The New York Herald Newspaper, January 12, 1879, Page 7

= THE TAMMANY. SOCIETY, Its Origin and Its Past and Present History. WHAT IT HAS DONE. Its Leading Spirits and Its Power in Local Affairs, A LIVELY SOGTY NINETY YEARS OLD, The legendary lore, so called, that fanciful writers have thrown around the mythical Indian Chief by the name of Tammany is not worthy of serious no- tice, There seems to have been, in William Penn's days, an Indian chief named Tamanend, with whom @nd others Penn made treaties; but no fair relation of facts can make @ famous man of this Indian, It is said that ‘Trumbull, the author of *McHingall,” was the originator of the name St. Tammany, and that ‘saint’ was put to obscure vld Tamanend’s name to ridicule the propensity of the people for “saints,” such as St. George, St. Denis, St. Andrew, St. David and other foreign saints, who already gave names to societies in the pew land of liberty. And so St, Tammany was canonized--in the political index. FORMATION OF THE socTErY, Washington was inaugurated President at the old City Hall (where the Sub-Treasury now stands), at ‘Wall and Nassau streets, on the 30th of April, 1789, ‘Two weeks afterward the ‘‘St. Tammany Society, or Independent Order of Liberty” (for that was its original name), was organized, and its existence was thus announced :— ‘This being an American society, consists of native ‘born, who fill all offices, and adopted Americans, who are eligible to the posts of warrior and hunter. The officers are one Grand Sachem, twelve sachems, one secretary and one doorkecper. The officers. for the poco year are:—William Mooney, Grand Sachem; illiam Matlack, brewer; Philip Hone, carpenter; John Burger, goldsmith; Jouathan Pierce, tavern weper ; omas Greenleaf, printer; James Tylee, in- ctor of leather; John Campbell, grocer; Gabriel ‘urman, corker; Abel Butcher, Oliver Glean and Joseph Goodwin, sachems; ‘Thomas Ash, chairmaker, treasurer; Anthony Ernst, secretary; Garduer Baker, shoemaker, doorkecper. ‘There are no great men in this list, and few to be Temembered at all, Mooney was himself of Jrish descent, so there must have been some power behind him or he would not have excluded naturalized cit- izens from holding office. [We believe that restric- tion still continues,) Mooney was an upholsterer, then keeper of a porter house and finally Keeper of the Almshouse, which position he filled when he died. He was active in the Society, and its Grand Bachem, for more than thirty years. WAS AARON BURR THE MAN? It has been supposed that the real founder of the ‘Tammany Society was Asron Burr, who was so inti- mute with Mooney as to owe him several large bills for upholstery. It is also believed that the socicty ‘was meant to counteract the aristocratic Society of the Cincinnati, of which Washington was the head, and all the members of which were from the army or navy. Subsequent events showed that the Tammany people were in favor of Burr and bitterly opposed to Hamilton. BIG GUNS COMING IN. It was not long before the society started by shoe_ makers and carpenters attracted the attention of other classes, and among its early members we find the eminent lawyer, Josiah Ogden Hoffman. He was immediately followed by such men as Cadwallader C. Colden, John and RoVert Swartwout, Benjamin Ro_ maine, Judah Hammond, Melancthon Smith, Stephen Allen, Clarkson Crolius, Napthali Judah, Walter Bowne, Johu Targee, Peter Sharpe and others who were or who soon became magnates in the repub- lican (subsequently democratic) party. “IMPROVING ITS NAME, In its second year the name of the socicty was moditied by dropping “Sons of Liberty.” It was proposed to substitute “Order of St. Columbus,” but the discoverer was a foreigner, and so for a time St. Tammany was continued; but not long atter the “st.” was dropped, and at last the socicty got # legal pume in the act of incorporation, passed in 1805; that name was and now is ‘‘The Tammany Society or Columbian Order’’’ EARLY MERTINGS, The society firet met at Barden’s City Tavern, in Broadway; then at Martling’s “Long Boom,” in an old wooden building whore the Tract House now stands, corner of Nassau and Spruce streets—a place contemptuously called “The Pig Pen.” There was ® carouse after each session, and songs were sung, beer drank and pipes smoked. Fitz Greene Halleck barrel of porter in Tammany Mall, cktuils are swigxing ft all the ight long. In the days of my youth ‘twas a pl ire to call For # seat and a pipe 'mid the jovial throng. REAL INDIANS IN THE WIGWAM. In order to be unmistakubly native American the ‘Tammany Society was divided into tribes, each headed by asachem. Each of the thirteen original States represented @ tribe, and was named after some lunal. | New York was the Eagle, tribe, New Hanip- ire the Otter, Mas#achusetix the Panther, Rhi Island the Beaver, Connecticut the Bear, Now Jersey ‘the Tortoise, Penusylvania the Rattlesnake, Delaware the Tiger, Maryland the Fox, Virginia the Deer, North Carolina the Buffalo, South Carolina the Raccoon and Gcorgia the Wolf. When # momber was initiated he indicated what tribe he would join. In its carly the society formed in such tribes,-and ap- in ‘Indian costume, with bows and arrows, mahawks and knives. é Soon after the society was organized about thirty rominent chiefs of the Creek Indians, led by Alexan- t McGillivray, @ halt-breed, visited President Wash- ington (the federal government was then in this city), and before they left the real Indians were entertained by the bogus men of ‘Tammany. When the Creeks entered the Wigwam they saw, as they supposed, some of their own people, and raised a whoop of joy that made the bogus Indians turn ale. ‘The Crecks sung and danced tor joy; Wm. Pitt mith, the Grand Sachem, male # speech to them; the calumet was smoked and the waters of the great spring duly sampled, after which the whole crowd it to the Park Theatre. At this carouse were # men as Governor George Clinton, Chief Justice John day, Mayor James Duane and Secretary of Siate ‘Thomas Jefferson. Before the Creeks went home they concluded a treaty with Washington, whom they called the “Chief of the Thirteen Fires,” allud- ing to the thirteen tribes they had seen represented in the Tammany Society. In its second year the society established a museum for collecting and preserving things relating to the history of the country. ‘The Common Council gave oom in the City Hall, and Gardner Baker took charge. This collection formed the beginuing of Beudder’s Museum, and Scudder’s was the beginsing of the American Museum, which for so many years occupiea the of the present H&eBALD office. ‘was on the second ‘Monday of April, aud they took their places # month aiterward, when there was 4 ie, generally a arch to some garden or tavern out of town, a din- nef, speeches, Xc., and sometimes fireworks at night. For a long time the people observed these parades as they did any other holiday. There were special at- tractions at the theatre, and ono feature that gave immense satisfaction to young America was the Durning on the Common (City Hall Park) of a stuffed figure representing Benedict Arnold. The society was for many years very particular in the ob- aervance of the Fourth of July and Evacuation Day, though it never paid attention to Washington's Birth- day nor the other holidays, of course excepting its own, POLITICAL ACTION. It does not outwardly appear that the Tammany ppg mgr ogres san justitation. Peay iu OHO 8 spirit was intense and party war- fare flerce aha Buster. ‘What we now call bot fights ye have seemed aa recoaete * aw be oe end i» abuse heaped nb George Washington could not in these days find’ vont in avy respectable news- River. though directed to some modern Arnold. ‘he who made the Tammany Society could it out of politics; no one could in those In Sofferson and Burr wero candidates for bg A year before the federalists carried New York city by @ large majority. In 1800 ‘went in strong for Burr, captured the city from the federalists, and produced a tie in the Electoral Col- lege Letween Jefferson and Burr. Jetlerson was tually chosen Madey House of Representatives. It ‘was in this election that 7 ‘was first charged with “ways that wore dark. ere Was a Property gualttion jon for voters in this State, but all ‘owners of real estate” could vote. It is charged that Temmany men (some ay the suciety as a body) furnished money to bu; Fourth and one in the Fi rat one had (at the polls) uo less than seventy-one “owners of Feal estate,” and consequently yotors, while the other had thirty-nine. Among the young men who were made voters in this peculiat manner and wh ward became fain were Daniel D. Tom; evnor of the State, and Vice President itic! tiv famous Kecorder; William P, Yau Noss, two houses, one in the ward. The NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JANUARY 12, 1879.—QUADRUPLE SHEET. Henthell, Edward Ferris, Robert Swartwout, Jobn L. Broome and Tunis Wortman, Clerk of the Common ‘ouncil. It is further recorded that Alexander Hamilton saw the rapidly growing power of this secret so- ciety, and was in favor of meeting it with a counter organization, for which he drew a plan; but nothing came of it, unless it be true, as alleged, that Hamil- ton inspired the raph in Washington's Fare- | well AAdvess. in Mulch a ere is a wi against secret 01 izations. After election of Jefferson the old federal party became pretty effectually prostrated, and then @ division arose im the democratic (republican) party, between the friends of Clinton, Chancellor Livingston and Colonel Bu The latter was accused of part dis- loyalty, and Colonel John Swartwout detended him, getting into a dispute with Clinton, which led toa duel, in which Swartwout got lamed for lite. De Witt Clinton was an oe member of Tammany, and atone time scribe of the council; but he was also early at war with the regular Tammanyites, and the ene was long and bitter. Daniel D. Tompkins was the republican candidate for Governor in 1808, and he soon became a man of mark. The duel with Hamilton was the political funeral of Burr, ond the trial for treason took him forever out of the way. In_ 1810 Lieu- tenant Governor Broome died aud De Witt Clinton were nominated by members of the Legislature to fill his place. Tammany opposed him because of his “ ition, untempered by houesty; his lukewarm, ness toward Madison, his eleyenth-hour support of the embargo,” &c. Meetings and counter meetings were held, and scenes of violence were enacted such as were afterward common in Tammany Hall. In 1811 Clinton got the vote of this State for President in spite of the opposition of the Tammany Society; but Madison was re-elected President, and the repul licans kept the national power. THE PINST HALL—WaR WITH ENGLAND. On the 13th of May, 1811, the Society was out in full Indian costume, and Grand Sachem Clarkson Crolius laid the corner stone of the first Tammany Hall (now the Sun office), An oration was spoken by Alpheus Sherman. The first hall was a plain bric! building, of three stories, with a steep roof. Subse- uently another story was added and the roof made jut. ‘The ballroom was long famous as the best dancing floor in the city. It is needless to say that during the war with Eug- land the members of Tammany were intensely patri- otic. They had made some fame in this way 4 few years before, when they gathered the scattered bones of the prison ship martyrs, and, with formal cere- monies, put them in a tomb near the Navy Yard, in Brooklyn. The tomb has been removed, but its corner stone long bore the following inscription :— “In the name of the spirits of the departed free—sacred to the memory of that portion of Atnerican seam soldiers and citizens why perished on bourd of the p ships of the Bri Yallabout during the Revol of the yault erected by th jan Order, which contains the duek- Nassau Is! Bisth, of the pendence the ‘April 6, 1808,” For this ceremony the members of the society, with more than a hundred veterans of the Revolution for pall bearers, headed by Samuel Osgood and Henry Rutgers, crossed the river in thirteen row- bouts. each boat holding one tribe and one coftin filled with bones, AFTER THE WAR. When the unpleasantness with England was over parties took somewhat different positions, The fed- eralists were less formidable, though among them re some very able leaders. Clinton's friends man- aged generally to help the federalists, in which cases the Tammany men would be in a decided minority. Clinton never spared his Tammany enemies. When he became Governor he turned out every Buck- tuil place-holder that he could reach; just as he did when his friends got control of the Common Council of this city and he was Mayor, The fight against Clinton by the Tammany Society went on, with no success worth not » Until the great Governor dropped dead in his chair in the Capitol at Albany, on the 11th of February, 1828, It is a fact that looks somewhat queer in these days that in 1819 the ‘Lammuny Society was in favor of a protective tariff and sent an address to that effect to several prominent men aud to the newspapers. Resolutions were also passed in favor of homespun for clothes in preference to imported cloth. TAMMANY'S GREAT HERO, On the %6th of September, 1827, the Tammany So- ciety, through the General Committee, came out tor General Jackson, and ever thereafter claimed the honor of first nominating him. At any rate, “Old Hickory” never had more ardent supporters than the big and little Indians of the Nassau Street Wigwam. He was, and is 7, their hero, and their highest en- thusiasim was got up on the Sth of January to cele- brate the anniversary of a battle that was really of not the slightest consequence, as it was fought some weeks after the full peace treaty was signed, ENLARGING THE VOTE. The State constitution of 1821 first decreed univer- sal suffrage for whites, and, as may be supposed, that idea was pleasing to the Tammany Society. That society claimed to be the poor man’s friend, and an extension of suffrage would bring votes to the Wig- wam. ‘Lo the Convention that framed the new con- stitution New York city sent several members of ‘Tammany. The delegates were as follows :—Jacobus Dyckman, Ogden Edwards, James Fairlie, John L. Lawrence, William Paulding, Jacob Radcliffe, Nathan Sandford, Peter Sharpe, Peter Stagg, Peter H. Wen- dover and Henry Wheaton. . SOME OF THE BIG INDIANS. It is only necessary to name sume of the more eminent members of the Tammany Suciety to in- dicate what real and probable power they held as citizens and party leaders. Of Grand Sachems some were Walter Bowne, Mayor of the city; Mathew L. Davis, the “Old Boy in bat Clarkson Crolius, the well known Alderman; Elijah F. Purdy, the “War Horse of the Democracy ;"’ Mordecai M. Nowh, editor and judge; Shivers Parker and Robert B. Boyd, well known politicians; Postmaster Fowler, Goy- ernor oftman, Lorenzo B. Shepherd the able lawyer, William D. Kennedy, commander of the ‘‘lammany regiment,” in the late war; James Conner, Judge Waterbury and Augustus Schell. Of other eminent names are Stephen Alien, Jacob Bar- ker, Nathaniel Bloodgood, John M. Bloodgood, Cor- nelius 8. Bogert, Mathew T. Brennan, a Barnard, Isaac Bell, George Clinton, Jr.; Henry L, Clinton, George W. Clinton, De Witt Clinton, Stephen and Churchill C. Cambreleng, Sheriff Conner, Treasurer John J. Cisco, General John Cochrane, Mayor Cooper, Cadwallader C. Colden, Governor Dix, Daniel E. Del- avan, Judge Donohue, Mayor Ely, or Guuther, Jesse Hoyt, Judah ond, anuel Hart, Governor Hoffman, Mayor Hall, Josiah Ouden Hoffman, Thomas Hertell, John T. Irving, Comptroller Kelly, Robert Kelly, Brockholst Liv- ingston, Jobn McKeon, Hugh Maxwell, Dr. Samuel L. Mitchell, John Pintard, Recorder Riker, Mayor Radcliffe, Sheriff Reilly, Philip Schuyler, John and Robert Swartwout, Levi D, 1m, Edward San- ford, Peter Sharpe, Melancthon Smith, Governor Tompkins, Governor Tilden, Mayor Tiemann, John Turgve, Dougias Taylor, Judge Uishoefter, Pierre C, Van Wyck, William Pitt Van Ness, John Van Buren, Mayor’ Varian, Gulinp C. Verplanck, Mayor Wester: velt, MayoggWood, Peter H. Wendover, Marinus Willett, r Wickham, &c.; but these are but a beginning. Look over the civil list and the Common Council manual and those named will be found in all legisla- tive positions, from Asvyistant Alderman to United States Senator; in the Assembly, in the State Senate, in the special convention and Congress. In the executive branches a8 governors and mayors; in the judicial departments ail the way up to chancellors. Especially in the legislation and government of our own State the Tammany Society. through its ablest ‘members, has had great influcnce since the beginning of the century. THE TAMMANY SOCIETY AT HOME. it ix, of course, in the city of New York that this society has exercived the most of its power. It was hardly @ match tor Clinton in the State, but in local aifairs its force has always been potent. The first Common Council elected after the beginning of the society had two or three Tammany mn on its roll, When Radcliffe and Colden and Alien were mayors, and the renowned Riker was Recorder, the Society was largely represented in ‘the From 1824 to 1s34 the Jacksonian domocrats—thut ix, Yammany men—kept the upper hand in nearly all the charter clectious. In 1834 the amended charter gave the clectio Mayor to the people. Coruelius W. Lawrence the regular democratic candidate and Gulian C. jlanck his whig opponent. lunck was & nem ber of Tammany, but whether Lawrence was we do not know—probvably he was. ‘The society favored Lawrence, and he was elected by a small majority. He was rechosen in 1535 and 1806 without serious opposition. ‘About this tise the native American party grew up and was strongly opposed by the Tammany Society and democrats generally, In 1#3T the democracy wax morahzed and the whigs and natives clocted Aaron Clark, He was re-clected the next yoar; but in 1s the democrats beat him with Isaac Varian, 4 member of the society. Vartan was chosen in 1s over J. Philips Phanix, and the next «pring Robert Morris, the Recorder, was chosen, also over Phoenix, by ® small plurality. He was Mayor for three yeur Jacksonian democrat, but not a Tam- many Society member. Li the incantime the natives had yained largely, and in 1844 thoy triumpuantly elected James Harper. In 1845 they went down, and William 2’, Mavemeyer, not an Indian, was elected. He was followed by An drew H. Mi the tobacconist, and Mickle by Will- jam V. Brady, silversmith and whig. Brady was beaten im 1848 by Havemeyer. In 1849 the whixs chose Caleb 8. Woodhull, and in 1450 (in November, former clections had been in April) — th elected Ambrose C. Kingsland over Fernando Wood. Mayors now held for two — years. In 1802 Jacob G, Wostervelt, & member of Tammany, was chosen over Morgan Morgans, whig. Fernando came up again in 1854, with three oppo- nents—James W. Barker, native; John J. Herric whig, and Wilson G. Hunt, municipal reform. Wood. it should be said, was a momber of the ‘Tammany Society. The vote was:—Wood, 19,03; Barker, 18,053; Hunt, 16,386; Hevrick, 6,712. ‘The whigs yen- erally voted tor Bar’ Wood was re-elected in 1536, ‘The tine of voting changed to Decomber, and (in 1807) Daniel F. Ticinan, # Tammany member, beat his Indian brother Fernando by 2,300 majority. Wood was successful again in 1859, but in 1461 was defeated by C. Godfrey Gunther, who was likewise a member, ‘The hall of the Twmmany Society had be common W the heatlquartors of the demo: party, but it wax not until Fernando Wood un- Bertook to yet control of the ty machinery that tho sachenis promulgated the law that to be “regu- lar’ the conventions of the party must be held in Temuany Hall, with the consent of the Tammany Society, Fernando tried to capture the old society by getting in new members; but he failed, was put out in the cold, sturted his party elsewhere, got up the secret society of Foresters (which was « shortlived failure) and played the mischief with the old crowd generally. They had pot known suc! < shake up since the days of Clinton. In 1461 Wood made a gallant ight for tue Mayor's chair, but Gun- / ther carried off most of the Tammany votes and George Opdyke, republican, got in. Fernando then ab nal local strife, soon after Went to Congress and is there now. . ‘The sorriest experience of the old Tammany §o- ciety was with Tweed, He, wainly through the in- difference of the quiet members, captured the Em | machinery, and how he ran it we all know. Throug the efforts of Governor Tilden, Comptroller Kelly, Charles O’Conor and others Tweed’s gang were ousted, and Augustus Schell, the present Grand Sachem, puton the toga, It is hardly necessary to into details of te events. We may add that ‘ayor Ely adds one more to the members of the ‘Tammany Society who have kept warm the Mayor's chair, EXVEND OF MEMBERSHIP. Soon after the war with Great britain the Tam- many Society had over three thousand menbers. ‘There are not more than eight hundred now, and a large proportion of these pever come to the meet- ings. In the most exciting contests the vote has never risen tofour hundred, Usually from seventy-five to one hundred ma, po ncon as she regular meetings: ta 1851 or 1852 the old society had only fifty-nine active members, and the greatest care was taken in ad- mitting candidates, as the intention was to keep the society about as it then stood. But there soon caine divisions in the democratic party—hards, softs, &c,—and the members of the ‘society were, perhaps not unwillingly, mudo more active in party work. To beGrand Sachein was # laudable ambition; so one and another got in friends to vote for them and the society rapidly in- creased its momberabip. ‘fhe parades that once interested the town were long ago abandoned, The very last turn out was at the occupation of the present hall, when about one hundred and fifty Indians (not in costume) were in procession, ‘The fullest turn out ot late years was at the funeral of Grand Sachem Lorenzo B. Shepard, about twenty years ago, At first the society could hold property only to such amount as would produce an income ‘of $5,000 a year. ‘To make all smooth for the new hall in Four- teenth street the sum was extended to $50,000 a year. | The present hall has been occupied a little over ten | y the rise and fall of the anti-Masons, equal rights | arty, of the Know Nothings, of the old hunkers and | arnburners, and the h and softs, all more or less disturbed and divided the Tammany Society. | As to anti-Masons, they were doad against them; ulso as to Know Nothings. The equal rights or aggressive party was noisy but short lived. ‘Tho others were democratic tamily quarrels that are almost torgot- ten. It is now alleged that Comptroller Kelly is seeking to got the upper hand in the society for his own pur- poses, and an injunction has been granted, on which there is to be a hearing soon. The HenaLp has given all the particulars of this new trouble. WHENCE I TAMMANY'S POWER ? This remarkable society began with our national government, and has continued unbroken and un- changed for ninety years. It hag exercised a wonder- ful influence in the choice of officers and the admin- istration of government. It is as wise as the ser- pent, but is it as harmlexs us the dove. Otten in its time this society of a few hundred active members, and these represented by a board of thirteen sachems, of whom one was the Grand Suchem, usually wicld- ing unquestioned power, has worked ‘wonders. Kew suspect, tower comprehend, the extent of the in- fluence that this purely local associution has exerted, ‘fo its agency, more than another, is due the tact that tor the last three-quarters of a century Ne York city has been the most potent political centre in the Union, Greater than a party, inasmuch as it has been the master and maker of parties, it has seen one political organization utter another rise, flourish and fall in endiess succession; yet it has always been ready, with vigor unimpaired, to challenge and attack ‘next comer. Imitators it has had in abun- nee, but not one of them hus succeeded in catching that secret of management that has given ‘Tammany its remarkable permanency. The Tam- many ‘ty has not only furnished the most capable politicians, but has managed to make alliances with the most powertul outside of its own ranks. Bor a quarter of a century it has at no time numbered under its banner anywhere near a majority of the voters of this city; yet during all this time it has managed to hold almost uninterruptedly the lion's share of power. ls this remarkable power nearing its end? TION, ‘The Tammany Committee on Organization met last evening and re-elected Augustus Schell as chairman. Other officers for the ensuing year were also chosen. AN ANTI-TAMMANY CAUCUS. Acaucus of the anti-Tammany and republican Al- dermen took place last night at the Monument House. ‘The session lasted until near midnight, but nothing of importance was done. Some of the committees of the Board of Aldermen that are yet to be named were partially mado up. CATHEDRAL FAIR. THE FINANCIAL RESULIS OF THE UNDERTAKING— A SPLENDID SHOWING ON THE BIGHT SIDE OF ‘THE LEDGER. The final meeting of the General Finance Com- mittee of the fair in aid of the new St. Patrick's Cathedral was held a short time ago at the Emigrant Industrial Savings Bank, Mr James Lynch, the chair- man and treasurer, presiding. Among the gentlemen present were Very Rev. Will- jam Quinn, V.G.; Rev. Fathers Farley, Macdowall, Farrelly and Donnelly; Brother Adrian, of the Pro- tectory, and Messrs. Henry L. Hoguet, Jeremiah Dev- lin, John Mullaly, Lummis, Moore, Feely and Colonel Chaitin. Mr. Lynch, as treasurer, presented a statement of the total receipts from each table. At the request of the treasurer Very Rev. Father Quinn appointed Rev. A. J. Donnelly and Messrs. Henry L. Hoguet and Jeremiah Devlin a committee to audit the ac- counts, and the treasurer’s statement was ordered to be printed and copies supplied to the papers and to each church which had taken part in the fair, A special committee, consisting of Rey. H. UC, Mac- dowall, Messrs. William Lummis, John Mullaly and Colonel Chalfin was, on motion, appointed to pre- pare resolutions of thanks to the various persons and firms who contributed valuable and necessary articles to the fair. ‘The secretary was instructed to record on the min- of the General Committee to the vari- ous sub-committees, including the Floor Committee, the Treasurer's Committee and the gentlemen of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, who superintended the admissions and receipts at ‘the doors, and to othe whose perso! labors of the Gi A vote of thanks was also unanimously tend the Chairman and Treasurer, Mr. James 1 i. his exact and faithful performance of his ardnous and responsible duties; also | Mr. William Lummis, to Mr. John Mullaly, the outor of the Journal of the Fair; to Mr. He Moc and to Very Rev. Father Quin, whose part in the organization and super- Vision of the fair was well known. After mutual congratulations on the gratifying re- sults of the fair, which have surpassed the most sanguine expectations, the committee adjourned die, The following is the treasurer's report showing the various receipts: Transtiguration, Holy Cross... St. Nose of Lima St. Columba’s, St. Antho: M6) 2,085 4 3 St. Jowoph’ Sacred Heart St, Bridget’s. "Bee Anuunemtion . BL. Teresa’: St. Jerome's... 4, nption. Holy Innocents. 2,600 04 Vincent de St. Gabricl’s.... 2,500 08 Paul's. 1,130 70 | Bt. Paul's, Her- St. Francis lem eeee 2,350 09 Bish... 1,001 20 Immaculate Con- St. John } 58 tat! + MS 72 | Jur f \ 4 28,518 06 i 50 a ow | Journal of the Pair Sundries, including hat and cloak room, electric machinos, scales, &e. SPECIAL DONATIONS. Right Rev, Dr. Loughlin, Bishop of Brook Rey. P. Egan, Tarrytown, Kev. R. Corley, Yonkers... Mr. Theobald W. Tone, Rochester. Rev. F, X. MeSweeny, Poughkeepsie. Rov. M. J. Meswiggan, Pawling. Rev: J. Fitzimmons, Huinectit TOtM), 06. cesses cecersesersnses os . $172, 025 48 JAMES LYNCH, Treasurer. New York, Jan, 11, 187%. CHEERING INFORMATION, To Tue Eptron or THe Hrnatp:— Excepting the court proceedings, and the bare fact of the young man's stopping several of our pupils on tho stairs, the entire item in Thursday's tasue of the Henaup, headed “Au Enemy of Education,” is in rect. During the two terms I have had charge of th school 1 have had but two incorrigible pupils to deal with, By giving this publication you will do justice to the earnest, order loving boys of our school. a ‘i sbi’ A BARIINGER, neipal, Grammar bu 10. 67, bth street, Male Evening School. SPECIALISTS VS. TRUSTEES. OBJECTIONS TO THE HERALD'S SCHOOL INSPEC- TION REPORTS REVIEWED. ‘The writer of the following letter is the gentleman who in 1470 was commissioned by the Japanese gov- ernment to procure all possible information about Japan proposed to remodel her own, In fulfil- ment of this commission Mr, Doyle collected school reports and other printed material, and inspected numerous school buildings with all of their appoint- ments. As he has also seen the internal arrange- ments of the native schools of China and Japan he is fully competent to suggest comparisons New York, Jan. 6 To Tae Eprror oy Taz HERALD:— At the invitation of your inspector, and to gratify a curiosity inspired upon my return to this city after prolonged residenee abroad, I had the honor to accompany him on his inspection of several of the public scliools of this city, and subsequently to read in your issue of the ult, rt | thereon. “Phe schools thus visited by mie were 8, 13, 22, 2 37, 53 and 70, and I must say that un- der the circumstances and conditions in whieh L saw these schools there is not a word in that report in reference to them that I would not reiterate with em- hasis, and it aflords me pleasure now to observe that in the severe tests to which that report is being daily subjected the great muss of evidence taken from the enlightened and practical school men who are trustees more than substantiate it. But, as some objections have been offered by school trustees which un- mistakably raise questions of veracity, I deem it my } duty to offer my evidence in support of the tidelity and truth of your inspector, To muke it intelligible dud effective it will be neves- sary to put it in the form of a review of these objec- tions und the pvints involved, as they appeared in different numbers of your recent issues. In respect to the Eleventh ward schools Mr. ‘Trus- tee Rhoades, in effect, admits all that the report has represented, and adds that “the closets ought to be flushed out after every recess," and then conclude “This we intend to have carried out in the future as a precaution.” ‘This gentleman states in another part ot the interview that “when janitors are a long time in they are apt to get lazy and indifferent." Mr. Trustee Limbeck, however, takes a different view with regard to 36, which he styles as “a brand new building, with all the modern ‘improve- ments, und what ore do people want ?” and then “my visits are not as regular as some of the » but 1 keep posted about how they are con- 1879. Now, certainly Mr. Limbeck is misrepresented or very much in the wrong in this matter. Iam no architect, though Thave hada great deal todo with buildings, aud my observations and unqualified opinion with regard to this new building is that it peats all the deseots of the faulty old structures vis- ited by me, and in this view Lam safe to say 1 will | be borne out by any competent architect | or builder. Here, right in this new building, | Which, in Mr. Limbeck's opinion fills the bill as to “what more do people want?” I saw one of the darkest, most uncomivrtable class rooms in the city—so dark that on a bright sunny day, as it was, the figures on the blackboard were hardly percepti- ble at a short distance. Here, too, were radiators within two teet of the children’s seats, and through which supply pipes for live steam passed to the rooms above without any practicable arrangement of valves to regulate the heat of this room without in- tertering with the supply for above. ‘Che arrange- ment of the furniture was wrong in several of the rooms and disproportioned to many of the smaller pupils in the lower grade classes, As Mr. Limbock says, and, I believe, truly, “tax- payers never yet complained of what was spent on | educating the children,” ‘Then there appcars uo good reasons why these defects should stand—ut least | they should be made known to the taxpayers, which, it strikes me, is precisely what the HrnaLp inspector has done. Mr. Limbeck does not deny that tue heat- ing, ventilation, &c,, is bad, and he certainly cannot call an unmasked pine trough, fustened to a pine all tor a urinal, 4 “modern improvement.” His gestion with regard to the appointment of school mitissioners is one to which my attention was called when visiting the schools, and is fittingly ex- pressed by him when he says that the Eleventh and Seventeenth wards, with au aggregate attend- ance of 16,000 children a year, have no com- missiover on the Board,” while one uptown ward has nine, and “it is safe to say there are fifteen commissioners living in one school district.” He says he talked to Janitors Murdock and Wade “andtold them they had better keep things slicker than they were, and they did so after that.” This statement is, | apprehend, nearer the fact than Dr. of the same ward, who pronouuces the imply ridiculous,” and who says that “this ct has been exaggerated so much that I went through to sce for myself and I tailed to observe many points torcriticism.”” ays :—‘In regard to | flushing the closets 1 talked with Wade, the janitor, and he says he does it twice a day, It he did not do this the principal would call the attention of the trustees to the matter.” Now this man Wade said distinctly to your inspec- tor in ty presence that he usually flushed the closets out every other day, and, in reply to your in- spector's query as to whether he ought ‘not to do so after every recess, he said that he didn’t do it. ‘That was about two P.'M., and the closets flushing then very badly. It must be gratifying to learn from Dr. Cregar that “we are adopting # rule now, how- ever, Which is to be in force for the future, that the janitors must clean up all through the year whether school keeps or not.” But it seems unjust ‘tor him to blame the teachers for the bad ventilation. es- pecially consid the views expressed on this sub- ject by Mr. Henry frorz, trustee of the Soventocnth ward, as reported in your issue of the 3d inst., where he saya:— «We ought to have an officer in the Board of Edu- | cation whose sole duty would be to look after the drainage, ventilation and general hyyienic manage- ment of the schools, The Superintendent (of School Buildings) has a variety of other matters to look after, and there is quite enough business in this line to take up one man's attention,” and when it is further considered that no attention whatever is paid to the thermometrical records and_regulations of the tem- perature in these schools, Mr. Trustee Powers ad- mits that ‘there is room for improvement and that the janitors might attend to their duties more closely, aud we intend from this out to have’ them do so. We will require of them in future not to leave the closets unattended for a single haif hou This is another sulutary effect of your inspector's report. The ne- cossity tor it is self-evident, and it is worthy of re- murk here that in none of the school houses visited by us during recess did we see a janitor on duty. r. Powers further says they are now “drawing up die of rules tor the guidance of the janitors,” anc her, “while I saw that there were things to and that the criticisms were in some cases did not altogether approve of the artich But he does not state what it is in the report that he disapproves of, unless it be that there should be any r all. ‘Trustee Wangler seems very anxious to have it understood that he expresses his views, “all things cou- and “don't think the children can be hurt by the nature of the ventilation,” and admits that the shools are not perfect “and we must make the best we can of them. Everything can't be done at once.” ys he was “in No. few days after that re- peared, and the appearance of things was not presented.” Possibly not—not “quite.” nitors read the H&RALD, perhaps, and may hav wroved their time in the interim. This is strain- i ory hard to refute or diseredit your inspector's report. It won't do, for he admitted that he had not been in the school for a week befuve he saw the pnelusion I will only call attention to the re- marks of Mr. Joseph F. Rogers, Chairman of the Higlith ward Board of ‘Trustecs, th respect to school 4, as reported in your issue of the 2d inst. He ‘It was true, every word of it, . You couldn't rate the subject if you tried.” T shall never the effect upon ne when I ontored that ground class roo} 1 had no fdea, when starting out with your in- spector, that it Would become necessary toe me_ to i evidence to what I should see. But, nevert the school system of the United States, after which | fnow do so voluntarily and cheerfully. Very respecttully, &., WM. H. DOYLE. IMPRESSIONS OF ANOTHER VisITOR, Yo re Eprro or THe Henap:— Ihave read the statements of certain gentlemen— trustecs of the public schools of the city—in your issue of January 2, 1879, Lam willing to say that I was invited by the HenaLp inspector to accompany him on his visit to tho primary department of Gram- iar School No. 32; that 1 saw children of the tonder- est scars packed (I was told for several hours a day) in diminutive class rooms on the ground floor and not a dozen feet from the urinals and neceasa- ries, Which were in a condition simply beastly. [saw no method of ventilating these rooms except by opening the windows and admitting the foul and sickoning “odors from these ubominations. 1 was preseut When the Principal of that, school told your inspector that the “Janitor’s standard of cleantiness was marvellously low.” APPLETON MORGAN. 30 Pank Puack, New York, Jun, 4, 1879. PROFESSIONAL INDORSEMENT OF THE HERALD REPORTS. (From the Medical Record, Jan. 4, 18) So much has been said in these columns of the want ot sanitary regulation in our public schools that we fool almost like apologizing to our readers for referring to the subject once inore, We are so iirmly impressed, however, with aduty we owe to the publio in general, and the school children in particular, that we cannot omit an op portunity of repeating an old story in the hope that It may be heard at fast, and that Its moral will be taken to heart. ‘Che school children cannot speak for themselves, the teachers dare and the | Board of Edweation, wh ig omnipotent in school niatiors im this city, says that the sanitary condition of the schools is perfect, ‘This latter assertion would appear to settle the quostion, but, unfortunately, it does not, a the fact of frequent imspections abun- dantly prove. x years the Board of Education has refused every ‘able appeal to Fomody defects in ventilation, it heating, in Lyhting the butidings and in caring for th water closets outside, The only answer that has been vouchsafed to such requests has been that the schools are in good enough condition, and that no chanye is necessary. Several members of th tue of the emergency, created the es authorities by vie"! ju sanitary matters, aud there has been @ deadivck to any impartial investigation of the real merits of th consider that the Board is and that neglect of not be question, When we mamigen in the interests of 4 political rin it is quite necessary that the ignorance, u duty, and stupidity of the said Board shoulda brought to light, the outlook to unpromising. We are encouraged, however, in se ing that anew and powerful clement ix at work to bring about a change in the mhnagement of the affairs of the Board. The HernaLp has caused an inspection to be made of the school buildings, and has recently published a lengthy report upon ie quae We ens an oan this report, the authenticity and impartialit ot which cannot be questioned, without being startled by the disclosures. Only a few vf the #-hools were visited by the inxpee- tor, and these were prineipally primar of which some of the class rooms ground floor, The rooms are dark, ill ventilated, crowded, exposed to draughts of cold airon one side and intolerable heat on the other: and are in close proximity to water closets, which, by the negligence ol Janitors, are kept in an abominably filthy condi- jon, * * * * * * * ‘Those facts are not by any means new to us, neither will they be to any one who has given any atteution to public school hygiene in this city, but it is a mat- ter of congratulation that they have been prosented to the genera! public in @ manner which may invite the attention of the Board and cause it to reconsider its oft-declared assertion that the sanitery condition of the schools is good. FEDERAL PRISONS. MR. FIERO'S REPORT ON THE EVIL OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF PUNISHING FEDERAL PRISONERS --DISCIPLINARY ESTABLISHMENTS: CONTROLLED BY THE UNITED SYA‘TES RECOM- MENDED. United States Attorney Stewart L. Woodford has received a long report from his assistant, William P. Fiero, regarding the treatment of United States pris- oners confined in the different State prisons, Mr. Fiero has been engaged during the past year investi- gating this subject. He reports that most of the complaints have been lodged by discharged convicts, and should be dismissed as groundless. At the same tine he is satistied that there is a yreat lack of that true measure and dignity of discipline and fair, impartial treatment of United States prisoncrs in these local prisons, which the government has a right to expect, but which it is in no position to de- mand; that oiten the most unjust infractions of the safe rules of prison life were committed. While many, if physically able, were obliged to work, in one case a “respectably connected” convict was es- corted through the city streets in citizen's clothes to ends, and several so-valled “gentlemen” were rivate table’ and occasional use of their zens’ clothing. A notoriously bad convict in the Kings County Penitentiary found his sole and agrec- able employment in the cxercise of an officer's *‘trot- ters” on the quarter-mile track within the prison’s outer walls. COST OF THK PRESENT SYSTEM, He states that the food allowed is exceedingly coarse and in quantity fur below the standard of @ fair ra- tion tor 4 healthy person, and he believes it not worth one-lifth the amount paid by the United States as the ‘actual and reasonuble cost’’ of the subsist- ence of aprisoner, He submits that the peace and dignity of the United States demand the cstablish- ment of the proposed prison, and claims that the present luck of organized power in the general gov- ernment to adequately punish the constantly inereas- ing infractions of its laws begots a spirit of disreyard tor the manner of entorciug its penalties; and, again, it could not be known when the State would close its doors against the veueral government and refuse to receive their convicts. Mr. Fiero finds that there is a broad distinction in the character of the offences against State and national laws, and argues that the mode and place of punishment should be correspond- ingly distinctive. ‘Tho question is as to the duty of the government to these untortunates, and he finds only one answer—a strict clussification of prisoners— only to be done by the establishment of a federal prison. Mr. Fiero belicves that this scheme will te approval of the Depurtment of Justice, but 1 opposition in Congress on the ground of economy, and claims at the sume time that it is an economical measure. ECONOMIC ASPECT. Referring again to the Kings County Penitentiary, he shows that one-tenth of the expense of maintain- ing that fustitution for the year 1877—$10,454—was credited as having been received “for board ot United States convicts,”’ und it had only one-thirtieth of the average number of prisoners. He further found that it cost the Treasury about $300 w year for each pris- oner, aud that the cost (excluding earnings) for keep- ing 4 prisoner for the year was about $120. He claims that after careful computation on actual figures, that allowing the United States the fair proportion of the earnizgs to which they are clearly entitled, this Pemtentiary should have received from the government no more than $500. Another con- sideration was that the majority of United States prisoners were intelligent and skilled laborers and iu for long terms, and were of course more efficient wud valuabie in the shoe manufactory (the only con- vict labor) than the great army of “trampers.” Mr, Fiero estimates that such a structure as is required would cost about $500,000, He remarks that the gov- ernment already hax several eligible sites tor such an institution, and instances Governor's Island ax one entirely under federal jurisdiction. He says the niunber of prisoners would reach from three hun- dred to tive hundred, and the actual expense of the maintenance of this prison would be 10 more than $60,000 @ year, and the product of skilled labor would reach from 350,40 to $60,000, making it, as all prisous should be, self-sustaining it not a soun and at any rate a saving of $150,000 per annum to the government. In conclusion be suggests that such a prison shonld be near New York city and that the priso: from fitteen States could be economically transported to and received by it. THE ‘The fourth annual m Association was hold yes! seventy members were present, The business of the meeting was openod by the election of officers for the ensuing ycar, and by the adoption of various reports from the several committees. The officers c! m —President, Mrs. Chumar Trask, Mrs. Sweetzer Winslow, asurer, Miss Amy Shepard, ‘78, ittee—Miss Shepard, Miss E. R. TT; Mise > is, “TL; Mise Jackson, ‘74; Miss Beach, ‘73, and Miss Pierson, “7s. Miss Denton, chairman of the Committee on Alumni Items, presented an entertaining report trom the year 1867, inclusive. Letters of regret were read from President Caldwell, the newly el of the colieg tronomy, and Protessor Braistix the last moment announced the unavoidable absence ot Mré. Ray, Professur Backus was the only repre- sentative of the college faculty. Lunch was served at two o'clock, after which an adjournment was made to the parlors, where, iu a Drict spoech, Mrs. Trask expressed pleastire in seein fo many Of the alumni, sayiug thet Vassar needed all the syinpathy and enthusiasm possible from her alumni to demonstrate that higher education for women meant for them @ higher and nobler woman- President, A telegram at hood, After the music a poem was read by Miss Brigham, ot 187 entitled “Aluwa Mi: ter.” Miss Coffin next introduced a of resolutions referring to the death of tho late president, Dr. F, R. Kaymond, in August last. A memorial tablet for the college chapel was proposed by Mrs. ‘rask, und at the same time an unotticial re- Fg! was made ff the Memorial Scholarship tund tor br. Raymond, lately organized by the Philulethean Society. Lastly # resolution was passed whereby tie Executive Cominitice for the next year is eanpowered te act upon the admission of frieuds ot Vassar and its alumni to the annual invetings. After an hour's social grectings and conversation, interspersed with music, the very pleasant reunion dissolved, INDIGNANT SCHOOL TEACHERS. ‘The school teachers of the Seventeenth ward are considerably excited over the action of the Board of ‘brusteos in appointing to fill a vacancy created by the death of Miss Laura L. Brown @ teacher who belonged to affother school iu the same ward. ‘The teachers say that all the vacancies dur- fug the past six yours have been filled with transfers ivom the Fourteenth street school. It seems to them rather hara that the direct result of trouble in another school should reflect upon them, who are im no way connected with the atoresuid tronble. They have, as the language of their peti- tion to the Board of ‘Trustees says, conscientiously striven todo their dut ithe marks recetved in one of their aunual examinations by the Superintendent compare favorably with those received by other schools in tho city. Thoy ask that the vacancy which has occurred by the death of the fourth assistant teacher should be filled by regular promotion froin the same school in which the vacancy occurred, A imecting of the teachers was held yesterday after- noon in University place, but they declined to give their cognomens to the reporter, so that nothing re- mains to say beyond the fact that the lady teachers of the Seventeenth ward ave being badly treated by the trustees. JUSTICE PINCKNEY'S TRIAL. ‘Tho investigation into the charges preferred against Justice Walter S. Pinckney, of the Seventh District Civil Court, was continued yesterday betore Referee Mr. Albert Lmgard, of No. 74 West Porty-ninth the first witness, and he testified thet le vdly aeted as furor in the Seventh District eow Justice Pinckney under the in iqnor 8. V. viper, a lawyor and ea-Alderman, aworw that Justice Punckuey *deportinent on the bench was always above reproach aud his mind cleat and un- clouded, Messrs. A, Aitkens, Charles EK. Lexow and J. M. King, all lawyers, gave wintilar testimony. Attor a uuruber of other witnesses had been exam- insd Roferve Buell notiied counsel to have all their witnesses present to-morrow, when the case must be closed. The hearing was then adjourned wotil to-morrow atoue la 7 SER RE ON 10 HIGH BRIDGE. Battling With Rock and Ice on Ninth and Eighth Avenues. PROGRESS OF THE METROPOLITAN EXTENSION, —————— Stirring Scenes in Building the Structure to the Harlem River. eet! On one of these glorious but freezing winter morn- ings—like yesterday, for instance—there is h@rdly scene of more stirring sights to be witnessed in the metropolis than is presented all along the west side extension of the Metropolitan “L.”” Reference has already been made in the Henaty to the magnificent energy and extraordinary rapidity with which this great work nas been pushed, in the heart of an unusnally severe winter, from Ninth avenue and Kighty-third street to Eighth ave- nue and 120th t. Ordinarily this part of the city in midwinter is strangely deserted. On Ninth avenue, between Eighty-third and 110th streets, there is hardly a building, the ground is banked up high with snow or deeply frozen over, and the avenue, which has neither been graded nor paved, looks like some desolate country road, Now all is activity and bustle here, and the whole extent of the avenue between the points mentioned is lined with busy workmen, who appear to be invulnerable to the cold, Excavations are being dug, bricks are hauled, stones sare pulled along, rock is drilled and blasted or raised by derricks, barrels of cement are transported, stone is broken, and the whole avenue is in that per- tect condition of chaos which Sixth avenue and Third avenue presented not long ago, ouly aggravated by the snow and ice, which have been left secumulated several fect deep, uninterrupted as their aggregation is by the traffic of vehicles. The foreman of each section walks about encased in a long ulster and seal- skin cap, beating his chest to keep himself warm, and, when asked whether this was not rather “breezy” work yesterday, one of these gentlemen re- plied that it was “rather warm, considering.” oN AVENUE. ‘The Metropolitan “L”’ Company have opened an office at one of the few buildings on the line of this Ninth avenue section—namely, over a grocery shop at 106th. street. This is the official centre from which half a dozen crack engineers and a dozen experienced in- spectors and foremen issue forth every morning, and from which also that imost welcome of all personages, the paymaster, starts upon his round. The laborers who are employed here are picked men from the gangs formerly engaged upon the constraction of the Sixth aven L” railway, and it may easily be imagined what a godsend this work has proved to them and their families in this cruel winter, But it is terribly hard work. The excavations vary in depth from fifteen thirty-five feet, and in places near 110th street, where the soil has been filled in, the frost penetrates so easily that the ground is frozen four feet deep. Let the reader realize the sufferings of these men, when, on that cruel Friday a weck ago, they tried to cut their way through four fect of ice in some of these excavations! And yet the work goes bravely on, and Mr. Waterhouse, one of the engineers in charge, stated that out of 370 excavations 160 had already been opened in the very few days that have elapsed since which the con- tract has been awarded. Some of the men, with ears frozen, benumbed hands and frosty lips, would still insist upon keeping at work, seeing, as they did, the anxiety of their superiors to carry out the company's motto, “On to High Bridge!” Great rocks weighing half a ton have to be raised by means of derricks, and so difficult have been some of these excavations that it hus taken eight picked men as much as a full week to dig a hole. THE HUNDRED AND TENTH STREET CURVE. At 1l0th strect the line cur from Ninth into Fighth avenue, and here the company have pure chased large blocks of land in order to obtain & per- foctly easy and smooth curve. But 110th street st this oint presents grave enginecrixg difficulties between ‘inth and Kighth avenues, At Ninth avenue the strovt has risen to the abrupt height of a steep hill, and trom here there is a rapid and dangerous descent toward Eighth avenue. In order to overcome this it will be tound necessary to raise the ~ of the foundations toward Eighth avenue high above th ground, the total height of these piers upon which the columns are yet to rest at this point being not less than thirty feet. ‘As it would look very ugly to see these piers rising above the street the ground will have tobe filled up considerably. Altogether, how- ever, the structure on this upper section will present: some high poiits. From Eighty-third street the grade is continuously upward to the summit ut 100th street, where the columns will reach the exccptional height of forty-five feet. ALONG EIGHTH AVENUE, From 10th street the line passes out into the Eighth avenue, where it then has @ clean sweep of several miles to the river, or what is properly called, River avenue. Here the ground does not look quite so chaotic as on Ninth avenue, and there evidently has been far less conicntion with rock and ice—two of the bitterest enomies of rapid transit this winter. At 120th street—the present limit of the work—there is always a crowd of extra workmen waiting “to get a chance,” and if there is no regular employinent for them they at least enjoy the sight of the fingarray of sleighs that come dashing along from St. Nicholas avenue at arattling gait. Mr. Conover, a hale, hearty old gentleman, is in charge of the work, and he gave the writer some interesting information as to its magnitude. Between Eighty-third and 150th streets, 900 excavations have to be dug, and the 900 piers which they afe to sustain will require nearly ten million bricks aud twenty thousand barrels of cement. Kigh- teen hundred foundation blue flag stones are also nec- essary, Which have to be quarricd and cut especially for the oles. Already over seven thousand burrels of vement and two million bricks are on the ground. In reference to the stones, Mr. Conover says that during the frosty weather no quarrying could be done, which now would naturally somewhat delay the work. Al. realy over 1,900 men are employed, and this number will shortly’ be increased to over 2,000, They begin work at seven, when there is hardly ‘daylight, and, with ouly half an hour's intermission tor dinner, they do not “knock off” until halt-past five in the evening. How heartily they must enjoy their hot suppers upon returning honic! NEW sUMMEG RESORTS. While the writer was watching the work yesterday, near 120th street, it Was ainusing to see the throngs of ladies and gentlemen stop their sleighs and anx- jously inquire about the progress of the undertaking. ‘They drove their sleighs duwu between the excava- tions and appeared to inspect their condition with the very greatest interest. Then there were many spectators and curious sightseers who had availed themselves of this fine, bracing winter day to drive or walk down from their residences near the Harlem River and Washington Hoeighis, All these peo- ple wero talking curiously about the effects ot the extension next summer; whether the road would really induce the building of bhand- rome residences all along its line; whether it would create new summer resorts uear High Bridge, to which people would flock as they have hitherto flocked to Coney Island, &e. The general Opinion seemed to be that whouver had the foresight and enterprise to purchase land here for the build- ing of nice and me ely costly cottages, and, stilt more particularly, ot popular summer gardens, with music and other popular at- tractions, would make a tortune during the coming: summer, “Who will go through the ineoav and tedium of @ trip to Coney Island,’ said one geu- tleman, “when a short ride over this delightful road will bring him contortably and without any change of cars or boats, for ten cents, tu the most lovely and picturesque’ scenes on Manhattan Island? Generally speaking there in always great dif- Heulty about getting back from Coney Island in the evening, and people are worn out with the trip. But to ride on this road to the Harlem River, aud to return atany hour you please, will be mero pastim aud if only attractive rosorts are established by som rewd, far-seeing ty that beantifal rive front you will see that noxt summer they will take halt the crowds away from Coney Island,” Similar opinions were expressed also by others with whom the writer conversed, and the residents of this por tion of the west side are evidently sanguine that the opening of the Metropolitan extension next July Will be the signal of & new era for them, and trans- form the romantic heights of Macomb's Dam and Spuyten Duy into @ petfect pleasure park and Tival resort of Coney Island. GROWEH OF THE WEST SIDR. Whother these pleasant anticipations be fnifilled or not, there are already now convincing Proots that this extension will give # won- derfal stimulus to building operations n the Upper part of the west side, Lots tor the erec- tion of handsome residences as well ot stall ft and it is rally pre- Will be ereeted here next have been put up for the last wWenty Se Bailding associations are reported to: have béin formed for the erection of large numbers of cheap houses on the other side of the Harlem River, clowe by the terminus ot the Metropolitan “L" pene “Within two or three years,” said an. enthusiastic wesisider yesterday, “this w ot the west side ot the etiy will be built ‘uh aa Well ss the east side is, There is no reason why it shouldn't be. We have Gnor sites, loftier ground, purer air prettior scenery and cheaper land, «nd when this tr vunoing We shall have much ‘better rapid transit ‘vommodetions inte the verge.”