The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume], May 16, 1878, Page 8, Image 8

About The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880

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OUR GRAIN TRADE.
WHAT A PRACTICAL TIINIER AYTS
OF ITs PROSPECif.
Comparative statement of Exports-More
Ilevators and Dryers Wanted.
For the purposeof obtaining the views of some
of those posted in matters pertaining to the ex
portation of grain from this port, a DEMOCRAT
reporter called yest-rday upon Mr. Mason, an
old resident of the city and on., well known in
grain and sugar circles.
"Mr. Mason. I have called on you to ascertain
if possible some facts concerning the transpor
tation of grain by the river route. I would like
to know your opinion of ts ultimate suceess:
the condition of grain arriving here: if in bad
condition; the ,'hnMies of its safe delivcrv;
whether there is any diffleulty to b.. a, tre
hended in the
DELIVERIY OF DRY ORAIN.
and what you consider' the 'ulses that have
prom'pted such artlelc itas t hoso of the f nor of
the Kansas Times."
" I am glad to seo you. sir, and I
will readily give to you such information
as I possess on the subje.t. There is not the
least doubt to be entertained of the success of
the route if good-conditioned grain is put
aboard vessels either propelled byl steam or
oailing. iBut that we can carry on a grain trade
ofany extent without having some mode by
which we may be able to restore ill-oonditioned
grain to shape fit for shipment. is ridiculous.
Although it has been a favorite theme with some
gentlemen that we will bring nothing here but
grain that will stand shipment to any port. yet.
in spite of this boast, a great deal of grain has
been brought to this port this season in miser
able order, and how parties shipping it could
expect it to be delivered In good order is some
thing mysterious.
"The sententious remark of. 'Well,does not
grain shipped from Northern ports get dam
aged.' is rather witty, but hardly covers the ar
gument. To inaugurate the trade successfully,
blunders of this kind should be avoided. It
may be winked at North. but that does not ben
efit us here."
Question-You say we have no way to restore
ill-conditioned grain. Is there not a dryer here
now?
Answer-Yes: there is one with a vertical ,'yl
Inder
ANT) TUHER IN IT.
through which grain is poured down. Steam
being let into the cylinder, heats the tubas.
which sweats the grain in its passage; whatever
evaporations might escape are condensed by the
incoming cold grain,and when the grain escapes
from this dryer it has a smirchy appearance
and is gummy, sticking to the hand, the mois
ture from contact with the cold air being reab
sorbed by the disgusted kernel. I was much
interested the other day as two gentlemen were
discussing the loss in values that a dealer ex
-xerieneed by having somegrain passed through
this machine. To dry grain properly and ef
fectively the appliance must not only possess
heating properties, but a concentration of the
natural causes that tend to ripen the grain
heat. currents of air, with friction, and a fr"e
exit for the evaporations-so that not only the
gasses, but also the mould or other impurities
that may be detached from its surface by the
friction, will readily escape from the machine,
There are, also. two other dryers here, one of
which is used to dry corn meal, the small par
ticles of which
READILY YIELD THEIR MOISTURE
when in contact with any hot surface, but to
the whole train, with impurities on its surface,
i is not adequate nor perfect.
"Then you are not an advocate of a hot steam
:surface alone as a dryer?"
"A hot steam surface, alone, is but a farcical
idea for drying grain in its various bearings,
and requires but a minimum of intelligence to
apply it to such a purpose. The other dryer
orse is a series of cylinders, horizontally built on
trickwork, the outer surfaces of which are ex
posed to a fire. The grain is propelled through
hese cylinders by means ot an archimedean or
endles screw. This mode of propulsion
Merely presses forward or slides the grain
aong on the lower part of the cylinder, which,
from the heat of the fire, generally scorches the
grain.
"There is a rumor in this city that at St. Louis
they practice a system of cooling the damp
grain so as to prevent for a time, or until it has
passed their hands its destruction by heated
gasses or mould. This is certainly a mode of
putting off the evil for to-morrow.' but as the
old Arab proverb goes.
'CHICEENS COME HOME TO ROOeST
"The brilliancy of the idea is almost equal to
the transient benefit derived from such a
course. If the grain is damp the only way to
cure that grain is to expose it to artificial dry
ing, so that the dampness may be evaporated,
small quantities may be cured by spreading it
out on a platform or surfa e exposed to the
sun's rays with the natural breeze, whilst the
grain is being constantly turned over by men
moving backward and forward with spades.
Tehandle 10,000 bushels six inches deep in this
manner would requtre an area of 25,00o square
feet, but how is so vast an expanse to be pro
tected from occasional showers ? It cannot be
roofed over, for then the sun's rays would be
excluded, and there must be some protection
from night dews without taking into consider.
ation the length of time that tinght be required
from the sun's sometimes fitful gleaming.
om these few remarks it must be evident to
the most simple mind that this favorite theme
of drying
Is IMPRACTICABLE AND ABRURD.
to say the least of it; a maniac would hardly at
tempt to cure 25,000 bushels by such a method
which would require a spioe of 62,oo su perfcial
feet. The eradication of the causes of decay is
the only way to insure the safety of the article
from destruction. Had this simple maxim been
borne in mind the 'letters received from Liver
pool' might have been treated as a farce. But
it is merely a repetition of the old, old story,
and t Ikftllowing extract might be accepted as
a furthb f ' rmation of that which has gone
before: '~i ,*alin received by the Southern
route arrived ~ e in such bad condition that
all who had any flng to do with it lost money.'
If these stinging remarks, plainly indicating
the carelessness with which grain is shipped
at this port are correct, is it any wonder
that 'Liverpool merchants refuse to
have anything more to do with grain from the
Southern ports of the United States?' Has not
this oft-repeated declaration yet had any
efll? For the last ton years our grain trade
has fearfully fluctuated, some years a few hun
dred thousand bushels, others scarce a hun
dred bushels, varying with the seasons of
ripening. The great West was in a measure
pacified, smothered their chagrin by being led
to believe that, when a deep passage to the gulf
was obtained so that steamships of large draft
could enter for eargoes of grain, that there
would be no difficulty in delivering grain to
European ports in splendid condition. The
energies of their statesmen were directed to
this end. They triumphed. Mr. Eads was
brought forward, and by dint of a brilliant con
ception, executed with more than ordinary
nerve and energy.
"He too triumphed, and the jettles now afford
the deep passage to the Gulf ; but the refrain is
still the same; steamships of sl,) have loaded
without number. Has the result gratified
either shippers or receivers? That was a
singular remark of the Attic cynic. 'That a few
FIB.T-CLARS IIANISHMENTi
materially contributed to the prosperity and
health of some of the Grecian cites.' Can any
one divine how he would have expressed him
self if he had been acquainted with our posi
tion. 'History repeats itself;' sharp remedies
are requisite to extirpate vital defects."
"What do you suggest as a remedy in the way
of inspection of grain brought here for ship
ment to Europe l"
"Let the Board of Trade or Chamber of Com
merce elect a grain inspector, and let the State
clothe him with absolute power for two seasons
to condemn and restrain all that is unfit for ship
ment and if requisite, when no other purpose
to which it can be applied presents itself.
throw it into the river rather than have our
magnifcent route and splendid port defamed
by such miserable shipments. A perfect
method for drying grain seems to be a very
bugbear to most parties now conducting the
business here, and if the matter is broached toLu
them something, about the following lucid and
enlightened reasons are given to show that the
Idea is preposterous: Dry grain I how much
Weigtwll yon extract from it?' 'That depends
on the amount of dampness contained
Iln It' Well, how
xcan Loss nu wEIoHT
U, acarue from drlring it?'
*Wll. sy two pounds Ioe to the bushel?"
"o irl No man can afford to lose two
to the bushel. We shall continue to
receive It f Use purchaser likes to
c,
voyage, so that the loss Is not really so great,
and then the cargo of good-condltioned grain.
is so much more valuable than a mass of heated
or mouldy grain would be.'
"'Yes, yes, that's all very fine,' is the answer;
but we are very well satisfied with the way we
are doing our business, and do not care about
dr What would be the cost of drying?'
"'From I cent to 3 cents per buhbel, or if the
person owns the machine, about % cent per
bushel.' 'W.ll, well, that's enough: we don't
intend to dry or own a machine.' Was ever
such indifference known as this, where so much
is at stake. A person ree.lvne a shipment of
20.000, 4,00.o. 0o 0oo or loo.o00 bushels of grain ; it
contains so much moisture when it arrives
here; that, moisture is the prime 1, stinct of de
struction. The germ expands and in its strug
gle for life, while being transferred from barge
to vessel, absorbs still more from the warm at
moephere. Then when it is stowed away in the
hold of the vessel is It not certain to sweat,
mold and rot? Is this the doctrine? It ls
bettor to lose the whole consignment and run
THE RISK Ot' RUININtI
the prospects of the route than to expend a
trifl', to insure its preservation and va'ue, for
oothi, boecause water cannot be evanrated
without its corresponding loss in weight. If
weight, not quality. is the prime objcmt in view.
why not throw in more water? Did it ever oc
cur to them that the farmer avoids cutting his
grain until those old fashioned natural prinol
ples-the sun and air-thoroughly ripens it?
As this is the case, should not the knowledge of
it prompt a similar method, if it should lose by
moisture its flinty perfection? This is a simple
exposition of the whole trouble, and when it is
rectifled grain will flow freely through our
port without let or hindrance."
"What is your opinion of the storage here by
the barge or elevator warehouse?"
"If we are to do a large business here the idea
of storage on barges is preposterous, and too
trifling to be thought of. If 1 am well Inf,,rmed,
such a course was once thought feasible in Noew
York, but when the grain trade there assumed
its tremendous proportions, which ours. with
out doubt, will vastly excel, it will here as there
be found that elevator warehouses will only fill
the wants of such a commerce, where the grain
c'an be properly handled, dried and stored
without the annoyances of floating craft. I do
not mean to say that barge and floating eleva
tors will be
ENTIRILY DISPENSED WITH.
but they will be too expensive to store, with
too much in the way and too costly to handle.
Had we a proper system of elevator warehouse
here. I doubt if they would be much used now
for storage. If they contain damp grain, the
action of the fierce sun on their roofs,. with its
reflection from the water on their sides, must
tend to rapidly deteriorate the grain by excit
ing it to heat and ferment; and if they really
contain nothing but dry grain, is it reasonable
to suppose that from its close contiguity to the
water, with its fogs and vapors c'ntantly arls
ing, that the absorbing germ will not take ad
vantage of the situation?
"It Is Idle to suppose that its vegetative p wers
will remain dormant In such a position. If you
keep them closed vegetation starts more rapidly
in a dark, warm, muggy atmosphere, and if you
open the ports will any o.e pretend that the
breeze passing through bt over the grain will
not be laden with moisture as it swept over the
surface of the water, and that the out-going
current from the barge will not be dryer than
the inward? Can we ever expect to success
fully carry on the grain trade by such anom
alies ?"
"But I have been informed, Mr. Mason, that
grain keeps far better in the barges than in the
elevators. How is that ?"'
"Your Information is correct. There has not
been constructed here yet an elevator adapted
to this climate. For a Northern clime they may
be the correct thing; theretheextreme cold cur
tails insect life, and the greater portion of their
grain is shipped before they again spring into
existence. Here it is the reverse, as the cold in
the warm crevices of the bins scarcely affects
them, and they live on in glorious security to
prey on each succeeding consignment as pre
sented to them. Ventilation in the North or
Northwest is not so requlsite as the exclusion
of frost; hence the style.
"It suits the climate. Here it is the reverse.
Ventilation is, of all particulars,
THE OREAT ITEM
to be borne in mind in such a structure. Frost
to us, in this particular is a matter of moon
shine: so that the style of elevator that may be
suitable at the North is here a sweat-box of
most destructive tendency, when the slightest
moisture is contained in the grain that is pre- I
cipitated Into its dark muggy depths.
We have had the introductory to the grain
trade so dinned in our ears. with the various t
foibles of the introducers thrown in as lagniappe.
until it has filled us to satiety. All are now
wearied with the repetition of the farce. That the
West as shippers and foreign merchants as
buyers are in dead earnest that this shall be
the grain route there can be no question. That
our objectiveness shall not be a bar to its devel
opment is evident from the determined manner
in which it is discussed by representative men.
associations and influential newspapers by
which it has been thoroughly argued and the
pros and cons duly weighed.
"He who dare obstruct the path that commerce
claims its own may as well cast himsell before
the car of Juggernaut in its onward career, and
the bystanders will, as in the idolaters' case.
applaud the sacrifice; and if stubbornness
should prompt them to withstand the sacrifice
we must, as in the case of the half-strangled
Bindhad, forcibly rid our necks of them."
"What would you propose, Mr. Mason. should
be accomplished to expedite and firmly estab
lish the trade, so that success may be assured ?" 1
"I would propose that elevator warehouses t
should be built so that ventilation will be an
easy matter and strong currents of air be able
to sweep through the whole building from east
to west, north to south, and base to roof. so I
that in unfavorable weather they may be easily
excluded or partially used, t
As CIRCUMSTANCES MAY PERMIT,
"The building to be composed of strong frame
work. well studded with openings, doors and
shutters. Brick or stone are not to be thought
of in this climate, for they absorb too much
dampness. I would construct the bins of
strong plank, with painted surfaces. In these
bins insects could hardly exist, as painted sur
faces are too cold for their rapid development.
These bins should be disconnected from the
building and firmly combined, with at least
twenty-four inches space between them, so that
insects, sporules of germination, heat or moleis
ture cannot be directly communicated from one
to the other.
"Then If neglect should allow grain deposited 1
in any to heat it will not readily taint the ad
joining bins, to spread and infect the whole: and
before grain is deposited in these bins I would
have it in such condition that it would be a
rarity if not an impossibili.y for it to deterio
rate. dry the grain properly, care for it, with
FREE USE OF THE DRYER.
which should be included in elevator charees.
and should not exceed 2 cents per bushel. This
would be but a slight toll, when such grain
could be delivered to any port in superior order.
combining security to the shipper and a safe
investment to the purchaser, thus evading the
thankless task of demanding reclamation. ill
feeling and dissatisfa,.tion in deliveries."
"As you have so fully explained your idea of
a suitable elevator warehouse. what of your
dryer? I have heard it spoken of. What are its
chief points?"
"The chief points of the dryer are simply the
concentration of the natural elements that
ripen grain--heat. currents of air, agitation
and rapid evaporation, so that the fetid gases
and extraneous matters that are detached from
the cuticle of the grain by friction are not al
lowed to contaminate or injure the flavor of the
grain, as in others where the drying is done in
a close chamber or oven. For grain when dried
by natural causes retains its sweet natural
flavor, whereas a close chamber robs it of its
natural flavor and gives it a strange flat insi
pidity, simply by concentrating in it the fetid
emanations from which it should be freed, also
retaining
THE EXTRANEOUS MATTERS
mould or fungus, which gives it a smirchy ap
pearance derogatory to its value; as it were.
baked, filthy, costly in fuel and more or less
troublesome to manipulate. I have heard gen
tlemen contend that a passing body of grain
o-n be dried by merely driving a heated current
of air through it. Were they ever able to dry a
cambric handkerchief by such a transient op
eration? Others I have heard assert that grain
can be dried by passing a continuous stream
through steam heated cylinders revolving or by
Archimedean screw."
"How is your own patent arranged? ''
"I have in my patent pressure kiln dryer
simply two horizonital cylinders, with the
lower quadrants intact to centre, whilst the
u pper uadrants are omitted, forming two
circles half way, and a space from outside
I circleto outside circle for the upper half, a
kind of eliptic arc. In the centre of the circles
are two shafts, on each of which are sight arnse
about three inches wide, so shaped that whi ;t
itteu,ving through the grain, they litt and tura
I it most effectively, so as to get the benefit of the
heated surface and fierce currents of air that
are driven into it by the pressure blower; sur
i rounding the cylinders is a steam jacket.
S"The steam is exhausted from the engine into
the quadrant between the circlesand then passes
around the sides, making chambers of consid.
erable heat. The air is heated in cylinders
passing underneath the boilers: then passing
through a cast-iron retort, which forms the
bridge wall at back of furnace fire; then out by
cylinder to kiln; then driven directly into the
grain with such force as to be able, if requisite
to drive the grain out of the flues, carryi ouf
the evaporations and filth with great veloty.
Yis t uX10 W eU5 s@1 Az ,
Sa le'tomt g-l
a thermometer) by the introduction of cold air;
or it can be instantaneously tempered or cut off.
To revolve the shaft one and a half times per
minute will lift and turn the grain twelve times.
and with this agitation an intensity of heat
without injury to the -grain can be forced into
it that will. if the agitation be arrested, quickly
scorch or burn the whole batdh. In its action
it is entirely automatic, feeding in batches
measuring the separate charges, and discharg
ing each 5 minutes. 7% minutes 10 minutes or 15
minutes, according to the gearing that actuates
the valves set as to the moisture contaled in
the grain. The ends of arms are of sufficient
space from surface of cylinder so that they do
not break or bruise the grain. When discharged
from this kill, the grain is elevated into a sim
ilar machine, 'the pressure cooler.' As the
grain is agitated in this machine a current of
cold air is driven with great force into the
gral .aarrying of by the vaporating Iluaes what
ever emanations are elicited from the cooling
grain.
'Its automatic valves being actuated by the
gear ing of the kiln, causes It to charge and dis
aharge with the regularity and precision of the
kilo. thus thoroughly perfecting the immature
or previously rapidly depreciating grain evap
orating the moisture, cleaning its surface of
mould or other matter, expelling its fetid
gasses, restoring its flinty character and put
ting it into excellent order, so that there is no
danger or risk (barring accident) of cargoes so
treated being delivered
TO ANY PORT IN THE UNIVERSE.
In splendid condition. A double cylinder, 72
inches diameter. 16 feet in length being suffl
elent size to dry. by five minute charges, 43 20o
bushels, seven and a half minute charges 28,
nee bushels, ten minut-s charges 21,600 bushels,
fliteen minute charges 14,400 bushels, in the
space of twelve hours or 3oo bushels to the
charge. Thus the kiln, transfer elevator to
cooler, cooler and blowers, will not take up a
space of more than twenty feet high, twenty
feot wide, by forty feet long. There is no extra
insurance for fire risk, as no fire is re
quired but the one to furnish power at boiler.
Such a machine on a floating elevator would be
able to dry and cool grain in its transmission
from barge to vessel with a rapidity not yet at
trined by any other mode of manipulation yet
acquired,
Let proper appliances be brought into re
quisition so that the grain can be put in condi
ltion when It arrives here. Have
PROPER WAREHOUSES AND BINS
built for keeping the grain in order. Let com
mon sense and reason assert its sway, and
there cannot be the slightest doubt but the
grain trade will pass this way."
"You said something ab ,ut fluctuating re
celkts of grain here. Have you any data upon
that point?"
"Yes; and can show you the New York ex
ports too. I have prepared these tahles, which
you can have. The bulk corn receipts yearly
were as follows:
Bushels. Bushels.
1867-68 .......... 121.760 1 . ..... . 12. ;,885
189 70 ........ 6.,000 ;70-71 ..........23,292
1871-72 ...... 1.625.72 l72-73 ....... ...1,878,910
1873-74 ......... .1,4.467 1w4-75 .......... 312,129
1875-76 ....... 1.432,742 1876-77 ........2,260,917
1877 to May 8 3.961,282
The wheat receipts, bulk and sack, were as
follows:
Bushels. Bushels.
1867- 8 ........... 77.852 1865-69 ..........302,224
18619-70 ............446,659 1870 71............ 13,715
1871-72 ........... 461 1872 73 ........ 896
1873-74 ........... 325287 1874 75 ........... 145,485
1875-76 ........... 82,812 1876 77...... . 110,561
1877 to date.- .". 707,785
"The receipts of rye for the present year, to
date, aggregates 456.487 bushels."
"Now how about the exports from the various
ports, and how do those of our own port com
pare with the others ?"
"I have compiled the exports from the ports
from September 1. 1877, to March 30. 1878. and
here they are in bushels:
Wheat. Corn. Rye.
New York.... ....20.741.244 10.829.767 247.791
New Orleans .. . 439,599 1,822 030 1.9,772
Philadelphia ... 846.021 8.517,660
Baltimore ....... 4,854,080 10 245.079 24.898
Boston ........... 1,879.354 1.668,011 .
Portland ......... 1.194,520
Montreal .......... ,56,687 1,526.. 325,
San Francisco .... 4.934,176
"With this large showing in favor of other
ports, do you think the grain trade of the Mis
sissippi Valley can ever be brought this way for
oxport?"
"Yes. I am sure of it. All we need is the
proper men at the head of the movement. and
you will observe that quite a number of West
ern men have been here recently looking
around."
"Do they intend to do anything?"
"I think so, and will prophesy that in a few
years there will be
A DOZEN ELEVATORS HERE.
They contemplate building barges, too, that
they will load as high up as Keokuk, and tow
them down without reshipment or rehandling
at St. Louis or anywhere else. I am not much
given to visionary ideas, but I honestly think
that in ten years this city will, with the proper
efforts, handle 70 per cent of all of the Western
grain exported from this country."
WHAT WAS HER IINTENTION?
A Woman Leaps Off of the Canal Street
Ferryboat.
At about 2:30 o'clock yesterday a lady named
Mrs. Jane Howe boarded the Canal street ferry
boat at the landing and took a seat aft. When
the boat reached the middle of the stream she
climbed upon the railing and leaped overboard.
The boat was immediately stopped, the alarm
being given ot "woman overboard," but she was
carried so rapidly down stream by the current
that the officers on board were unable to render
any assistance.
A fisherman, named John Market. was at
tracted by the sight of the woman in the river
and immediately started to her rescue. At the
same time the tug Ella Wood. commanded by
Chpt. Plant, and the tug Wasp, commanded by
Capt. Wrigley. started for the scene, and be
tween the three the unfortunate woman was
brought to the shore alive.
Capt. Picket, of the ferryboat, procured a cab
and sent the almost drowned woman to her res
idence, No. 127 St. Joseph street.
A reporter of the DEMonRAT started to make
inquiry regarding Mrs. Howe. and learned
from a neighbor of hers that she had been
nursing at Quarantine Station, and had not
been paid for her services, and hence was un
able to liquidate some little bills that she had
contracted.
A lady living in the same house with Mrs.
Howe stated that Mrs. Howe's daughters had
said to her that their mother had been threaten
ing for a week past to commit suicide, but that
they could assign no cause, as she had good
children, and everything was given her to make
her comfortable in her old age.
The daughter, when questioned, denied that
her mother had ever threatened to commit sui
cide, and that she had been nursing at quaran
tine station, and further alleged that she be
lieved that the way her mother got into the
river was an accident.
When the reporter visited the house Mrs.
Howe was in an insensible condition, but it is
thought she will recover from the shock, al
though her age, a half a century. is against her.
CHARGED WITH PERJURY.
The Accused Goes to Prison In Detault
of eBonds.
Yesterday Mr. N. V. Vinet. residing at No. s03
Morales street. appeared before lRecorder
Smith. of the First Municipal Police Court, and
made affidavit against Miss M. L. Beebe, charg
ing her with perjury.
The affidavit sets forth that in a certain case
tried on the twenty-fifth day of August, 1877, be
fore the Hon. Peter Kaiser ,ixth Justice of the
Peace, Miss M. L. Beebe did, in the case of C. J.
Adolph vs. Luke Beebe. swear that their prop
erty, located on Craps street, between IBagatelle
and Union streets, was clear from all mort
. gages, the said testimony being material to the
issue. which oath was malicious., wicked and
false; therefore deponent charges the accused
with willful and corrupt perjury.
The accused was arrested and arraigned be
fore Recorder Smith and remanded to the Par
ish Prison in default of l1000 bonds.
Moot & Chandon is the ne plus ultra of wines.
Parties desiring to dispose of their furniture
will find a responsible purchaser by addressing
P., Democrat offiee.
Now doth the gentle mosquito sing his war
song and feed upon the blood of the innocent.
Look out for mosquito bars at A. Tesson's,
No. 72 Chartres street.
SSuit will be brought against all attor
tneys, physicians, brokers, merchants,
liquor dealers and others owing license
c or personal property taxes, without fur
ther notice.
The Jackson Route to New York-the oldest
and best.
H Wave yeou paid your capital tax and
license?
I Awel-tmod and judicious concession to the
popula. o r eduooed rtes has added
4 ýprrlý t
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.
THE IN8ANE ASYLUM.
A day or two ago we paid a visit to the Louisi
ana Retreat, transferred to the new and elegant
structure erected opposite the Upper City Park.
for the purpose of copsulting with the Sister
Superior on the possibility of some arrange
ment being made with the city to transfer the
inmates of the City Asylum to the Retreat. We
were informed, however, by Sister Mary Jane.
the superior, that she had been in charge of the
institution for five weeks only, and that the
matter had never before been considered by
tier. and, therefore, she could not give
even an approximate idea of the terms
upon which an arrangement could be
made. In answer to her questions
we told her that there were about 109 white veo
pi and thirty-seven colored In the City Asylum.
Sister Mary Jane then said that the Retreat was
sufficiently large to take charge of the whites,
but that extra quarters would have to be pro
vided for the colored people, and that the insti
tution could not at present undertake the con
struction of new buildings, it being already
largely in debt for the erection of the present
structure.
This short Interview would indicatre that, for
the time being at least, It is not probable that a
transfer can be main. The Mayor Informs us,
however, that he is honsidering the carrying
out of the plan, already referred to of contin
uing the present city asylum, with the assist
anen of resident Sisters of Charity, whose status
will be something like that of the sisters who
minister to the wants of the patients in our
Charity Hospital.
THE MAYOR'@ VETO.
The veto message of the Mayor on the resolu
tion approving of the report of Mr. Diamond,
the Administrator of Polioe, relative to the dif
ferences about changes in the pollee force, has
created some comment among theopponents of
the Mayor. and it is probable that the Mayor's
legal reasons for disapproving the resolution
will be met by other legal argument on the part
of the opposition, probably at the next meeting
of the Council.
WEATHER AI4d RIVERS.
Yesterday's Temperature.
The signal service telegraphio reports from
other points, dated at 8:43 p. i., give the tem
perature as follows:
Cairo 65°, Cincinnati 6t0, Davenport (4, Du
buque 62, Galveston 73, Indlanola 74 Keokuk
6:3, Lacrosse 64, Leavenworth 52, Louisville
t;2, Memphis 68, Nashville 65, New Orleans 76,
Omaha 52, Pittsburg 55, Shrevenort 75, St.
Louis 64, St. Paul 62, Vicksburg 73, Yankton
54, Augusta 70, Corsicana 82, Key West 83,
Mobile 77, Montgomery 72, Savannah 71.
AT THE GULF PORTE.
The appended table shows the state of the
barometer. its tendency, the direction of the
wind and velocity at the princloal Gulf ports
as shown by the lianal Service telegram dated
at 3:43 p. m. yesterday: Velocity.
Miles
Barometer. Wind. per houtr.
Oilvestnn . 29..9.-Falling. East. 12
Indianola .... 29,.7-Falling. East. 2t
New Orleans 29.93-Falling. East. 4
Corsil'ana . 29.71-Falling. South. 12
Key West 29.9.-Falling. N. W. o
Mobile ...... 29.95--Falllng. North. 7
Savannah "29.95-Falling. North. ti
Stake of the Rivers.
Daily telegraphic report of the stage of
water at various points, with changes in the
24 hours ending yesterday at 3 p. mI.:
Above low Changeo
Stations. water.
Feet.Inch. Feet. Inch.
Cairo .......... ..... 28 3 to 7
Cincinnati ..... ........... 19 7 t2 0
Davenport. ............ 5 4 1 0 1
Dubuque ..... ............ 6 5 to 3
Keokuk ...... ............. 9 0 n
Lacrosse ................. 2 t0 7
Leavenworth............ 2 10 4
Augusta ................. 6 0 n
Louisville . ............9 8 0s 5
Memphis ..... ........ 24 :3 i0 9
Nashville .. 1. x ,5 9 9
*New Orleans ............ :3 8 o 0
Omaha ... ........... 9 8 o 3
Pittaburg .............. . 5 2 o
Shreveport ........ 20 5 to 2
St. Louis ...... ..... . 1 8 to 3
LIt. Paul ........ ....... . 4 4 in 1
Vieksburg ............... 40 6 i0 1
Yankton. D. Ty.......... 7 4 o0 1
*Below high water mark of 1874. tlndicates
rise. Indicates fall.
Local Observations.
(Corrected daily by L. Frigerio. No. 5o Chartres
street.)
Wednesday, May 15 ....8 a.m. 2 p.m. 6 p. m.
Thermometer........ 63 78 75
Barometer........... 30. 29.15 2.90)
Weather clar'.
Prevailing winds--Northeast and east.
THE PARISH COMMITTEE.
Meeting of the Democratic Conservative
Delegates Last Night.
Last evening, at half-past 7 o'clock. there was
a meeting of the members of the Parish Com
mittee of the Democratic party over Hawkins'
Saloon, the following gentlemen being present:
H. C Brown in the chair and A. J. Kelley sec
retary; Messrs. McCall, Skehan. Leahey, Kells.
Robbert. Guma. Hubbard. Brewster. Hoffmann.
Tiller. Dudenhefer, Meister. Schreiber. Blake,
Gordon, Merkel, Babcock. Mader. McLean.
Kerlin, Fraley, Boey. Tebbe and Stubbs.
Thefollowing gentlemen presented creden
tials, and were seated to represent these
wards: A. T. Donovan, first ward; Thomas
Devereaux, second ward; R. W. Young. thir
teenth ward.
The president stated that this meeting wp.
called to receive the report of the committee on
by-laws and rules for the government of cen
tral clubs.
The question then came up as to the adop
tion of a party name to head the parochial
ticket, and after much discussion it was re
solved it should be "Democratic and Conserva
tive."
Mr. John HoffTmann, of the Seventh Ward.
chairman of the committee, presented a report
which was received, taken up, amended and
adopted as follows:
Rules.
In order to prevent dissensions in the coming
primary elections, and to secure a fuIl, free and
honest expression of the will of the Democratic
and COnservative voters of the parish of Or
leans, the parish committee of the Democratic
Conservative party hereby adopt the following
I rules and regulations for the organization and
government of the central ward clubs of the
parish of Orleans:
RULE I.
The officers of each central ward club shall be
as follows: President., vice president. seere
tary, treasurer, two delegates to the parish
committee, and such other tfflers as the va
rious clubs may deem necessary for their gov
ernment.
RULE It.
The officers to be elected by the Democratic
and Conservative electors of eac war I at an
election to be held on June 29, 1878, said elect)i a
to be held under the rules as hereinafter pi -
s(-ribed.
RULE II.
There shall be a registration and revision of
the voters of the Democratic-Conservative party
of the parish of Orleans, in the various wards.
from the first to the twenty-second of Jue., 1878.
RULE IV.
That the electors of the respective wards of
the city of New Orleans, being members of the
Democratic Conservative party, shall be con
vened at the central ward clubs on the evening
of the twenty-ninth day of May. by call of the
respective presidents of the central clubs, by
publication in one or more of the daily papers
for at least three days prior thereto, and at said
meeting the president of the central ward c:ubs
shall appoint four commissioners and one
judge of registration and election, giving the
different factions or interests in the ward a fair
and equal representation, and to that end the
president shall have power to increase the num
ber of commissioners to a number not exceed
it six.
shall be the duty of the commissioners to
issue to each registered elector a certificate of
t registration, which shall entitle said person to
vote at all primary elections, the same to be
signed by at least two commissioners of regis
I tration.
Immediately upon the lose of registration
the registration books of each ward shall be
a rned over to acommittee of seven cenvassers,.
I to be lpo lted by the presidents of the respec
t five ward olube.
. 1, - ill ýta~e ý ertil i'erlsiealt
of said registration, and shall have power by
vote of a majrlty of the whole committee so
appointed to strike off such names as have been
wrongfully registered, making report of said
names to the central ward clubs,. at a meeting
which shall be held on the evening of Juno as.
and no person whose name shall have been
stricken from the registration as above shall be
entitled to vote at any primary election of Ihe
party, except upon proof of error and by vote of
amajority of the members present at said meet
of the central ward clubs.
RIULE V.
In all cases where the central ward clubs, by
vote of a majvrity of members presentt, deter
mine that two or more ballot boxes are neces
sary to hold said prlmlry election. the presi
dent of the cent, al chlui shall appoint two com
missioners to act at each ballot box in contune
tion with the cornmmissioners annl j udge herein
required. In such cases the voting shall be
done numerically and at one polling place.
RULE VI.
In the event of any rlessatlsfactlon, and on
complaint duly presented to thie Parish Com
mittee,. the said Parish Committee he authorized
to selee't from the electors from the ward where
in such complaint comnes from, an impartial
committen to act as umpire towards the action
or non-action of the faithful execution of these
rules, and to report the same to the Parish
Committee for their decision in the premises.
RULE VII.
It shall be the duty of the commlssioners and
judge to enrtify to the result of the election, re
uuired to be hold on the twenty-ninth day of
June, to the president of the central clubs, and
the same shall be transmitted with his indorse
ment to the Parish Committee on or before July
1 following, and a majority In number of the
commissioners and ju dge shall decide all ques.
tions arising in said election. but shall be
gulded by the rules and regulations herein
established. Should any president or central
ward club neglect or refuse to carry out the
regulations hereby established, it shall be the
duty of the Executive Committee of the Parish
Committee to appoint the commissioners and
judge of registration and elec'ion. and to make
all necessary arrangements for carrying out
the same.
No person who is not registered on the books
of the central ward club of the respective wards
shall vote at any primary election, except they
present the tBrate registration certifcates of 1878.
The polls shall be open from 7 a. m. till s p. m.
iULE VIII.
In wards where there is but one candidate for
president of the central club and a fair election
can be had by mass assembly these rules may
be suspended.
The following commiltt on revllion of the
above rules was then appointed:
President-H. C. Brown.
Assistant Secretary-A. J. Kelly.
Third District-John Hoflmann.
Second District- I. D. Hubbard.
First District-Thosee. Devereaux.
Fourth Listrlet-Don Gordon.
Fifth Distrlet-H. Kenlin.
Sixth I)istrict-R. W. Young.
pnventh District-- . B. Stubbs
The committee will meet at. No. 1i4 Common
street on Sunday next. at 12 o'clock m.
A MOST VALUABLE INVENTION.
In company with many of our most promi
nent and practical citizens, we yesterday paid a
visit to the Mississippi Press to witness the
operation of the "Triumph" steam cotton band
puller and buckler. Every one present was im
pressed with the simplicity and efficacy of the
invention.
It consists of a buckle which attached to the
iron tie which binds the bale of cotton, when
compressed. precludes anyoossbililty of slip
ping. and consequently securely holds the bale.
after being released from the press, to exactly
the reduced size given to it hv the press.
This invention is singularly plain and simple.
The design Is to draw all the bands at once
around the bale of cotton, so as not only to save
time and labor. but what is a most material otb
ject, to prevent any sw"ll or reaction.in the hale.
It is so easily manipulated that all which is
required to be dlone by the workmen in charge
is simply to place the buckle into position.
when the bands are passed around the bale,
and in an instant steam does the work to abso
lute perfection. The old bands are used as
they come off the bales by siniply adjusting the
buckle to the end of the bands.
The buckle itself is perfect. The moment the
hands are drawn taut by the steam, and
that moment is when the bale has been com
pressed, from its worderful construction, the
buckle revolves and the bands are looped so as
to successfully defy every effort to unloose
them. The buckles we saw in use were cast in
this city and are of common cast iron, and are
not only cheap. but will stand any amount of
rough usage which can be put upon them. They
were thoroughly and effectually tested in our
presence and resisted the power of the stoutest
hammering to remove or break them.
The whole machinery is worked by steam
supplied from the boiler of the press, whilst a
simple lever is all that is needed to do the work.
We learned upon inquiry that the Inventor is
Rev. F. M. Logue, of Vicksburg, who, aided by
Judge Harris, of that city, commenced an
earnest labor in the field of this invention
over five or six years since. The first
point to which the inventor's skill was
advanced was a band-puller, but a dili
gent and earnest study of years developed the
fact that to achieve a thorough success the
,ckling process must also be accomplished by
steam, which has at last been thoroughly
achieved. John A. Klein. E~q., and Gen. N. H.
Haines are also largely interested in this mat
ter, both contributing to its completion,
Whll" we are glad to say so much for citizens
of the "Heroic City" we must not forget one of
our own people. The designer and architect
of this invention is Mr. Louis Johnson. an old
and well-known citizen of New Orleans. The
very highest testimonials to his genius and skill
are amply paid by the gentlemen who have
successfully completed this work.
This invention is destined, we think, to ho
come universally adopted through the cotton
States, as it most satisfactorily supplies a want
that no buckle or tie has heretofore adequately
met.
CAPITOL NOTES.
Gov. Nicholls has appointed J. Warren Taylor
administrator of the insane asylum. Jackson,
Louisiana.
Promotive commissions were issued to Gen.
Beban's staff yesterday. as mentioned some
days ago in the "Capitol Notes."
Quarantine against divers and sundry in
fected ports ha been established at Atchafalaya
Bay and at the I:igolets.
The Governor on yesterday appointed and
commissioned John A. Cheevers as district at
torney pro ternm. of Ascension parish, viceFrank
Duffel, resigned.
Mr. Lusher. State Superintendent of Public
Education, writes from tit. Mary prish, Frank
lin, that while there he witnessed the dedica
tion of a new school-house, pretty and commo
dious. The ceremonies consisted of a tourna
ment, a shooting match with glass balls and a
dance. and were enjoyable. He found the
Franklin colored school with 146 pupils, ad
mirably regulated and in charge of a Normal
tchool graduate. The white school, forty pu
pils, was in a good state of advancement.
BREV ITIER.
New potatoes sell at ten cents a bucket.
White figs have already appeared on the fruit
vendors' stands here.
The meeting of the Battalion Washington
Artillery was postponed until Saturday, a quo
rum not being present.
There was a crowd of excursionists yesterday
out at the old Spanish Fort, and the new rail
road did a flourishing business.
Several young men of the Third District have
organized a foot ball club and intend to play
this evening on the "Plaine Raquette."
Canal and Royal streets is the favorite corner
for politicians now. There can be heard more
in half an hour. about the prospective candi
dates, than at any other place in a week.
Major Harrod, Chief State Engineer. will visit
St. Landry parish soon on business connected
with his department, and will soon thereafter
visit the Toche and make a survey of that
stream.
Several beautifully plumed hats a la Duch
ease of Sutherland were worn by ladies atthe
Opera-House at the Continental Guard enter
tainment and attracted much attention. They
are graceful and coquettish.
From Oct.ber 5, 1877. to May 6, 1878, the State
Board of Engineers contracted for 1,122,684 cubie
yards of levee work at an expense of 521.3.324 54.
At the prices paid per cubic yard under the
Kellogg adminisrration the same work would
have cost the people of the State $673,61 40o.
Lagger Magenta Sunk.
At a quarter past 6 o'clock last evening the
lugger Magenta, lying in the river at the head
of Uraulines street, succumbed to the w.ves
breaking her up against the piles, and sink in
twety feet of water. No lives lost, and no cargo
destroyed, there being none on board.
Sult will be brought agalast all attor
neys, pbystelans, brokers, aaercbfnts.
Slquor dealer d otrs a s owing Ileenase
.r personal property taxes, witheout fur
ther netlee.
SMet A Cshandoniscoolung and rreshlas.
AMUSEMENTS.
THE SECOND ENTERTAINMENT.
A Briton Conquers the Entire Army of
Continentals.
The second entertainment of the Continental
Guards,. assisted by members of the Washington
Artillery and a number of ladies' devoted
to the cause of c mmemorating the life and
virtues of Robert E. Lee, occurred last evening
at the Opera House. The attendance. in point
of numbers, beauty and refinement. surpassed
even that of the previous night, and gave
assurances that the series of entertain
ments would prove the grand success, so
cially and pecuniarily, that was hoped
for and antlcipated. The entertainment
was in two parts, and comprised a tableau
of the battle of Bunker Hill at that period when
the fall of Warren occurred. The Continental
Guards personated, of course, their namesakes
of 1776, while the British troops were represented
by the Washington Artillery boys in full Hes
sIan costume. This tableau. like that of "The
Battle of Ticonderoga" on the previous even
ing, was a handsome 'onception, and in action
the idea was earried out beautifully and elect
ively. The entertainment closed with Stern
dnle Bennett's Pasto,ral Cantata. which is as
simple as it is difficult of execution, a fact we
fear that some of the Singers did not appreciate
before undertaking their rains. But we are not
called upon to criticise the effrts of our ama
teurs, and must compllm'nt them, at any rate.
and with justice, upon their attempt under the
careful baton of our young profesbor, F. Bchaff
ter.
THE REFRESHMENT SALOON
was even ttter patronized than on Tuesday.
The decorations of this department of the en
tertainment are simply exquisite. The delica.
cies offered are of the choicest kind. We speak
from experience and challenge successful co.
tradiction. and the prices are moderate, indeed,
Whilst all the booths and tables were attrao
ti ve, there was not one so much so as the punch
bowl over whl-h presidled the most sprightly
witty and otherwise charming Brion-almost
t) a T-who turned the tables on the herte o
'76 and conquered them singly and oolleerlly,
their souls, their money, their everything, all of
which had to succumb under the power of her
sparkling eyes, her bewitching ways and her
brilliant attacks and repartees. The punch
bowl over which this divinity presided, assisted
by a companion with warm Andaleslan com
plexion and langorous eyes. is situated in the
corridor between the "lover" and the "ladies
toilet-room" at the Opera House, and should be
patronized to he appreciated.
The entertainment is indeed a family affair,
and our renders may judge of the truth of what
we assert when we say that even the pollee in
attendance, consisting of Patrolmen Ed. Hewitt.
James Quinn, A. Hermann and Charley MaI
'as, all old soldiers of the "Lost Cause," are
there doing duty voluntarily without compen
sation.
CINDERELLA
This evening the great attraction will be the
fairy tale of Cinderella, arranged bry our intel
ligent and painstaking lady friend, Mrs. Major
John K. Bell, which will be acted by seventy
five children in costume. The play, we can
assure our readers, under the talented manip
ulation of Mrs. Bell, and with the careful train
Irtg and rehearsal of the children, will bya sub
ject fortheadmiration of thethrongthatwill
attend the third entertainment for the benefit o
the Leo monumental fund. On Friday night
several new tableaux will be presented, nd
d tllghtful concert will occur with MIsses
C rinne Bouligny and Lena Little in seleot
songs.
At the request of a large number of visitors
to the O .era, "The Mystic Drill," (the oon~
tion of Capt. Pierce of the Continentals), will he
repeated on the last evening. We have been
asked to call the attention of our people to the
fact that the admission price to each entertain
ment is only to cents. VYlitors will alsofnad
lists on the walls, by subscribing to which they
may become contributing members of the Lee
Mon umental Assoclation, at 1i cents a week, to
be paid until the great monument is completed.
The Mule Bace.
The great mule race announced to take place
on r aturday next. at the Fair Grounds, for the
benefit of the monument to be erected at
head of Canal street, to the memory of the dead
of September, 1974, will be a grand affair, tur
passing In interest and oddity anythin that
has ever yet been attempted In this line. here
will be no fewer than twelve entries, ae.oI
them several really fast mules. Such sporLa
such a worthy object will attract an Immense
concourse of ladies at the grounds, and we ar
certain that our young men will like to attpd
in large numbers also, if only to admiretbh
beautiful spectacle that the fair sex will oar.'
CITI ECUOUS.
A rabid dog, after biting Mrs, Murphy. was
executed by a peeler.
The till in Mr. J. H. Table's soda shop was
yesterday tapped to the tune of as so.
Fritz Buckhart. for the larceny of two knives,
was locked up in the Third Station.
A thief was discovered in Mrs. Shifters' resi
dence, No. 191 Robin street. Tuesday night A
pistol ball made him leave in haste.
Joe Montenay was caged in the Central . a.
tion, charged with assault and battery on Kate
Johnson.
Willie Burns was larded in the Central Sta
tion, charged with the larceny of a pair of
shoes.
Alexander Clarke, charged with grand lar
ceony, was yesterday sent before the Superior
Criminal Court under $5see bonds by Beuordsu
Smith.
F. B. Golding. charged with assault and bat
tery on Alexander, and W. E. Berry, for the
same offense. were both sent before the First
District Court under $250 bonds each by Recor
der Smith.
Discount of 2 per cent on State- tS5.S
pald in May.
Attempt at Suicide.
At 11 :30 o'clock yesterday morning a colored
woman, named Julia Campbell, residing at No.
a1 Dryades street, attempted to commit saicide
by taking an overdose of laudanum, which she
purchased from J. N. W. Otto's drug store,corner
Rampart and Gravier streets. The would-be
suicide was discovered by a woman named
Margaret Williams who immediately seat for
Dr. Belden. The physician. upon arriving, ad
ministered the proper antidotes, but pro
nounced her condition, notwithstanding, very
critical. The cause attributed for the rash act
is jealousy.
Delinquent rolls of taxes en persa.al
property and capital, and lleenses due I
1878, are now being made up.
Moet & Chandon has the call at hotels and
restaurants.
A Blaze at Midnight.
Exactly at midnight last night an aht~r of
fire was sounded from box 54 for a fire thatdh
originated in a shed, No. 244 Rampart street,
known as Pompey Tutes Boardinghouse.
It aopears that Pompey, upon retiring for the
night, left a candle burning too near the wall,
which set fire to a p'frtion of the weatherboard
ing. The fire was extinguished with a damage
of twenty-fivj cents. The alarm had hardly
located the fire before the three departments
were rolling and landed at the fire on time. As
Louisiana Hose gained posseesion of the rail
road track in front of her engine-house Per
severance 13 swung the corner of Perdido and
Carond-let streets at full speed and gave Lou
isianaHose a lively "shake up" for the firt at
the fire, but Louisiana's white nags had 4tt
lead, and they kept it until they reached to
fire. Perseverance was not distanced ty aaj
manner of means.
Henry Carr, of Union Springs, has mad
the best shot on record in the annals o
Cayuga lake dluck shooting. One day la.
week he shot twenty-one wild ducks at'
single discharge of a double-barreled gun.
A dinner is not complete without Moet
Chandon.
Two per cent discount ea State tax
paid in May.
LEE MONUMENT BENEFI,
AND THE CHILDREN.
All the children that have recently appea
at the various entertainments in the c1ty
fancy costumes, that attend the Opera Hous~
THURSDAY NIGHT, May 16,
CINDERELLA'S NIGHT,
are requested to wear them on that oceasiot
The Ball-Room floor will be kept elea
grown people for the children on that n
until midnight by a detachment of the C"
nentals.
By order of Committee of Argangementsi
myr1 t1