^ ft THE-CHICAGO TKIBlJNE: 111K8DAY, DECEMBER 5. IH71. • n !h t w or a t a 11 y , hia Board n o t t h a t ii mitted to C >u ii,! specie I Trade »r>". other hau< pared am early reso Boston 1.1 o tf»EL D M EX declaring and the watering of slock oj fevjajpaniee are pernicious cost measures should be taken tt ti o f future tii of Trade, plan may ongreos " payments, ' a s i i i i i l . i i >eoie He. on pay- t h e p r e or tl T. connry nftiees w o u l d a g a i n ' contiguity, to t h e Hi-eat oou> two municipal goYornmen, wpfcllSlj, to that of the pc geec that the Council author) to isnpho^iaiely confer wit.ii' t County Commissioners OB th© THE NATION. I, m i ill! Ilmi 11 ' II I • propose t< VV 01 l» a be to add as sutiv© Coancfl offer the issaiag of sci i a rest •ipdiv tui'ui t h a t th instructed to rfchex story on of the o© 3 brought into >n$eS|os of 'the s, and, inure >lic. We eng- I e tt eo.ifi.in.it tee i tile Board of subject, and ioard of Public ;>eeed forthwith bmiliiag, cost thereof to Annual Message of President Grant to Congress. Ut ds >y ti iMcorporuteU MKI«'and jiiat nroTent t h e Pit- . AV P K C K M B K K 5, 1371. MES&AGX. The coaamou.i-un-'n rea4 lm&wgk$ to th® Common Coancil, hy Mayor M doubtedly command tbt omn of the tax-payers of this city. could collect tli© infonaatioa, the fiaancial condition of the preaent: Bonded debt, ®m«mtom 1. i*n Leu t>uixU in afefelxig ftiad... xiili, w i l l Q Q - fal attention So far as he he estimates city to be at *M^2S Ket boa«!««l debt..... -*-.- C«rttBe«t*B at lmtebt^aaaw...«...»— *-. Caaettlcd iMaw tor w<*rtc ea canal Cnnreat axpeaat*. SUvwaber. OUier tteaw«. « Total debt. ..*.. *km$0 • • »*»•»- **•« ....$& 4,332,767 Intimate for expensesimtil &prfi 1,1S7S..... ft,Hl,(W The amount of money in the Treaanry to the credit o| |he aereral funds ia 11,556,338, of which llie city has borrowed and used $1,144,1«, and has appropriated 1140,000 for repairs to the Water Works.Ieaviug as the ac- tual cash balance in the Treasury $373,LS3. The taxealor I W will not 'be collected un- til April, 1STS, and this is part of the vicious system of luffing tfta expenditures substan- tially made one year in ad ranee of the col- lection of "taxes, and, in the meantime, ca*= i y ing on the City GoToxament with borrowed money. This practice of anticipating the revenue has gone on until, at last, the whole year's revenue is required to pay loans, the proceeds of which have bean expended. Ex- penditures are one year ahead of the appro- priations and the revenue. Of the money refunded by the State $105,000 has already been received, and f(M.5,000 more is expected shortly. From this fund there is to be paid the January interest on the city debt, amounting to $486,610, and the remainder, $150,000, wiH be aeeded to pay bridge builders and the police force. The additional receipts from the State during the next two years will meet the accruing in- terest on the debt, and defray the particular expenses to which the fund has to be applied. The municipal losses of property by the fire, including buildings of all kinds, side- walks, Wate* Works, & c , are stated to amount to $*i,«09,180. The* Mayor recites the losses of papers and records by the several departments, but, with the exception of tax warrants in the office of the City Collector, the loss is not irreparable. The estimate of revenue to be coUee*ed from the annual levy for 1*71, after abating the valuations of property where the improvements have been destroj ed, is $2,282,000| but from this must be deducted the delinquent list, and the taxes of those who will appeal to the courts from the assessments. The Mayor calls at- tention, in strong terms, to the constantly growing number of citizens who resort to this proceeding to escape taxation, thereby greatly embarrassing the revenues, and in- creasing the burdens of other tax-payers. The Mayor also calls attention to a series of recent decisions in the Supreme Court, by which special assessments are made a haz- ardous proceeding, so far as the city is con- cerned. Under these decisions, any person whose property is aaaessed for benefits, or who is awarded damages, may appeal, wheth- er because of general defect in the proceed- ings or special injustice in his case. If the appeal be sustained, it not only vitiates the assessment, so far as the property of the ap- pellant is concerted, but altogether. In cases where special assessments have been in part collected, and, found defective as to cer- tain property, the whole assessment is void, »ntl th*r« «an. W A O NtiMMsmoat aa t o t h e portion which has not paid the tax. It has been intimated, though not decided, by the court that, in all such cases, the con- tractor who has performed the work may recover from the city the uncollected balance due him, and it has also been suggested that, in cases where special assessments have been set aside, those who have paid the tax may also recover what they hare paid. Under these circumstances; the Mayor advises the utmeet caution in the matter of ordering any farther special assessments for any purpose. In the meantime, property-holders desiring street improvements are advised to make agreements waiving ail rights of appeal, etc., and to, make their own contarac ts for the work and material, thus leaving the city free of all liability in the premises. The city can make no such improvements from its general fund. Whatever revenue it may have will be needed to keep the present improved streets clean and in repair. The combustible character of the build- ings of the city ta" which the conflagration may be so clearly attributed, is commented upon in refapsnea to the propriety oi for- bidding the construction Hereafter of any building within the tity whose outer waUU are sf wood. Ha adviies that the tire limits within which there should be no wooden structure, shall be co-exteasivo with the city. The Mayor, aa an additional precaution. recommends a supply of Water independent of that furnished by the pumping works. He points out forcibly the constant danger of an interruption of the present water sup- ply. An accident to th© puuynjig works would leave Chicago without a drop of*w»- ter in the fire-plugs. He advises the const motion ©# numerous reservoirs to be fed by the water from artesian wells. These would furnish an unfailing supply of water, would be inexpensive, aud would al- ways be available. The Mayor closes his message with a strong expression of his faith in the future prosperi- ty of the city-a prosperity whiaht instead of being materially retarded or lessened bylhe fire, w ill, from that reason, if wise counsels be observed, be increased to a degree that will astonish mankind even more than the destruction which occurred in October. 'The Boston Board of Trad© offer a resolu- -tion on th© tariff question, with a view " t o b k monopoly and encourage healthy com- petition in trade and manufactures, and to facilitate the mutually profitable exchange of products between us and other nations." The Milwaukee Board of Trade call for the repeal of State laws which restrict insurance companies, in the investment of their funds, to the States in which they are incorporated. The proceedings of |he board will be looked for with much interest by the commercial bodies represented in it, and by the public generally. The subject of moat importance to this city is that relating to Canadian reciprocity and the Canadian canals. We trust that the rep- resentatives of our Board of Trade will use their best endajmors to secure an expression of opinion favorable to a renewal of the Reciprocity Treaty. Such an expression would be of the greatest service to the party in Canada which is urging the speedy en- largement of th© Welland and St. Lawrence Canals, and would undoubtedly hasten the early completion of these works. IAH0SAL KMBB 0F TEAM. The fourth annual masting of the Nat venal Board of Trade is to bo held at St. Lewis, commencing to-mernvw; Among the matter* presented in tae omViAi prosi.amnie arc the- resolutions of the St. Louis Merchants' Ex- change in favor of the improvement of the levees of the Mississippi River, by a oat tonal guarantee of the beads ef Louisiana, Missis- sippi, and I fiiinmiH, IN H i extent of $35,660,- 000; the resolutions of the Buffalo Board of Trade in relation to the enlargement of the Erie Canal, by the General Government: of the Dubuque BoMd of Trade ia favor of the Fox and W isconsi I HVW I tapr©v©ja«at by the same agency; amd of the Baltimore Board of Trade in favor of th© ©oisstmctiott of th© Chesapeake and Delaware Canal. The question ef.wawlioes* receipts,, and the methods of' gaviBg g%%ate& gseurity to them, is brought forward Council. The Philadelphia resolution ' tii" . 'usf rn i:; the I ti:ted State*, etjual to i: e Executive Ssesd of Trade offer a *-" ^IflMfeg question, •twsss't© ftwst a bounty •{•'"* t h © a - i,,»u .i , ••*!»,.'! -, ;,,,, 11 SUMITER AJTD CAttEROW. The Senate at the United States has an opportunity, at the opening of Its present session, to do a decent and graceful act, the omission of which would certainly be a cause for general mortification and regret. W© allude to the restoration ef Senator Sum- ner to the Chairmanship of the Committee on Foreign Relations. The circumstances of Mr. Sumner's dis- placement from this committee in March last are still fresh in the minds of the peo- ple. Mr. Sumner, the man who, of all the members of the Senate, was confessedly the most competent to discharge the duties of the Cluurmanship of th© committee named, was deposed from that place, after years of satis- factory and exemplary service, on * a pretext which was not only paltry and ridiculous ia itself, but exceedingly dangerous in its logical consequences. The Senate, without respect to party or personal bias, ac- knowledged that Senator Sumner possessed peculiar qualifications for the charge of foreign affairs in that body. Everybody ac-. knowledged his patriotism and his honesty. Every body acknowledged that he was a man of comprehensive Intellect and studious habits, and that he was thoroughly versed in tne principles of international law, and other branches of in- formation which went to qualify him pre-eminently for the duties of his post. But he was deposed by a bare majority of the caucus of Republican members—not be- cause he had failed in any respect of the qualifications which had led to his original appointment to the duties>f the Chairman- ship ; not because there was another Sen- ator of superior qualifications whom it was proper that the Senate should place in that position ; but simply because there he had opposed the San Domingo job and had had some sort of a difficulty with the Secretary of State. The majority in the Senate had no more self-respect than to yield? to th© clamor of certain cringing politicians who insisted that it would be an insult to the President, or a censure upon the administration, or some- thing of that sort, if the Senate should de- cline to do Mr. Fish's bidding, and hand to the President th© bead of Sumner in a charger. And so Sumner was turned out ; and, to aggravate the mortification of the aveni, his place was filled by a Senator whose name had become synonymous with political corruption~andnet upon any mire idle gossip either—for Simon Cameron's character had been known nine years agp, when his practices, while Secretary of War, led to a resolution of unqualified cenaure from the National House of Representatives. And when, in deference to the popular indignation, Cameron was kicked out of Lincoln's Cabi- net, few men would have been so bold as to predict that he would ever be returned to the United States Senate—much less that, within nine years he would be triumphing over Charles Sumner in that body, through the instrumentality of the machinery of a partv which claims to be the party of re- form and rectitude, aid th© sworn foe to simony of all kinds. The first of these events would not have happened—Simon Cameron would not have been restored, after his condign disgrace, to one of the highest offices in the land—except through the workings of a system of bribery and fraud no less nefarious than that of Tamma- ny, over which the nation has lately become se justly indignant; and the other shame would not have been perpetrated if Senators had not forgotten the dignity and welfare of the nation, and the fair nam© of the Repub- lican party in their zeal to " endorse the ad- ministration," as some said, or to " stand by the caucus," as others phrased it. Under the influence ©f such unworthy con- siderations, Mr. Sumner was stripped of his functiows as the bead of the Foreign Com- mittee o / the Senate, to cloth© withal this Simon Cameron. This was an act which we can hardly believe the Senate is now disposed to repeat or confirm. Do the Republican majority in the Senate wish to endorse, in Cameron's re-election to the head of this committee, the priaciplca of which Cainoroa is now, probably the most conspicuous te» maining aj ostle f" Do they wish to give the lie to the fair professions which they have bean ranking in behalf''of a Civil Service Reform, by giving the place of honor in their body to Simon Cameron, Do they wish to diegrnee this country in the ©yes, of other nations by bringing in contact with their diplomatic agents the moat un- favorable representative of the worst school of American politics? Do they wish to cripple and stultify the action of thaSen- ate upon the important foreign questions now pending, or likely to arise during the present session, by entrusting the prepara- tion of these matters to a man utterly desti- tute of the, necessary qualifications f Do they wish to fasten upon the Republican party, on th© eve of a Presidential election, the odium of all that is implied in thus elevating to the gas© of the world so shameful a representa- tive as Cameron, at the same time striking down a statesman so identified with the worthy deeds wf the Republican party aa Charles Sumner ? If not, the opportunity is sow com© for adopting a wiser course. The Senate Committees are revised at the begin- ning of each aeanion, so that there is, for tnnately, no obstacle to rectifying at once the gtand m istak#--*ttj> the disgraceful eat* rage—of last March. .oa of vacate the t h a t the scl thereafter. :.his Ifi« onnty; and, upon thecoia- improvement, the county to a School buildings, ia order nay be reopened immediately Our Foreign Eelatione—The De- partment Reports. — i The New York Evening Fost reprints from its own columns of January 21, l8»8, a string of rhymes by Oakey Hall, now Mayor of " New Yoik,—unless he- has resigned and fled: as many are expecting him to do, These verses, commenting on the wickedness of the times (even then), speaks regretfully of the times, fJflUUI OKiY HOHBBTT COULD OAIUt TO SElsE I D E M.A TOiALTV CH.A1K. Asn OSLV woarn cotrtn FILL IT— Like TieniaaB, whom our humble share Tried on the town to billet); •MS»e author, little thinking," probably that he, would himself be one day a worse dis- grace to the Mayoralty chair than any of his scaly predecessors. He also descants of mu- nicipal extravagance, " Not quite ten Bullions is our tax, And city morals are so lax That sport of crime is made," chants the upright Oakey, not dreaming that he who then lamented a tax of ten millions would soon be instrumental in raising that tax to twenty millions or more, with thirty miHions or so charged np each year in the shape of bonded debt. Oakey proceeds to m ©ralize that the thing must be cured right away: Else Gotham will but reap taa ills which came to Rome's own regal hills When, rotten to tkelr core, They hushed the anthems of the free, And sunk in vice snd luxury, . - Imperial Korne no morel All of which constitutes an interesting liter- ary relic* and shows that it ia easier to be virtuous in poetry than in p*ose. uj If anything were needed to bring the lavish distribution of college degrees into contempt, a recent exposure in England tills the bill. An advertisement appeared in th© London Time*, offering to obtain any kind of degrees, and the editor of the Weekly Beview, representing himself as a Presbyterian cler- gyman, answered, asking the terms. In reply, he received a letter, stating that the" degrees were obtainable from Germany and th© United States. From the German Universi- ties the Ph. D. and the D. D., but not the L L . D . , w e r e issued. Th© a p p l i c a t i o n h a s t o b e in L a t i n , also a n o u t l i n e of t h e a p p l i c a n t ' s life, a n d a t r e a t i s e o n a n y subject. T h e w h o l e e x p e n s e is £35. T h e D . D . does n o t require s u c h h i g h qualifications, t h o u g h t h e cost is £40, Th© b r o k e r t h u s w r i t e s : The other course {is from America, and I a m connected with a university im one of its princi- pal cities, from which all recognized degrees are obtainable, including those you have mentioned —namely, Ph. D., JuL. D., and D. D. Satisfaction of qualification must be given, but this Is ac- cepted by testimonial, reference, and position of the candidate. As the settled pastor of a Christian church, there would be no difficulty in your ease. The fees for general degrees are 10 guineas, an extra registration fee of 2 guineas be- ing required for degrees that convey the title of Doctor. I shall be glad to bear from you, a a d to arrange for a n Interview If necessary. E a o h d > f ree has Its appropriate hood. I remain, ev. sir, yours faithfully, LL. D. I t w i l l b e seen t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n degrees are less expensive, a n d more easily o b t a i n e d t h a n t h e G e r m a n ones. T h e b r o k e r ac- k n o w l e d g e s his c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a n uni- v e r s i t y in t h i s c o u n t r y . WU1 n o t somebody furnish t h e n a m e of t h a t u n i v e r s i t y f W i t h t h e i n a u g u r a t i o n of t h e n e w C i t y Gov- e r n m e n t t h e H o n . R. B . Mason r e t i r e s from t h e position of Mayor, a n d lays d o w n w h a t is at best a thankless and ill-compensated office. He accepted the place with reluc- tance, and he leaves it with satisfaction, for he ©an truly say that no act of his has brought dishonor upon the office, or upon himself. He has performed his duties faith- fully, and with good judgment, and with an eye single to th© public good. It was iaagfi- table that during, and immediately after, the great fire railing accusations should be heap- ed upon the Mayor, and upon everybody who happened to oe in a positloti of authority. When the painful excitement had passed away it was remembered that Mayor Mason did not build the city; that he did not set it on fire; that, under the pecu- liar laws now in force, he had no control over th© Police and Fire Department; and that, even if he had had such control, he could not have put ©ut the fire. Mr. Mason retires from office with the re- spect and esteem of all good citizens. The Chicago Times' New York correspond- ent is apparently a very knowing individual on all topics; but he is particularly rich on the Bubject of the Washburn family. He in- forms the readers of that paper that General C. C. Washburn, Governor-elect of Wiscon- sin,," has not yet resigned his seat in Con- gress»,, and that he will doubtless serve un- til after the.holidays, " as he gets his mileage and salary lip to that time, which is a great inducement." Knowing, as we do, that Gen- eral Washburn has never been a member of the present Congress, we should not have be- lieved this of General Washburn if we had seen it anywhere else except in the Times. To hold onto an office which a man uever had, all for the sake of the mileage, is an act which shows, we suppose, the cold-blooded rapacity of this member of the Washburn family. a g .. H**ill be remembered that last year a great ado was had over an appeal by the Evangelical Union of Europe, of which cer- tain Americans were made the spokesmen, to the Emperor of Russia, in behalf of some of his subjects of the Lutheran Church, who were siid to be the subjects of religious per- secution. Prince Gortschakofl quietly de- clined receiving any suggestion that the Emperor did not know how to administer his own government. The Russian papers, however, complain that the Americans have permitted themselves to be deceived as to the facts. They represent that religious,lib- erty is not in the least violated; on the con- trary, that all that the Russian Government has done is to interfere to proven t the old German-Lutheran ariitoaracy of Bsthonia, Livonia, and Courland from oppressing the lower classes, who belong to the Greek Church. _ e <4iu H#s w hii I* !d M i l l art leles ;f the;. ,i^ Beaten Board of Tsud© i ••• - . i n , •t*•*a m'.,>• i. • .- Mt-r a r< sot it but of tli* ';*poau. The i n Since the Ike which destroyed the Court House buildings and their contents, the City Government has surrendered the temporary use ©f the High School buildings to the courts and county oileera, and closed the High School for the present. Immediately after the lire, the Board of Public Works set. about erecting a plain but capacious brick steietur© on the sit® of the South Division a t.ij«-et, out or tne opposite cemrr. T h e y call far t h e a b a t e m e n t of all unn^eces- - i i taxes on s h i p b u i l d i n g nmi-Ti^!-! t a d d e - • jiifit:-t«lTM .ippowed t o t h e g n e d U a g o f .ut .i-s or §n!*«idies. C a n a d i a n x o e i p r a e i t j , a » d tto C a n a d i a n canal* :»re brought forward for coaaidexatioQ by t h e E x e c u t i v e Council. T h e N e * irk Board of T r a d e call for the re- peal of t h e d u t y ou lumber. >inee ' such d n t y o n l y t e n d s t<< put a higher price on our • 1,1.1 , i, ^ uii.it..'! tu t h e ifreat m j i r v ,»1" thr masses, M i to the benefit ooiy of t h e fc*v w h o a r e ; !'H'r•'*">•> '- land's ID t h e ltunWi stutea, 1 oe I'h: Ladeiphhi < • n IU»-K ,al Ixihii".^- mk for soeh a re^wttsot ef f ' . S H ' l • • . mend for o* tiona for n e a r ! orhres, includ Q p m e i I. B u t Board of Sujpei r, and, by pushing the work with com- 1© energy, have it now nearly ready i#ait©y, It will afford wiaeiiwimodni r aeagriw all the city departsoen \ r n i n m a hall regret >i's h a vi '!* %•• I>1 •> ai.u.1 c for the to "t.Ue made no ->vide act. Com' that o n *.. - ,<:, ' t- it- '• rebui ti .:>> : 0.1 : at Id . i it ©xtiuaion leaf, But as it #ill O i l ! t 1 l u l l * if another >uac\ i High of the *on..; mil take a e bnih • storv MM son the priM urn!) esniB.oJ.a~ tsetSj who ><>i baild- seholats and in® should be lo«sr period to iiuga. Wo are wore added to Mr. Joseph Med ill, having been elected, to. the orrtee of Mayor of Chicago, aud intending to give his whole time to the duties of the position, has resigned his editorial connec- tion with THE CHICAOO TBJBTXE, such res- ignation to continue! daring the period of his administration. The pi&blk will, there- fore, understand that he is not responsible for what appears in the columns of THK TBI- B O K , and that f i t s TRIBUXE is not responsible .for the City Government. We shall * hold , on rselvea as free to criticise the administration of the pubic this city as' we Were while Mr. 'Ailedthe office of Mayor; and Mr. Medill, it is to be presumed, will be governed in his: official a c t ^ for Weseitse of duty, re- gardless of th© opinions iie- —Pittsburgh papers are rejoicingoveran invea- ti<-a to rid that smoky city ef its greatest aula- saseag. Assam has invented a small Iron apparatus which,attached to stoves and. ranges, eonsuue.-s all »h* *m .»kr and ga,a. As BO SJOQ-I is mad© It Will IK- impossible also for cuuunrjr* to cuteh Are. w 1 lie to an npureciation oft of tho.policy which UuvfJnit sued toward Japan. It is oer desire to continue interested aad just policy w Japan. T i e cunespundeiiei that there it government usw, Proiu} barbarous n on the Co a t P e k l n to i t * Cereal itaaont of be ,1 U n i t e ed States 1 intimate • has, since :s, selected a* officers ie .govern' •election •esfcedassj hare par- disadvantage. Ample opportunity *,IM given '01 exploration, and apology for tli" Insult. N«-i therein.e A foree was then landed .\ft*r an urrtnooa march over a ragged andWitti. ult country, tie fOrts from which the outniiros ii&a r to maintain this dis- «".tli China as well as ce transmitted here no disposition on the to swerve from its es Led t*y a lie-lire to put treatment of oar shi[> ;eai! coast, 1 instructed, endeavor to conclude a ar aecuriBir the safety -u, '1 mariners, Artmi- instriietod to s , i„-o l i e i r e ,- M l , . 1 ,1, tic 1 \ • H ti til II.- II l i e » t c d • •i uraed, •uai-can- a. I re- 1 i ' ! a ' ; u : r - 11 I • i ' f t lake. laws t B© on. d t ! i p e - t i l ! the at 'I V fri d i - e t r e i » - . i l , ilng what mtier of tl 1 may yet I lit!' »m in own action, wi the dlfllculties expe! ti r ;ei, isstros may M 1 biwless per- 1 t h a t Mexico, by its 6 tills government of rum these causes. CfcVTSAL. AKU SOOTH AMEHiCA. Our relatiiiiui «ith the various republics of Cen- tral and South America continue, with one excep- tion, m b e cordial and friendly. I recommend some aciion by Congress regarding the overdue instalments under the award of the Venezuela Clamtt) Commission of 1*6. The internal diaseu- ahNDSfcf that government present no iustitieatiou for the alaence of an east'ort to meet their solemn treaty obligations. Therailficaiionsof an extradition treaty with Nicaragua have been exchanged. It is a subject for congratulation that the great Empire of Brazil has taken the initiatory steps toward the abolition of slavery. Our relations wit hf that empire, always cordial, will naturally tie made more so hy this aet. I t is not too m tie u to hope t h a t the Government of Brazil may hei carter find i 1 for its interest, as well aa intrin- sically right, to advance toward entire emancipa- tion moi e rapidly than the present act contem- plates. The true prosperity and greataess of a nation 1s to be found in the elevation and educa- tion ©f its laborers. THUS W-B8T ISTOIBS. It is a subject for regret that the reforms in this direction, which were voluntarily promised by th© i-tatesmen of Opaia, have not been carried out in its West Indian Colonies. The t a n and regulations for the apparent abolition of slavery in Cuba and Porto Rio© leave most of Che labor- ers ii bondage, with no hope of release until their lives become a burden to their employers. I desire to direct your attention to the fact that citizens of the United States are large holders, in foreign lauds, of this species of proa erty, forbidden by the fundamental law of .their Own country. I recommend to Congress to pro vide, by stringent legislation, a suitable reme- dy against the bold ng, owning, or dealing in slavesi or being interested in slave property ia foreign lands, either as owners, hirers, or mort- gagers, by citizens of the United States. It is to be regretted that the disturbed condi- tion Of the island of Cuba continues to be a source ot annoyance and of anxiety. The exist- ence of a protracted struggle in such close proximity to our own terri- tory, without apparent prospect of an early termination, cannot be other than an object of concern to a people who, while abstaining from interference in the affairs of other powers, natu- rally desire to see every country in the undis- turbed enjoyment of peace, liberty, and the blessings of free institutions. Our naval com- manders in Cuban waters have been instructed, in ease it should become necessary, to spare no effort to protect the lives and property of bona fide American citizen*, aad to maintain the dignity of the flag. It Is hoped that all pend- ing questions with Spain growing out of the af- fairs in Cuba may be adjusted in the spirit of peace s a d conciliation which has hitherto guided the two powers in their treatment of such ques- tions. INTEBPBETEBS. To give importance to, and to add to the effl- eiency of, our diplomatic relations with Japan and China, and to further in retaining the good opinion of those peoples, and to secure to the United States its snare of the commerce destined to flow between those nations and the balance of the commercial world, I earnestly recommend that an appropriation be made to support, at least, four American youths in ea>tfi of those countries, to serve as a part of the official families of eur Ministers there. Our representatives would not even then be placed upon an equality with the representatives of Great Britain and some other powers. As now situ - ated, our representatives in Japan and China have to depend for Interpreters and translators upon natives of those countries who know our la ng uage i in perfectly, or procure for the occasion the services of employes in foreign business houses, or the interpreters to other for- eign Ministers. 6TEAMEB LINES. I would also recommend liberal measures for the purpose of sup- porting the American lines of steamers now ply- ing between San Francisco and J a p a n and China, and the Australian line, almost our only remain- ing lines of ocean steamers, and of increasing their service. NATIONAL FINANCES. The national debt has been reduced to the ex- tent Of $80,057,126.80 dnrlng the y e a r ; and, by the negotiation of national bonds at a lower rate of interest, the interest on the public debt has been so far diminished that now the sum to be raked for interest ac- count Is nearly seventeen million dollars less than on the 1st of March. 1369. It was highly desirable that this rapid diminution should take place, both to strengthen the credit of the coun- try, and to convince its citizens of their entire ability to meet every dollar of liability without bankrupting t h e m ; but, in view of the accom- plishment of these desirable ends, of the rapid development of the resources of the country, its Increasmg ability to meet large demands, and the amount already paid, it is not desirable that the present resources of the country should continue to be taxed in order to continue this rapid pay- ment. I therefore recommend a modification of both the tariff and the internal t a x laws. I recommend that all taxes from internal sources be abolished, except those on spiritous, vinous, and matt liquors, tobacco in its various forms, and from stamps. In readjusting the tariff, I sug- gest that careful estimates be made of the amount of surplus revenue collected under the present law, after providing for the current ex- penses Ot the government, the interest account, and a sinking fund; and that this surplus be re- duced in such manner as to afford the greatest relief to the greatest number. There are many articles not produced at home, such as medicines compounded, from which very little revenue is derived, but which enter Into general use. All such artioles I recommend to be placed on the free list. Should a further reduction prove advisable, I would then recommend that It be man© up on those articles which can bear it without disturbing home production, or reduc- ing the wages of American labor. I have not en- tered into figures, because to de so would be to repeat all that is laid before you in the report of the Secretary of the Treasury. ( l; MPENSATION OF COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS. The present laws for collecting revenue pay Collectors of Customs small salaries, but provide for shares in all seizures, which, at the principal ports of entry particularly, raise the compensa- tion of these officials to a large sum, It has always seemed to me as if this system must at tunes work perniciously. I t holds out an induce- ment to dishonest men, should such get posses- sion of those offices, to be lax in their scrutiny of goods entered, to enable them finally to make large seizures. Your attention Is respectfully invited t o this subject. THB CCBRBNCY. Continued fluctuations in the value of gold com- pared with the national currency have a most damaging effect upon the Increase and develop- ment of the countty, to keeping up prices of all articles necessary in every-dav life. It fosters a spirit of gambling, prejudicial alike to national morals and national finances. If the question can be met as to how to give fixed value to our currency, that value constantly and uniformly approaching par with specie, a very desirable ob- ject will be gained. TUB ARMY. For tho operations of the army in the past year, the expense of ma intaining it, the estimates for the ensuing year, and for continuing the seacoast and other improvements, conducted under the supervision of th© War Department, I refer J*« t9 th© accompanying report 9t ybe S««- retaiy of War. t call your attention to the pro- visions of the set of Congress approved March 3, 1866, which discontinues promotions in the Staff Corps of the army until provided for by law. I recommend that the number of officers in each grade of the Staff Corps be fixed; and that, when ever the number In any one grade falls below the nnmberso fixed, the vacancy m a y be filled by promotion from the grade below. I also recom- mend that, when the office of Chief ot m Corps be- comes vacant, the place may be filled by selection from the corps in which the vacancy exists. we run NAVT. The report of the Secretary of the Navy shows en improvement In the number and efficiency of the naval force, without material Increase in the expense of supporting it. This is due to the pol- icy which has been adopted, and is being extend- ed as fast as our material will admit, of using i-nialler vessels as cruisers on the several sta- tions. By these means we have been ena- bled to occupy at once a larger extent of cruising ground, to visit more frequently the posts where th© presence of our flag is desirable, and generally to discharge more efficiently the appropriate duties of the navy in time of peace, without exceeding the number of 1.1.H1 or the expenditure audiorized by law. During the past year, the navy has, in addition to its regular service, supplied the men and offi- cers for the vessels ef the Coast Survey, and ha* completed the surveys, authorized by Congress, of the Isthmus of Darien aud Tehauntepec ; and, under like authority, has sent out an expedition, completely furnished and equipped, to explore the unknown ocean of the North. The sufflestions of the report as to the neces- sity for exercising and Improving the material of the n a w , and the plan recommended for re- ducing th* personnel ©f the serviee to a peace standard, by the gradual abolition of certain arades of officers, the reduction of others, and lue employment of some in the service of the commercial marine, are well considt-red and de- serve the thoughtful attention of Congress. I also recommend that all promotions iu the navy above tho rank of Captain be by selection la- stead of by seniority. This course will secure in the higher grades greater efficiency, and hold out an incentive • to young officers to hnprove themselves to the knowledge of their profession. The present cost of maintain- ing the navy, its cost compared with that of the preceding year, and the estimates for the ensuing year, arc contained In the accompanying report of the Secretary of the Navy. Till. POST OFFICB. The enlarged receipts of the Post Office Depart- ment, as show n by the accompanying report erf the rostmister General,,exhibits a gratefying in- crease in that branch of the public service. I t Is the index of t h e growth of education, and ef the prosperity of the people—two ele- ments highly conducive to tne vigor and stability of republics with a vast territory like ours, much of It sparely popu- lated, but all requiring the aervices of the mail. It is not at present too© expected th*t this de- partment oan bo mad© ©erf-oustalning, but a KI ad nal spjwo^hj® this end, from year to year, is confidently relied on, and the day is not far dis- tant when the Post Office Department of the government will prove a much greater blessing to the whole people than it is now. The sugges- tions of thePostmaster General for improvements to the department presided over by him are earnestly reeommended to yonr special attention, especially the u,-cumeiit> favorabl© to the conoid- emtien of UK plan for uniting the telegraph sys- tem of the united States with th© postal system It is believed fha" JO, 1371. »nd eouiuioiilv kn,,»ii ku Kinx law, in a portion or the .state i laiollna The necessity of the course will la-demon*rrsW'd by the report ,>f .by such a coarse, the cost of 8 * t h , ,f S o u t h p a m ue 1 t l i e 1.111, ! 1,0,1 I r- I P niiUee to iuvcst'gate Southern outrages the provisions of the ah ut- act. 1 tettOd iiiation r .liing the attention of the people of United State* to the same »fid ilecUt :ug iny iietaiice to exercise Hin of t h s extraordia v, er.- tin rehy conferred up,,n oi- , exc, pi 111 , l-o .1 . M , f iuiperat ,111 p,,M- t, el oul of sec i i n , i n t . t h» to !>.' the Bslss trom tin e necessity! exercise sUi I become in-ci r.-ai y 1 Bring to ai! citizens , fill e n j o y m e n t of t i n !>x t i n - .v.. sffl 1,ct making known wer.- » tii-nevi SO for t h e pUTpOSS t h e l u t t e d Si if,-- t.i r i g h t s g u a r a n t e e d to aii'il t h e law,*. A f t e r r m 1 Hon was received. btnatlons of the char- coBsntntlun this law, toft l i n e , t h a t COU acter referred to in this law existed, and were powerful, ia many parts of the Southern States, particularly ia certain counties of the State of south Cai ol na. Careful Investigation was made, and it was ascertained that, in sjae counties of that State, such combinations were active and pvweriui, embracing a sufficient portion of the citizens to control the local authority, and hav- ing, among other things, the object of depriving the emancipated class of the substantial benefits of freedom, and of the privilege of the free political action of those citizenB who did not sympathize with their own views. Among their operations were frequent seourgings a n d occasional assassinations, generally perpetrated at night, by disguised persons,—the victims, in almost all ouse«,being citizens ot different political sentiments from their own, or freed persons whe had shown a disposition to claim equal rights «lth other citizens. Thousands of inoffensive and well-disposed citizens were the sufferers by this lawless violence. Thereupon on the ISttt of October, 1871, a proclamation was issued in terms of the law, calling upon ths members of thoeomblnatloa to disperse w tthin five days, and to deliver to the Marshal s r military officers of the United States all arms, ammunition, uniforms, disguises, a n d other means and implements' used by them for carrying out their unlawful purposes. This warning not having been heeded, on the 17th of October another proclamation was issued, suspending the privilege of the writ of haoeas%coryyus in nine counties to that State. Direction was given that, within the counties so designated, persons supposed, upon creditable information, to be members of snch unlawful combin- ations, should be arrested b y the military forces of the United States, and deliv- ered to the Marshal, to be dealt with according to law. In two of said eounties, York and Spar tansburg, many arre*ts have been "nade. At the last account, the number of persons arrested was 168. Several hundred, whose criminality was as- certained to be of an inferior degree, were re- leased for th© present The^e have generally made confessions of their guilt. Great caution has been exercised in making these arrests. Not- withstanding the barge number, it Is believed that no innocent person is now to custody. The prisoners will be held for regular trial in judicial tribunals of the United States. As soon as it ap- pealed that the authorities of the United States were about to t a k e vigorous measures to enforce the law, many persons absconded ; and there Is good ground for supposing that all of such per- sons have violated the law. A full report ot what has been done nnder this law will be submitted to Congress by the Attorney General. THE MOBMONS. In Utah there still remains a remnant of bar- barism, repugnant to civilization, to decency, and to the laws of the United States. Territorial offi- cers, however, have been found who are willing to perform their duty in a spirit of equity, and with a due sense of sustaining the majesty of the law. Neither polygamy nor any other violation of existing statutes will be permitted within the territory of the United States. It is not with the religion of the self-styled Saints that we are now dealing, but with their practices. They will be protected in the worship of God according to the dictates of their consciences, but they will not be permitted to violate laws under the cloak of religion. I t may be advisable for Congress to consider what, in executing the laws against polygamy, Is to be the status of plural wives and their offspring. The propriety of Congress passing an enabling act, authorizing the Territorial Legislature of Utah to legitamlze all born prior to a time fixed in the act, might be Justified by its humanity to these innocent chil- dren. This is a suggestion only, and not a recom- mendation. THE INDIANS. The policy pursued toward the Indians has resulted favorably, so far as can be Judged from the limited time during which it has been in operation. Through the exertions of the various societies of Christians, to whom has been intrusted the execution of the policy, and the Board of Commissioners author- ized by the law of April 10,186D. many tribes of Indians have been induced to settle upon reser- vations to cultivate the soil, and perform produc- tive labor of many kinds, and to partially accept civilization. They are being cared for in such a way, it is hoped, as to induce those still pursuing their old habits of life to embrace the only opportunity which is left them to avoid extermination, I recommend liberal ap- propriations to carry out the Indian peace policy, not only because it. Is humane, Christian-like,and economical, but because it Is right. I recommend to your favorable consideration, also, the policy of granting a territorial government to the Indi- ans in the Indian Territory, west of Arkansas and Missouri, and south of Kansas. In so doing, every right guaranteed to the Indians by treaty should be secured. Such a course might in time lie the means of collecting most of the Indians between the Missouri and Pacific and south of the British Possessions, Into one Territory or one State, and the Secretary of the Interior has treated upon this subject at length; and I rec- omend to y ou his suggestions. THE I'CBLIC LANDS. I renew my recommendations that the public lands be regarded as a heritage to our children, to be disposed of only as required for occupation, and to actual settlers. Those al- ready granted have been to great part disposed of in such a way as to secure ac- cess to the balance by the hardy settler who may wish to avail himself of them; but caution should be exercised, even in attaining so desirable an object. Educational interests may well be served by the grant of the proceeds of the sale of public lands to settlers. I do not wish to be understood as recommending, in the least degree, a curtail- ment of what is being done by the General Gov- ernment for the encouragement of education. THE INTERIOR DErAKTMEST. The report of the Secretary of the Interior, submitted with this, will give you information, collected and prepared for publication, inregard to the census taken dnrlng the year 1870; the operations of the Bureau of Education for the year ; the Patent Office; th© Pension Office; the Land Office; and the Indian Bureau. AOBICCLTCBE. The report of the Commissioner of Agriculture gives the operations of his department for the year. As agriculture ts the ground-work of our prosperity, too much importance cannot be attached to the labors of this department. It Is In the hands of an able head, with able assistants, all zealously de- voted to introducing into the agricultural pro- ductions of the nation all useful products adopt- ed to any of the various climates and soils of our vast Ten i t or les,a nd to giving all useful Information as to th© method of eul tlvat ing the plants, cereals, and other products adapted to particular locali- ties, quietly, but surely the Agricultural Bu- reau is working a great national good, and If liberally supported, the more widely Its influence will be extended, and the less dependent we shall be upon products of foreign countries. COMPENSATION OF CERTAIN OFFICAL8. The subject of compensation to the heads of bureaus, a^d officials holding positions of respon- sibility, and requiring ability of character to fill properly, Is one to which your attention is invited. Bnt few of the officials receive a compensation equal to the respectable sup- port of a family, while their duties are such as to involve millions of Interest. In private life, services demand compensation equal to the services rendered. A wise economy would dic- tate the same rule in the government service. ESTIMATES. I have not given the estimates for the support of the government for the ensuing year, nor a comparative statement for the year Just passed, and l he one just passing, because all these figures are contained to the accompanying report, or In these presented directlyto Congress. These esti- mates have my approval. BEMovAi, or wsAnn.rriKS. More than six years having elapsed sine© the last hostile gnn was fired bet ween tho armies then arrayed against each other, the one for th© perpetuation; tn© other for the destruction, of the Union, it may well be considered whether It is not now time that the disabilities imposed by the Fourteenth Amendment should be re- moved. That amendment does not exclude the ballot, bnt only requires the disability to hold office of certain classes. When the purity of the ballot Is secure, majorities or© sure to elect officers reflecting the view's of the majority. I do not see the advantage or propriety of excluding men from office merely because they were, before the rebellion, of standing and char- acter sufficient to be elected to positions requiring them to take an oath to support the constitution; and admitting the eligibility of those entertaining precisely tlie same views, but of lees standing In I heir communities. It may be said that the termer violated an oath, while the latter did not. The latter did not have It in their power to de so. If they hatl taken this oath, it cannot be doubted that would have broken it, as did the former class. If there are any great criminals dis- iiuguirted above all others for the part they took to opposition to the government, they might, in the judgment of Congress, be ex- cluded from such an amnesty. This subject fs submitted for your careful consideration. The condition of the Southern States la, unhap- pily, not such as all true patriotic citizens would like to see. Social ostracism for opin- ion's sake, personal violence, or threats toward persons entertaining poliiieal vie vs op- posed to those entertained by the majority of the citizens, prevent immigration and the flow of mufb-neeoed capital into the States lately in re- bellion. It will be a happy condition of the coun- try when the old citizens of these. States will Uko an interest in public affairs, promulgate their ideas honestly entertained, vote for men repre- senting their views, aad permit the same free- dom of expression and ballot in those entertain Ing different political convictions. THE DISTRICT OF COLCJfBU. Under the provisions of the act of Congress ap- proved February 21,1871, a Territorial Govern- ment was organized in the District of Columbia. Its results have thus far fully realized the expec- tations of its advocates. Under the direction of the Territorial officers, ments has been of telegraphing conld to© much reduced, and the ser vl.1* as well, if not better, rendered. It would nding th© country where ^nctit. Com ffjrts to bring a community by a rapid iri- groundworkof Ml Rogers with© tutu need. A m MM secure the further advantage of telegraph through portions of the j. 1 :>;.,c .'titerprise will not const merce, trade, and, above all, tibe e a people widely separated into c,r* interests, are Mlwu,va benefited tereommuaieation. Education, the Republican §£ " mg the facillti parts of the country, eflt of such teprovem ticn I refeyyou to the re! General for Till details of* year, and for comparativa with former years. THE Bl'-KXITX. There has?*een imposed mm the Executive Branch ol •© governmeat the execution of the act Of Congress approved April ona is encouraged by lacreas- gather speedy news from all The desire to reap the ben- iifs will stimulateeduea- ort of the Postmaster :5ic operations of last statements of results a system of improve- toaugurated, by means which Washington is rapidly be- coming a city worthy ©f the nation's Capital. The citizens of the District, having vol- untarily taxed themselves to enlarge the amount, for the purpose of contributing to th© advance- ment of the seat of government, 1 reccommeud libers 1 appropriations on the part of Congress, in order that the government may have its just share of the expense of carrying out the varies* systems of improvements. THE GOVERNMENT BCILDINC6 AT CHICAGO. By the great fire in Chicago, the most impor- tant of the buildings in that city were consumed Those burned had already became inadequate to the wants of the government in that growing ©fry. and, looking to the near future, were totally inadequate. I recommend, there- fore, that an appropriation be made Im- mediately to purchase th© remainder of th© square on which the burned buildings stood, provided it can be purchased at a fair val- uation, a n d provided the Legislature of Illinois will pass alaw authorizing its condemnation for government purposes; and also a s appropria- tion of as much money a«s can properly be ex- pended toward the erection of new buildings during this flcul year. U IMMIGRANTS, The nnmber of Immigrants, ignorant of our laws and habits, coming into our country annua'- bf, has become so great, and the Impositions prac- ticed upon them so numerous and flagrant that I suggest Congressional action for their protection It seems to me a fair subject of legisla- tion by Congress. 11 cannot now state as fully as } desire the nature of the complaints made by emigrants of the treatment they receive, but will endeavor to do so during the session of Congress, particularly if the sub- jeet should receive your attention. CIVIL SERVICE REFORMS. It has been the aim of the administration to en- force honesty and efficiency In all public offices. Every public servsnt who has violated the trust placed to him has been proceeded against with all the vigor of the law. If bad men have secured .ku. hr.t t„ oi, the fault of the system by law ML, 1 aas-tfisn ; spitointments, ©r th® fai tho M M tc mi t'-r governme.ut ," •1 ' - i . f l ,•:< ! , t l y w e l l k n o w n t o t i i ' , «w •ahp give letter* S M M M B B th* • 11 • • • ftspOE Si] estab- for ill of • O l >, , | | « 111 p - r - 11 , r ,-.nse i,I . iiut^ waich ®ueh J* iinur&e ue- volves upon them. A Civil Service reform, which can correct this abuse In much desired l a mercantile pursuits, the busumi** man who give* a letter of recommendation to a friend to enable him to obtain credit from a stranger is regarded as BJOifally responsible for tlie Integrity of his Irii ad and lata ability to meet his obligations, A iefoiiiuailoii which would enforce this principle against all endeavors of persons far public place would insure great caution to making recommendations. A salutary lesson has been taught the careless and the dishonest servant in the great number of prosecutions and convictions of the last two years. It la gratifying to notice the favorable change which is taking place throughout the country In bringing to pua fshment those who have proved recreant to the trusts confided to them, and in elevating to pub- lic office none but those who possess the confl- dene© of the honest and virtuous, who, it will always be found, comprise the majority of the community to which they live. In my message to Congress one year sgo, 1 urgently recommend- ed a reform in the Civil Service of the country. In conformity with that recommenda- tion, Congress, to the 9th section of au act making appropriations for sundry civil expenms of the government and for other purposes, ap- provedMareh 3,1871, gave the necessary author- ity to the Executive to Inaugurate a Civil vice reform, and placed upon him the re*: sibility of doing so under the authority of said aet. I convened a board of gentlemen eminently qualified for the work, to devise rules ami regu- lations to effect the needed reform. Their labors arc not yet completed, but it is believed that they will succeed in devising a plan which can be adopted, t o the great relief oi the Executive, the heads of departments and, members of Con- gress, and which will redound to the true in- terest of the public serviee. At all events, the experiment shall have a fair trial. CONCLCSIOH. I have thus hastily summed up the operations of the government dnrlng the last year, aud made such suggestions as occur to me to he proper for your consideration. I submit them with a confidence that your combined action will he wise, statesmanlike, and in the best interest of the whole country. (Signed) U 8. GRANT, President. E x t e r n V E MANSION, Deo. 4,1871. REBUILDING CHICAGO. Lwt of Plans for Business Blocks, Pre- pared by W. W. Boyington and J. H". Tan OsdeL V i s i o n o f t h e C i t y a s i t W i l l A p p e a r O n e T e a r H e n c e . From William W. Boyington, the architect, we learn that the Sherman House will be re ©laced, in the same general design, the front of stone, and an addition in the rear of SOxlOO feet. Every- thing about the fctructure will be on an improved and more generous plan. Six stores, of plain ex- terior, but stronger than the buildings they re- place, are soon to be erected on River street, oc- cupying a space looxm feet. Matthew Laflto will build a block of stores, with fronts of red pressed brick, heavy interior walls, and arches to same, size 69xl*0, on Wabash avenue, near South Water street. The same gentleman will erect four stores on State, near Lake street, of similar design, of about the same frontage but less depth. The fronts will probably be of stone. The buildings will be SO per tent better than the old and will contain the latest improvements. Three stores, with brick front. 20x135, are to be built by 8. B. Cobb, on Lake, near Wells street. Leander Mccormick Is erecting, or about to erect, build- ings at No*. 34, 36, 38, 40 Lake street, and Nos. 61, 63, and 65 Water street, four stories high, and superior to the buildings that were before them. J. C. Walters is to put up a building at the cor- ner of River and Dock streets, with brick front, handsomely trimmed with stone. E. K. Rogers is to erect similar buildings on Elver street, near the same place, each about 90 feet front. J. C. Walters and others have plans for the erection of a block—lianks and offices—at Nos. 75 to 83 South Clark street, of Lake Superior sandstone, same general design of the Boyce Block, corner of State and Madison streets. No. 139 Sooth Water street is to be rebuilt of brick, four-story, with stone trimmings. Nos. 12 and 14 Dearborn street will rebuilt with brick front and stone trimmings, iron cornice. The McKay Brothers will build a fire-story store at the corner of Wabash avenue and Randolph street, pressed-brick front and iron trimmings. Heath & Milligan are pnttingup a building of the same description on Randolph street, between LaSalle and Wells streets. C. H. Thorn son will erect an iron-front store on Lake between Clark aDd LaSalle streets. BuUdtogs of brick will be erected at No. 7 South Clark, cor ner of Fifth avenue and Adams street, corner of Michigan avenue and Jackson street, aorner of Wabash avenue and Congress street, and No*. 335 and 367 Wabash avenue, by James Lee. Jr.. Edward MeConnelL B. P. Gardner, J. P. Willard and W. B. Pearee, respectively. The first two will have plain fronts, t i e third terra cotta trim- mings, th© fourth stone trimmings, and the last an Iron front. Of several others by tne same ar- chitect, we have two with brick fronts and stone trimmings and two with stone fronts. JOHN M. VAN OSDEL, Architect, corner of LaSalle and Monroe streets, Is engaged In the const ruction of a block of five stores on the southwest corner of LaSalle and South Water streets, for estate of Ira Couch. The block fronts 80 feet on South Water and I50feet on LaSalle street; will be of brick, with iron fronts to first story; to be four stories high, and of most substantial character. Also, a block of three brick stores for same estate, on'South Water street, between Clark and LaSalle streets, 26 feet 8 inches front each, and 140 feet deep, four stories, constructed similar to first-mentioned block. He is also preparing plans for a block on tho site of toe old Tremont House, fronting 160 feet on Lake and 181 feet on Dearborn street. The Slock will contain two stores, 40 by 181 feet, fronting on I-ake street, and extending through to Couch place ; to be five stories high, front a n d rear of flm story of iron, fronts o; pressed brick, with cut stone trimmings ; the front on Dearborn street will be finished for banks and nrst-elass offices ; the principal floor will be elevated eight feet above, the sidewalk. Also for Cyrus H . ftc Comtek a five-story store on the northwest cor- ner Lake and Michigan avenue : 64 1-2 feet front on Lake, and 118 feet front on Michigan avenue ; Lake street front, of elaborate cut stone work ; avenue front, of pressed brick, with elaborate stone trimmings. Also, for same p o n y , two five-story stores No. 19 and 21 Lake street, 32 feet front each, and 170 feet deep ; fronts same as last mentioned store. Also for same party, a block of three stores on Michigan avenue, between Madison and Mon- roe streets, 40 feet front each, and 180 feet deep, five stories brick, for first-class wholesale stores. Also for same paxty, an office building for banks, etc., ou the southeast corner of Randolph and Dearborn streets, on the site of the former. •'MeConniek Building," designed to excel la beauty and finish the last building; will front so feet on Randolph street, and 100 feet on Dearborn street. Also for same gentleman, a similar building on the norCieast i s . he? or O f 1 * ana Washington stieets, IOC feet freut oh Clark street ana 8v feet on Washington street. Also a ave-story building for S. B. Cobb, on the southwest corner of Lake street and Michigan avenue, 120 feet front on Lake an ii i« on Michigan avenue; five stones; fi out on Lake street of cut stone; the building to be similar and m all respects equal to the one known as " Cobb's Block," lately occupying the premises. Also on the southeast corner of Lake street and Michigan avenue, for Messrs. H tie At Ayer, a first-class brick store, 72 feet front and lao feet deep, five stories, similar to the one de- stroyed. Also a five-story elegant out stone front building on th* site of the late •• Oriental Build- ing," on La 1 -a lie street, for banks and offices, 75 feet front and 100 feet deep. Also rebuilding the Republic Insurance Building, 88 feet by 90 feet, 9 stories and basement, similar to origin*! structure, except without Mansard roof. Also, for Thomas Hoyne, on LaSalle street, opposite the Conit House, au office building, 20 feet front, 120 feet deep, front of cut atone. Also, for same gentleman, on the southeast corner of Clark and Monroe sti eets, four-story cut-stone front bulld- irg. 48 feet on Clark, and 90 feet on Monroe street. Aito, eight four-stery brick stores on State street, between Van Buren and Harrison street, front- ing in one block 150 feet on State street, and 93 feet deep. Also, three stores on State street for W. Alexander, near Van Buren, to be 60 feet front, and us feet deep, four stories. Also, on the northwest comer of Clark and Madison streeta, an office building for Mr. 'Pureman, 20 Xeet by 90 ftet, five stories, cut stone, to best style. Also two four-story stores on Clark street, 21 feet front each and 90 feet deep, for Rufus Blaaeharu and Z. Eastman, to have elaborate Iron fronts. Also for John V. Far well A Co , on Monroe, near Mar- ket street, a five-story brick building, with terra cotta triutmings, to front 135 feet on Monros street, and extend back 190 feet. Also two ele- gant five-story stores for Frederick Turtle, on the northeast coiner of State and Lake streets, front- ii»g «7 feet on Lake s n d 140 on Stat© street; front on Lake street of iron, in best ftyle. Also a block for J. H Bareh, on the south west corner of Wabash a v«nue and Lake street, four stores, fronting 170 feet on Wabash avenue, and 116 feet on Lake, five stories ; first story front of iron; superstructure of pressed brick, with elaborate terra cotta trimminx* Al*o an elegant office building on the northeast coiner of Dearborn and Washington streets, five- story, cut-stone, elaborate fronts, 36x80 feet, for Mrs. McCarthy. Also on the southwest corner of Dearborn and Washington streets, for J. Kendal! an elegant office building, cut-stone front on bo tli streets, 40x90feet, five stories, flre-proff throtirh- out, (for ordinary conflagrations). Mr. Van Osdel has many other ©tope and Ohio ea#i«ta>B"S. l&lwaaltre t>r k will bo often se«B,*f&mr forming on tire I rouU or adorning fronts of other material. The reappearance of buildings with the s;rne feaunea In the main, but improved, and fresh aad new, will have the effect of meeting an old t o d tried it-tead in a braB new Sunday salt, in JL year the old landmark* will rise out of th- rums, on ©very hand, abave the unsightly sheds that disfigure the burnt district. The N e v » n HOUM» will appear at the west end of the W**-j in ten street tunnel, clad in the mine dress, bat a story less,in height, and will b* dSvouid u, business purposes. Th« block of the M-tbiNiMt Episcopal Church, corner of d a r k and Wajshlm.- ton streets, will be restored. The 8h«rm M1 H o u s o will have put -on Its primitive spl-nd >• and tower With grander dimens; mi tbaa before. T H E TKUIITSK Building will appe t r c.*u plet© to the old proportions, hut bright ,,01 m d d y , keing faced with red hr-ok from Phil- adelpbia. The Tremont House, an old a i 1 valued friend bas gone forever. Tlien-w h ,-• of Potter Palmer, and the Field A Letter Iii . V will stand erect like gray giants from the vr ,.t.. of bricks and mortar The First National K m k will look as tie fore The Boyce Mock w.! finished of elegant design, out sober appear in Thefltirld architecture of the Honors IiaiiluK will again detigbt the eye. Other arch it -, t-ir »' faces, slightly changed in oomplexMu aa 1 features, will greet the urn older ao faunna-rlr that be will scarcely realize that they have been destroyed. TheCustom House and the Cwirt Home wi -a their enlarged dimension*, .ml half-built s , - will form tho iiutln of b u s \ m d u s T y r,ae iv glon Of Water Street will have agun iti'oid ,-air acteristics, but be brlguter aa 1 in-o-e eu-^tf ul The general air of newness will t, -efre*uiuc the vigor ami energy every where v ,s 1, ; jfc,. n \ young blood infused into the veins irf ad vane 1 rears. Still there will ne ugly g*;n ar,-i\,-. There will be fearful Waucs i»f rumi. 1, ..,.-, walls that have been untouched eluce t:, Shapeless piles of brick aud stone, mil , . , ,. the blackened inch of a church u»-«iruf,e gestive of the past. The streets wall ne , bered, and reviving business griinwed aa I ,,- draggled wi tla the dust and ashes of r e f l a - tion. Tlrrongb all the crowded alleys of this i.,tli lshed metropolis will hea\e and surge, aad r.,,: the fiercely sweeping currents of" hnin*!,.'> Man #ill again Imperiously assert the cterua,, ,., trol of nibad over matter. The vast ehaosof u- fc- wood. and mortar will have begun to a>- 1 H definite shape, but like clouds that curdle slow y into form. Thia for the city of Chicago a y » c from to-day. The day and hoar when the u - t brick shall be laid, the last nail driven, aud tie- Western metropolis, finished and complete, cha- rts© to bcr full stature without one stain of the ashes of the conflagration upon her garim-uts, we will not attempt to determine. THE CITY IN BRIEF. A D s B g e r e u ( ollislou. SSm'e the fire the tendency to extreme reckless- Bess in fast driving has perceptibly increas - i for the reason, probably, that the police are no*. disposed to bother their heads much about Co matter. A dangerous collision and smash-up o: curred last Saturday afternoon, on State street, through careless driving, nearly costing the lives of a boy and two men, and seriously imperilling the safely of a large nnmber of persons. An express wagon, laden with crockery, tinware, etc., was proceed.u.; south, along State street, and as it crossed l-.f teentb street, a baker's wagon came tearing along that street at a rapid rate of speed, and in tr\ mg to get on the track tn front of the express wair m. struck the horse of the latter, driving him with great for-e, pel) mell against a street car going north on the o*her track. The horse was thrust nearly half way into th© car window> eutnas: his mouth and nose severely, but luckily, none , : the passengers were hurt, although several had , narrow escape. The oreupaata of the ex pre-., wagon—the driver and two Utile boys— were not so fortunate. The wage a was capsized violently, smashing Its contents, while the smaller lad was thrown t.<, the ground and dangerously injured ah >ut 1 h•• bead, being picked up in an insensible eouditlon The other two escaped with slight brois^a Tii,- name and cumlier of the baker's wagon wvre taken, and it is probable that the driver w; made to rue his recklessness. ii ( a s h Contribaric The following is a list of tlie contributions in money received ny the Chiasmi Relief and Aid Society, up to November is, from forty States ami Territories ; MaNMrhUNttt* S.M..730 1: N e w "Wilt JWl.Sist.s,, V e r m o n t a.>j,^JH .1, P e n n s y l v a n i a '.. 22l.i&*nj k i a i v l a n d irs.arryi N e w J e r s e y . l M T l i . r j California.! i*\r»6.-i (a.nnevth ut ay9?o H Rhode 1 si and 4r> AM 7o N e w i i a n i p s h i r e ,«fcs.1l.a, Maine n . r . i 1, W a s h l u g t u u , D C 34 JM'I.O'. Ohio 1H.Zij.l2 Illinois 4S.r a ar Virginia 27.4^1 *• K a n s a s J H . - ' ^ C , O t a b T e r r i t o r y IS.SHI.II O regon 10,000 .ou Indiana *4.s»rai.si Missouri lo.aoa :,, Muineeota 21.100 -ii T e n n e s s e e 2S.VU.lu N e b r a s k a H.stM.iv) Colorado n.SM.oa Louisiana 11,sen.s 1 I o w a s.17-4.61 iJelaware g.om 7,) T e x a s 7.7*>..«2 K e n t u c k y s.KKW Arkuusu.- 1. >36 &.'> Georgia X.S70.75 N e v a d a . l.Vu s.1 N e w M e x i c o 1,-fflS.iO Florida 1,011.23 He nth Carolina 1,001. A) M i c h i g a n 7U.2& W a s h i n g t o n T e r r i t o r y sao.uo W i s c o n s i n a».0o N o r t h Carolina ] 15.00 Mississippi « . v » e r a & total ts,so&,8iu.su A n n o u n c e m e n t * . A special meeting of the Soldiers' Home Board will be held at Dr. Ham ill's office. No. 62a Wa- bieh avenue, entrance on Thirteenth street, to d a y j l l l a. m. —TaberBaek- Division 8. of T. will hold a public meeting at the hall No. 679 West Lake street, this evening. There will be addresses by clergymen. and other speakers. — Rev. Jaeob Knapp will preach every evening this week in the Fiflli Baptist Church, corner 01 Harrison and Sangamon streets. Suiyeet for tli 1« evening: "Th© Origin, Character, Work, and Destiny of theDuvil.^ —There will be a public meeting of Garden City Division 8. of T , at their hall, corner of Randolph and Clinton streets, this evening. The public and friends of the cause of temperance are in- vited to attend. —The Western Advent Christian Publishing Association will hold an annual meeting 111 this city, commencing to-morrow morning at the Ad vent Christian Chapel on Green, between Madison snd Monroe streets, with business sessions dail v and preaching every evening this week. The P r l z e - F l g h l . Th© New Orleans Times concludes IU report of the recent mill between Mace a n d Coburn as fo! lows: " T h e two, acuommpanled by their friend*. then took a seat beside each other a t a fire. Thev then shook hands, and concluded to drop all old scores. Mac© there Informed oar reporter that. in th© third round, the last two fingers on his left hand had been dislocated, which ren dered his chief defence useless. He further stated that he had received ten heavy blows over the left hip, which Injured him materially, but would not have disabled him could he have used his left hand and arm. The utmost good feeling seemed established between the princjpals, who were loud in commendation of each other's prow ess, and, no doubt, delighted to get oat of trouble so easy." This, then, appears to confljm the as- sertions made by the leading sporting men i» rtusc.iv, i h * t * ? ? ' w w « J affair was a 7 ' p u t up ' '"'' l"r!~""*2 ware and Cobum, who simply were kippodiGUiing for ta© "gat* BtC?ey*" many other buildings pro- Jetted, to be built next summer, but not suOi i u n t l y matured to be made public. He n 1 " , . p e prices of labor and materials for building are not unwarrantably high luliy oae-fooMh of the work places of our ousimereial centre will be rebuilt u o r e beautifully a a d substantially than ever." The Palmer Grand Hotel will be pushed forward to < ^ « 1 « « « t l * uext year, and will nut be 3 M L ^ « p B the designs furnished by Mr Var. Osdel before the lire. This will lie by tar the r i f f t . ^ * ? * " £ l m i > o s i D * "Mel building to the h£%$J**P*J Mr. Palmer oeuteupUto* erect- ing other, and very extensive, buildings next sea- f*f' a l B?, ! 1?,?: u i € U mfty **« mentioned the Field a v • « " H , dV*K M ( i the block around the First National Bank. Scarcely a building of all those w© have men- tioned but will be stronger and more beautiful than the one it replaces. __ I S A TEAR. There rises up before the mi id's eye a vision or the city as it will appear in one year from this time. A perusal of the list which we h a r e given will assist the Imagination in this conception. Red pressed brick, with *ton« trinimitigs, will be largely used. Tho Lake Superior sandstone is to be an extensive element in rebuilding. The gray and drab stones will everywhere appear, espe- cially abootrthe central portions of the city. The majority of the structures, judging from present indications, will have front* oi one material, re lie red by trimmings of another. T h k will assist in giting Chicago isoBuetiiAag of the look of a a Italian city. Iron fronts will be numerous but will 'be generally painted iu shades of gray, drab or b e w n , Wending hainionlvusly with the negative hues of this lime Lost or Mtaslftir. The Chicago Relief and Aid Society have re- ceived lett«Ei of inquiry for the following per spas : Mr. Wm. FotbergUl Jow, formerly of No :i:n a o r t a avenue. Church street, Chicago, is a m iously inquired after by his mother, Mm. Jow. of Penrwyn place, Abersyehaw, Pouty-pool, Eng ltniL Mrs. Harriet Conway, formerly of No. 4a Chicago avenue, U anxiously inquired after by her lather, Robert Marsha 11, No. as Leicester street, Northampton, Eofrtand. If Mr. H. Oox, ponoemaa ©r Constable, sets this, he is requested to give a n y particulars he may know as to the fate of Mrs. Conway and family Homer and Laura Men-ill are inquired after by their relative, Sarah M. Pardee, Poughkeepsie N. Y. William Boomer and wife, who lived at No. lie West Folk street, are earnestly Inquired after by their parents, Mr. ami Mrs. James Mc- Gowau, of No. 109 Victoria, Belfast, Ireland. Insnrunee .Heeling. A meeting of the policy holders in the Occiden- tal Insurance Company, of California, was held yesteiday afternoon at 4 o'clock, at the office of J a m e s Baxter & Co., where policy-holders to the, amount of *98,000 were present. Judge Van H. Higgins was elected Chairman, and li. W. P.ke Secretary. After discussing geneiaUy the in n- ner to which the company has treated the aufl, r- era here, a committee of three was appointed to investigate further th© affairs of the company and ordered to report to an adjourned meeting at the same place, on Friday next, at 4 o'clock p m The Conmiittee consists of Judge Van H. Higgii s, and Messrs. Hathaway and Hale. All tin se piesent were opposed to accepting any such amount as offered by the company. Miscellaneous. Mrs. O'Leary'acow, that either did, or didn't, set Chicago on lire, has been bought on siieeuia tion by two Louisville (Ky.) boys. —The Board of Public Works "want to hire a tug to ply between the city and the ©rib this winter, and will advertise for proposals for the same. —The work of toying water pipes in various parts of the city has been suspended for the win- ter by th© Board of Public Works, on account of the cold weather. —The annual meeting of the Board of Managers of the Newsboys' and Buatblacks' Home was called for yesterday afternoon, at the office of U. S. Bouton & Co , corner of Fifteenth and Dear- born streets, bnt, as the intensely cold weather prevented the attendance of a quorum, no busi- ness was transacted. —The Board of Pub tie Works have ordered the drawing of plans and specifications for a viaduct on North Clark street, over the railway track on North Water street. To© board has also ordered t i e immediate erection of temporary sheds over the foot passage entrances ol w e La Salle street tunnel. . —Car drivers cannot be too careful in allowing lady passengers to alight. On Hunday, while a young lady, named MJss Lee, was stepping from a State street car, the driver started up too soon, and sue was hurled to the grou ad, breaking a a arm snd receiving internal i ajar tea. She was pi omptly attended to by Dr. E, J . FarwelU and wld recover. —Rev. Dr. Humphrey, Moderator of the Gen eial Assembly, issues an appeal to the Preaby- terian Churches to the United Slates for aid, to enable the brethren to rebuild their temples of worship In Chicago. Ho says that two,** may easily lie added this year, to th© contributions of a church of over 400,000 members. ~, A S?naylwBBll paper says: "Chicago was probably the most jvopulous city to the world, previous to the conflagration. Some 14,000,000 of her * destitute citizens' have passed through this ©uy to Use past tare© weeks. You c a n t throw a eat in any direction without bitting a 'sufferer.' The dodge ia becoming threadbare. —During the present year twelve Swiss guides have been lost ky climbing the Alps—a larger number than has licen lost, it ia said, to any ©as yemr since is&3. Seven of them perished from »vaianches, aud three frourfailing Into creraas©*. Thomas M. Tryniski 309 South 4th Street Fulton New York 13069 www.fultonhistory.com