Washington sentinel., 1854-02-08
YOfaI anS Yfrsonal.
The Proposed city Rallroad.-No. long

The Proposed City Railroad-Not long
since the board Of common council passed a reso-
luton, instructing the committee representing the
interests Of the city before Congress to ask that
body NOT to grant charter to any private company
for railroad purposes in Washington, without the
consent of this corporation and further, that they
ask that power be granted to this corporation 10
charter companies for the purpose of laying rail
roads through the avenues of this city.
This resolution was taken up for consideration,
on Monday night, in the board of aldermen, when
Mr.. Towers proposed substitute instructing the
city committee TO protest before Congress, earn
estly but respectfully, in the name Of this corpora
ton, against the passage of any bill authorizing
the construction Of any railroad designed to run
through the avenues and streets of Washington,
and having for its object some local purpose.
The preamble of this resolution commenced
with the assertion of belief that a mutilation Of
the great thoroughfare by a railroad would be in
furious to our citizens, and that the work was
called for al present. besides, it entirely local
in its character, not connected nor designed to
connect with any great line of mail railroad, but
designed exclusively for 0ealtravel, from one part
OF the city to another mere omnibus line from
Georgetown to the Navy Yard All Legislation on
this subject is of an entirely local character and
belongs Of right TO the people of Washington, by
the charter of the city and the right of every we'll
organized community to manage its local affairs in
its own way.
Mr.. Towers stated, in the course Of his remarks,
that, so far as he could ascertain, Congress will
grant the charter for railroad unless with the
sanction Of this corporation; and he adverted to
the fact that there is now on the statute-book a
joint resolution, instructing the committee before
Congress to ask that body to oppose all measures
which may be presented in either house for the
location of railroad through the avenues and
streets of this city, without the of the corpo
ration first obtained.
Mr.. Hill proposed an amendment to the pend
ing proposition, asking Congress that all power
over railroads through the streets and avenues be
entrusted TO this corporation. He wished to avoid
conflict between Congress and the corporation.
& The subject was referred to the committee on
Improvements.
The Kosciusko Case settled.-This case, it
is well known has been subject Of controversy
in the of this District for upwards oftwenty
seven years. The part which the gallant Pole
Kosciusko, bore in the battles Of the American
revolution is gratefully treasured in history. In
179S he made will and left President Jefferson
his executor; but Mr.. Jefferson did not qualify
In 1906, Kosciusco made another will, in which
he left a legacy to Kosciusko Armstrong; and in
1916 he made still another WILL in Paris, France,
in which he left some small legacies TO various
persons, revoking all former wills, but made no ref
erence to his property in this country Questions
involved in this last will came before Justice Pur-
cell, Of the orphans court, who decided that the
will executed in France, in 1876 was the last will
and testament and that it revoked all former wills
but that General Kosciusko died intestate to
the estate in the United States, and that his prop
erty descended to his heirs-at-law according to
the heirship proved in France.
An appeal to the United States circuit court for
this district was taken by one Of the parties, and,
with other questions from that court carried TO
the Supreme Court of the United States, where
the decision Of Judge Purcell on the wills above
referred to was unanimously affirmed, with de-
cision that distribution should be made accord
ingly; since which time the sum Of about $54, 900
has been received and secured to be paid to the
counsel for the heirs--a portion of it within the
past week. And it is coincidence that just
about that time the bust of Kosciusko, in plaster
was exposed to view in the rotunda of the Capitol
Assaults.-On Monday evening" about seven
o'clock the daughter of a man named Riston, re-
siding on Virginia avenue, between First and
Second streets, went to the pump for water, when
a rufian attempted to take her bucket from her.
She ran and informed her father Of what had oc-
curr ed, when he sailed forth with an axe, which,
however, the rufian seized and then left the
premises; but, while the father and daughter were
returning to their home, the fellow ran up to Ris-
ton and dealt him blow over the left eye with the
axe, wounding him dangerously.
On the same evening, party Of five men went
into a groggery on street, near Twelfth, and,
after drinking some of the proprietor's whisky,
beat him numerically. One Of them snapped
pistol at him, which missed fire. The victim was
lying dangerously i'll yesterday.
Obituary.--Died, on the 9th instant, at Auburn,
New York, in the 3Sth year of his age, KLEIN
w OODWARD.
Mr.. Woodward was well known as printer
from one extreme of the Union to the other. Hon.
est as the day, he was also as gentle as child.
Kind frank, affable, and generous, he would at
any time share his last dollar with one who need
ed charity. For many years he was connected with
the government printing, and he fulfilled all his
duties with the most scrupulous fidelity. He
visited Constantinople some three years ago, and
on his return contracted fatal disease (consump-
tion) which has borne him the grave in the very
meridian Of manhood. True to his friends, faith
full to all the duties that devolved on him, he died
sincerely beloved and deeply lamented. Peace to
his ashes.
Presentation.-A few days ago we gave an
account of the presentation of pipe and now take
pleasure in recording the presentation of beauti-
ful and costly writing-desk. The boys never
slow in following the examples of men, whether
good or bad. On Friday or Saturday, the pages
connected with the House of Representatives,
presented Mr.. McKnew, the dooskeeper, with that
article, which was literally filed with fine writing