experiment results in the wreck of the steamboat and the death of old Pankett, who discloses his idontity to his son. Poor Lem, after the funeral of his parent, reaches Mount Hope, a small town, which proves to be his Jericho, Ho is hired by one Squire Barkum, a hypocritical churcn member, a modern Pharisee, Who nearly kills him with overwork and In- suflicrent food. A capital scene is where Vankett be- comes drunk and is mado an example of at a temperance meeting, Jn his simplo good nature he becomes the caay victim of designing rascals, and at one time is on the verge of boing shot as a horse thief by a vigtiance commitice, the Regulators. Be- Heving that he is doing a good action to some new found friends he then becomes the agent for passing counterfeit money, is arrested ana putin jail, He es capes, is recaptured by a kindly sheriff, and is brought | back for trial and acquitted after an exciting aad ara matic scene in the court, But his vindication comes too late, Lom has been wounded unto death on the Journey, and dies just as ho finds bis (rue friends, the good Samaritans, and thus passes in quiet from the stern Jericho of earth to the New Jerusalem above, This outline of the story will give the reader some idea of the subject, but it must be read to appreciate its bold and natural pictures of scenery and manners. Lt is fall of local coloring, and the effects are not exuggeraied, Lem Pankett is a noble character, exhibiting moral strength surrounded by intellectual weakness, In this respect Lem resombtes Smike in “Nigholas Nickieby.’’ There is no imitation of Dickens. His whole lite is a struggle tor existence and a sacrifice for love, The death scone is extremely patheuc. squire Barkum is drawa with great fore und another remarkable character is Bill Hixton, the horse thiel, to whom Lem bas rendered great services, which heim the ead returos, The mingling of bumor With pathos throughont the book t# one of its princi- pal charms and only exceoded by its unusual idelity to the truth of Western lito \ NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18, 1877—TRIPLE SHEET. OUR COMPLAINT BOOK. | BY ALL MEANS CREMATE THEM, To tux Eviror ov tae HkeRauD:— I would respecttully suggest fo you, sir, that the Street Commissioners be cremated with the gprtase forthwith, JW. a. A QUESTION OF COURTESY, To Tux Evitor of tux Hexatp: I beg to ask !f conductor ot car No, 20, Bleecker street line, cannot be made to speak without insulting hi cers? As there are many unemployed men who could, he might resign. JOHN Q. OSBORN, Grand View, N. ¥. COLORED CALCIUM LIGHTS. To raz Epiron or tus Hexarp:— Please allow moto make a suggestion in regard to calcium lights, Why do not parties using them puta violet or light-blue colored glass in front of the said lights? This has the most pleasing elfect, and would not hurt man and beast half as much a8 to leave it ‘nite, Some other colors, also, produce a most pleas- ing effect, A.C. WUBLER, Sima SLEEPING CAR BERTHS, To tus Epitox oy Tus HenaLp:— Please cry down the system of having such small numbers over sleeping car berths, Onco the beds made up aud curtains over them it is impossible to tell where the berths are located. Why not have large Dumbers on the curtains? hia grr’ obviate 1 trouble and ingonvenience, ecially to ladies. ihe 6 eee TRAVELLER, THE PARK TRANSFER ROADS, To Tus Epiror oy THE HeRkaLD:— I wish to warn your readers of the dangers they may incur by passing through the transfer roads of the Central Park, especially the Seventy-ninth street one, They are all infested with the worst specimens of tramps that the country can produce; but this one a pears to be the grand rendezvous, I had to pass ‘through last Wednesday and saw over a score of dirty vagabonds, [rom the youth of seventeen or thereabouts to tbe grizzied ruffian of forty or tilts: tney were lying uround 1p all kinds of attitudes; some wore playing cards, and ove was performing bis ablutions in a mud puddle by the side of the road (the only time Lever saw & tramp wash himsolf voiuntariiy). I told th iceman who keops the gate on the Fifth av. ie, buthe said he dian’t see them, which was quite possible. (hope you will insert this for the benefit of the pub- He, as uptowa residents tell me that cases of robbery are trequeut. Yours truly, DF. M ROADS AT WASHTNGTON HEIGHTS, To rue Epiror or tHe Herarp:— Seeing you bave opened a *Complaint Book” will you please allow me to say a fow words in regard to the condition of the roads in this vicinity? Wo, the property owners, are assessed and taxed for improvo- ments to Kingsbridge road, and there are about iif. teen men and wagons at work (doing nothing) on it every ar It is iu @ worse condition than any road on the (sland and not sale. For injuring horses and breaking Vehicles it is the boss, What aro we to do about it? A GOOD SUGGESTION, To tus BpiTox op THE HERALD:— in view of the tearful calamity which has just oc- curred at St. Louis I take the liberty of muking the following suggestions :—That if the fire department of every large city was furnished with a number of small cannon, similar in nature to those used by tho United States Life Saving Corps on the coast, so mounted as to be elevuted to throw a ball with a line attached on or over the root of auy burning building the weight of the ball would be guilicient to permit a gentle motion of the line 80 attached by the firemen below as to piace it within the reach of any person standing at any wiv- dow below the roof—the person in danger will then be able to haul up a rope of sufficient strength to let him orherselt down. This canuon, it furnished, could be mounted under or in the box forming the driver's seat, On tue tenders, with reeland small line with copper- cased cartridges, and would not be very expensive. In addition I would suggest that each hook and ladder company carry a pole in sections, 80 ag to be cusily Jointed, similar in nature to @ fishing rod, which, ‘when jointed together, shall reach a height of at least eighty feet, the top joint to be arranged at the top end to uttach a rope and have two small sized wheels a tached, vo thut when placed against the side of a house it will run up easy as each jornt is connected until the | necessary height is reached to convoy the rupe to the party in danger. READER, HOW NOT TO DO IT, To tug Epiron ov tuk Hxnaip:— It may interest you to learn that since my last re- yport Allen and Chorry streets have been cleaned (?) ‘and theclonaings piled up on either side of cach street, where they tite remained for a week drying out, pre sumably with the expectation that the prevailiog high winds may blow them away, In the meantime, with eyes, ears and mouths filled with the rotten powder, and noses suluted with stenches, compared with which the traditional seventy different smeils of Cologne sink into utter insignificance, we wait aud wonder what | surprising feat the imbeciles at the head of the Street Cleaning Department will uext attempt. The ueces- sary traMe of the streets ts fast spreading tho filth over its old bed, where it has calmly reposed for the jast five months, and the next rain will convert it into slush, It is said that the difficulty tes in the insuf- ficiency of dumping accommodations, That may be 80; but what a commentary it is upou the wisdom and that such an excuse should be we reflect upon the fact that popniations three times the extent of ours, and pot possessing a tithe of our natural advantages, are not only kept weil eléaned, but actaally derive a revenue from the clean- ing; while we spend millions to do the work, and then allow the filth to fester in the streets, while our incapavies are whining over the “want of dumping groupds,’’ Thousands of empty farm wagons may be seen daily leaving the city by the various terres, and those wagous could just as Well as not be made a ubie lor removing the rich deposits to localities fairly groaning for the want of them, There need be no difficulty with regard to clean ashes, The owners of sunken lots (and there ure many of them on this igiand) would gladly allow them to be filtea up free ot cost, provided the purity of the Gling was guaranteed. Of course the mixing of garbage with ashes must be prohibited, No sane person would deny the feasibility of that provision. These are practical suggestions, and tt may be too much to expect that they will bo adopted. Until they are, | must conunue to sign mysett DISGUSTED TAXPAYER, DISCIPLINE POR FIREMEN. Usirkp Srates Navat Acapkay, ANNAPOLIS, April 12, 1877. To tar Epiton ov tik Herat Iu view of the late terrible fires and the consequent Joss of Iie I think 1¢ not amiss to give publicity to the following ideas, some of which if tried may be the means of saving many lives and much property Tho Bre brigades should be at all times under the strictest military discipline, The men ought to be taught to pay the greatest attention to orders from their superiors and to pay no attention to the sugges- tions of outsiders, This, of course, presupposes that the superiors are thoroughly up to weir work. A cordon of sentries, properly armed, should be thrown around the burning buildings, with orders to allow no one to pass but thuse properiy accredited. In tois way well meaning but over-oflicious persons, (hose stricken With panic, which too eusily spreads, and not a few thieves would be Kept oat of the way. Kvery large hotel or tenement should be furnished with an electric tire alarm, tne key to which should be easy of access W the oilice clerk oF Watchman on duty, a gong veil being placed tn each sleeping apartinent. | The top story should be provided with several rope ladders and ropes long enough to reach to the ground. There carriage should be supplied with rope ladder and ropes, A liberal allowance of light heaving lines would also be found of use. Rockets sivilar to those used im the coast iife saving service would Le of use In conveying hight hauling Mnes over buildings or into windows, by which heavier ropes or ladders could ve hauled ap, It would be well to havea few singlo blocks so that whips might be rove to lower woinen, child or invalids, The end of each rope or lade suould be provided with a large stout anchor hook to fasten inside the window sili or on the caves. Fire masks should be provided for acertain bumber of the men te enable them to go into the smoke, My this means many a serious con- flagration might be nipped in the bad We are about to carry ou 4 series Of experiments with tho wickets, and with bows aad arrows, for line carrying at this institavion, Hoping tbat 1 have not encroached too mach on your valuable space, I remain very respecttully ons THEO. Bb. M. MASON, Lieutenant United St ANSWER, THE HERALD IN PHILADELPHIA. 1,131 Ginary Srresr, Purrapeirnia, April 16, 1877. To rae Evtror or THe Henao :— In yesterday's Henao I noticed the complaint of Mr, Brophy in regard to the lateness of the hour at which be receives his Hxkanp, I do not know in what part of the city Mr. Brophy lives, and cannot thorefore kuow what difficulties may be in the way of the carly delivery of the HxkatLp at hie house; but this 1 ao know, that it reaches my house ata sufficrently earl, hour for me to read all the news betorean eight o'cloc Dreakiast; and as tbe train arrives at seven (not six, as Mr. Brophy states), | see no cause for his complaint I feel it my duty to make this statement in justice to the gentlemen who bave ch: of the Philadelphia Navy. should ve a liberal sopply ot fire extin- guishers on each story. The employés should be drilled at fire qnarters wt least once | aweek, The hook and adder tracks and each hose FINANGIAL AND COMMERCIAL The Stock Market Dull and Irregular. GOLD 107 5-8 A 106 7-8. Government Bonds Lower and Railroads Irregular. MONEY ON CALL EASY AT 3 A2 PER CENT. Wat. Street, } Tcrspar April 17-6 P. M. A variation of one per cent im the gold premium within the space of an hour is asrare an occurrence 1D these dull times as the finding of a black swan or a Stock Exchange “pigeon” with unplucked plumage. Nevertheless, such a fact turned up to-day, when the price of the precious metal tumbled from 107% to 1067, It turns out that the game of brag between ussia and Turkey is not finished yet and that the card of peace may be played after all So, apparently, thinks the London market, which scores 3g per cent better price for consols, and so, in sympathy, thinks our own, which lowers the price of goid.. The whole matter grew out of the report that the Sultan bad cleaned out bis Cabinet; whether by bowstring, Bos- phorian sack or simple “walking ticket the cable does not inform w It is considered sufii- cient that a chunge has taken place, that warlike Pachas have been forced to retire with their three tails between their legs and that peace loving substitutes have taken their places. This is the theory based upon telegrams and acted upon ag fact by theGold Room, The report may be true or it may be not—the London Exchange says “yos’? by a rigve In congols; the Paris bourse s ‘no’? through a further fall in rentes, A clear chance 1s offered to take your choice—money up. Meanwhile the Stock Exchange, with doors cloged to outside in- fluence, simmers, It ts not inclined to boil over cither way, short or long, There has been some good buying upon the part of some promiuent speculators and equally as good selling, so between the two fluctuations have been unimportant and the aggregite of dealings moderate, At one time the coal stucks and Hannibal and St. Joseph shares betrayod considerable weakness, although there was some recovery at the close, As for the rest of the market It was left to the Jackals of the board, who were content with scenting out such eighthsand quarters as escaped the lions of speculation tu last week’s fray, THR SALRS TO-DAY. The sales of active stocks (0-day aggregated 135,600 shares, which were distributed as follow: Central, 2,680; Erie, 100; Lake Shore, 14,025; North- western, 2,750; Northwestern preferred, 3,850; Rock Island, 22,000; Milwaukee and St, Paul, 200; Milwau- kee and St, Paul preferred, 2,700; Pittsburg, 600; Del- aware, Lackawanna and Western, 32,100; New Jersey Central, 400; Delaware and Hudson Canal, 9,250; Mor- ris and Essex, 755; Michigan Central, 8,400; ‘Illinois Central, 1,650; Western Union Telegraph, 28,100; At- Jautic and Pacific Telegraph, 350; Pacific Mail, 2,600; Quicksilver, 300; Hannibal and St, Joseph, 1,100; Han- nibal and St, Joseph preferred, 1,400; Ohio and Missis- sippi, 250, ADVANOE AND DECLINE. The foliowing shows the advance and decline in the closing prices of the principal active stocks as com- pared with those of yesterday :— Apvanck.—Western Union Telegraph, %; Pacific Mail, 4; New York Central, %; Erie, 44; Luke Shoro, ‘yj Tlituois Central, 3, Northwestern, 1; Northwest: ern preferred, 23; Rock Island, %, Milwaukee and St. vaul prelerred, }4; Ohio and Mississippi, '¢ ; Michigan Central, %{, Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, 4s. Drouiss.—Harlem, 3; New Jersey Central, 4; Mil- waukee and St. Pat Delaware, Lackawanna and Western, 134; Morris aud Essex, 4; Hannibal and St. Joseph, 1; Hannibal aud St Joseph preferred, 34; Delaware and Hudaoo Canal, 1, CLOSING PRices—3 P.M ‘The closing prices were:+- ved. omade YG ©.. 0, eT eke Del, L& Went 507% kris oe Han £80 Jo... 8 Han &StJopt 18% 19 Boston do. pt.. 4 5 Luke Shore... 47% 48 Adam; 25 93 Mich Contral.. 41 jean Ex, 51% = 52) NY & Harlem. 138 as 2s NYU 4 Mud. oa ie NJ Contr 7 90" Olio & Mii 4 87 Panama. . 85 175, Union Paelfic, 65 425) Til Central... 50% 893) Del & thudson. 40.4 158} THE MONKY MARKET, Tho money market was easy to-day, money loaning early in the day at 3 per cent on call and closing at 2 percent, The following were the rates of exchian; on New York at the undermentioned cities to-day :— Savannah, buying \, selling 4; Charleston, nothing doing; Cincinnati, steady and firm, buying par, sell- ing 1-10; St. Louis, 1-10 premium; New Orloana, too upsettied to give quotation; Chicago, 75 premium. Foreign exchange 1s unchanged, with actual business at 4.87 for bankers’ 60 days’ sterling and 4.88% a 4.89 for demand, THE GOLD MARKET. In the gold room to-day there was increased excite- ment and activity consequent upon the London ad- vices, At the opening sales were made at 107%, and shortly afterward the price aivanced to 107%; bat at this point the news was received that European securi_ ties at London had improved on the ramor of achango in the Turkish Mintstry, and this reversed the course of speculation, the price dropping to 10734 on a sharp pressure to sell, Subsequently goid recovered jy, but closed at 106%, the lowest figure of the day. CLEARING HOUSE STATEMENT, Currency exchanges. ,. Currency balances Gold exchange: Gold balances... Gold clearings atthe National Bank of the State of New York :— Gold balances... Currency balances. Gold clearances, , The carrying rates wero 2, 1,14, 2%, 3, 4 and 344 per cent. Loans were also made flat. UNITED STATES TREASURY. ‘The revenue receipts to-day were $225,000; customs receipts, $480,000; bank notes received for redemption, $330,000. 1,606.1 THE PORKIGN MARKRT, ‘The London advices have a less warlike tone than the despatches we have beon receiving for some weeks past. Consols and miscetlancous European securities have tmproved somewhat, ona ramor current at Lon- don that there were prospects of a change in the Turkish Ministry, which, of course, was regarded as an Indication of a change in Turkish policy also, Tne advance in console was 3 a 34 per cent, United Stutes bonds were weaker, on the intelligence, doubtiess, that gold bad risen in the New York market’ American railway shares were steady. The Bank of England gamed £260,000 bullion on balance today. Bar silver is quoted at 544d. per ounce, Fither the rumor avout the Ministerial changes at Constantinople did not reach Parts, or It was not credited there, for rentes, instead of improving, showed a furthor decline aod soid at 1031, 40c. From Amsterdam we have news of « heavy failure by a dealer in Russian secartties, but the amount is not stated, It ts evident that the rumor on which securities advanced at London was not con- firmed by Inter intelligence, for consols, which act as a generally reiiable barometer of tho situation, fell back 3s 4 44 at the close of business, The closing prices in London wer. ‘Consols for money and account, 9474 a 95; five-twenty bonds of 1865, old, 10244 a 1024, ; five- twenty bonds of 1867, 107% a 1074; ten-forty bonds, 107% a 107%; new fives, 105%% a 105%; Erle common shares, 6%; Erie preferred shares, 16; New York Cen- tral, 87 08734; Tlinots Central, 4744. In Paris renee closed at 1031. 70¢., and exchange on London was 25f, 12e, GOVERNMENT RoNDS, with the decline ip gold, fell off a fraction, but closed firm at the following quotations:—United States cur- rency sixes, 1244s a 12434; do, do, 1881, registered, 112% a 113; do, do., do,, coupon, 113% a 118%; do. do., 1865, registered, 107 a1 do, do., do., coupon, 110 0 11034; do, do, do,, new registered, 110 a 110%; do, do,, do., coupon, 110 a 11044; do, do, 1867, rewis- tered, 11235 « 112%; do. do, do., coupon, 11234 a 112% ; do, do., 1868, registered, 114 a 114}g; do. do., office, and irom whose bunds I have received every . Very respecttully, &c. coe ay. Very rere OHARLES H. GIBSON. do., coupon, 114 a 11434; do, ten-forties, registered, 111% & 112}6 , do, do,, coupon, 112)g @ 113; do fv 1881, jyex Interest, 1103; a 110%; ae., do, do, coupan, a 112; do, 4544, 1801, registered, 108 3¢ a 10834. STATE RONDA, Stato bonds at the board were dall and steady, with sales confined to North Carolina sixes, old, and Missourt long sixes. In New Orleans Louisiana Sopsols-sold for 7414 a 75, RAILROAD BONDS, Railroad bonds continue irregular, but generally Steady. The following were the changes in prices coms pared with last previous sales:—An advance of i i» Milwaukee and St. Paul consolidated sinking funds and Chicago and Northwest consolidated gold sevens and 34 in New Jersey Central convertibles and New York Central sixes of 1883 There was a decline of % im Chicago and Northwest firsts and Central Pacific firsts (California and Oregon branch) and 44 in Union Pacific firsts and Louisville and Nashvillo consols of ‘98; otherwise there were no changes, BAyK SHARES. The eales of city bank shares were Fourth National at 100, Central National av 100, Nassau at 95 and Im. porters and Traders’ at 190, PHILADELPHIA STOCKS, The closing prices of Philadelphia stocks wer HE Asked, y sixes, new. 113, United Raiirone in 37 in we Philadelphia and Erie Railroad 9 do Scbuylkiil Navigation preterred 1% BY Northern Central Railroad, , 16% 17 Lebigh Navigation......... 20% 20%" Ot) Creek and Allegheny Railroad. 4s a Hestonyiile Railway, 14% lasy Central Transportation, Bd3¢ MINING SUARE! The following were tho opening quotations for’ mining stocks at San Francisco to-day;—Gould & Curry, 9; Savage, 334; Chollar Potosi, 36; Ophir, 15; Hale & Noreross, 234; Crown Point, 6; Yellow Jacket, 8; Belcher, 5; Imperial, 13g; Virginia Consolidated, 34; California, 37; Ovortian, 21; Best & Belcher, 20; Union Consolidated, 5; Alpha, 9; Meadow Valley, 34; Storra Nevada, 4; Mexican, 9; Caledonia, 3; Siiver Hill, 134; Eureka Consolidated, 18; Justice, 9; Jatia Consolidated, 144. The closing prices in San Francisco UL Justice... 8% OM Kentuck 5 2034 Leopard. 3 Bullion...... Tig Mexican, 9% Consolidated Virginia 3443 Northern Bell 1614 Calitoroim +37 Overman 2135 Chollar, 3734 Ophir... wa ene: Conildence 5 Raymond & Ely..... 3 Caledonta 33g Silver Hilt 1 Crown Point, 8 Savage. Bi Exchequer 3% Segregated Belcher... 25 Gould & 9” Sierra Nevada 4X Hale & Norero 3 + 5% Imperial.,..... 9 71 . Julia Consolidated... 13¢ Eureka Consolidated, 18 NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE SALES Turspay, April 17, 1877. BRFORE CALL—10 A. Me 2100 shs Rock Island... 1200 do 600 shs Del & Hudson. 100 de 4 100 Northwestern. . 400 " 100 'N W preferred, 300" do... 10:15 AND 11:30 A, M. ‘81, cou..be 114 $10000 US 5-20, reg,’67 112) smu't 113% 10000 U8 5s, 11 110% 12000 f ~ 110%, 10000 US3's, I 110" 13000 US 43¢'s, r, 12% FIRST BOARD—10:30 A Me 200 alsa Pe Mull SS... 18) 24900 di 11500 U8 5-20, $9000 5 Car 6's, n, nf, suid yesierday ufters ibe. should 00. a 4000 Alb & Sus'2 1000 NJ Cen cou 4000 do. 1000 E Tuo atl ry 5000 M& StPast.LOd 99h, 5 3000 Mi &AtPheat. BL” 200 do. ba 4: 000 Chi & NW Ast... 100 ©, M & St # pf..be 43. 2000 Chi & NW eon. 1058 100" do we 43M 100006 & NWeeg bs Sat ‘6000 “do, Bade 4: 4000 Chi & Mit Ls 1000 M-& E 7's, YOU0 Mor & Es 2d, be. e 100 New Jorsey Bit. be 132 Re. ..be 2000 L Shore F 1s 3 400 Chi & RE 85% T000 L, Shore ¢ 151 af 300 de. oy 4000 NY Cen 6's, iy BOO de 8: t. 5000 North Mo do 4 4000 Ven Pac 0 +4 do Boss Go) CP 1st, C60 be 87g 200 do BONY 1000 Pac Rot Moist 97" 900 do Bu, 10090 Un tne 7 ge. 100. 5000 Un Pac § " 152 | 7 63,604,000 Government bonds opened firm but, in sympathy | 5000 Un Pue Ist, 2000 Det & Hr bs, "VL 96 2000 H&GEN Ist, int ¢ 62 1000 L & Nash ¢, '98., 80 sabe Fourty Nat Hk 100 15 Nassau Bk. 1004 th & Puc Tel 100, do. “bd sonvos ik BR.be do 200 do. 100 do gov Del & Badaup.b ay do. 50 Chi, B&Q Rit. 100 Han & Stu RR, do 100 Pac Mail 1—12:30 P, M. 30000 U cou,’81 111%, 600 shs Rock IsPd RR, 80 2000 Dell, rey,'B1.c 964g 200 do BY Som do. 200 sha Dei & HE rt i do. 600 Minis 5u > 100S¢ Paul RR 154 G00 St Paul RE pr 4358 7g 200 Morris & Kis KK.83 77 ’ rr eccvere OO BO Bee, 33 767% 25 Aduins iixpress. 200 Del, Lack &W'Can 31 ON YO & tnd Rik. 9% SD * do 61 x) Luke Shore Rit, 200 do ot do. ly 1800 do, 51} uv ao. Gilg 2P.M. 10000 U $25000 U 8 5's, cou,’S1. 111% 1000) U8 3: 15000 do. be 112 SOO 110) = 28000 US 44y's, Fr, O1.. LOSS 1uuuu U 8 5's, reg, SL. LION SEUOND BOARD—1 P.M 91000 C, R, 1& Pac 7)s.107% 100 shy Michigan Con, 40% 1000 A'Dosk&lm eo 7's 49 200 L Shore&MS.be sd 47: low Bur © eM S00 lo 4 400 Chie & N 60 ‘ do 200 Chie & NW pref be 100 do, 200 Del & LG Uo. tuo quo 00 200 ho r be sd 800 Quick: 13 GUO do, 100 Brie BK 64 100 Clo & Pi 900 Western Hi, B00 Chie M & Sth 500 57) 200 do. su 20) Ohio & 00 100 Ha St Jusop! 700 100 HL & Std pre! 1s00 w do. ” 100 do. 6U Chic & Alton. 10 Det Lack & W v0 a