The weekly Minnesotian. [volume], April 05, 1856, Image 2

About The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
<£fjt SJMIg 3&&innraottan.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 1856
In all ages, and among all people—savage,
half-civilizcd, civilized and enlightened—the
charm of music has had its sway over all
other elements that the human mind is en
dowed with to gratify and please the human
heart. That “ music hath charms to soothe
the savage breast ” is no less a poetic than
an absolute fact—of which we have daily
evidence on our own frontier, where the
Dakota maiden is wooed and won by the
three simple notes of her lover’s uncouth
oedar flute. “ Give mo the wr'ting of the
songs of a nation, and I care not who make
their laws,” is a noted apothegm of a phil
osopher of modern times. And so it is !
Among all modern nations of the world,
it must be admitted that the Germans have
brought the science of Music to a degree of
perfection, as an institution of the people ,
far exceeding any other nation. Italy has
cultivated the science, and has produced some
of the greatest masters and prima donas the
world has ever known; but a knowledge of the
intricacies of the sublime art does not exist
among the masses of Italy as it does in
Germany. The same may be said of France;
and as for England, she is, and always has
been, measurably behind any of the highly
civilized continental nations of Europe. But
show us an averagely educated German, of
either sex, who docs not understand music,
and we wdl show’ you a curiosity almost as
great as a genuine mermaid.
As in all Western cities of the size of St.
Paul, the German element of our foreign
population largely predominates. It is not
surprising, therefore, that out of one or two
thousand of these musical people, there
should be found here material requisite for
forming almost any number of musical so
cieties—the members possessing education
and taste sufficient to render correctly before
a public audience the beauties of their great
countrymen, Mozart, Handel, Haydn, Men
delshonn, Weber, &c. One society of this
kind has already been formed, under the
style of the “FrcierSaengerbundof St. Paul,”
and on Monday evening the association gave
its first Concert at Market Hall. We pro
fess to be not musical critics; but we can tell
when anything in the line of music pleases
us; and this is the way, we think, that
music should be judged by all people who
are not themselves musicians. To say that
the quartettes, choruses, &c., given by the
young gentlemen of the Sacngerbund on this
occasion were Bimply pleasing, Wwuld be
damning with faint praise. It is but justice
to state, that mo6t of the pieces were sung
in most excellent style and spirit, and that
we, as well as the entire audience present,
were delighted with the performance; altho’
Professor Zanzius, the Director, claims this
first concert as a mere rehearsal. This gen
tleman, and many other members of the
society, sing w r ith a taste and a cultivation
of voice that would do no disgrace to the
operatic stage in any country.
We hope that the Saengerbund will favor
us yet during this dull season of the j’ear
with one or two more concerts, and that
next winter they will be prepared to give at
least a series of semi-monthly entertain
ments upon a more extended scale. We
guarantee that patronage will not be wanting
to sustain the enterprise. ,
The entertainment of Monday evening
was concluded by a ball, at which the danc
ing and waltzing portion of the audience
amused themselves till a late hour.
Man-Trap. —We might say, or woman
trap either; and it would not affect the feet,
that those who are building at a certain
point on the south side of St. Anthony
street have taken down the railings next the
perpendicular bluff along the sidewalk, and
thereby made a very dangerous man-trap
these dark nights. Do those interested
know, that they are liable for any damage
to persons or property that may arise from
this reckless exposure of a public highway ?
If not, we hope the City Marshal will in
struct them in the law.
Rain. —The first rain storm that we have
any knowledge of taking place this side the
Gulf of Mexico since early in December
last, paid us a visit yesterday afternoon.
The welcome visitor was “ going it strong 55
at five o’clock last evening. There was no
April fooling about that shower, as the ice in
the river must speedily find to its great de
triment.
P. S.—Our rain has 6ince turned to sleet,
hail and snow.
The State Capitol on Fire! —We learn
from Madison, th&t the Capitol took fire last
Friday night, in the School Land Depart
ment. Fortunately the flames were discov
ered and extinguished before any damage
was done. The Patriot of Monday ascribes
the fire to.design.— Mil. Sentinel.
The Galeng i-enialUs.tijat
tf “7 ohe part *6f *tbe-* GafiitbCcflr'tvjiionsin
*. .* .than apogee tp . tjie
• of fire, jthp.* Scfiobl. Dejla#t&en£ jofitj JprqJiCi
suppose, would be entitled to the firSt"turfi.
Minnesota Belle. —This steamer, says
the Galena Advertiser, commanded by Capt.
R. E. Ilill, has been fitted up entirely new
during the winter, and is now' said to be one
of the most elegant boats afloat. She will
be put on the Upper Mississippi trade as
soon as navigation is open.
The bumps raised on a man’s head
by a cudgel are now termed /r«y- no -logical
developments.
JC3T Edmund Randolph, on whom is
conferred the exclusive right of transit and
navigation from San Juan on the Atlantic, to
San Juan on the Pacific, for a term of 25
years, is a lawyer by profession, a native of
Virginia, recently from California, and an
intimate personal friend of Walker.
15 *
Masic.
LatMt NeW*.
The mail due on Monday evening arrived
yesterday.
The State Convention of the Know Noth*
ings of Ohio met at Columbus, March 30th,
when some one hundred and sixty delegates
appeared. There are one thousand two hun
dred and sixty Councils in that State, and
eaclfCouncil was entitled to a delegate.—
Thus only about one-tenth of the Order was
represented.
Lieut. Gov. Ford opened the discussion by
reporting the action of the Philadelphia Con
vention—a Convention, he said, which had
lost sight of Principle, and made everything
subservient to Slavery. The question arose
then, what was to be done? To determine
this, a committee on the State of the Order
was appointed. That brought forth two re
ports; the majority report repudiated Fill
more and Donelson-the minority report sus
tained them. A stormy debate ensued. But
the Convention, by a vote of 135 to 46,
adopted the majority report, which caused
the Hamilton county delegation to with
draw.
Col. George A. Mix, a citizen of Dubuque,
well known in St. Paul as one of the most
enterprising men of the Northwest, died on
the 25th ult.
Navigation. —The Dubuque Republican
of the 26th says: The ice is hourly growing
more rotten, and wc may expect to see it
leave us at any minute. The river rose sev
eral inches yesterday, and the upper streams
are all said to be rising. Turkey river is said
to be high. We will have the river clear
very soon.
Mr. Greeley telegraphs from Washington
that ho has information from a reliable source
that the Administration has ordered the ar
rest of all the members of the Free State
government of Kansas, and that President
Pierce believes they are all in prison before
this.
Lieut. Gov. McArthur lias sent in a mes
sage to the Legislature, stating that in con
sequence of the resignation of Governor Bar
stow, he will act as Governor of Wisconsin
during the remainder of his term.
A letter has been received from Mr. Bu
chanan, announcing his intention of leaving
Havre, April Otli, in the steamship Arago.
Congress The Speaker of the House
appointed Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, as Chair
man of the committee to proceed to Kansas
to take testimony in the Reeder case. The
appointment was made on the 24th. The
next clay Mr. C. remarked that when the
House was organized, “he was, very wax*
pectedly to himself, appointed to the distin
guished position of chairman of the commit
tee on Ways and Means, and yesterday a
distinction was conferred on him by the chair,
equally as unexpected as the former; the lat
ter involving very arduous and important
services entirely incompatible with the du
ties originally assigned him.
“He asked to be excused from serving as
head commissioner to proceed to Kansas to
take testimony. He expressed his gratitude for
these two high honors conferred on him, es
pecially the latter, because of peculiar cir
cumstances at this time surrounding him.”
Mr. Campbell was excused, and Mr. Sher
man, a colleague of his, was appointed to fill
the vacancy.
Mr. Phelps introduced a bill authorizing
the President to cause the southern bounda
ry of Kansas to be defined and marked.—
Referred to committee on Territories.
In the Court of Appeals of New' York, on
the 25th, five of the eight J udges decided
the Maine Liquor Law unconstitutional.
The Washington correspondent of the
Philadelphia U. S. Gazette writes, that the
impression there is, that Mr. Fillmore will
decline his nomination for the Presidency,
in view of the limited response given to it.
Disunion in Canada.— At Toronto, on
the sth ult., in the House of Assembly,
Mr. Mackenzie brought forward a resolution
to the effect that the best interests of Upper
and Lower Canada would be promoted by
a repeal or dissolution of the political or le
gislative union now subsisting between these
two sections of the province of Canada. The
resolution was put and instantly lost.
Senator Trumbull. —lion. Lyman Trum
bull, of Illinois, is scanned w'ith considerable
care by the politicians and others w'lio visit
Washington. The correspondent of the N.
Y. Evening Post says: “ There is some
thing in the appearance of Trumbull which
indicates that he would not shrink from
trj'ing conclusions with the most ferocious
of his associates. lie is of slender wiry
figure, with a well formed head and a square
compact forehead. His spectacles impart
rather a clerical air to his pale features; but
the resolute compression of his mouth, and
the unhesitating precision and positive char
acter of his language give warning that there
is some fight in him; and I rather think his
enemies would prefer to steer clear of such
an antagonist in debate.” Mr. Trumbull is
by nature a gentleman, as well as by educa
tion, and he will confer a degree of honor on
,<bo State w’orthy of its real character.
a“* • • • • -
■* tiAND Warrants.— Land Warrantsarc on
the rise in the Eastern market. Thompson’s
Reporter quotes 100’s at $1 33J- per acre—
selling price.
Tin.— By the latest accounts from Aus
tralia mention the discovery of rich deposits
of tin ore, large shipments of whieh have
been made to England.
Stocks A single private sale of stocks
from one individual to another in Wall st.,
took place a few weeks ago, amounting to
$1,200,000.
A Populous House.— By a recent report
of the New York City Police, to a Commit
tee of Inquiry of the Legislature, it appears
that No. 38 Cheriy street, when full, has one
hundred and twelve families in it! Lot No.
16, Downing street, has only seventy four
families. 1
A Liberal Otter.
OFFifct of the American S. S. Union, }
Sti Louis, March, 1856. $
Thfc Undersigned would respectfully call
the attention of all the Friends of Christian
Education west of the Mississippi, to the
following liberal proposition!
A Sunday School Teacher in Boston has
authorized us to say, that he will supply, in
part, with Libraries, the first two New Sum
day Schools that shall be duly organized in
each county, and reported to the Undefsigh
cd, to the following extent, and on the fol
cor.ditions, viz:
I. If the school shall consist of Five
Teachers and twenty-five Scholars, he will
give the alf of a Ten Dollar Library—the
School, or its friends, paying for the other
half; or,
11. If the School shall consist of Ten
Teachers and Fifty Scholars, he will give the
Half of a Twenty’ Dollar Library-the School
paying the other half.
All that part of the United States north
of the State of Louisiana, and west of the
Mississippi river is embraced in this propo
sition, and it will hold good during the year
1856.
1. The name and location of the School.
2. The name and post office address of the
superintendent.
3. The date of its organigation.
4. The number of Scholars and Teachers.
5. How, and to whose care, the books
should be sent.
6. The money required from the School
must accompany the application.
Each School should raise some two or
three dollars, in addition to what is required
for the Library, for the necessary Instruc
tion Books, Hymn Books, &c. But this is
not a condition of receiving the donation.
On receiving the application, the Books
will be immediately sent, according to di
rections, to all entitled them.
The Books with which these orders will
be filled, are the three Ten-Dollar Libraries
published by the American Sunday School
Union, each containing 100 select volumes,
of from 72 to 288 pages, substantially bound.
The desire is cherished that all benevolent
persons residing in the above Territory, wlio
may chance to see this notice, will use their
influence to have the Schools organized in
their respective neighborhoods, and prompt
ly reported. Address
A. W. CORRY, Agent,
No. 9 South. Fifth street, St. Louis, Mo.
If more convenient, address,
J. N. WILLIAMS,
Cor. Main and 10th sts., Dubuque, lowa.
The Utter Failure of Mr. Rarnnm.
At a recent examination in tho Supreme
Court of New York, Mr. Barnum stated that
in June last he had property in his hands of
the value of •§BOO,OOO, against which there
were liabilities of §300,000 —leaving him
worth §500,000. Itis surety for the Jerome
Clock Company was originally only §IOO,OOO
but having given them his name in blank for
the purpose of renewing notes, he found to
his astonishment and dismay that he was in
for §464,000, for which he had not received
the equivalent of a cent. He thinks now
that with proper management of his prop
erty’ he would be able to pay all his liabil
ities and still have §400,000, but if it ia dis
posed of at a-forced sale, be will be left with
worse than nothing.
During the examination of Mr. Barnum,
he stated that his entire wealth consisted in
a gold watch, a diamond pin, and a few obli
gations in bis favor, by him considered worth
less. He further stated to the Court, that
he supports himself by keeping a boarding
house in Eight street, the provisions being
furnished by his son-in-law, and the vegeta
bles contributed by his friends in Connecti
cut. lie likewise remarked that he bad but
two suits of clothes and §25 in cash in his
possession, llow are the mighty fallen!
Bashford declared Governor of Wisconsin !
Milwaukee, March 24.
The Supreme Court has rendered a writ of
ouster against Gov. Barstow, and have es
tablished Gov. Basliford’s claim. Governor
Bashford has taken the oath of oflice, and
will resume the gubernatorial duties to-day
or to-morrow.
The Cotton Manufactures of the Uni
ted States The report of the Secretary of
the Treasury contains some useful memoran
da in relation to the cotton manufactures of
the United States, as furnished by the Hon.
Philip Allen. Mr. A. estimates the amount
of cotton consumed in the United States du
ring the year ending August 21, 1855, at
673,581 bales—of which 80,000 bales were
consumed in Virginia and the States south
of it. It is estimated that 705,405,764 lbs
of yarn were spun from cotton in England
during the year ending January 1855, of
which 440,168,431 were exported, and the
balance retained for home consumption.—
The quantity of yam produced in the Uni
ted States is stated at 230,736,000 pounds.
The average value of a pound of cotton man
ufactured is 28 cents, making a total for last
year’s manufacture of $64,406,080. The
value of cotton manufactures exported was
$5,857,181. The imports of cotton manu
factures retained for consumption were val
ued at $18,385,327. The total supply of
cotton goods for domestic consumption was
$77,134,226.
Experimental philosophj'—asking
a man to lend you money. Moral philoso
phy—his refusal to lend it.
An Agricultural Society offered a
premium for the best mode of irrigation.
This word, by an error of the press, was
printed “irritation ; ” whereupon an honest
farmer 6ent his wife to claim the prize.
£3T A lady who made pretensions to
the most refined feelings, went to her butch
er to remonstrate with him on his cruel
practices. “How can you be 60 barbarous
as to put little innocent lambs to death ?”
“Why, madam,” said the butcher, “} r ou
surely wouldn’t cat them alive, would you ?”
jJ3sr” Gov. Morehead of Kentucky, has
been indicted by the Grand Jury of Scott
county for allowing of his negroes to hire
his own time.
Hon. E. B. Washburnf,.— Mr. Waslibume
is, as usual, at work night and day at Wash
ington for his constituents. In point of bus
iness ability as a member of Congress he is
excelled by no man in that body. Had the
place been as well filled for the last fifteen
years as it i 6 now, Galena and the whole
Northwest would have been millions of dol
lars the richer to-day. He is what we call
“a faithful Representative.” In all except in
voting he is worth at least six of your com
mon lazy, trifling men. —Galena Adv.
Nursery Losses.
We refer to the note of friends Finley &
Dwire, of Scott Nursery, Davenport, lowa.
Since that was written, Mr. Finley lias call
ed to see us; and we are happy to learn that
his losses, though heavy, are mostly of small
stocks 4nd tender varieties.
And while on this subject, we would ask
otir good friends of the Chicago press, gene
rally, and the country too, to correct the mis
apprehension touching most Western nurse
ries, ahd the Grove Nursery’ irt particular, in
asmuch as the notice, on the authority of
“Dr. Kennicott,” contained in the papers of
last week, may convey a wrong impression,
as in the case referred to by Messrs, frinley
& Dtvire.
The pear, cherry, peach, apricot, nectarine,
&c., are badly killed, in our grounds at the
Grove; and even the plum and quince, and
some very tender apples, lire injured; but we
shall have trees enough left for sale, and shall
offer none that appear injured* Indeed, our
heaviest losses are of orchard trees, and stock
not for sale. And in our opinion, this will
be found the case throughout the West.—
And this being the case, western editors, who
have published accounts of the sad losses of
western nurserymen without this qualifica
tion -will, we trust, give their readers the
whole story as sketched above; and assure
them that western trees and shrubs are not
all dead, although several species have suf
fered, and many tender varieties are dead to
the snow line, if not to the ground.—Prai
rie Farmer .
To the Public.
Messrs. Kern & See, a publishing house of
Chicago having published a very successful
work on the State of lowa, intend issuing
others on Wisconsin, Illinois and Minnesota.
They have purchased the plates of “ Minne
sota and its Resources,” from J. S. Red
field, Esq., of New York, and are about issu
ing another edition of 5.000 copies in time
for immigration this spring.
It is my intention to rc-write the work
immediately’.
Statistical information from all parts of
the Territory is earnestly solicited.
It is hoped that every true lover of Min
nesota will cheerfully co-opcrate in present
ing a correct portraiture of our present con
dition.
J. WESLEY BOND.
St. Paul, March 21, 1856.
J5251* Ry the law of the lowa Legislature
the State Capital was to be re-located, at
some point within two miles of the Forks of
the Des Moines River. Some informality in
the law, prevented the action of the commis
sioners hitherto, but they’ arc soon to pro
ceed to fulfil the object of their appointment
B3T The Washington Star says, it is un
derstood by those who have closely exam
ined the subject, that there are from six to
seven millions acres of land subject to pri
vate entry in lowa and Minnesota.
In 1662 an earthquake at Pekin, in
China, buried 300,000 persons, and at the
same place, about 70 years later, 100,000
persons were swallowed up from a similar
cause.
JS3ST* Dr. and Mrs. Mary Grove Nichols
have established a Free Love League at Yel
low Springs, Ohio, and are endeavoring, says
the Sandusky Register, to institute “ Mary
Lyndon ’. morals into Antioch College. A
meeting of the citizens and faculty had been
held, and Dr. Nichols requested to leave,
but be said he was determined to remain.
T* The land sales of the Illinois Cen
tral Railroad Company for January and Feb.
amounted to §254,000, notwithstanding the
very’ unfavorable state of the weather*
“ Fkkf. Love.”— Some enthusiastic expo
nent of this doctrine, gives the following
lucid description of what it is —“ Free Love
is essentially and socially a spherical ele
ment—one of the fundamental spiritual har
monies—a wirmodial inseperability of the
eternities—a prirnogenial co efficient of the
supersensible zones—a cognate principle of
original material it}', flowing lineally toward
matrimonial, social and moral consonance in
the universal and eternal Jinx of things.”
Shocking Murder. —Capt. 11. E. Steven
son, First Clerk of the steamer Ohio Belle,
was killed by a man named Joseph Jones,
about 11 o’clock 3'esterday, on hoard the
boat, between Smithland, Ky., and Cairo,
111. The circumstances as related to us by
a witness, were as follows: Jones came on
board at Smithland, in a state of partial in
toxication, and shortly afterwards, went into
the barber shop and got shaved. He then
tendered the barber a S2O in payment. The
latter not having the change applied to the
clerk, who pronounced the bill a counterfeit.
It was returned to Jones, who then present
ed a $lO, which the clerk also pronounced
counterfeit. At this the former became per
fectly outrageous, and raised such a distur
bance in the cabin that the clerk attempted
to put him out, whereupon the latter drew a
revolver and shot him through the body.
He lived about fifteen minutes after re eiv
ing the shot. Great excitement existed on
board, and much difficulty was experienced
in preventing the passengers from executing
the murderer on the spot. When the boat
reached Cairo, the citizens threatened to
take him ashore and lynch him, but were
prevented. When our informant left the
boat, he was tied to one of the stauncheons,
and the passengers were canvassing the pro
priety of hanging him without further cere
mony. We have not learned the result of
the matter. Capt. Stevenson leaves a wife
and four children at Newport, Kentucky.—
St. Lends News.
Fruit Trees. —Wo continue to hear of
the fatal effects of the past winter on fruit
trees in different parts of the State. The
Joliet Democrat says, that not less than
four-fifths of the fruit trees in Will county,
Illinois, are killed.
Isaac G. Burnett, one of the old
est and most respectable citizens of* Cincin
nati, died last week, in the seventy-third
year of his age.
At Funchal, Madeira, ii is the fash
ion to wear white boots instead of black
ones. A lump of chalk serves in the place
of blacking-box and brush.
,£S-A late number of the Brookville
American announced the destruction of the
editor’® hat, whereupon the Connersville
Times impudently wonders if any lives were
lost.
THURSDAY, APRIL 3, 1856.
St. Past Lime.
The expenses of building in St. Paul have
heretofore been compelled to submit to an
enormous item in the shape of lime.
In the earlier days of the city’s progress,
we used only Dubuque lime; next we had
Alton lime for the finer work, and afterwards
Sliakopee and lied Wing lime was brought
into requisition for the coarser work of lay
ing stone and brick walls. It was a strange
oversight, that the marshy ground lying be
tween the Market IlouSfc and the hill Upon
which is situated the Episcopal Mission and
the residence of Governor Gorman, was not
long since known to be underlaid with as
fine a quality of blue limestone as can be
found in the Northwest.
The discovery has finally been madfe.; and
one of our most enterprising mechanics, Mr.
William Branch, is about turning it to ac
count. He is now engaged in erecting lime
kilns, upon the most approved modern plans,
near the locality of this bed of stone, and
expects to be prepared to commence burning
as soon as the weather will permit. It is
highly probable that the large amount of
money which has annually gone abroad for
lime, will be saved to St. Paul hereafter.
What Doe* all this Mean ?
The Pioneer yesterday morning endorsed
an article from that notorious Know Nothing
organ, the New York Express, crying out
lustily against the Republican members of
Congress who are assumed to be in favor of
repealing the duty on Railroad iron. Here
is a pretty “ kettle of fish.” The whole of
the Western delegations in Congress of the
Pioneer’s party—Douglas at the head of
them—are in favor of this measure, but the
Pioneer, sweltering in ignorance and stupid
ity, it appears has not yet discovered the
fact.
Dare that journal declare distinctly its
hostility to the proposed repeal ?
The Weather. —Our storm changed back
to a heavy rain during Tuesday evening and
night, and the weather continued in the
raining and the melting mood all day yester
day. The ice is fast losing its hold, and the
prospect of a speedy opening is becoming
more sure every hour. Geese and ducks are
about, and mud is so plentiful in the streets
that there is no further demand. Tfie river
is rising gradually.
Remains of Dr. Ripi.ey.— The Sliakopee
Independent states that the party that start
ed out to tind the remains of this unfortu
nate man, who was frozen to death near
Glencoe, have returned, and report that they
found the head and bones of the deceased,
and his shawl. The wolves had devoured
him.
The Kansas full Com
mittee, appo nted by Speaker Banks to in
vestigate Kansas election matters, consists
of Messrs. Sherman, of Ohio, and Howard,
of Michigan, Republicans, and Ol.ver, of
Missouri, renegade Whig, and present chief
organist in the House of the Border Ruf
fians.
City Finances. —We happened into the
City Comptroller’s office yesterday, and
while there learned of facts in connei ton
with the City finances, which will make
neighbor Smith and his growling correspon
dent, “ St. Paul,” wished they hadn’t said
anything. We do not wish, however, to
anticipate the annual report, which will
speak for itself in due time.
City Improvements The work ofgrad
hig Chestnut street from the River to Fort
street is rapidly progressing. The grade is
only one foot in the hundred, and when
completed will render to the people of the
upper part of the City a thoroughfare to
their landing easier than at any other point
within the City' limits.
Spiritual Mutton. —Old Father Richard,
eays a Detroit paper, a most excellent and
benevolent Catholic priest, who came there
about the year 1795, and died in 1834, —
though an excellent scholar and a fine lin
guist, had a hard time in acquiring English
familiarly. lie preached one day from the
text, “I am your shepherd.” “Yes, my dear
hearers,” said he, “what was true of the
Saviour while upon earth, is true of every
faithful pastor. Now, lam your shepherd,
—-and 3'ouare my mutton.” This announce
ment created a sensation.
JSTST Daniel Webster once said that “the
sin of America was the sin of suretyship.”
There is written in mournful letters in the
history of every man, the record of suffer
ing by endorsements. It would make the
most extraordinary chapter in human expe
rience if the incidents of this feature of bus
iness were written.
The Edinburgh Review, after ex
aming all the projects for a canal across the
Isthmus of Suez, and acknowleding that it
it is the door-way of England to her East
ern possessions, and that Great Britain and
the East India Company alone could afford
to undertake it for the benefit of the world,
pronounces it impracticable.
jJHST” The Cincinnati brokers have been
making a run upon the banks of Indiana.—
The Sentinel of the 17th says, that during
the previous fifteen days notes had been re
turned for redemption to. the amount of
$312,000. The Sentinel is severe in its de
nunciation of “swindling brokers.”
Old King Lear in the play, when
he was out in the storm, said in his apostro
phe to the rain, wind, thunder and light
ning—
« You owe me r»© subscription.’*
A Kentucky editor says he wished he
could say the same of a large number of his
subscribers.
JE3T Can a man be shared in his absence?
Certainly, if man and wife are one Heels and
the lady goes a-shopping.
Territorial Item*.
Shakopee Citv —lts Prospects for 1850
—lts future never looked more bright. The
prospect for a large number of buildings to
be erected during the year, is very fair.
Everj- business house in the.city is occupied
or engaged, and there is a great demand for
new ones. To supply this demand, a large
number of business houses will be erected.
We arc informed by a master mechanic that
he has now more contracts made than he can
possibly fulfil, and presumes it the case with
many others. County buildings, including a
Jail! will be erected during the summer, of
which we will make mention in due time.
One of our enterprising citizens has con
tracted for a million feet of pine seasoned
lumber, which will be at the Levee on the
opening of navigation, and sold at St. Paul
prices; so there will be no want of building
material.
Several trick yards \j;ill be in operation,
and we may look for a better style of build
ings hereafter.
The steam saw mill also turns out daily
from five to ten thousand feet of lumber.
I A steam grist mill will be erected during the
i summer, thte cost to be Sotiife fiftj* thousand
dollars.
Wc learn that a joint stock company, with
a capital of $20,000, is now being formed
fur the purpose of erecting a first class Hotel
in thi3 city; This is a mote in the right di
rection, and from the earnestness and zeal
manifested in the matter by our citizens
generally, the success of the project is beyond
a doubt.
We are also informed that it i§ contem
plated by the Free Masons and Odd Fellows
to erect, jointly, a three story building, to be
called the “ Masonic and Odd Fellows’ Hall,”
to cost sonic five thousand dollars. This is
also good news. But would it not be well
for alii parties to combine their means in the
execution and completion of the Hotel, and
thus unite in one building both the Hall and
the Hotel? This course, in our opinion,
would secure the erection of an elegant
building which would at once be an orna
ment to our infant city and secure to all
parties all that is desired for the present.
| We hope that those interested will keep in
I mind that “ In Union there is strength.”
The books for subscription to the capital
stock of the Hotel Company are now open
at the office of Thos. J. Galbraith, Esq. *
The spirit of improvement augurs well for
tlic future prosperity of our town. The
season has not yet • opened, and we doubt
not many other contracts will be made im
mediately on the opening of navigation,
which will occur a week or two at the far
thest.
Mechanics of every description will do
well to give us a looking over before locating
elsewhere, as there will be a great demand
for laborers, and wages are dnijily remuner
ating.—Skakopee Independent.
Important Sai.f. —We learn that Mr. C.
B. Van Nest last Friday sold one undivided
third, being his share of that portion of Sauk
Rapids formerly owned by Messrs. Hurd and
Sybran Van Nest, to Edward O. Hamlin, Esq.
formerly of Ilonesdale, I’a., now of this
place. We learned from Mr. Hamlin on the
day of the sale, that he should erect in that
part of the town, this spring, a dwelling
house for himself, and make it his future
home. We are pleased that Mr. Hamlin lias
now so large an interest in the place. lie is
a gentleman of abundant means, Lusiness
habits, and public spirit, and will, no doubt,
make a stir down there. —-Sauk Rapids Fron
tierman.
Bridge Broken ry a Drove of Cattle.
—Wo learn, says the Keokuk Gate City,
that the draw of the bridge over the Des
Moines River, at Farmington, was broken
down on Monday evening last by a drove of
cattle. Some twenty-five head of cattle
went down through the bridge into the
river, and about twelve or fourteen of them
were lost. «
Bills for River and Harbor Impove
ment3j &c.—On the 13th, in the House, Mr.
Peck, of Michigan, introduced the following
bills:
Making mi approprihtion for the improve
ment of the Saginaw River ; for the improve
ment of the Harbor of Marquette, on Lake
Superior; for the improvement of the mouth
of the Ontonagon River, on Lake Superior;
making an nppropriation of public land in
aid of the construction of the Cincinnati and
Mackinaw Railroad.
On the same day Mr. Haven introduced
bills as follows i
To place and keep St. Mary’s River in a
navigable condition for vessels of war and
commerce, and to facilitate the passage of
supplies to the Northwest; to keep the St.
Croix River in a navigable condition for ves
sels of war and commerce, and to facilitate
the passage of supplies to the Northwest.
A Good Time and Extensive Rorrery.
—The Buffalo Republic states that the pas
sengers on the Lake Shore Road cars who
were detained at Dunkirk, in self-defence,
got up some dancing to pass away the time.
So they emyloyed a fiddler and other music
and hiring a room at the Hotel near the de
pot, commenced having a regular “time.”
The festivities (?) were kept up until the
following (Thursday) morning in the same
style. On Wednesday night, however, two
drovers who were stopping at the Hotel,
having drank considerably, were robbed of
about twenty-five hundred dollars. They
had this moue)' in their vest pockets, in one
hundred dollar bills and carelessly exhibited
them when they “treated.” They went to
bed, hanging their vests on the bed-posts,
and in the night some rascals who had doubt
less followed them up, entered the room and
robbed them of every cent.
Great Length. —A writer in a New
York paper, speaks of a lady who wears upon
one dress, a full mile of fringe trimming!
Another young lady in the city has adorned
a single dress, with seven hundred and fifty
yards of ribbon! Truly, this is carrying
extravagance in dress to a great length.
“ Ernest Linwood.”—The Chicago Jour
nal say's :
Now that Mrs. Hentz. has laid aside the
pen and folded her hands in death, her works
are invested with unwonted interest. Espe
cially is this true of her last production,
Ernest Linwood,” and its closing paragraph
seems to be the record of a prophetic spirit,
that caught a glimjise of the things to yet
come.”
census taker once called upon the
mother of a family in California, or some
other prolific country, and asked the mother
how many children slie had? The mother
replied, that really she could not tell; but
of one thing she was certain, “ the measles
got among the children once, but there
wasn’t enough of measles to go round.”
The Bteanwhip Pacific.
From Wlllmer & Smith’* Time*, March 1.
A good deal of needless alarm has
caused by a statement which comes front
Glasgow, to the effect that the Edinburgh
steamer, which plies between New York and
the Clyde, saw, on the 7th of February, a
good deal of broken ice, and a quantity of
cabin furniture, such as might be supposed
to belong to a first class steamer like the Pa
cific. The people on board the Edinburgh
have taken abundance of time before they
gave this statement to the world. The ves
sel reached Glasgow on the 14fh, and near
ly a fortnight after they publish a piece of
news which at any time would have been re
markable, but it is more remarkable after
the Arabia had arrived with the intelligence
that when she left Halifax, the Pacific had
not reached New York. No doubt the anxi
ety about the Pacific is extreme; but under
the circumstances, we attach little import
ance to this statement of the “Glasgow bod
ies.”
It appears that the statement respecting
the fragments of the steamer supposed to be
lost rests exclusively on the testimony
of one of the passengers by the Edinburgh,
uncorroborated by any other evidence. The
Edinburgh has since returned to New York,
and the Captain when in Scotland, made no
official report of the circumstance. The Liv
erpool consignees, in a communication willx
which we have befen favored, say:
Feb. 29, 1856,
“Gentlemen:— All we know of the report
about thb Pacific amdtints to this: That the
Edinburgh .reports having seen iri ibe ice,
longitude 45 deg., 50 min., latitude 46 deg:
3G min., on Peb. 7, some furniture belonging
to the cabin of a ship.
“The handles of the doors of the Pacific
are similar to those described; but so we be
live are they in almost every large vessel sail
ing out of New York. We do not attach
much importance to the report, as we think
there would have been a much larger quanti
ty of wreck about had it been the Pacific.—
Still, we are not in a position to deny that it
may have belonged to her.
Brown, Shipi.uy & Co.”
Messrs. Wlllmer and Smith.
This explanation is gratifying, as far as it
goes, for it shows that the handles of tho
doors referred to are not peculiar to the Pa
cific, but belong to all the large vessels sail
ing out of New York; and secondly, that
the eminent firm from which this note ema
nates attach little importance to the rumor.
The next arrival will be looked to with moro
than ordinary interest for the clearing up of
this point, for which we will have to wait
until Sunday, or it may be Monday morning.
Yesterday the rate of insurance on the Pa
cific had risen to 40 per cent.
In addition to the above, ite find the fol
lowing in a New York paper:
The anxiety for the safety of the lost ves
sel, is growing more intense every day, and
various are the conjectures, reasonable or un
reasonable, that are ventured by the press
regarding her fate. It is now fifty-five days
since she left Liverpool. Some of the En
glish papers, still entertain hopes, but many
of them despair of her safety. It is the gen
eral and most rational conjecture, that she
has got into the vast fields of ice which tho
Persia and Arago encountered, and was
either crushed to pieces, or is hemmed up
by them.
The following, from the Jersey City Tele
gravh of the 11th ult., thrown some further
light on the subject, and is of a tendency to
increase the fears cf the public as to tho
steamer’s fate:
“We have conversed with a gentleman of
this State, a practised engineer and an accom
plished mechanic, who went on board the
Pacific two or three days before 6hc left Liv
erpool, with the intention of taking passage
in her. He went into the engine-room where
the engineers were packing the cylinders and
overhauling the inachanery. lie waited un
til they had finished and the engine was tried
and lie said that the few revolutions of tho
engines satisfied him that something was
wrong, and that it appeared as if a fuil head
of steam would have torn the vessel to pieces
in the dock. He was so dissatisfied with tho
working of the engine, that he determined
not to risk his life on board the ship, and
came home in the next Cunarder.”
The late letter of Capt.Nj'e contains somo
references to the engineer’s department,
which would give an idea that all was not
right there. We are inclined to believe that
such was the fact, notwithstanding the com
munication of the chief engineer of the com
pany, published in some of the city papers
yesterday.
Spanish Silver Coin The New Y'ork
Journal of Commerce learns that the Finance
Committee of the United States Senate have
matured a project designed to lead to the
gradual abandonment and ultimate rejection
of the small Spanish coins as part of the cir
culating medium of this country', and that
it will forthwith be submitted to legislative
action. The result of the experiments to
ascertain the value of the Spanish sixteenth,
eighth and quarter of a dollar, is reported to
the committee as indicating the first to be
worth a fraction over five cents, the second
about eleven, and the quarter between twen-
ty-three and twenty-four cents. The bill
they have framed is believed to provide that
the existing laws authorizing the circulation
and establishing a value of all foreign coins,
except the Spanish fractional divisions of a
dollar, he at once repealed. As to these
fractions, they allow them to be circulated
for two years at the value of five, ten and
twenty cents, respectively, and thereafter
they are to be excluded altogether from cir
culation. But at the Mint they will at all
times be received as bullion, and paid for by
weight.
&ST The Galena Courier says that a mac
by the name of Wilder, having stopped at
the De Sota House a few days, left his wife
there and went into the country, but not re
turning, suspicion was aroused that a)l was
not right, and confirmed by the following
explanation in the Grand Rapids (Mich.)
Inquirer of the 13th ult.:
An Artful Dodge. —Wilder, who left
his wife at the “Western,” in this city, to
marry a girl in Battle Creek, and who was
subsequently arrested at Galena, 111., and
| taken to Marshall, in this State, has been
bailed out by his second father-in-law. Im
mediately upon gaining his liberty, he pro
ceeded to Chicago where he was joined by
his first wife, who, having in her possession
the proof of his first marriage, will probably
suppress it and thus clear him frem the con
sequences of his crime. At any rate it is
supposed that his second father-in-law is
likely to ’ose both his son-in-law and his
SI,OOO bail. Meanwhile the property left by
Wilder in this city, has all been attached for
debt.
X3T The fine old ship, William Fane
which nearly one hundred years ago, bore 5
Gen. Wolfe to the conquest of Quebec, is
now lying in the dry docks at Newport, Eng
land, to undergo gome slight repairs..