The New York Herald Newspaper, January 5, 1879, Page 7

NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 1879.-QUADRUPLE SHERT, UNION PACIFIC.| Government Directors’ Report on the Great Railroad. SEVERE CRITICISM. The Condition of the Line Not Satisfactory. “SPECIAL CONTRACT” EVILS. Too Much Regard for Profit, and No Public Convenience. ———_—-——— Wasutsaton, Jan. 4, 187! Messrs, Charles F. Adams, Jr., Daniel Chadwick, George B. Smyth, Ralph P. Buckland and Charles C, Housel, the government directors of the Union Pa- cific Railroad, commenced their report to the Secre- tary of the Interior by remarking that they were all appointed, with the exception of Mr. Chadwick, within the present year, had no previous knowledge of the affairs of the corporation and only general in- formation as to its relations with the government, and that under these circumstances it was fortu- nate that soon afterward two laws were enacted by Congress which greatly simplified their work. By one of these acts, they continue, the annual payments, allowances, &c., to be made to the government by the Union Pacific were fixed, while by the other a new bureau was established in con- nection with the Department of the Interior for auditing the accounts of that company among others. These two measures of legislation effectually relieved the present government directors from fur- ther considering many subjects which had engaged the attention of their predecessors. For the imme- diate time being, and at least pending the action of the courts in cases arising out of the operation of the acts referred to and which are now, it is understood, ready for decision, the financial relations of the gov- ernment and the Union Pacific must be considered as definitely settled. This subject, therefore, calls for no further discussion. As respects also the con- dition of the company’s finances, its resources and the disposition made of them the government has its own auditor, and is in immediate possession of all the facts and statistics which it would be in the jower of government directors to furnish. either have the present directors thought it in- cumbent upon them to further investigate ques- tious of the t connected with the construction of the Union ‘ific road, or its earliest operations. ‘They have, on the contrary, deemed that they would best subserve the purpose of their appointment by strictly confining their attentions to questions of the present, giving the department such information as they might be able to procure relating to the existing condition of the property and policy now pursued by she diree en. in the management of the company’s rs, ‘THE ANNUAL INSPECTION. ‘The usual yearly inspection of the road was made im September and October last. All of the members of the Board took part in it with the exception of Mr. Chadwick, who was prevented from so doing by business engagements. He therefore does not join 11 that portion of the report derived from personal ob- servation of the property or its management on the spot. Both locally on the line and in the general offices of the corporation at New York and Boston every facility has been afforded the direc- tors toward obtaining whatever information they may have desired. 0 disposition to withhold or conceal has at any time been apparent. On the con- trary from the beginning the fullest investigation seemed rather to be courted. While more than once the feeling has been openly expressed that justice bas not been done either to the actions or intentions of those now _ responsible for the management of the company’s affairs; a pub- lic inquiry, at once impartial and intelligent, could, it wus claimed, result only to its advantage. So far as the inquiries of the present government directors have gone they have been of # general character aud bad related solely to the two subjects already re- ferred to—the material condition of the property and the business of those managing it, As re- spects these, Fic Rue inquiry Las necessarily been both partial aud superticial, Lhe conclusions arrived ut, so far as they go, are in many respects quite dit- ferent from what the directors ant.cypated when the | inquiry begun. Such as they are, iowever, they could not be avoided. In acting upon the material condition of the Union Pacific road the first point to be determined is the standard by which it shall be judged—whether by that in use on the Eastern trunk lines or by that in use on the best roads of the Mis- sissippi Valley, or by a less severe standard, which is usually appliea to the newer roads west of the Missouri. In view of the facts, which it is unneces- sary to more refer to, connected with its or- ganization and construction, it seems manifestly Tight that the Union Pacific should be judged by the most severe standard known among the railroads of the country. No reason is apparent why it should not be held strictly to this test or why its owners and officers should object to it. As is a matter of common knowleage the road was practically built out of the public moncy and the stock which now represents its ownership represents little besides the enterprise und energy which tue original constructors put into their under- taking. The corporation, on the other hand, received from the government an indorsement of unprece- dented liberality. 8 THE ROAD WHAT IT SHOULD BE ? ‘The road was designed to be a great national thor- oughfare, & monument of public liberality and of «private enterprise. Under these circumstances those Tepresenting the government in the conduct of its aflairs would clearly not be justified if, in their inspection, they , applied any standards short of the | highest known railroad system of the country. Especially would thi be so when, as in this case, the road as enterprise has proved a brilliant success, when its annual gross earnings, falling but little short of $13,000,000, are the largest, with five exceptions only, in our whole rail system. Neither are those earnings peculiarly absorbed in the necessary opera- tion ot tne roud, On the contrary, while but three companies only in the country—the New York Cen- tral und the Hudson Kiver, the Pennsylvania and the Central Pacific--report larger annual net proceeds. The percentage of operating expenses to gross receipts (forty-two per cent) hus during the last three years averaged lower with the Union Pacific than with any other great railroad company without exception. ‘These facts are referred to in this connection not to prejudice the corporation, but simply to tix beyond @ question the character of the standard which should be applied to its road, In applying this standard, however, the directors have endeavored to bear continually in mind the peculiar conditions of climate, soil, traffic and population under which the Union Pacitié is operated. While in many respects most favorably placed for economical working, that railroad is also subject to natural laws which seem peculiar to itself. For inatance, the line was originally aid out and the road was constructed rather, it would seem, to save time and money and to earn a mileage subsidy than with any regard to whut are considered sound engineering rules. It was a sur- rd road in which cuts and embankments were care- fw ® on the one earned it on the other. uully converting this original structure into a first lass permanent work it would naturally be expected, In grad- rding to all established precedent, that the align ments would be reetified, the embankments ma.ic higher and the cuts deeper, while the sur- face undulations would have been reduced to grade, Experience, however, has shown that whether sagaciously designed or otherwise, the original construction was, for this particular road, the best construction possible. It has enabled the trackmen to contend successfully with clouds of fine, dry snow, which drift in winter over the plains, filling every cut, but blowing clear of all embank- ments, Accordingly. the whole tendency of the com- pany in tho renewal of its road has been to seek the shoulders of the hills by curves and undulations, in- wit of going through them on the straight lines at even grade, An effort is made to keep the track at all points slightly elevated above the country through which it rans, UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION OF AFFAIRS, The report proceeds to show that as respects fuel, ballast and building material (except wood), and also as respects the matter of grades, the supply of coal for fuel, the Union Pacific, in comparison with the nerallty ‘of Eastern roads, is most advantageously t is wlso noticed that the business, both h and local, whether ne of the road or not, compli trains is reqnired which is usual on Eastern roads, ‘This, of course, necessitates no such elaborate and tly arrangement of tracks, sidings, yards, build- ings and general appliances as is found upon re with much smaller traffic in other portions of the country, These need not, therefore, be looked for, The Union Pacific at pres- squires Only those accommodations necessary ny a businers of the sitnplest kno: ‘Taking #i] these things into consideration and ing full allowance for them, the directors say they are unable to report that the present condition of the Union Pacific road is in all respects satiafac- tory. They continue:—On the contrary, when masured by the standard which has been suggested, | remainder can hardly be ranked as its deficiencies are many aud apparent. The policy, fs respects the completion aud renewal of its road, which the company “pparently has pursued and now is pursuing might paren, if judged by the test of strict business principles in the shrewd management of & practical pony ce deemed a fairly liberal one. In making ¢! examinations, it true, the present directors labored under the great | agents, was difticulty of having no previous knowledge upon which to base a. ‘on, but it is, nevertheless, sutticiently obvious that the property, instead of de- teriorating, is being brought up with steadiness, though slowly, to a fair degree of average excelience. It is still, however, tar short of what, with its original endowment and large present carnings, it ought to be, and very far short in almost every re- spect of that high standard of excellence, both in scope and in detail, to which thove familiar with the get ea lines of the country are now accus- tomed, 4A GREAT MANAGER NEEDED. As segue, the local management the directors are not sufficiently acquainted with those who compose it to offer any criticism of value. The officers are, doubtless, competent, energetic and faithful, as un- questionably they ‘are experienced. There is, however, notuing in the present shape of the organization as regards the division of labor and study of detail which would indicate that it is the work of any superior organizing mind. It gives rather the impression of being simple even to crude- ness and quite lacking in system. This absence of thorough organization is very apparent whenever results are examined in detail, On the road itself, tor instance, it is evident that the standard of excel- lence, where it has been established at all, has not been fixed high enough or rigidly insisted upon. It is true that the Union Pacific has always been oper- ated and renewed under circumstances unfavorable at least to its thorough organization.: Its ownership has more than once changed, and, as is well known, it has at times been in hands more solicitous as to movements of the stock market than honestly desir- ous of attaining even material excellence. The local management has, accordingly, never been the respon- sible management, nor, however good and com- prehensive its ‘ideas’ may have been, has it ever oceupied a position which | would have enabled it carry them ont. Meanwhile it is obvious that no system whatever has been pursued in filling up the subordinate sit- uations. As vacancies occurred officers have come to the road from all sections of the country and have brought with them theories aud methods which are far from uniform. ‘The result is that there is no ap- arent uniformity of work. While the individual ivision superintendents and roadmasters appeared efficient aud faithtul they did not recognize the same standards, nor, it was obvious, did they in many cases: have any conception of what the highest standards were. Passing to details, the government directors report, among other conclusions based on their in- spection, that the road is liberally equipped with rolling stock; that the company secms to be pur- suing @ vystamatio and efiiciently liberal policy in its ridges, and the roadbed, although, as a whole, not yet brought up to the stand: ard of excellence, is being rapidly improved and the mpletion of its necded improvement will be simple and inexpensive matter. ‘They comment on the irregularity of the spacing and size of the ties and the slovenly manner in which the work of spik- ing has been done, and say there is an absence of symmetry and disregard of appearance about the track which are not suggestive of a first class rail- road. They say the stations and other buildings on the "line, even at central points like Og- den, Cheyenne, Kearney and Omaha, are gen- erally not ‘creditable to the | company. Originally cheap and temporary the structures at these points have deteriorated with time and use. Large and expensive renewals in this respect should already have been made and canndt much longer be deferred, ‘The only exceptions noted are the general offices of the Corporation at Omaha, the new depot at Council Blutis and the roundhouses ut division centres, NEW RAILS NECESSARY. ‘The government directors say it is in the character of its rails, however, that the Union Pacitic is most deficient. Considering the large income the company and the recent low price of steel, the economy of renewals in_ this veapect ‘has been carricd much too far. While during the last six years six first class roads in other purts of the country have wholly replaced their iron with steel, removing every defective rail from their tracks the Union Pacific has thus renewed but 29 miles out of 1,036. This comparatively small por- tion of its tracks is fairly up to standard, but the even second class. Atter detailing and sharply criticising the condition of the road in this respect the directors say :—“Our examination has led us to believe that the policy now pursued by the company in regard to the material condition of the property whiie careful and sniticiently safe is by no means lib- eral. Abe impreksion given to an inspector is that the principles of economy are very rigidiy enforced by distant board of directors on the local management. ‘The percentage of operating expenses to groxs earn- ings is very closely watched. However it might be if the road were completed and brought throughout up to a first class standard, it is obvious that the ercentage of operating expenses is now smaller han it should be, and the reason that it is smaller is made plainly apparent by any close inspection. The policy of the company in this respect has not been such as the country had @ right to expect or the government to insist upon. The report next elaborately considers the relations of the Union Pacific with the public generally, with its inhabitants with the line and with the connecting lines. The directors remark that in view of the com- plexity of the interests involved they discuss tho subject of tl wer business policy of this road We and a consciousness that an any Weight of authority upon it with much ability to pa calls for an acq' with facts which cannot be speedily acquired, much less improvised. ‘They con- tinue :—upon one Hoint, however, weareclear. As re- spectsits business/policy no less than as respects its material condition the Union Pacific occupies a pecu- lisr position, It is both a national and a continental thoroughfare, built in a large degree by contributions from the public prse, In view of these facts those who own and control it have incurred a responsi- bility which they shonld cheerfully recognize, and” which they should not be permitted to ignore. The policy of the company fiould, be a public spirited policy. The community has a right to expect that in its com- mercial relations strict business principles should be tempered with liberality. It would not seem, therefore, unreasonable to ask the development of the country, and the easy and even economical ex- change of traffic should ‘be considered by those in- vested with the management, us well as the strict business view of the largest profit. PUBLIC COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE. In any event it is clear the mission of those repre- senting the national government in the Union Pac dixection, if, indeed, they have any mission, to de- velop this principle of public responsibility and to keep it continually in the minds or those more im mediately interested with the management. Not t it is either expected or desired that the Union Puc! should be operated without regard to profit. On the contrary, the interest of the corporation and of the government, as its largest creditor, are iu that respect the same. SVhat is desired and should be insisted upon is obviously something of a wholly different character—it is that the business of | policy of the corporation should be large and liberal | minded—a policy looking not only to the im: turns of the present month or year but which gives full weight also to those re- mote resu.ts which may be made to follow the development ot the country, which sceks so far as circumstances will permit to avoid all discriminations, to deai reasonably and equitably both with other roads and with differently cireumstanced individuals and communities. Meas- ured by this standard it would be occasion for sur- prise if the course of the Union Pacific was notfound open to much adverse criticism. It unquestion- ably is. This criticism, however, it may be stated in the outset should not partake of the charay- ter of swe ping denunciation. ‘There is, on the con- trary, much to be said, both generally and in detail, in detence of the course which the company has recently pursued in the conduct of its business. All things considered, its tariffs, though high in comparison with those in use on some of the trunk lines of the East, are lower than the average, and in no respect : once practical aud material appear to be extor- jonate, COMPETITION, ‘The report proceeds to show that the Union Pacific road does not, as is generally supposed, enjoy a practical and very valuable monopoly; tor at the tew points on its line where it finds any business to | speak of it meets competition in some form, and at the many points where it meets no competition it finds no business. ‘Lhese facts alone would prevent the adoption of extortionate rates. The gov- ernment directors tind, however, that, apart from all competition, such does not seem to have been its policy. In the adjustment of its tariff it has eviuced a spirit which they characterize as “at once shrewd, businesslike and mouey making, fully awake to all the advantages of geographical situation and disposed to forego none of them, but rarely oppres- sive withal.”” Nevertheless they are of opinion that as & whole its business policy has neither been fi sighted nor liberal, It hax been, in fac a policy as might naturally be ' expec ni a capable local management anxious for good immecate resuits, but having no conception of any such broad and perhaps statesmanlike views as the directors have endeavored to suggest. Looked upon, however, simply as a feature in the management of a private onterprise, the object of which is to secure the largest immodiite returns at once safe and uot Mnreasonable on its outstanding securities, the pres- ent business policy of the Union Pacific is open to few eritic ‘They illustrate their meaning by several examples, such as the extremely igh rates charged tor the transportation of coal to Utah, wh an abundant coke, for use im smelting operations, would, they arguo, build up a@ profitable traftic tor the Union Pacific Company, Were it sufiiciently liberal and far-sighted to foster the smelting industry by low rates of transportation. The practice of charging higher aggregate rates for transportation to points “on itso line where there is no competition than to competitive its beyond them is a subject of eritici verniment «i- rectors believing there is no er for this action in case of a road circu 8 the Union Pacific now ia, Such a policy of petty diserim- ination, say the government directors, can hardly be decmed otherwise than hacen incousistent with any high sense of public responsibility. EVILS OF “SPECIAL CONTRACTS " In this conviction the government directors severely condemn the * ie" action of the Union ‘ifie road last summer in advancing its rates for igh transportation except to large firms who dd contract to = theit shipments to California pe wholly by move Was made, say the gov- ernment di ors, not by a petty local road, nor by @ peting trunk line, but by a great subsidized continental thoronghfare. As such it might naturaily inferred that it war made only after ample consideration and with the authority of the full Board of Directors. It is, how- ever, a tact singularly ilnetrative of the absence of that sense of public reponsibility in which the policy ot the Union Pacific is now shaped that this measure, which practically put in trons the transcontinental business of the country, wae devised by two freight edinte re- | Above all, a pohey | | paid out of its treasury, and at the san ever before being publicly an- nounced submftted for consideration even to the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors, much leas to the full Board, and was flually put in force, to the utter surprise of the public, on the ver- ‘bal authority, so far as can be ascertained, of the President and a single director, It is unnecessary to comment on sach @ method of corporate ent. It speaks for itself. fean- while, so far as the measure is concerned, the objections to it are apparent. The through business over the Union Paciticis mainly done by large houses, This is natural enough, for such houses cam of course do it most Ceri The measure under discussion, however, made it impos- sible that this business should be done by any but the large houses. hey have special contracts coy- ering it at less than the published tariff rates, More than this, it locks up ip secret trans- actions, which, more than all others, should be public. The special contracts may be equal as between shippers, or they may not. The directors have every reason to believe that they are, but they, none the jess, are lacking in that element of publicity which in such matters will always remain the oue real saceguard against discriminations. GIVE THE PUBLIC SOME BENEETY. ‘The report contains the following interesting p: sage concerning the recently cnacted Funding law :— “Before passing from the consideration of the policy pursued by the Union Pacific in its relations wita the general business public, there are certain matters touching the course which Congress has adopted toward that company which it seems necessary to refer to, From the well known circumstances con- nected with the construction of the roal as well as from the fact that the United States government is its largest creditor, Congress has always been in a position to exercise # krewt if not a controlling influence over it. It might through a conservative aud intelligent public supervision have Geveloped the idea of responsibility in the manage- mnent and compelled the adoption of such a liberal and far-sight policy as tlie directors have en- deavored to suggest. In doing so it would naturally have looked to the increased benefits to be derived from the more rapid development of the country to reimburse the government tor its outlays on the e: terprise rather than to any immediate cash rep: mmeuts out of profits to be derived from a pure mone making system of tariff charges based on hard busi- ness principles, It seems fairly questionable whether by its recent legislation Congress has not committed itself in a certain degree to another and a less liberal course. By the act of May 7, 1878, com- monly known as the Pacific Railway Funding bill, the government would seem to have given its formal approval to the present business policies of both thoxe corporations by insisting on having a share of their results. In the report which accompanied that act the Senate Judiciary Committee very distinctly rest it on the large net earnings of the roads to which it applies, and express ion that those earnings “will be largely increased in the future,’’ and again that they in the future will not be less than they were in the five years, 1872-6. "Those net earnings in part were, however, and if maintained they will in the future continue to be the direct result of that policy on the part of those managing the Union Pacific which the directors in this report have felt it their duty to criticise. ‘The directors have al- ready intimated their belict that the percentage of net earnings (fitty-eight percent) earned by the Union Pacific during” the last three years is con- siderably larger than it should have been. ‘the adoption by the company of a liberal policy a& respects renewals and local business development would unquestionably for some years to come decrease the percentage. The government should, however, for obvious reasons, exert all its influence to that end. Meanwhile, the legislation referred to would seem to sanction the wholly dif- ferent policy in the unnaturally large results of which it is proposed to secure its fair share to the national Treasury. : A SERANGE GOVERNMENT POLICY. ‘The government becomes, in short, one of the prin- cipal bencticiarics trom a system of railroad manage- ment which is, to sey the least, in some respects un- just, in many respects harsh and in nearly all re- spects illiberal to its own gitizens. While the gov- ernment occupies this poMtion it would seem diffi- cult for those who represent it more immedi- ately in the direction of the company to exercise any considerable influence in favor ot & policy more liberal, but less immediately profitable. The govern- ment directors are of opinion that a consolidation of the Union Pacific road with its connect- ing “branch lines” is not now desirable in the public interests, but they recommend “that the companies be compelled to submit their differences on the subject of prorating to the decision of some impartial board of arbitrators. In conclusion, they approve the recommendation of Secretary Schurz for legislation which shall enable the government to cede to the railroad company all the sections of grazing or desert lands on one side of the road and receive from it all the similar sections on the other, in order that each party muy dispose of these iands in large tracts, in which ulonue they are desirable or susceptible of profitable rise by purchasers.” CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS GIVES HIS REASONS FOR RESIGNING AS A DIRECTOR—-ALTOGETHER A DEFECTIVE SYSTEM—HONEST CRITICISM ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. Wasninaton, Jan. 4, 1879. ‘The resignation of Charles Francis Adams, Jr., as one of the government directors of the Union Pacific Railroad has not been accepted, nor has the selection of his successor been considered. As the office is an annual one, and the regular time for the appointment of a new board is only two months distant, it is probable that the vacancy to be created by the acceptance of Mr, Adams’ resignation will be left unfilled till that time. in his letter of resignation addressed to Secretary Schurz Mr. Adams not only states the considera- tions of personal convenience which compel him to resign, but makes some severe and pertinent criti- cisms upon the methods of railroad supervision and control adopted by the government for the protection of its interests, He admits that the Board of Government Directors has almost entirely tailed to accomplish the results which were expected from it, and he assigns his reasons for its failur First—That its members were induced to accept the positions they occupy by cousiderations which did not furnish motives strong enough to insure the thorough and faithtul performance of their du- ties; that they became directors for publ spirited reasons, or “for the honor of the thing,” or for the special privileges conferred upon them in the way of free travel, and not as they should have done for alequate compensation. As a natural sequence they did not give and could not be ex- pected to give the same attention to their duties that they would have considered necessary had they received proper equivalent for the serv which they dored and the responsibilities which they assumed. In order to properly discharge the duties imposed upon a government director one must ive to them his undivided time and attention and jaboriously acquire a full and competent knowledge of all the intricacies of a railroad situation, which is probably as singular as any which exists iv the world, ‘The annual examination of the road tor instance, which the government requires, is itself a task which necessitates a thorough tamil; ity with the details and standards of measurement and construction, and which cannot be properly made at a greater rate of speed than fifty or at one hundred miles a day. Such an inspection of the Union Pacific road, Mr. Adams believes, never has been made; certainly not since he has been a member ot the Board. Ita private per- son or & corporation should induce and eppoint agents to look after his or its interests in the manner adopted by the government, the result, Le declares, would be speedy bankruptey. Second—The position of a government director is made one of additional difficulty and embarrassment by the fact that his compensation comes from the party which must necessarily suffer from the faithful performance of his duty. He is the guest of the cor- poration, lives at ith expense, accepts every possible attention and hospitality from its officers and ix time he is expected to criticise openly and truthfully all its de- fects and shortcomings. As long as this system con- tinnes it is practically inevitable that nothing but services of a purely tormal character can be expected, ‘The active government director is at best only an honorable spy. Mr. Adams then suyi proper course for th what he thinks to be the government to pursue in its deaiings with these railroad corporations, as their creditor, supervisor and supreme law maker, In the first named capacity—viz., as the creditor or business partner of the corporation—the government protects all its interests by means of the government auditorship created by the prosent Congress, which, with the addition of ‘a competent inspector, will be pertectly adapted to the work which it has to do. The supervisory function of the government is of another character, and canjhardly bo made effective unless the tative inthe board of directors nsated im some way which has ud which Mr. Adams is unabi sent. any vee, however, the ma- chinery in thix case must be external to and inde- wndent of the corporation. The position in a pard of directors of one seeking to follow up abuses from the inside will assuredly become so dis- agreesble that he must necessarily proceed under great disadvantages. Finally, thesupreime lawmaking power can be exer. ciaed only by Congress itself, and recent experie seems to indicate that its frequent exercise ts rar fron wy From no point of view, therefore, is there any particular tse for such a piece of machin- ery as the present Board of Union Pacific Directors. Anything possible — to done — through it could » done much . more effectively in other ways, and if it be Sot abot ished entirely it stands in pressing need of im- mediate and thorough reorganization, No matter compose it, nothing of practical value can who re be nably be expected from it in the shape it now STABBED HIMSELF. Officer John McCool, of the Twenty-ninth precinct, late last night, brought to the station house Henry 8. Skelly, who was suffering from asevero stab wound in the breast, inflicted by himself at the liquor store on the corner of Forty-first street and Sixth avenue. Skelly was sent to the New York Hospital, where the wound was pronotnced fatal, the opin- | THE RALEIGH KIDNAPPING. ’ Brother ng. Bonanza O’Brien Still Missi FATHER WINTE'S STATEMENT The Women and the Consumptive Seen in Washington. “UNDER THEIR THUMBS.” [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Raxeicn, N. C., Jan. 4, 1879. As will be seen from the annexed statement of Fa- ther White, of this city, the article in Friday's Henatp was not altogether sensational. The gentleman at whose house Mr, O’Brien was has also given his certificate as to the truth of the letter. Your correspondent had an interview with Mr. O'Brien’s physician this afternoon, but that gentleman declined to give him any points in refer- ence to Mr, O'Brien's condition, stating as his reason that he never speaks of the condition of his patients to outsiders under any circumstances. Father White, | however, gives us a very lucid and forcible view of the matter, and as he states that ae employed the best medical talent in the city, people can draw their own inferences. WHERE 18 O'BRIEN ? O'Brien may bo safely ensconced in New York or Washington, or he may be dead and quietly put awa; without the least suspicion attaching to the inter- ment. We do not believe it possible that he could have made the trip from here to New York, weak and helpless as he was, and now the question is, Where can he be? Who knows where he has been lodged? Is he in New York? or is he in Washington? Mr. O'Brien was well cared for here. He had every com- fort and was perfectly satisfied with his surroundings. He was a good, sensible man; his reasoning tacul- ties were clear as a bell until after the advent of his so-called wife and daughter, when, as strange as it is true, he became restless and uneasy and, finally, was persnaded that it was important for them all to return to New York at once, SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. When questioned by Mr. Waters in reference to the coming of his wife and the estate, he said the pro- gramme had been changed; that he imust go and see about lis money at once, and he seemed to have changed considerably. Mr. Waters told your corre- spondent that he had given Mr. O'Brien the medicines prescribed by the physician regularly until within three days of their departure, when Mrs. O’Brien concluded to give the medicines to him herself. But Mr. Wators says that, instead of giving the prescriptions as di- rected, she gave him all whiskey and eggs. ‘The lady, if indeed his wife, had a perfect right to minister to him, and not only was it right, but it was her duty. But everybody here is not perfectly satisfied that she is his wife. ‘The occupants of the house where Mr. O'Brien was nursed say that the wouan’s actions were very strange, expecially a8 she had come so fur to ave'a husband long lost and assure herself that he was well cared for. But she and her daughter also eluded Father White, Mr. O'Brien's very best friend. What whs all this for? They stirely did not feel ashamed to appear before him, They were well’ dressed and could talk fluently. It would have been his pleasure to help them in'any way becoming a gentleman, especially so since Mr. O’Brien had been under his spiritual care so loug und that they at last had found their long lost husband and father in w strange place and in such a feeble condition. But this was not a part of their programme, it is urged, ‘They wanted to act very quietly. They did not want anybody to know they were in. the city, all of which is, in the minds of many, astrange proceeding. Also it is a very curious thing to notice that Mr. Smith, while in Raleigh, ovaded Father White. Was he afraid of Father White? People think not, for Father White is a perfect gentleman and would have sladty given Mr, Smith all the help und advice in his power. WHY THIS CONCEALMENT? People ask, What 1s their excuse for all this conceal- ment? If they had wanted to wke Mr. O’Brien by common consent they would not have ‘acted so sur- reptitious!y, as Mr. O'Brien had said he never would break his brother's will under any circumstauces. It is clear, then, to many that they had resolved to com- pel him to work in the harness they had made, fit or not. Francisco, and, as will be seen below, Father White has taken the iirst opportunity to inform them of his sudden leaving. Mr. O'Brien, during the war, belonged to a New York regiment and ranked as major. He is fifty-six years old, and has lived to enjoy life to suit his own ideas. To speak of him as a gentlemen would be only to reiterate the opinion of all who know him, WHAT MR. WATERS SAYS. Mr. Waters says, in reference to my despatch pub- lished in the HERALD of the 4th inst. : RALRIG! I hereby cortify th: P. H. O'Brien, who h and twelve days, is ¢ 3. The following is an auswer by Father White to a telegram received by him to-da; To Manta Coueman, Room 16, Calo Suxpiciously taken from here by 1Ns supposed wife and danghter for Washington, D.C. Wrote yesterday to Mr, Coleman all particulars. Auswer. JAMES B. WHITE. FATHER WHITE'S STATEMENT. The following is Father White's statement da Block, San Franci in brief:— Mr. O’Brien was under my spiritual charge for the last seve’ his. siekm asylum where he was employed. stich @ low condition as to prepare him for death, and after thix he rallied, but kept — very sick until Thad him removed to Mr. Waters’ house, where he seemed to grow better daily, until he was able to be about the house, and went out several times with his doctor's permission. At times he suf- about nine mouths ago at the insane fered from spells of asthma and continu- ally with rheumatism and severe coughs, 1 had the best medical men to attend — his rused the state wants. Lesh ae of January 4, I certify that the same, so far as I know, is correct about Mr. P, O'Brien and his myste- rious abdugtion, during my absence from this city, by his supposed wifo and daughter, and have reason to fear that ali is not as weil as it should be, and, therefore, suspect something is wrong. The parties would not wait to see me, as [ was to return in three days, Also Mr. Smith, the lawyer, who came to see O'Brien, declined to see me, knowing that I was the real and siucere friend of O'Brien. He knew, also, that Lwould not allow any suspicious doings around the sick man, THE MYSTERIOUS TRIO WHO ARRIVED AT WASH- INGTON ON A TRAIN FROM RALEIGH—A MAN WITH A CONSUMPTIVE COUGH AND TWO WOMEN WHO TRIED TO SCREEN THEMSELVES FROM THE PUBLIC EYE, (BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD,] Wasninetos, Jan. 4, 1879, The story of the alleged kidnapping of Mr. P. 8. O'Brien, brother of the late Bonanza O’Brien, from the residence of Mr. Waters, at Raleigh, N. ©., is con- tirmed by certain circumstances developed by a visit to the Potomac Railroad station, where Southern trains make a stop on their way tothe North, ‘This morning & representative of the Henatp visited the station, which is situated on Sixth street, near Pennsylvania avenue, and conversed with several railroad men fining on the lines coming to this city from the South, and made inquiry as to whether they hud seen any persons ou their trains answering the description of those charged with having spirited away Mr. O'Brien, A platform hand, a colored man, said he was on the road about December 4, and romembered an emaciated invalid in company with two women occupying a section in the sleeping car of the train = going = north. He thought he understood at the time that they came | fvom Raleigh, The women were very attentive to the man, and frequently gave him something from o tumbler, One of the women was middle aged, and the other considerably younger; they appeared like mother and daughter. WHAT A TRAIN MAN SAW. Another train man said:—“Now that my attention has beon called to these people, I remember seeing & consumptive looking man in the ‘sleeper.’ He was accompanied by two rather good looking women, and I think there was a man also along, but Iam not sure he was with the party, The women looked like mother and daughter. When we got to Petersburg I saw these people again. The sick man was bundied up in shawls and wraps. Nothing but his face was exposed, and that looked like a skeleton Did you see these peoplo after Quantico was BS “No; the confusion created by changing engines at Mr. O'Brien's rich relatives seem to live in San ! r, more or less; was called to him in | IT found him in | | | that point made me forget all about them until we reached Washington, when I looked in the sleeper and there they were. The sleeper the party occupied di remained here long enongh for them to partake of some refreshwents, which they pro- cured at the depot restwurant.”” THE MAN IN THE SLEEPER. A colored man who was stauding on the platform when the train arrived from the South about December 5 or 6, says he heard a man coughing in the sleeper, and it sounded to him like that of 4 per- son who had but ashort time tostay on earth, He looked in the sleeper and saw a man bundied up and two women near him. The women, he said, had a bottle and tumbler fn thetr hands and had evidently given the man a dose from the bottle. Near the poy Was @ cup of coffee or tea and a light sandwich “Whoever the party was,”’ said the man, “they weve im great trouble, and the women, although they looked us if they could go through any amount of worry, showed that they had more on their hands than they were sure of getting through with.” TION OF THE aA ¢ said, had the appearance of being afraid of something, md they would frequently look around the car and ont of the window, as though they expected some person, He thought by their anxiety and restlessness that they expected somebody to meet them here, but since he heard about the kidnapping he believed they were the women who kidnapped Mr. O'brien, and that the man in the sleeper with them was that gentleman. A NEGRO'S 1 MONY. Another colored man, who was on. the platform at the depot at the same time, said he saw the two women and the sick man in the sleeper. The women’s appearance indicated that they had the man under their control. To use his negro dialect, “Dey had dat man under deir thumbs, and he had no show at all.’””. He betieved when he first saw the man that he was dying, but when he looked again at him he found that he was suffering terribly with consumption and coughing very hard. The women,. he said, did not like his looking in the sleeper, and they gave him # hint with their eyes to go aw He obeyed, and left the vicinity of the car. He thought the women intended doit the man some harm, aud seemed y disturbed about him. ‘on see the car the party was in leave the the darky replied, “and heard dat poor fellow coughing when de train’ moved out. My heart ached for him,” Did you tell anybody about te depot what you “What did you say? “T told them that 1 had seen @ man who had but a few hours more to live, and that two wo: ing him off, and one of the boys ask meait the man who had the graveyard cough, who was in the sleepe “Did any of the form see the party “Some of them did, but all of them heard him coughing. Weare used to seeing sick people on the trains, and dead people, too; but in this case, seeing hii bundled up and coughing so terribly, our atten- tion was attracted to him. A boy, who is in the employ of the news company and seils papers on the trains, suys he saw in the sleeper a sick man and two women. The women were very attentive to the,man. It is surmised that the party did not New York, but stopped at Baltimore. her men working about the plat- go through to ROBBED IN THE STREET. Ina police news item, published in the HERALD of the 2d inst., it was stated that Cornelius McAuliffe and George Morris had been arrested by the police on complaint of John Edwards and held on the charge of highway robbery. In justice to the two young men it may be stated that when brought before Judge Flanamer next morning, after undergoing a judicial examination, they were honorably discharged trom custody. CILY NEWS ITEM Georgia Kemper, aged seventy-two, of No. 1,537 Second avenue, fell down stairs yesterday und re- ceived a severe scalp wound. He was attended by Dr. Becker ut his residence. The nine Tammany members of the Board of Alder- men for 1879 held a caucns yesterday afternoon and resolved to vote for Mr. William R. Roberts for Presi- dent and Mr. James Walsh for Sergeant-at-Arms. No other business was transacted. Collector Merritt was yesterday informed by the Treasury Department that “from and after February 1, 1879, no deliveries of goods in bond to vessels of any description which are not covered by bonds of com- mon carriers will be permitted.” A letter was received yesterday by Postmaster James trom Mr. Jamex A. Roosevelt, secretary of the Roosevelt Hospital, informing him that six beds had been set apart for the use of the members of the Post Office Mutual Ald Association in cage of their illness. John Smith, of No, 144 Cherry strect, stated in the Tombs Court yesterday that on the night before he had been assiulted and robbed of $9 on the prem- isca No. 333 Water street. Patrick Connolly, who was accused of the offence, was required to give $1,500 bail for trial. Officer Nealis, of the Seventeenth precinct, on Friday evening arrested a young man named James Connors ona charge of intoxiedtion. When he was searched at the station a slungshot was found in his pocket. He was held in $500 yesterday by Justice Kilbreth on ucharge of carrying concealed Weapons. Coroner Woltman yesterday empanelled a jury in the case of Catharine Dennedy, who died yesterday at the Roosevelt Hospital from injuries supposed to have been inflicted at the hands of her husband. Judge Flammer@ntends to investigate the case be- fore the Coroner. ‘This action of the magistrate will undoubtedly revive the old feud between the coroners and magistrates. Smith D. Bellows, of Essex, Conn., a passenger on the steamer City of Hartford, which arrived here last evening, expired while the’ vessel was being made fast to her pier at the foot of Beekman street. An autopsy of the body showed that death had resulted from palpitation of the heart. Mr. Bellows has two sons in business in this city, and they were notified of his death, as were also his family at Essex, J. M. Mortimer, onve the manager of the Mortimer Variety Theatre, of Philadelphia, was yesterday arraigned before Judge Otterbourg, at the Tombs Police Court, on a charge of insanity. He was found wandering through Mulberry street by un officer of the Fourteenth precinct. Mortimer's wife was sent for and took her husband home. He was at one time wealthy, and the loss of his money is said to have affected his brain. Detective Haggerty, of the Tenth precinct, yester- day brought before Judge Kilbreth, at the Essex Mar- ket Court, Charles Bauer, sixteen years old, who was Wolters, of No. 79'; Bowery, with g stolen a ring valued at $125 from her apart- ments on Christmas evening. Baner when arraigned gave information which led to the arrest of Julius and Albert Court, father and son, on the charge of re- ceiving the stolen property, Bauer and Albert Court were held for trial, the former in $1,000 and the latter in $500 bail. SUBURB Frederick Morse, alias Frederick Barnett, has been committed to jail in default of $5,000 bail, by United States Commissioner Whitehead, of Newark, the, | charge against him being that of uttering counterfeit’ trade dollars. C. E, Van Valkenburg, who was arrested in Brook- lyn afew days since, charged with obtaining money under false was tried before Judge Walsh, of that ci and discharged from want of sufficient evidence to convict him, The referee appointed to take testimony in the matter of the suit tor divorce brought in the Supreme Court, Kings county, by George W. Davis against Anna Aurciia Davis, has concluded his labors and yesterday presented his report to Judge Pratt in favor of the plaintiff. Jndge Pratt, Supreme Court, Kings county, ren- dered a decision yesterday in the mutter of the Cou- nersville Company ys. the Chamberburg Woollen Company, granting the motion to set aside $70,000, in the hands of defendants’ assignee, as a fund to pay judgments. Several tramps, who were committed last week by magistrates at Tarrytown and Portchester to the Westchester County’ Jail, were most horribly frost bitten while en route to that place. Although they arrived there on Friday afternoon they had received uo attention as late as noon yesterday, Samuel Pine, of Portebester, has been arrested in connection with a burglary committed at the house of W, D Slawson, the indictment found against him charging him with being an accessory before the fact. Quite recently Pine was’ indicted and tried on this same charge, but was acquitted through a techni- eality. A bill will be presented to the State Legislature, at Alba ye 18 few weeks’ time, to consolidate the Rrooklyn Departinent of Arrears and. the Bureau of Water ‘Rates with the Tax Collection Department, Collector Tanner says that $30,000 or more could be saved the taxpayers by consolidating the bureaus named, Sarah Mott, the colored woman who was run_o on the Long 4 Railroad, near Roslyn, last Tu day, while she lay in « fit and had one leg cut off and one shoulder dislocated, was dying yesterday after- noon. She has had # fit almost hourly since th accident, so that it has been impossible to subject her and the wounds to proper treatment. In 1870 the trustees of Jones’ Institute, North Hempstead, L. 1, took a mortyage for $4,000 on the property of George Hammond, giving him $4,000 in six per cont Brooklyn bonds instead of the money. Hammond has brought suit to set aside the mortgaye on the ground of usury, alleging that he was unable to realize the fave of the bonds us it was represented that he could, i Catharine M, Wood, of disputed with her husban in which they lived toge brought suit to eject ht Judge Pratt, who on Friday filed hig aecision. ov Huntington, L. 1, having 1, George C., left the house and, claiming to own it, The case was tried “ta 6 decides that Mrs, Wood is the owner of a life interest | in the estate, free from the control and interterence of her husband, who must vacate in her favor, William H, Sullivan and Lewis Cork, living at Sand Hill, about four miles from Bordentown, N. J., had a dispute on Friday morning, which ended in an ex- change of blows.” Sullivan was being worsted when he drew a razor and cut his ndversary several times. ‘One of the cuts was made with such force that the keen cdge of the razor blade entered Cork's right lung. ‘Lhe wounded man, it is thought, camuot re- cover. Sullivan made good his escape. 7 ATHLETES IN WINTER. Winding Up the Great Meeting at Gilmore’s Garden. ae uns CLOSELY CON ee ‘TED GAMES, The mercury having gone up afew degrees, the attendance at (rilmore’s Garden last evening, to wit ness the closing events of the winter meeting of the New York Athletic Club, was enormous. Between five und six thousand were present at some period of the proceedings, fully one-third being ladies. The arrangements were excellent and the sports of a very high class. SEVENTY-PIVE YARDS. "The final heat of the handicap seventy-five yarda run opened the ball. Five came upon their marks, and the winner was found in George E. Payne, Astoria A, C., 6!; yards start, in 8 sec.; A. Noel, Short Hills A. C., 5 yards, finished second, and A. B. Wilson, Carman R. ‘o yards, third. Much inter- est was centred this dash, and the winner’: in name being annnounced to the audience there were hearty cheers, BICYCLE RACE, The trial heats of the two mile bieycle race fol- lowed, Three came to the starting points with their machines, these being James Nolan, New York; R Van Nest, New York, and William R. Pitman, Boston Mass, Nolan retired on the figth lap. Van Nest showed the wayfor 4 mile or more, when Pitman assumed command and won as he pleased in 10m. 58s. Van Nest’s time was 11m. 228, Four started in the second heat. These were Joseph Lafon, Mystic B. ©; W. Addison, Ravenswood, L. I.; 8. B. Pomeroy, Manhattan A. C., and William M. Wright, New York. The latter was protested on the ground of having ridden for money against Stanton, the English champion, when he was in this country. The men rode hard at each other, but, notwithstanding all efforts made, Wright went to the front and, stay- ing there, crossed the winning line in Lm, 05148. Luafon second in lim. 36s. The final heat brought out Lafon, Pitman and Wright. Intense excite- pervaded the house during the prog- ot the race. Lafon, who rides very prettily, took the lead ‘and kept it in masterly style for fifteen laps, when Wright spurted on even terms, and then coming down the straight for the lust ‘time rode very fust and passed the post the winner in Ym. 51s. Lafon eased up the last forty yards, but was a yood second, Pitman came home very quietly th SEVENTH REGIMENT TUG OF WAR. ‘The second trial pulls of the regimental tug of war vere announced amid cheers, The heats were drawn It w by the captains of the teams just before pulling. Was thus arranged that the teams of “B" and “K’ ¢ panies should first come together, then “Baud “C,” finally “K” and “C. ime, of course, was given the teams be- tween the pulls, the last tug of the cit- izen soldiery gnot being called until nearly the end of the programme. ‘The team of “B” company had no difficulty in defeating the team of “K” company, as when they had fully entrenched themselves, hauled “K” over in handsome form. Time, Lin. 468, Then “B” and “C”’ met. So soon as the pistol started them, there were a Aundred voices yelling to the men from all parts of the garden. .The boys of “C’’ company were finely disciplined, and obeying all commands in tine shape, it took them just 451, seconds to defeat their opponents, “Sis! Boom! Ah!”’ was heard from about two hundred lads of the Seventh, who were stationed on the Twenty- sixth street side of the building. Then came the tinal pull. It was between the teams of “c" and “K." It seemed to be the opinion of almost everybody that “© would pull “K’’ 80 quickly that, in the words of one anxious youth, “She'll make head swim.”” Though “C’’ did do the work, and did it neatly, it required 2m, 204s. to pull “K” all in a heap, and the galient fight made by the latter was heartily ap- plauded, though they were defeated. President Hynes, of the N.Y. Athletic Club, presented the winning team with the coveted prize, a magnificent stand of colors. The winning tuggers are Waldo Sprague, captain; C. H. Bruel, James Walden, John Gillies, James C. Gillies and J. E. McNicol. FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY YARDS. ‘The final heat of the handicap dash of 440 yards was then called, Five responded. ‘The pace was hot from start to finish. W. R. Hewett, American A. C., 35 yards start, soon disposed of those in front of him, and remained there to the end, though L, E. Myers, Knickerbocker A. C., 15 yds., hunted him keenly, and secured second honors. Both these men run themselves to a standstill, and, falling upon the track, were helped to their dressing room. Hewett’s time was 56 2-5 seconds. P. H.G. Bissell, New York, 34 yds., was third; Henry (. Rommeil, ‘Triton B.C., 10 yds., fourth, and Ralph Voorhces, Green- point A. C., 18 yds., fifth INTERNATIONAL TUG OF WAR. Three professional teams responded in the interna- tional tug of war. They were designated the Irish team of New York, the Irish team of Greenpoint, and the American team (lightermen) of Greenpoint. “Do you call them fellows Americans ?”” asked ‘a youngster, looking at the, names; of the lightermen, ‘‘why, I'll bet every one of them was born beyond Fastnet light.” His gness was no nearly correct, a hearty laugh followed the remark. The drawing determined that the lightermen should first pull the Irish team from Greenpoint. It took the lightermen only 351; seconds to do the job very neatly. Then the lightermen met the Irish team from New York. The latter, under command of Wilson Reid, hauled the former over the ground as they would a hogshead of molasses, and won as they liked in 23% seconds, Finally the Irish team of New York taced the Irish team of Greenpoint, and then there was really @ tug of war. Each man dug for himself deep footholes, and it required superhuman strength to dislodge either side. At last the Greenpointers obtained the bulge on their opponents, and little by little pullea them along the ground. When within three inches of victory for the Greenpointers the mark on the rope could be got no further. The men of New York laid down to their work, shut their mouths, and, with a deathlike grip, mentally said, “Stick there!” and “stick there’ it did until the time had expired. Under the rules of the team havmg the advantage when time was called the Greenpointers were de- clared the victors. The captain of the winning five after the announcement went deliberately up to James McKillop, a member, who was the “anchor” at the end of the rope and said, “I thank you for this, Mister McKillop!” ONE-MILE WALK. ‘The final heat of the one-mile walk, open to those who never beat Sm. 3Us., then took place. W. O'Keefe, Yorkville A. C., ultimately won in Sm. 14 3-58. J. W. Adams, Newark, N. J., was a capital second, and dames Cameron, Young Men's Christian Association, third. Seven started. TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY YARDS HURDLE. ‘or this event Arthur W. Anderson, New York A. C., ofght yards start, and William H. Douglas, New York, scratch, only started. Anderson led all the Peet won a good race by two yards in 35 2-5 seconds. There were ten hurdles, each u Ct. 6 in. high, TWO-MILK WALK. The walking handicap of two miles brought out eighteen aspirants for pedestrian honors. Much en- thusiasin was manifested at the starting of the group. William O'Keefe, Yorkville A, 40 seconds start, and the winner of the one mile walk, showed another good performance, and won in i7m. 2,8., actual time. George W. ‘Sammis, Brooklyn Gymnasium, finished second right on the heels of O'Keefe, but was disqualified for repeated violations ot tair_ heel and toe business. This disqualification e Frank Lane, New York, second place, and H. Windsor A. C., third position. ‘The lat- ter is a mere youth, not more than sixteen years ot age, but he promises to be a pedestrian of no mean order. He was thought good sh to be placed om the scratch, and if his strength had been equal to the task, there are strong reasons for believiug that he had good chances of winning. HALP-MILE RON. Twenty-one started in the handicap run of half a mile. It was hotly _ contested all the way, and M. Fils, Jr, Scottish. American A, C., 60 yards start, a it clean out, landed the first prize in good form; Henr: Rommel, Triton B. C., 28 yards, was second, ani T. K. Hastings, New York, 38 yards, third, Winner's time, 2m. 124s. AMATEUR TUG-OF-WAR, ‘The amateur tug-of-war closed the successful exhi- bition and closed it amid deafewing cheers. The final pull was between the long victorions Scottish. American team and the Empire City Gymnasium team, | Many bets were quietly made at the rate of three to one on the Scots. A more magnificent lot of fellows than those that composed the Scottish team were seen. Healthy, muscular, determined and con- it, they went into ti ttle. ‘They met men just as determined, though perhaps not so confident, victory alone gives great confidence. In six mimutes the Empires had hauled the ten stalwart Seots fully five feet, and there to the end of the fifteen minutes allowed they stuck. Do what they may the Scots could not budge the rope an inch, and though a thousand crics of encouragement and entreaties Were heard by them, the crack of the pistol proclaimed the Empires the winners, The defeat of the Scots was a sore blow, but they worked manfully and made the randest effort on record, but it was fruitless, ‘here were ten men on each side, The names of the champion amateur team are:--James Me- Carthy in; Augustus Schneider, George Barry, Clarence in, William Payton, James Coughlin, John Mew » George Muilen, John Jennings, ‘Thomas McLoughlin, coting were:—Ref eree, William R. Travers; judges, General Danie) Buttertield; Charles F. Fearing, Robert ©, Cornell, Captain William Casey, Hermann Qvlrichs, Jonn Whipple, Thomas W. White; time keepers, — D, lenry Kuowlton, Alfred it. Curtis, Charles HK. Peirce, Richard Meares, revs, John H. Steal, Knight L. Clapp, Clarence ®. Jobnson; William “A. Bartlett; starter, Albert H. Wheclot: clerk of the course, Edward Roehuer; eee os & ik ae Rate porne; handicapper, Cornelius A, 3 mar. shal, Ralph L. Newton, wy