The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-10
LOCAL M A TTERS

LOCAL MATTERS.
The CAsAL.-The Mayor of Washington, yes |
tsrday afternoon, transmitted an interesting COM
munication to che two Boards of The City Councils
with reference TO the canal. He thinks that active
measures should now be taken to place It IN COCO
navigaole condition throu ghout it's entire ieps'o'
and one of the most efficient means OF DONG 30,
he recommends that provision be maoe Io' Tue Pu'
chase of good steam dredging hacnihe' Inc
excavation remaining to be mace, anu Tue fe"'o''
of the deposits which are so rapidly acc umoihung
in thec,ual can be done with such machine more
.nss1iIv md with less expense than in any other
49, Ne has an offer from the patentee of the
II,;ng machine used at the navy yard in this
i,v who agrees to furnish to this corporation one
Of the same kind, but of fifty per cent. more pow
a. for the sum of 5 500, to be so constructed as
40 be worked either in the canal or in the river
There will also be required three wsto be used
with the dredging machine, which will cost about
s 900, and which may be built here.
The Mayor suggests that authority be given to
extend the whsrves at the Eastern Branch, on both
sides of the canal. The cost of extending them
about two hundred feet on the west eide and one
hundred and twenty five feet the east side, &C
cording to estimate prepared by the surveyor
and the commissioner of the western section of the
canal, will be S5,7O5 90 Theestimate ia for solid
wharves. The walls to be of stone built on piles
and the inside filled with earth The Mayo also
recommends that the wharf at the foot of l7lh
street be completed by raising the walls and fill.
ing it up according to the plan and estimate of the
commissioner Of the western section of the canal,
at a cost Of 5 ,632. In connexion with the fore
going, an appropriation will be necessary to com
pete the dredging of the canal, to finish and re-
pair the walls, and complete the towpath. For this
purpose an appropriation of about SIC 900 will
probably be required. The entire amount for all
of the atoye objects is S24 s37 90.
The Mayor says, in conclusion, that as soon as
the foregoing works are completed, the wharyes
will yield to the corporation annual con-
sldersbly more than The interest upon the whole
expenditure.
The communication was referred to the Joint
committee on the canal.
RAILsoAo PsoJEcrs.-In the Board of Common
Council yesterday Mr. Pepper introduced reso
luton, which adopted, requesting the Mayor
to call general meeting Of the voters of this city,
at as early day as possible, for discussing the
question to the ProPriety Of this corporation sub
scribIng to the capital stock Of the Orange and Al
exandria and the Metropolitan Railroad Compa-
MES The Board of Aldermen has yet to act upon
this resolution, also upon that heretofore passed
by the Board Of Common Council, proposing TO
submit to the people, at the June election whether
lney VIII consent TO subscribe six hundred thou
sand dollars towards the first named compan =; one
hundred thousand dollars of it for lateral branch
between Washington and Alexandria
The LIcsNsE QUEsTIoN.-The Board of Alder.
men at their meeting yesterday passed, by vote
OF ten against two the resolution of the Board of
Common Council proposing to submit to the peo-
pie the question of granting licenses for the sale Of
sPirtuous liquors; ballots ''for and against the
L. l.
the next June election The object is to ascertain
the public wishes, with a view to further action in
the premises.
The JUNE ELEcTros.-On next Monday after
noon there will be joint meeting of the Boards Of
City Councils for the purpose of electng commits.
sloners of elections for the several wards.
The May Festival to take place this evening
at Carus's Saloon will doubtless be numerously
attended. The ceremony of browning floral high
Mesa Queen of May-was, we learn, introd uced
by MIR. Carusi into this city nearly thirty years
ago.
CosPLrMssTARY.-The writer of this parng ph
had the honor, several days ago, of having pistol
pointed at him by small boy, who thus amused
himself on Pennsylvania avenue It is unneces-
sary to say tn sport was not mutually enioyed
The demand for firearms has largely increased
during the past year, especially among juveniles.
ANOTHER STONE FOR THE MoNUMENT.-At the
recent convention, in New York, OF the Medical
Association of the United States, committee of
five was appointed to socit subscriptions from the
members OF the association for the purpose of pro
curing a suitable stone, with an appropriate in
scriPtion for insertion, in the of the associa
ton, into the Washington National Monument
HE CoURTs.-The circuit court having twice
adjourned over since the fourth Mondayin March,
to accommodate the criminal court, (Which had
possession Of the court-room0 yesterday morning
regularly commenced the business of the term;
and the crimina court accordingly, had to remove
to the chamber of the Board of Aldermen, where
the Gardner trial was resumed
The WEATHER.-After several days of wet and
chilling weather, bright and genial sun Yesterday
gladdened the inhabitants, many of whom were on
promenade.
ARRIVALS AT THE HOTELS