ALBANY REGISTER.
IT. tt. Offlptal Piipor for
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1873.
Thin Country and 3lKk.
Now that the Presidential campaign
has ended, the minds of the people
will drift naturally into the considera
tion of other interest. Questions
which were accepted as secondary in
Importance then, now become subjects
of chief notice. This seems to be the
case with the Mexican question at this
time, or, at least, it is rapidly becom
ing a tonic of leading: interest. The
o
close proximity of the Mexican nation,
the unstable condition of that Repub
lic the revolutionary character of the
people, cannot do less than excite ' a
leep interest in the mind of the Amer
ican people. Tlie United States, since
tlie Mexican war, has regarded Mexi
co with unusual warmth, and
looked iiDon ronton Interference In
that direction witli kindling jealousy
The effort of Maxiiulllian. terminating
.-o disastrously to himself, would not
have occurred except at a time when
tlie United States was crippled by its
own dissensions, ami engaged iu a
most desperate straggle tor its own ex
istence. Such an attempt now would
excite the Ire of every citizen, and
blood would freely flow from Ameri
can veins to prevent ttie recurrence of
such another act. It lias been the
wish of the American people that
Mexico might become a strong and
-vigorous Republic. In her physical
resources she possesses many rich en
dowment. Her climate for richness
and variety, Is probably unsurpassed
by any nation on earth. Every cereal
grown in the United States can be
produced there lu abundance, wUle
tlie most luscious temperate and tropl-
oil fruit delight), the eye and taste,
Her mountain systems ami peaks are
magnificent, and her valleys unsur
passed. The soil of tlie Utter is rich
in its productiveness, and all it needs
is proper cultivation. But Mexico has
lieen noted more especially for her
-abundant yield of minerals. Gold,
silver, copper, zinc, antimony, arsenic,
etc., are found In many localities
Silver lias been worked to the greatest
advantage. From 1790 to 1810 $21
000,000 of this precious mineral were
shipped annually to Spain. Humboldt
tells us that he found three thousand
mines when he visited that country.
Sinue tint time, tlie insecurity of life
and property growing out of the nu
merous revolutions, lias prevented the
wortfug of many of these mines or
destroyed them, and now the average
production of sliver per annum
.about $li,tfflO,sm tt Mexico possess
a a stable government, and the peo
ple -were trained and" protected in the
peaeeaMr pursuits of agriculture and In
the development of the mineral resour
ces of the country, what tfnantltle of
wealth would be poured Into her lap.
But so long as anarchy and infertile
and the spirit of revolution pntall
there, the people will remain Ignorant
mid bloodthirsty, and the resources of
the country will continue undeveloped
Tlie Interests of the United States de
mand, for the sake of the peace and
well-being of our own citswn on the
border of Mexico, at least, tint peace
and security should be maintained In
that country. If the Mexican Govern
ment does not possess sufficient
strength to enforce these, then the
United States for her own protection
as well as for the benefit of civiliza
tion generally, should interpose. As
a uatiiMi we should be glad to see her
prosper. We would shield her from
foreign molestation. We are ready
to aid her iu every reasonable way in
the direction of civilization. Bat if
she (continues iwbuleut and unsettled,
casting her fretted waves upon our
diores to the Injury of our commerce
mid peace, the persuasive power of
force should be promptly applied.
About every other Democrat you
meet In Albany now, carries his hands
thrust deep into his britches pockets,
as If searching (or the many dollars
lost on the election. Woe-begoneneas,
is no name for the look on their couu-tenauivs.
Kmperor William's Award.
The origin of the controversy be
tween tlie United States and Great
Britain, which the award of the Em
peror of Germany lias settled in favor
of the former, date back about thirty
years. All the territory north of the
Columbia river was then claimed by
tlie British through the Hudson Bay
Fur Company. This claim would
have cut us off from that portion of
Oregon then north of the Columbia,
now known as Wasington Territory.
The United States claimed from the
line dividing from Mexico on the
south to fifty four degrees and forty
minutes of north latitude, which would
have taken In all of Vancouver's Island
and much of British Columbia. This
was one of the party questions in
1844, and bad great influence iu elect
ing Mr. Polk. During Polk's Admin
istration a compromise was agreed
upon through the management of
James Buchanan, then Secretary of
State, the two countries agreeing to
accept the forty-ninth parallel as the
dividing line. But on finding that
this parallel would divide Vancouver's
Island, it was again agreed that the
boundary line of that parallel should
be so deflated as to give all of that
Island to the British, the principal
channel being taken from Juan de
Fuca to the Gulf of Georgia. Here the
matter rested until 1886, when a joint
commission was ordered to survey and
fix the line according to the stipula
tions of the treaty. These commis
sioners had no trouble in this until
they came to the waters of Puget
Sound. They had no trouble in fol
lowing the forty-ninth parallel,' but
when they came to deflect " through
the principle channel " connecting the
Gulf of Georgia and the Straits of
Juan de Fuca, they could not agree
on "the principal channel." The
British claimed Rosarlo Strait quite
narrow, while the Americans claimed
the Canal de Haro, sixteen miles
across. Between these lies the San
Juan Island. The possession of this
island would be determined by the
channel selected. To decide which of
these channels should he the boundary,
was the question submitted to Emper
or William. His decision makes the
"Canal de Haro " the principal chan
nel, and so the island of Han Juan be
comes the property ot this country.
This island is about fifteen miles long
and seven wide and contains upwards
of forty thousand acres of land. The
southern part of this island Is open and
very fertile, affording splendid pastur
age. It Is. finely adapted to the raising
of sheep. Good llmrittme quarries are
found in some part, About some small
island which belong to the group of
which this Is principal, are found. It is
said, some of the finest salmon fisheries
in the world, 'lite acquisition is there
fore considered quite valuable. It Is
believed, at least that the award set
tles permanently the boundary con
troversy.
The Home Epktenlr.
The horse contagion which la now
visiting the cities and towns ot tlie
East has proven a source ol great in
convenience, loss and misery not only
to the owners of these stricken animals,
but to the people in general. Street
cars, omnibuses, hacks, drays, carriages,
express wagons, private conveyances,
even funeral corteges must cease be
cause of this epidemic The wail ot
distress which comes at almost every
flash of the electric wire, tells us bow
keenly is felt the deprivation. Never
was the value of this noble quadruped.
the horse, more highly appreciated
than now. As thousands of horse
owners suffer for want of employment,
as business stops for want of transpor
tation, as men struggle on toot, or at
tempt to do by oxen that which horses
have always done, tlie Importance of
the horse, tils patience, his faithfulness,
his promptness, his reliability, his ab
solute necessity are more clearly seen
and Ida value more highly regarded
than ever before ; and it Is to be hoped
the treatment bestowed upon this ani
mal In the future may advance In
kindness proportionably.
.
Sine the election Oregon Demo
cratic Chappaquacks feel as if they
had the now bleed mrfMt, and were
499 mites from water.
MaJ. 0en. deorg Mm.
Major General George G. Meade,
one of our distinguished soldiers, com
mander of the Military Division of
the Atlantic, departed this life at Phil
adelphia on tlie 7th Inst. He was
born at Cadiz, Spain. In 1816, while
his father was United States Consul at
that place. Graduating at West Point
July 1, 1835, he entered the regular
army as second Lieutenant of Artil
lery, and served through the Florid
wai against the Seminole Indians. In
October 1836 be resigned his commis
sion and lived in retirement for six
years. He was then appointed second
Lieutenant of Topographical Engin
eers. In which capacity he served in
the Mexican war, distinguishing him
self at Palp Alto and Monterey. He
passed to the grade of Major In June
1862. and Brigadier General ot Volun
teers in August of the same year. In
the war of the Rebellion he took part
iu the battles of Mechanicsvllle, Galne's
Mill. Antietam and Fredericksburg,
At Antietam he was slightly wounded
and had two horses shot from under
him. Two days after the battle of
Fredericksburg, where Burnside was
so terribly defeated. Gen. Meade was
put in command oi the Sth array corps,
and June 28, 1863, he was appointed
Commander-in-Chief of the army of
the Potomac. In this capacity lie
fought and gained the battle of Gettys
burg, for which the thanks of Con
gress were tendered him. This battle
has been pronounced tlie turning point
of tlie war. In 1803 lie was made
Brigadier General of Regulars, and
Major General iu 1864, serving in the
army of the Potomac until the war
closed. He has been in command of
the Division of the East since 1866
Gen. Meade was a member of the
Historical Society of Pennsylvania, of
the Philadelphia Academy of Natural
Sciences, and the degree of L. L. I)
was conferred upon him by Harvard
in 1 865. By his death tlie country lias
lost one of its brave defenders. Peace
to his memoiy.
Vonflaffratloa at Boa (on.
A very destructive conflagration
visited the business portion of Boston
on the 9th Inst., and continued to burn
more or less destructively until the
11th hist The cause ot the fire has
not yet been stated. The boundaries
of the conflagration are said to cover
an area of nearly seventy acres, in the
very heart of the business portion of
the city, consuming every building,
The number of firms and business
houses burned out were 930, and the
number of dwellings and lodging
houses were 60. Tlie loss is estimated
to be between 175,000,000 and $90.-
000,000, and the Insurance as high as
$50,000,000, of which from $15,000,
000 to $20,000,000 are borne by British
Companies. Of course such a tre
mendous loss has seriously endangered
the business Interests of the country,
and a panic was expected In the stock
market. The excitement in the large
cities ot the East was quite Intense
Of Seven banks burned out only three
have railed. The Boston insurance
companies It Is thought will be able
to pay an average of fifty per cent
on their risks. Tlie losses by this fire
are confined principally to property,
and the public Is thus spared the har
rowing details of human suffering and
death which resulted from the Chicago
calamity, though some lives are re
ported lost. In this as well as iu the
Chicago disaster, does American, hu
manity and generosity shine out most
grandly. The dispatch announcing
the magnitude of the calamity is hard
ly announced, before offers of aid are
telegraphed and sent. The citizens of
grateful Chicago held a meeting on
the Utb Inst and voted $100,000 for
the relief of Boston sufferers, and sent
the cash by a committee on tlie same
day.
B. Grata Brown sailed Into populari
ty on tlie coat-tail of Horace Greeley's
reputation. Nke a weed tied to the tall
of a variously-colored kite. Now that
Horace has quit sailing, B. Grata
drops out of sight.
, ',
The rise tn cambric needles since
the election, probably results from
Democrats searching for small holes
to go through.
The number of acres of the public
domain which were disposed of last
year under the Homestead, Pre-emption
and Military Bounty acts, was as
follows, according to the Land Com
missioner's report: Of homestead
claims, 4,671,322 acres ; military boun-
ty land warrant claims, 389,460 ; sold
for cash, 1,370,310; certified to rail
ways, 3,554,837; to wagon roads,
465,347; agricultural colleges, 693,
613; scrip to States, 714,255 ; Indian
tax script, 5,760; total, 11,864,976
acres, mere were 29.450.939 acres
surveyed during the 3'ear, and are now
left 1.251,633,620 acres unsurveyed.
It will be seen by the number of acres
disposed of during the past year, that
the public lands are fast passing from
Government hands into the possession
of tlie people.
The late election has given to the
Republicans ot Illinois a majority of
thirty-two on joint ballot in the Leg
islature. As the term of Mr. Tram.
bull in the United States Senate ex
pires March 3, 1873, it Is to oe hoped
a less selfish and more patriotic and
consistent man may be elected to suc
ceed him. It is gratifying to know
that he, at least will be left to the cul
tivation of the arts of private life.
Prettily Said or Miss Neixik.
"Miss Grundy," of he New York
World, writes from Washington :
The family speak of Miss Grant as
having grown and developed much
during her travels. They rather dis
courage the idea that she will enter
fully into society the present Winter.
She is only seventeen, and can well
afford to wait There is great rejoic
ing among her relative over her re
turn, as she is almost idolized by her
aunts and uncles, as well as by her
parents. But then, to speak the truth.
sne has an unusually lovely disposi
tion, and, although an only daughter,
is totally unspoiled.
The Government troops at Havana,
Cuba, have defeated a body of insur
gents near Trinidad, killing 34 of the
latter.
While the election news were com
lug In last week, Democrats about
here thought the "hours were very
tedious and tasteless."
If B. Gratz Brown felled to resist
the enticements of "soft-shell crabs"
before the election, how now "since
hope no longer doth cheer f"
The late election has demonstrated
that the people rule, and not "sore
bead" politicians.
If Cart Schurz has any more vanity
left, It Is because his bladder of ego
tism is unbustable.
FOBEIUK NSWS.
Theophlles Gentler, the French
poet, critic and author, died on the
23d of October.
King Oscar, of Sweden, conforma-
tory to au ancient custom of bis pre
decessors, has adopted a mr-tto for his
reign. It Is "The Brother People's
Welfere."
The election for President of Mexi
co lias resulted almost unanimously in
the selection of Lerdo de Tejeda.
Six cases of cholera had occurred at
Dresden. Germany, up to the 9th,
three of which proved fetch
A oamnhlet entitled "Away with
the House ot Peers," has appeared In
Berlin, Germany. Its sale is not pro
hibited by the Government.
In London, Eng., on the night of
tlie 9th, afire broke out In the City
Flour Mills, ana continued until they
were entirely consumed, ine loss
over $500,000. One fireman was kill
ed and several injured.
Guizot and Thiers boast of never
having had a hedache.
Post American Consul at Vienna,
Austria, has taken under III protec
tion thirty-five Jewish families, who
have fled from persecution in Wala
chia. Tlie London Daily Telegraph says of
Gen. Grant no one deserves Better
from his country or Is worthier of a
place among the illustrious men who
have twice held the Presidential office.
It hopes the United States will now
take cure of Mexico and Cuba. Good
sense.
The ill-rated Empress, Carlotta, will
leave a fortune of five million dollars,
which will be Inherited by her moth
ers, the King oi Belgium, ana ine
Count of Flanders. She had vainly
tried to take her capital with her to
Mexico. Her brother, the King, re
fused to let her have It and lie paid
only the Interest. Her father, King
Leopold I., left his children a fortune
of fifteen million dollars cash.
Latest Mew.
Governor Graver has not vetoed any
thing this week.
A Boston special says there Is no
want hi the cly to speak of.
A shock of earthquake was felt In
Stockton, Cal
last Wednesday.
Senator Brown low claims eight Re
publican Congressmen out of ten in
Tennessee.
The latest returns we have give
Grant an Electoral vote of 312, and
Greeley 64. AH the States except
Georgia, Maryland, Missouri, Ken
tucky and probably Louisiana and
I lorida. are given to Grant.
Andy Johnson is "played, "Tennes
see having elected Maynard and seven
other Republicans to Congress
The feeling at Boston was a little
despondent on the 12th, though a dis
position on the part of business men
to meet their reverses manfully, was
apparent.
An extra session of the Massachus
etts Legislature has been called to
meet next Tuesday.
The total losses at Boston It is
thought will not exceed $100,000,000.
Contributions from Chicago for the
relief ot Boston on the 12th inst
amounted to over a quarter ot a mil
lion. The following telegram has been
sent to Boston from Washington :
Treasury Department, Nov. 12.
To Gen. B. F. Butler and Thomas
Russell, Collector o Boston: The
President authorizes me to say that
every posstnic means or relief and aid
will be offered to the citizens of Bos
ton by the Government, and should
circumstances appear to demand ac
tion by Congress, such action wtD be
recommended by him.
GEO. S. BOUTWELL,
Secretary of the Treasury.
S. Loeber, a prominent merchant ol
Helena, Montana Territory, was
drowned while attempting to cross the
Missoula river at Horse Plains on the
30th of last month. .
A Montana mantled one end of a
lariat around his waist and lassoed a
cow with the other. He thought he
had the cow, but at the end of the
first half mile he began to suspect
that the cow had him.
From the vote cast at Olympla last
week. It Is presumed that the place
has 3,000 Inhabitants.
Madison county, Montana, has ac
cording to the assessment roll, a
property valuation of $2,000,000.
Raining and then snowing at inter
vals, was the experience ofYreka on
the 11th inst.
The perpetrators of the late stage
robbery in Pleasant Valley, Idaho,
have not yet been traced.
About four weeks ago the Schooner
Active was launched at Gardner, on
the Umpqna. Her dimensions are as
follows: Over deck, 100 feet: keel.
92 feet; beam, 29 feet; keelson, 13x14
inches; floor timber, 12x26 inches;
keel, 23x14 inches, and Is shod with
12 Inch shoe. She Is pronounced the
staunchest vessel ever built at that
place. About $15,000 is her cost.
Ida Lewis the celebrated sculptress.
has a brother living in Bozeman City,
.. T.
Snow commenced felling on Man-
son Creek on tlie second inst., and fell
to the depth of five Inches.
The Bulletin and Oregonian no long
er Issue on Sunday. The former Is
now an evening instead of a morning
paper.
A German woman named Berlan
committed suicide at the Mission, San
Francisco, a few days ago, by biking
morphine. She left several children.
Boston girls are up to everything.
One of them of twenty yean of age.
I in the Indian Territory publishing a
paper in the Choctaw language. Her
younger sister la thinking of going to
China, there to publish a journal in
the Chinese tongue.
The Helena Herald says: With a
north and south railroad connecting
Montana with the Central and Union
Pacific lines, thousands of people from
all parts ot the world would yearsj
visit the National park the most
wonderful region on the earth's sur
face. How long are we going to try
to keep the work) away from Mon
tana? The Statesman reports the Medical
College In Salem as prospering finely.
Six lectures a day are the regular
course.
Captain Albert Macy fell down a
flight ot stairs at San Francisco on the
Mi, and was Instantly killed.
H. Hvde was found dead in a house
on Pacific street, San Francisco, Nov.
8th.
A man named Tizzard shot himself
dead hi a saloon at Vallejoon the 8th.
Utah this year will have at least
1,000,000 bushels of surplus wheat, It
Is stated.
Jacob Kanim. Elijah Corbett Chas.
Holroan, L. Brooke. R. Goldsmith.
Get). Marshall and Joseph Kellogg,
have been elected Directors of the
Navigation Comoanv lately organized
at Salem, for the navigation of the up
per Willamette.