The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-27
Local Matters.


at a few minutes past nine o'clock, the franklin
and Perseverance engine companies-or, rather,
about thirty four members in allstarted for Alex
andria, light being visible in that direction
though wide spread connagration there
| raging. In fact, it soon reported that six
warehouses were in flames! After a very fatiguing
journey of over two hours, our fremen, dragging
three four pieces Of apparatus after them, ar
rived in that city. All the people, except the few
watchmen, seemed to be asleep, SO quiet were the
streets, and lights being only seen from houses
&c few and far between They learned that the
Alexandria frcmen declined going to the fire 80
they discovered that it seven miles of,
or twice that distance from Washington Our fire.
men, therefore, wisely concluding that further
advance was useless, sought sleeping quarters at
the watchhouse, and yesterday morning returned
to Washington in the first boat.
We learn that the fire about fourteen miles
from this city, on the Virginia side of the river.
| and that the farm house and ouibuildings Of Mr..
Isaac Kell were entirely consumed.
AN EXTRAORDINARY FEAr.-On Sunday night,
after eleven o'clock, two men came dashng down
Seventh street in buggy One Of them held the
reins, while the other continued to beat the horse
to make him tho faster. Near the corner Of
Seventh street and louisiana avenue there are
several high brick piles; and to the top of of
them the animal was driven with great violence.
The horse bled and fell; and there were the
horse and the buggy "high and dry" The pas
sengcrs being intoxicated, did not seem to realize
| the danger which they had escaped The Mayor
of the city, being at the time, hastencd to the
spot, and, anxious to relieve the parties from their
dilemma, procured, from the watchhouse, the as
sistancc of six men, who, after much toll,
/ crnd tho and chirlc (which was
what damaged) to the level of the street. These
were sent to Humphreys siablc--they belonged to
| Mr.. Geffcrs, at the Navy Yard---and the reckless
drivers conveyed to the watchhouse, in order
| to give them opportunity TO recover their sober
senses and subsequently they were scverally sent
to their homcs The brick pile is about FIVE feet
| in height; and how the horse and buggy got
| upon it is marvel
| INV SucTIoN Enthusiastically morning,
| the Sun Fire Company, of Alexandria, Va, ar
| rived in this city, and marched through Seventh
street and Pennsylvania avenue, route to the
| railroad station. They in uniformed
Shirts dark pantaloons tipped at the bottoms with
| red, and light caps. A band of music accompa-
MED them. They returned, dragging after
them, homcwards, beautiful suction engine,
manufactured for the company by MIR. +. Davis,
| of Baltimore, and which arrived by the eleven
o'clock train. 1t was adorned with little Ameri-
can flags and wreaths OF choice flowers, and at.
tracted general admiration. We saw, by hasty
glance, on the front panel picture OF female,
and at her side the coat Of arms of the United
States. On the panel in the is the rcprcscn-
tation of an Indian aud squaw on horseback
Gaping over a stream from prairie FIRE. On
the right panel of the gallery is a painting of
Washington, and by his horse; on tho left,
the coat of arms OF Virginia-"Sic Semper Ty
ranns." There are chasto heavy brass mount
ings, and miniature casts of tho National Capitol.
blaze of sunlight added much brilliancy to
the general appearance OF the ''machinc," the
cost of which. we learn, was S ,0o5
SINKING FuND.--In obedience 10 the seventh
ton OF the act to provide for the payment Of the in
tcrcst and the redemption of the principal of the
funded debt of the corporation of Washington, APP
proved May D, 1871, the commissioners of the
sinking fund (NIessrs. Lenox, Mayor, John w.
Maury. and N. Calan,) yesterday evening sub
mittcd to the two Boards of tho City Council a re-
port their proceedings since their last report of
May 81 1850, and conclude follows, viz:
"By referring to the last report of the commis-
sioncrs, it will be that the of tho six
per cent funded debt redeemed at that time
$3l 900, at the cost Of S3I ,005 20, which, added
to the amount redeemed as above, makes the total
amount redeemed up to this time (May 20, 1851
S43, $50, at cost of $i3,475 30, exclusive of the
above sum of SIS 43 paid for interest, while the
amount applicable under the said act TO that pur-
poac WINS $43,532 81.
1.-The sinking fund act of May %, 1877, went in
to operation with tho quarter ending September 80
lsf7. Under its operation, therefore, in css than
four ycars the debt of this corporation has been re-
duccd $4S, 560.- The reduction the first year was
$l0,6So, and the last year was $3.50, at which
rate of increase annually the whole debt of the