IgJLTTB&lH mm T T- II GAHG'SIWOBK. Ai Effort to Make Workhouse Prisoners Improve Eoads. kBIAYOE PE AESON IN FAVOB. "Meeting of the Prison Board to be -Held at Claremont. h MEECER THINKS ITS DEGRADING The County Prison .Board, composed of the "seven Judges, the three Commissioners, the Mayors of the cities and the County Controller, -will meet this morning at the workhouse at Claremont to discuss the ques tion "What shall be done with the convicts?"' HFor months past the majority of the boarders at the workhouse have been out of a job on account of there being no employ .cent for them. The manufacture of barrels, which gave them something to do, has ceased entirely on account of the antipathy of lahor organizations to prison labor. Some of the convicts are now employed mating brooms, but tbe great majority of them are doing training and growing fat on it It is probable that in view ot the recent agitation about .the impassable condition of the county roads, that an effort will be made to have the chain gang law established and the convicts put to work improving the high ways. MATOn PEARSON'S SCHEME. Mayor Pearson, of Allegheny, will attend the meeting, and will place the scheme be fore the board. The Mayor loves a drive through the country in the afternoons and evenings, and knows every road leading out of the two cities. He also knows that it is next to an impossibilityto have the road supervisors of the county do anything to ward making perfect driveways, and will suggest the idea ot putting convict to work to keep the highways in order. This, lie claims, would not only be a benefit" to the taxpayers of the county, but would keep the convicts from hatching schemes of mischief whileunemployed with their hands. He also thinks that the old 'rounders who go to the "works' half a dozen times a year would reform on account of the disgrace of working in the chain gang. In conversation with a DISPATCH reporter last night, Mayor Pearson said: "I talked with a number of citizens sev eral weeks ago about the advisability of the unemployed convicts at Claremont, improv ing our county roads. Every man I talked to, said it was a good idea. I will bring the matter before the board at the meeting to morrow and ascertain what the other mem bers vbink of it. Something must be done to put the convicts to work, or the institu tion will not be large enough to hold them. They have nothing to do now. The barrel industry has been stopped and the men are there in idleness. There is no reason why the scheme should not work. If we had a chain gang law in force,I would not have so many loafers to send up every month. THEY LOVE THE PLACE. "Every fall I have seen dozens of men who are too lazy to work come to me and ask to be sent to the workhouse for five or six months. They want to get a good place for the winter and the workhouse just suits them. They get three meals a day, a good warm bed at night and nothing to do. They like to get out in the spring when the weather becomes warm and are back again ' the next fall. There is not a road leading through the countv that is in decent condition to-day. These idle men, who are supported by the taxpayers, if tney were pnt to wore, wouia give tne people a return for the money spent for the prison maintenance I cannot see that the idea would conflict with honest labor in any way. There is no labor employed on the roads anyway, and nobody could say the convicts were crowding them out of the business. I think the prisoners could keep the roads in first-class condition, and our highways would then be the equal of any thing in the old country. I would favor the roads being macadamized. 4 "It is susprising the number of men who are regular guests at Claremont, on account of there being nothing there for them to do. Sometime ago, we had a fellow here who I sentenced 30 days. At the time, we needed some whitewashing done in the basement of the City Hall building and I bad the man put to work on the job. He was a good workman and did his duty well. We gave him three square meals a day and he ap peared to be very industrious. I took such an interest in him, that I hunted for a job to give the man steady employment. I found him a good position "at SI 50 per day and broached the subject to him. When I did so he said he did not want to go to work, and expressed a desire to be sent to the workhouse. I was so exasperated with the fellow that I had him put out of the building. If we had a chain gang this in dividual would be made work. ON A SMALL SCALE. "The scheme couldbe tried ina small way at first I would favor putting a gang of men on the road from Sharpsburg to Clare mont One keeper could control a large squad of them without fearof the men trying to escape. On the Sharpsburg road the dust is so thick iu the summer that it is a torture 'to ("rive along it In the spring and fall seasons the mud is so thick that it is im pos sible io go through. It takes four horses to draw a carriage on the road when the mnd is soft In soire parts of the country build ing operations have been stopped on account of it being an impossibility to get the ma terial to the place. "I would go even farther and pnt the men at work on the streets ot the two cities. The thoroughfares would be kept perfectly clean and in good repair. The convicts would also be more careful about their actions when they were released from prison. In stead of going off on another spree and get ting sent to the works they would brace up and be some good to the community. Of course in some men the sense of pride is dead, and they wonld not care about the disgrace, but the majority of them, I think. would leave the county. iTotessional tramps would also steer clear of Pittsburg and Allegheny, and we would be benefited by.their non-appearance iu the snmmer months." Three of the Southern States employ con victs on the public highways with good ef fect In New Orleans the men are made to work upon the 'streets of the city. In every community where it has been tried it has been found that trumps give the place a wide berth, and drunken crimes are on the decrease. A .JUDGE SLAGLE CANNOT GO. Juuge Jacob P. Slagle said last evening that.he had not given much attention to the problem for solution at the workhouse, be cause he knew that he would be unable to accompany the Prison Board on its visit He is now holding Criminal Court, and cannot leave, the Porter trial at present claiming his attention. The Judge said thitxhe board felt that something should be done. to give work to theidleprisoners,buthe wasfaotaware that any particular plan had been sugcested. It might be possible that tbemen would be pnt to work on the hieh ways. He did not know the views of the other members of the board. They intend to visit the workhouse to ascertain the facts of the situation, and after that will attempt to dejrise some new scneme 01 employment. O'MAKA IS AGAINST II. y 'Assistant Superintendent Bjger O'Mara, Si6ftheJPoIice Bureau, said that the scheme 'proposed was rather defective in two or three Ixespects. rwrln the first place," he said, "we could fnotjfise our prisoners here as they do in New lyrieacs, to ciean we cny nueeis. xne men twEonrerun in for a simple drunk or some MP$fFg trivial oSnmc wel-EVr80' badly dhsraeedj by such an exhibition that their friends and the general publie would make a protest "Now, here is the other class of people who might be placed in the criminal labor ing class, the "hard cases or the common loafers. The latter lot are utterly worth less under any circumstances and in the former it would take pretty nearly man for man to guard them. Supposing the effort were made to improve the county roads, the men would have to be sent out under guard. In a very short time the roads in the immediate vicinity of the pen itentiary, the workhouse, or the jail would be put, as the average man would call 't, "in great shape." Then the more extended operations wonld require greater cost, and who would hare to pay for it? The tax payers. THE FAIUtEBS WILL OBJECT. "Every farmer who put his team to work to make his section in order would look at a chain gang over the sights of a double barreled shotgun if he thought that he had to pay an extra millage tor enforced labor which he could do in his own spare time. In the city, if any such effort was made, the -pavers and rammers and other organized labor bodies wonld make a strenuous kick. "What will we do with the criminals? Give them something to do. We don't want to "turn out a lot of lunatics as they do from Moyamensing as the result of solitary con finement It would be only refined cruelty, and there is no one in the world would be the more happy than I to find a way to utilize criminal labor. The broom makers stopped broom manufac ture, and other organizations stopped other industries including shoes, barrels and vari ous classes of work. To tell the truth, if this thing keeps up much longer I cannot see any alternative for a judge when he' sen tences a man to a long term except to impose the death penalty. As a choice between death and insanity I would prefer the former. MEBCEB ALSO OPPOSES IT. Bobert E. Mercer, County Commissioner, said: "How to use convict labor is a burning question to-day. Many schemes have been proposed by those who make the manage ment of prisoners a life atudy. Whether or not it would be feasible to use convicts on the county roads, in chain gangs, has not been demonstrated in this section of the country. It appears, how ever, to be a demoralizing practice to chain men and send them out on the pnblic high ways to work. To do this we wonld have to return to an ancient practice. Upon every hand.we see evidences of progress. We can not go back. We must keep up with the requirements of to-day; and therefore I would oppose a custom which is distinctly one of the past "Down South they use convicts for labor ing on the county ro'aJs. The convicts are chained and marched in gangs, twhere they are objects of the curious. This practice has not worked successfully from a moral standpoint Crime is just as extensive there, and even more so in proportion to the population than it is East Bather than having a moral influence on the convict it SEARS AND HARDENS THEM. "After he has been exposed on the public highway a convict looses, in a measure, any moral restraint he may have. Instead of making him look with horror on his posi tion, he craaualiy sinks away, and becomes (-indifferent to himself and careless of his actions. "The prison inspectors do not claim that the workhouse is a reformatory institution, yet they do think that every influence should be brought to bear on the prisoner to awaken better thoughts in his mind. A large per centage of the men who go to the works do not come out after serving a period in 'durance vile' with any better moral princi ples. This, however, is no argument for giving the practice up. It has been demon strated that long periods in servitude passed in idleness has a bad effect on the criminals. We are obliged to provide work, and this is the difficult problem to solve. "Before pipe lines were laid, the work house did a rushing business in barrel making. Not many years ago every inch of space was used in the factory, and we put as many men to work there as' the place conld hold. We had sales for the barrels. All this is changed no w. We can only use a small fraction ot the criminals on this in dustry. Last Saturday, out of 602 male prisoners, there were only about a dozen. men worxing in me lactory. xne oaiance of the men are employed around the farm. IMPROVEMENTS AX THE FABM. "Superintendent Warner is engaged on ex tensive improvements on the farm. He has scientifically irrigated the ground, and it is now in splendid order for crowing crops. All around the farm the Superintendent, under specifications drawn up by an en gineer, is laying ont roads and fencing them around. The short term prisoners are em ployed on this work. They are constantly watched by guards, but they are perfectly free from chains while working. The Sup erintendent thinks it advisable to use the short term prisoners alone on work outside the walls. We are contemplating farming the 200 acres at Claremont This will use a small percentage of the labor "at our dis posal. "A suggestion has been mooted to pur chase additional gronnd, adjoining our farm, at Claremont We would then grow everything in the way of crops and veee tahles. We can use for the workhouse con sumption almost as much stuff as we can produce. If we acquire more gronnd it is possible that we may raise garden produce for the markets. This is only a suggestion that has been made by those interested in prison labor as a way out of the problem that confronts us. No one seems to have any scheme that I know about to help-us out of our difficulty. Every thing that has been done hitherto was only of a suggestive nature. There has been no practical project offered as yet" THE OLDEST HAN DEAD. Alexander Tlndle Expired at His Home Af ter Three Dors' Illness. Alexander Tindle, one of the oldest resi dents of this city, died yesterday afternoon at his home on Kirkpatrick avenue, Alle gheny. Mr. Tindle was one of the pioneers of Pittsburg. He came across the mountains in a Conestoca wagon when a child from Wil mington, Del., where he was born. His pa rents located on Liberty street, near where the old Black Bear tavern stood, at the foot of Fifth avenue. He learned the trade of saddlery and Harness maker, and opened a shop near his home. He continued In busi ness until 1870, when he retired. He after ward engaged in the tannery business with James D. Callery, and was one of the incor porators of the Dollar Savings Bank. Mr. Tindle was probably the oldest Mason in the State. He was a charter member of St John's Lodge No. 219, F. & A. M., and opened the first Masonic hall in the city. At the dedication of the new building last June, he was asked to open the hall, but bis physical condition prevented him from tak ing such a part He was also a Boyal Arch Mason. Mr. Tindle's father went out during the war of 1812, and was never heard of again. The deceased leaves three daughters, one of whom is Mrs. Alex. Jones, of Aliquippa, and the other two are single. He also leaves five sonsi-AlexH Jr., Herbert, Albert, Allan and George. Dr. Tindle, the well-known physician of Penn avenue, is a nephew. The cause of his death is said to have been a cold contracted last Monday. Mr. Armor's Lively Christmas. George Armor, of Soring alley, had a merry time in his home on Christmas, ac cording to the tale related to Alderman Mc Kenna yesterday. Armor's wife made charges of surety of the peace and assault and battery against him. and Elizabeth "Weiser alio entered a charge ot assanlt 'against him. In default of bail he was committed for a hearing on Saturday. OIln Campbell's FaoernL .. The funeral of Miss Mary Campbell, who was killed at Brushton Wednesday even ing, will be held at Wilkinsburg to-day, at the hpme of her parents. ' The body will be buried ia Homewood Cemetery. The Light in Winch tie Great Flan Is Viewed Locally. JOHN A. WOOD "WAXE8 GRAPHIC. J. H. Horaer and William McCreery Throw Cold Water on the CanaL COMMENDATION OP IT PREPONDERATES The championcy of the Erie Ship Canal by The Dispatch and the graphio letters from the scene of operations from a special commissioner, have aroused a vast amount of interest locally in the great plan, which, if anything ever can, will line Pittsburg's wharves as in the old days of river suprem acy, and the manufacturers and heavy ship, pers ot local merchandise are found to be in gratifying touch with the efforts hitherto put forth. Among the chorns of approval which rises over the, as yet, inchoate plan, thre are found, some dissentient voices. It may only be expected that some of the expert opinions advanced by engineers against the plan, would set people to thinking as to the feasibility of the canal, both from a mer cantile and commercial standpoint There being many men, there are many minds, and like conclusions upon great subjects are rare as a May morning for Christmas. It's to be hoped that the objectors will not prove to be like Sydney Smith's old Scotch woman, who. when taunted twith her mental obsti nacy and the fact that she was not open to conviction, replied with great asperity- ."I'm open to conviction, but wha can con-, Vict me7 BOTH SIDES TO BE GIVEN. There are two sides to most questions, and in the persons of the representative citizens, whose names and opinions appear below, a very impartial reflex of sentiment on the ship canal is obtainable. The careful ex planation of Commissioner 'John A. Wood will be found especially Interesting. Captain C. W. Batchelor was encountered on Fourth avenue opposite the Keystone Bank bnilding, the exterior of which he was critically inspecting. When the subject was broached to him by a Dispatch repre sentative he lost all interest in the new structure and began to tell how a ship canal between Lake Erie and the Ohio river would be a blessing, not only to Pennsyl vania, but the entire Northwest . "The value of such a waterway would be almost incalculable," he remarked, "if we were to sit down and try to figure it out by dollars and cents. It would benefit Pitts burg, it Mould be the foundation for a con tinuous line of towns and villages through Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence and Beaver counties, and, with the Ohio slack watered to Beaver, we could bring ore. and copper direct from the Lake Superior region to the Pittsburg docks without unloading, and in the same vessels ship back coal and iron. "Grain fromthe Northwest I could be brought to Beaver in the same way and be shipped east via Pittsburg or sent south on the Ohio. The manufacturers of Pittsburg have allowed the railroad to almost destroy the river-traffic, and although I have not at present a dollar on the rivers I have repeat edly called the attention of Pittsburg manu facturers to this fact, and tried to get them to encourage the rivermen, but without any material results. I do not believe that the scbeme will be very strongly qpposed by the railroads. ' NOT DOOS V8 THE MAKOEB. They have more than they can possibly attend to, and, in fact, more railroads are needed to carry the immense amount of freight which the prosperous conditions of the country requires to "be handled. It would also -benefit the railroads running east from (Pittsburg. A continuous inland canal would then be formed from New York to New Orleans, by using the Hudson river to Albany, the Erie Canal to Buffalo, Lake Erie to Erie, the La)te Erie and Ohio river canal to Beaver, and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the Gnlf. The only doubtful point would be the Lake Erie stretch, which would be frequently too rongh to tow canal boats over. Yes, sir, you can record me as being heart and soul in favor of the ship canal." THE COKE KINO PAT0B3 IT. H. C. Fnck, of Carnegie, Phipps & Co., Carnegie & Co., and the H. C. Frick Coke Company, was the next person asked for an opinion on the canal, and the benefits which were likely to accrue from it "Well, that is a great question, but 1 have not the least doubt hut that it wonld be a great thing for Fittsbnrg manufacturers," said Mr. Frick, "and whatever is for the interests of manu facturers is for the good of the people of Pittsburg. Of course it is cheaper to trans port coal and iron, or indeed anything which is not perishable, by water than by rail, and if such a canal were in successful operation the greater part of the ores, grain and the products of the Northwest would be brought to Pittsburg by water, and we conld ship back our iron, steel, nails, wire, glass and other com modities by the same route. It would not only affect Pittsburc, but all the cities on the river between here and New Orleans, BAILBOADS SHOULD HAIL BELIEF. "The railroads ought not to complain, as they have been claiming a shortage of cars, and have been unable to give prompt at tention to their patrons for some time." George A. Kelly was found at his whole sale drugstore, corner of Second avenue and Wood street, yesterday. He was not espec ially engaged, and easily spared a few min uses in which to tell The-Dispatch man, who had ship canal on the brain, that he had not given the matter very much consid eration; in .fact, scarcely enough to talk intelligibly on the subject "Such a canal," said he, "would cost a great deal of money, but would doubtless be most beneficial to the lake regions and Western Pennsylvania." THY MB. MILLEB BESIQNED. Beuben Miller, of the rirmot Miller, Met calfe & Parkin, who was one of the original members of the commission appointed by Governor Beaver to consider the scheme, have the route surveyed and report to the Legislature, as to the feasibility of the plan, was the next prominent citizen -visited. He subsequently resigned his position on the commission and Captain John A. Wood was appointed by the Governor to fill the place made vacant by Mr. Miller's resignation. "I resigned from the commission," said, Mr. Miller, "because I did not have the time to devote to the business of the commission, and under those circumstances it would be rather out of place for me to say anything whatever abont the canal, and therefore you will have to excuse me if I refuse to talk ou that subject" MB. MILLEE'S 8TJCCESS0B. Captain John A. Wood was corraled in his office, at the corner of Water and Mar ket streets, and, although very busy, took time enough to say i "I'll tell yon right now that it the terminus of the former canal had been at Pittsburg instead of Rochester, it would have been in operation to-day; but in those days we did not have dams on the Ohio, and time and time again I have seen canal boats lie for weeks at Rochester waiting for a rise, and when there was no hope of such a boon tbey would dnload on the docks at Rochester and start back empty to Erie for another load. That was what killed the old ranal; but now we have a remedy for this. AN AMPLE -WATEB SUPPLY. "Engineers who have thoroughly exam ined the country from which the water sup ply would have to be drawn are confident that all the water could be easily obtained. Such a canal would bethe greatest boon thteeuMfiSik "PttsfcHrWwSW be the conBeeMatr link ' Wwaen the lotas aad the galf,"New York and the Olo, Pitts burg and the Northwest aad Canada. The advantages to be derived from it are in numerable. It wonld not only benefit the iron and coal men, but trade in general. All the products of the great Northwest and upper Canada conld be shipped South or East via the canal and Pittsburg. GRAIN SHIPPEBS BENEFITED. "It would he an especial benefit to the grain dealers. The time of transportation would not be nearly so long as some people seem to think. I am heartily glad that The Dispatch has so vigorously taken this matter up, and don't believe there ia a heavy shipper in Pittsburg but is strongly in favor of it The cost of transportation by wateris less than by rail, and not only that, but such a canal would compel sharper compe tition among railroads, and in that alone ever shipper, whether large or small, would be receiving some benefit from it Understand, it is not a private affair, but a Government undertaking. It is one of the greatest affairs of "the kind ever conceived in the United States, and if we can only get the people to see what great good it would dot have no doubt but that it will be event ually constructed." t opposed on oenebal peinciples. J. H. Horner, of Horner & Roberts, coal dealers, was the only man who did not take kindly to the scheme. When asked to state his objections he replied: "I am opposed to canals generally, because tbey have been superseded by railroads just as coal has succeeded gas, and gas as a cleans ot illumination has given way to electricity. Why not take this J35.000.000 or $40,000,000, which wonld be expended in the construction of a ship canal, and either buy or build railroads. I have been in Pittsburg for the last 60 years, and have been interested in the coal business, one way or another, for nearly that length of time. I can remember when the river was filled with boats from 75 to 350 feet long and when the only means of travel or transportation was by means of the rivers and stage coaches, but you can see how quickly the canals and steamboats were snuffed ont when the railroads commenced operations. ON THE SCOBE Of TIME. "Suppose they do put in locks and dams all the way down the Ohio, which they would have to do to float the lake vessels, it would take longer to make one trip then than it does now to make two. We have all the water we want now to supply the lower markets for during ,the spring and fall freshets all the coal we have a sale for can be sent down the river. I can remember when coal operators who were down the river would go to Cleve land from Wheeling to get to Pittsburg by rail, rather than come up on the boats. We would also go from Louisville to Indian apolis to reach Pittsburg by rail. It would be impossible to compete with the rail roads, for it is human nature to 'seek the cheapest route, and if the railroads could carry freight anywhere near what it would cost to send it "over the canal, you would see all these manufactur ers ship by rail, and auit the waterway. THINKS COMPETITION IMPOSSIBLE. "The rivers are all right, but I believe it will be found Impossible to compete with the railroads. aTake, for instance, the old Pennsylvania canal, which cost some forty odd of millions dollars, which( as soon as the railroads began to compete with it, was sold for a mere trifle as compared,-with the cost of its coustruction. The difficulty of ob taining water to feed such a canal as they propose constructing would be a serious ob stacle. The plan may, however, be success fully carried out, b'ut I doubt it very much." THE TVALTONS FAVOB THE CANAL. Captain I. N. Buntou, of the firm of Joseph Walton & Co., when asked what he thought of the scheme, said: "You can just say for Joseph Walton & Co. that we are very much in favor of it, and believe the canal will be a reality before many years. The benefit' to be derived by Pittsburg wonld be almost unlimited, especially to her iron and coal industries. W. R. Thompson, the banker, is heartily in favor of the proposed canal, and does not believe that it would. seriously interfere with railroad business. - ' ' J. 0. Kirkpafiick, of the Chanters Steel' Company, said that he had not given it much thought, but intended to look into the feasibility of the scheme before long. NOT AT ALL OPTIMISTIC. N. J. Bigley, of the Yonghiogheny Coal Company, did not speak very hopefully of it, although he admitted that if constructed it would greatly benefit Pittsburg and the Northwest He stated that the route for a canal from Cumberland to the seaboard had been surveyed several years ago, but after the survey Had been made tbe scneme dropped oilt oP sight, and he intimated that the Lake Erie ana Ohio River Canal might meet with the same fate. A PECTJLIAE VIEW. Mr. William McCreery has a peculiar view of the ship canal interesting on ac count of his prominence and the novelty of the reasons ascribed for progress of the scneme up to toe present time, us saia: "It is sheer nonsense to talk about the scheme at all. Jt won't be possible to get water enough to let one ship through each day. I had some experience with the old canal, and it was with the utmost difficulty we got a canal boat throngh in dry weather, and tbey only carried CO tons. A ship canal, to be of a permanent practical use, must have at least 12 feet of water, and that would carry but a small vessels the ordinary lake ships, draw from 15 to 18 feet "Supposing it were possible to get the ships to Beaver, a whole system of Davis Island dams would not bring them to Pitts burg, as tbe present dam has only made a channel of six feet. If there had bedn a possibility of the canal being a success the railroad interests would certainly have shown enough opposition to defeat the bill at Harrisburg. The fact that they let it go throngh is evidence to my mind that they knew .its impracticability." IN SIBECT OPPOSITION. Mr. John Bindley, Yice President of the Exposition Society, was hearty in his ex pression of opinion, and only regretted tbe fact that tbe time to talk to The Dispatch representative was so brief. He said: "It looks as if it would be a very valuable ad junct to Pittsburg. In fact any scheme that will reduce the cost of anything, is a benefit to mankind. The recent freight blockade would not have continued so long if we had had a ship canal. I have never believed that the old canal should liave been aban doned. I believe the water highways, pro vided by nature herself, should always be preserved. If the Ohio river should be taken away we wonld have no outlet for our great coal products. The canal ought to be very valuable to the iron ore, manufactured iron and cofl interests. a big steel mantjfactukeb. j . "William G. Park, chairman of the firm of Park Bros., sends a letter, in which he states: , as manufacturers of steel and finished copper, we have a direct interest In tbe estab lishment of tbe improvements mentioned, as we are largely dependent npon the npper lake region for raw materials used, in both these branches; and, excellent as are our railroad faculties, tbe season just closed has shown that the; are not at all times adequate for the handling of the. enormous traffic from the lakes; nor is it probable, In view of the phe nomenally rapid Increase in the production and consumption of Lake Superior ores, tbat they will be able to keep pace with its develop ments hereafter. Tbe output of 7,000,000 tons ot Late &uperior Iron ores for the present sea son promises to be largely exceeded next year, and of this product it is safe to say that one half is consumed In territory that would be Immediately benefited by tbe Improvement re ferred to. Of tbe advantages of a continuous water route, in tbe way of reduced transporta tion, it is unnecessary to speak. Others better than we- can set forth the ad vantages to be derived from the proposed im provements, in the marketing of the commodi ties of the upper Ohio Valley. In the case of our own manufactured products, tlmoj is too important an clement in their delivery to pert mlt us to avail ourselves of canal transporta tion for that purpose. The great value or the Ohio river for tbe marketing ot bituminous coal of this recioD, however, would seem to be a sufficient precedent on that point. Cut prices for child's plush coats, caps, etc., to-day. Busy Bee Hlve,6tk aad Libwty, 'ffORfflG'GTRE'fflJB Tke IidHstrial Soatkside to the Frost Witb a Kew Project. IT WAS ORGANIZED LAST HIGHT. A CInb Home to he DBdeBoraiaatioaal and Upon Broai Lines. ANEHTMJSlASrs IDEAS OF THB PLAN There was a meeting held in the Palace Parlors, No. 1501 Carson street, last night, for tbe purpose of organizing a Girl's Working Club, for the Southside. The. matter has been talked of for some time, and one or two informal meetings had been previously held, but last night's meeting resulted in a permanent organization being effected. There were abotit 25 or 30 women and girls present, and considerable interest was manifested in the scheme. Miss Lillie A. Haller who has recently inspected the girls' clubs of New York City, presided, and made an address, in which she described the plans upon which the various clubs are operated and explained the bene fits to be derived therefrom. She said the girls of New York had elegantly furnished clubhouses, with combined libraries, read ing rooms, sewing rooms, dining and lunch rooms, which were kept open constantly and were a great benefit to the working girls. OPINIONS EXCHANOED. Miss Haller proposed that the Southside organization be formed on the same plan, and then the women present exchanged their views on the matter. Mrs. B. H. Jones, a prominent worker in the W. C. T. TT., spoke to the girls and pointed ont the good that was heing done by the Chris tian Endeavor Societies in other cities. The general feeling was that there is rio class of people who need an encouraging word or a helping hand more than working girls, who by depriving them selves of an education and the comforts and pleasures of society to a creat extent, earn their own living, and in many cases support a widowed mother or a feeble father, A permanent organization was effected by the election of the following officers: Miss Lillie A. Haller, President; Miss Mary Gcrlitz, Yice President; Miss Lydia Miller, Secretary; Mrs. B. H. Jones, Mrs. James Tarr, Mrs. Sarah Dickson, Mrs. J. M. Pos ter"and Mrs. Thomas Smith, Advisory Board. Thursday night was fixed as the time for regular meetings until the club is in good working order. NEEDS POINTED OUT. Miss Haller said, after the meeting ad journed: "There are hundreds of working girls on this side of the Tivsr who will be benefited by this club. We came to the Southside because there are more working girls on this side than in any other section of the city. I am told that there are over a hundred girls employed in one mill. All of the glass houses employ a large number. We will have the club if it takes a year to get it on a successfnl basis. "Our main purpose in establishing the club is to lift up and benefit the working girls of the city. It is to be started on a pnrely independent, undenominational basis. None shall be excluded on acconnt ot race or creed. We propose to rent a building and furnish the rooms for the girls. We will have a library and reading room. Meals will be served at a very nominal price. Sewing, typewriting and copying will be taught, and girls who are back in the common English branches will be given an opportunity to improve intellectually. Singing clubs will also be organized, and the girls will be furnished a piano to make the club attractive. The girls will be as sisted to find employment Everything possible will he done to make the club a substantial benefit to the members." AS EEOABD8 FINANCE. "Where do you expect to derive your fnancial upport?";was asked. "Tbat mattar is all 'right. The clnb will support itself as soon as" we can secure the confidence of the girls and get them inter ested in the matter." Miss Haller was asked if they had re ceived any promises of aid from financial sources, hut she evaded the qnestion, saying: "We have po fear of the financial end. "It is understood that a massmeeting will be called shortly to present the scheme to the general pnblic and at the same time to raise enough funds to make the beginning. The women who are interested in the enter prise Beem very sanguine of success. It may be stated tbat while those who are the foremost advocates of the cause are well known in W. C. T. TJ. circles, the clnb is to he under the auspices of no church or Chris tian organization. Although no appeal is contemplated, the good offices of any friendly philanthropist who desires to step forward with an offer of a bnilding or an en dowment fund will be very gladly received by the promoters of the first working girls' ClUD ia jriiuuurg. WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING. Somo Who Travel, borne Who Do Mot, and Others Who Talk. Postmaster James S. McKean escorted bis sister, Miss Aggie McKean, to New York City last night via the limited. They will meet one of the transatlantic steamers at quaran tine in New yorfc hart or to-day, by which ves sel some friends are expected. Mr. McKean has some Important business to transact In the metropolis in connection with a realty deal in the vicinity of Pittsburg, vet to be consum mated. Mr. and Miss McKean will start for Pittsburg next Saturday night, arriving Sun day morning. Mr. E. E. Bonneville, of the Hotel An derson, to-morrow closes his connection with that house. He leaves on Sunday morning for Evansville. Ind., to occupy an advantageous position in connection with the St George Hotel. Mr. Bonneville, during his period of duty at the Anderson, baa made many friends, as well among its guests as among tboie biought in business contact with bun. His newspaper friends will join with those in wish ing him pleasant times in his new quarters. Joseph Bamsey, Jr., until this time Chief engineer of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad Company, has been ap pointed assistant to President J. D. Layng, of the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Cbicaco and St. Louis Hallway. For many years, Mr. Ramsey lived in Fittsbnrg, as an official of tbe Fennsyl yania Company. Louis Jones, manager of an extensive steel plant at Bessemer, Ala., was in the city yesterday. He spoke ia high terms of the progress of the new South in the direction of Iron manufacture, and predicted keen compe tition In the future between his section of the country and Pennsylvania. He went home last evening. Mr. S. W. Herron, of Grand Junction, Greene county, Iowa, la spending tbe holidays with his brothers at their homes on Herron Hill. Mr. Herron is a former Pittsburger, and this is his first visit to his old home in over 19 Sears. He is a brother of A. C. Herron, of the lerk of Courts office. Bev. Pather Casey, a 'secular priest of the archdiocese of Pembrooke, Ottawa, Can ada, is a guest at St Paul's Cathedral. Father Casey intends to become a member of the Car melite order of priests in this city. The mother house of the order is at Hew Bethlehem, Bed ford county. Prof. John A. Brashear will this even ing lecture In the chapel of the Pittsburg Female College, Eighth street on "Color and Its Relation to Plants and Flowers." The lecture is under the auspices of the Botanical Society and will be free. General William H. Eoontz, of Somer set, is a guest at the Duquesne. General Koontz is attorney for tbe Baltimore and Ohio Rail road and director of several roads which con nect with that system. United States. Marshal Joseph B. Har rah will be given a dinner at the Hotel Duquesne to-morrow evening by veteran friends. Abont 100 old soldiers will be present, Dr. W. H. Pitch, of Bockford, 111., is passing tbe holidays at the residence of hisv father-in-law, commodore W. J. iLountz, or Allegheny. , l Eev.Fathcr Prancis Ward, of Emmetts- borg College, iibttt eity vWUng his partst, 1 mm It WW b VrMatec Tkta Menriag -Alfcer Warm Sprtt The Bxfeeted Tetecres Bmlneis Belayed. A great contrast was notieedin the ap pearance of tbe down town streets last even ing. On Christmas night there was not an avenue in tbe town part of the city that was not covered with people promenading. The majority of the men wore light overcoats and the ladies were arrayed in their light wraps. The weather was mild and put oap in mind of a summer evening. Last night what a changel There were comparatively few people on the streets. Those who were, were scurrying along with their garments drawn closely around them to keep warm. The wind blew and whistled through the telegraph wires, suggestive of a blizzard and gave many of the hurrying pe destrians chills, as tbey thought of the heavy winter underclothing they did not bny. A juvenile blizzard struck the city yes terday forenoon but did no damage. There was a" terrific wind and thunder storm East and South, that blew down the telegraph lines. The Postal Company was badly crippled and had to turn overall their busi ness to the Western Union. The latter sent all through messages via Buffalo. The de lay did not exceed several hours. A DiSPATCa reporter paid another visit to the weather shop in the Schmidt build ing yesterday for the purpose of ascertain ing whether a blizzard had struck the town and if possible find out why Jack Frost has forsaken us. It was learned that the cold wave flag had been put up ths night before, but the weather would be quite warm to-day. The maximum temperature for the day was 62 degrees. This was between 8 and 9 o'clpck in the forenoon. At 2 o'clock the thermometer had fallen to 52 degrees and continued on its downward course until midnight The highest velocity attained by the wind was 34 miles per hour- This was at 8:40 A. 11. The highest wind ever knownrinthis city since 1871 was 40 miles per hour. The cause of the storm was an unusual fall in the barometer, followed by a sudden rise. Tbe storm was northward and across the lakes, through Virginia, Indiana and Wis- I that it would be freezing at an early hour mis morning, .tter tnat it wouiaget warm again. THE HEW LIST OP EXTKAS. The Tito Iron Aasoelatloni to Confer on the Snbject. The American Manufacturer says : The Eastern Bar Iron Association, at its re cent meeting, appointed a committee to confer with the Western Iron Association regarding a new list' of extras. There is tbe most urgent need for some ac tion in this direction. The present list is both absurd and useless. It is not lived up to. it is not sold by. It is cut withont the least com punction. So absurd and useless has it become tbat individual concerns have and are se riously cansidenns the advisability of issuing a card of their own. Now, the question is, can the Eastern and Western manufacturers roach an agreement f If not, then one association or the other should take the initiative and do awa with the. pres ent senseless and useless card. TO LAI THE C0ENEE STONE. Tho Donation of. Virginia Jr. O. U. A. M. Societies Arrived Yesterday. The corner stone'of the Washington mon ument will be laid in the Allegheny Parks on the morning of February 22, 1890. The' stone, which was donated by the Virginia State Council of the Jr. O. U. A. M., ar rived yesterday. A committee on pro gramma has been engaged all week arrang ing the plans for the ceremony. The scheme for the fair to raise the re maining fnhds necessary has fallen throughr and the committee is contemplating another plan. Still a Chance for Christmas Bayers. We have received to-day, December 26, a large lot of pianosand organs, which, as yen will notice, have come to hand the day after Christmas. They are from the well-known factories of Decker Bros., Knabe, Fischer, Estey, Pease and Sterling. We laid in a very large stock, but, seeing that wo were going to rnn out, ordered another invoice from the several-factories, urging them to hurry them along. Unfortunately tbey are here too late for Christmas, but jnst in time for a New Year's call. They must be sold, as we do not want to carry them over into next year. Come in and see us, and we will assure you of a genuine bargain for cash or on easy payments. S. Hamilton, 91 and 93 Fifth aye. A Cold Wave nt Lait. To start our heavy ulsters with a rnsh, we have placed on sale for to-day 75 men's Scotch cassimerc nlsters (storm coats)', with plaid flannel lining, for" the low price of $5. We positively guarantee these ulsters to be worth ?15. Our price for to-day is 5. P. C. C. C, cor. Grant and Diamond sts., opp. new Court House. Fashionable clothing is difficult to ob tain. That is,clothing advertised as fashion able proves to be of inferior cut and appear ance.and buyers are not pleased with it after careful examination. Brokaw Bros.' New York tailor-made suits and overcoats are, however, the acme of stylishness and fine appearance, and purchasers are always pleased. A. L. Bailor, Sole Agent, Sixth St., cor. Liberty. tvt B. fc B. 2S0 yards carpet on our cloak and curtain room floor for sale at your price. Boaos & Buhl, Allegheny. Fbauenheim & Vixsack-'s ale and porter are superior beverages. Call for them. All dealers keep them. Or order direct. 'Phone 1186. Casey's "Excelsior" rye is their special brand. It is very favorably known in this community, and we advertise only to give ontsiders a- chance to become acquainted with this fine old brand of straight and pure Monongahela rye. For sale at T. D. Casey & Co.'s, 971 Liberty st PS Genu' Sine Neckwear. New white satin bows. New white silk 4-in-hands. New white silk tecks. Jos. Hokne & Co.'S Penn Avenne Betail Stores, Wood Blonidlngs. All the new shades to suiMhe new color ings in wall papers. Ceumeine, Bane & Bassett, 416 Wood st Now la the Time to Snbscrlbo For periodicals for 1890. E. S. DAvls & Co., Subscription headquarters, 96 Fifth ave. Tbe People' Store, Fifth Avenne. Jackets, wraps', plush sacques, sealskin sacques all marked down to-day. Come and get a bargain. Campbell & Dick. Fbauenheim & Vilsack's ale and porter are superior beverages. Call for them. All dealers keep them. Or order direct 'Phone 1186. B.&B. Old carpet on our cloak room floor for sale at sacrifice at once about 250 yards. B0GO3& Buhl, Allegheny. Bennllfnl Hats, toques, turbans, bonnets, only $5, less than half price. To-day at Jos. Borne & Co.'s Penn Avenue Stores. 1 Mothers Made Happy Bv havlne their children photographeoVby Anfrecht, the Popular Photographer, 616 Vai-boi t Plttshnrir. - 1 -,..n,...,, . teWDMEISEfl Tie AlUgfcMj City Property Com mittee Met' aad Reseated IK. W. L SCAIFE'S 1MPDTATI0HS. A Lively Biscssaioa as to the Control of the Caraegie Library. AN 0SDINASCE WAS EEC0MMENDED The City Property Committee, of Alle gheny, held a very important meeting last night The question at issue was, Should the control' of tbe new Carnegie Library building be handed out to a commission, composed of citizens, or should it be held as all other city property under the control of the committee Mr. Ammoa occupied the chair, and opened the meeting by a few remarks, in which he pointed out the fact that tbe citi zens of Allegheny were deeply interested in the matter under discussion. He then read the titles ot two ordinances. The first or original ordinance was "An ordi nance relating to the care and cus tody of the Carnegie library building." The second, ordinance was one -that had been presented to Councils by zealous citi zens, and which was entitled, "An ordin ance creating a Board of Directors for the control and management of the Carnegie Library." A LIVELY DISCUSSION. Tbe discussion was opened by Mr. Arthur Kennedy, who stated that he had heard a discussion ob the subject, and he thought the idea was very good. The suggestion had been made that there be a commission which should consist of three members of the Board of Control, three members of Councils and three citizens. Mr. Dahlinger thought that a sub-committee should be appointed who would take charge of all ordinances, make a thorough investigation of fthe subject, and report as to the best mode of procedure. Mr. Bobison said that the members of Councils were selected by the people, and to represent the people. Therefore he thoright that the proper persons to look after the Li brary building were the members of Coun cils, and if it was given to citizens it would look as thongh ttfe members of Councils id not have ability enough to handle the sub ject OUTSIDERS ALSO DESIRED. Mr. Kennedy thought tbat there should be outside members in the way of advisers. Good, reputable men could be appointed; men of leisure, who would give the question their time. The effect of this would be to increase, the donations and would lessen the danger of the library in the way of being controlled by political machinery. Mr. Lane thought that it the City Property-Committee could handle the other city buildings, tbey were surely competent to handle this one. He was opposed to having gentlemen of elegant leisure on the, commit- tee; men wno nave lots 01 money, ana had it bequeathed to them, never having done anything to earn a cent Again he was opposed to the Mayor being the head ' figure, as one of the ordinances asking for a commission proposed for the reason that can didates for that office wonld make promises of positions in the new library, and as a re sult the library would be in a deeper politi cal rut than ever. Mr. Kennedy remarked that Mr. Lane's remarks smacked a good deal of dema gognery. The wealthy citizens of Alle 'gheny were by no means gentlemen of ele gant leisure, but were men who got np early in the morning, and got home late at night, and by hard work earned their money. A PLACE POP. THE PEOPLE. Mr. Ammorf said that the impression had gave abroad that the new library building was to he a fashionable resorf for aristocratic families, when such was by no means tbe case as the library wag for everybody. He thought the trouble would be in putting it in outside hands tbat .It was liable to be sectarian, for instance, Methodists were liable "to pat' in Methodists, etc. That was the thing they wanted to guard against. Por his part, he would like tq see an ordinance Introduced compelling the library to be open every day ill the year. Mr. Bobison said tbat the trouble was that a party of outsiders were trying to do up Councils and get control of tbe building. He wanted to know who was back of that ordinance. Mr. Kennedy said that Mr. Bobison was mistaken; the ordinance and the article published in the paper was the work of a young man named W. L. Scaife, who did it alone and for what he thtfught was the best interests of the city. MB. SCAIFE'S SHOT TOLD. Mr. Ammon rather forcibly threw the ordinance down on the table, and remarked that Mr, Scaife had no right to slander tbe members of Councils as had been done in the published article. A motion was made that the original or dinance placing1 the control of the building in the hands of the City Property Commit tee be taken np, and considered section by section. When the first section was read Mr. Ken nedy wanted to amend it so that the care of the "buildings would be in the hands of a special committee, known as the Library Committee. Mr. Einstein opposed that on tbe grounds that the present committee was just as com petent as any that could be appointed, be side it would cast a reflection on the pres ent committee in the eyes of the citizens. Mr. Kennedy withdrew the amendment. -3LAZINE5S,- Weakness, Indisposition to Work, Headache, Dullness, Heaviness, Lack ot Appetite, Constipation, all indicate that you need a few doses of the genuine Dr. McLano's Celebrated LIYER PILLS. ' They strengthen the weak and purify the BLOOD. m They are prepared from the purest " materials and put up with the great est care by FtEMinp BROS., - Pittsburg, Pa. Be sure you get the genuine. Count erfeits are made in St Louis. JyS-KWT NEW YEAR BIFTB DIAMONDS, WATCHES. JEWELBT, and FANCY GOODS. Notwithstanding the fact tbat onr holiday sales were the largest on record wo have re plenished onr stockoy telegram orders and now show a very complete line for those who antici pate making New Year presents. E. F.'RQBERTB k BDNB, COB. FIFTH AVE. AND MABKET ST. de27D , rMNII FRENCH, KENL?RICK & CO. THE CHINA STORE, 61Q 8MITHFIELD STREET, Opposite City Hall, de&3QK ""H: iad theorciiHanee wSsMontedTforJfamrmal itiva recommendation '"torCbuncils.i It wail also ordered that a copy of tho ordinance,be"' eai to jar. uarnegie, alter wmcu u me" iag adjourned. P MEW CHURCH AT BEADD0CK. 0 Carnev Stone Laying- of the First EngUril Latheron Church. The First English Lutheran Congregi tipn, of Braddock, celebrated the layingfof the corner stone of their new church' yester-' day afternoon. The pastor, Ber. Charles Beinewald, conducted the services, andfd livered an address on the growth 'of jHSe? church from tbe time of its orranlzationtia 1887 && Ber. H. B. Winter, President ofTthet Pittsburg Synod, offered a prayer, and then! Pastor Beinewald lowered the box into1 that stone. ' jsZ5 The lot upon which the new edifice is tobef built was bought at a cost or 2,400. Thai lower story will be used as a lecture room." This will be of cut stone and the room willv seat 400 persons. The upper story or audito rium proper will seat S00 persons and will be of frame in (jueen Anne style, xne In side will be finished in polished oak. BDILDIB6 PEBM1TS PLKKTIPUL. The New Linden Clnbhouieand OtherHnsa aome Stmetnrea. The Linden Club, of the East End, yes terday took out a permit to erect a two-story frame gymnasium, meeting hall and club house, 52x122 feet in size, on the corner of Meade street and Linden avenue, Twenty first ward. The building is to cost $7,330. The meeting hall will be provided with a stage and other accessories for entertain.' ments. Thomas Snowden took out a permit to build a two-story brick residence on Sb,ady avenue, Twentieth ward, to cost 6,300. J. H. Sorg took out a permit to build eight two-story brick dwellings on Breed's alley, Twenty-eighth ward, to cost $10,000. jns. hdrne runes 5 PENN AVENUE STORES. - PrrrsutTEO, Friday, Dec 27, ISO. The moving of cloaks began yester-J; day. Qoite a lively race, too. It will ba faster to-day. Those who put off until ; next week, instead of coming to-day and to-morrow, will Una many of the hand somest clear out of sight. Prices and' snggestive winds made the new life; prices that ought to sell such handsome garments at the end of the season, let alone at the beginning; then winds that surely herald colder weather played an important part Come to-day, if possible. It will pay you. We made no attempt to sell Dress Goods Remnants during the Christ, mas rush. There's an accumulation here of the finest goods down to the good, honest 23c-a-yard stuffs. In quantities that will astonish you. Every piece of goods short of a dress pattern length goes on tho center table, afterbeipgfsnbJeetedL ia the "bargain" process a very simple, though, very jevere.treat ment. If you need remnants, this is your opportunity. If you don't need them, yon will sometime, and you can hardly afford to missthia chance. Coma to-day. A not very large lot of the handsomest Hats, Toques, Turbans, Bonnets and Hoods, ready trimmed, at $5 reduced from, say, 510. Some were mora than 10; some were a little less. All S3 now, and wonderful bargains. In the French Millinery Room. Less than 60 pieces in all. Come quickly. Another big hat bargain. This time a plenty. Several hundred plain French Felt Hats, over 23 shapes and all shades; very stylish and popular, but they ask no quarter. Down to 51 go the prices: but ' the hats are just as good and proad and pretty as when the prices were 52, 12 50, J3 and Sol A chance to gather after the -bargain reaper. 1T A special sale of Ladies and Misses Furs in the center of the stores. Muffs AT Boas m HALF Capes PRICE. And lots of them; S3 is the ruling price. At S3 there are Imitation Seal Muffs that were S3 50 to 15 Nutria Muffs that were 53 50 an d 51 60. Black Lynx Muffs that were S3. Natural Lynx Muffs tbat were SSL Black Marten Muffs that were Jo Beaver Muffs that were 56. Astrakhan Muffs tbat were U. S3 and 16 CGL Hare and Coney Capes that were 58. Children's Mufb, in black and goht beaver, Persian lamb, gray krimmer, natural lynx, squirrel and nutria : , At 13, that were Si to $8. ' At 53, that were 57 to SIX Ladies' Boas, in lynx, natural coon, gray fox, monkey, white angora, etc.: At SI, that were S3 50. ' At $5. that were S3 to US? COMEfTO-DAY. - i ?,v JDS. HDRNE Clt ' i 609-621 Penn Ave. P. a Big reductions In all holiday ' novelties to close them out. Sterlins Mjf ' silver goods in a few choice, elegant pieces, reduced to half. Only enough' for a few hoars' sale. A grand opportu- "j city for New Year's eift buying. ut, ;;. V3t I t&.fM. uaklBBflal X, vt. tki& .'. i 1 iiMiJiam as. . . vs- lj-' . A.-'ar-ri