THE PrrTSBtntG .DISPATCH. TUESDAY MAT 10. 1892. ESTABLISHED FEBRUARY 8, 186 Vol. 47, No. SJ.-Entered at nttsbnrg Foslofflce November, 1S37. as second-class matter. Business Office Corner Smithfield and Diamond Streets, News Rooms and Publishing House 78 and 80 Diamond Street, in New Dispatch Building. FASTTRN AnVEKTISINIS OFFICE. UOOM TB. TRIBUNE BUILDING. NF.W YORK, where com plete flics ofTHE DISPATCH can alwavs be ronnd Foreign advertisers appreciate the ' e??venlrore. Home advertisers and friends or THE DISPATCH, while In Sew York, are alo made -welcome. JUT. DISrA TCff 1 rrgnlarlymmle at Brrntann', Vnton Stjnarr. Una lorlt. and IT Are def Opera, Taris. Jhincr. tchm anjnne irfco An been dieap Xnntdat a hotel neies stand can obtain if. TERMS or TOE DISPATCH. portage ritnr. 1 the united stated. JlAtLT IIISPATCH. One Year I S 00 PAlLTlllfrATCH. Per Quarter SCO Daily UisrATCir, One Month TO Daily DisrATCit. Including Sunday. I year.. 10 00 Daily Dispatch. Including Sunday, Jm'ths, ISO Daily Dispatch. Including Sunday, Im'tli. M) Scxhay Dispatch. One Yeir i 50 V EXRI.Y Insr atch. One Year 1 25 The Daily Dispatch Is delivered by carriers at 3J cents per week. or. Including Sunday Edition, at 10 cents per ucek. Tl'ISDAT. MAY 10. ISK. .TWELVEPAGES AMDMCiriL DILEMMA. The question -whether contracts must, be submitted to the Mayor for approval be fore they can be made valid was brought up with new force by Controller Morrow's communication to Councils yesterday. So lone as this issue was presented merely as a claim of the Mayor's it mie;ht be ignored or denied by Councils. But when the Controller publicly takes the stand that "I will not consider myself sufficiently em powered to pay any bills under those con tracts until the power of the Councils to bind the city in that manner is established beyond a reasonable doubt," he presents the alternative to Councils of either ac knowledging the authority of the Mayor or procuring from court a decision against it The logic of the case presented by the Controller comprises an Interesting dilem ma. Either the making of contracts is an executive function in which case the Mayor as the chief executive has the pow er or it is a legislative act which requires the approval of the Mayor to perfect which latter the Controller points out to be the real case. This is indisputable in theory, but the question whether the city charter does not discard theory in some respects is one that the courts will have to decide. Experience has taught the city not to anticipate any given decision by the courts. Unprejudiced minds will have no difficult- in recognizing that to accept the power of approval of contracts by the Mayor will erect an additional check on contracts at excessive prices. The pres ent situation points to a ruling on the ques tion by the courts, which alone will fur nish an authoritative settlement. A 1GX OF rltOGKESS. Out of the East there came a request to the Methodist Episcopal General Confer ence at Omaha yesterday, which is likelv to be the subject of a good deal of discus sion. The Troy conference sends a peti tion that the discipline section relating to amusements be either expunaed or amended to make dancing permissible. The memorial has been sicned among others by three Doctors of Divinity, and has the official sanction and support of Bishop Foster, of Boston. This present ment is one of the man' signs of Increas ing liberality among the religious bodies of to-day. To fulfil their mission of use fulness the churches must keep in touch with the social changes of the times, and they must be progressive to exercise their maximum influence in an age of progress. There is a general tendency observable toward a proper recognition of the right eousness of innocent recreation, which is a hopeful indication that religions leaders are alive to the basis on which such ques tions as these should be settled. There is no single occupation of the human race, whether in its hours of devo tion, of toil or of pleasure, which is not open to abuse. The value, therefore, of all pursuits must be judged from their intrinsic qualities and not from the inci dental evils to which they may be per verted. Dancing is in itself an agreeable and healthy form of recreation, and to forbid it entirely savors as much of intol prance as an excessive indulgence therein does of worldliness. The Conference will be wise to remem ber that temperance is a Christian virtue highly commendable, and that a rigid pro hibition of harmless amusements is con trary to its spirit. For one youth or maiden saved from sin by the Church's ban on such things it is safe to say that there are several kept without the fold by abhorrence for so narrow a spirit. More over there is a danger that members of a church who formally subscribe to such rigid rules frequently give way to the temptation to forget or disobey them when they can do so with impunity. This is a fruitful source of a duplicity than which there is nothing more disastrous to a life whose goodness is above all depend ent on its sincerity. Discussed on its merits, and aside from any prejudiced bias to hold to that which is for no other reason than that it has been, there should be little doubt that the decision at Omaha will be in favor of the innovators. IN ORUEK OF NECESSITr. The Philadelphia and New York news papers arc devoting considerable attention to the proposition for a ship canal to con nect those two cities. It is an example of the influence of locality that the jour nals which at the most accord slighting attention to the Ohio River and Lake Erie project give enthusiastic support to a similar canal which would be almost en tirely of local character. The New York and Philadelphia canal scheme will be an important link in the in ternal sea coast route when the develop ment of internal water-ways has gone so far as to take up that project But in pursuing that policy attention must be paid to the need for canals as well as to the magni tude of the traffic involved. Water trans portation already exists between New York and Philadelphia, and the main por tion of their shipments is directly to and from foreign ports. The utmost value of the proposed canal between those cities willDe to facilitate perhaps by a day and perhaps not the time of the proportion of-the traffic shipped from one' city to the other. On the other hand the Ohio River and Lake Erie canal will serve an immense coal, ere and iron tonnage, which is nowrestrict c dby high railroad freights. It will give the rivers to the lakes, and form thp link in a truly national system of internal water ways. An error as unjust was done in giving the 21-foot waterway project on, the lakes so much prominence, before any tangible progress Is made in supplying so much more necessary works as the con necting canals. Until the 12 or 15 feet routes are provided to complete the in ternal navigation system the people al ready provided with such means of trans portation should be content to wait for the superabundance Implied In the 21-foot channel. THK BOULEVARD fBO POSITION. The contemplated ordinance locating the Fifth avenue boulevard from the Al legheny river to Frankstown avenue Is stated to be the first step for a driveway from Schenley Park to the northeast cor ner of the city. The purpose is to estab lish a wide street which shall be especially devoted to driving, and will be kept clear of traction lines. Such an avenue will add greatly to the enjoyaole features of the East End, and will be duly appre ciated by the residents of that section. The natural supposition Is that the cost of opening and improving this boulevard will be, under the street act of last year, assessed on the properties benefited. If it were to be paid for out of general tax ation there might be grave objections from other parts of the city, which would gam little benefit from such an ornament, and which have already manifested some jealousy at the large park improvements accorded the district east of Oakland and Lawrenceville. But under the street act there is little danger of any large expend iture bejng made without the concur rence of the majority in interest and num ber of the people who will have to pay for it. If the abutting property owners support the project they will obtain full returns in the improved value of their property by the creation of so attractive a feature for their section. This work properly carried on will add another to the projects by which Mr. Bigelow has signalized his management of the Department of Public Works. At present it looks as If he would establish the record of having found Pittsburg without parks and with abnormally paved avenues, and have it converted into a city of parks, well-paved streets and attrac tive driveways. TOO SUCH INDIFFERENCE. Executive Commissioner Farquhar is to be in the city to-diy to try to stir up local men of affairs to a proper sense of their interests in the World's Fair. That the Commissioner's presence should be neces sary for such a purpose is discreditable to the intelligence of men who devote their lives to the accumulation of riches. Pittsburg's merchants and manufact urers must move energetically now to se cure space for a proper display at Chicago, or they will realize too late that "the road of by-and-by leads to the town of never." Ic is astonishing that Pittsburg should have progressed as it has when the characteristic spirit of supine indifference to outside extension of business is remem bered. But the growth of the city in the future will far surpass its enlargement in the past when proper attention is paid to the matter of spreading the trade area. rEEE TRADE DISCOVERIES. An example of the things that can be discovered in Pittsburg by a person who studies the situation to order through free trade green spectacles is given in a special dispatch to the New York Evening Pott on the Iron situation. It elucidates three points. First, that the iron manufacturers are "bearing" the price of iron as an excuse for reducing wages; second, that the Amalgamated Association annually passes resolutions indorsing the tariff, "because it is compelled to do so." The third, as a subsidiary point, is the quota tion of an alleged remark by iron workers that they would prefer steady employ ment in other trades at half the money. This is a very good illustration of the things that can be set down in sober earnest by a person whose acquaintance with the iron trade is limited. The idea that the manufacturers are throwing away one or two dollars per ton which they could obtain for ihe sake of the very doubtful reduction of 25 or CO cents pet ton on labor, is almost as unique to one who knows anything of the Pittsburg iron industry as the avowal that the Amalgam ated Association is so completely owned by the manufacturers that it dare not express its real opinion on the tariff. In view of past records the whole story is more than usually silly. But its most delicious assertion is that the iron workers would be glad to get steady employment at half the wages. No persons are more able to secure that end than the iron workers if they really desire it. The Iron workers' organization has full power to reduce wages to that extent, and the manufacturers could safely guar antee steady employment at one-half the present scale. The fact is that at the present liberal wages there are few inter ests in the country which have afforded steadier employment to the men than the iron mills of Pittsburg for the past seven years. If the esteemed Post would hire a few more Pittsburg correspondents the amount of imagination that could be produced for its columns concerning the iron industry would be equal to a first-class romance. A SUGAR TRUST JEREMAD. J. O. Donner, one of the gentlemen who received from the Sugar Trust an amount of stock'supposed to be double the valua tion of his refinery, turns himself loose in an interview in the New York Tribune on the proposition to repeal the half cent duty on refined sugar. After saying that the repeal would only mean a reduction of yi cent per pound, Mr. Donner lifts the voice of lamentation to the following effect: And for this small amount, which means to the people or the United States (with an average yearly consumption of M pounds of sugar per capita) only 12 cents per annum, or a fraction moie than 1 cent per month, it is proposed to overthrow the ex isting tariff laws and ruin au industry -with about $50,000,000 of Investment, employing $25,000,000 of cash capital in its business. It will not fail to occur to the reader of the exclamation that Donner is weak in his arithmetic as well as his logic One quarter of sixty is fifteen and not twelve and a half. Now the postulate that 15 cents per annum from each inhabitant of the United States, or over 59,000,000 in the total.is such a trivial sum that no one should object to having it squeezed from the people by a criminal combination might do if the Sugar Trust would confine itself to that squeeze. But inasmuch as the ad vance on account of the consolidation is already fifty per cent greater than the margin named, the public have a right to object It will also occur to the publio that if the sum to be saved is so trivial as Donner represents, why should it bank rupt the Sugar Trust? A mere seven and one-half millions, which Is the sum that gentleman states, oughtr not to burst up a corporation which can swell its capital to $75,000,000 by a simple resolution. .Supposing that the prophecy of disaster indulged iu by Donner is realized which no one believes it should be understood that the responsibility for it rests on the sugar corporation. No one objected to the half-cent, duty on sugar which the companies were satisfied with as a legiti mate method of business. But the North American Company was not satisfied with that It was bound to have the profits of a monopoly, and so It set itself in defiance of the Jaw and'in antagonism to the pro tective policy. For whatever follows its own greed and lawlessness It Is wholly re sponsible. Any business man may adopt in his own affairs -whatever system of bookkeeping he' has a mind to, no matter how stupid it seems. But on the part of a City Controller, an absence of clear methods of accounting for public funds very easily degenerates into'ciiminal maladministration. That new wall paper trust should be torn down before it is built up. Otherwise it is likely to receive the usual coat of white wash. The funeral service to precede the ordi nance arranging for the burial of the wires has been postponed until next Saturday. The city should take a Arm stand on the two years limit for interments, as that length of time is more than enough for the purpose. Surely Allegheny has municipal ills enough without adding automatically Durst Ing hose pipes to the number. The military spirit of Russia is shown by the fact that an army officer has been placed In charge of all the railroads in the Empire. If there at o such tilings as stockholders con nected with Russian railroads they must have an cnjoyablo time of it. Forester's should feel thoroughly at home under the greenery of Pittsburg's street shade trees to-day. TnE great annual' attack on home Indus tries will soon be in full swing, thanks to the marriageable American maidens who insist on obtaining either clothing ora husband, or both, while visiting the haunts of fashion in Europe. It is a poor farm ordinance that is sight less enough to fail in finding a suitable site at a reasonable price. In estimating fire risks on buildings fitted with applianoes for tho use of natural gas, a large discount should bo made iu pre miums when the frequent absence of fuel in cold weather is fairly considered. It frequently happens that the flow from oil wells, like the rate of mortality, is in creased by shooting. Yencs de Medici has a hygienic waist and an expanse of understanding, but then she can hardly be described as a lady of fashion nt the close of this enlightened nineteenth century. There must be something in a name to account for Powderly's occasional explosive utterances. Let it be clearly understood and borne in mind that street-widening ordinances are to be framed for the improvement of the city and not for the private profit of property holders. A MAN charged with perjury cannot be hanged, but he can be kept in suspense. How can the Fourth of July be properly celebrated If the Chinese exclusion bill cause a cessation of commercial intercourse and a consequent dearth of firecrackers? Mark yesterday with a red cross, for Pittsburg beat the New York giants! The once popular refrain, "Oh, Who Will Takeily Washing In?" threatens to se cure a new lease, owing to AVashingtonlan diplomacy' with the Celestial launderers. The farmer is a friend in need in the year of Presidental aspirations. There is a necessity to remember figures, but no call for bookkeeping capacity in the office of Jall-crier to which ex-Market Cloik Hastings has J ust been appointed. Whines from unlicensed dogs are now the order of the day. Kemble's famous "addition, division and silence" formula has been improved by his partners. It now leads "traction, at traction and subtraction." Even a match box has a spring opening nowadays. K0TES OF NOTABLES. Victor Napoleon is among the mem bers of the Trench Chicago Fair Commis sion. J. M. Stoddart, the astute conductor of Lippmcott's, is said to be an authority on the history of proverbs. Mrs. Harrison is gradually improving in health and strength, and Mas able to go out for a short drive yesteiday morning. TnE heir to the Potocka millions, for many thcro were, is Count Savior Branicke, one of the best known men about town in the Seine capital. Peter Avrell Browne Widener, the traction 20-mIUionairo, was named for Peter A. Browne, one of Philadelphia's most learned lawyers. Mr. Sherrard says that there is only one novelist in Franco who Is ever reviewed offensively, and that he'ls a cripple and can not call his critics out M. Goron, Chief of the Paris detective force, wears a military mustache, dresses fashionably and is generally seen with a burning cigar between his fingers. Colonel Wendrich, Overseer of the Grain Transportation to tho DIstresed Rus sian Provinces, has been appointed Inspec tor of the whole system or Russian rail ways. MRS. Potter Palmer has seen Mme. Carnot, the wife of the President, and hopes to Induce her to accept the Presidency of the French Women's Committee for the Chi cago Fair. Prof. Jacob Gould Schurman, Dean of the Susan Linn School of Philosophy, is intensoly forceful and magnetic, the pro nounced preference of the University cir cles, and personally a most popular pro fessor. CBAZED BY A TOT. The Queer. FrcnKs or Imagination of a Farmer and His Wife. Hamilton, O., May 9 At Liberty, Ind., a few miles from lieie, Joseph Chapman and wife, aged 65 and 45, weio arrested at their residence and found to be raving maniacs. About three weeks ago what is known as the "Oige," pronounced "weige," spiritualise craze struck Libel ty. It consisted nf a boaid formed in asemi-clrcle, with numbers, on, and was said by-the spiritualists who in troduced it to possess tho power, by aid of a mechanical arrangement, of calling up de parted spirits. For lourteen days and nights Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have been calling up spirits by means of the board and their intntuatiou re sulted in making both insane. At 10 o'clock this morning a great.noise was heard in the bouse and offlceis found Mrs. Chap nan In an upstairs room, naked, with the board in her hand. Her husband, also wildly Insane, was in-the collar with an old scythe blade in his hands. His wile would count 1, 2, 3, 4 on the boaid, and her )iusband in the cellar, who could hear her, would slash abont with the scythe under tho delusion that he was kill ing evil spirits. Wbenarrested the husband said ho had worked with the "Olge" and had received a communication from Horace Greeley ordering him to kill his eldest sun after he had killed the spirits. Tne officer arrived just in time to prevent this cruel murder. Fulling Into the Procession. Cleveland'Plaln Dealer. t"Grover Cleveland still has the brats bands, but .the -delegates are fast falling Into the precession Of old "Uninstructed.'' -GOOD WORK OF CONGRESS. Two Bills Passed That Mean a Great Deal to American Interests. Washikotok, May 9. Special. With the races ended and the final passage of the river and harbor bill at hand, there was a large attendance of the House to-day, not withstanding the interesting fact that a cir cus was in town. It is esteemed a remark able evidence of the desire of members to dqvote themselves to serious affairs of stato when a quorum could bo mustered without a call of the House when a circus, with all its athletic and poetics attractions, held the boards within a few squares of the Capitol. The Senate, also, with no less profound ap preciation of the importance of national legislation than the House, refrained fiom indulgence In the visual pleasure of short skirted girls on barebacked horses. Two great bills of the session.were passed, one In the House and one In the Senate. The river and harbor bill, with Its almost unpar alleled appropriation of 21 000,000 for this year, and Involving a further expenditure of '$26,000,000 more, passed the nouse by a two thirds maloiity, notwithstanding the persistent-contention of Mr. Holman, the hoop polo statesman from Indiana. While It Is a measure Involving immense expenditure, It is in the main a good bill, and has less In it of Jobs for gooso ciceks and frog ponds than mnnyjbrmer bills. Taking into consideration the log-rolling by which all such bills are constructed and parsed, this is really one of the most com mendable In years. All of the items of interest to Pittsburg passed In the form in whioh they have been previousiv reported. Representatives D.i'Izell and Stone holding the Hotio to the committee's report with admirable watchfulness and ability. The bni will undoubtedly pass the Senate with few changes except those involved in special bills or suggested by action of the Commit tee of Commerce a: tho instance of Senator Quay, alrendv fully commented upon. Tho great bill of the day was that passed by tho Senate, whioh admits the City of Paris and the City of New York, of the Inman Line, two ofthe grandest ships on the Ocean, to American registry, und opens the wav for the institution of a great steamship line nndor tho American flag, vessels of not leas than 10,003 tons being available for American registry under the bill, though at this time the measure applies only to the two vessels mentioned. This bill was passed recently by the House, and to-day by the Senate, alter an eloquent explanation of its benefits by Sen ator Fryo. It will be promptly signed by the President, nnd theni for the first time in lona year, ships or the first class, of tho most modern construction and fastest spoed, "ocean greyhounds," as they ato teimed, will cross tho Atlantic under the Stars and Stripes. There is great lejoiclng on this account in a large circle of public men here, who have for years advocated tho admission to American registrv of ves sels which, though constructed abroad, are built and owned by American capital and Americans. NO BUSINESS FOB A CITY. Municipal Coal Tardi Cannot Be Legally Established in Boston. Bostox, May 9 Special. The Legislature now In session on Beacon Hill has been swamped with petitions for legislation es tablishing municipal coal yards. The con stitutionality of the proposed legislation was questioned, and the Supreme Court was asked for nn opinion on that point. To-day five Justices reported that such an act wonld not. bo constitutional. Justices Holmes and Barker dissented. The Committee on Municipal Affairs had made an advorse report in tho House, and Moriarity, Republican, had moved to amend the report by the substitution of a bill authorizing municipalities to become coal dealers. This led to the query as to tho locality of the proposed legislation, and the Supreme Court was akcd for an opinion. There were thousands of names on the pe titions. The opinion concludes as follows: "Wo are not aware of any necessity why cities and towns should undertake this form of business any more than many others which have always been conducted by pri vate enterprise, and ta are not called upon to consider what extraordinary power the Commonwealth may exei else ormay author ize cities and towns to exercise in extraor dinary exigencies for tho safety ofthe State or the wellare of tho Inhabitants. If there be any advantage to tnc inhabitants in buy ing and selling coal and wood for fuel at the llsk of the community, on a large scale and on what has been called the co-operative plan, wo are of the opinion that the consti tution djbes not contemplato this as one of the ends for which the government was es tablished, or us a public service for which cities and towns may be authorized to tax their inhabitants. We therefore answer the question in the negative." 8HE WAS LINCOLN'S NTJBSE. Death or Annt Epsy Smith Who Had an Eventrul History. CniCAQO. May 9. "Aunt" Kpsy Smith an old peeress who died In this city yesterday, had an eventful history. In 1S27 she was a protege of Nlnian Edwards at that time Governor of Illinois. She was present at the wedding of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd, and after the wedding was a servant in Lincoln's home. She nursed Robert T. Lincoln, the present Minister to the Court of St. James. Her death was caused by the grip, from which she had been suffering since last March. Her exact age is not known, but as near as could be told, she nas about 72 years old. She was mairled at the house of Governor Edwaids, by the minister who performed the ceremony for Lincoln him self, and the dress she wore on the occasion was a present from Mr. and Mrs Lincoln. OBSTBUCTING NAVIGATION. A Lnmbermiji Under Arrest for Blocking Up Ihe Little Kanawhi. PAHKEiisniTRO, W. Va., May 9. Special. An important case is in progress here of in terest to steamboat and lumber mon. Cap tain William Barringer, a piominentlumber man, is under arrest for dropping raits of logs in the Little Kanawha in such away as to obstruct navigation. This charge is made against a number of lumber mon. The case is being bitterly fought. Barringer gave bond in the sum of $200 lor his appearanco to answer an indict ment in the United States Court. Promotions in the Array. W ashihqtox. May 9. The President to-day sent to the Senate the following nomina tions: Majors W. II. Powell, Twenty-second Infantry, and Curwen B. McLcllan, Tenth Cavalry, to be Lieutenant Colonels; Captains E. L. Llscum, Nlnteenth Infantry, and Theo dore J. Wint, Fourth Cavalry, to bo Majors; First Lieutenants Alex. H. M. Taylor, Nine teenth Infantry, F. W. Klnesburg, Second Cavalrj-, and Abel L. Smith, Fourth Cavalry, Captain-; Second Lieutenants B. B. Buck, Sixteenth Infantry, and Sediewick Rice, Sev enth Cavalry. First Lieutenants. Captain Richard W. Meade to be Commodore in the Navy. Yesterday's Supreme Court Decisions. Philadelphia, May 9. Tho Supreme Court to-day handed down the following decisions in the Western district: Affirmed, Wills' ap peal, Greene county: Sicardl vs Keystone Company; Kerstetter's appeal; appeal of the Imperial Refining Company, Limited; ap peal of the Manufacturers' Gas Company; Sicardl vs Keystone Oil Company, fioin Venango county; Crothers vs Crothers, Washington county. Reversed, KIche vs Hathaway, Greene county. Thn Political Paul or Illinois. Chicago Mall. J Shelby M. Cullom Is the political Paul of Illinois. On his way to Tarsus to persecute Harrison he taw a light whose name was Tanner, and the lesult was a change of heart that bears all tho outward marks and signs of a complete somersault. A Jnilgo Ttithoat an Occupation. Ghees ville, Pa., May 9. Special. A very singular occurienco toot placo to-day in tho Mercer County Court of Common Pleas. Quite a long llt of cases had boeu put down lor this term, but when the list was called all weio either continued or settled, and tho Jurois were discharged. An Aniwer to Fre Trado Criticisms. St. Loul? Globe-Democrat. It is a sufficient answer to Democrtio criti cisms of the McKinley law to sav that there i not a single artlulo of common nse which has been Increased In price by its operation IJIsappearauoj or an Ohio Farmer. Newaiik, O., May 9 Special. Robert Elliot, a prominent farmer, left Patalaska ui Wednesday last, to come to Newark. Since thennothing nas been seen or him. Mr. Elliot has a wilo and three children. Foul play Is feared. OUR MAIL POUCH. Locomotives Driven br Compressed Air. To the Editor of The Dispatch: The experience of a railway engine man In running a locomotive by compressed air was antedated manyyoars ago by Alexander Holly, the famous engineer. When an ap prentice at a locomotive shop, near Jersey City, be had given the matter secret study, and finally wagered a workman that he could drive a locomotive one mile on the Meadows without steam, fire, water or fuel. Permission to make the experiment was obtained from the proper source, and a new locomotive was attached to another and hauled out tho line to the point whoro the test was to be made, Mr. Holly riding unaccompanied upon It, this being one of the provisions of tho wagor. He then cut loose and drove his engine over the pre scilbed distance In triumph and won his wager. He had placed the reverse lever, while be ing, hauled, In a position which caused the valves to move as when running In the op posite direction to that In which he was be ing drawn, and thus converted the cylinders into air pumps or compressors, nnd through nn open throttle filled his boiler with air, which he utilized us power to drive the en gine over the strip of line designated. One of the great European tunnels, the St. Gotherd I believe, was during its con struction the field in which a locomotive driven by compressed air was employed. Mv notes in regard to this cngino nro mis laid, but if my memory is not incorrect tho engine-was very like any other, except that the boiler was a hnge cylinder without fire box, flues or chimney. At the Aliolo end of tne tunnel huge compressors furnished a supply of air at 485 pounds pressure. This usually sufficed to run the engino to the headings and back: but when extra work was to bo done a fre'h supply of air could be taken fiom pipes leading into the tunnel. Although no mention was made of the lact, I suppose this air was fed to the cylinders through a special regulator to appioach a working uniformity. I have been informed, bnt cannot state with certainty, that Mr. Brown, the Monon gahela coal operator, used a similar locomo tivoinone Of his mines, and I know that compiessed air drives pumps nnd coal min ing machinery for the Westmoreland Coal Companv at Irwin, Pn.; and also for the Southwest and the H. C. Frick coke com panies at and nearsMt. Pleasant, Pa. Pittsburg, May 9. C. II. CAncTHEns. SCIENCE TO THE BESCTJE. It Ascertains That a Dog Was Not Mad and Believes a Man's Mini. Philadelphia, May 9. On Sunday, March Q0, the Bcrenity of Weldon was dis turbed by the transit of a homeless yellow cur, which ran through tho main street, scattering the few pedestrians and biting several other dogs in his flight. Michael Hoolahan came along in the midst of the excitement. The dog sprang upon him and bit him on tho left thumb. Hoolahan quickly lecovered himself and shot the ani mal, badly wounding it. The dog escaped to tho neighboring woods. Early In the evening, however, Hoolahan and two com panions nrmed themselves nnd tracked the wounded brute to the woods by the bloody trail in tho snow. Several loads of heavy shot ended its career. The local physician cauterized Hoolahan's woundand advised him to secure the head of the supposed mad dog and take It to the Uni versity Hospital for examination. Acting on this advice, Hoolahan chopped off the head, wrapped it in a newspaper nnd carried it to the University. Dr. Abbott cut out the brain nnd dissolved it, seeming a llqnor with which he subsequently inoculated several rabbits. Two rabbits inoculated several weeks ago, have as vet failed to develop any symptoms of rabies. A JUAN'S TEETH FOB SALE. The Dentist Wants Hla Pay, If He Has to Get It at Anctlon. Ahsoxia, Coxa., May 9. Special E. L. Joselyn, dentist, pawnbroker, horse doctor, and general dealer In anything to bo bar tered, is a queer chnr.icter who has made the people of the four associated villages laugh for many years. His latest freak is to adver tise in the Ansnnia Sentinel that he "will sell nt public auction, at the town sign-post at Birmingham, a false set of teetli now In the mouth of Henry A. Bradley, of Derby." Joselvn made tho teeth seven years ago, he claims, and says thov have never been paid for. Bradley is the laughing stock of tho fonr towns, and has consulted a lawyer to see if there-is any redress. TO DISSOLVE A COBF0BATION. Fraternal Guardians Said to Be Doing Insurance Business Without Anthorltv. HAiiniSBCRO, Pa., May 9. Deputy Attorney General Stranahan this morning filed a sug gestion with the court for a writ or quo warranto to compel the Supreme Lodge of the Fraternal Guardians to show cause why a decree should not be made dissolving It as a corporation. Ids set lorth that the order, is not nn in corporated company under the laws of Pennsylvania and is- doing an Insurance business and making contracts of insurance without authority of law and in violation of the terms of its puiported charter. The writ is made returnable May 23. WOBLD'S FAIE ON SUNDAY. Sabbath Keepers of Vermont Petition to Have It Kept Open. Washixotos-, May 9. The usual flood of petitions and memorials on the subject of having the Columbian Exposition open on Sundays was pomedinto tho regular channel of the Senate this morning. They were from all parts of the country, and were about equally dlvldod between those opposed to its being opened and those in favor of it. A protest against the opening came in from "A Mass Meoting of Protestants and Clergymen" of Tennessee; and one in favor of it from "Sabbath Keepers" of Vermont. AGAINST THE EXCLUSION. The Boston Evangelical Alll-ince Adopts Re solutions and Transmits lliein. Bostox, Mass., May 9. The local Evangel ical Alliance at its meeting to-day, adopted a resolution recording an indignant protest against tho Chinese exclusion act, con demning it as an un-American and un christian, and pronouncing it3 passage a stnln upon the national honor. It was unanimously voted that a copy of the resolution be transmitted to President narrison and to the Chinese minister at Washington. ONLY AFTEB BIG GAME, Chicago Baptist ministers Kelnse to Tackle a Little Reform There. Chicago, May 9. The Chicago Baptist Ministers' Conference to-day declined to take any action on an appeal irom 15,000 re tail clerks for help In securing shorter hours of labor nnd no Sunday work. It was decided that so long as open sa loons on Sunday were allowed and the open ing or the World's Fair on Sundays is threatened the Baptist ministers ought not to w aste energy upon lesser reforms. DEATHS HEKE AND ELSEWHERE. Joseph. Van Kirk. Joseph Van Kirk, died Sunday in Eliza beth in tlieSOlh year of his age. Mr. Van Kirk was the oldest resident of that locality. He was born In West Newton, and resided there 40 Tears, alter which he moved to WestiimreUuicl county, then to Ell7abeth. He was probibly the best known or all old rcsdents. He was the lather of Dr. T. K. and W. K. Van Kirk, or 3IcKccport, besides several other children. The remains will be buried la Round Hill Cemetery at 2 r. M. Wednesday. James Grou 11-, Sr., Chicago. James Groudie, Sr., died yesterday, at Chicago. With his death ends the career or the man who built the first boat lo cross the Atlantic by steam power alone. It was the Koval Wllllim. the boat which made the trip from I'tciou.N. S., toUraves end. In 1833. 31r. Groudle's wire It sti.l living and is ncarlv 80 vears old. Mr. Groudie was 83 years old at the time or Ills death. James Chestnut, Cleversburg, Pa. Ex-State Senator James Chestnut, of Cleversbcrg. Ta., died fcunday evening, aged 78 jears. For two terms lie sened the Democratic partr In the btalc Senate, and for many rears praclict-d medicine, and was recognized as the lic.il uf his party in th.it section. Obitnnry Notes. HEnB GAimiEL vol BAROSS. Hungarian Minis ter orindustry and Commerce, died yesterday. Lord Bramwell Is dean at London. He was bom June 12, 1S0S. and was called to the bar In 1S33. From 1876 to 1SS1 lie wasa Justice or Appeal and a Judge oi the Supremo Court or Judlctature, MRS. 11. K. Sofffr, slster-ln-lawor senator W. A. Pener, of Kansas, died at Ihe old Peffer home stead, seven miles south of Carlisle, Pa.. Sunday, afted 84 years. The whole of her married life was spent upon the rarm which was the birthplace or benaior Peffer. S0UTHSIDE CONCERTS. Plans for Pretty Summer Night Concerts on Bit. Oliver Georg Henschel and ni Wire to Appear Here Tho General Gossip In Society. The Southside is trying to arrange for a series of summer niglit concerts to be held in that ;part of tho city. It is hoped that ar rangements will be made by which concerts can be given every Tuesday evening at the h'ead or the Mt. Oliver incline. The dates that have so far been fixed upon. If 200 of tho prominent people or the.Southside will allow the use of their names an patrons and patronesses, are Tuesday evening", as fol lows: June 21. Jnly 5 and 19, and August 2. 16 and 30. Guenthei's and Itothleder's orchestras are to lurnlsh tho muMc, and vocalists and elocutionists will be engaged ns follows: Miss Jennie Wooster, Signor Gilli, David Moore, Mrs. Adah Manchester, Miss Gucnther, Miss Madge Byron, of Alle gheny, and Miss Maggie Wise, of the South side. TnE farewell services of the First 51. P. Church are to take place this week, com mencing to-morrow, and continuing every day until Sunday, closing with communion on Sunday evening. Among the ex-pastors ofthe church who -will take part In the 'last service are Dr. John Scott, Dr. William Cowl, Dr. J. F. Mnrrav, Dr. McKeever, Dr. Joseph K. Kerr and Kev. David Jones. Next Mondav the most delightful musi cal entertainment ever given in the Pitts burg Club Theater will take place there un der the auspices of the Art Society. It is tho one hundred and seventy-eighth recep tion or tho society, and the determination is to make tho occasion a notable one. Mr. and Mrs. Georg Henschel will sing and play, and the high standing of these artists in sures an entertainment such as has been seldom enjoved in Pittsburg. They wilt ren der their own song recital", singing solos and duets, with Mr. Henschel nt the plano foite. This gifted pair have appeared in all the principal cltie on both sides or the ocean, but Fittsburgern have never had an opportunity of hearing them in this city un til now. They have always received a great deal of social attention everywhere, and the Art Society will try to make Mr. and Mr?. Henschel acquainted with the best people In Pittsburg, while Introducing to Pittsburgers two artists whose worth will surely be ap preciated whon they have given their first entertainment in this city. This sixth annual exhibition of photo graphs will be held at the Academy of Science and Art this week, opening at 10 o'clock this morning, and closing Thursday night. It will he under the aup1ccs of the Pittsonrg Amatenr Photographers' Society, as usual. Thi and to-morrow evenings there will bo exhibitions or 1. intern slides, which ni e expected to be interesting as n ell as Instructive. The entertainment to be given in Lib rary Hall, Mt. Washington, Friday and Saturday evenings of this week, is promised to be unique as well as delightful. The comedietta, "A Game of Cards," will be given. Then there will be a Grocian dance, a Bollamy Quadrille, and other features, which should combine to make up a very pleasant performance A delightful surprise was served on 3Ir. J. B. Johnston, of 329 Forbes street, Satur day night, when about 30 of his friends invaded his home taking him completely unawares. It was his an niversary and Mrs. Johnston and Col onel W. S. Bailey arranged to have a number of the members or the Protected Home Circle spend tho evening at bis home. Tho ladies brought baskets of cake and fruit and tho gentlemen piovided the ice cream. The evening was spent in card playing, music and dancing. Among those rresent were: Mr. and Mrs. II. C. Mendel, Mr. and Mrs. AllredS. Smith, Mrs. and Mrs. Charles E. Dnke. Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Goshorn, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Bailey, Mr. and Mrs. Alexander 1'aden, Mr. and Mr. Ed Jones, the Misses Goshorn, Miss Flora Nickllne, Mrs. Gardner and daughter. Dr. Wolfe, Mr. .Nicholson and Mr. Ernest Bailey. Minor Social Gossip. OxEof the social events of last week was the marriage of John Holmes Dorrlngton, chier electrician or the county Court House, to Miss Sophia Elizabeth Cook, or this city, on Tuesdav. The ceremonv was nerformed by Rev. C. E. Locke, Dinwiddle street, after which tirey proceeueu to tne resiuence oi the groom's sister, Mrs. W. I. Mnstin, Craig stieet, Sliadyside. 'Xhe couple have gone to housekeeping on Forbes stieet. Howard EvaJ.'S, of Mt. Oliver street. Thirty-first ward, is making a tour of the South and West with Mr. Lnoch J. Adams, general salesman or Thomas Evans & Co., glass manufacturers, Southside, as his cicerone. Tney were In Nashville, Tenn., on the occasion of the recent lynchmgs there. There will be a meeting of the Microscop ical Societv this evening at the Academy of Art and Science. As everyone known, the meetings of this society aie always remarka bly intetesting and instructive. TiiEmariiage of Miss Henrietta Kappler to Mr. William Maisch, both or Allegheny, is to take place this evening in St. Joun's Evangelican Lutheran Churcn, Madison avenue, Allegheny. The marriage of Mr. J. M. Dennistou, son of W. II. Deniiiston, of Ellsworth avenue, to Miss EstellaDuratid, or Lake Forest, 111., is to take place in that city to-morrow. The first "at home" of Mr. and Mrs. Frank G. Paulson will be held Thursday of this week at their residence, 21 Arch stieet, Alle gheny. The annual dinner of the Junta Club is to take place at the Duquesne Club this even ing. H0N0BS JOB P.SNNSYLVANIANS. Several of Them on Military and Xaval Academy Visiting Boards. Washixotojt, May 9. The President to day appointed the following Board of Visi tors to the United States Military Academy: General Lucius Falrchild, of Wisconsin: A. J. C.tssatt, of Pennsylvania; General Felix Agnn, of Maryland; Goneral Samuel Dnlton, or Massachusetts; A. G. Hovey, of Oregon; Airred Jf. Oglo, of Indiana; John W. Lind sey, of Georgia. Ho aUo appointed the rollowlng named persons visitors to the Naval Academy: E. P. Bontelle, of Maine: Bishop Quintard, of Tennessee: Thomas Dolan, of Pennsylvania; Levi D. Sillier, of New York: J. Albert Walker, or New Hampshire; John Russell Young, of Pennsylvania, and Edward Vale, of Kansas. Another Death at the Military Academy. Chester, PA Mly 9 Cadet Dudley died of typhoid fever at the Pennsylvania Military Academy this morning, making the fourth cadet who has sucenmbod to the typhoid fever epidemic there. He was the son of Captain Edjar S. Dudley, U. S. A., stationed at Port Townscnd, Washington. The ieven additional cadets are all improving. HAT PLY OUR FLAG. Despite Congressional eloquence the num ber of lifeboats aboard a transatlantic liner is moie important than the sort of flag at hor peak. Chicago Times. Encla:.d loared, of conrse, as soon as she appieciated the true inwardness of that grant of American register to two crack steamships or a popular British line. Al I" Journal The House Committee on Merchant Marine and the Fisheries has favorably reported a free ship bill. If this bill becomes a law It will destroy the American industry of ship building. Y. 1. Sun. The provisions of the bill are Intended, of course, to enable tho Government of the United States to take possession of these speedy vessels In case of war and use them ns cruisers or transports. Biooklyn Times. The privileges granted to the Inman line cannot logically be denied to other Ameri can owners of foreign-built steamers when application Is made. Tho bill which passed the IIouso by unanimous vote punches a hole in the navigation laws barrier. Cleve land Plain Dealer. Both the vessels In question are owned by a company 90 per ceni of whose stock Is held by American capitalists, and if they see fit to put these two magnificent twin-screw steamers under the American flag upon such conditions, it Is certainly wisdom for our Government to make the requisite provision. Cleveland Lzader. We have not been able to follow the example of strong governments, such as England, Franco and Germany, and as a re sult we have been wiped out as ocean com petitors. Our tariff system has made ship building too expensive here, and, foolishly, we have heretofore refused American regis ter to foreign-built ships. This measure is something of a compiomise. N. Y. Advertiser. CURIOUS CONDENSATIONS. A very fine grain of sand will cover from COO to 500 pores In the human skin. Boots of the onion penetrate the earth to a depth of from! to 8 feet when condi tions are favorable. A suit has been brought in Buffalo to recover $5,000 for alienating a boy's affec tions from his father. A single plant of turkey corn bean 3.000 seeds; the sunflower, ,000; the poppy, 32.000, and tobacco, 70.320. The microscopists say that a mosquito has 22 "teeth" in the end of lta bill 11 above and the same number below. The bones ol Jumbo, Barnum's big ele phant, that was killed a tew years ago at St. Thomas, Canada, weighed even 2,400 pounds. The total weight or the body, boues and all was six tons. Thers is a chnrch in the town of Ber gen, Norway, that is built entirely of paper. It can seat 1,000 persons in comfort, and has been rendered waterproof by a solution of quicklime, curdlod milk and white oreggs. A single seed of an Asiatic pemperion planted on Trevsy grounds, Berlin, propa gated a vine as large as a man's body, whlolr in nlno weeks grew to a total length of nearly 300 feet and ripened more than 800,000 seeds. The French professor who makes human skulls to order has a rival in the person of Dr. Znamensky, Russian dentist, of Moscow, who has discovered a means or causing falsa teeth to grow to the gums as firmly as tha ones nature provides. A German engineer concludes that if tne speed instead of the load of freight trains be increased from 11 to 23 miles ner hour the expenses per car mile at the higher speed would bo one-fourth less for repairs and only one-fifth more lor fuel. Black class was once used for mirrors, as well as transparent glnsswith some black substance on the back. It is related that the Spaniards found mirrors of polished black stone, both convex and concave, among the natives of South America. The costliest dinner set ever made was by Tiffany. Mr. Mackay brought from his mines $73,000 worth of bullion and this tha Jewelers made np into a service asking $20,000 for the work, making the cost in all 193,000, and no sovereign la Europe eats from such a gorgeous plate. It has been shown that the white elm of our bottom lands and groves yields, one year with another, at a very moderate estimate, too, 320,000 seeds. Now. an elm ordinarily lives at least a fnll hundred years, and, con sequently, In the course of that compara tively short life, produces nearly 3,000,000 grains, all coming from one original seed. . The construction, mode of use and the effect of burning glasses was known to tho ancients even a full thousand years before the time of Archimedes, who is said to have constructed a burning glass which he used to a good advantage In reducing several Roman warships to ashes at a time wnea they were besieging Syracuse. The Chicago papers are boasting that at least 30 different religions will be repre sented In the "Congress of All Religions" that is to form part of next year's industrial exhibition ten Asiatic religions, including Buddhism; four European, including Greek orthodoxy: four African, including fetich ism, and 12 American, including Mormon ism. A kind of spider native to South Amer ica is remarkable for the great length of Its legs and has a very singular method of de fending itself. When attacked it gathers its feet together, fastening them to tne center ofitsweb, und gyrates with the velocity of a whirligig, so that it appears like a mist on the web, offering no point for the enemy to strike at. There was a novel fight the other day near Sunbury, Pa., between a rat and a big blowing viper snake. The rat was bitten dozens of times, while the pluckr rodent finally sank its sharp teeth in the snake's neck back ofthe head and stuck there. Tho viper writhed and squirmed for 15 minutes and then lav still. It was dead. The rat also soon died. In saw mills using pneumatic pipes lor taking away the sawdust it is found that tha back or the saw usually throws up a good deal or fine dust in spite or the air suction. I This dimcuity nas now Deen overcome in many instances by an Invention ror admit ting air to the saw hopper in such a way as to cause It to impinge on the sides and teeth of the saw and thus give it an air-blast washing. I'.ichard Gird is probably the largest individual'' grower of sugar beets In. tha world, ne has 50 000 acres of ground sur rounding Chlno, Cal.,and this year will hava 4,000 acres of it in beets. He is under con tract to taise all the beet3 that are required for the beet sugar factory at Chlno. His contract requires him to raise 5.000 acres of beets next year, and the same average the following year. In a large forest about five leagues from Besancon, Province of Franche Comte, France, there is an opening in the mountain side which leads to a cavern about 900 feet below the level of the surrounding country. The average width or tho opening is 60 reet and its average height more than 20 feet greater. The cavern itself, which Is one of nature's perfect icehouses, is 135 feet in breadth and 1G3 In length. Xeither the doreas nor Bennett's ga zelle (two allied species) ever drink. Dar win states, in his "Voyage of a Naturalist," that unless the liuanaeoes, or wild llamas of Patagonia, drink salt water, in many locali ties thev must drink none at all. The large and Interesting group or sloths are alike in never drinking. A parrot is said to hava lived in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park, for 52 years without a drop of water. Tribes living on an island near tha Philippines take the band or foot of the per son whom they salute, and gently rub their faces with it, while the Philippines use a most ridiculous and startling attitude first, bending their bodies very low to the earth, thev nlace their hands on their cheeks, and nt tho same time raise one foot in the air. Perhaps thi3 grand salaam surpasses any that was dreamed of in the "Arabian Nights." An ingenious apparatus for ascertain-t ing the depths of rivers and smaller streams', has recently been successfully tried on the Elbe. It consists of a curved arm, hinged ' at the upper extremity and of a length suflw clcnt for tne lower curvea portion to trait I on the bed of the stream. The greater the I .1 .1. r .f. ....... ... I. n ... .. .Itl f... ... J uepill Ui luc skimiu fcuo iuuid n.i, tiicaiiu be inclined, and hence by suitable recording mechanism the depth can be automatically registered. IDYLLIC nTJMOKESQCES. Landlady What do yon think of this link of thli ist have been l.-PlK. I spring cmcccnr Starboarder-1 think Its spring must u Ion as that of a Waterbcrr watcb.- Smash the cymbals! wake the thunder Or the booming OIJC oass arums; Blow the brass trombones asunder: Lo! the summer maiden comes. $. T. Berald. Trivvet Isn't Mrs. Chinner a handsome woman? . . Dicer Yes. but she Isn't as handsome as she Is patuted.-wtoe- Gasket I have decided to marry and settle up. Uolley Most people marry ana settle down. Gasket But I am going to marry tho rich Miss Roxy and pay my debts.-Dfroi Free Press. The wild flowers deck the vale and raonnt- tain siae. The ambient air perfuming: And new spring hats, arrayed in beauty's pride. Are all around us blooming, ' The terraced lawn anrttaeadow's emerald floor The dandelion speckles. And pretty maidens soon will seek the shore To gather crops or freckles. -K T. Press. Jiblets What do you think of the schema for building ud the navy; will It last? Joblots-No. I taint not; 'tis bat a fleeting Idea. Brooklyn Eagle. Herkimerst That was sad about Charley Jlarcyave. who died from over exertion whlla tying Ills cravat a few days ago. Do yon know what his last words were? Tomkln-bparVe No: what were they? Herkimerst I'm going home to tie no mors. Smith, GraiJi Co.'sJTontMi. ' Old King Coal Was a merry old soul. And he thought It a Jolly stroke ! To raise more "dust" By a nice neat trust; But the public can't see the Joke. V Washington Star. '. "Friends and fellow-citizens!" cried tha I agitator. "Lend ne your ears." "Not much, "retorted a minion of tha opposi tion. "If we did, we'd never get them back again." Harper's Bator, sjifu Aoc-i;t '-a.&?f .'
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers