The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 5

THE BROOKLYN DAILY EAGLE S0NDAY, MAECS 14, 1897 5 CHANGES DELAY THE CHARTER. GRANT PARADE ARRANGEMENTS CIVIL SERVICE ON THE BRIDGE, A LINK TOTHE MAINLAND, GERMANY'S NAVAL QUARREL Vice Admiral Yon Hollmann May Resign if Skips Are Eefused. upon Brooklyn with longing eyes. The rich field that will be tapped by the system which first secures all rail entry here has been fully surveyed and Innumerable plans have been devised to get here. Tho late Austin Corbin, on the other hand, devised plan after plan to get off Long Island.

So far none has succeeded, owing to tho heavy financial difficulties which have raised impassible barriers each time. Thero have been propositions for tunnels, bridged and ferries and all have gone the same way. Engineers can dig tunnels or they can erect bridges. To do either of the expenditure of the $750,000 authorized for the work by the Issue of bonds to that amount. The commissioners are to receive but $1,000 each per year, by way of salary.

There wasn't much upon which to hang objection in this act aside from the size of the bond Issue, but along comes a bill from Senator Cosgeshall Just why from him the story is not clear. This second bill is to create a board of county road commissioners in certain counties of the state and the Queens county men say it is aimed directly at them. The bill provides that the county judge shall appoint a read commission of seven persons, to serve for three year3 each. The salary is a year, as in Senator Koehler's bill, and the general provisions are the same, except, and here thte objectors are pointed in their story, that the commission is given ihe power and authority "to grant to individuals or corporations the right to construct and operate street surface railroads to lay down mains or conduits for gas and water or other purposes and maintain poles and wires and necessary fixtures for telegraph or telephone purposes or transmission of electricity for light, heat or power, in, on, under or along any such roads or portions of such roads upon such terms and conditions as they may deem proper to protect public interest." The cost of the road Improvements and the amount of bonds to be Issued is left entirely in the hands of the commission. The story is current, at least among the Queens county men, that Senator Koehler's bill, with some sound of brass and blare of trumphets, will struggle on its way for a time, distracting to its course the gaze of interested members.

But they say that it will quietly fall by the wayside, while the man who keeps his eye on Senator Coggeshall's bill will see Its modest career blossom into a successful one; that is, ir the Queens county Republicans cannot stop it. They say it is simply a renewal of an old plan it last year, which had as its aim the control of as much patronage and contract work under the hand of one commission as was possible to so secure. If the session of the legislature is to close by the middle of next month as the leaders have said it would, there will needs be some pretty lively scratching from this time on to dispose of the bills which have already made their appearance. To day there are mure than 1,350 measures beforo the lower house and over 800 in the senate; that is, that number have been introduced. The figures exceed the number introduced during the entire session last year, in face of the recommendation of the governor that legislation be kept down to measures of absolute necessity.

Very many of the bills, of course, will uever see the light of day. Their introducers doubtless knew that to be the fact when they slid them in; but they had hopes of attracting lucrative attention in certain quarters. With about five weeks only ahead there is more than enough to keep both houses busy and the new bills are still pouring in with surprising vigor and freshness. The value of the Eagle's greater New York charter pamphlet has been made apparent here on many occasions; but more particularly, so far, during the recent hearings before the joint cities committees. The members of the legislature were themselves supplied with copies of the charter, furnished by the state; but the delegations coming to appear in opposition to its provisions and the many outsiders who have followed the hearings would have found their task a difficult and hopeless one had not some such means as the Eagle library afforded been at hand.

As it was, they were armed with a copy of the charter which they could have secured in no other way, and many of the committeemen used the Eagle copies for the reason that they were in a far more convenient form. The charter copies furnished by the state printer are in two volumes and are particularly unhandy. Assemblyman MeKeown, leader of the minority from Kings, and a member of the committee who has followed the hearings closely from the start, was one of the many to comment on the pamphlet. "I find," said he, "that the Eagle's charter is far more convenient to use thaD the or.o furnished by the state. Not only is it so by reason of its form, but because it has better subheadings, and a reference to any specific section is much more easily followed in tho Eagle pamphlet than in the copy furnished by the state printer.

I fancy those who cr.me before the committee at the hearings would have had a hard time. of it but for enterprise of the Eagle." Assemblyman McKnight of Queens feels somewhat proud of the record he made In getting his bill to legalize the sale of the town farm of Flushing through the legislature and from under the governor's pen In just five days. While there was no opposition to tho measure, the task of getting a bill through the mere routine in such a short titno is something of an achievement. The farm war. sold last year, but through fail.

ire to advertise for the required length of time the title was refused. The present bill legalized that sale. May Not Be Reported for Another "Week. AMENDMENTS NOT IMPORTANT, Little Debate Upon the Measure Is Ex pected An Attack on Smithtown's Shad Fishing Privileges Queens County Members Watching Coggeshall's Measures A Wholesale Commission to Regulate Highways. Albany, N.

March 13 It has been the expressed intention of the chairman of the joint cities committee of the legislature to place on passage in both houses during the coming week the charter bill of the greater Hew York. That desire was made manifest, however, when It was supposed that the work of amendment would be completed In time for the reporting of the hill yesterday. The task proved one of too great magnitude and in view of the fact that the proposed amendments to the charter will not be in proper shape for submission to the senate and assem bly before Tuesday or Wednesday next and must then go to the printer for incorporation in the bill, in all probability the charter will not come up for final disposition until another week Bhall have passed. The cities committeemen ol both houses, partlculraly Chairmen Stranahan and Austin, have had a vast amount of work to do since the Charter was re ported from the commission. In addition to their regular committee work, which is of it self onerous and exacting, they have had to arrange the details of the charter hearings, file and acknowledge the various amendments submitted as well as attend to the accompanying correspondence which has been of considerable magnitude.

In addition have come the long hearings at night, involving much labor. The fundamental principles of the charter as It came from the commission after final revision have never been attacked nor objected to except on behalf of the City club of New York, which protested against what it aeemea unfair to that city the general taxation scheme. There were many other objections, to be sure, but they came, as a rule, from particular and restricted localities or from a claBs of persons or interests deem ing certain portions of the charter to be sub versive of their rights. In view of this fact it ts not expected tnat when the charter bill appears upon the floor of senate and assembly there will be any very extended debate. The leaders of both houses have declared that no restrictions will be placed upon those who desire to speak.

Without doubt some of the members whose constituents have advocated the amendments rejected will again urge their consideration; but it is fair to presume tnat the debato will be limited to points al ready raised and therefore passed upon by the commission and the committees. Representatives of Long Island, outside oC Brooklyn, have troubles of their own along with their brethren from She city. Bills af fecting local interests in Queens and Suffolk counties are watched with the keenest scru tiny by those with whose affairs they have to do. The good people of that locality have felt safe and secure in that the measures ihey to watch were wot to come from one source that of their local representatives. But a bill has recently slipped into the legislature, which has somewhat upset their reck onings and but for the close watch kept by their assemblymen it might nave gone too far for recall or contest before discovery.

Assemblyman Burr caught the bill, however, and he means to fight it. A hearing has been set for Tuesday and it is safe to predict that the good people of Smlthtown will be on band to help him out. The Nissequogue river flows through the town of Smlthtown, Suffolk county. It is three miles long and averages, perhaps, fifty feet in width, Its waters empty into Smlthtown bay. Along its upper course there is fine trout fishing and during the spring shad run up its mouth in large quantities to spawn.

The run is not sufficient, however, for market purposes and the catch is just about enough for home consumption. People of the town treasure the privileges afforded, for they are fond of planked shad down Smlthtown way. So it was that the town people flew to arms last year when the state fish commissioners swooped down on them under the plea that the river was a fresh water stream and that the shad fishing was destroying the trout. The inhabitants of Smlthtown to a man told the commissioners to mind their own affairs, as the local board of supervisors had jurisdiction over the waters of that stream, as it was salt water. As the fish commission controls only fresh water the issue was at once raised and to assert their authority the commissioners had some of the hardy shad fishers of Smlthtown arrested and added injury to insult by burning their nets.

Prom that time on the inhabitants of Smlthtown and the commissioners were deadly enemies. The fishermen sued the state for damages and on the trial much expert testimony was offered on both sides as to whether the water was salt or only brackish. Justice Clement, before whom the case was tried, decided in favor of the fisher inen, but an appeal was taken by the commissioners and that is pending. It was while the people of Smithtown were luxuriating in fancied security from the fish commissioners and smacking their chops in anticipation of the excellent shad that would shortly be coming the way of the Nissequogue that there crept quietly into the legislature this bill: Section two hundred and seveuty one of chapter four hundred and eishty oight of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety two, which said section is made section number three hundred and one by chapter nine hundred and seventy four of the laws of eighteen hundred and ninety five, is hereby amended by adding thereto another definition or subdivision, to be numbered eleven, and to read as follows: Tho term "salt water" shall not include any brackish waters or any territory at any time covered by what is known as "brackish water," and the phrase "salt water fishing" shall riot include fishing by any device or means in brackish water or on territory at any time flowed by brackish water. This shall apply to existing as well as future laws local or otherwise.

All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealod. It came from Mr. Hobbie, chairman of the fish and game committee, and Mr. Burr that there is no mistaking its intent. If passed it would serve to define the water in the Nissequogue, where the succulent shad are caught, as fre3h water and would therefore vest in the hands of the state commission the control of a privilege and luxury which the good people of Smiithtown have enjoyed for more than half a century.

Mr. Burr says that as soon as his constituents found out what Mr. Hobbie was brewing they sent on to him petitions, which have left in his mind no doubt as to how they feel on the subject, and what kind of support he will have in his fight against the measure. 'Queens county's assemblymen are Just now keeping a sharp lookout on all hills introduced by Senator Coggeshall. The cause may need a little explanation at first glance, for the senator comes from Waterville, in a district far remote from Long Island.

Ordinarily the Queens county members who differ in a political way from the Democracy of Sender Koehler would deem it quite sufficient to keep a weather eye on his proposed legislation alone. Perhaps the senator from Queens became aware of this scrutiny and just for the fun of the thing got Senator Coggeshall's assistance in keeping his Republican friends from Queens guessing. They think they have kept up with him and by way of proving their assertion they have in mind a bill from Mr. Coggeshall which was passed in tho senate and turned over to the internal affairs committee in the assembly a day or so ago. It is an interesting story that they work out of, the matter.

To understand the Inwardness of it all, as they see it, it Is necessary to refer to a bill which Senator Koehler introduced himself providing for the extension and Improvement of the county road system of QueenB. That bill names Albert W. Seaman of Hempstead, John H. Prall of Newtown, Benjamin D. Hicks of North Hempstead, Isaac C.

Hendrickson of Jamaica, B. Piatt Stratton of Flushing and P. Haistead Scudder of Oyster Bay as a commission to carry out the provisions of tho act. They are all men of excellent standing and no question can arise as to their fltnoss and integrity. In short, the whole bill Is quite innocent.

The commission is to lay out, build and supervise all road Improvements as they shall deem nroer and are to have the entire control Ceremonies at the Dedication of the Great Leader's Tomb. LAND AND NAVAL PAGEANTS. Tho Entire National Guard of New York Will Be Reinforced by Thousands From Other States At Least Thirteen War Vessels Will Anchor Off Grant's Tomb General Horace Porter to Deliver the Oration. The dedication of General U. S.

Grant's tomb on Riverside drive, which will occur on April 27, the Seventy fifth anniversary of the famous warrior's birth, promises to outrank anything even given before in the way of a public ceremonial within the confines of greater New York. Not only will the ceremonies at the tomb be of the most imposing character, participated in by the foremost citizens of the United States, including the President and his cabinet, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the national legislature, governors and prominent citizens of all the different states in the Union, but the occasion will also be made memorable by two magnificent parades, one on land and the other on water. New York city alone will spend $50, 000 on the celebration. The arrangements for this grand demonstration have been placed in the hands of the Grant monument inaugural committee, composed of a hundred prominent men of greater New York and named by Mayor Strong. The committee has had several weekly meetings and will continue to hold them until the day of the dedication.

General Grenville M. Dodge has been named grand marshal of the land parade and it has been decided to appoint General Horace Porter, who was once General Grant's private secretary, as orator of the day. He will deliver the oration at the ceremonios at the tomb and the committee is now considering the remainder of the dedication ceremonial. The greatest interest, however, is centered in the bwo parades. According to Grand Marshal Dodge, both of these will be the grandest ever seen in this country and the plans of the committee for both parades are so wide In their scope that it would certainly seem as if the general's prophecy would prove correct.

In the land parade the marchers will he numbered by the thousands and will include representatives not only of the national guard of New York state, but also of every other state in the Union. Foreign organizations have also been invited to parade and the water parade will include not only warships of the United States, but also a long line of gayly decorated merchant vessels. Through Grand Marshal Dodge invitations to take part in the parade "have been extended to many military, civic, corporate and social organizations in the United States. The answers have already been numerous and when the day of the celebration is reached there will not be a state that will not be represented in the parade. The entire national guard of New York state, comprising nearly fourteen thousand men and including all the Brooklyn and Now York military organizations, will be in the line of march.

This In itself would insure the success of the land parade, but the committee will increase this number many times over by the addition of the troops of the other states. The arrangements for the water parade have not yet been completed but the co operation of the United States authorities has been assured. The principal feature of the parade will of course be the warships and as the North Atlantic squadron will by that date have returned to its summer rendezvous at New York harbor, a goodly representation of the different types of vessels composing' Uncle Sam's navy may be expected. Although nothing definite has as yet. been arranged, It is expected that the entire fleet will take part and that there will be some twelve or thirteen warships in line.

Invitations will be extend ed to the different water transportation com panles to join in tne water parade and it is expected that the number of vessels that will participate will even exceed those at sound money flotilla last fall. Although the line of march for the parades has not been determined it has been decided that the land parade will pass in review at the tomb. The water parade will also anchor In the North river at this point during the ceremonies and appropriate salutes will be fired from the warships. The following appointments have been announced by Grand Marshal Dodge: A. Noel Blakeman, chief of staff; Colonel H.

C. Cor bin, U. S. army, adjutant general; Captain John A. Johnson, U.

S. army adjutant general; Colonel William Cary Sanger, N. N. inspector general; General T. F.

Roden'bough, U. S. army, retired, special aid. The following prominent Brooklynites have been appointed members of the municipal committee by Mayor Strong: Mayor Wurster, General McLeer, General Robert Avery, William Berri, General Isaac Catlin; ex Justice Edgar II. Cullen, Henry Hentz, Alexander E.

Orr. J. S. T. Stranahan, Benjamin D.

Silliman, General Stewart L. Woodford and former Brooklynite General Benjamin F. Tracy. TO DEVELOP GOLD MINES. A New Company to Operate Extensively in Alaska.

San Frnncisoo, Cal. March 13 The most extensive mining operations in North America are contemplated by tho Alaska Juneau Gold Mining company. Its proporty is located in the Silver Bow Basin district, Alaska, and was bought a few weeks ago from Charles D. Lane and Archibald M. Campbell by Captain Thomas Mein of the Exploring company of London; Alfred Beit of Womber, Beit London, and Robert Duncan, superintendent of tho Alaska Trendwell minos, in their individual capacities.

These men have incorporated the company under tho laws of West Virginia. Thoy have placed the capital stock of S5.000.000, three quarters of which will be held abroad, and 1,000,000 of which, it is estimated, will put the plans in working shape. Tho mines have been profitably worked 180 feet deep. Tests will be made, and if the vein holds out, a 500 stamp mill will be erected, and employment will be given to 500 men tho year through. VICTIMS OF A WRECK.

Cincinnati, March 13 A special from VincenneB, says: "It is now certainly known that the following six persons lost their lives in tho Evansville and Torre Hauto railroad disaster at White liivor, near Deckers: Conductor Sear, Fireman Boleman, William H. Lang. Fort Wayne. Herbert Allou, Evansvillo. Ind.

Dr. William F. Elling, 0,425 Haistead street, Chicago. HELD FOR COUNTERFEITING. Bellaire, March 13 Lula Doty, a young woman of Tipe Creek, just south of this city, has been arrested by Deputy United States Marshal Mason on a charge of being a member of the gang of counterfeiters of whom four have been captured in this city last week.

Mason has also a warrant for Mrs. Doty, mother of tho girl, but she iB very ill and was not arrestod. CUSTER MASSACRE SURViVORS. Bismarck, N. March 13 Thirty five Sioux Indians, survivors of the Custor massacre, have applied for homestead lands in this countv.

Thev have been confined since tho massacre on tho reservation at Standing Kock. ThiH is tho first instance of such action on tho part of Indians on record. THOMAS Q. SEABROOKE ILL. Toronto, March 13 Thomas Q.

Sea brooke, tho woll known actor, is lying seriously ill at tho Queen's hotel in this city, suffering from grip. His engagement at the Grand Opera house, which was to have begun Thursday night, has been canceled. WOMAN SUFFRAGE DEFEATED. Lincoln, March 13 In tho houBO yesterday, a bill to extend tho franchise, giving woman the right to vote at municipal eleetions, was defeatod by a vote of 50 to 40. One additional voto would have adopted tho bill.

The Effort to Make the Merit System Control Appointments. MR. HENRIQUES' RESOLUTIONS. Neither the Brooklyn Nor New York Civil Service Commissions Have Jurisdiction, According to Opinions of Various Corporation Counsels How the New Constitution Affects the Question. Are Trustees Liable for Salaries? The question of civil service on the bridge has been recently brought into prominence by the action of Trustee Clarence A.

Hen ricrues in introducing the subject before the board at the meeting last week. Of all the public departments maintained by and for the people this is the only one where the merit system Is not applied in whole or in part. In view of the fact that the question will be the subject of a discussion among the trustees In the near future the statUB of the bridge service in its relation to civil service Is of decided interest at this time. Ever since the bridge was opened for the benefit of the cities bridge patronage has played an Important part in the political history of both cities; and in view of the fact that the executive head of the bridge has been with the exception of one term, in the hands of a Brooklyn man, this city has always received the lion's share of the patronage which in turn has been distributed among members of the party in power. This has changed as the balance of power fell into the hands of one or tho other of the two great political bodies and since the present city administration went into office there have been but few Democrats appointed on the bridge.

A recent addition to the bridge police force of nine men is a case in point. While three of the men are Republicans and reside in Mayor Wurster's bailiwick, the other six come from New York and according to the admission of one of the appointees all six names were furnished to the bridge management by Edward Lauterhach, chairman of the New York county Republican committee. Repeated attempts have been made by both the Brooklyn and New York civil service commissioners to have the bridge service placed under their Jurisdiction, but in every instance their efforts have been foiled. The snag that prevented the city civil service commission from obtaining jurisdiction over the bridge was that the bridge being organized by special legislative enactment is neither a county nor a municipal department, and is therefore outside of the Jurisdiction of the municipal commissions. The subject has been referred to corporation counsels of both cities again and again, but in every instance this opinion has been upheld.

So far as the records of both the bridge and the civil service commissions are concerned the subject has never been passed upon by the courts and the matter has been allowed to rest on the opinions of the corporation counsels' offices. The famous decision of Justice Keogh, which has created such havoc in various departments of municipal, county and state government, and sustained as it has been by the appellate division, has to the minds of several of the bridge trustees definitely settled the question of the application of the merit system to the bridge service according to the provisions of the new state constitution. This is Trustee Henriques' opinion, as is shown by the introductory clauses in his resolution, calling the attention of the board to the question, and which reads as follows: Whereas, By section 9, article 5 of the constitution ot the state of New York, "appointments and promotions In the civil service of the state and of all civil divisions thereof shall be made according to merit and iitness, to be ascertained, so far as practicable, by examinations, which as far as practicable shall be coropetltlvs," and Whereas, This board is of the opinion that such section applies to the employes of the Brooklyn bridge; therefore, be it Resolved, That In all future appointments to permanent position on the bridge, except heads of departments, this board apply to the civil service boards of the two cities for such men as they may need In the proportion of two from Brooklyn and one from New York; and the mayors of the cities of New York and Brooklyn are hereby respectfully requested to take such steps as may be necessary to place the said appointments under the civil service boards of the two cities and to classify the same. This resolution to take effect on the first day of April, 1S'J7, hut shall not apply to men hired on emergencies or where such employment may be only temporary in its duration. The adoption of this resolution would have had the immediate effect of doing away almost entirely with bridge patronage.

The trustees on Tuesday last contented, themselves with tabling it, but the matter will be forced to an Issue very soon, as Trustee Henriques is backed by Mayor Strong in the conviction that the question should be settled at once. The opinion has been expressed that if it should be decided by the courts that the bridge is amenable to civil service, the trustees would find themselves in a dilemma, since all appointments made since the constitution went into effect would be illegal and the members of the board could be made responsible for the salaries paid to these appointees. At the civil service commissioner's office the criticism has been made that according to the opinion of several corporation counsels Trustee Henriques' resolutions were in error so far as they say that the local commissions should furnish the list from which all appointments would be made. As the bridge is a state organization it was said that the state civil service commission would have entire jurisdiction over that question so far as it aifected the bridge, and that there was no reason why that commission did not at once assume control. A taxpayer's suit in the courts, it was declared, would soon settle the matter and the question of bridge patronage would become a thing of the past.

The bridge management has been wont to declare that the service is and always has. been practically under the merit system. While this is true in so far as examinations are held, the letter of the law is evaded in its most important point, as the examinations are not what the constitution declares most emphatically they must be, competitive. Noncompetitive examinations are held in place of competitive examinations and the applicants examined are only those whose names have been submitted from the right people. No advertisement is made for applicants for positions, the men are not examined and the position given to those passing highest in the examination.

The only restriction made is that those men are not employed who do not pass the examination and who are also not able to come up to the physical requirements as determined by the beard's physician. JOHN S. JOHNSON RECOVERING. Toronto, March 13 John S. Johnson, in company with Dr.

Campboll of Bradford, arrived hero yesterday and drove to tho residence of Dr. Strango, where tho cyclist unuerwent a critical examination. The doctor says not one man in ten would bo able to stand the siege which Johnson has gone through and bo alive to day. Tho spoedy cyclist has lost twenty eight pounds. Not until May.

at least, will ho bo ablo to begin training, and then ho will essay but light work. NEW YORKEB IN MEXICO. City of March 13 Members of an excursion which was making a trip among tho West Indian Islands on tho steamer Ohio are sigh tBeeing hero and were presented to President Diaz last evening. Among the party are: jx irovernor i' lower ot iNew lork ana lames; Crosby G. Noyos, editor of Washington Star; Henry S.

Eiber, Brooklyn: H. O. Armour. New York, and B. Thatcher of Bangor, Mo.

A POSTMASTER'S SHORTAGE. Newtown, March 13 Tho examination into tho finances of the Sandy Hook post office, whoso acting postmaster, young James F. Bradley, is now in tho New Haven joil, charged with alleged embezzlement, has been comploted. Tho investigation discloflos tho exact amount of tho ombozzloment to be 8484.59. Friends of Bradley are making efforts to secure for him SI ,000 bondB.

Great Charter For Greater Now York la the Eaole Liboxbi for KoroU. Frlco 10 cents. Adv. Plans of the New York Connecting Railroad Company. ENGINEERING DIFFICULTIES.

Projectors of the Enterprise Seeking Additional Legislation at Albany. Benehts That Will Accrue to Brook lyn Through Direct Connection With the Great Trunk Lines of the Country. Will Stimulate Many Interests. The projectors of the New York Connecting Railroad company, an enterprise designed to link Brooklyn and New York by an all rail direct route, are now seeking to secure the passage of legislation to advance the work. The bill, which asks for an extension of the time allowed in the charter for construction, is now in the hands of the bridge committees of the senate and the assembly, and a public hearing has been recently had to allow all Interested persons to be heard either in its behalf or against its provisions.

The matter is one of great Importance to this city generally and to manufacturers especially owing to the immense business Interests which demand increased transportation facilities in getting their products before the public. There is no place on this continent, nor perhaps in the world, where the construction of ten miles of railroad Will accomplish such Important results. The connection by touu.1....... 9 uiii( 0'J1, 'pr PROPOSED ROUTE OF THE NEW YORK CONNECTING RAILROAD. rail of a city of 1,000,000 of inhabitants with another city of 2,000,000 is something, but when the line will also put Brooklyn and the whole Long Island railroad system in abso lute connection with the railroad system of the New England states, comprising over 1,000 miles of main lines and also with the Harlem railroad, the New York Central and Hudson River railroad and Its system of over 10,000 miles, extending into Canada and to the Pacific ocean, reaching every trade center and city In thD West and Southwest, It becomes an enterprise of great importance.

The new line proposed Is called the New York Connecting railroad. It was chartered by tho State of New York in April, 1S92, and has since that time been waiting for a favorable money market to enable it to raise the necessary capital to build the line. In the meantime its surveys have been made and its line has been carefully located. The rights of way hove been under negotiation for several months, so that all preparations are well advanced for going on with the construction of the line this spring and summer. It commences at a point In the Twonty tbird ward of New York city, on the Fort Morris branch of the New York and Harlem no.ir the junction with the New York, New Haven and Hartford railrcad.

Thence the line of the connecting railroad extends southwardly to and across Randall's isiund and Ward's island to a point en the East river at Heli Gate.which will be crossed with a steel cantilever bridge of one spaa of S00 feet at an elevation of 150 feet above tide; passing thence into Astoria, Long Island City, Newtown, Queens county, still pursuing a southerly course through tho villages of Wocdside, WTin field and Maspeth, and thence connecting with the Loag Island raiilrcrad near the city line of Brooklyn. The articles of Incorporation of the New York Connecting Railroad company wore flied with the secretary of state April 23, 1802. By theun it appears that the road was to lie operated as steam railroad of standard guage, ten miles in length, with termini in Westchester county, east of the Bronx river, and in the City of Brooklyn. The capital stock was fixed at $100,000, divided into 1,000 siiare and the directors named were Oliver W. Barnes, Henry J.

Davidson, John McDonald, Frank M. Ciute, Charles W. Mackey, H. S. Welles, Thomas S.

King, Alfred P. Boiler end Willis A. Barnes, ail of New York city. Tho chief projector of the company and the originator of the plans upon which the organization was perfected is Oliver W. Barnes, a well known civil engineer who had had extensive experience In bridge construction.

The problem of connecting the cities of New York and Brooklyn by means of a direct raijroad first attracted Mr. Barnes' attention while he was engaged in the preparation of the plans for the late William Stein way's Tunnel company, which was intended to connect New York and Hunter's Point. He studied the question thoroughly and in the course of his investigation made an Important topographical discovery which convinced him of the possibility of carrying to completion his plan, which, when submitted to eminent railroad engineers, received their unqualified approval. Mr. Barnes succeeded in locating a place at which the East river may be crossed by a bridge whose span will be only 800 feet.

It is the narrowest point in the river. The point where It is proposed to cross tho river Is at Negro's point Muff, on Ward's island. From she shore line here to the Long Maud shore line is only 700 feet. The shortness of this span makes this point bv far the most available along the entire river front. inis bridge, however, is only one link in the whole proposed undertaking.

Two other bridges have to be erected, one across Little Hell Gate to Randall's island and the other across Bronx kills to tho mainland. These will be only 300 feet spans over un navigable waters. Over those bridges it Is proposed to run tho railroad, starting frcm above tho Bronx and running to Newtown crook or possibly as far as Richmond Hill, where connection can be made with the Long Island Railroad company's main linos. The proposed line will give Brooklyn a direct connection with tho railroads of the continent. Freight handling probably will be the principal business of the enterprise.

Brooklyn's magnitude r.s a manufacturing center has forced the railroads to estaJblish Immense freight yards in the eastern district. The cars are loaded there and floated around on barges to Jersey City, Weehawken and New York. This extra expense wlil be eliminated it the projected line Is built, and there will bo also an immense lessening of the dangers of navigation. The freight cars loaded with the thousand and one products made In this city for distribution tho country over can be drawn by engines directly from this city to tho point of destination. Railroad men have for many years looked to point i ECONOMY THE WATCHWORD.

The Reichstag Expected to Indorse the Action of the Budget Committee Bismarck Opposing German Intervention in the Cretan Imbroglio Students Who Would Abolish Duelling Make Themselves Unpopular. (Copyright, 1897, by the Associated Press.) Berlin, March 13 If the reichstag, as expected, indorses the decisions of tho budget committee in refusing to vote the naval credits for new vessels, it Is understood that the secretary of the navy, Vice Admiral Von Hollmann, will resign. In the voting to day the credit for the first cruiser was rejected by the committee by a vote of 16 to 11 and the credit for the second cruiser was rejected by a vote of 17 to 10. The credit for the new dispatch boat to replace the Falke was rejected by a vote of 15 to 1, but the credits for two new gunboats were adopted by big majorities. The credit for an ironclad to replace the Koenlg Wllhelm was adopted yesterday, the vote standing 22 to 6.

Regarding tho other moneys to complete the construction of vessels begun In former years the committee showed a disposition to tighten the purse strings. Admiral von Hollmann vainly appealed to the committee to facilitate the greater rapidity of building by adopting the government's demands, dwelling upon the superiority of Great Britain in that respect. The imperial chancellor, Prince Hohenloho, and other members ot the cabinet are said to be still sore over the manner in which they wero ignored in presenting the naval projects through Admiral von Hollmann, but the emperor's support of the latter compelled them to pocket their wounded pride. In the meanwhile the centrists, liberals and socialists are apparently determined to maintain the opposition projects and combined, they can insure the rejection of the naval schemes. The Catholic Cologne Volks Zeitung point out that since 1S72 the annual expenditures for the navy have increased from 21,298,000 to 91.407,000 marks, and the Cologne Gazette suggests that the funds required be provided by the taxation of all trading vessels according to the value of their cargoes and ten marks per ton is suggested as the amount of the tax.

Prince Bismarck, In the Hamburger Naeh rlchten, continues to oppose German intervention in the Cretan imbroglio. He says eo far as Germany is concerned the Cretans may cut each others throats until none of them is left and that European peace should not be menaced by "this Cretan farce." The final outcome of the sensational prosecution of Herr Auer and forty six socialist loaders for violation of the Prussian laws governing political associations is hailed by the socialist papers as a signal defeat oi the government. The outcome of this suit will be a government bill to thoroughly reorganize the Prussian laiws In this connection. There Is a movement among the students of the Berlin university and other high schools against the continuance of the duelling nul sance, but is has been officially squelched and the leaders of the movement have been forbidden to continue the agitation under pain of expulsion. Professor Sombardt, one of the professors who has been disapproved of by the government for his economic views, ha3 received a public ovation at the students' Commers at liresiau.

He responded witn tne toast: "I drink to free speech in free German universities." Professor Wagner ot the Berlin university also had a big ovation. Another drawing by the emperor is to be published on March 21. It shows his grandfather. William surrounded by eymbclical personages. A Berlin art firm is publishing it in connection with the centenary fetes.

The Memorial hall In honor of the soldiers killed during the war of 1S70 71 will be erected outside tho Brandenberg gate. It will be in the form of semi circular colonnades around an open space leading to the Thler garten and will be inscribed with nearly one hundred and fifty thousand names. Prince Bismarck continues in poor health and he dreads the excitement of his birthday ovations. Nevertheless, he has accepted a torchlight procession in which bis Hamburg admirers will take part during the evening of April 1. Speaking to a friend regarding the cognomen of "Tho Great," fostered upon his grand fr.ier by the present emperor, Trince Bismarck said: 'Great' Is perhaps hardly appropriate, but 'Knight' and 'Hero' he certainly was." Professor Koch's report on leprosy in th eastern provinces has beon published.

It shows that forty seven cases still exist. The disease was originally imported from Russia and several new cases have just been discovered. There are more in the western districts, and thore Is one case at Frankfort on Oder. A rupture has occurred at Mayence among the organizers of the centenary fetes, because the bishop and'officlal dignitaries have forbidden toasts in honor of Prince Bismarck. Count Herbert Bismarck, In a speech which he delivered at the convention of conservatives at.

Dresden, compared the seven years since his father's retirement to the seven lean years of Egypt. All the German press expresses fear this week that the regime of President McKiniey will bring a new tariff inimical to Germany. With reference to the new American sugar bill reciprocity clause the opinion in reichstag circles is that the German export bounties will not bo abolished since the negotiations with. Austria and Franco failed. The etnperor Is still suffering from the effect of his abscess and Is using a cane In walking.

He Is growing stouter and lately, by the advice of his physician, he has been prolonging his dally walk In the Thlergarten to an hour and a half, instead of horseback riding. Princess Frederick Leopold of Prussia, who began bicycling secretly, has been forbidden to continue so doing by tho empress on the ground that It is not ladylike. Her majesty latoly has conceived a violent dislike for bicycling, and has prevailed upon the eroperor to discontinue the practice. All the sporting clubs and societies of Berlin have arranged for a special centenary celebration, In honor of William I. from June 19 to June 21, and they Intend to erect a monument whereto each club will contribute a slab.

The German postal secretary. Von Stephan, will attend the postal congress at Washington If he is sufficiently recovered from the effects of the amputation of his foot. He Vlll be accompanied by Departmental Director Frltsch and Councilor Neumann. The most important measure proposed by Germany will be the abolition of the postal transit dues. Tho North German Lloyd Steamship company announces that Its 'tweendeck fares by Its fast steamers will bo raised to 160 marks and the others to 150 marks from March 18.

A 4,000 TON SCHOONER. She Will Probably Be Launched at Bath, Next We Bath, March 13 Tho mammoth schoon or which for several months N. T. Palmer baa 1 beon engaged in building at his yards here, la nearly finished, and the launching will probably tako place next week. The vessel has coal carrying capacity of nearly 4,000 tona.

She Is supplied with the very latest machin ory, which Is the heaviest ever put Into i schooner, as well as an evaporator for convert Ing salt water Into fresh for use on long voy ages, which is the first ever put Into a schooner In this city. Her cabin is finished in oak, Eycamore and cherry and all the statorooms T9 finished in hard pine. Adjoining the captain room Is a cozily arranged bathroom with hot i and cold water. This vessel, which rs to be railed the Frank Palmer, will be adapted to foreign trade as well as coasclng. Captain E.

C. Gardner of Portland will be the commander. MOVEMENTS OF NAVAL VESSELS. Washington, D. March 13 The Boston has sailod from Chefoo for Amoy, the Monoo acy from Chefoo for Shanghai, tho Machiun from Saigon for Hong Kong, and tho Detroit from Colombo for Aden.

The Cincinnati has arrived at Naples. enormous sums of money are required, more than any company yet organized has been willing to put into the plan. The mechanical difficulties alone, in a long planned bridge strong enough to carry heavy freight trains, are sufficient to discourage the boldest investor, and so Brooklyn still stands apart from the general world and consequently at a dis advantage In the development of her manu facturing and commercial interests. CONSIDERING IASIGI'S CASE. Governor Black May Grant the Request for Extradition.

Albany, N. March 18 Governor Black may grant tho request of tho Governor of Massachusetts for the extradition of Joseph A. lasigi. tho Turkish consul at Boston, who is held in New York city on tho charge of embezzlement. On Thursday next tho thirty days during which lasigi can be held in this state for a crime committed in another state expires.

After that time the otato authorities cannot hold him. and ho must be discharged from custody, unless he is extradited. Tho appeal in tho. United States court from the refusal of Justice Brown to grant a writ of habeas corpus upon which Frederick R. Coudert, Iasigi's counsel, asked for a stay of action on tho part of the governor, will not be argued until Thursday, and as it is im Erobable that a decision in the same will be anded down on that day, the chances are that lasigi will walk from prison a free man and no police power in this state can prevent him from taking a steamer from New l'ork to any part of the world he may desire.

It is contended alHo that the proceedings in the United States court act as a stay and prevent Governor Black from taking any action in the requisition. Governor Black is considering the matter and will probably givo a decision on Monday. FAIR WILL CASE AGAIN." A NEW TURN GIVEN TO PROCEEDINGS. THE Virginia Fair Charges Forgery and Conspiracy in Relation to the Pencil Deeds. San Francisco, March 13 Still anothor phase of tho Fair litigation now figures in tho courts in the form of a complaint in intervention, tiled by Miss Yirginia Fair, daughter of the late millionaire, in the already pending Buit instituted by tho special administrators against Mrs.

"Nettie Craven, designated to defeat tho Craven claim to valuable city property alleged to have beon convo3ed by Fair to her in the now famous pencil deeds. Miss Fair charges that tho doeds are forgeries and the result of a conspiracy, bhe asks that as claims of Mrs. Craven tend to cloud the property of which she is the owner of an undivided one third interest, Mrs. Craven bo compellod to deliver up for cancellation the pencilled deeds and that thoy be cancelled under tho direction of the court. Further action regarding tho administrators' suit to acquire title to tho sand lots was foreshadowed by Superior Judge Slack, who diroctod Notary Public Eugene Levott to take Mrs.

Craven's deposition regarding her claim. No time was sot for tho taking of the deposition, but it will probably bo done within the next few days, becauso tho trial is to be begun next week. Several attempts have been made to securo Mrs Craven's deposition and though she had been examined undor oath in regard to tho deeds she has not yet signed a deposition. It is said that if she Bwears that tho acknowledgments to tho deeds wore attached to tho documents when they were presented to her by Senator Fair she will be liable to a criminal prosecution and will have to stand a similar trial to that of J. J.

Conor, tho notary who said Fair acknowledged the deeds beforo him and who i now awaiting his trial for perjury beforo the superior court. OBITUARY. James Whitley, who for thirty two years conducted a range, i'urnaco and patent ventilating business on Fulton street, died on Friday afternoon at his homo, 125 Willoughby street, in his year. On November 8 last Mr. "Whitley whs struck by a bicyclist while attempting to board a car in front of hiH pluce of business, at 11)3 Fulton street.

Ho was picked up almost unconscious and carried into the store. The young man who was riding the wheel alighted anil did what ho could for the old man's comfort, but left without leaving his name or address. Up to the time of tho accident Mr. Whitley had enjoyed tho best of health, and although it was not thought that ho received any serious bodily injury, the shock proved too much for him. Ho was confined to his bed for Homo time, but recovered enough to walk about a little.

Later he wan again compelled to take to bis bod. The immediato caiiHc of his death was cancor of tho liver, which, tlu fnniily are convinced. was aggravated by the shock that he sustained. Mr. Whitley was born in Woolwich, England, on May 5, 1818.

Ho came to this country in 18(10, where he shortly aftorward engagetl in business. Two of his souh were in partnership with him. A widow, two daughters and six sons survive him. The funeral will bo held this afternoon, at 4:110 o'clock, and the interment will take place to morrow morning. Tho services will bo conducted by the liuv.

Dr. Worthington of St. Peter's Episcopal church, of which Mr. Whitley was a member. John K.

Oakley, over whose body funeral services were held at the Aurora Grata cathedral Thursday afternoon, was a prominent figure in masonic circles. He was at one time district deputy grand master and at the time of his death was connected with the Bedford lodge. He was also an honorary member of the Crystal Wave lodge, Acanthus lodge and Matlnecock lodge of Oyster Bay. Deceased was 71 years old and from 1854 to 1S5G represented the Fourth ward In the common council. He was engaged In the fire insurance business and was the president of the Mechanics' Fire Insurance company.

Jesse T. Dingee, a resident of Brooklyn for twenty five years, and formerly of New York, died at his home, 084 Lafayette avenue, on Tuesday, March 9, from chronic nepheltis. Funeral services were held Thursday evening. The Rev. Dr.

WoMfkln of the Greene avenue Baptist church, officiated. Mr. Dingee bad been a member of this church for over twenty years. His burial took place the following morning at Evergreen cemetery A widow and threo children stirvjvo him. Matthew Cass of 557 Third avenue, a watchman employtsd by the department of parks, died yesterday a brief attack of apoplexy.

He was born in 184.1 in Germany and had lived in Brooklyn for tho last twenty six years. Mr. (lass was a veteran of the civil war and served in the One Hundred and Twonty fifth New York Volunteers. RAILROAD BRIDGE BURNED. Norwich, March 13 The rnilrond bridge jusf south of Vantic station, four miles north of here, on tho Central Vermont railroad, caught liro at this morning and tho structuro, the only wooden coverod bridge on tho road, was so badly damaged that trains have not been permitted J.0 cross thus far.

Passenger are being transferred. PHYSICIAN SHOOTS DRUGGIST. Stanborry, March 13 Dr. Barbour is under arrestnt charged with shooting and fatally wounding Sam Patter, a druggist. The trouble aroso in Patter's drug store.

Barbour, it is said, lost a dollar and a half in a slot niactiiut' and becoming enraged ended by drawing his revolver and deliberately shooting Patter. CAR RUNS INTO A STONE WALL. Westport, March IS This noon a trolloy car on tho lino of the Westport and Baugutuck railroad company jumped tho track at Haugatuck and crashed into the stone wall in front of the residence of John Fairchild. Tho wall caved in ou tho car. Mrs.

Acken dam. wifo of tho superintendent of tho road, and two others woro hudly bruised. JOSEPH BAULAND COMPANY. STYLE OF THE NEW FIRM ON FULTON STREET. Will Open a Week From Monday With Enlarged Stock and New Features and Departments.

Not later than Monday week the new dry goods firm of Joseph H. Bauland company will open for business in the Offerman building, on Fulton and Duffleld streets. This is the style of the corporation which will be formed by Joseph H. Bauland of Chicago, who purchased the interests of the estate of Henry Offerman last Saturday for taking a ten years' lease on the property at an average annual rental of about $50,000. At present the old firm is busily engaged in taking stock under the direction of C.

Henry Offerman, and it will be three or four days before this work is completed. When that is done Mr. Bauland will assume charge and the work of replenish ing the various stocks and the adding of new departments will begin. Mr. Bauland went to Chicago alter signing contracts for the pur chase last Saturday, where he has been mak ing his arrangements for the new company, and will return to Brooklyn on Monday night.

The company will be organized under the laws of the state of New Jersey and will nave among its stock holders several large capital ists of New York and Chicago. Mr. Bauland interests are at present being looked after by his brother, Jacob H. Bauland, who organized the opening of the new store of Seigel, Cooper Co. of New York, and who was for seeral years activeiy connected with house In Chicago.

To an Eagle reporter yesterday afternoon Mr. Bauland said: "We are working hard to get things in shape to open as "early as possible. We will open for business by a week from Monday, if not sooner. Of course, we are anxious to get at business as soon as possible for the spring trade Is coming on and we shall have many novelties to offer the public. Ave will keep ail the old bands connected with the store who want to remain.

There are about 500 of them, and they will all prob ably remain. We will have to add to this number, however, as we Intend running a few new lines. The general stocks of the old house are all very good, and In this direction the only thing neeed is to add to them and enlarge them, with a view to doing an increased business. In course of time we will probably add an extensive grocery de partment, a restaurant and lunch room, and other features. We will start out to cater to the popular trade.

WILL NOT TAKE DEPOSITS. Boston, March 13 Tho directors of tho Hancock National bank to day announced that they will not accept any deposits after to day, and their depositors have boon requested to transter tne Dalanccs duo to tnem irom tho hank to the Mercantile Loan and Trust com panv, which has just been reorganized. Ac cording to tho officials, this docs not mean that the Hancock bank is going out of existence. The bank will continue until its affairs are all cleared up satisfactorily. PROBABLY CASE OF SUICIDE.

Fort Wayne, March 13 This morning William F. Colorick, a prominent young lawyer of this city, son of Henry Colerick, was louud dead, ami bm intended, Miss Mao Hall, was found unconscious in the rooniB of the young lady's homo. An ompty bottlo of carbolic acid was found in tho room. The young people wore soon to have been marriod. ARMY OFFICER BADLY HURT.

Boston. March 13 Lieutenant F. E. Sawyor, TJ. S.

who was so seriously injured in tho gas oxplosion in the Pittsburg, foundry Thursday, is in a critical condition to day. The lieutenant reached here last evening and since that time a physician has been bin constant attendant..