{ title: 'The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 1849-1938, January 08, 1883, Page 2, Image 2', download_links: [ { link: 'http://www.loc.gov/rss/ndnp/ndnp.xml', label: 'application/rss+xml', meta: 'News about NYS Historic Newspapers - RSS Feed', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031151/1883-01-08/ed-1/seq-2/png/', label: 'image/png', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031151/1883-01-08/ed-1/seq-2.pdf', label: 'application/pdf', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031151/1883-01-08/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.xml', label: 'application/xml', meta: '', }, { link: '/lccn/sn83031151/1883-01-08/ed-1/seq-2/ocr.txt', label: 'text/plain', meta: '', }, ] }
Image provided by: Brooklyn Public Library
?’• §OTliIp§a{lg(fitglt KOnOAT EVESINO, JANUARY 8, 1883. T b I* i* a p e r b o a t b s l.ara:ck ( e i r c a l a ^ ( I s a o f a n y E r s a i n i r P a i » e r PubllntoaA lb (b e V B U e a lla t o a * I t s v a l a s a s A a A d T o y ilstav n e d i a a i Is tb e r s K s r s p a r s b t . ' T lio ilIa y o r ’N m c s s a f fu. Poi-hups au uuusual interest will be taken in Mayor Low’s annual message, which we publish to-day, because in his first conimuni- cation a year ago he refrained from anything like a general discussion of the city's affairs, saying that in his judgment suggestions to ha useful must be based upon experience such ns a new Mayor could not in the nature of things possess. What we now have are the con- ^ilusions to which he has been carried by a year of steady attention devoted to the material concerns and administrative pro cesses of the municipality. For the first time in the history of Brooklyn we have before us a message written by a Mayor who has devoted himself as exclusively to the duties of his office as any merchant does to tho couduct of his private business. Mr. Low has addressed himself to the work of serving Brooklyn with an earnestness which could not be surpassed if ho were made the ‘permanent agent of Ihe’poopio, For these rea sons, wo say, w’hat lie has now to present will be road with unusual iuferesf. Nor wii! tho inteUigout vender bo disappointed. The mes sage is, in tho best sense, business like. It is in tone aud composition what the head of a groat esfablishmout would expeef to find in the report of bis most trust ed representative. The arrangement is orderly, tho explanations Incid, the re commendations manifestly the product of the writer’s own thought aud the phraseology as compact as possible. In addition to hav ing the great merit which Fitz Green Halleck attributed to the speeches of Bed Jacket, tliat of boiug short, it has the further merit which tho noble Indian's eloquence sometimes laoked, that of strong common sense. That he oonfines himself strictly to the affairs of Brooklyn, neither recognizing political differ- enoas nor suffering himself to write o sen- tanoa which can he tortured into a parti san implication, is what was to be' expected, though in view of some very raceut state ments in favor of a modification of our charter by men who are supposed to apeak for so much of tho local Democracy as makes offli’.?holding the ouc cud of party activity, he would have been pardoned had lie dealt a aideblow or two. Happily, however, there is little danger to be apprehended from .such adversaries. Mayor Low is addressing people who. whatever else they differ .about, are agreed to iiiaiiitaiii tlieir form of goverumout as it is, and tho effect of liis exhibit of our af fairs cauuol bo other than to deep.’u tliat de termination. The fir.st subject cousidered is the city debt, aud the report is of a most gratifying kind. Despite the expenditures for the Bridge, tlie .special outlay for street ivpniriug and the aUviinros made to increase the water supply the net debt has been de creased iiOSO.OtJO during tho year. In De cember, Ks'Sl, onr liabilities of all kinds were •tSd, 174,421.47. They are now ^ia7,:!!i.’5,72;!.- 40. .So that but for the •'il(i7.'»,000 advanced for tho bridge wo should have been able to show a rcducliou of .■*>1,2,70,000. The signifl- cauce of this is iu the highest degree grati fying, shon’ing, as it doo.s, that with a rapidly advancing population, witii new houses being erected at the I'ate of near ly two liuudr.'d every mouth our outlay is not being suffered to c.xpnud With this policy adhered to it is plain to the simiile.st mind tl at our financial coiidiiion must in the i ally future bo as easy tin at n not ronioto period iu tho past it threatened to become onibarrassing. What is termed our pernmnciit dolit, as distinguished trom the bomb and certificates outstanding' for taxes nnd as.sossmcnts in arro.avs, consists, with but trilling additions, of throe items, nainoly ; for Pro.sirect Park, for the water works and for tlio bridge. T h e . !};!,>,87!*,.500 of water bonds repre sent a source of revenue rather than a burden, Tlio income of thedejjartm out more than mcols the bonds ns they fall due, beside mniutainiiig and e.xteuding the works. The bridge and the park indebtedness, nmouutiug in tlio aggregate to !s2l,!12(j.OO(), is wliat may be called the perinanont debt, which our peo ple will Iiave to liquidito by .geiiornl taxatkm, though indeed liiis is an overstatement if allow- aueo be not ui.a.V.' for tlie iiiooaie to be derived from tbe bridge. Tho Mayor expr.es.sos the opinion that the tolls oollcetcd ou the bridge will uot suffice to cover the interest on the bridge bonds. In t’uis he may be right, but llicy ought to go n coiisidornble length iu that dirootioii. But even if the bridge yields no more tlriu will be required for its own proper inaintenauoa all tho autieip.ations of our most far siglitcd men will be disappoint .d if it does not )uy for itself a groat many times over iu the additiou.s it will make to our pop ulation aud tlie value, of the real cstato of the city. As an asset it i.s certainly worth more than the liabilities wliich it represents, and the same is true of Prospect Park. In these rc.speets, at l-'.ist, the liu.anciul condition of .Brooklyn is .satisf.ietory. The temporary debt, as we iiavc said, consists of bonds issued for ioeal iinprovenionts, tlio sums to be asses.scd ou tho properly tieiicfited and tax cei tiiicatc.s issued to cover the taxes due and not ocllcct.-d. Tlieso two accounts stood iu LS8I aud now ns follows : I'.: . -vcni.o »'.w 13-e. Sii.nia,.'.5i.m 4,131,001.00 iBll.o;!),r,r.i.ni tho year of .ijz.eis.isa.'iv tOtGltS.................. 'I’ax corlilicatob ............. T.ital ............................ This .shows iv total decrease for $Mi),00(). Iu consideriug this exhibit we are carried into a consideration of the avr.'iar.s quostiou, beoausa it is to the partial solutiou of it that thin improved coiulitiou of affairs is duo. Tho Mayor calls attention to this : TUore Iisn a o t bciai R year for m iuy yaara In wliich. d a r lu s tho moii!h ol llaccmhor, monoys raleed lo r tho oaiaiina yoar have uot hceii usca to some oxtent to pay tho bills of tho yoar j i n t emliuB. Tho ohoct of this has hcou to hoop down tho doht ststo'jiont each year an.J to throw forward into tho now yoar tho burden of finanriorloff for oil dadclcncios. While tho oc.'.staiidlnc arrears wore Increasing each year, this was porhiip., aa wiso a.s auyolU rr conrso, al though, aa it seemi to mo, tho fact ought to hovo heed stated. Owing to the ptoaresR made In the last three years In colloctiug arrearagoe, tho necessity for borrowing ahead has each year been growing leas. This year, I am happy to Bay, uot a dollar bolonglns to 1881 has been mod for the oUiisTatious of 188'7. Tho debt Btatemont, therefore, ia oven more eucouragin!' than it appears to be. ' It Ihrroforoappoirs Hint, dospita the Iseue of new obligiilions to tin ortcol ot J9Ill,IW0, not only has the debt boa.a rndne..'.l yi.S.'.OOO during I88'3, hut we have ot-aeeo to borrow ahead; wo have reduced the outstand ing short bon is and tar I'ercitioatee by $100.00'i, and wo have paid (»nr ■way this year as though there had been no deaciency in collecting the tax levy. Wo owe tlioso rooalls to tho largo collecilou ol arrears In 1831 and 1883. While the arrmrs quostiou, as appears fur- tliur ou, is not yet in satisfactory form, these figiire.8 show that some .stops iu the right diroetioii have been taken, that tbo tide, so to speak, has definitely turned in our favor. As has boeu shown, the permanent debt is well taken care of aud 'wbat now appears is that tbo other lialiilitice are being brought into workable form. The actual udvauoe made apj)ear.s in tlie following little table; Tho collcctinn.l througn tho .\rroora Depart. incnt durinjf r.nif>;iat to .......................... thifi lUo loan of fleldod The au'ount turned over to tho deiiartment M utiftaid ol tr.xrs, vvatormoB nud nssog.^. moute, November !•», was .................... iShoning an e x r“ii5 of coUections in ISb'i of.. In l«8l tl:c totul Follocffoaa wore $2,y7.5,901.03. TUe dxooas of coUeolious over arreura iucuired in eumo porlod was His Honor rtasoning upon these figures re fers to au additional act, which has been ap proved by tbe Hon. Wfiliam M. Evarts, expected to meet tVni whole case, and forecasts what tho city will have to do in tho way of issuing permanent bonds to meet the differ ence between tbo outstanding liabilities and what will be canceled to tbe individuals in ar rears. Tlie act referred to will, wo understand, confer upon tlie city powers uot nov.- possessed to sell outright the property of those who do not within a reasonable time take advantage of the liberal teriui offered 8o that we shall know very soon preois'?ly how much, if any, of tlioso spociai buideua are to be assumed by the city at large. Iu the meantime, we . uanuofc'acccpt as certain the Mayor’s conclu sion that tlie process of, settling up with these delinquents will involve an addition to the permauent debt of the city: for, since what wo have giviiii up is tho difference betweeu six per ceut. inteixst, which we accept, aud nine, to which wo Were legally aititled, and since wc have heen carry.u.g tho ifobt at less than s.x per cent, th 'r e Is ^ ( h in g hist to Die city. Moreover, if the r.ecoSrMs of tho departmer.ls are to be trusted, tiio assets .slimvii against Die $11,000,000 in ibuad Cgurt-n of as;;fj;smcnt bonds and ta.x certificates amount to between .$14,000,000 and $17,000,000| we may stand considerable paring down of the claims upon the property and still have a margin. Passing from the financial condition of the city to less intricate matters, the ll^ayor deals with the water supply, with the bridge, rapid transit, street eleoning and repairs, the sewers, (he East Side Lands, the schools, Bedford avenue, Excise, the Park Commission, tbe water front and the problem of making the franchises conferred upon our public cor porations oonfribute materially to the support of tho city. Iu tho m atter of tho water supply there is nothing novel to be said. What ap pears is that the general management has been excellent. Within the past three years the daily supply has boeu increased 12,000,000 gallons a t a cost of $300,000. For this most notable achievement the Maj'or gives credit to Mr. Van Buren, the chief engineer, aud recommends that his salary, which is now .■$•.'!, 000 per annum, bo increased to .{.-.\ijOno adding that his assistants liave also been oaniiug more than tliey have been re ceiving. This handsome recognition of Mr. Van Bureii’.s services is not more than is deserved. His salary might have been in creased without special notice being given to the public, but effected iu this way the adv.iuce will carry honor ns well as material gain. To vapid transit the Mayor commits himself in the fullest manner, as, indeed, every one must who conipreheuds the needs of our population. With compensation for damages assured, he stands prepared to eo-0]ie- rate with whoever Las a feasible proposi tion to submit. So far as the sewer system goes, what he has chiefly to pro pose is that tho sxtonsions now in order must be made at the general expense, be cause of tho peculiarities of the localities affected, and from this opinion the E a « i - e does not dissent. Passing to tho subject of street cleaning and repairs, the Mayor takes ground against tbo whole system of special assessments. He would Lave tbe properly owners of every newly opened street pay for its pavement in tbe first place, and thereafter have it taken c.iro of by tbo city at large. On this point his views are iu ac cord witli the older cities of this country mid of Europe. The Park Commission ho desires to have made like tho other depart ments of our goverument under one head, who shall bo paid a salary, and in this he is supported by tho Commissiouers. Bedford Rvcuue, which is now unior the control of the Park Commissioners, ought, ho tbiuks, to bo transferred to the care of the Department of City Works, to bo taken care of like the other streets aud uveuucs of tho city, audhe expresses tbe opinion that something over $100,000 will bo required to put it iu proper couditiou. On Die water front be desires to have the city obtain dock privileges, not as a departure'^ from tho gonornl policy of private ownership, but to moot special necessities. He takes ground against tho proposition of borrowing money to build new seliool bouses. Tho pay as you go policy seems to him to be the wisy. S'jvoral of these matters we shall recur to aud discuss at lengtli. Here wo call attention to tliemn ot f t r disouHsiou but to direct tho reader’s aUention to tbe message. Every citizen of Brooklyn will, wo are sure, find Iiiniself considerably oniiglitoucd by reading tba document nud there is uo man so busy ns uot to Ijave the time to rend it, for it is short. Wliat, in the Mayor’s judgment, tho future has in .store for Brooklyn and wliat tile policy of lier authori ties ought to bo are thus nre,suutod by him iu couelu iion : Brmiklyn, if uhs bn true to lieraolf, UasaKi'eatfutiiro. Hbe .slaiiUs to-doy liro-einlnontly a city of homes; sho h.na a touch upon tlio uaviyublo waters of tba Motropo- 11a (ixtemliug alouj? river umt b.iy for ton miles ; she is tUlril lu the Blstcrliood of Auicclvun citios in her lu.smifoctiiros. Located near Now York, with a bflflso liko a Rreat Broadway oouuccliujj tho two cUicB, what has Brooklyu to ofl’er to tbe populations over uathctiug about tbo commercial conlor? Sbo baa a liealtby situation which ad- mitB of rc-idy dralnayo; sbo boa tbo best of water for d rinliius’purpOHOM and for muuulactureH; abo has close at band, for tbo anuiscmont aud pleamro of tba people, (louoy Island. Her park aud hi r ocliools com pare not unfavorably with those of Ihu groat Motropo- lie itself, Tlic.se tbiug.s sho must nounsb aud dovelup. 9ho miistp avo hoc Btreot.s well aud niako bee school occom- niOiIatjon ample, aud her scitool tcacbiug must bo eipiai to the boat. Slio must clean her streets well and make hoc water supply so full that a shortage ia never dreamod of. ahe must porfoot and cxlond bor sewev- ago .snd mainUiu tbo elnvloucy of her Poliou and i'iro departmenls aud keep thorn equal to hoc growing All those tbiiigs requlro money. Home of tbom have been so far negiooted that they requlro a great deal of money. Lot ne bars no more Rroat public works for a dooado, like bridgo or park. Hut lot iin dovotoonrso’vos to onr currant ncede and build up tho city to greater efficiency and porfeclion lii these homely ways, aud wo shall soo Ilrooltlyn growl/.'g lu tbo future as abo has ucToi* grown bofore in her palmiest days. T li« N e w U a i l r o a i l C n n iiuitiS ioii. The fact that Governor Cleveland made no refereneo whatever iu his message to the law providing for n railro.ad cqmmi.seion is very properly accepted as proof that, iu the Gover nor’s judgment, the discussion ou the siibj ect has closed for the present, and that the Bimplo duty d ’Dvolves upon him of carrying out the law passed by Die Le;;islaturo lust year, in so far as its exocutiou depends uiion the Governor and tho party which supports liim. The Governor, iu other\ words, proposes to make good the ['lodge given by bis party before the election, flint, iu so far as the Democrats are coueorued, the law, ns it i.s, siiould bo fairly carried out, and should bo insured a full trial. It appears to be an open seer\t at Albany that several mors or loss influential representatives of the Gov ernor's parly iu boDi Houses are of tbo opinion that Die Domoerut.s are conceding more than tli'.'V siiouhl iu permitting the llailroad Conimis- sionhiw logo iiitoelractnsit is. Tlio Demoernts linvo tho power to change it, nud it so hap pens that a ehaugo could, pos.si)ily, bo made iu the law iu Die direction of what would seem to he sound public policy. The law, as itstand:s, was tbe result o t a compromise, and of a eouqiromisc for which neither party is disposed to accept ruspou.sibility. But tho Democrats knew as much about Die law iu S.qnember Iasi as they do now, and in their conveutiou they indorsed Dio law as it stands. The party is bound iu honor to make good its pre-oloction pledge, and those who know Governor Cleveland best will fiud least difficulty iu belioviug tliat he has diflcounteunuced every suggestion lookiufe to a change iu Die law. Intimatious have been throwu out that the Domooratic majority iu the Senate will lake tho responsibility of doing tbut wliieli a Democratic Governor could not do with honor—evade tho execution of tbo law, as it is, iu its tetter aud spirit. Iu carrying out Die law as it stands, tho (Sovem- or is bound to appoint ns one of the throe Eail- road Coniiiiissiouors the gontleuiau designated for that office by the Board of Trade and Transportation and the State .Anti Monopoly L'.ugue. Tho Governor is restricted iu the choice of the second Oommissionor to the ex tent that he must bo selectod from the party which was shown to be iu the minority at the la«t election—Dmt is, tho Kepublican party. The Governor is loft free to select the third Commissioner. It follows that the Commis sion will be non partisan to start with, aud we may be sura there are Democrats of the thrifty sort who do not look with favor on tho appointment of two officials, who arc to be paid eight thousand dollars por annum each, from outside the Demoemtio ranks when the Democratic parly has the power to change the law to suit itself. The Damoemts, however, will do best by keeping faith with tho citizens whoso support they obtained by their ratification ot tho act [iroviding for the supervision of railroad corporations. It is ia the power of tho Demoorats to openly break faith by changing the law, but to this wo may bo sure tho Governor will uot be a party. It is within tho power of the Democrats in the Senate to break faith by evasion—that is, by declining to confirm fiio Governor’s ap pointees. The Democrats in the Senate eould uot make a worse beginning than this would be. It would ofcvtaiiily alienate from their party the -Anti Jfoiiopoly .sentimont of the State, and it might mark the beginning of a contest within tho lines of the Democratic party wliioli would cloud its fnturo prospocta, bright ns they now noom to be. In politics, as in private affairs, tho path of hofior is the path of safety. The honor of the Demooratio party is pledged to the execution of the Rail ro a d Oouimissiou a c t'as it is, and tho thing to do is to proceed to enforce it. If in tho practical workings of the law it is fonnd to defective, it can be amended, and the po-wer to make any change required wiU remain in tlie hands of the Demooiktio party, if it makes it plain to the people that it is worthy of the trust vopoRed in it last Fall b'jr the voters with Nub.ituntml unanimity. word inspiration. That a man who iuolines to subject aU evidence to a ratiouM test should reach this oonolusion is not si^risin g , but that a leading clergyman of an orthodox de nomination should publicly prooiaim snob a belief without rebuke from tho authorities of the church is most remarkable. S m t d n g a n O c e a n S team e r* It is possible, perhaps, that tho steamer City of Brussels, of the Inman line, which was run into and sunk at ' tho mouth of the Mersey, yesterday, with a loss of ten lives, may ’oa raised and repaired, but the disaster seems to have been but the climax of a long series. Since the loss of the City of Boston, a decade or so ago, with all on board, misfortune seems to havo attended the beautiful {steamships of this company— the list of broken shafts, propellers and machinery since that time being suggestive. The City of Brussels for five years held about the same relation to the Inman Company that the Alaska now does to tho Williams <fc Guion. She was the favorite of patrons of the line, the crack boat and the champion for speed. But since the accident which disabled her in 1877, and forced her to proceed with a num ber of pilgrims under sail alone, she lost her prestige. She has been ashore once, and onoe ran down a schooner in the bay. It cannot be maintained that Captain Land was to blame in lying to in a fog at the mouth of tho Mersey, but the Glasgow steamer, Kirby Hall, which sank her, mauAged to get into Liverpool without difficulty. However, this vessel was to blame unquestionably. Sho was apparently steam ing nt full speed, without a sufficient orew, nud paid no attention to the bell aud fog horn ot the Brussels. The unfortunate accident will uot, however, tend to restore the sunken steamer’s prestige, should sho bo raised and repaired. XIio W r a n g l e A b o u t tUo V o I I o iv s to iie P a r k . The average man living in Now York upon such income ns falls to his lot may not take a vivid aud transcendent interest in the Yollow- stouo Park, a region that ho is never likely to inspect, whose beauties he must content him self with reading about in case a magazine should ever bo passed to him second hand and whose fauna aud flora are jost about as real to him as the man eating tree of Africa or the ornithorliyncns of the antipodes. To him the fact that Sheridan’s vandals made tar gets of the deer and antelope, ns Mr. Rufus Hatch ia inclined to allege, is of no more personal ooncern, if it is a fact, than the statement that some shrewd, Yankee had car ried <off tho North Pole and proposed to ex hibit it ns the principal attraction of a travel ing museum. Long before he is iu financial position to travel to tho National Park, he will, with customary American eutorprise, have raised a family round him whose daily wants will banish all thought of holidays, aud whoso baby story books will furnish all ho is likely to know about the elk, the moose, the mountaiu sheep or any of the in- terestiug beasts which Senator Vest’s bill takes uudor its especial care and protection. And yet, no doubt, when ho begins to realize that Congress iu a spirit of more than usual wisdom aud ooncern for tho people has ordained that a stretch of some 3,410 square miles about the headquarters of the Yellowstone, including the marvelous geysers nud boiling lakes aud sway ing stones and awful canons, shall remain n national park forever, and that vandals have already laid violent hands upon it, he will feel indignant. Ten years have passed since that act became law, but beyond that the appoiut- raeut of a superinteiuleut to nominally look after it nothing lias been done toward making it a park in any sense, save nud except suoli action as has been taken by an iraprovomout company to which certain property' has been leased by tbe Interior Departmout. This action h.is Iioen siifflcieut to provoke a rather heated controversy aud ns the question is likely to be discussed iu Congress before long a few words upon the subject may be of interest. Tlio park is or was rich iu fish and game. It has lately been a favorite hunting ground of trappers and other people who have been killing the great and sranll game for tho market. Rufus Hatch and others have formed an improvement company to construct roads, establish stage routes, build hotels and otlier- ■wise partially civilize the tract. By the terms of their lease (hey are not to be molested by oompetition or otherwise, and this lease has been given them under two sec- tions of the Revised Statutes, which empower the Sooretary of the Interior to dispose of what at Brighton Bench would be called the “ privileges\ of the place. Geueral Sher- idau and friends have been through the park recently, like what Mark Twain described as “ an army with bummers,’’ burning over l,5,ono acres of valuable timber lands, slaugh tering deer wantonly, chipping away gey ser cones with battering rams and doing siioh mischief ns a party of 200 military pickniokers, with no fear of courts martini bofore their eyes, might reasonably be expected to do. So, at least, says Mr. Hatch. But hearing tliat a lease had been given to the company, General Shoridaii wants the park put under military control, if his remarks are to bo literally ac cepted ; whereas, tho improvement company gunvautoes that it will protect tlio domain, if BO allowed, against all vandals—military, predatory, civil or uncivil. In such a relation stood the ease when Sen ator Vest a month ago caused the Secretary of Die Interior to present to the Senate a report as to tho lease, aud so forth, which report and kindred matters wout to the Committee on Territories, from which it emerged with a re port and the draft of a bill. The report .sots forth, in a word, that tho improvement com pany is a monopoly, aud the bill, in a nutshell, throws the park open to every adventurer who chooses to erect a shnuty iu it, while at the same time it prohibits tbe killing ot auy game animal except with n hook aud line. Pan thers and catamounts may be shot ; but elk, bison and .salmon must bo reeled in and gaffed if they are to grace the hunter’s bag. Virtue, Horatius 'tells us, lies between oxtrsmes, and possibly a bill may yet be produced which will simultaneously protect the game aud tho public interest in this grand na tional pleasure ground. There is no doubt that Senator Vest is right in his.determ i nation to protect the game and the pub lic. It is true, unquestionably, that the Yellowstone Park is the h unting ground of the stealthy American pot hunter and the wealthy Britannic Nimrod, It should be mined by neither. But it is also true that without some sort of hotel aecommodatiouB it will still be a -wildemess and n ot a park and that proper accommodations ought to be provided for tourists. At present, picnic parties cannot penetrate very far into it, especially where there ore ladies and children. Everybody rides on donkey back, and the donkey is a patient beast; but camping out has its drnw-f backs. On the other hand so has monopoly, and to surrender the park accommodations, no m atter how good, to a company without restrictions is contrary to tho spirit of Ameri- onu institutions. But if Tom, Dick aud Har ry, or other persons, are to be allowed the right to deface the park with shantlos, aud a plot of land for grazing and other pur poses is to bo surrendered to every adven turer who desires the privilege, the park will speedily bo as unpioturesqne aud as business like as an exaggerated AYest Brighton Beach. It would seem as though tho Committes on Territories had orrod in one direction, as the Secretary of the Interior in the other. A system of accommodations might be devised, one would think, that would avoid monopoly on the one baud and squatting with its at tendant evils on tho other. S m r B o o l e F r a u d s . An explanation from President Arthur is iu order. Is he siucerely desirous that all the Star route rogues should be punished or is ho only playing on tho credulity of the American people? On the I8tb of last mbnth_Hr. J. A. Walsh wrote him a letter oontaining some fendants “ pooled their issuaB,\ the myaterions oonsequenoe of which was that when Walsh went before the Grand Jury in July, 1882, that remarkable body declined to tako any Yio- tlco of the conclusive testimony and support ing documents that he offered. Throe weeks have elapsed sinoe the President received this letter, and yet neither ho nor the Attorney General (to whom Walsh had previously writ ten) has deigned to reply. This is a Boandalous situation. It places Geueral Arthur and Mr. Brewster in the attitude of men seeking to shield Kellogg and Brady from the legal con sequences of their rascality. Public confi. deuce that Dorsey aud his pals \would get their deserts has never been strong. Walsh's exposure m ustuttorly destroy all hope of jus. tioe from the present legal proeeediugs. ■THE MAYOR n i s A n n u a l S f e s s a g e to t h e C o m m o n C p i i u c i l . n u s s i a a n d G o r m a n } '. How uiuoh barking may go ou without bit ing depends upon the character of the parties concerned, but both Germans aud Russians seem disposed to put Die inquiry to an experi mental test. The Germans diaouss a pamphlet conceruiug the best modes of attaokiug Rus sia, aud the Russians snarl at the Germans ns if they wanted to quarrel, nud show a loaning toward France, whose new Ministry the Ger. man Emperor intimates he does uot trust. Prince Bismarck is brought in as repeating a conversation to the effect that the Czar looks upon Poland as a sort of white elephant ha would have no objection to hand over to Ger many, ns he thinks Germany would do more with .it than his own people tvonld ever do. In the pamphlet just mentioned, the great military importance of Russian Poland is pointed out, nud, iu case of a rupture, the necessity of tho Germans oocu[iyiug it is shown. The First Napoleon, who prophesied that Russia would try to invade India, said all depended Upon Poland. If the Russians could succeed in “incorporating Poland” with their own oouutry ho thought sho could dom inate over the coutiueut and “ gain the greatc.sk “ stop toword subduing India.\ He saw what tho German strategists kuow. too well—that the Warsaw district is, in tho bauds of Rus.5ia, a hostile wedge driven right into Goraiaiiy; aud though, since his time, there is a powerful German Enqiire instead of a weak aggregation of States, tho Polish position is still of primary importance, aud no Gernuiu can be contented to .see it in Eussian hands. Tho more the possibility of a quarrel with Russia is talked of the more the Germans ought to see that their military advoenUs of a ' ‘ scieutifle frontier” committed them to a groat mistake in holding Alsace and Lorraine. If they had the good souse to negotiate for the restoration of these prov inces, they would have nothing to fear from Russia, as aloue \they could boat her in Po land, nud she would not then have auy ohancs of getting tho French for her ally. It is a noticeable thiug for tho Germans to have to watch every change in the French ministry with alarm lest it should bode a Franeo-Eus- sian alliance, and the hard, shrewd sense of Bismavok is n ot likely to bo dazzled or dazed by any talk about glory aud prentiye. He can estimate better than tho soldiers what their Koieutific frontier is wortli, aiid what it costs to keep it. Wore he, however, to advise a restoration of the provinces, tho military party, wliich is the strongest at court, would not listen to it, and the Gormans must think, it war should occur, how they can moot tho daiigei's their own rulers have made. 'A'lic A r c tic T r a j f c d } . Tho average practical joker does uot neoes- sarily commend himself to his ucighbors and especially to his victims as a person of vast iutcllectual vigor and activity, but ho is uot usually a base and cruel scoundrel. He may nuuoy one for the moment by pulling away one’s chair at the moment of sitting down and thou laugh himself [lurplo at the uudiguifled consequence, or he may hit one a playful punch iu the ribs sufficient to fracture them, but he does not intoutionnlly caiise suffering. The trouble with him is ratlier stupidity and folly than malignity. Hence it would be flat tery to apply the term to the inventor of the cruel hoax relative to the discovery of tho re mains of Lieutenant Chipp’s command. The story as told is bungled; it bears upon its face evidences of manufacture by a blockhead. But the mental and moral state of a man who would tear open afresh wounds that are be ginning to heal by reviving tho hopes of the families of those men who undoubtedly per ished that they possiblj* have escaped, is not that of a practical joker. It is rather that of a coarse and brutal knavo, who takes pleasure in the sufferings of others. For such an of fense no adequate provision is made in law, but should tbe perpetrator of tho hoax bo discovered he ought to be put in the pillory of public opinion. The Financial Condition of the City—In> debtedness Colteotions of Arrears of Taxes—Awai’ds for RamaKes for lands Takoa by the Clty-Tho Bridge. Water Besouroes»The'Streeis and Street Cleaning—The Sewers—A Glance at the Yarlous Bepariinonts—The East Side Lands—Bedford Arenue — Work Done Under tho Excise Law-'-Board of Edu cation—Board of Aldermen ExtraWork. Bapid Transit and Miscellaneous Mat ters—A Document Replete with Interest. Mftyor L ow ’ h annual measage to the Com mon OouQoil WQB pi'esontod to tbst body nt its meotlng thlB aftorooou. Siuoa its preparation hie Honor lifts prepared some notes additional to tbo message wbiob may be takeu as part of that intorestlDg deliveranoo. These notes will be fonnd under the head of ^^Adden- dum,’’ on the fourth page of today’s B aoi . r . The message is as fpMows: M ayob ’ s O ffjcm , C ity H all , BitooKnnf, January 8 , 18.S3. ) lo tha IlonorabU^ the Common Comicil: Q bntl £MEX—In ftnoordaucd with tbe charter, I have tbe honor to submit tbe following communicatiou • The outstAnding obligations of Brookl5n, os shown in tbe CuatvollBr'a staiemont .of oity bonds ami cortiiloates of indebted- 84*2,ior»,nrii.io 32,11)0.00 4,071,327,70 tfl8,6l)R.07 ness amount to......................... . ........ This Is a decreasd from last year of ...... The siukiUg fund of tho city amounts to.... A Rain, aa compared with Uet year, of ........ ITnis is oquiYAlent to a ftirthefurther in the city debt in a like sum.] Totaliutal debtebt Decembermber 31,1882...1 deoraaee .... d Dece 3 Less sinking fund ........ . Net debt December 31. 1882,., Net debt December 31,1831,., Deorease iu 1882.......................................... 4680,698,07 Tbe fo'.lowing tabloa show the obauges in tbo vnriouB items of the debt during the year: P£BMAN£HT DKDT—PAYABLE TROM TAXATION. Prospect P ark Loan ........... New Vork BridKO ................ Mojint Prospect Square ....... | WftUabout BaylmproTonient ! Boldi&r.V Aid Fund ............... i Kent ATenue Uasiu ............. . ' Totals ..................... I Amount (Dec. 31, 1881.iOec. '\issz. *9,‘336.06b.OO| S9,'331!,00(UVI lo,43:i.ono.ou ii.uwi.ooo.oo ilO.UOftOO 21 >. 8 , 000.00 5.'i2,0UO.I.'0 90.000.00 3M.0(X).IU 012 . , 000.00 232,090.00 oim (K) ....|42 0 .» ^ QW.<>3 421,233,000.00 laofoase in debt for the New Vork Bridge ......... jfiG.»7.000 Decrease of debt for VvaUabout Bay Impruvoiuant 40,(XX) Decrease of debt forKont Avenue B«»n ............. 232,(KX) ^bowing a net inereaee of tbe permanent debt, mdopen dent of water debt, of $370,090. WATKR D7.BT. Permoaent waist loan,. _jnJ'= T ,Y 8 8 i.L D 4 ™ ;'r8;82. ..... f Increase in debt of permanent w&tor loan for the last year, $29,0(X). TEMPO' h ABY DKBT— payable tbom A8.SEB8MENT8. Brooklyn local unprovomont. Gowanus (.’anal ioiproveipent Bushwlck nv. improvement.. Union Rt-. improfenient ........ South Seventh at. imp'm’t... irapi ;ker ___ ivonlDat. imp'm’t... Fourth av. iraprovomont .... Kniokmi ockor and Uentrai av. sewers.......................... Boulovani improvement,.... I So BrooklynSeworage fund. > Asse^^inent fund bonds ...... I Afsessni't fund bonds W <tS; Sewerngo fund bonds ......... ( I Oetiticates of indebtedness.' i Aneariigo oompilatlon b’ds.i * i ! « 104.000. 00 ir)7,ooo.(w 273.000. 00 $213,000.00 140,000.00 J.'iO.OO'XOO 26(MK>0.00 177,()0O.«JO 297,tO->.WJ 100 , 000.00 93.0(X».00 842,000.00 I.400,(>00.00 i.oOfi.ooo.oal.ofW.OOO.n.i ,72r».ono.oo 237..Vil.l9 Totals ...... ........ 1 «7,23;),531.Ul| il'v.l;i,,-.,1l,I8 DfjtToaB-i in debt, for Bushwick avenuo improve* Docreasn in detit. Union street improvemoni ........ Decrease in debt, South Seventh btreet improve- $24,fX)0 Itt.OOO 66,000 20,tK)0 24,000 DecreAse in debt. Fourth avenue improvement __ Derroaso in debt, Knickerbocker and Uentral avenue suweia....................................................... 320,CKK> Det're.’iso in d<»bt, Sbutn Brooklyn Seworuge fund lOO.iKlO Decteosa in debt, aasossmontfund bonds., ........... 23;v.OO increase of debt, for sewerage fund bonds ............ 2.\0 Increase of deht, for certiiioatos of mdehtcitm an. Incroaso of debt, for arrearage compilatiou bonds 30,noo .Showing a uet aecrea.se of tbe teaiporary debt of $320.0* :0 TAX CEinlFlUATV.fl, I66UKD IN ANTICIPATION OF TUF. PAY.MKNT OF TAXES IN AUUEABS. _ _________________ .Det’^ l J n i ^ r i W CBi'tVllcatoa.' ........ ......1 Si,27tV)CWMK)! $4,'u.0,0(Xi^ Dccreaao, of d ibt for tax oertihciUos for iho year, : $ 120 , 000 . RECAPITULATION, Amonnt, Deo^l^, litel.lDot mnOQt debt, in ' dent of water loan. Water loan..«...i.......4.«.. Temporary debt, payable from .is-’wssmuut....; ........ Tax cortiticatos.................... mount. 31, 1; 82. $20,a%7.(XK>.0J $2l,236,0(h).00 P,830,500.00| 9,8o9,bOO.OU ^ tals.. 7.230,r»5l. 1 ft I 6,ft 19.5.'» 1.10 4,270.000.00 4.1GU,000.00 ■ . ■iaj2.lW.H51. Ki.1,l>.11,19 Tiia niai'cli o f electricity is, so to speak, up ward and onward. Since the di.soovary that tho wires may be used as a vermiu exteruiiua- tor, a public sentiment has been aroused iu j ahoiTd iio3 caou vear Keen growing less. in trn n 'n r in n th e elertrio l i i 'h t in to nil ■ am happy to eay, not a dollar belonging to 1883 has fav o r o t lim o a u c i n g rue eiectrio llg u t in to an fo. „i,;igntions of 1682? Tho debt atate- Cominon Council chambers. Tuorease—Permanent debt, Indepoudeut of water loan, 1379,001};. %yatcr loan, $29/)00; total incrouso, $408,000. Decrease—Temporary debt payable from asBOHsments, $320,000; tax certlUcates, $120,OOO ; total decrease, $440,000. Showing a deoroaso iu the bbllgations of the city of $32,000.\,-, . A.’. Siuking fund December 31.1881/. ................. $4.022,tt2S».f2 Sinking fund Decembeij^Sl, ............... 4,071.327.79 Showinfir inproaa^ in ' ItuUould be remarked that the water debt 1 b pirod for by the water rerenuo. I append to this messago various notes upon tbe diifereut items of the city debt which contain matter interesting to Iboso wlsbmg more pnriicular ucipiaiot* ance with (his suljject. It has cost mo muoh trouble to prepare thorn, and, preserved in this shape, I (hlnk thoy will save trouble to otUets. It is enough hero to point out tho significance of tho foregoing figures. There has uot been a year for many years in which, dui'ins tho month of December, moneys raised for the oiisuiug year havo not boon used to some oxtont to pay tho bills of the year just onding. Tho efleot of.thia has been to keep down the debt statement each year and to throw forward into the new year the burden of financiering for all UGficienoieB. 'While the outstaudlng arrears were luoresRlng oaoh yoar. this was perhaps as wise as any other coarse, al though, as it seems to XU0| the fuci ought to have been stated. Owing to the progress mado.ln tho last three years in collecting arrearages, tbo uecesaity for borrowing This ye»r, I The Fulton (Illinois) Republican tells of a hunter in that uoighborhooa who was so lucky i p 09 .u 20 , our outstanding tax certificates havo nevorthe- as to get ten coons up one tree. If President Arthur could get all the half breed leaders, from Jim Blaino down, in n position anal- agous to that above described, would he bo able to resist the temptation to treat them as the hunter treated the coons ? Tho Run states that tho Rev. Dr. Deems prayed earnestly in the Cliurch of Die Stran gers, yesterday morning, Dint God would cou- vort the choir. There aro many choirs in whose behalf the entire congregation wohld join the Vniuistor iu petitioning tho Throne of Grace if conversion would only have the effect of teaching them how to sing. Mayor Edson is in the midst of the perils and perplexities that attend the distribution of the spoils among the factions of the New York Democracy. His way is liko that which Solomon desoribeB : “ The way of a ship in ‘ the midst of a storm ; tbe -way of a ser- “ pent on a rook;’’ or the more recently re corded way of a boy who has intrepidly over turned a wasp’s nest. 'T h e Cincinnati Enquirer thinks that the Pendleton Civil Service Reform bill extiu-, gnishes the hopes of the Democracy iu this world, and declares that thoy must look for their reward beyond the grave. Our esteemed contemporary is too easily discouraged. The Pendleton bill is full of crannies and loop holes through which the sunshine of Federal patronage can find its way. The enterprising State Treasurer of Ten nessee, whose defalcation amounts to $500,000, or fifty per cent, of the total amount of public money in his hands, has been captured in San Antonio, Texas, and is now probably on bis way back to Nashville. It is reported that while tho party was in New Orleans a member of it stated that he thought Mr. Polk would not be arrested, because the capture of so eminent a gentleman was not desirable. The meaning of this oracular obseiwation is ex- plained by the fact that the joint committee of the Legislature which has been examining his accounts has found out that certain prom inent gentlemen were coustautly iu the habit of bomiwing from Mr. Polk without appar- euDy giving any security whatever, and that their reputation is involved. The belief was entertained that the scandal was too big to be investigated aud that Mr. Polk would there fore escape punishment. This notion seems to ha deceptive. Hon. S. S. < j OX has received the following note from a correspondent, who makes his appeal with a brevity and clearness that are to be commended : I um solas Into tbs bnainssi of ralBing plneappla* soil otbsr tropical fruits in bot bouues, and I want prolsollon igalust tho “ paupar labor\ of tbs Wsst Indies for m y '’Infsnt Indiiatry.” I purpose employ ing two email boys, and American labor must bo pro tected, even if plnuopples cost bve dollars apiece. Don’t you forgot it I Yoiire, . C. CHOWDER S mith , a Protectionist, P. 8.— ‘«3,\ atahda for ■•Clam.\ Mr. Clam Chowder Smith is evidenOy a man with whom the advocates of protection UdrU UQHlt lUi }uu ux auo ^. 4- uo ucut. aiutu- ment, tboreforo, is qvbd more encouraging tUau It ap pears to be. Although tbe Tax Colieetor tnrued over to tbe Ar rears Department November 15 last, au uncoUectnd balauco of taxes belonging to 1882, amountins to $1,- 009.U20, our outstanding tax cortificatea h less iMJon reduced iu tbe Rum of $120,000, At tbe samo time the three issues of ABRessment ; Fund bonds, Sewerage Fund bonds and Asaessmeot Fund Bonds (\V. and 8.) bavo been Increased only to tho extent of $20,000. Tbeso tbroo classes of bonds are short bonds, rnnuing only for three years. In connection with tax certifloates they have been tbo means ^Yitb wbloU tbo city bas financiered In iho face of continual deficioncios fu coHocUons. It therefore appears that, despito (ho issue uf obliga tions for now work to tho extent of $916,000, uot only bas tbo debt been reduced $680,000 during 1882, but we have ceased to borrow ahead ; we bare reduced tbo outstand ing short bonds and tax certificates by $100,000, and we have paid our way tills year as though there bad boon no defleienoy in eoIlecUug tbe tax levy. We owe these results to tbo large coUoctlon of arrears In 1881 and 1882. ABBBABS. «9,e.5,l8S.57 (Of this the law ol 1^82 yielded $1,228.- 822.83). The amount turned oi ) amount turned over to < I unpaid, of tuxes, vrat«r r; lents, Novoinbor 15, 1882, lo tbo dopartjuonl rates uQcl assoss. !,435,893.92 9bowing on oxcesa of col'eotions -------- . rent Arreorago in 1&H2 of ............ . ............... $1,170.21 In J88J tbe total collections wore $2,97r>,(K>l.ft3. Tb*0 sasof cuboctious over arrears incurred in same pc oll over our* ,294.65 cess of cuboctious *‘.285,875.19. P itt Kellogg $20,000 iu postal drafts drawn by Mail GontrbetOr James B. Price and by him delivered,to Kellogg and ex-Assistant J?ost- raastor General Brady for corruptly expedit ing his (Price’s) mail service oa the route from Corpus Cliristi to San Antonio, Texas. Rev. H. Hebor Newton, the eloquent pas- ‘ This declaration Mr. Walsh informed the lor of G1 Souls’ Protestant Episcopal Clmroii, 1 Presinsul ho was prepared to substantiate by New York, is pr.-uebiug a seiits of siinions in | the production of -letters, telegrams, bank whieb he takes tho ground Dial the bftiiis of j checks and posUU drafts. Ho further stated the Old^cstiiment are not “ inspir. d\ in Uie that when it became known that ho would sense that Oliristians generally understand the * be a witnefis for the prosecution the biehly important statemeutd. T)/o wntor do- clared that in his copacity ns a banker He h a d J m a n with whom tne aavocares or provecuou received for coUcctiou from the Hon. Wimarn’’ cannot MTord to trifle. His appeal rests upon 1 ex- uerion wns *1,285,875. 111. ($lt ia certainly true that theao large col'.cctloua make the city’s nominal debt smaller, bat it la to be remem bered that thlB roanlt is reached by tho relinquishment of a large ameunt of clnlniB, Under the coinpromlsoa of the three Arrearage lar.-a the city ban eollected In all a little more than $1,000,000 in cash, and etill holds col lectable Inatollmenta auiouutinB to a Uttle more than $500,000. Tha amount of cloima canceUed in tbe prooesa of ae> enriug tblB reanlt ie $3,500,00a By far the largest emouuts collected under tbe lawa of 1881 and 1882 were received under the aooliona par- mitting full payments with G per ceut. Interest, Instead of a largo default. Under tho law ot 1881 this sum amounted lo $1,639,718.43; iinder the law of 1882 ibis snm amounted to $1,041,890.04. For further details aa to tbe result of these laws I refer you to the tablei pre pared by the licglslrar of Arrears. Undsr ths Arrearage laws of 1831 and 1882 tbo city la authorized to iesue arrearage bonds for all ascartalnad defloiencios. ABREABAGE A000UNT8. « Dnring the last year Controller Bernier iSs bean oompiling the arrearage of the city Into a series ot ledgers which, when completed, will show the eondl- tion of tbe city’s account with each lot In arrears. It has already conenmod a year’s time and $45,000 in money. Tho ledgers for thirteen wards are fldlahed and the others nearly so. It is estimated to need about two months more time and $4,000 more money to bring it to a conclusion. When the work is finished It will bo of great value to tbe city, coetly as It has been. It will then he possible, for the first time, to learu what amount of cluima the oily atm holds against properly aa aeonrity for her temporary debt No Arrearage Bonds to make good deficiencies havo yet boen Issued, only small detlcloucict having been ascertained within the moaning ot the law, iinlil re cently. It will be the policy ot tho city from now ou to aabstltiite arrearage bonds to tho extent ot onr defi- olenciea in collection, for aU temporary debt, as this falls due. Ko provision of law has hitherto existed by which to extinguish Iho temporary debt of tho city, so far as It represents these accnmnlsted deflclencjos in collection. The city, In other words, has carried the debt. It has made no attempt to pay it. It has felt up to this time none of the burden of making good these largo defloieiiciee. As arrearage bonds are i.'sned, however, those defioioneiee will bo funded into perma nent form, and Interest upon them, together with au installment of the prlnclp^, muet bo raised lu each tax levy. Then for the first lime tho city will understand tbe practical boacing of bad government exprcssiug itself in premature and extravagant and fraud iileut lotal Improvements. Tho asseasmente made for benefit have Indeed auBiced to place a largo area within the city under a cloud, tbns causing iuealoiiiable damage. After all the city will be obliged to pay a large propor- tion ot tbe blits. Apart from tbs interest of the city In dollars and cents, it remains as it has been, a eerloua question how to deal with this arrearage problem. It Is not toler able to havo 17 per cent, ot the tax levy nncollectad at the end of a year, and possibly bait of this wholly nn- collootable, beoaueo of the exiatcnco of disputed assass- menta. Another law will be presented to the I.egi5la. turo this year which, I hops, will deal with the matter thoroughly and finally. Framed aa It has been without complioatlone resulting from past legislation, and under tho advice of tho Hon. William U. Evarts, 1 hope it will receive at tbe bands of the Lsgislatnre the atatesmaii- likc treilmont its imporunco deserves. argvimeiits .wbioh thoy have made familiav. To douy him tho consideration ha aska would be to discredit the principles of their policy. It is absolutely true that tho cnlHvation ot American pineapples is an infant industry—a mere babe \mewling and puking iu its nurse’s “ arms.” Without the coddling aud support that a paternal government is honud to giye, it c.iu’not compete with the adult pineapple in dustry of the West.Indies. Mr. 01am Chowder Smith is entitled to bo hoard before the Oom- . mittee of Woys. and M eans,' AWARDS FOB DAMAGES JOB LAHD8 TAKEB BX THE OITT. Another question of Importance gTOwing out of those arrearilgea, and iudlcaUDg etllf auetbor form In which loss will come upon the city a t lari^by reason of them, is lbs question of awards for d sm ^ o s for tbo taking of land. In cases of street opening and a few others, lands have bean condotnned and awards made to tbo. owners for damages, Tbase n^atda hkve bean• con sidered payable but of the asscfemenla for. Improve-., mont, and have In fact been pqtd only ao far as coliee. Uons have been made of Iftesa assessmsnts. U H manifest, however, that when:the city ahaudoned its claims for tba toll amonnt of Vie assessments tho city in effect asAumed ths fail tespofistbiUty tor such awards. Tbs ]>gUlatara wUl bo sskad for authority to Issna. bonds in amounts sufficient to pay aU snah oatstand. ing awards. In my Judgment, the city ought never to have been allowed to tako a foot of land from any one until tho damages allowed therefor had been paid In cash. A great city bas no right to aak fait doaling of its oltUsuB and then In Ita turn to deal with them n n - fxlrVf v <H b wh» ask* equity must do equity,\ the ! BRioaB. It ie pleasant to be able to knew by tba ovidencs of onr cyee that the bridge h ia mads suhatastisl pcogresa during the past twelve monlbe. It Is confidently ex- pasted that i t vrlU be completed anti thrown open to trarel wUhln-'lha preBenl year*- The Annualinferost obaffice npon our bridge bonds at thli time is $C6t),560. Of this snm $210,000 have been raised annutily In tho tax levy.' The balahoe of Interest has been paid wlih tho proceeds of bonds. Slose the beglnnini; of tbe work bonds h ate been Issued to pay Interest to the ex tent of $1,869,625. As ft msftDS of oouooftllDg from the citizens what tbe bridge would cost to carry, subh floaDclerlog has much to commend it. As a method of coustrueilng a great public work it cannot be so easily justified. Delays would not hare been readily tolerated bsd the cltlzeus felt at all times tbe burden of the enterprise. With tba oompletlon of tba bridge the whole amount of iuterost must be raised through the tax levy. This wilt involve an item of $150,000 aud upward which has never ap peared before. In this coaneoUon I may say that Brooklyn’s abare of the support of free canals is likely to Involve taxaflon to the extent of $100,000 more. It Is evident, therefore, that only tho greatest economy oau keeplthe taxoB*of our oUy withiii a moderate figure. After this year I havo no doubt tho bridge will yield some income, , but probably not enough to paysuy large proportion of the interest i^ lo s chairman of the committee of bridge trustees having the question of tolls under coDsideratiou. I forbear oomtneuts at this time upon what seems to me the true polidy of the bridge. Something, no doubt, will have to be done sooner or later to prepare a proper approach on the Brooklyn side to this great avenue between the two cities. I believe tbe wise course for tbe moment Is to do the least that is possible. We need to spend too much in more vital ways, to be justified In enlarging materially the bridgo debt. WATEB. • The year 1882 bUs made valuable eontribulions to , our water works. The Common Council have authorized: 1. The eouetruction .of now pumping engines at < Uidgewood, with a capacity of 15,000,000 galloDA daily. 2. A d ezienslon of our water supply through a sys tem of driven wolls between East Now York and Jamaica, under a contract to furulsh 5,000,000 gallons daily. 3. Tho laying of a 36 inch main from the Uidgewood reservoir to tho Eastern District of tho eity. Work has been progressing for several months upon the first^wo Items. The other has uot yet been con tracted for. Bonds to the extent ouly of $29,000 havo bean issued thus far. The estimated coat of each im- provemeut for which bonds may be issued i s ; Pamping engines, Sic ......... . ................................$177,500 Driven wehs. etc....................................................... Now main, etc ......................................................... 270.000 The now engine aud the ue^Y main will add greatly to the offlclenoy of the city’s water works, but will not add to their iuoume. The inorease of 6,000,000 gallons daily will enlargo the water rorenue cousiderAbly, more than enough uUimal*ily*to pay for all throe Improve ments. iu this conuoctiou it eaoms to me that the Chief Eogineor of the city, Mr. Tan Buren, Is eutUlod to much praise. Assuming that tho driven wells aro suo- coHsful, which I 800 no reason to doubt, he will have increased the water supply ol tho city within the last throe years to iho extent of 12,000,000 gsllous daily at a coat of $300,000. ’When It la considered that this quantity is one-third of our whole supply and that our water debt is nnarly $1(^000,000. the extent of this aohievemeut is better understood. Of course, in this view tho city has had tho benefit of tho conduit and existing mains without cost, but the fact, nevertheless, remaloa that Mr. Van Baron has utilized our water shed Buecovsfully to this additional extent. Mr. Van Buren estimatoa that from 3,000,000 to 0,000,000 gallons more can be secured within the prosont limiis of tho conduit. After that he is inelined to believe we musk go eastward for a further increase. Surreys have been begun for the purpose of ascertaining what can be done In that direction. Work on that baols will be more costly, Tbe salary of tho gentleman who has accomplished this fur Brooklyn has been $3,u00 per annnm. 1 be lieve it would be in accordance with good businesn prinolplea to mako It $5,000. Ills asaietaut ougineors, also, Mr. Borgen and Mr. DeMcrrUt, earn moro than they have boen receiving. In euggoating an increase In their salarloa as well, I desire it to be understood that to my mind tbe Increase in each case ie due to the man, and not to the ofilce. - THE SXBEKTS. Under the law authorizing the expenditure of $200,- 000 in the repaviug and repair ot streets, tho following streets have boeu repaved with granite blocks at a cost of $105,000 : Furman street—its entire length. Plymouth etreet, between Bridge street and Catha rine Ferry, HamlHon avenue, between the Ferry and Van Brunt street. Kent avenue, between Divleiou aud Claesou avenues. Of the above snm spent upon these streota, $20,000 was iooured by the Oommlasiouer of City Works from the Brooklyn City Railroad Company, as their oohtrl- bution toward the space between tho tracks. Ic hap pened that no other railroad company was afifectod by tbo etreotfl paved. Montague street, a part Of Plorrepont street, a part of Union street, and a part of First place, were surfaced with asphaltum pavement, under a contract to keep tbom iu order for five years, at a eost of $.32,000. This work is dllTerent from anytUing hitherto done lu the city. Tbe pavement is in all respects similar to that used lu the streets of Washington. The report of tbo Department of City Works will give further detail?. The policy of Brooklyn has hitherto boeu to repava streets by aseessmeut. In my judgmant, this policy is short sighted as well as unfair. Property that aaii afford it has good pavements; all other stroete, uo matter how Important as thoroughfares,havo poor ouos. 1 boliovo the city should change its policy in this re- epec(: that it should assess property ouce aud onco ouly for paving, aud afterward repave as well as re pair at tho general expense. This is tho policy of New Vork, and 1 think of most cUJes. Brooklyn could make i few better investments than to pave its river streets I from Red Hook to Newtown Creek and Ite great arteries of imeruai travel with graulto blocks. Some of tho30 streets are already so paved but there are many gaps which will never be filled up, uuless tho w ork la done as a city charge. I append a statement of the streets that in my judgment ought to be so paved. An expenditure of $iOO,Ul)U a year, with the Bystomatic purpose of carry lug out this plan, would, In teu years, iuoko Brnukiyn a difiTerent city. Tho city should lay uo cobble stones. They belong to tbe past, and should bo repinood by granite blocks as fast as possible. STREET GLEANING. Tho presouk law In relation to street oloauiug limlU the annual expenditure for this purpose to $70,060. TUo street clcauing contract also includes the removal of ashes. The city cont&iua 78,000 housos aud has 330 miles of paved streets, i t is impossiblo to clean the city satlBiactorily for ao small a sum. The law should be amoDdt^d so as to permit tho Board of Estimate to raise for the future whatever sum they see lit. I should not object to a proper clause in the law provid ing for the expenditure this year of a larger sum tliau the amouut raised in the budget, ihul is, $70,000. SEWERS. During the past year tbe Court of Appeals has aus- tnlncd u verdict for damages againsfctbo city beoauso of the temporary outlet of the Third avenue sower. The CBS*, turned the sowor was uot cou- siructod as originally planned under the law. This sewer was intended to be carried down ,to Forty-uintU street, but proved ho costly that it was.t'uraad into the bay upon a fiat at Twenty-eighth street. . A bill to extend the sewer at the city's expense was defeated in the last Legislature by objecUone from tho Eastern District that that section got no l enefit from It. It ia tb bei hoped that this strong eeotioual feeling in the oily will uUimatoly die away through the pasaago of time uml if need be the influence of just such ror- dicte. Tho whole city, by decision of the higlicat court, shares now in paying the damages, and the city after all must extend the sower, Tho distnot through wUish the sewor must go la unimproved, nud for itself doea not need this sewer. The city V tth collect nothing, in my opinion, except 80 muoh aa may come to it through a proper charge for couuectlona, when conneotionB are actually made. This would uUlmateiy give cost without iutcreet. Tho cost of ©.xtcnsloD, estimated at $150,000, must be ex tended over several years. The Kolckerbooker avenue sewer emptying into tho headwaters of Newtown Creek, also calls for extension, and uecesaarlly largely at tho city’o oxpoiiso. This sower to teach tide water imiet pass through districts already sewered, and which do not need It. The property which it drains Is largely imlmproved, aud forms already a part of our arrearage problem. It Bimply cannot pay the whole cost of the work. Ou tho other hand, if the BOwer is not extended, all that part of tho city will in time be liable to sickness beoauso ol this sewer‘8 temporary outlet. To carry it to the East River will cost $100,000. The work ehonld be done and the oily’s share of the cost extended over sovaral ^^O^ntil tho arroaroga problem, is settled, I apprehend that no Imnrovcraents Hhould be made, exoopt such cs can be jusillied iu whole or iu part as a city charge. To attempt Irapfor/unenfs by assessnient until tbo arrear age due the city ia aubsttiniially removed Is, lu my judgment, out of the quesUou. Under present clrcumetanci'S to assess is praclioally to do tbe work at the general expeuNo, in a form in which tbe burden ia iudeed hidden for a time, but hid den only to fall upon the city in many oases In aggra vated form. It la not to be denied that it is a hardship to tbe unimproved parts of tbe city not to be able to get needed local Improvemauts ; but, like iudividuuls, they must yield fo the InoTltablo. I favor tho continuance without modification of the law of 1878, which necessitates tho payment lu advance of two-Uiirds of the eost of a local improvemcot before it can be bygun. From this point of view agalc, we see the importance of some thorough adjustment of tho arrears. THE DEPARTMENTS. The dliforeni departments of the city govoromont, fts it seome to mo, havo been ooudnotod with gratifying effteienoy. Tho gentlemen In charge of them have spared no efforts to serve the city welL Tho system of responelbilHy to a common head oerUluly has produced hurmouioua admtnietratlOD. I believe that U bas caused also iDoreased effioieucy and economy. Tbv Commissioner of City Wocka baa aarod in salarlea $17,000 in the ordinary force of bis department. Ha has spent in labor $06,000 more than his predesossor, in the same interval. This is due to the large sums spent for street repairs. Tbe sewers have been (estcd by rain storms of unu.siial severity, and by this most satisfac tory of all teets^they have boon proven to be clean aud 111 good order. Tho effort has Wen made oouiiuually to do the city’s work as though It were private businesB. , Tbe report from the Department of Health shows a marked falRug off during tho laat few months iu scar let fever and 'Tiiroughout lUo whole year la diphtheria. Although Brooklyn was &c one time 'tbreateuod with snianpox, wo have escaped this dreadful dlseaso almost entirely. This Is probably due in Urge measure to the eystematic labors of tbe vacclnailug corps, maintained by tho department for tbe first time this last year. In all the departments whore necessary, notably in the Fire Department aud the Park Departmout, rec ords of the property In their eare havo been formed in business tike shape. Anyone succeeding the pres ent OommissioDurs will receive an inrentary of the property he is to be responeibiu for. In (he Fire Department at the boginoiug of tbe year, two of the etiginea were found to bo wltboot horses, aud in general no information waa at hand as to the property of tho departmout. Daring tbo year, swing ing htiruess has beeu substituted for the old fashinucd Btaudlug harness in all ooropaules not already haviug it. Tho records of the Buildings Department were found iu a heap; the papers have been sorted by the present Commissioner, and ths plans and permits which belong to each other have been picked out and filed Away to gether. Tho Polios CommiKsioner baa laved enough ofuto his appropriation to start a new sub-precinct In tho neighborhood of the Wallabont. - The T^x Collector, in tho month of December, gath ered in the unexaropled sum of $4,4fi0,0(X), or nearly two-thirds of the tax levy for 1883. Tbe President of the Board of Assessors for the first time last year succeeded iu obtaining some rocoguition of the comity’s claims, at tbe hands of the State Board of Equalization. The Kftlary list in tbe law DbQartmem has boeu out down $6,000. On tbe other hand. I do not think any suit has been lost by tho city which had poHsible suo- eesa in it. I concur in tbe suggestion of tho (k>rpor- ation Conoael that a sum of money bo appropriated for a compilation of tbe laws relating to the city and for a codification of the city ordinances, and that the work be committed to the care of a commission of competent Iswyc-Fs iu tho city. During the past year tho Park Department has been reorganized by tbe appointment of its meml>er8 by tbi Mayor of tbe city. From 1862 to 1882 the Commission ers held their placet directly from the Legislature. I regret to say tbot a preliminary exaiuinaiiou conducted by the Coulrollor, of the books of the department, de veloped ft deflc.oncy of HomotUtogovor $10,(JOO. This sum has been made good by the President of the lata CommiesLou, siibjeot to correction by the final eixumln- allon. A thorough (nvestigation shoald be made by exnorts of all tbe acoouuta of tho old Commisslou. It is much to be regretted that the condition of the hooka is aneb aa to render exuert s aeeciteaey, I rveogoize that the Commissioners^rendered gratuitous service, but there is no asTety for the public If public dieap- provftl does not fall on all careioss ftdminlBtrfttlon of publia trusts. In the broader work of layiog out tho parks and de- veJoplMg the scheme of public improvements, iuoludod under tbe care of the CommisBion, I ftocord with ready •heorfulnass to tbe late Commission the praise which, as 1 think, will be more readily yielded as time goes on. To-day we feel tho bnrdens heavily; but Brooklyn will crow to be a city, largely by reason of these improve ments, wUeroon tho burdens will sit llgbUy, I concur in the recommendation of the present misaloners that tho depurtmenk bo reorganized, with a , single head, to.bd appointed by tho Mayor, and. to be paid a salary. In a work of administration such p the care of our parks, the real work m a tt bo done by ' men under pay. The unpaid Commissioners ace re- 8tWe. bi * 1 ipou8ible« ordinates. nothing fnrtbQr oafi bo done In reference to tbo sale of theeastside lands. BEDFORD AVENUE. In 1678 Bedford avenue was transferred by law to the care of the Park Oommisiionere. In 1881 tho amount which could be spent upon the avenue for oleanlog and repairs was limited to $5,000 per annuifi. At tbe beglnaiug of 1882 tho avenue was in bad condi tion. It is ia equally bad cooditioa now. The Park CbmmlBSioners expended upon it Ibe full amount at their disposal with scarcely perceptiblo effect. It re quires $20,000 io $26,000 to patch the surface welJ enongh to last evoa for two years, in my opinion, which is founded upon observation aud upon tho opinion of tho engineers both in ths Park Departmont and in the Board of City Works, the amount spout upon the avenue iu repairing, last Smxunor, docs not lOBseu by a dollar the amount needed now. No expenditure of less tbau $20,000 was worth the making. To resurface It withasphaUum like the streetR of Wash ington would eost $117,000. To pave it with granite blocks would cost $167,000. Oritloiims hare boon ic- dnlged m bec&use tbo avenue has not been repaired under tbe emergency clause ot the charter. It was in so sense an omergeucy; it was simply a pavement suffered through neglect, enhanced by bad legislation, to go to decay. I favor restoriug the aveuue to (he cave of tbe Department of City Works. It ie la every sense one of the city streets, and iu tbo long run will be best cared fur as such. The law restoring it io the Dopartmoat of City Works should contain a clause providing for ita immediate repair. I also concur lo the suggestion of the Park De partment that the City Hail sqiiBre be trausforred to the care of tho Department of City Worke. It has to be kept free from snow. That ia about all. Uudor the present arrangement men have to be sent from the Park to o/ear It, after erery snow storm. EXCISE. Tho administration of tho Excise law dariug 1882 bas been marked by a desire Co do the best thing pos- ■Ible with aeubject full enongh of diifieulty i n ‘any view, aud made more difflonlt still by existing laws. For ail interesting review of tho dutlea of Excise Com- misaioners I desire to oall the attention ot citlzoos to the report of Me88r^ Lauerand Evan«, Itls a fact that the number of licouses has been itiereaitd during the year by forty-two, -tbo greater figures in the report representing apparent, not actual, iDcrouse. It is a fact, on tho other hand, tbak. a number of houses of uotorlons bad oUaracter have beau steadfastly refused a lipense for the first time In very mauy years. The work o£ tho Excise Board baa boon criUoissed ou the one hand becauKe lleeDRos have increased so little as 2 per cent., while popnlntiou has increased more tbau 3 per cent. On the other ^ a u d , tbo Board is blamed because licenses havo inoreased a t all. In most oa'tea the courts enforce tbe laws. Iu regard to tbe Excise law, aa it now stands, juries milformily fail to convict under It. This loaves nothing but tbe arbitrary power of tho Excise Commlsciouers lo revoke liceuHOS wherewith to enforos a statute which the courts do not BUEtalo. This power thoy have ekerciasd with A good eonecienoo in an oaruoat desire to do tho best they could. Tho fundamental dlMculty with the'.Iaw, In my Judg ment, is twofold. In (ho first place, it lodges with three CommissiouerB tho arbitrary power to fix tbe number of licenses. This Is a point upon which the commu nity iChSlf is strongly diridod. No matter what JotioQ the GommiBsiouera take, they offend positively some largo and lofiueutlal class of citizens. In tbo next place, the interest of tho JiodusOe, as a gonoral proposi tion, iH on one side and the law ou the other side. The Swedish system of excise seems to mo tho best yet do- vlRod for a large oily. Uuder this pyetom a city is divi ded Into a certain immber of excise districts, tbe num ber of saloons allowed in each district ia fixed by law, pro rata, to the punulution, aud tho axclustvo right to Bdll liquors of a U sorts within each distrlot is sold at public auotiou to the htgheat bidder. In this way tho Intorept of tbo liceueeo ia made to he in enforcing tho law, because he pays for bis license a largo sum. In- oldoutully, tho city also rocelvos for licouses what they aro worth. I boliovo this system to be the goal toward whioh iogislatiou ought to tend. There can l>a do question that tho three bed ulause of the present law ought to be abolished. I also think woll of tho propo sition toassoeiate wines, alo ami boor in one llceuse. BOARD OF EDUCATION. The report of tho Board of Education is interesting aud instructive. It places before the citizens In strong terms the needs of the schools. I am not pre pared to recommend auy departure from tho safe ooitrse of raiaiug in each year what we spend for Bohool pnrposoa, 1 hold luyaslf open to ennviciiou, as erery man should on a Rnbjeot ao rltal. but the oon- vlotton muHC bo clear and absolute to justify extraor dinary notion. BOARD OF ALDERMEN. In relation to your honorable board two small mat ters, ssuotiouod by custom, have come to my knowl edge, which seem to me oustoms more honored in the broach than iu the ubtsorvaucs. I And it Is customary to pay $100 every six months to tho moesenger of tho Common Council for serving notices, aud $100 every six months to procure tho iudexing of the minutes of tbe Common Council. The 4U0Bsenger is paid $1,000 a year^a haudiome salary for attendanoo upon a body that rooets but once a week for niue months In tho year and but onoe a mouth for tho other quarter. Tbe clerks to eommlt- tees, In my judgment, would find profitable occupa tion In indoxiug the minutes of your Board. 1 have allowed those things lo pass without objoctiou hith erto only because in oaoh instance they came before mo after the work had been dona for whioh pay was sought. I speak of them now (o dofine my attitude in tho future. THE WATER FRONT. Thesubjeotof our \vater* from Ims received much study aud thought at my bauds. It is one of Brook lyn’s unhuppy inherituiicei from the past that berowu waterfront has been held not to helong to her. 1 find, SB mutter of fuut, the title to the luud under water has been coded by tho State to tho owners of tho upland on each side .of the street, aimost without exception, from Rad Hook to Newtown Crook. Tho courts have held, 1 believe,, that it can be ceded to no one olso. Notwithstanding this, thp city has br-en ollowotl by the authorllies in the past to spunu $2o0,0U0 ou ptetB built upon lauds uudsr water ut the foot of streets to whioh tho city bold no title. Some of those piers wo hove loHt. We Uefoud what is Inft by Snob exceptioual pleas as wo can discover. Except for tho logUlalion which fixes the rates of wharfage below tho paying point, prl- vato ownership would no doubt lend itself to tho pub lic domaud. But inasmuch ns wharfago, pure nnd sim ple, at legal rates will not pay, private owuership seeks to utilize the piors to thb exclusion of the public. It seems to mo wo ought to have a law enabling tbo city to buy tho land under water at (be foot of streets,, to btuid piers theroon and to collect wharfage. In cUe of an unwiilingncoB to sell on the part of tbo owners, the city ought to bo enabled to take tho lancl by emi nent domain. The city baa never found pier owning profitable, and yet there is a reasonable unwillingness on tho part of oltizons to bo oiiUroiy Hhut off from the river. MIBOELLANEOUS SUGOESTIONJi. It occurs to mo to suggest that all our ferryboats carry apparatus for the extlugulshmeot of fires. In thorough accord with the laws widch give New York City control of the water, those bouts are by law made subji'ct to tho call of the New York F'Jre Departmout. It might bo uf groat value fo be able to commnud this aid for a fire on the Brooklyn shore, aud probably no objection would be made to extending to the Brooklyn Flttt Dopurtcuout the same imwern lu this respect as are now.enjoyed by the New York department. 1 renew the suggestion made last yoar that cities, in Usning bouds, should bo autliorizeii to issue bonds with un option of redemption b&foro maturity, after Iho maouor of Govermneut bonds. In Brooklyn, as olsewhero, it is one of (bo standing problems how to equalize taxation between real uBtate aud personal property. It would seem, In fairuous, as conluiuiog un optiou of redemption In adraace of ma- th-jugh no more exemptions should be made upon ono class of property than on tbo other. The atato law proceeds upon a dlfiereut theory, porhopa from neocs- Bity. It is to be hoped the Lcgialaturo will some day strike mil a moro equitable Bystora. It acems most unjust, also, tbai cities receive in most caaes ahaohitely nothing for franohlses wltbln their borders which are of groat value. Now York colloots l'i\: ijor ceut on tho gross receipt*' of tho Ualou Ferry Company for the ferry franchise between Now York and Brooklyn, and this for tho use of a natural waterway. Brooklyn colloots nothing from her city railroad com panies, though their fraucliisos glvo tuom the use of artificial and oontly roadways. It occurs to mo that a olunso might bo inserted in our city charter to apply to all now franchises and to all old ones as thoy aro re newed, whmh Bhftli fioonra to tho city a certain percyut- age of the grosa receipts under every froncUise. I repeat my boUef that it would bo greatly in ths In terest of the city to have some eystem adopted for en- trance into the suborilinate civil survioe of tho city which should reduce j»or8onal pnlronago toa minimum. Such a eystom. tf practically succeserul, would leave heads of dopiirtmeuls much more free than now to at tend to the bitsiiiGBJ of tbe city. 1 think it would oven relieve the member.HOf j'our hoaoroblo Board from oc casional ombarrasKiuont. U would certainly make the c’ty tbo real master of Ita own cloricid force. Tho poopiodo not recognize to what au extent, in theabsanoe of such a systoo), outside puliticlans usu.'tilf control, and make aud unmake tho clerical force of the city. RAPID TRANSIT remainB to-day, as it has been for a number of years, the greatest material need of city. Drooktyn has made a gall.anC fight for the right of tho individual to be Becure from ddmagu tu the interest of the wnny, without oompeiiKation for his loss. Thie fight sho has won, Like all groat vlctprios of right it hos not boen won without coat. To avoid luJurJng the few In Brook lyn tho many heretofore have suftered tbo liieouvou- ieucos of slow and tedious transit to tho outskirts. It is true that Brooklyn has'growu during 1682 as it has never grown before. Froin January to Docombet 1, 1882, the new buildings numbered ....................... . ................. From January to December 1, 1881, tho new buildings numbered ..................... . ................... GONVEESION. i E l ' v a n g ’e l i i s t B s t i ' n e s a t t l i e n ? e m p l e . 2^*tl^oatimated coat of uew builtliOKa in 1882 ThtT^oatimatod coatof now buitdiut's in 1*881 2,.870 1,939 ~437 .810.380.203 9,493,347 OnttbeyhsTB to wofk tlirongh paid luU- U la belter, I lUlnk, lo pay. the teaponalWe man, .ana bay# tba reaponalblUty rest la name wheta It doea In lacL THB BABT StOB LINDS!. I teffrcUo lay that acme of the pnrobasers ot the east aide landa Imre deollued to accept tUle, their counsel taking the Mlramo gfround that oven tho LoKialoture oouW uot authorize tho city to stll tbe teo ot lando taken for park piirpoaea. i s thla objection la funda mental, tho I’ark Uepartment have requeated tba Oor- porailon Counael to teat tbe matter in the (lourte. I believe the city owe* this to those who have ao- canted title, and It la no leaa In the luteraat of tbe oily to have the matter eettled doftnltoly, ono way.or the other. Nothing can ba worse for a olty tlmn to have a Esceaa of value in 1882....................................... 8887,910 Part of tbl.a reanlt ia due, I have no doubt, to the fact that Brooklyn has ehowii boraslf a city where the individual baa some righta, but it remaina for ua all to help to aoivo tho prohloui of rapid tranalt thus far held ouly In abeyance, Bruoklyu as a oily must uot lose tha added wealth wbicb-rapid transit wouldoertaiiily bring, Aa I uiiderataud the deolaioii of Ihe Court of Ap- per.la in tho Story caae, the court decides practically that dauiagea, when proven, must bo paid. Nn plan has yet been suggested for the aacoriainmeut of auoh damages, except the plan contained m the Conipon- satlon act of last Bprlng. X do not underatand tliat tho General Term of tho Bnpreme Oourt paasod unfavorably upon thie set aa auoh. In denying Mr, Ualver’a application under It. Upua proper applies, tlon I am ready to appoint conimlaslouera under the law to bring It to a teat. Possibly, under ths General Kailroad law damages could he sscertaliied aud a road buUt. But oorlaluly the ootumnully la fairly under the neoeselly ot ludicating eoma way in which dam age shall be aseertaiued aud paid. To the eolation of tUlB point I ahall oonlinnn to lend my elTorts, wel- coming every auggeatlou that givea promise of help. There la no doubt that a road honeatl.v built ean af ford to pay fair damages. What remains to be reached ia the molhnd of procedure. Brooklyn, If ahe be true to hotaelf, has a great fu ture. She elands to-day pre-emiuenlly a city of homes; sho has a touch upon the navigable waters of the Motropolla exteudlng along river aud bay for eight miloe ; ahe ia third in th. aletorbood of Amorlean cities In her munufacturaa l.ooated near New Vork with a bridge like a great Broadway connecting the two cities, Brooklyn haa much to offer to the popula tions over gathering abont tbo commeroial center. A city whose popnlitlnn Is made Up largely of tbs woll to do rather than nf tbo very wealthy, tbe ioolal atmos phere ta free from many evils which attach to great luxury In living. Family life ia leas broken by loeial demanda, and the training of children ia easier and safer than In a larger and waalthtcr community. She bas a bealtliy attuatlon which admlla of ready drainage ; aha haa the beat of water for drinking purposes and for msdufacturea; she liaa oloao at band for tho amneemout aud pieaauro of her people. Coney Island, Her park and her acboola compare not unfavorably with those of the great .MotropoUa Itself. Theae things she must nourish and develop. She muat pave her atroeta woll and mako her soliool ao- commodatlon ample, and her aoUool teaoliliig muat be equal to tho beat. Sho muat oieao her alrcote well and make her water supply ao full that a ahortugo never will bo dreamad of. She inu.t perfect and extend bar sewer, age and maintain the offlolancy of her Police sad i ’iro departments and; keep them equal to her growing wants. All these things require money. Some of them have been ao far neglected that thoy requlro a groat deal of money. I-et us have no more great publlo worka for a decade, like bridgo or pork. But let its devote oursolvea to our oiirrent noedff and build up tbe city to greater efficiency nnd perfection In theae homely ways, and wo ahall see Brooklyn growing In the future aa aha never haa grown bufore In her palmiest days. aeapeolfuUy, ______ Bz-m Low, Msyor, a*HB FEDEU.4L BCILDISG. A SuK KesSion in l l c l a t l a n to tb e N«lec> t l o n o f a Stile. To the KdUor o / the Drooklyn Bapif : Y o u r o rtitorinl o n (tie FeU eral B n ild iu g fo r Brooklyn could not be more timely, althnngh I believe It could he much stronger. I knew aamithiug about this matter, and I oan truthfully aay that tho only dlfficultv oxparleueed in the aelaotion of a proper and central aita that will come withlu the approprlatlou of $300,000 la lo be fonnd In tha fact that a prominent Ke- piiblican'city official, who-haa the ear of theAdmlnlk- tratlon, wants tho altobn Joralemon atrret, adjoining the new Mnulolpal BuUdlng. And to allow the bypocrl- ay nf Secretary Folgea In pretendlog that ho is look ing for a alto Ihiongbout the city, I am in a iiositlon to tioalllvoly affirm that no other place than the ono named above haa rcceired any cinialdoratton from him whatever. But there la a pool In thla and the $IOO,- A (/'nrions and Cbaraotorfsilc Address. CUecrinir News for Backsliders.of Every Grade—A Description of tbe “Decoy Dnebs” of an UninontionaWo rerson* age—Three Couverls Added to the Kcii* tuckian’s Itoii. About one thousand persons assembled iu tbo Tompis on Ciermout ftvoQuo last evening and listonod toftu address by R»v. Qoorge O. Barnos, tbe mountain OTADgellstoI Eontuoky. Preliminary services uf sing ing and prayer wore nonducled by tbo piistor. R ot . Dr- Fulton. Miss Divriios, the evaugellBl's daughter, (hen sang ft bjm n to ft melodoon aocompaulmou( played by herself. RsT. Mr. BarneB is a (bln, bony looking mftn and does not appear to bare much physical vigor. After he took ooHtrol of the meeting, tho proceedings wore ox- sosslvely dreary, and neltiior In his address or appear- ' ftnee wfts (hero the slightest vvidouco of that persunai magnetism which Is reported to hftvc so powerfully ef fected the Western people. THE ENANGELIST’ s ADDRESS. Ho spoke an follows: Bretbren, I want to speak to- night. If the Lord shall give mo uUorauco about tho couvei’idou uf Saul of Tarsus, which wa.: Uko a large ^Qumbor of other converislous that havo occurrort In (his Tforlct He was converted In Juft tho saujo w.ay that 1 was doavorlod. and in which Dr. Lu’loii was convorted and In tho bmhq way In which I hope many of j'OU will be converted to-ni«ht. He was turned from his alnful path and converted in tiu son.sa in which it is popular ly used—that Is, meaning the sAlvaiJon of u hnmau soul. A groat many people tlUuk Saul of Tarsus was convertod by a woDdorfulliflbt, but It Is not so, aud simply hooausa nono of tho others whowevo with him were oonvoried, and thyro was a wholo I6t of thorn. But not n son! among thorn was converted oxoept 8;^ul of Tarsus, and, as you know, tboro wan a great company ou the road to Damasciu when that light from hoavon shined about Saul. They wore all frlgbleuod a good d^al, but tlioro was only ono convorsion. Just gel that soHiod in your minds. Buing funked und all tho sunro iu tho world does not moan conversion, aud there is no greater rto- lustOD of tho devil than that. But Ibongh they were all scared, only one mau foil ro the ground, and be was convortod and saved. What was it Bcvcd that ono 7 He tolls you hiniGelf, when ho said: “Who urt thou, Lord?*’ and the I.ord auid : “J um Jofiu?, whom thou porsscute^.” Now faith coineth by heuriug aud hear ing by the word of Ood, aud God speaks to overy hu man soul. It uo h'.nllor bow Hu speuka—whothev it comes through Dr. Fnlloii, or through Dr. I’entocoat, or through Dr. Tolmago, or through my voice. Let me warn yon, novor allow the devil to devise anything far you. Oh, ho is a dictionary maker for you. Just let him make your dicUonary fur you and you are { gone. Paul said to Timothy: ‘‘This is a /aith- | fill saying and worthy of all acciq)tation,' that Christ Jeoue came into the world lo save sinners, of whom I am chief.” Now, wbat is n sinner ? You have heard Umt he Is n mau who does wrong, who lies, and steals, aud swears and breaks tho Kabbatb. nud does this, that and the other. Woll, that is tbo dovil’a detlnttlon of a slunev. That ia not the scriptural definltlou. No, n o ; Gcul does uot recognize that defi nition, for romembor wo aro tHlkiiig now about tha &m questlOD, and don’t yon lot tho dovil mako your dic- tiotmry for yon ; if you do, you ^YIU get into trc-ublo. Becaui<e ou that theory of a Bmnor Baul uf Tareus was jnet ns far from heaven as ofiy ono ever was, ned yot bo could say, liko the young mau, ”A11 these things have I kept from my youth up. Well, tlien, you hav’e got fo find another definition for ^luuer, because 8aul said that he whs the chief of smnors, Saul says BO by tho Holy Ghost. Snmo pooplo say that Saul, from hia blessed standpoint of (-alvation, was so troubled after he kuow what aiu was that to himself he seemed to bo the greatont sluner In the world ; hut in my judgraaut that la just trifling with tha Word of God. Ho makes an nssortlon (hero to go ro IHug down tho ages, and for a man who cannot stand up and say what he wants to say iu tho faoo of God is tho greatest noueouse in tho world. But tiiero uo trouble about it If you don’t allow tbo devil to make your diotlonary for you. Tako thn Lord's defi- iiKlon of the word. Whac iv a sinner lu O g J'. h sight ? >Yhat did tbe Holy Ghost como down and oouviot tho world of alu for ? Tho Holy Gho.''l, lu convicting,tho world of sin, let ia God’s wondroin light. God has not nieutioued lying nml stealing und murder. ■ THE DEBT PAID IN FULL LONO AOO. lie is not going- to collect a debt that has boon paid lu full 1.900 years ago. What, are you going to mako God worse than a roHcally uxorchaut ? No. my friends, that Is not God’e defiulUon, for it is wriUen, “ Hflslmli convict tho world of sin becauao they do not belluvo on mo.” Thot ia wliat Iho Holy GUoat does. .^II that God haa got against any ono in tho world 1 h that thny don’t treat His Son woll. It Is sin and Son, only the difforonco of a letter, but it is the dllforouco botwoou hraven and hell. The Son of Ood. Ho knew uo sin, and He is tho Lamb of God that laUiitb away tbo sin of tho world. So. thou, what do you luftiiu by asiunor? God says ” ono that don’t treat my Son well.” That is tho only unsettled question in this world, and you soe liow simple it Is, for if I only treat God's Hon wall It is all settlod, and you can suttlo it by believing ou tho tton of God. Aa I came out of Dr. i’onlorotit'a lueotlUR this evouing thoro was a doar gamhlor that was saved three yoaru ago. Ho said, I havo bcou miserable since tho devil has boon at oio tolling mo of my sins and saying, *You have done this, that and tho other thing,’ ” I said, “Why, that debt has boeu paid, has It nut, loug ago ?” Ho said, ‘•C'orlaiuly, and I told him God is not going to coUaot U ovoruiiain.” God says, “I have uothlug oguluat you ainco my Son diod on t!io cross. Do yon tliiuk I would coUoot a debt Iwlco V*” That is what the dear Lord says, und, Uh, mou a td 7/ouion I preach that ttnishod v/ork to you to-night. There was in that company uo man who bated Jci»ua Christ worse than Soul of Turans did, aud for any man or woman who cou(e8«od Him Saul of Tarsun had no meroy. Ob, what a devil Im avuato ho was. Did you over «oa a train on a dark tdormy night when it was rui^hing along at tho rate of forty miIo9 an hour? It looks like a life out of boll. That Is Saul of 'J'ai’nus 'with holi ou his lip, hell in his oyo and boil in his heart, a u d ‘•broathlng out threntuiilug and siaughlor.” i He was bent ou stamping that thing out, aud at tho liino ho was saved ho was going poll moll to Dmuasc<iB to Blaiigbtor everyono (hero. Ho did the dirty work for the men In authority, and Oh, they W'oro a lot of doviis, all of them togothor. Now, how ore you going to change a devil liko that into an angel of morcy? How are you going to p u t out the hell flro in tho mau ? It was done os quick as yon can snap your Anger, JoHua Chrlat asked him one queHlfon : \Saul I havo nothing agaluRtyoo, wUatliavo you against mo?\ That is tho quoBtlon. “Saul, why do you poraoouto me, glvo me a reason ?” Saul said, “Lord, who aro yon ?” Tbi! Lord nnsworod, “J osub . wiiom you peifcoiito.” TUeii baul asliod : \Ixtrd wliat will you havo mo to doV” IX that IS uot aalvailoD I will thank auyouo lu this IiouBO to tell luo what Is. If ho was not Rsvsd when ho Bald, “liOru, what wilt thqu havo mu to do ?’’ thou this Blblo is a lailaoy. Ho this • man was led Into DamadoUB, and ho was a misorablo man. What wsa ho mlBorablo about 7 Becauso ho wan saved 'I No, for ho was Just horn—a weak bh I u I. It was tho hlindnofs oX Ihe oyeo that was tho matter with him, not oonviotlou of sin. No; no; hodld not holiovo on Joans Christ iuffiolently; ho did uot boliovo that Ho could euro bodies aa woll as save souls. Bn: tbo laomaat ho camo lo tho faith onto then he bollovod fully. Thoro thon ho went IhlnkliiB ho would over bo a blind man, but if Joaua con aavo your soul caunot hoeive you your fisht 7 But Haul never thouRht about that, and so tho Imrd Bonl Ananias to him,nnd ho rocolvcd Ido aiRht. That was a faith euro, and It la taklUR tho lead tho world over. Moody don’t iwoaoh It. but Lord llalsobaok is, and ho ia tnruiuR Norway aud Sweden topoy tiirvoy. Than I’aul wout to preach lo tho J owk this .Tosus ho was stab- bloR to tho heart but four days ago. X wont lo Rivo a purpose to this uieoUng; I want all ibo backsliders Iti this houao to stand up and ho destroyed, for oh Lord, wo are triiotiuR Thco. Tha dovil ia hora, he iH trying to thwart us, hut oh Lord, let Thy lovo oomo down to-night and many will bo saved and ro- olorod, Komember, my friends, that faith cumclh by hearing and hearing by tho word of God. “Haul, I havo nothing against you, what havo you nRalnsl mo?’’ That Is what tho Lord said, aud tho Lord o»ys to every one of you to-night, ’■ I havo nothlug against you,” WHY DO YOU TBKAT OHIIIST SO ? He has died for you, Ha has paid yoiir tlohf, Ho has put away that account that waa against you. Ho is tho Lamb of God that has tolion away the sin of iho world. To the Ramhior, tho thief, (he liar and tho drunkard Jesus Christ says, “ 1 havo nothing agalust. you.’’ If you will only bellovo thot His Sou has pul aws.v sin, there is nothing to wait for before you como to .lesuB. Thoro la nothing for you to stop and fool sorry about and it is tho devil that causes you to do It, Now let us acoopt It Now IS tho day of ealrotlnn. Oh I thot I could per- Buado you thot God ia good ! Thoro is oue thing that tho Lord says to us, and Ho asked Paul anolhor qitos- llon : “Isn’t It hard for Ihie lu kick against tho pricks?” lait ua think about that a lltilo while. The word tronaiated “ pricks” iu o\ir Ir iiiKlutlnn lltorally means ox goods. That lathe way r.'iey drive oxen in the East. Thoy have a long goad v.-.t.'i a sharp point of stool, and whou the oxou wll: uot pull thoy Road thorn with tblo ehorp stool pointo:! guad. Is not It hard, do you not think, for even tho mo.t at\ibhoru oxen to Lick against those sharp goads 7 I know who it Is that drives with an ox goad. It la tho dovil. Jeons novor drives. Uo leads with Hlo ohephoyd’s crook, and tho dovil drives. Ho is the one that manogeo tho ox goad, and you know‘‘noeda must when the devil drlvos.” Fneiids, I want lo ask that question of somo of you to- Dlffbt, Olid I pray tho Lord thatltm ay loucU your hearts as It did tho heart of Saul—“Soul la It not hard for Iheo to kirk agalust tho pricks?,’ Any alnful plo.vsuro growa Issa and Icsi abhorrent as wo aceuslom ouraelves to it. Tako the lovo ot strong driuk. Tbe Dovil says, “Drink your lagor. Tako your pint of cliampa«no If yon Uko It. Why a gloss of claret for dinner that in dolightful, every man ought to do that.” But I see iu fhe far dlstaneo when that splendidly drossod man will havo bloodshot eyes, mallod hair a td sollod garments, „ and when hiG family will bo tulnod os huudrods nnd Jhonaanae havo boon who commoacod with a glasa of claret for dinner. Bat tho Dovil comes nnd says “ What la tho use of boiug ocarod by a mouse; yon aro a man, and tho Dovil follows hlm n m ll at last tbo man awakens to tha foot that ho haa a burning thirst that ho oonool get tld of. Then the mau soya “I will retrace my “taps,” and tbo Dovil says, ‘-No, you won’t,” and ho lakea up tho ox goad and says \Go on with you. 11 Is nonoenio talking, and saying a man can do it by ox. erilng bis will. Thera never was a man who was oavod in that way by his unaided will unless ho was oue of tbe devlTa decoy ducks. My friouda, if the devil can coax 100 men to hank on their otroiig wills, to drop off drinking whisky, aud oiio is let go, it is only becauso tho devil lets him go that ho haa the allghteat BHCceae, for Ihoro la uo doliveranoe but in the naioe of God, and any man who thinks Uo haa quit drinking whisky by tho force of hia will, I tell him he la nothing but a mlBorable decoy duck of tho dovil. A'l power is In Jesus. Ho will cure you of your appotilo for drink. He haa dona it m thousands of cases, and will do it iu tUousanda moro. Is tho devil driving any In this hoiiBo with an ax 7 Good I If thore aro, I want you t<rbe of good cheer, J oshs lives aod reigns, and vrlll you put yourselves io His hands ? It is a simplOt mi easy and a siuglft step, und may yuu havo grace to tako it so-oiKk(« THREE CONVERTS. Mr Barnes thou adUreBsed bimsoif to the work of mafelog converts, saying: “This is not a tostJmouy moeting It is a saving moeling. Now, who will tho firtt to-night to coufwsB tho name of Joaus? I want you to rise in your seat and lot xno ask you, Do you tako Jesus as your Saviour and do you take him to your soul? If you do to-nlgUt ho will write your namo in the hook ot Ufa Is (hero one in this groat coiigrega- tiou who will witness the good for the blosnod Suviom’s name? Who will trust Him this Snnday n ight?” A young man rose lu tho galleiy and noddod nfflrma- tivoly wliOD ftskod, ‘•Brother, is this your first oon- fesslou?” Mr. Barnes oxcUlmed i “Tlwro is a man gets up bo- fore this thousand people and ssye, *I will tako Jesus.’ Thank (Jod, for there is joy in heaven over ono.” Two young girls rose, and Mr. Barnes said : “ Praise the Lord for three. Dear Lord we lovingly thank Thca for these throe, but aro thpro not other beating hoarla in this aaieuihly in neod of a Saviour ?” Dr. Fulton then (r)od and failed to induce othow to rJSK ftnd, tho hour being late, Mr. Barne-i utlerod a floHl “ PralBo the Lord for three.” t. The meeting thon closed with singing ftud the beno- dlctlou. _ ______ _ for all ranks aud classes. It Is the wisdom of Qod tlQ« . dorstanding (ho posalOilltlos of human nature. THE FALL OF ADAM* Hero in oaturo ao wo look upon it—hero Is ^ e Word of God (hat fits U and is adapted to it. He (fho opoftker) did not boliove that msn fell in Adam—he waa born a t the foot of the ladder and he could not bavo fallen any lower. [Laughter.] Tho world was never lost [sonsa* tlon], man had gradually advanced liko littfo ohRdred —who havo everything to learn—by degrees and devoiopmout. Tbo speaker la adverting to tba good which may ho touad In nearly all iorm§ of roiigion, said : But Christianity Is tho only religion ever organized in the world that ex- ‘ presses hope for man who baa fallen by reoion of his own siufnl actions. What compared to tbe graodenr of this thought are the little maxima of “Honesty is the best policy” aufl other sayings CQllod from the wisdom of Soneoa and the ancients. All ftnimal men are wUh^tl holiness—that comes later, Thore is aal- va:lou, Ithwever, for the worst man who turtle to God. The apo.iker, in touobfug upon the vulnerability of ChriRtianity according to alboi-stio or skeptical We we, said the trouble wai wilh suoU moo that (boy attaeked those features which (ho Chrittlan religion bad long since omgrowu. Tho whole force of Mr. IngersoU’e \vitty a.«.«aiiits Is in (he faetthatho ia assHuUiDg old notions, und while he sees (bo specks bo falls toaoe the greatne?!, the righteousness and tho wisdom Of Ohrii- t‘anity. Meu fall to spo tho baokbono, the nobility and thn truth, but talk about this miracle and tho scieooe (o be found iu tbe Bible. Yo are horn in tho flesh and ye must bo bora again. Ye oannot serve two m utera. CURUCNT EVENTS. HPIUlTUAL BE(iE*iEKAHOX. n r . B«ecEier>« (G v c a lnix P l i s c o i i r s e i n I ' i r u i o u t b C l i a r c l s . M r. B e e c h e r prenohed last e v c iiiug in P lym - ontb Church lo » very large coDgfegsIfon ou “Splrllusl Bsgentpsllon,” taking his text/rooi John tli:3-7. The eposker, ofler ellafllDR lo Ihe scnfMlnji of Rurprlse which the reply from Christ pr<j<ln«ol on iho miiul of , Nlcodemus, » jnat and » pnro msn, snia.: W'o ire nil of wnewver. u n i mere v» » poei m m , . .n .. - the opinion tb»i crlmlnnla shoiUd tls horn again as well bon now epproprlsXod 1» not enough to JO eroiraa.attec i aanion whom we hale, b»t when the e'Jf.cmoui Is &p- piirchasiUR.tlie e ronnd; otherwise It wonld h»ve beeu j i„ ourselves, wo ere Mmost as much confused as ! Nuodcmns ,wns. Hot this Joctrtne. however, l.,m t to place. While tecondlng your pcopoaltioii that Mayor Low would bo a propor porson to place at the head of TUo total number of immigronU lauded a i New Vork, last woek, was 1,249. Tho total vnUifttion of New York Oity real estate is $1,080,883,380, an inorease over last year of $45,93(,47ft. The wrest at Sau Autouio, Texas, of Mar shall T. iMIk, the dofauliiug Treasurar of Touuossee, is reported. Thu arrest was made yesterday. Ttio total receipts of tho New York Post Office in the year ending December 31, 1382, were $4** 228,573.29. The hospital Saturday and Sunday collec tions in New York up to tho present time amount to $10,489,74. George H. Calvert, the poet and acholar, oelobratod hU oigUty-flrst birthday yeateidjy at hi* home lu Newport, R. I. § |T h c dintiuguishod French sculptor, .Jean BdptiKta AngUi^la CloHinger, died ir* Paris yesterday, at tha age of GO years. Matthew Fratiois Whittier, the ouly brother of John Greonieaf WUlttlor, died yesterday in Boatoa after a long iiluoes. Ho was seventy years old and w&a formerly an employe iu the Boston Custom Uouao. Aloyft Moiuel, aged r>7, a dealer iu toys nt No. 93 Chambers street, New York, committed siiidde balurday by cutting his throat. Ho died At the Cham- bora street Hospital shortly afterward. The Irish county organii^ations mot in Now York Inst night, and formed a u .ion of Irishmen under the uamo of tbo Irish Coofediratton of Amer ica, the purpose of tho orgsiilzatiou to bu bouovoleak aud patriotia B. J. Rowe wasohosen preeident. Tho United States Clouring House returns for the week oudlug January 6, show that trade throughout (he country is still auffcriug from tbe sns- poiision incident to the close of thu yoar, and tb it speculative trade ii exceedingly dull. A violent earthquake shock was felt iu dif- ferout parts of Northera Ohio, yesterday morning, bo- (vs'oca two und throe o'clock. Tho people were aroused from their aloap, in many iustauods to hear tho ohtm- oics of their houies toppling over. The Standing Committee of EpiGcopnl ClmrchoB of the Bpriugflold, HI., diocese haio uuaai- muusly refused to give consent to tbo couseoration of tbo Rev. Hugh Miller Thompson, of New Orleans, tato- iy.oiccted Bishop of (he Dlocosa of Mississippi. William A Scavor, formerly editor of th© ‘•Drawer\ in flurpi^r's Jfityati/U’, and a contributor to //nrprr’s Btizar, died at Mount Vernon yesterday of pneumonia. Uo was G1 years old and leaves ft widow, but no children. Mr. Soaver wos well known la t h i s country aud iu England. The brig Sarali E. Kennedy, from Georgia, and tho schoonor Mary, ijucen of tho Soa, frouA Aspla- wuU, wore in oolitsiou off Long Branch Saturday even ing at eight o'clock. It was snowing heavily at the time, aud tho veesoin did uot sight each other until II v.'QR too lulo to avoid au acelduut. Tlie vessels drlltod npart and noithor of thorn wore sorloasly injured. Tlio firm of Theodore Wielcsoh A Co., ov,i ers of (ho NVhlto House dry goods store at Tticsoi], Arizojjn, iua.io hu asslgiimont Saturday. Tho total liabilities aro $00,090. Tho failure was duo to the foct that colIuctioiiB could uot be made fast enough to meet the obligutluns and tho fuiluro in selling tho large Fall stock as quickly aaUad boon cxpoclo.l*-heavy bills for tho bMUic fulling duo moAUwhilo. M okob G. Haunner, of No. ‘J07 West Ono Hundred KUd Twenty-eighth street, Now York, oom- mitted suicide at Fort ^Yaahington, by shooting bim- eelf through the head, Saturday afternoon. Two years ago he wus a member of the firm of Moyer Brothera ^vlleu tho firm failed, and he look his finaudal troubles sorely to hoart. ITcvious to J)i8 douth he ha-l reooverel himself to some extent finanolally and wa^ happy lu hie doDJostlc rolatious. Tho Pi'oncli 80 cio(ios of New York hold fuueral scrvicos lu honor of the dead statoaman, Qam; betta, yeatorday afternoon at Tammany Hall. TUo boll was draped in mourning and in tho oontcr of ita aatafiiiQno otood with a cofilu on top. A guard of houor from tliO gunrdos i,afay6lto surrounded tho oatafftlque and a band of muaio played a dirge, Several addreaaos wove made and among tho spoakors wsro Adolph'OoUa, the correspondont of tbo Jtrptfhfique l^Vancaise, and Mr, Morcior, oditor of (he Courier ilea etats Unis. Tho tD6'atlag was largely attended. liov. R. Hober Trenton preacUoil yosterday In tho Proleslaut Fsplacopal Church of All souls, Now York, upon “Tho Right ‘Use of tho Bible,” and Uo olaimod that the book was badly edited; that poetry hud bnou printed as prOQc. aud a great mats of arti ficial iulorpretatlon has bcou forood into the chapter hecdiiitfH. lie advocated Us rolssue, with the different parts arranged in groups chronolnglcaliy. The tradl- ttonai form of the Bible, he said, ban dono all U jpossi- bly could to rob tho dliToreut books in U of every not- Qval charm and roduco them to oue doad lovol of uuln- tereatiuguess, A blackmailer was arreslcd in Now York last night who has been for two weeks writing iottsra . to Mrs. Rich, tho wifo of tho mlseiog Broadway, New York, morohant. lie stated that Mr. Bioh was an in mate of on asylum, twenty-five miles from tho city, and that if sho will furnish tho writer, who was a ft student at the asylum, with $300, he would be able to bribo the guards and nurses aud reeouo Mr. Rich. By advlos of tho police Mrs. Blob prepared .a dummy packet, made up to resemble mouoy, aud when tbo measongor hoy oalicd he was shadowed, oud tho mau to whom ho gave tbo paper was arrestod. He refused to state who he was. Mr. Frederick Gebliard, whose name has been publicly associated with that of Mrs. Langtry, becauso of hia atiouilona to her, ban written an upon lettor to tho Chicago prees, in which Uo oxproessa amazemont at tbe courro pursued by the press of Chi cago. Ho 18 painfully surijriaed Ibst In a country where chivalry oud ludopondcnco aro supposed lo exist ovory day should be marked by a nowand coarab inva sion of tho private lifo of a lady who Is a atrangor in (i stvaugo land, uud ou tU-at aocouut is tho more depend- out upon congenial friends for a tew honrs’ relaxation after her ))ublio duties havo boen porformed. Ho roferi to his acqurlutanoe with Mrs. Langtry aa a pleasure which he doea not propuso newspaper Rcan'dal shalt interfere with, despite tUo disagrcoablo nolorloty It has brought him. M a n a g e r Gyo, of tho Maplosou opera troupe, Icfl rijIIudolplilB K.lurilny night for New York, ■iid wan robhod of S50.000 worth of jewels and other property belonging to Mme. Albanl. He pl.cod hlS bsg ou tbo .out boaule bim and loft It for n short ((mo, soon sfter tbe cats slatted out of tbo city. When h» raliiriied tbo bag wso missing. It oontstnod .books, Toliiablo Jewelry, cssh, and a pair of solitaire diamond oarcings preeonted to Madame Albanl, tbo wife of Ernest Gyo, by Ibe late Oaar of lluetla. Tbo bag als» contalnod tbo contracta between Mr. Gyo and Madams NUsson, stlpnlatlng for tbe lady’e performance nndot Mr, Gya’e mansgemout burlng tha presont season. Tboee contraots were of great value, lu view of tho faol that legal procooUluga, founded upon the validity of them, are ponding to provept Madamo Nlls.on contin uing hero tho sluoo ratlflod ougagement with Henry S. Abbey. Tho polio, wore uotlfiod and tbo payment ot tho checks was stopped by Mr. Oyo, who left tbo train, which was still la the city limits, and rolurnod to pollco headquarters. The story published iu the Boston Oloie of jeeterday purporting lo tell tho story of tbo finding by an alleged American artist named YVo.t of aoms membora of Lleutanant Ohlpp’s party lu NortUorn Si beria, one dead aud tbo other dying, le untrue, accord- log to the stafemonts of Henry Wilson, a eoaman on board tbo Jeannotto, and who escaped with Melville’s parly, and of Oblaf Engineer Melville hlmaolf. The lose of tho Jeannette bas been known for month* in every Husslan sottlemant lu Northern filbarl*, and If bodies of white men bad been found St tho Gulf of Kbatage laet Bprlng, as roprosonted In tbo otory printed in tho Globe, tlio lUisstan an. thorltice would bavo boon Informed of tho fact. The Btato Department at Washington has uo Informa tion of the wberoabouts of the mombors or remalua ot the Cblpp party. Officers ot the navy regard tho Weat letter aa manufactured o’Jt of wholo oloth. Tho Navy Dapartmont has, however, rooelvod from Minister Hunt, at Bt. I’olersburg, the announcomont that tbs Harbor search party la in part at Irkutsk and at Klr- Insk. Ensigns Hunt, Manson and Bartlett aro at tha former place, wltU Anequln, ono of the parly, who is sarloubly 111 of Inflammation of tbo lungs. Tbs Rus sian Government has uot yet ordered Its autborlllos t* permit and oselat In removing tbo bodies. A cablograra from Cork statos (hot tU» Inman lino iteamer City of Brussols, Oaptaln Land, from'Now York, Dorembar 28. for Liverpool, waa rail down lo the obaniiol by a Glasgow atoimor daring a fog aud that teu persons wore drowned. The vosasl foundered almost Immediately. Tho fog waa dense on Saturday morning as tho City of Brueeols ap- proaebod the northwest IJgbteblp lu tbo Meraoy, and tho vessel was under atoam, b u t making no headway, Bella were kept rlugiug and tog horns wore frequently sounded. Extra men wore posted in every part of the vessel and every preoaiiiioo waa taken lo prevent die. aster. UnextiMlorlly a colUBion oooiirred, and tho bowr of tho Kirby Hall struck the starboard bow of ths City • Of BrussolB with torrlflo force, culllug bor down to the wator’a edge end almost halt through. AH th* paa- fongorH wore qul.kly marahalled together Ilfo buoys were served out end boats Bwuug. Tbe pflsiengers boat* and tho crow tho commli4on toseleotasllo. IwiMi to suggest thattha people who live outnde of tba First Ward end around the City Hall ought to be consulted on this matter as tbe commercial and trading eentnr of BrooJUyu fifty years bone, will doubtlose oe far ctlCforoat from what it la to-day. Even uow ovorjtLIug saois's to bo going uptown anifproporty is higbot on Fojton street above tho City H»U th*n it t« bslow it. TUb question of so- ---------- .-I*- Is. .....a ..r ijujjortauco and be recarded an ft I»«vA co^AItjou— m a. price for an eonlvfllDnt—bnt rather a way ot yacapo frou aiL by uw®n«of v.-UkUmoamoy:»scMid iutoa mnV.orami Untor life. Wo loUttrlt certain fscoitlo;!, althmufi tbt' fact is Bpparout—that wo c^mo by ibo C-ifU Mr. BWv'bcr (u coujoieQtlni{ iivoi* kind of Hplritn-kl t-kob'-lcisui bcovalaut, coiupart?d tho Word l»oil loi* .ciioiU-’Oi'O. which s mail la to d m t out r :\ c 1 thou, ho \AW Icam ite ma. It la the law of aacaut from flower or animal iutoa hishot* and mor« splHlual uiRirtiUou. A art^t aiany find tho Blhlo In tho husk oflu Iho letlar, but tlla Bpeaker found that It bad ovar beau from tho oarliBst day wjsta’ti cr«»Uou iiirougU ill tUa book A and W ire . wore burrled into the told off tq. ’ man etoh craft. Tbe captain end tbs tomsludoi of the ore* . roiuoiaod on board until the safety ol all had been secured. In twenty injnutos after tbe oolllalon the voesol RHVO a lorrlblo luroli and plunged into tho depths j with a fearful awltl. Theboalsof ths Ully of Bru»ael» I oavud all wUu eould be recovered, a i ^ whan the fo# j lifted Ibo peopla wore taken on board tho Kirby Hall, i T ti O ot the passengers of tho City of Bruisols WSC^ ' drowned. They wore .losrtge piBBongsrs ftud w»M i 1U1I.1D8. Eight ol I'm oraw were lost. Including Seotmd Offi.er Y’oung atid Carpontsr Wood*. The captftl0.Wfte rosouud Irom a Coutinj spar. Tbo vessel sunk In fouis tten ralbonis of uaii'r, leaving only bor topw*«*» y 1»* s ble. Tbo agent ol tbo eompany In Now Xc*k, John Cl- Dale, bad beard notblug ul tbo dlsastei; )ftst ulght. Thft ateamet waa vsoH built and oonilderftA uia o( the s»le«k ot tba oocan fleet, and was conuaftuilod by q{ \k* cldoal cavtklia !n 'k ’ eompaqi’* nqnjije,
