The Record and Guide.





August 9, 1884





Presidential Prospects.

William S. Andrews, ex-comedian, ex-Assembly man. Iron manufac¬
turer, philosopher, humorist and politician, was, it is well known, the
chief of Samuel J. Tllden's famous literary bureau in the presidential
campaign of 1S76; He was met by the writer recently, who asked him if
he was interested in the election of Grover Cleveland.

"Yes," replied Mr. Andrewa, " I expect to have charge of the Demo¬
cratic litsrature of the campaign, I have spent money in getting up tbe
proper documents and hope aoon to receive the official recognition of ex-
Senator Barnum, chairman of the National Committee."

" What is the work you do ?' questioned the writer.

" Well," was the reply, '" we prepare text books for the benefit of editors
and orators. They are given the data and documents wbich supply tbe
Democratic ammunition during the canvass. All the facts and figures
tbat discredit the Republican platform and party are elaborately set
forth, as well as those wbich favor tbe Democratic party and ita candi¬
date. In other words, tbe Democratic press and orators are given all the
material tbey require for their writings and speeches."

"You think, then," said the writer, "that Mr, Cleveland will be
elected ?"

"I ceriainly do," was the reply, " and I should not be surprised if the
affair was a stampede from the Republican ranks before the close of the
canvass."

"But," urged the writer, "suppose the facts, or the alleged facts, which
discredit the private life of Mr. Cleveland were given to the public in
so convincing a manner as to be entirely credible, do you think that
beads of families would deliberately vote auch a person into the White

House ?"

" I do not believe that any statement about Mr. Cleveland's private life
will have any effect upon voters. The charges against Mr. Blaine affect¬
ing bis public morality have been before the country for years. They
form a part of tbe political literature of the country. Had these come to
light after Mr. Blaine was nominated they would have had no effect,
and so with any charge now brought against Governor Cleveland; even
if it were true, it would not be believed. The majority of voters are
swayed far more by prejudice and feeling than by facts, figures or argu¬
ments. The great mass of the community have au impression that Cleve¬
land is personally honest and that Blaine is politically dishonest, and no
arguments that can now be urged will change the views of the voters as
to the candidates."

Tbe v/riter subsequently met sevral real estate men, who thought very
well of Governor Cleveland as a reformer.^and said he would doubtless
make an excellent President, but another gentleman, largely interested in
real estate, was decidedly opposed to him. He said in substaucer " I don't
like Blaine, but I won't vote for Cleveland, altbough;a Democrat. I regard
the latter as a man with narrow views and a technical, captious temper.
He vetoed the Arcade bill, having no conception of that slendid improve¬
ment. He vetoed the appropriation for repaving Fifth avenue, the con¬
dition of wbich is a disgrace to the city. His veto of the biU to perfect
the work oE the State Geological Survey was unworthy of a person alt-
ting iu the seat of the great Governor Clinton. Cleveland, had he lived
in that day, would have fought the construction of the Erie Canal oo
legal as well aa economical grounds. He has the temper of a small office
lawyer. Look at his veto of \he new building law. For ten years we
have been trying to get a suitable enactment. At last one was passed
which was satisfactory to aU save the "snide" builders. Tbe Real
Estate Exchange, the iron men, aU tbe reputable builders and architects
and every honest and conservative interest in the trade favored that
measure. It was so popular and unobjectionable that it was thought
unnecessary to urge its claims strongly upon the Governor, but ho vetoed
it on the luost technical and trumpery grounds. He said, for instance,
that tbe word " aet " was used, when it should have been " title," and so
tbere will be several thousand imperfect houses erected in New York
during the next year because of a few verbal inaccuracies In tbe wording
of a needed enactment. One of his vetoes, however, I approve of, although
it is ore for which he is criticised most severely. I mean the five-cent fare
bill. The ground be took was impregnable, and so clearly right that the
Legislature could not pass the bill over his veto, nor was it even men¬
tioned during the last session. But, altogether, I have the Impression
that Cleveland is too smalt and narrow a man tor ao great a place. At
the same time I am too good a Democrat to vote for ' Jim' Blaine."





The Future of the Coal Market,

Mr. Austin Gallagher last fall, in an interview publlahed in The Record
AND Guide, confidently predicted that the coal stocks were certain to
depreciate in value because of the stoppage of manufactures, the over¬
production of anthracite, and the competition with bituminous coal roads.
His anticipations have been fully realized. The same gentleman now
takes a different view of the situation.

"I think," said he to tbe writer, "that all the coal stocks are a purchase,
with the exception, possibly, of Rending, and the price of tbat depends
upon tbe Vanderbilt influence. But I am now satisfied that Lackawanna,
Delaware Se Hudson, Jersey Central. Erie, and all the distinctive coal
properties are going to see better times. True, less iron is consumed than
formerly, and many foundriea and factories have closed up, but the
extraordinary fact remains tbat during 18S3 2,600,000 tons more coal was
mined and consumed than in any previous year. In the first six montha
of the current year the check to production waa only 600,000 tons, and for
the whole year I look to as large an output as that of last year. This
shows that despite the check to manufacturing tbere haa beeu a large
addition to tbe consumers of hard coal. Bituminous coal has also entered
more largely Into consumption. There ia not the slightest danger of dis¬
ruption in the coal pool. It would be an act of criminal madness for any
one company to cut prices and enter into competition with the others.
While the coal syndicate remains unbroken and conemnption rapidly





increases, there can be no doubt at all of the increasing value of the coal
stocks. I am just now interested In a ne^ company which will shorten
the distance between Pittsburg and New York about seventy-flve miles.
It will connect with the Lehigh "Valley road, and will expedite the bring¬
ing of anthracite coal West and tbe carriage of bituminous coal East.
Set me doi7n as a bull on the coal stocka."





Personal.

Kobert Goelet is staying at Newport for tbe season.

C.  C. Haight has just returned from a two week's trip on his yacht, the
" Frolic," now at anchor off Stapleton, S, I.

T. S. Clarkson is summering at his beautifully situated country seat at
C h id d in gstone-o n-the-Hudson.

Homer Morgan intends to remain in towu during the summer.

S. Van Rensselaer Cruger is spending a few weeks at Arondale,
Dutchess County, aud will return in August, after which he wiU go to
Oyster Bay for the season.

P. Le Brun is enjoying hia vacation at the Blue Mountain lakes in the
Adirondacks.

H. Henriques will not leave town this summer.

Geo. B. Post will summer at his cottage at Bernardsville, N. J.

John S. Pierce will leave for Ocean Grove in a few days, where he will
stay for the month, coming to business twice a week.

E. H. Kendall and C. W. Clinton, tbe well-known architects, are enjoy¬
ing a tour iu Europe and will return iu October.

D.  M. Seaman ia summering at the Blackburn House, Summit, N. J. ^
where he will remain until the beginning of November.

W. H. Folsom will spend his vacation at New Hamburg.

A.  F. Holly will leave next week for Greenfield Hills, Conn.

S. T. Meyer and A. L. Meyer are ataying for the season at their cottage
at Long Branch.
O. G. Bennett is staying at Cornwall-oa-tbe-Hudaon.

E.  E. Brevoort will spend his vacation at Norfolk, Conn.

G. A. Kissam has been staying at Memphremagog, and will remain
there till the beginning of rext month.

L. Z. Bach is staying at East View House on tbe Highlands of Naversink.

George W. Raynor has gone to Riverhead, L. I., to spend two weeks.

W. L. Hameraley left town yesterday for Saratoga, where he will stop
two weeks,

John Siegel is spending his vacation at the Catskills; he will return in
about a week.

William H. Falconer is spending the summer at Long Branch, N. J., and
his son, Wm. W, Falconer, is stopping at Madison, N. J.

S. F. Jayne is summering at Cooperstown, N. T.

I<. J. Carpenter will spend the month at Great Harrington, Mass.

Ch. Volzing has been to the Catskills and will return there in a
few days.

B.  F. Melrose is spending bis vacation at Ocean Grove.

C.  R. Gregor is staying at Liberty, Sullivan County.





Inspector of Buildings W. F. Esterbrook has been spending a well-de¬
served recreation during the past three weeks at Fire laland. During his
abaence, however, things do not seem to have run as smoothly as usual at
tbe Building Department. There is a good deal of complaint on the part
of owners and architects that they cannot get their plans approved, and
the smallest alterations have to wait for three weeks, owing to the
chief of the bureau being absent. Iu one or two instances, it is said, the
owners after waiting a reasonable time commenced work without their
plans being approved, having doue so on the advice of their lawyers. Mr.
Esterbrook has the plans forwarded to him to bis summer retreat, and a
delay naturally occurs. But how comes it tbat he did not appoint a
deputy to approve the plana in his absence ? Is it to be presumed that if
a future Inspector of Buildings takes a trip to Europe that the plans are
to follow him to that Continent, and that building in New York shall in
the interval remain at a standstill? Owners are naturally incensed at the
delay caused by the present condition of affairs at the Building Depart¬
ment. While we do not begrudge Mr. Esterbrook the rest he has so well
earned, it is quite clear that he ahould have appointed a deputy during hia
stay in the country,

--------•--------

The rise in the price of rags, due to tbe prohibition of rag importations
from Southern Europe, may prove a serious matter for the two and one-
cent papers. Our largest supplies come from Southern Europe, and thia
haa necessarily been cut off by our own government, to preserve the coun¬
try from tbe cholera infection. Our one and two-cent journalism is based
upon the theory of cheap paper for years to come. It is true that straw,
wood and other substances are now used in the manufacture of the
cheaper material, but the rag supply is after all the main dependence for
print paper. Who knows, perhaps the Herald may be forced to becoine a
three-cent daily and the newsdealers win after all.





The capitalists interested say that the injunction placed upon the Forty-
aecond street horse-car road cannot hold, as the law haa been strictly
followed down to the most technical requirements. Three-quarters of a
mile has been already constructed, aud the cars will bt- running from
river to river by the close of tbe year if no unusual impediments are
thrown in the way. Tbe opening of this line will be of great beneflt to
the central zone of the city,                                                                               -<





The electric railway at Brighton, in England, Is a success. It runs
along the shore every teu minutes, picking up passengers aa it goes, and
can be stopped, when hailed, as easily as an omnibus. Its motion is sliding
aud pleasant. Its capacity is apparently unlimited. It is to be extended
to the western end of the Brighton beach, aad ia then expected to yield a
very handsome revenue to its promoters.      ^^^^^^^^^^^

'J