The New York Herald Newspaper, December 27, 1878, Page 7

BUSINESS OUTLOOK. The Industrial Interests of the Pine Tree State. Effect of the Liquor Law on ’ the Trade of Cities. CHANGES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE MAINE. LUMBER, AGRICULTURAL, MANUFACTURING AND FISHERY INTERESTS—DEPRESSING EFFECT OF PROHIBITION ON THE LARGER CITIES. Boston, Dec. 24, 1878, Acorrespondent in Augusta, Me., in answer to an inquiry as to the condition of business in the Pine ‘Tree State, writes as follows about that section :— The principal sources of revenue in this portion of the State are from ice, lumber and . There is some manufacturing, but it is not very extensive. ‘There is also, of course, a good deal of fishing farther off toward the coast. The ice business lust year vas very good. My inquiries along the Kenue- ec Valley show that the business lust year was ¢x- cellent. Only a very small quantity of last year's crop was left over.’ Kennebec ice has acquired a well deserved popularity ull over the Eastern States, and large shipments were made last yeur. ‘The prices were not as large as in previous years, but the sales were in excess 80 faras I have been able to learn. Preparations for laying in a heavy crop for next sea- son are well advanced, and a large force of cutters and storers will be employed. THE LUMBER TRADE. The lumber trade has fallen off in this region, of course considerably owing to the heavy cicarings that have been made from year to year. The Kenne- bec river is now used in the spring only a8 a carry. ing medium for the lumber cut further north, Large rafts come down every year from the timber districts, but the business of hewing and piling up this winter has not been as heavy as in years gone by. ‘Che largest lumber regions are in Aroostook, Piscataquis and Washington counties, as well as the northern portions. of Penobscot.’ In Aroostook county there has been a good deal of government land sold for clearing purposes within a few years, @nd some sections have prepared for agricul- tural purposes. Of course portions of the public lands have been purchased by capitalists for the pur- pose of exporting lumber, but there is not much a@uimation in that branch of trade at present. AGRICULTURE. In agricultural pursuits there was a very good showing last year. A very good crop of potatoes was raised and large quantities exported during the fall. Prices were lower than in former years, but the farmers feel encouraged, and hopes of good crops next year are entertained. Kennebec und Somerset counties, portions of Androscoggin and Lincoln, Cumberland and Saco yield good supplies of po- tatoes, hay and corn, which yield fair profits to the agricultural communities, In some sections sheep nd horses are raised, and considerable money has been profitably invested in this branch of industry. LEWISTON AND AUBURN. A correspondent in Lewiston, which is a large manufacturing centre, gives a very good account of the condition of business in Lewiston and Auburn, two adjacent cities. He says:— Some of the largest mills of New England are in full operation In Lewiston, and the fact that the Operatives are kept employed adds a stimulus to eneral business. During the past seven years there as been @ good deal of speculation in real estate, Several tracts of land, purchased some ten or twelve years ago in the outlying districts of the city, were cut up into building lots and moderate priced houses for mechanics and mill operatives erected. Many of them were promptly occupied, but when the panic came on and manufacturing received its firat check, necessitating a reduction in the price and hours of labor, many of these tene- ments were abandoned, and the owners compelled to Jet them at ruinous prices or have their property lie idle. The history of real estate in Lewiston is the same as that of similar property in other purts of ‘New England, especially in the large centres of com- Ruwrea ond trade. Firsts grand jump upward, good Feats, quick sales and extensive building, then a vol- lupse and a hard struggle to keep the property from being swallowed up by mortgages and interest. In Auburn the manufacture of boots and shoes is carried on quite extensively. It is the largest shoo manutacturing centre in Maine, and, as a general rule, the business has been well sustained. In both cities the depression of business bas been largely felt, and the fact that Solon Chase, the leader of the yreen- back ‘movement in Maine, converted some of our Most conservative business men to his theories of finwace shows that there was a strong desire tor re- hef through any agency that offered. PORTLAND. Acorrespondent in the leading commercial city of the State says:-- Business in Portland is not very brisk at present according to latest advices. It cannot be denied that the stringency of the Liquor law has tended to keep down the standard of commercial success. The ho- tela, and there are some very fine ones in that city, have all they can do to pay rent; the bar is closed in each, and the Western man who would do business in Portland cannot obtain his cocktail; not even a lass of ale or claret at his dinner; he cannot invite his business friend to his room and there discuss the rospects of trade over a glass of wine as he can in New York, Boston, Philadelphia or other seaboard cities, 1 am not’ prepared to say that this strict prohibition, which is fostered by Neal Dow and his followers, does not increase the morals of the city, but the liberal minded men of the community flo not hesitate tu say that it proportionately hurts business. No city on the Atlantic coast sabored harder to utitize her excellent harbor facilities for the development of a first class shipping trade than Port- land. She has in seven or eight years invested nearly $10,000,000 in the build. and maintenance of railroad lines which promised to bring her large shipments of grain and other products of the Went for shipment to England. ‘The history of her connection with the Portland and Ogdensburg aud the Portland and Rochester roads is one of hu struggles and discouraging reverses, ‘The Portland and Ogdensburg has been completed, so that its con- necting lines tap the great trunk roads for Chicago and the Northwest, but still the immense shipping uxiness Which she hoped for has failed to come. bhe has the Grand Trunk and Maine Central lines also, which give her superior facilities for draining the rich valleys from the New Brunswick and Cana- dian borders, and her wharf facilities are of the best. withstanding all these draw very comfortable condition. ‘The dry goods trade shows a fair degree of activity—one that will compare favorably with more pretentious citics. Her machine shops, foundries, tactories, &c., turn out @ jood =deal of work and afford Sneha pt toa je number of operatives. Port- land is the distributing point for most of the coul used in the interior ot the State, and her extensive coal sheds and wharves show a good deal of activity. Lumber is shipped in large quantities, as can be seon by the large list of clearings and arrivals of coasters duily recorded in her newspapers. ALONG THE Coast. Business along the bays and islands of the exten- sive and irregular coast line of Maine is chiefly con- fined to fishing, quarrying and shipbuilding. The principal shipbuilding points are at Yarmouth, Bath, tockland, Waldoboro, and other points north. The extensive granite quarries in Knox and Washington counties afford employment to large bo of men, aud consequently stimulate business in the towns in that section, Shipbuilding, of course, hus fallen away with the decadonce in our shipping trade. Some of the largest coasters and ocean vessels in years yone by were turned out from the yards of Yarmouth, Bath and Rockland, and men made their fortunes in that very important branch of industry. ‘THE VISHERY QUESTION, The troubles between the Canadian authorities and our government about inshore fishing on the New- foundland coast have set back the fishery interests of , but not near so much as those of Massachu- as there is more coast and banks fishing done trom Maine than there is for Dominion herring and mnackerel, im up, Maine has passed through the same depression of business as other Stutes. Her people are very conse: ive, thrifty and enterprising, and not addicted to speculation. She is, therefore, in as ood condition as any of her sister States to profit by improvement in the general business outlook of the nation. With the return of contidence there can not fail to come to hera return of that solid pros- perity which in years gone by made her one of the most important States in the Union, NEW HAMPSHIRE. DECREASH IN THE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIONS OF THE GRANITE STATE—HOW THE RURAL Dis- TRICTS HAVE BEEN DEPOPULATED—INCREASE OF MANUFACTURES—GENERAL CONDITION OF BUSINESS, Boston, Dec, 24, 1878, New Hampshire, like Massachusetts, has ceased to be an agricultural State, True, there are certain sections where farming and stock raising are pur- sued, but there are others equally fertile which are sadly neglected, It is disastrous to the welfare of the New England States in general, and New Hamp- shire in particular, that the spirit of emigration has been so largely developed, The young men when they have reached the age of eighteen or nineteen, in eight cases out of ten, want to go West or to New York or Boston to “seek their fortunes.” The mining fever of twenty-five or thirty years ago drew off a large quota of the able-bodied men, and the suc- cessful trips made by many induced others to try their luck, Then the Western rage came along and still further depopulated the farming districts. As ¢ha Westarew and prospered the East suffered, Only NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1878—TRIPLE SHEET. old men and boys were left to til! the soil, and soon the business of farming begun to go down. The war took off another instalment, and those who returned had but little taste for the humdrum life of the farm. ‘They flocked to the large cities, some to go into stores, some to drive horse cars, many to serve their prenticeship in the corner grogshop. While this depopulation was going on the young girls who grew up were not free from the spirit of restlessness that characterized their “big brothers.” They set out for the large manufacturing centres, entered the mills or sought a livelihood in the workshops of the great cities, With the growth of manufacturing along the Merrimack Valley from Concord to Nashua, came a corresponding decadence in agricultural pur- suits. In the southern section of New Hampshire to-day the traveller can see farm after farm actually deserted, the houses in advanced stages of decay, the windows broken and the barns and outhouses that once teemed with the products of the year’s toil crumbling to pieces. GROWTH OF MANUFACTURES, Meanwhile Manchester, Nashua, Concord, Suncook and other manufacturing centres were assuming vast proportions. Mill after mill arose in graceful proportions; the ponderous louds of machinery which burdened the freight trains on all connecting roads showed the marvellous growth of the busi- ness, Large blocks of corporation boarding houses went up, stores were built and stocked to meet the increased demands of the community, real estute was sold in large lots; men made fortunes in a year, and everything’ went on in the most Satisfactory manner. ‘The panic came and brought people to their | senses; farms were hot producing, provisions’ had to be imported from other sections of the country, and while artifi- cial wealth was accumulating the real solid basis ot a community’s prosperity—its agricultural industry— was disappearing, But manufacturing prospered. Manchester became one of the liveliest factory cities in New England, Its superior water power, its excel- lent railroad connections, andthe energy and enter- prise of its leading men, sent it to tuc trout rank. Nashua followed suit. Some of the very best ap- pointed mills of the country were erected and put to their full speed. A yood deal of Boston capital found its way to these busy hives of industry and brought satisfactory returns, Nearly ali these vast structures and solid corporations were well established before the panic struck. Conse- quently they were in # condition to weather the gule. ‘Yhe usual reduction in the wages paid and in the hours of labor was made, but in most cases it was only temporary. AFTER THE PANIC. With the gradual disappearance of the immediate effects of the financial crash these corporations re- sumed in most instances full time, and although wages were reduced the production went on, the fabrics bringing, of course, much smaller prices than they had before. To-day these mills are in good condition, and with the first dawn of prosperity will make an excellent exhibit. The stock sells at good figures and there is no scarcity of money. The gen- eval business in Manchester and Nashua is very good. Dry goods, boots and shoes, clothing and groceries, sell briskly at asmall margin of profit. The store- keepers are impressed with the necessity of prudent purchases, economy in their store and personal expenses and fair dealing with their customers. Money is reasonably plenty among the trades people, especially toward the middle of each month— pay day ut the mills. The shopkeeper is paid by the operative, he pays the jobber, the farmer or the pro- ducer, anda spirit of cheerfulness and prosperity reigns throughout. Of course there are hardships, poverty and business reverses, but they are fewer, perhaps, than in the larger cities. For afew years no new manufactories of any ex- tent have been started. There was enough to do to keep those that had already been in operation trom becoming silenced, It will be years before a fair and promising field will be open in these large manufac- turing centres for the investment of more pital in the production of cotton or woollen fabrics. It a good market can be found for that which the present Inills are able to produce it is all that can be reason- ably expected. VIEWS OF A MILLOWNER. One of the largest sharcholders in the principal mills of Manchester said to me the other day while discussing this very subject:— “You see we have developed too rapidly for our own good. Weare like the human system in # high state of physical development. What we want is not more stimulants, but a little judicious blood-letting. Ihave fee ip perros for the future. I think we have pi the worst part of the storm and are on the road to a safe commercial haven. What we need is more business confidence, more young men on the farms, more extensive development of the possi- Dilities of our agricultural wealth, and we will regain our former prosperity.” THE LUMBER TRADE. I met a gentleman from Whiteticld, which is one of the centres of the lumber trade of the Granite State, in Concord the same day, and in conversation with him about that branch of New Hampshire's indus- tries he said that the lumber trade had been very profitable for a few years, probably as profitable as any im the State im proportion to the amount of money invested, “Of course,” he said, ‘“‘we have not escaped the general depression of business that has swept over the country; in fact, so tar as I am in- formed, over all countries, but we up in the mountains are a4 simple people, and we have not felt the shock so keenly as other co: munities. Some of our large lumber merchants found it hard to make collectious and many were sorely sed at times; but we have not had many bad failures, andI think that the trade is in as healthy @ condition to-day as any in the State, Some of our people have gone off after strange gods in the matter of finances, believing that larger volume of paper money would materially aid us in getting out of our difficulties; but I am inclined to believe that the resumption of specie payments and the conse- quent settlement of all values and bases of value wil) dispel this temporary mist. ‘Che outlook for lum- ber and cerning. in our section of the State,”’ he con- tinued, ‘is good; we have reason to believe that the worst has been realized, and that next year business will experience a perceptible stimulus.’ In the eastern portions of the State are some thriv- ing cities and towns, such as Dover, Portsmouth, Great Falls and Exeter, where manufacturing is car- ried on quite successfully. The other large cities or centres of manufacturing or agricultural districts in the State are Peterborough and Keene, both pros- perous cities. Portsmouth is the only port of entry in the State; its shipping is not very extensive, as most of the export trade is done through Boston. But the value of Portsmouth to the State is shown in its facilities for landing and distributing coal and shipping lumber, in all or which considerable money is anvested at that point. GORTSCHAKOFF AND LOFTUS. A TILT BETWEEN THE RUSSIAN CHANCELLOR AND THE ENGLISH MINISTER TO ST, PETERS- BULG—THE MISSION TO CABUL. ‘The following is an extract from a letter addressed by Lord A. Loftus to Lord Salisbury, dated at St. Petersburg, September 27:— On my passage through Baden-Baden, on the 22d inst., 1 had an interview with Prince Gortschakoff, who was then residing there, Although His Highness professed to be ignorant on passing events he replied, on my referring to the question of Afghanistan, in exactly the same terms as those used by M. de Giers in his note to Mr. Plunkett of the 8th inst., stating tnat the mission of General Stoletoff to Cabul was purely one of courtesy and of a provisional nature, observ- ing that the Emperor could never forego his right of seuding complimentary missions to any foreign soy- ereigns or neighboring princes. “Do not forget,” said His Highness, “that the Emperor is an indepen- dent sovereign ruler over 30,000,000 subjects.” I replied to His Highness that I was aware of this fact, as also that our gracious sovereign the Queen was ruler over more than two hundred million of sub- jects. “Yes,” said His Highness, ‘but they are dis- oes “ and scattered—the Russian Empire is one and united.” With regard to Afghanistan, I observed to Prince Gortschakoff that I was returning from a short ex- cursion to Italy, and was consequently without any official information or instructions. I could not, -however, refrain from remarking to His Highness that the very fact of sending a mission to Cabul was, in my opinion, a violation of the compact and en- agements Which Russia had entered into with Eng- dling that it was the more incomprehensible to me, inasmuch as ou a late occasion, and only a few days before my departure, M. de Giers had expressly denied to me that there had been or was any inten- tion oa the part either of the Emperor or of General Kaufmann of sending @ mission to Cabal. Prince Gortschakoff merely repeated what he had previously stated, that the mission was one of cour- tesy, and added that probably M. de Giers, at the mo- meut he gave me the assurance, had not been in- formed of it. Prince Gortschakoif observed that it was true that military measures had been devised when a war between England and Russia appeared to be imminent, but that they had been countermanded and the troops recalled, His Highness then explic- itly stated that the Imperial government would main- tain their engagement with England in regard to Af- ghanistan; that they had no wish or object to inter- pose in the affairs of that kingdom, and that the Ameer of Afghanistan, in the event of war, would receive no assistance either in arms or money from Russia, SMUGGLER VIRAGOES. Inspectors Van Horn and McCort, of the Survey- or’s Department, received information that a lot of smuggled Havana cigars were secreted in a tenement house in Albany street. The officers yesterday morn- ing paid a visit to the designated locality, and, climb- ing several pairs of stairs to the top of the building, vamue to a room where three females were holding a levee. Inspector MeCort seized upon a lot of 660 un- stamped cigars Which he saw standing in the apart- ment. Quick asa flash one of the women grabbed three boxes from the officer, and tauntingly defied him to touch her or take the cigars from her possession. The woman evidently was aware of the rule in the customs service that no male inspector can, under any cir- cumstances, search a woman, The othertwo females were by no means idle during this interesting episode, but hustled the inspector around the room, Inspector MeCort manfully held on to his seizure. Officer Van Horn in the meantime was in another apartinent on the same floor, where he found 600 six packages of smoking tobacco, of which ab posression. pe hy boy’ in which his colleague was en, om is appearance on the ecene of von! naty the nick. of time, The two officers brought away their capture with the excep- tion of the cigars retained by the woman above men- tioned, glad enough to escape the fury of the threo eurayed Virnyoes FOR CHARITY'S SAKE. GENEROUS APPROPRIATIONS MAD# TO CHARITA- BLE ‘INSTITUTIONS BY THE BOARD OF APPOR- TIONMENT. At a meeting of the Board of Apportionment yester- day the following charitible institutions were awarded the sums mentioned:—Five Points Mission, $1,200; Home for Little Wanderers, $1,150; Ladies’ Union Relief Association, $1,500; German Ladies’ Society for Support of Widows and Orphans, $1,180; New York Diet Kitchen Association, $1,050; Female Assist- ance Society, $750; United Hebrew Charities, $2,500; West Side Relief Association, $900; German So- ciety of the City of New York, $1,600; New York Colored Mission, $250; French Benevolent Society, $350; Belgian Benevolent Society, $250; Swiss Benevo- lent Socicty, $250; West Farms Benevolent So- ciety, $150; the Prison Association, $82 Twenty- fourth Ward Relief Association, $134; St. Ignatius’ Guild, $200; Olivet Sewing Relief, $300; Society of St. Vincent de Paul, $5,000; Wilson Industrial School, $230; Harlem Missionary Association, $300; New York Training School, $500; New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, $1,000; New York Employment and Relief Association, $250; the Gilbert Library, $400; Eighth Ward Mission, $400; Twelfth Ward West Side Relief Association, $1,000; St. John’s Guild and Floating Hospital, $2,400; New York Association for lmproving the Condition of the Poor, $2,400; Church Mission to Deat Mutes, $160; House of the Good Shepherd, $1,820; New York Christian Home for Intemperate Men, $1,875; Home for the Aged of the Little Sisters of the Poor, $2,445; St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged, $3,600; Sheltering Arms, $1,665; House of the Holy Family, $1,500; Home for Aged and Infirm Hebrews, $750; St. Vincent’s Home, $1,000; Chapin Home, $750; Samaritan Home for Aged, $740; St. dames’ Home, $750; House of Rest for Consumptives, $500; the Midnight Mission, $420; Institution of Mercy, $2,000; St. Stephen’s Home, $1,500; Lying-in Asylum, $1,000; Society for Relief of Destitute Chil- dren of Beamen, $696; Five Points House of Industry, $1,200; St. Vincent's Home for Girls, $ nabas’ Home, $1,000; Martha's Rest, Ivcurables, $1,200; Home for Old Men and Aged Couples, $375; St. Joseph’s Home for Children, $1,350; Peabody Home for Aged Women, $300; Meth- odist Episcopal Church Home, $1,980; Female Christian Home, $150; Young Wo: ’s Aid Asso- ciation, $ St. Luke’s Home, 3975; Home for the Blind, $760; Home for Training Young Girls, $400; Women’s Prison Association, $' ‘Ladies? Home Society of Baptist Church, Asylum of St. Dominic, $1,890; St. Joseph’s Orphan Asylum, $1,008; Orphans’ Home of Protes- tant Episcopal Church, $1,200; Society for Relief of Half Orphans, $1,235; Asylum of St. Vincent de Paul, $1,000; Association for Colored Orphans, $1,000; Roman Catholic Orphan asylums, $5,000; Old Gentle- men’s Unsectarian Home, $500; House of Our Lady of the Bosary, $1,000; Zion Aged Relief Association, $255; the Colored Home, $1,000; Women’s Hospital, $2,000; St. Francis’ Hospital, $3,000; St. Vincent's Hospital, $2,300; Metropolitan Throat Hospital, $750; ‘St. Elizabeth's Hospital, $700; Mount Sinai Hospital, $2,000; St. Luke's Hospital, $2,000; St. Mary's Hos- pital, $750; German Hospital, $2,000; Medical College and Hospital for Women, $4 Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, $500; Ophthalmic Institute, $1,000; Or- thopedic Dispensary, $1,600; New York Dispensary, $820; Demilt Dispensary, $804; tern Dispensary, $780; Northeastern Dispensary, Central Dis- pensary, $800; Northern Dispen: 800; Western, Homeopathic Dispensary, $525; Tompkins Square Dispensary, $450; Dispensary for Sick Children, $300; Harlem Dispensary, $400; West Side German Dispensary, $400; Yorkville Dispensary, $325; N. E. H. Dispensary, $400; Homaoputhic Medical College Dispensary, $450; Eclectic Medical Dispensary, 185 Dispensary of Medical and Surgical Relief, Twenty- third and Twenty-fourth wards, $150; New York Ear Dispensary ); West Side Eye and Throat Dis- ensary, $500; New York Eye and Kar Infirmary, 1,800; Intirmary for Women and Children, $310. This money is srproprinied. on the recommenda- tion of Comptroller Kelly, out of the Excize funds, The total amount is $111,571. ‘The societies which for weeks past have been pa- tiently waiting for their respective shares can now go to work earnestly and at once to relieve the num- bers of families dependent on them. Appeals for re- lief are beginning to be made in greater numbers daily, and private charity seems to haye become ex- hausted forthe time, as the societies have been re- ceiving applications from well to do citizens to say that more general help is ueeded thun they them- selves could afford to give. ASSOCIATED CHARITIES’ DISTRIBUTION. Representatives from nearly all the charitable and benevolent institutions in the city met in the Mayor's office to consider the plan suggested and prepared by Mr. Sanders for the alleviation of the sufferings of the poor during the winter. A preliminary meeting had been previously held to prepare the way for yes- terday’s mecting. ‘The plan adopted by those charity representutives was as follows :— First—Atter giving due notice through tho press and pulpits and by the distribution of handbills through the city, the community will be divided into districts which will be canvassed by bands of orphan boys and wagons, superintended by officers of the several institutions. Those boys and wagons will call at every residence and store in New York and re- ceive such articles or packages of clothing, shoes, rovisions, &c., as may be contributed by such ouse or store keepers for the poor. ‘Second—The public are t’gbe notified that all per- sons who are or have been accustomed to give to bend particular institution will still address their con- tributions to such institutions, and they will be faithfully delivered, It is not the purpose of the collection to divert from any institution its accus- tomed resources. Third—The balance or unspecified donations will be given to all the institutions equitably, according to their necessities as ascertained by a special com- mittee, to which every institution asking relief shall be referred. Every charitable institution shall stand onthe same footing, without respect to race, creed or color. ‘This plan was adopted without a dissenting voice by Jews and Catholics and Protestants—officers of the different denominational institutions present. Contributions of money will be received by Mayor Ely, who, with Messrs. W. H. Ramscar and W. F. Barnard, ‘constitute the Committee on Ways and Means. About $500 are needed immediately to enable the collectors to go to work at once. An Executive Committee was also appointed, consisting of Messrs. Willard Parsons, of Howard Mission; James Lynch, representing the Home for the Aged; Henry King, of the West Side Relief Association; P. C. Dooley, of St. Vincent de Paul’s Socicty, and ©. A. Bunting, of the Christian Home for Intemperate Men. These committees will hold separate meetings and then a eneral meeting of all the officers of sovieties will be feta again in a few days before the visiting and col- lection is begun. POOR AND NEEDY. Mr. Nathan Lewis, of the firm of Nathan & Lewis, Broadway, writes to St. John’s Guild to tell that at No, 442 West Thirty-second etreet a woman who has alarge family is in the greatest distress and necds assistance immediately. A charitable lady, who has helped all she could, writes to the Guild also to say that on the second floor, back, of No. 653 Third avenue, a poor woman, formerly in good circumstances, was found last week suffering from want of food and other comforts, ‘There was no fire in her room nor sheets on her bed, nor was there # morsel of food in the house tor her- self and two infants. ‘The Turkish Consul writes to the Guild to say of a destitute couple:—“They are both quite advanced in years and entirely destitute and helpless. The hus- band was formerly a man of large moans and con- ducted « tobacco manufactory in Brooklyn. I knew him then to be aman of exemplary character and most onerous disposition. He has nover been dissipated, but has become reduced to most abject poverty. His wife is totally blind, and he is partially paralyzed and unable to leave hisroom, They have no retatives that I know of and are destitute of the bare neces- saries.”” On investigation it was found that the hus- band was also very nearly blind, so that this old couple are utterly helpless. They live at No. 54 Car- mine street, second fluor, back. Funch, Edye & Co. recommend for employment a young man who speaks several languages, and who was obliged to leave their employ some time since owing to bad health, ‘They say he is “an efficient, diligent and respectable assistant,”’ and discharged his duties to their entire satisfaction. This young man is now destitute. He can be communicated with at St. John’s Guild, No. 56 Great Jones street. A widow, who has two grown sons and a daughter, all out of work, is now in need of assistance, ‘They ean be found at No. 120 Seventh avenue, second floor, A very deserving case can be relieved at No, 50t West Sixteenth street, third floor, front—a husband out of work for two years past, the wife in delicate health, four children living, the oldest child, a boy ten years of age, having been buried seven weeks sco. At No, 867 Ninth avenue, third floor, bac! ‘amily of four are in distress. The husband is , who has been sick and ont of work for eight month: t, and his aged mother lies ill and helpless, The fro children are half orphan Erminta Vonturoli, once a popular dansouse, but now prostrated with paralysis, appeals toa gencrous public for aid. She resides at No, 125 Kast Fourth atreet. BETWEEN A gentleman who is claimed by two ladies as their lawful liege lord and by eleven rosy children of variotts ages as sire was brought to the Bar at Essex Market Police Court yesterday on a charge of aban- donment. Mrs, Winzinski swore she wasthe mother and Levy, alias Winzinski, the father of eight children, On the other hand Mra. Levy swore he was her spons: and the parent of her three offspring. Mrs. Winzinsk: swears she has the priorclaim to him and accuses him of having abandoned her, He was held in bail bo answer, TWO MOTHERS. INETEENTH WARD SCHOOLS Serious Charge Made Against the Board of Education. JANITORS APPOINTED BY POLITICIAY Three Thousand Poor Children Left Without Schoo! Accommodation. ‘The report of the HERALD calling attention to the overcrowded and ill-kept condition of various public schools throughout the city has been discussed with interest everywhere, and the facts it gave expression | to about the idle, lazy and incompetent janitors meet with indorsement by all acquainted with the subject treated of outside of inter- ested ward politicians, From what a Henaip reporter learned yesterday it would appear that, as arule, there is no more good for nothing and im- pudent class of officials in this city than the janitors of the public schools, There are some worthy ex- ceptions, and these stand out in all the greater con- trast to the worthless character of the rest. Most of them are appointed through political influence of the most vulgar kind. Their antecedents are utterly at variance with the notion that they are competent to dis- charge such duties as the Board of Education imposes on them. Discarded hack drivers, bartenders and corner loafers, who may at one time have beon decent laborers, hayo been appointed for their politi- cal services as janitors, and it is more than ridicu- lous to hope that such a class of men can be ex- pected to know @ tittle about the laws of health, about ventilation, steam heating or sanitary preven- tives, suchas the duties prescribed for them by the Board of Education would imply that they should know. In the Nineteenth ward are two janitors, named John Pye, of Grammar School No. 53, and Thomas Hogan, of Grammar School No. 59, whose removal was twice attempted by the Board of Trustees for the ward, which consists of Ferdinand T. Hopkins, Eugene H. Pomeroy, Meyer Thalmessinger, John C. Donnelly and Richard Kelly, and each attempt was frustrated by the action of the School Inspectors for the district, consisting of the Twelfth, Niieteenth and Twenty-second wards, Messrs. H. B. Perkins and Jacob Hess, These janitors sre now retained, and they snap their fingers in the faces of the trus- tees and tell them in their own choice vernacular to do their damndest. POLITICAL INFLUENCE IN THE SCHOOLS. The law governing the appointment and removal of the janitors was evidently framed that it might work a benefit to the politicians, for it declares that the janitor shall not be removed by the trustees except with the consent of a majority of the inspectors of the district. While it is possible to have a board of trustees who are not politicians, and who fill the office simply to promote the public good, it is rare that an inspector is appointed except for his politi- cal services. Both the janitors named are charged with tho grossest dereliction of duty, and with carry- ing themselves in a most offensively overbearing manner, as though conscious there was no power strong enough to remove them either in the Board of Trustees or the Board of Education. Of this they appear to be convinced, and hence the nature of their conduct. “You must go to the Legislature,” they are reported to say, “and get a special act passed to re- move us and then you won't get it.” “This, indeed, is a pretty nice state of affairs in a city like New York,” said a gentleman to the re- porter. “I visited the school No. 53,’’ he continued, “some time ago, and there was so much dirt on the windows that I declare I couldn’t see an object out- side. I went down to the water closets and found them in a most disgusting condition—so much so that I asked the janitor why they were not attendea to, and he answered me, in an independent tone, that it was none of his business, that he wasn’t there to keep water closets clean or scrub windows or dust desks. I was there several times after, and I could tell you if I had time a hundred ways I noticed in which the janitor evades his duties and docs as little as possible.” “Is that janitor retained through the influence of the inspectors?” “Yes, the Board of Trustees tried in vain to re- move him and another, but pohtics got into it and the two are still kept, one for an offset against the other—one ademocrat and the other a republican. So the balance ot power is preserved, the public are insulted and outraged and the children’s health is e-'dangered.”” “Have you seen much more in the management of the schools that struck you as open to censure?” “Oh, yes; the overcrowding, especially in the Nineteenth ward, is perfectly outrageous, and if the public knew the full extent of the deprivation of school education which the children suffer the Board ot Education would be made to howl. There are 3,000 children unable to get inside the schools, because they are already as full a» they can hold, and these must consequently vow up in ignorance, as their parents will get tired Keeping them back to’ get a chance to enter and send thei away to work. It is the people who can’t afford to send their children to other schools a distance away that suifer most, and they are Just half crazy with the state of things allowed by the Board of Edu- cation.” “Who is responsible?” “Some say the Board of Education and others the Board of Estimate and Apportionment, but for three years I know the people of the ward have been pe- titioning for extra school accommodation and not a schoolhouse has been put up yet, because, as I am priyately informed, there are certain private interests of:the Board Commissioners in conflict.” ‘THINKS THE JANITORS BADLY ABUSED. Mr. Ferdinand T. Hopkins, one of the trustees, on having his attention culled to the statement that on the ground floof of School No, 18 there are four class- rooms totally unfit for the purpose, remarked :—“I don’t agree with that. They may not be as perfect as we would wish, but it is better to devote them to the uses they aro at than have the children who occupy them running about the streets.”” “Are they not frequently overcrowded?” “If this statement in the Hxnaxp bo true that there has generally been an attendance of over one hundred in one of these classrooms then the principal is to blame, as it is forbidden uy the rule of the Board." ‘Laking up the Heraxp and reading its report on the ondition of School No, 18, Mr. Hopkins proceeded “It says here the heating is so defective that upon examination the temperature was found to vary from sixty-five degrees to over seventy-five degrees. Well, now, that is not so surprising. Why, I was out rid- ing to-day, and there were fully five degrees differcuce between the temperature at one side of my © and the other, and what must it be in 4 large school- room, with a'constant opening of windows and suc- cession of draughts Reading again, Mr. Hopkins resumed :—“It says the children are packed as closely as possible in these rooms, As to the floor and air space, as required by the provisions of the bylaws of the Board of Educa- tion, no attention whatever is paid, In regard to that the Board passed a bylaw about two years ago, allowing so many children on a@ floor, accord- jug to the air space. Now, it is quite evident that it you have a room with a very high ceiling the bot page of air space will be greater than in one With @ low ceiliag but the sume sized floor, yet, according to the bylaw of the Board, the one should be made to accommodate a third or so more children than the other, while the tloor space is precisely the same in both cases, This bylaw is, of course, w dead letter."” Reverting once more to the article in his hand, Mr, Hopkins read as regards the work of the janitor, Mr. Joun Ryan, that speaks for itself. This tunctionary makes the fires aud does very little else that he can possibly avoid doing. *‘“fhat must be untrue,” said Mr. Hopkins, with emphasis, ‘trom the tact that the trustees think hy keeps one of the cleanest schools in the ward, and as proof that they are particular in this regard, they twice attempted to remove the janitors of two other schools for not keeping them clean, but failed.” INDIFFER: TO THE CHILDREN’S COMFORT. Proceeding his analysis of the report, Mr. Hopkins read:—" ‘He and ix assistants commence sweeping the playgrounds between one and two o'clock, long before the children are dismissed, rais- ing clouds of dustand half smothering the little ones in the ground classrooms.’ Now, in regard to the sweeping of the playgrounds; they are swept, with the approval of the trustees, after one o'clock. ‘The work at this season of the year must be done carly, for there is no gas used in the building and the children do not go home till a quarter to fouro’elock, ‘The principal, Miss Joyce, wanted the Board of Trus- tees to make the janitor do the sweeping after school hours, but the Bourd decided in favor ot the janitor’s application to have it done at the hour now fixed on, and since then there has been war between Miss Joyce aud the janitor and she takes every opportunity to misrepresent him,” Mr. Hopkins having thus, to his own entire satis- faction, disposed ot the report concerning School No. 18, answered a few questions, as follows, for the re- porter :— “Have the janitors no faults?" “Janitors, L consider, don’t pay proper attention to the water closets, which should be most carefully Jooked after.”” “Why don’t they?” ean it appears to me, they think it beneath em.” “Why are they not made to’ “Ab, that is another question, I suppose some peculiar influence affects them and makes ‘em inde- pendent. They say, in fact, it is not their business.” “Suppose you were to say, ‘Mr. Janitor, flush out these water closets,’ what would be answer?” “Very likely he might retort, ‘Yes, when I get “What would you have them do?” “I would have them use their hose on all the urinals after the boys came to school, again at recess, and ating eho hours, aud as often as need be dur- iy." ventilating and the heating, itor be notified when there is too much or insufficient heat. In the matter of ventilation, 1 have noticed in going into a room one teacher would have ® window all the way up and the teacher next to her would have # window all the way down. One class being blue with cold and another suffocating with heat. The teachers should be held responsible for the ventilation, during school hours, to the prin- cipals and the principais to the Board of Trustees. I don't consider the janitor the proper person to be held responsible, for he is not in the sehoo! rooms and cannot know the state of the inside atmosphere.”’ Judge Richard Kelly, another of the trustees, said, “The Henacp doserves the thanks of all the citizens of New York for drawing attention to the overcrowd- ing of the schools, and I hope it will aid us to see the yemedy applied.” “What did you think of its report, Judge ?” “1 read it and believe it correet.”” “Do you consider the ventilation perfect ?” “By no means, but then [am no authority and not long a trustee and don’t desire to say much about what I am not well versed in.” “You believe there is room for improvement in the schoo] management ?" “Decidedly, and aboveall there is acrying evil in allowing so many children, thousands in number in this ward alone, to be without the imeans of receiv- ing education for the want of ,school accommoda- on.” INTERNAL REVENUE REPORT. FACTS AND FIGURES FOR A TEMPERANCE LECTURE. The annual report of United States Commissioner of Internal Revenue Grecn B. Raum for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1878, and for the four months of the current fiscal year ending October 31, 1878, was mado public yesterday. The measures adopted to suppress illicit distilling in the Southern States, especially in the mountain regions of the Virginias, the Carolinas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and some portions of Missouri and Arkansas are detailed at length. One thousand and twenty stills were seized during the fiscal year and 238 since June 30. During the same periods the arrests for illicit distillation were respectively 1,974 and 1,018. Since July 1, 1877, five revenue officers have been killed and thirteen wounded in raids against illicit distillers, The seizures numbered 290 in North Carolina, 235 in Georgia, 223 in Tennes- see and 110 in South Carolina; while in New York there were 38, in Ponnsylvania 5, and in chusetts but 1. Of a gross collection from the spirit, tobacco and all other taxes of $110,663,868 92 but $9,705 55 was unaccounted for at the end of the fiscal year, and of this sum 34,665 20 has been paid in, leaving a net deficiency of only $5,035 58, or ubont one-fiftieth part of one per cent of the whole amount collected. Of 5,988 distilleries registered 5,652 were operated. ‘The largest total producing capacity registered during the year was during the mouth of February, when it reached 232,624 gallons. Six hundred and eight were grain distilleries, 7 molasses distilleries and. 5,037 fruit dis- tilleries. During the fiscal year there were consumed uurposes of distillation 1,027,886 bushels of 7 of wheat, 55,612 of barley, 2,156,832 of rye, 11,074,366 of corn, 277,607 of millfecd and 71 of other materials, making an aggregate of 14,680,552 bushels. Of molasses 1,995,645 gallons are reported fermented for tho muntifacture of ruin, From these various materials were produced 56,103,053 gallons of distilled spirits. ‘The total spirit revenue was $50,420,815 80, against 429 72 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1877. ‘The falling off is attributed as the temporary result ot the extension of the bonding period. During the first four months of the present year 3,302,766 gallons were exported, against 787,471 gallons in the corresponding period last year. ‘Che manufacture of Bourbon ‘whiskies has spread into Illinois, Arkansas, Indiana, Nebraska, New York, Ohio and Texas, but Kentucky is yet facile princeps, having marketed 3,600,000 gallons out of # total of 5,000,000 gallons for the entite United States. Massuchusetts monopolizes the entire licensed rum trade, with the insignificant exception of 48,000 gallons made in New Hampshire. In rye whiskeys Pennsylvania leads with 1,051,634 gallons, followed by Kentucky with 230,212 gallons, Maryland with 212,104 and Virginia with 119,979. In gin dis- tillation the Nutmeg State leads the list, there being 176,959 gallons marketed from Connecticut, as against 116,914 trom [linois and 72,006 from Massachusetts. ‘The receipts from fermented liquors show a steady increase, reaching $9,957,051 78 im the fiscal year as against $9,490,780 17 di the preceding year. THE EX-CONVICT’S COMPLAINT. Dk. ELISHA HARRIS IN REPLY TO THE LETTER OF GEORGE HENDERSON. The letter of George Henderson, the ex-convict, which was published in the “Complaint Book” of the Henatp yesterday, elicited a good deal of comment in political and philanthropic circles, and during the afternoon a reporter called ugion Dr. Elisha Harris, the State agent for discharged prisoners. At the time of the reporter's visita young man just discharged from a four years’ term in State Prison was in the rooms of the New York Prison Association, where he came for and obtained assistance to go to the home of his sister in St. Louis, In response to a query Dr. Harris said :—‘‘T have read Henderson's letter in the HEnatp this morning. I know Henderson. The name is his prison uame, or the name under which he was convicted and sentenced. He belongs to a good family in Phila- deiphia, but his criminal associations are all bere, Henderson is a man of ability, and can fill any posi- tion in a commercial or banking house, and, notwith- standing he has written a letter which does me great injustice, I should be very sorry to do anything to prevent him from obtaining confidence and respect.” “Why do you think he wrote the letter ?” the re- porter asked. “His motive is plain enough to me,” Dr. Harris answered. ‘He wished to make a sensation and he hus succeeded. So far as the Heratp is concerned I think it was right to print the letter, especially as it was printed in connection with a calm and consider- ate editorial article. The sentiments of that article aremy own.”” “Am I to understand you as denying the facts ?”’ the reporter queried. “As denying them, certainly; but as explaining them as well. A man like Henderson may be honest in his allegations and his error the result of his con- dition or circumstances. Much that he says is true. It is not easy to induce the rest of the community to take the ex-convict by the hand or to repose confi- dence in his promises of reformation. We do every- thing we can toward facilitating the return of these men to society, It is the pract of the jon to send them to their homes, and, as you saw, we just now paid the fare to St. Louis of the young man who was here when you came in, There he will be with hi ter, and J trust will do well. Whenever it is possible we aaxist them to obtain employment, but it must not be forgotten that we have to deal with as many 4s a thousand cases a month, and I think we always deal with them courteously and kindly, and generally with intelligence and to their advantage.” “Why was it you wrote to Henderson suggesting that he go at once to Philadelphia without trrying in New fork at all ?”’ the reporter asked. “He has embodied my note, I see, in his letter to the ‘Complaint Book,’ the Doctor said. “Circum- stances dictated that note. He was not without money when ho lett prison, and was certain to be kindly received at his home in Philadelphia. As his criminal life was here this was, of all places, the one for him to avoid, I did not want him to run the risk of falling in with any of his forimer companions, and to keep him out of their hands was, perhaps, the best assistance I could proffer him.” In respouse tos further query Dr. Harris said:— “Henderson is a@ man who believes the State owes him a living,” and indicated, although he did not directly assert, that the convict expected the State to procure for him a yt of responsibility, for which he could not recommended, “I have the greatest respect for his abilities,” the Doctor added, “aud so far as capacity is concerned, he can fill any position.” An allusion being made to the case of Charles Fisher Dr. Harris warmly commended the course of Judge Otterbourg. “He did himself great credit by his paticuce, consideration and mercy.” DR. HARRIS’ POSTION. New Yon, Dec, 26, 1878, ‘To tae Eprron or tae Henaup:— Your “Complaint Book” this morning contains & convict’s criticism upon the Prison Association of ‘New York that should apply exclusively to the State Agency for Discharged Prisoners, as this agency is wholly respousible for what has been done in # pub- lic or official way, the past year, to advise and assist this class of persons. The Stato agent wishes at once to acknowledge as well as feel the ee, attached to this service. He is entirely will- ing to accept the deliberate judgment of his fellow citizens and of the press in regard to the pru- dence and eee of the policy and methods of this agency. It might be sufficient to say that they are identical with those which, under the counsels of the Prison Association, were adopted years ago and have been very carefully conducted under the same supervision since 1872, ‘To reply to your complain- t is not a duty at this moment, but at your con- venience a concise statement of the dutios and doings of this agency and the merciful work of the Prison Association, as conducted, in the fleld it occupies, in- dependently of the State agent, ete usetul to the public, RBIS, Agout, “RED” LEARY, ‘The motion on the haboas corpus proceedings in the case of John Leary, commonly known as “Red” Leary, charged with being concerned im the bur- ry of the Northamptonshire Bank, in Hampshire nat Ag Mass., was before Judge Choate ‘yesterday af. ternoon, After hearing the lawyers the Court reserved its peso The case will be resumed to-day at eleven o'clock, | TUE COUNTY CLERK'S BIOKS, Judge Davis Finds a Way to Bring Them to Light. MR. GUMBLETON CORNERED, The Laws of Duello, Punctilio and Common Sense. ‘The somewhat exciting and sharply contested legal tournament between County Clerk Gumbleton, or rather his counsel, Messrs. W. A. Beach and E. R. Meade, and the committee of five appointed by the Bar Association, having for its final determination the question whethe the quintuple representatives of the latter body shall have free license to rummage among the records of the former's office, was renewed yesterday before Judge Davis im Supreme Court, Chambers. No new tactics were, however, exhibited, and the tilt lacked the piquant personalities of the former hearing. It was, im fact, a skirmish ing on the old ground. The most that was done was the reading of counter affidavits, Deginhing with those submitted in behalf of the Bar Association Committee. These recited the various attempts made to obtain permission, both from Mr, Gumbleton and Mr. McLaughlin, his deputy, to ex- amine the books, the facts in regard to whicn have already been fully published. The affidavits in re- joinder comprised those of Mr. Gumbleton and hia deputy and of his counsel, introducing in their course various letters that had passed on the subject, the facts embraced in which have already been given. WILLING ‘10 SHOW THEM. Mr. Gumbleton’s strongest averment was that he fully intended to allow of such examination, pursu- ant to a letter he wrote, and would have done so had not in the meantime application been made for’ a mandamus to compel him to do so; after which, acting upon the advice of counsel, he threw himself on his strictly legal rights, and particularly as he became satistied that the object of the examining committee was to find something against him as a public official and effect his removal from office. Mr. Mo- Laughlin simply deposea that he is without authority to do anything. The affidavits of the counsel cor- roborated that of Mr. Gumbleton in respeet to giving him advice to take the course he had. A SUGGESTION FROM ‘THE BENCH. Following the reading of the affidavits the re- spective counsel cleared their throats preliminary to @ prolonged argument. The intention to further occupy the time of the Court received, however, sudden quietus trom Judge Davis. “Gentlemen,” began the Chief Justice, “you seem to have complied with all the laws of the duello an: how are standing on punctilio, and it would be w it seems to mo, to introduce a few grains of com sense, Ishall suspend this proceeding for t four hours to enable the respondent to do w! is perfectly willing to do.”” ‘While I remain Mr. Gumbleton’s counse} maintain their present attitude toward him, “Tt does not require,” interrupted Jud, “anybod; ve to do it.” ll the twenty-four hours ter) asked Mr. Lord. “I think we had better make it after row,” replied Judge Davis, “so that all court good natured.” (Laughter.) ‘THE FINAL ORDER, After some further parleying it was fin: that an order be drawn up at recess. ‘Tb ay fe following is the order as sign is :— 2 J “Tt ‘appearing to the satisfaction of. 1 hearing the affidavits and papers read / the respondent by a letter written and | the relator betore the noting und serv der to show cause, having declared hinv allow such éxamination of the book or bc as the relators desired, and it being Geclaration is true and is made in. allegation is controverted by the re’ further appearing that on asubsequent: the relators tor such examination th declined to allow the@sume on et og pendency of this proceeding, that the controve; the parties is altogether reasonable, and way and oug| terminated by allowing such examuinat’] without delay, it is therefore ordere now here, on its own motion, that the ent, the County Clerk, has twenty-fou the service ‘of the copy of this ord which to allow an inspection of said relators,or either or any of them, © on their application during office how meantime these proceedings be susy eg such examination be permitted that the reapone at liberty to show the same in wer to tition and to any turther ap) and that if such examination said relator be at liberty to shi be in anawer to the alleged offer of Clerk to it the same to be made, » gation of good faith in the premises. ordered that the further hearing of t stand adjourned until the opening of Saturday, the 28th inst., at past te: and that acopy of this order be ser on the said respondent Poeeae or his attorneys counsel herein.” THE REGISTER'’S F Atan adjourned meeting of lawyer Ny terested in real estate practice, held 0) at the Register’s office, the committe the request of the Register to exami governing the fees of his office submii the strictly legal fees to which the Reg for business transacted by him and hi é- The subjoined schedule, which was Monday, and conspicuously posted o day in the office, embodies the report i f tee above mentioned. The differen: « ae charges of the schedule and those ma 4 of January last is but slight in the ms comes necessary, however, for tl E employ sufficient assistance to cou hau in by lawyers and ot # ‘ a ot correctiy asce ‘ tr ‘folios it contains "00 as to exact charge to be made under the law. estimates are now made. This proc * labor, but his employés declare that u .. “ ment with the committee, made at th, o : quest, there is no way out of it, Mar ot are paid proportionately to the am ceived complain that their compens .” of years standing is reduced under . « 4 but, as the orders are imperative, subs oe fhe is their only choice. Following i# the schedule of charger % y~ All charges for recording conveyances, th 6 + Agreements to vell or any other fastrunme + fecting the title of real estate iu the eli) New York will be as follows :— . the Court For recordin: For each cert! For sealing the sa For filing, & Additional f For For fitin Entering each namo in instrament om ind Baamining euch payer. EA DR. WHITEHEAD'S A On the complaint of Officer Race, « police, Dr. Newton Whitehead was yes at the Tombs Police Court to answer + «cow practice. His affidavit was based upo: made to him by Annie Platt, which 1. > the arrest. Tho complaint charges 4 was committed on the 24th of Dece * at \ head's office, in Kant Fe -tifth stree risoner strongly asserted his innoce jis enemies with a conspiracy to ha prison. The same plea, it will be r : ut in by Dr, Bi who was , Sing for a sojourn of fourte . prisoner was the Supreme © day on @ writ of habeas corpus, but nl to oe Tombs until this morning, when ant ‘ writ will be heard. ‘The victim of the alleged offence it but is in a fair way of recovery, CAPTURE OF A HORS! HIE, Detective Fred Schmidt, of Flushin: ore effected the capture of a notorious h f a Manhassett, L. 1, and sold it in New © “ next day, Since that time Gerlack } P horses and sold four of th three in New Jersey, Sc! re York, while walking ¢ ‘ enue wife, He horse from Wi he has Gistoly on hie release, and he kept) © Lawrence committed bim for te @j 65. son. ill