4 |%*r ||ribmw. Tennasf Subecrfptleii* TATABLS a ADTASC*: Dtßy Mitten, pot ysw, by «ih -ftt-Co Tit-weekly Edition, per year, by kail. Bcmday EdltioWp«r year, by kjul. Weekly Edition, per year, by mail. too Parts erf a year at the tamo rate. To prevent delay and mistakes, be snre and giro Post Office address in full, Including State and county. Remittance* may be made either by draft, express, Poat Office order, or in registered letter*, at our risk, roues to enr BUnecnißXßS: Rally, delivered, Sunday excepted, 55 eente perweek. Dally, delivered, Sunday Included,» cents per week, THE TRIBUNE COMPANY, Re. U Constat., Chicago, HI. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 34. 18TL a cake nr point. The public havo been liberally entertained by the learned discussions, bj* members of tho bar and others, as to tlio best way to “re- store” titles to land in Chicago and Cook County. Much unnecessary alarm has been created.. As tho sick man, hearing a contro versy among his physicians as to his coso, is apt to become frightened by tho disputation. tip the public, reading these ponderous opin ions by. the lawyers on tho subject of de- stroyed records,have naturally assumed that no person in Chicago has at present any title to any property whatever. Titles to laud in Chicago havo in nowise been changed, Im- paired, or destroyed by tbo fire. They re main precisely as they were before tho fire started. What has -been lost •is tho record evidence of these titles.- The loss of an original deed or the public record thereof being proved, tho law has always admitted the next best evidence of what that deed or that record contained, aiid this evidence being. the beat in existence, has tho same value as tho original record would have bad. It maybe that defects in titles technical informalities in'the execution o£ papers, can no longer bo established but that is a loss without any substantial injus tice to any person, and one which ■will work no injury to honest title or hova fide interest. There arc now in existence copies of all the original snrvoj's in this county, and copies of all the original subdivisions, show ing the metes and bounds of every lot and parcel of ground; there are also to be had duplicates of tlio original patents of these lands, and contemporaneous notes, abstracts, and memorbnda showing the transfers of each parcel of this land, with all the mort gages, releases, judgments, tax sales, and other liens; thus exhibiting a complete chain of title from the United States down to October 7. The past value of these ab stracts, indices, surveys, plats, maps, and patents has been shown in the fact that they have been' the principal evidence upon ■which all real estate transactions have taken place in this county. Upon these abstracts legal opinions as to title and defects of title have been given, money loaned, sales made. It is also a striking fact that certified copies of the record, and evefi the record itself, have been impeached and overthrown by the production of these abstracts made con teuiporaneonsb'with the date of the original papers, and judicial decisions involving title to land have been based upon the evidence of the abstracts as opposed to that of the re cords themselves. Certainly, with all this evidence of title at command, no owner or lawful possessor of land in this city can have any fear that he will lose his property. But this evidence of titles is the property of private individuals, and not accessible to property-owners, except at great cost. It is also liable to destruction. The original re cords having been destroyed, it is the best and only evidence of what those records con tained. It is necessarily the only evidence extant of what the land records would show if they were in existence. •In the early history of Ohio, the land records of the district known as the Miami Purchase, including what are now known as Hamilton, Butler, and Warren Counties, with the city of Cincinnati and various other towns, were destroyed by fire. The Legisla ture of Ohio, even in that early day, had no difficulty in meeting the occasion with a suitable remedy. We yesterday published the act entire. The preamble recites the destruction of the records, “and also that there are correct copies of the said field-notes now in the possession ef sundry persons re siding on or near the said lauds, which cop ies arc in a perishable condition; therefore, for the purpose of perpetuating the evidence of the said field-notes, and for removing the inconveniences aforesaid,” &c. This preamble, written in 1814, describes the condition of tdfairs in this county at this time;’ Wchave the equivalents of the field notes, and of all the subsequent changes and conveyances, liens and releases. What that Legislature, upon that condition of facts, did then, is precisely all that our Legislature can or ought- to do now. It appointed a commission to collect all the copies” of the original papers, and ex amine the same (and the makers thereof nuder oath), and to cause them to ho record ed, and these records, thus collected and at tested, it was provided. “Shall ho admitted as legal evidence in all courts of judicature in this State, in all cases where the original field notes aforesaid would ho legal evi dence.” One example of what has been done, and satisfactorily done, uudcrliko circumstances, is worth reams of speculative schemes. It is utterly absurd and useless to require each person iu the city of Chicago, owning real •state, to bring suit to establish a title which no one and that to obtain a decree *0 shall tile copies of these private notesand detracts, when, by making these notes and ibstracts public records and evidence of what they contain, until other and bettor evidence is produced, the title for all practi cal purposes will bo as demonstrable from tho record as it can possibly bo made by a decree furnished upon tho same testimony. HOM£ iNEUH&NCE. There is a hill before the Legislature of this State which proposes to remedy tho de fects of our present insurance law. One of tbo first things that-should be done is cither to repeal the law requiring foreign (Euro pean) insurance companies to mako a cash deposit of $'200,000 with, the Auditor, or to mako the same requirement of all other in surance companies. The recent calamity has shown the great loss our people have sus tained because of tho inability to obtain adequate insurance in these foreign com panies. The Auditor, in his last re port, commenting npon this law, said “No foreign companies, except the Liv erpool and London and Globe, and tho North British and Mercantile, of Edinburgh, have complied with the requirement.” These two companies alono paid losses exceeding five millions of dollars, while tho fourteen Illinois companies will not altogether pay a like sum out of their $30,000,000 or more losses. This law is the application of the principle of protection to insurance. Tho domestic in fants had to he protected against tho com petition of the “pauper” insurance com panies of Liverpool, London, Manchester, and other European cities. Policy-holders in tho Merchants’, and Firemen’s, and tbo Equitable, of our city, and iu the home companies of other Ameri can cities. will hardly appre ciate the sagacity which seeks to exclude these companies, having an actual cash capi tal commensurate with their risks, from doing business in Illinois, and which turns onr people over to domestic companies whoso entire capital is hardly equal to the re-insurance *of their own risks.' Let us have no more of these discrimi nations. Let there he all the restraints and restrictions which experience may sug gest, but let them apply to all companies alike. Let every man who wants insurance be at liberty to get it where ho can, and from whatever company may offer him tho beat guarantee in caso of 1 oss by fire. A few weeks ago, impelled, thereto by a Wholesome dread of SherilFs processes, the Governor of Georgia took to his heels, and left his resignation at the service of a grate ful constituency.' The legislature, now in session, paued an. act ordering a special elec tion for tilling tho vacancy created .by the escape of the frightened Bollock. Naturally, this action did not please tho Lieutenant Conley, upon whoso shoulders the mantle of tho departed Bullock hod fallen, and who was counting upon a refreshing season of vetoes and appointments, and other rich Gubernatorial prerogatives. Conicr, therefore, vetoed the measure, and the Legislature aa promptly passed the act again, over the Acting Governor's veto. So it is a law; hut that is no certain sign J that it will ho put in force, unless Mr. Con ley is bought off. The reason why Conley u ’so sot in opposition to the special election is obvious. The reason why the Legislature is also obstinate about it is that the State is now Democratic, which Conley is not; hence, a now election would enable the Leg islature to make over the State Government in such a way as to throw its electoral vote ugainst the Republican nominee in the ap proaching Presidential election. THE REDEMPTION OP THE BALLOT. Mr. Henry Ward Beecher delivered a lec ture, last week, in Boston, upon the subject of “Redemption of tho Ballot.” Ho im pressed tho utmost confidence in tho intelli gence and patriotism of the people, and dis eountommeed every suggestion to limit suf frage, or to diminish tho active participation of the governed in tho election of govern ments. After referring to tho popular revo lution in Now York city, ho said; There must bo such a permanent spirit in the community that it will be impossible for another set of political rascals and thieves to be' born. With tills in view ho protested against the use of money on elections, except for the necessary purposes of printing, circulating documents, hall biro, Ac. Ho still more strongly protested, amid applause, against making public officials contrib ute for election purposes. If every Custom House is expected to pay for political services, then the thing becomes simply brllxjry, and the govern ment an arch briber. Ho did not believe our politics could become pure until there was a re form in our civil service. He closed by repeat ing bis faith In the final success of our insti tutions as follows: “No; let no man croak; let no man preach despair. For one. as long as I live, I will stand for the welfare of the country. Above everything that Is on this earth, dearer to me than my own life, dearer and nobler to me than any other conception is the fair fabric of my country. For, though I honor and love our churches, I never think that God looks upon churches. It i upon manhood that ho looks, and churches, the servants of manhood, for Christ’s sake. Oh that I could inspire the young that are growing up with other sentiments than those haae cues that are blown to their cars, that there is nosuch thing as patriotism. It is not so. You should havo hut one thought, and that to loro dis interestedly tho land in which you dwell.” Mr. Becehcris right. There is no danger of Hie people being false to their own inter ests or to the country. The danger in Amer ican politics is in the machinery invented by unscrupulous persons to prevent freedom of popular action. One of the most effective means of breaking down this combination is, as Mr. Boccher says, in a general reform in the Civil Service. So long os the whole Civil Sendee of the country is but so much capital to housed for corruption and for working the machinery of party, there can ho no purity in elections. When the tenure of offices shall ho based upon the integrity and executive capacity of the incumbent, the elections of the country will become more like popular decisions on opposing principles, and loss like a game of faro, whore private gain is the stake, and the manager of the table does the counting. The New York frauds and rob beries were but the general system .of party management carried to its logical results. The same frauds and corruptions exist in every other city, limited only hy the dex terity of the operators, and the amount at their disposal. The people of Now York city, though in cluding a larger proportion of ignorant and debauched population than any other part of the country, were not responsible for the ascendancy of Tweed. Tweed and his part ners bossed one machine. They made no pretensions to honesty. They openly boast ed that they controlled the votes of 90,000 persons, and that they had the means of pre venting these persons voting for any candi- date other than those named by the party managers. The party opposed to Tweed in general politics had an equally corrnpt man agement. Had these latter boon in power, tbo difference would have been only that between Tweed-Jcdum and Tweed ledee. This latter organization merely prevented on its part any popular organization or combination against Tweed, and ibis it did by nominating candidates in his interest equally offensive to the public, and for this service, it shared, secretly, the spoils. The safety of public liberty depends upon a resolute breaking down of party machinery just as often as that machinery is used cor ruptly, or to the exclusion of the people from a free choice of rulers. Mr. Beecher is right when ho insists that patriotism is the highest virtue. Without it, man is, at best, a merely selfish animal. A patriotic people can never he brought to believe that party is superior to country, or that public interests can only he advanced by electing to office such mis creants as happen to purchase a caucus nomi nation. The oftener the revolution accom plished in Now York city and Chicago in No vember is repeated, the bettor it will bo for public interests. BOUNTY FOS CLAIM AGENTS. In the Illinois Senate, on' Wednesday, Mr. Kerr introduced a resolution requesting Con gress to pass a lull facilitating tlio pre-emp tion of land by honorably-discharged sol diers and sailors,allowing time of service to bo deducted from tho time required for actual residence. Tho proceedings which followed this movement show clearly the demagogue nature of these appeals for further bounty legislation—and in particular of this pro posed stretching of tho Bounty Land laws. Mr. Ejder moved to include iu tho proposed net tho wife, children, or parents of tho soldier, who can appropriate tho land which Congress is requested to grant, pro vided it is not convenient for tho soldier himself to do so. Then Mr. Miller, not to be outdouo iu liberality to the noble veterans, moved to ask Congress for a square mile of land for each of them, and this went through with a rush, getting a two-to-ono vote. These proceedings were no doubt intended ns a pleasant satire upon Mr. Kerr’s proposi tion :but ns tho Senate, after a little good-na tured banter, adopted tho resolution which he offered, wo trust that a transcript of the whole proceedings may bo sent to Congress along with-the memorial, provided that document is endorsed by the other house and forwarded to Washington. The Senate, by those proceedings, expressed per fectly its poor opinion of tho policy of tinker ing the bounty laws any further, on behalf, ostensibly of tho discharged veterans of tho late war, hut really of a few speculators in laud warrants. No other class can really be benefited by an act allowing time of service iu the army to ho deducted from tho time re quired for actual residence” iu acquiring full title to bounty lands. Tho intention of the act of Congress, under which soldiers and sailors now acquire lands on bounty warrants, was to furnish those gallant men with a home, in addition to the liberal cash bounties and regular army pay which they had already received from tho government. For this purpose, tho existing laws are entirely adequate: fur nishing not only a permanent home and farm of ICO acres to all honorably-discharged vet erans, hut also furnishing them exemption from taxes and executions dnring tho period of five years required to perfect their titles. This is all that any hona fide settler wants, and is much more than such would got under tho proposed plan of deducting one to four years Lorn tho prescribed period of occu pancy. Tho intention of tho proposed hill, as has been pointed ont in these columns be fore, is to afford better opportunities for speculation in bounty land warrants, by shortening the timo of occupancy (which can, os things now are, be evaded in part by a sort (of constructive residence}, and thus making the warrants and patents more marketable than at present. We take it that the only class which Congress intended to benefit by tho Bounty Land acta now in operation was the poorer class of discharged soldiers and sailors, to whom a farm in one of tho Border States or Terri tories was a sufficient desideratum to induce them to occupy it. To benefit such still fur ther, it was provided that their land and improvements should bo exempt from taxes and esoentions daring tho period named. Of this exemption the 6dha fide occupants of bounty lands would be stripped by the pro posed legislation, and none but claim agents, Brigadier Generals, and such would get any benefit by it. That unhappy organization known as the j old Board o£ Supervisors, concerning which tho people of Cook County expressed their opinion in such unmistakable terms a fort night ago. seems determined to do all tho harmful and ridiculous acts possible before giving its dying kick. One of the most brill iant of its schemes is that of ©looting, by a a sort of coup d'etat, tho Police Commissioner who is to succeed Commissioner Brown, re signed. Mr. Brown’s resignation, as wo are informed, is to take effect on the 4th- of December. Aa the 'Board of Commissioners' is." by law, 'to go into offlpo on that day, and can therefore at tend regularly to the selection of a successor for Commissioner Brown, there is ho shadow of a pretext for this extraordinary action of the Board of Superannuated Supervisors. There will bo no vacancy in the Board of Po- lice and Fire Commissioners until after the old board's sands of life have entirely run out; and, supposing there was to bo such, it is perfectly obvious that it would bo au act of barefaced usurpation on the part of the Superannuated Supervisors to assume the authority of making the election. The power to choose Police Commissioners belongs at present to the people. Before Mr. Brown goes out of offico(supposinghimtohavo determined to do so), the appointing power will probably havo been lodged in the May or and Common Council of the city, the Board of Commissioners being a subordinate board of the City Government—not of tho county; hence any attempt of tho Superan nuated Supervisors to arrogate to themselves the authority of making such an election would ho in tho highest degree reprehensible. The New Orleans Picayune lets tho cat out of the bag about the wonderful operations of the “St. Louis Grain Association "in shipping grain by the Mississippi River to New Or leans a year ago. After stating thatau ele vator was built at Now Orleans, tho Picayune proceeds: After building his elevator and getting it Into successful operation, he remained here for the purpose of supervising and managing tho car goes of grain which arrived at his elevator, some of which had been purchased by wbatwasknown as the “St. Louis Oram Association,” and came from Minnesota by the way of Dubuque. It was hauled over the Illinois Central Railroad, a instance of some five hundred miles, if we do not mistake, to Cairo; never saw St. Louis; not a grain of it was sam pled in St. Lcuis; and yet It reached Mr. Hlgby’s elevator in pood and sound condition, after hav ing come from lowa and Minnesota, which, as wo understand, are different States from Missouri, and not under tho control of St. Louis. And this is tho way St. Louis moved the grain of the Northwest by the great high way marked ant by Nature.” THE NORTHWEST. ILLINOIS, The school building at Elizabeth was destroyed by tiro on the 30th inst. Tbo ladies of tbo village turned out cn masse, and worked manfully. —The Post Office at 1701x00 was robbed on the 20th Inst., by burglars. They only succeeded in getting about fifty dollars. —What came near proving a tragedy occurred at Bunker Bill, Macoupin County, last week. A widow lady named Mrs. Carter, and her nephew, Frank Wilson, have resided there some time, and tbo lady had entertained for her relative an al most Idolizing affection. One day last week, a neighbor passing the bouse found Mra.- Cartcr lying in tbo road in an insensi blc condition, and hearing upon her body marks of a most brutal assault. She was conveyed to a neighboring house, and, upon recovering con sciousness, stated that, about 1 o’clock in the morning, Wilson had arisen in a state of nudity, and was proceeding to the barn, when she called him back. Upon returning, he struck her a terri ble blow. A little child saw him take tbo lady and throw her violently upon the road. Wilson then ran toward, town, and, arriving at tbo resi dence of the Per. Mr. Smith, jumped through the window, breaking out the sash and gins*, and seeing Mrs. Smith, seized and choked her violently. Mr. Smith knocked the assailant down, and he was soon secured and conveyed to jail. He has since given unmistakable evi dences of insanity. —Five stores in Carthago wore entered by bur glars on the icth inst., but fortunately the value of the goods taken was small. —The Quincy Whiff of the 21st says; Wo regret to learn that Albert- Castle, son of T. H, Castle, Esq., of this city, was drowned yesterday morn ing a short distance below Warsaw. Ho under took to draw a Ipicket of water for his horse, while tbo boat was in motion, and tbo force of tbo current pulled him Into the water; at least such is the report received in this city.” —Wild game of tbo web-footed varieties is quite plenty this falL Hunters alcng the M-ioklnuw and Illinois Elver bottoms and in Ford County marsb lands, have been quite successful in bag ging ducks and geese. —Tbo Quincy Whiff publishes a telegraphic cor respondence, from which it appears that “little Freddie Lcib,” who was stolen awayfrom his par ents in that city, has at last been definitely heard from. It would seem that ho is in possession of a band of gypsies, now encamped near Colum bus, Ohio, —Last Saturday the residence of Mortimer M. Hiller, in Kicknpoo Township, was burned, Mr. Miller and bis family barely escaping with their lives. Loss on building, $4,000; insurance, $2,003. Besides tbo bouse and furniture, Mr, Miller los £OO bushels of apples and 200 bushels of potatoes- —Alvin Kidder and L. B. Bennett, two old and well-known citizens of Peoria, died on tholSth inst. iowl. A boy named Stephen Hailing, employed in a sawmill at Fort Madison, waa killed on the ICtli by being cangbt in a belt. —P. H. Warner, of Delaware County, lost ten bogs by tbe cholera last week. Tho disease is fa tal and Increasing. —The financial condition of Cedar Rapids stands: Actual expenses, #20,000; net proceeds. 110,600; total deficit, £32,000. —The number of persons in lowa subject to military duty, as shown by returns made to the Adjutant General's office, is 148,992. —The maple trees in Davenport lire being de stroyed by a bug. “There are eight lady students In regular at tendance at the Medical Department of the State University. —lowa Falls wants the Northern lowa Normal School. It promises $73,000 iu ground, building material, etc., to aid tho State In building the In stitution, —Tho Eldora Coal Mining Company’s effects will be sold out under execution next month. On Wednesday of last week, R. A. Babbage, of Dubuque, got a judgment against tbo corporation for (20,000, the largest judgment ever rendered by tho Hardin Comity Court. —A paper mill, u cracker bakery, and a soap factory, all definitely settled upon, are tho re sult of formlug the Council Bluffs Manufacturing Association. WIBCOSBIX. T.e Annual mooting of the Wisconsin Agricul tural Society will bo bold at Madison. Dec. 10. —A young pedagogue In one of tho most papa* lar school districts in Clinton, upon taking of his school, called tho Attention of his scholars to the rules that were to govern tho school. And ho added: “Toyou,young ladies, I say, if you lovo mo, I will lovo you and, if you love me. you will keep my command ments.” —Mrs. Mary Fields.of tbe town of Bcavor Dam, committed suicide, on Monday of last week, by taking Paris green. —Milwaukee harbor, which for years has been one of tbe best on all the lakes, bas been largely improved this year. An appropriation of SIO,OOO was made by Congress for tills year’s work on tho harbor: this was 13,000 moro than for last year's work. Tbo improvement this year has consisted of extending the piers from the straight cut fur ther out Into tho lake, by about SOO feet on each pier. The width of the river between tho piers is SCO feet. Tho piers arc composed of cribs of heavy timber, 50 by 30 feet, filled with stone. The lost crib on this year's work bos been sank. —The Portage Register reports the death of the Hon. John C. Jones, of Spring Vale, on old and prominent citizen. Ho represented his district in the Legislature in 1859. —The Milwaukee Musical Society have decided to completely renovate and beautify Music Hall, and make it one of the finest and most elegant In, the West. The society will spend between tis.ooo and $20,000 in improvements. —A libel suit has been Instituted against tho Milwaukee Sews for $20,000 damages, by Mrs Porks, for derogatory remarks concerning her character. nroiAXA. The Rockport Democrat of the 18th last, says: It is with feelings of sadness that wo chronicle tho accidental shooting of James C. Veatch, Jr., eon of General James C. Voatoh, which occurred on Thursday afternoon. It seems young Veatch, with a colored boy, was out gimuing, and ran a rabbit into a lombcr-pilo; and, while young Veatch was trying to get to the game, hla gun went ofli inflicting a mortal wound in the alwlo men." —Tlie Clark County grand jury are investigat ing a sacrilegious act committed by several young men in Washington, in a mock celebration of the Lord's Supper. •—James V. Cox, a prominent business man and politician of Tipton, died at that place on the 13th Inst. The Edinburgh Watchman has the following instances of longevity In that section of the country: Mrs. Edgier, of German township, who died last week, aged 105 years; Mrs. Fry, of Taylorsville, 104 years old; Mrs. Miller, of the somo place, 07. The latter has raised five sons, all of whom are living, and ministers of the Gospel. Mrs. Miller’s husband was also a preach er, and died in his 03d year. —The apparatus by whicli the Ewing Monu ment in Fort Wayne will be elevated to its posi tion Ims arrived, and in a few days the obelisk will stand erect. —A Utile girl, named Annie Lillick, was burned to death at Evansville, on the 20th last., by fall ing into an open fireplace. MICHIGAN. In a suit 'recently tried in Coldwafcar, Mary J Miller, a girl of 19 years, who was permanently THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1871. Injured by a railroad trainmen the Lake Shore Michigan Southern Railway, recovered $5,500 damages. —The Hon. William A. Rafter, Prosecuting At torney of Monroe County, died on tho 31st Inst. —Mr. Edward Hope, a farmer and cattle-deal er, accidentally shot himself while hunting in the woods some six miles north of Allegan, on tho 16th. Ho bad killed two deer, and was walking along on a log, gun in hand, Intent on watching a deer, when his foot slipped on the icy log and ho fell, striking upon tho gun in such a way that it went off, aud the charge, containing some sixteen buckshot, penetrated his thigh and lodged in the small of his hack. —The second semi-annual meeting of the State Homoeopathic 3lcdlcal Society was bold at Ann Ar bor on tho 21st, at which, Dr. Fomcroy, tho Presi dent, delivered a severe philippic. —Tho Port Austin Xnct states tho number of families burned out in that county at 431; per sons, 1,087; and losses, not Including that occa sioned by tho burning of timber, bridges, fences, or school houses. $901,435. —A new Masonic Hall has just been opened in Marshall. —Tho Eaffle pays a new wrinkle in tho Latou retto failure has transpired, which is a deed of the Latourctto farm to Mr. John L. E. Kelly, one of the principal creditors, and a deed by him to Mrs. Latourettc, which latter deed is said to have been recorded October 37, 1871. These deeds are reported to hate been made ten or twelve years ago, but not recorded until recently. The land which these deeds cover was valued at $17,000. —Colonel J. Scott Clark, recently Collector of Internal Revenue, has just boon appointed mai 1 agent between Toledo and Chicago. —Mary Beadle died in Pontiac,on tho loth, aged 104 years. The deceased had been bedridden for tho past fifteen years, and blind and deaf for ten years. The Hon. Caleb Cushing is about to dispose ol bis property at Taylor's Falls, including the vra. ter-power. —Governor Hayes, of Ohio, ia building a brick block in Duluth, to cost $15,000 to SIB,OOO. —Tho New Ulm Plaindealer says a Mrs. Pres colt, of the town of Iberia, took poison on the 7th, and was saved only by prompt doctoring. Slander was the cause of her act. —A German named Tillman,of Pleasant Grove, Olmsted County, fell from a hay-mow, on the 15th lust,, and broke his neck. He died the same day. —A number of the leading citizens of Roches ter have pledged themselves to the payment of the $50,000 bonus demanded to secure the location of Homllne University in that city, and its loca Hon there is now considered a certainty. Two horse thieves, who gave their names as Guy Whitmoro and Thomas Edwards, wore hung in tho northern part of Jewell County a few days ago. —The Council Grove Democrat says that Sir. George W. See, while quarrying stone near Reeve’s ice house, at that place, opened up a den of amalgamated snakes, consisting of adders, garters, etc. He succeeded in demolishing twen ty-one, and about as many more escaped. Ho is still digging, and intends to capture tho remain der if It takes all winter. —Tho Emporia Ledger states that week before last, W. T. Sherman, Sheriff of Henry County t came to that county to arrest a man named Henry Bunt, who killed a man in lowa moro than two years ago. Tho killing was done In tho heat of passion. A quarrel arose, and Bant was evi dently getting tho better of his adversary, who attempted to escape, when Bunt threw a piece of rail, striking him on the temple, killing him Bunt immediately fled. His wifo and family, shortly after the murder, settled on the Verdi gris, near tho northern line of Lyon County. Sheriff Spearman placed a man on watch, who notified him when Bunt returned to his family Ho came to Emporia, procured assistance, made the arrest, and started for lowa on Saturday lost. —On tho cth instant a Mexican cattle drover committed suicide by shooting himself through tho heart with a revolver, while drunk, at Co lumbus, Cherokee County. —The safe of the Missouri, Kansas Texas Rond, attheirstation in Humboldt, was broken open and robbed a few nights ago. Tho amount stolen, the Vnion says, was small, not exceeding SIOO. The thief has'not yet been npxuroheudcd. The estimated population of Cleveland is 108,000. —A Methodist minister in a village In Williams County, finding no well at tho parsonage, went to work and dug one, with tho aid of his wife, all the village being busy with a now railroad. —A wealthy young farmer In an adjoining county, says the Zanesville Courier, made a vow at the time of his marriage, that he would plant forty peach or apple trees for each child born during the first ten years of his wedded life. He’s been married seven years, and hits about 320 trees. He talks about golngback on his vow. He hasn’t tho land to spare. Tho Now York Tribune suggests ami strongly advocates Oswald Ottcndorfor as tho successor of Mayor Hall. —lt is given out that the colored legislators of South Carolina are in favor of repudiating tho entire State debt, inasmuch as tho carpet-baggers have monopolized the profits. —Tho Now York Citizen nominates Mr. Samuel J. Tildeu ua tho Democratic candidate for I’rcsi dent. —The New Orleans Democrat hoists tho names of Sanford E. Church for President ami B. Gratz Brown tor Vice President in 1872. —St. Lawrence County gave the largest Repub lican majority in New York State at tho late elec tion— 6,464. Only fourteen of the sixty counties gave Democratic majorities. —The New York Evening Post suggests tho name of dairies O’Conor and Samuel J. Tilden as Democratic candidates for tho Presidency next year. —Tho Lynchburg Virginian is In favor of a union of Democrats, Conservatives, and Moder ate Republicans upon a 4 moderate, respectable Republican,” as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency. —William M. Tweed has sold his interest in the Washington Patriot to Jeffries Co. for $7,000. Tho Patriot claims to bo the National Democratic organ. It is understood that Mr. Tweed’s stock in the concern cost him $25,000. —Mrs. Bamson, appointed to office by Gov ernor ClafUn, of Massachusetts, modestly refuses to come forward to wear her rosy honors. -Ex-Senator Williams, of Oregon, has returned to Washington after a six months’ sojourn on the Pacific coast. Ho gives it ns his belief, from the evident change in public sentiment, that the State will go for tho Republicans at tfie election next spring, and that the party will bo enabled to continue a Republican in the United States Senate. In California, Judge Williams says tho belief ia general that Representative Sargent will be elected Senator in place of Senator Colo, although the incumbent is a candidate. —Official returns of tho September election in California show the following Repuldlcan majori- ties; Booth, for Governor, 5,019; Houghton, for Congress, First District, M"I; Sargent, for Con gress, Second District, 2,C53; Cog Man, for Con gress, Third District, 1,191, —A final vote was reached in the Wyoming House, Nov. 17, on tho bill to repeal the Woman Suffrage law, and tho bill was carried, by yeas 9 (all Democrats), to unys 3 (all Republicans). Tho measure will soon come up in the Council* It Is said that Mr. A. T. Stewart designs open ing his elegant house on Fifth avenue. Now York, for the first time, for the reception of the Grand Duke. —ln splto of all that Is written against tho practice of intermarrying, tho Rothschilds con tinue to follow It os often as they see fit. At Gun tersburg, Germany, tho marriage of young Baron James do Rothschild to Milo. There so do Roths child lately took place. —A New York paper says: Tim notable Worth baa moderated bis prices very much slneo tho lato war, and handsome cos tumes can be bought in Paris and sent over here at a much lower price than would bo askod for tho same thing In this city. One of Worth’s handsomest black silk costumes can bo bought for the sum of three hundred dollars.” —Hine, the Great Barrington bank robber, was arrested on suspicion awakened by his purchas ing a tt.ooo diamond pin. —The now wife of the medium. Home, is de scribcdfas n pretty brunette, with little hands and feet, high-archcd instep, and nice manners. Her family is rich, and the estates willed to her by her nude, uro said to be as largo as somo Gor man principalities.” —Brick Pomeroy and Sunset Cox are the two larccst contributors to the Leo monument fund in New York, though the former gave only tea dollars. —Gail Hamilton concluded an article in tho In dfjtendeni on a woman’s mcetingwlth a reference to the fact that, although fhe tyrant man had been rigorously excluded, he was called in again to put out a little dog which disturbed tho pro ceedings, and adds: “That is al ways the way. Women will not be true to them selves, They will keep up a mighty fosilade on parade-days; but they will not stand by their guns at a pinch. They turn man out of their hallawithbcatof drums; but, at tho first bark, they rash to bring him in again.” —The Reese Blvor (Nevada) Reveille tells this Last week Mrs. McCarthy, while travelling in the stage from Hamilton to Pioche, gave birth to a flue healthy boy. One of tho owners of the lino found that only sixteen passengers were booked, but learned from a passenger that seven teen had come through. In high dudgeon ho sought tho agent, and wanted 'to "tnow who tho dead-head” was. After*tho matter was explain ed tbo irate capitalist could be seen slipping off down street,” MINNESOTA. KJtXBAS. OHIO. POLITICAL. PERSONAL. AMONG THE BASHACKS. The BaildiugSr tlie Inhabitants, and How they liivc. Observations of a Day-Letter from Eev. Bobert Collyer. TbOicZtfftoro/ TheCMeago Tribune: But: When I read your report on Tuesday morning headed “Barrack Life,” I made up my mind to toko the first day I could spare, go in tho track of your reporter, see the thing with my own eyes, and then write some account of my ob servations, so that In tho mouth of two witnesses the truth might he more nearly established, and also offer such suggestions us came of what I saw toward making the bod better. I was incited.to do this, not only because of the deep interest I fool in my fellow-citizens and sufferers, who have had to take refuge in these temporary homes, hut also because I had a great deal to do with the poor when I first enmo to this city, have never quite given up the blessed work of helping them, and Imagine that I understand somethings that be long both to the light and shadow of their life better than any man who never had fluoh work to do. My conclusion after this inspection differs very materially from that which may bo drawn out of your report. And lam sure yon will give mo room to tell my story, that the public may know what the two sides of the shield look like, to two separate men. I have to begin by saying that wherever I went I saw very little I should foei free to sail real comfort, and a great deal of snoh discomfort as I should dislike exceedingly to en counter. I went first to the barracks on Hals ted street, where I learned there are 308 families, making altogether about 1.6C0 souls. Then to the barracks opposite my church, on North Dearborn street, where there are 140 families, and then to those on Centre avenue, whore there are B*s families and l,sco souls. To those on Madison street I did not go, because I had no more time, and your account oi those is the most favorable. The first thing that struck me wherever I wont, was the rough and ready character of the build ings, suggesting at once, if I bud not known the painful reasonlor their erection, that they must have been knocked together in the most urgent haste, so as to got somebody at once Into some kind of shelter. Tour report of them is substan tially true—l may say entirely true In. that re spect, Those on Halsted street are the snuggest, I presume, because they wore the last that were put up. As the carpenters have left them, they ate hone of them nice places to live in. Thor are neither wind nor water-tight in the general run of them. I know not that any are. Tney are only In this respect such shelters as I should bo glad to creep into with my family out of a barn. Yeti had to see, before I wont far, what wo see everywhere, that the living room of each fam ily is alicady, in some measure, the expression of the nature and life of those that are in It. Out of many notes I will select, for illustration of what I mean, those on the first three homes I entered: The first and second clean and nloo as can bo, and warm; the third dirty, very—but full of gowi eating—a great pot of meat on the stove, hand somoloaves and apple pics, Just baked, on the table. Tills is a hint of the kind of thing I en countered wherever I wont. One woman leaves her place as the carpenters left It, and to that adds daily a new film of dirt and squalor; her store reminds me of ours when we used to have thoroughly bad girls; It is filthy outside and in. Another knows how to run a stove as J. V. Far well knows how to run a store; the result Is that comfort radiates from this centre like light from the sun. Plighted on two instances that struck me especially, toward the close of my day's work. Mr. C. is a blacksmith, lu work. Mrs. C. is an Irishwoman. They have a regulation barrack room; it is one of the most cheerless places I entered, open to the weather and to the people in the next house; the children blue, poor things, and their mother bristling with complaints. Mr. W. who lives near by, is a Scotchman; his wife a Bohemian. Ho is not strong but can work some, and was at work to day. This family seems to have boon at work every spare moment to fix up their little domi cile. They have got slats, nailed them over the devices, pasted slips of paper overeach aide, got a little curtain, snow white, before the window, a bit of bleached muslin along the side of the bod, set their poor waifs saved from the fire ou little shelves about the room, and the result Is as warm and sweet a place as you can well imagine, where tho children seem as cosy as birds in a nest, and the mother’s face U ono big smile. I saw places still more wretched than that In which Mr. and Mrs. C. arc living, but I had to foul as I saw the women sit listlessly in there, and not one truce of any effort on the part of either man or woman to amend them, that the reason lies not so much with the Shelter Committee as in the fact that you seejuat such places in Dublin and Antwerp. The Shelter Committee is at work doing all it can to make those bar racks more habitable, changing No. 7 stoves for No. 8, putting in bedsteads os fast as they can get them, and blankets, and all beside needed for this tiny house-keeping. But ono woman made a great complaint; she had not blankets enough on her bed. I was curious to see, and found she had seven, but she said some of these wore bor rowed. Wo must not lose sight, then, of this clear fact, that these poor homes with ono family are only a beginning, with another an end. 1 d’d not see ono hopelessly uncomfortable, If you should put a Yankee family into It, giro them a few pennies' worth of slats, half a dozen old nowspa pets and a little pot of paste. You have to see also that yonr reporter has stated a fast and mis-stated another about the drainage. 1 find that two out of the three sots of barracks I visited are undcrdrnlncd carefully; also that the reason for the uncleanliness in tho surface drains Is to bo traced to the habit some of Ibe housewives have of dumping their slops and tilth close to the door stop. There are barrels la most if not all tho streets to receive these leav ings, and a sanitary policeman to sco that they are properly used; but the poor fellows say they are weary of their life trying to solve the problem how they shall bring the barrel and tho woman together. Bo far they have failed in a groat number of instances. I sincerely believe li 5s not for want of trying. They ore quite convinced of tho philosopher's axiom, that dirt is matter in tho wrong place—so must any mim ho who walks through thoso streets. But what I have stated about the inside of some of these homes Is true of the outside. Tho tidy woman makes no clutter about her door, and when you glance at tho window, and see the little white curtain, and at the gutter and see no slops, you need not knock and ask to look at the room: it is as clean as a bird’s nest, I war rant you. About tho water-closets I agree with your re port. Tito best are tho last made; the others are wretchedly poor, and those made by tho first committee too near the dwellings. They should all b« seen to ut once, and I understand will bo; but. in addition to their reconstruction, they should all be kept In better order through some stub chemistry ua quick lime or chloride of lime. Quick lime, indeed, would bo a great boon to tho dwelling also ns soon as they can bo made weather tight; the sooner tho whitewash brush can be got to work the better. 1 brake and tasted tho bread, and found it sound and sweet. Tho pork also I tasted and that was good, and nobody complained of poor or short rations. One warm hearted Irish wo- I man urgently invited me to stay and take diunor, iwo hod known each other in better days). She evidently felt I would be all the bettor," as she said, "of a cup of tay.” My extreme busy ness alone prevented mo from taking the good soul at her word. When Unity Church can bo sci übbed again she shall have her reward. One other thing I was glad to find out, and that was a good reason why there should bo such a community as these barracks draw into a com pact body. Each sot of them has a sort of over seer. whose business it Is to keep tho run of all tho families in his charge. And so ho knows them all, what they get, how they use what they get. who is at work, who is sick, who drinks, who trios to make the best of the situation, and who i 1 u^. 0t v trv at there is a far greater cer tainty about supplying all real needs and pre venting Imposition than will over bo found through tho method of getting each family Into its own Isolated cottage. I think bettor of the barracks as a shelter for certain classes of our fellow-citizens for this reason than I did be fore I entered on this Investigation. Thor are filled, of course, with the good and bad. and mid dling, and very soon adellcate-foeling man knows what to do for each to leave the first class as much an possible with the footing that they are tn their own little homes. Guard against the evil doing of tho second by all means, and try to save the third from tho quick and sare mischief of celpingaman beyond the line at which ho can well help hlmbelf. In conclusion, sir, let mo say that while I oanbe the apologist, if I know it, for the shortcomings of no man or set of men, and behove heartily In all fair criticism, as tho answer to tho prayer of dear Kobert Burns that we could Sco ourselves as others see us,” T do think that tho attacksswhioh have been made on the management of tbe Belief and Aid Society have been both unjust and unkind. I was one week in tho heart or their work; I suppose I was not fo strong as I had been before the tire; bo that as it may, it was the hardest midmost per plexing week's work I ever did in my life, and I can measure from that what theirs must bo tothera. What they have to do is simply unparalleled la the history of the race, look at it ns wo will. Now, if wo will consider, what those of ns who have been hero for any length of time know very well, that these men are of tho very pick of our cit v. both for executive ability and spotless in tegrity; that such menus Mr. Larnodand Mr. Dex ter have made for themselves a record full of tho sweetest charities—charities that can no more freeze up in. this marvellous demand than our great lake can in the Jane sun, but must grow larger and intenser by tho very law of their life; and that they have been at work ever slnoowo laid this burden on them,all day long and far into the night, taking notbingfor theirservioes except these harsh judgments and the fervent God bless yon of those who know something of their worth, If we will consider this, we shall close about them now, only to hold up their hands, and when their work was done, build to their memory the noblest monnroent we can make, for lore or money, that will tell to a hundred generation of our children and theirs what men wo had among us In this sore need. I am, sincerely yours, BOBSBT COLLTBB. Chicago, Nov. 33,1871. Laying Brickwork* To Ou Editor of Tho Chicago Tribune 8m: Of the writers who have so generously ‘and willingly given their opinion os to the best method of rebuilding Chicago, none, as yet, have touched upon the most important point, vix. the manner of laying brickwork. The writer of this bos taken great pains to examine the remaining walls of what was once considered nice masonry. Being s. mechanic of some twenty-elx years’ ex perience in bonding, I feel that I can spook ad visediv in relation to each a matter. On looking at the remaining walls, as one passes over the burned district, he is very naturally led to the Inquiry, Why are so few walla standing! I have seen, in other places, the ruins of block after block through which fire had swept, consuming everything of a combustible nature, and yet the walls were left standing, in many oases,lntact.' Kow, If any unprejudiced person, who is willing to look at this matter in the light of sober reason, and with a willingness to learn a lesson from past experience, will take the trouble to give that sub ject that careful thought which its importance demands, he may deriyo some benefit from the few suggestions I propose to make. With those In view,and carefully followed out, the coat of building of brick may bo materially rednosd. Many mechanics (and honestly,no doubt,) think that the thickness of walls constitute their strength, simply because they were educated in that belief, and so have gone on, from year to year. In the same beaten track. The poiut at which I wish to oomo is this, and X think t qfrnii have the concurrence of every skilful mechanic "who may chance to see these linos, that brick -walls of less thickness, but differently laid, wonld be much stronger and far more durable than those now going up In every part of the wo points may servo to explain my position upon this matter. The first Is, too much mortar is used m tho joints between courses, being from two to three times the amount required, and which tends to weaken the work to a very great decree, especially where lime and sand are Its only Ingredient., Tho second Is, tho beneflt of wotllne bricks before laylnir them, as they ore ef so porous a nature, esncotaliy tiro Ugljtor tuirnod or palo bricks, as readily to all mols tore the mortar contains, thereby destroying Its tC The*resultsof the course I have suggested are invaluable In building if wo would have struc tures that will stand the combined elements of fire, wind, and water. _ Would it not bo well for those who contemplate the erection of buildings to ponder this matter well, and see it there be anything la these sug gestions worthy of consideration, or that la con trary to sound reason. BCJILDJStt. Chicago, 2fov. 21. THE LAW COURTS. First Jury since the Fire—Tnal of Al leged Criminals—Suit in Assumpsit OEltmilL COUET. TRIALS In tLla Court the first jury since the flra was called for the trial of alleged criminals. Timothy Coffee -was tried fqr the larceny of two lounges and a settee, which It would seem ho rescued from the fire as one of tho articles was burning. It was charged that the goods were tho property of a Mr. George Pond. The defendant, it would seem by the testimony, did not conceal tho pos session of the property, but declined to deliver thorn to a woman, who, in her excite ment, was, perhaps, insulting in her claim for them. Ho was found guilty, and awarded one year in the Penitentiary. A now trial was moved for. —Felix O'Toole, charged with robbers—the for cible taking of awotcli from one James Cleary Hcfferman—was tried. Tho victim and tho victor wero both in a condition of Intoxication a few days after tho fire, and visiting around. Felix twisted his associate’s watch from its ring. Ver dict, guilty; penalty, throe years in the Penltcn- Corbett, who was a few days prior to tho Chicogo fire Indicted, with one John White, for practicing tho confidence game on a Cana dian named Hockey, was tried. It seems shat Mr. Hockey camo from Canada to lhverfts2oo in Kansas land for the benefit of his nine boys and three girls. He arrived so lute that the next train that left gave him nearly twelve hours in Cnieago. He went to see the sights, and swears ho mot Corbett, who represented himself as a Kansas City merchant. Shortly after, they were met by White, who wanted money of Corbett, who had unfortunately sent his satchel to the depot. Two hundred dollars were thus got of tho prosecutor. White was released, upon the night of the fire, from Jail, and escaped. Case glvcnto thojury. Policeman Flannigau, ia tho course of tho trial, sworo that Corbett had been out of the Penitentiary only three months. There was no evidence to sustain this statement, and the policeman, on cross-examination, stated that his information was derived from Captain Hickey and Sergeant Lull. SUPERIOR. COURT. ASSUMPSIT. Actions of assumpsit -were commenced as fol —Charles Bartow r. William Irvine; demand, (3,000. —James E, Alkln v. Charles N. Alkin; demand, $3,500. —Frederick H. Masher v. Sherman P. Sedg wick, Carl W. Fisher, George B. Yaatinc, Ja’res L. Wheat, and John A. Sedgwick; demand, $2,500. —Charles Fitzsimmons T. The Balbaok Smelling cen collected by Processor Cope from tbc celebrated dark caves of Kentucky. Those nro all—fish, reptiles and Crustacea—deprived of sight, owing to the entire absence of light, but the organs of hearing are stated to bo very highly sensitive. A formal report on this investigation is shortly to be made. —The State Capitol at Sacramento, Cal., has lately been formally completed by placing ontho commit of the lantern on the cupola a copper globe, gold plated. 4 This ornament Is a conspicu ous object for many miles around, os it is burnish ed and stands 225 feet above the ground. The gold on the globe was made from S3OO in coin. —Fashionable coifforcs show a growing ten- dency toward the antlcine. It is said that we may soon expect to see the pillars of good society crowned with lonic capitals. —The Column Vcndomo would bo erected, it is said, but for the refusal of Germans, who have in their possession the spiral representing tho Pros* elan war of 1806, to surrender it except at tho most exorbitant price. —Hamburg recovered from the great conflagra tion of 1843 in less than two years. —Tho Canadians object to the claim of the Yankees that Thanksgiving is an American custom that Canada, by mere force of attrition, has adopted. They say they find their authority for in the Pentateuch. —There arc now in operation at Xew Bridge water, 3lnss., over fifty shoo factories, more than twenty of which are run by steam. —The Xational Gazette of Berlin remarks with irony, mingled with vexation, that it is the fashion in distinguished circles at Strasbourg to pretend not to understand a word of German. —A Gorman correspondent writes that a great rise In the prices of Rhenish wines Is taking plaeo. as the vintage of 1871 is completely lost. —General John T. Wilder, formerly of Indiana, has Just been elected Mayor of the city of Chat tanooga, Tenn. Wilder's brigade was the first to fire a hostile shot at Chattanooga. His almost unanimous election to the chief office of the city evidences the position he occupies in the opinion of his old-time enemies. This is practical recon struction. —An action was decided in Philadelphia last week, by Judge Thayer, In favor of a husband who bad been sued by a dry goods firm for tho amount of a bill run up by bis wife. Defence set up that defendant furnished his wife with an am ple supply of necessaries. In tho coarse of his charge Judge Thayer said: “It isafalso and foolish notion for tradespeople to entertain chat a husband is bound to pay all bills contracted by his wife. No such monstrous doctrine is allowed in the law. Tradesmen must ascertain the facts and the true relations of man and wife before al lowing the latter to run up bills which he is to be looked to to pay.” B—The committee chosen to attend to tho Wor cester soldiers* monument has decided to accept tbe design of Mr. Randolph Rogers. The monu ment is to be built of Igranlte, and will bo fifty* two feet in height. The figure of Liberty will oc cupy twelve feet of its extreme height, while around the upper base will be placed the four representations of the army and navy, a sailor, Infantry, cavalry and artillery man, which will be eight feet in height, and cost in bronze in Italy. The monument will be completed and ready for dedication on July i t 1373. It Will cost about $50,000. —At Lewis town, Me., a factory girl suffering from diptherla, was attacked by a severe fit of strangling and coughing, when the nurse, ven turing to pot her Angers down the patient’s throat, seized the end of something which ap peared loose there, and polled oat the false mem brane. 1 presence of mind saved the sufferer. Dr. vrni now has the membrane In his possession. It is throe Inches in length, comparatively pre served, and retains the shape of the air pessagp from which It was withdrawn. The film is a thick, white, leathery substance. It has been before thought that diptherla and Its kindred diseases might be successfully treated by mechanical op erations, and- croup has been sometimes con quered by the surgeon. —Tho population of the leading cities of Ontario is as follows: Toronto, 56,093; Hamilton, 23,715 Ottawa, 21,545; London, 15,85>; Kingston, 12,1071 —An approximate estimate of present Indus' tries in Philadelphia, places the number of manu facturing establishments at 8,200; and tho monoy capital invested at abontt2So,ooo,ooo. The number of hands employed is about 110,000; of these 100,000 arc males, and 10,000 females. Tho total amount of wages paid during the past year was #co’odb,coo, making the average annual salary, malo and female inclusive, $l2B each per year The value of material used is put down at siso.- 000,000, and the total production at $321,000,000. the law institute. Report of the Finance Commit tee—History of the Asso ciation. Acknowledgment of Donations—lnstruc tion to the librarian to Hake Purchases. The Executive Committee of tho Chicago Law Institute met on the 20th Inst, at the office of Hon. Elliott Anthony, tho President of the Institute. There were present Mr. Anthony, Hon. Thomas Hoyne, Hon. Sam’l W. Fuller, and Messrs. M. W. Fuller, Julius Kofienlhal, O. U. Horton, H. N. Hibhard, Daniel L. Shorey, B. F. Ayer, and Charles M. Sturgcs, members of the committee. REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTER. Daniel L. Bliorey, E«I., Chairman of tlie Fi nance Committee, in behalf of tliat committee, presented the following report, which was adopted: The Plannee Committee, pursuant to a resolution of tho Executive Committee cf the Chicago Law Insti tute calling for information as to the former ami pro*, tnt condition ol the library and finance* ot the insti tution, respectfully report: That the Chicago Law Institute is a corporation organized under a charter granted hy the General Assembly of this State, dated February 18, 1857, and amended by an act ap proved ‘February 14, 1863, and also by another, act, approved February 23.1867. and is the only organ ization oftholawyersof this city winch has been in ex istence since ISSB. It was chartered and organized waiulv forihe purpose of collecting a law library in the city ofiChicago, which object was steadily pur sued from tho first, and on the- Bth day ol October, 1871, it had acquired about 7,000 volumes of lawbooks, valued at about $30,000. In October, 1807, it owned, by actual count, 4.681 volumes, wliich number has .since rapidly and steadily increased, and embraced a nearly perfect series of American Reports, all the reports of the English courts, and many of the most valuable Irish and Scotch Reports, all tho law journals of tho United States and England, most. If not nil tho mod ern Text Books published in this. conn try and Eng land, and also tho old English Digests, together with a large collection ot rare and valuable works on the Civil Law. Whiio tho institute had been aided by many generous gilts from personal and profession al friends, yet moat of the library bad been procured with its own funds, derived from sale of its stock and assessments upon its members. The library was tho property of the shareholders, and freelv used by them and all subscribers to tho stock who were not In de fault In the payment of their dues, and was free to all Judges and lawyers living outside of Cook County, either in this or any other state. It had always been kept in rooms lu the Court House, furnished by tho County of Cook, con venient to all tho Stale Courts, and freely used by all tho Judges bolding conrts In this city. ami wa* In charge of n Librarian and assistant, one of whom was always lu attendance.- and was Insured for SCO, OOO. divided among different companies, as fob lows: $5,000 each in the Lumberman's, Merchants’, Fireman's aud Equitable Insnrance'Companles. nil es tablished In the city of Chicago, and organized under charters granted by the State of Illinois. Besides Us library, the institute bad, on tho sch day of OctulKT. 1871, $1,315.58 lu the hands of its Treasurer, aud owed only nlxmt $350 for all purposes. On the night of tho Bth October. 1871, a memorable Are destroyed all tho books, records, vouchors, and pa pers of the Institute, with every record of deeds and Villa, and all the files ami records of all the Stato’aand Federal Court* established and held In the city of Chicago. The taw Institute thus lost every thing It possessed, except Us name and local organization, the balance of $1,318.58 in the hands of its Treasurer, ami wliat may be realized upon its insurance, which will not in the present judgment of this committee exceed 81.500. In addition to' their loss as members of the institute, the lawyers of this citv, with, so far as now known, but one or two excep tions, lost at the same time all their private libraries and papers, although some o! them saved a very fow sets of reports, mostly those of the State of Illinois ai d the Supreme Court of the United States. Having sustained such heavy losses, the members of the Institute, believing that in union there is economy as well ns strength, determined to do nil in their power to restore their library, and at the annual meeting, held on the CtU day of November, 1371, voted to levy ami collect an assessment of $35 on each shareof stock, which the committee think will realize within the next sixty days about three thousand dollars; and *it was also voted to sell new shares of stock to those who wish to purchase them on the original terms of one-quartor down, and the balance payable in one, two, and three years/ such new stock, however, to be free from assessments lor the next two years. The city of Chicago lias kindly provided two good rooms for the use of the Institute and its library, in the new building where the city oHires will be located, and which are believed tube reasonably secure from lire. The institute has received since the fire several generous and valuable gifts and offers of hooks, such ns follows: One of the first. If not the very first, offers of help was a draft of SSOO. sent by Hon. Joel Parker, of Cambridge, Mass., t« Hon. R. B. Mason. Mayor of Chicago, for the benefit of the Bar of this city, anti which It is expected will be ultimately turned over to thelusUtute. From David Murphy, Esq., of St. Louis: Text-hooks and Statutes. From 1). B. Canfield «t Co.. Philadel- phia: S2CO. From Secretary of, State of Illinois: Re ports, Statutes and Digests. From Judge William D. Keller. M. C., Philadelphia: 350 volumes. Reports and Text-books. From David Webster, Esq., Philadelphia: .Text-books. From Governor of State of Maine, through the aid of Hon. Lyman Tmmhull: Maine Re ports. Digests and Statutes. From IJ. Dickinson, Esq., State Librarian. Kansas: Kansas Reports ami Stat utes. From Hon. Gnstavus Koonier,Belleville: Re ports. Prom Lit tie, RTbwil i Co. f Boston: