The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-05-04
LOCAL MATTERS.

LOCAL MATTERS.
Ar ARssrAL roa THE voIuHrEEa MflrrrA.-
More than year ago memorial was addressed
ITO Congress by gentlemen connected with our sew
oral military companies, asking for the erection Of
an arsenal at the Government expense for the use
OF the volunteer militia. The southwest corner of
the square on which the E Street Medical College
is located, near the City Hall, was suggested as
suitable site for that purpose. The committee of
the Senate 70 which the subject referred failed
to act spon it defnitively. owing to the alleged
press Of legislative business but trust that sue.
CO.'S may attend the laudable effort in the future
Considering that the arms made use of by our
companies belong to the General Government and
that the volunteers are always ready to defend the
capital and protect the public property, should
emergency requiring their services arise, the
memorial asked for nothing unreasonable or In
compatible with the public interests. At present
each company, from it's own private resources, 10
at charges for an arsenal while the larger portion
OF our citizens enjoy costless exemption from any
militia service wbatever-the laws requiring
''muster" having been ridiculed out of existence
years ago.
But not alone for our military should such an
arsenal be erected. There should, in connexion
with the building, be repository for the better
some of which rotting and falling to pieces in
the Navy and War Departments, and elsewhere,
for the want of that care which their perishable
character requires. Properly displayed, they
could not fail to be objects of deep interest to the
thousands of persons constantly visiting the
tropolis Of the Union.
The President of the United States, on Monday,
when waited upon by the officers of the District
regiment of volunteer militia, assured them that
every thing consonant with propriety would be
done to secure the desired object; the Secretary of
War, near by, bowling ready assent. Having made
so favorable an impression upon the Executive,
we trust that the legislative department will re-
spond, in substantial manner, thus practically
furthcring the views of our gallant volunteers and
their accomplished officers
DoSErTI's WONDERFUL TROUPE of acting m on.
keys, dogs, and goats commenced a series OF their
amusing performances at the National Theatre on
Monday evening. They evidence extraordi-
nary degree Of intelligence and skilful training,
and created great amusement to the large
dcnce in attendance. The whirling performances
of Herr Won Spingalen also very extraordi-
nary, and displayed great skill in his peculiar art
The entertainment concluded with beautiful
display of "dissolvng views' of several prominent
scenes in ancient and modern history, which are
truly of character (for fidelity of the picture,
beauty of colorng, and effect of light I'd shade
rarely equalled, and have never been excelled, by
any pictorial views We have ever witnessed. This
part Of the entertainment is to US the most pleasing,
and ito principal feature and is of itself alone we'll
worth visit These performances will be CONT
nued, we learn throughout the week.
PLANK RoAD.-Mr. A. b. Davis, of Montgomery
county, Maryland, is now in Washington, obtain
ing subscriptions for plank road, to connect with
that out Seventh street to the District boundary
line The contemplated improve m>nt for travel
will extend to Mechanicsville, distance of four
teen miles. So popular is the project that already
fifteen thousand dollars worth of the stock has
been taken by persons living along the line; and
the prospect is that the work will at once be com
menced The importance of easy and safe
transit of the vegetable products of that and the
adjoining fertile neighborhoods to this city is 80
apparent as to require argument to commend
it to public patronage.
BALL OF THE MoNTeoMERY GUARDS AND FLAG
PREsENTATIoN.-T fine corps Of Montgomery
Guards, Captain P. b. Key, after their grand pa
rade of the day, had splendid ball at Jackson
Hall in the evening. The spacious saloon was
crowded, the company comprising mainly the
sons and daughters of Erin, with a number of dis
| companies
and of the army. Previous to the commencement
of the festivities of the occasion, Mr.. F. McNer-
hany, on the part of a number of patriotic ladies
of Washington, presented the Guards with a
beautiful American flag, accompanying the pre-
sentation with fervent and eloquent speech, do
ing full justice to the fair donors, and eciting the
most enthusiastic applause and encomiums from the
auditory Captain Key received the starry token in
impressive silence, the illusions of the speaker
to his honored sire seeming to affect him deeply,
when the flag passed to the ensign amidst the
hearty cheers of the gallant Montgomeries. The
ball continued in fine spirit till the usual hour
of separation-all departing with delight at the
evenings pleasure.
BASKfSe.-To the question asked by the asses
sors of real and personal estate, What is the
amount OF capital employed by you in your bust
ness as private banker, broker, money lender?"
the Bank of the Republic replied, five thousand
dollars; the Farmers and Merchants Bank, six
thousand dollars; and the Columbia Bank ten
thousand dollars. 1t would be inter esting to learn
the precise amount of email notes, issued as cur
rency, by these institutions, based real as
{ sumed capital However, the public not 80
generous towards such concerns as heretofore and
have lost confidence in them.
,
principally of young men residing in the Seventh
Ward, celebrated the coming in of the "merry
month of May" by ball, at Island Hall, on Mon
day evening. 1t we'll attended, and every
thing passed off very pleasantly.
The TARGET FIRIso.-W e unintentonally omit
ted from account of the target firing by the
military Monday the factthat the Marines like
wise fired for silver cup, presented for the pur
pose by the officers of the militia regiment, and
that Sergeant Hamilton won it,
The PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STArEs accom-
panied by his Cabinet, paid visit to the Smithso.
nian Institution yesterday morning.
LIQUOR LICENSE QUEsTroN.-The Board of AL
dermen have made the resolution from the Board
of Common Council, submitting to the people for
their decision at the ensuing June election the
question of license license for the sale of spi-
rituous liquors, the order of the day for Monday
next.