Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-04-08
CINCINNATI CORRESPONDENCE.
CINCINNATI, April Sd, 1854.

hS PioPSi 'Hhitsj auu tHSiV 40 Shou6" 1890
to answer all purposes OF travel and trans
portalion. The boats at the landing are
crowded with freight and passengsrs-emi-
grants for the West and Merchants for the
East. The hotels are quite full Of merchants
who trade here, laying in their Spring stock
Of goods, and on Pearl and other business
streets the piles Of boxes, sc. on the side,
walks afford abundant evidence OF the CON-
mercial importance of the " Queen City,
Improvements in the shape Of new build.
ings, constructing and beauifying old
ones, show that we are fully keeping UP
with the progress of the age.
The municipal election comes off to-day,
and, as is always the case when ia. offices
are to be filled, the contest will be quite
animated; but as the common schools
question, which formed SO exciting a feature
of the election last Spring, then received q
definite settlement by the decisive vote on
tia, occasion, and there being but compare
lively few Offices to ill, it excites but little
interest beyond the immediate partizans oil
the various candidate. The Irregular De.
mocra,ic Ticker will no doubt be elected
A determined effort is being made to re.
lieye the streets of the plethora Of omnibus
ses, carriages, and other vehicles, by adopt
ing the New York method Of railroads in
the streets. An application 10 the City COun'
Gil for permission 10 lay tracks thro' Front,
Columbia and other streets, altogether some
four or five miles in length, has just been
reported upon very favOrabIy by the commit,
tee 10 which II was referred. The memorials
both for and against were very numerous, and
the subject seems to have received thorough
consideration. The report is indicated by
able and lengthy argument. There are some
thousands Of industrious citizens, who de-
vote their days 10 business III the heart OF
the city. and whose families are located in
Kentucky. They are compelled to this course
by the want of cheap, convenient, prompt
and ready communication with the suburbs
of this city, and the difficulty of getting con-
venien, locations for their families on this
side Of the river. The committee say that
these railroads, as now constructed, do not
oos,ruct the streets, nor interfere with the
receipt and delivery Of merchandise By
drays, &C., upon the streets which abut on
them. The rails are laid flush with the level
of the pavement, with u suuken groove, not
more than one inch in width, excepting per-
haps in shor, curves around the corners OF
streets. a question has been started since
this Report has been made, as to how much
those making the application will pay for
the privileges they ask. As these railroads
yield large returns in New York, every COM
pany pays quite bonus into the city treas,
ury; and as there seems to be no doubt but
that they will be profitable here, a like rule
ought to be established. H.
Cincinnati has the honor Of first success
fully applying steam TO the fire engine
Committees all the way from the estate o.
Bosting,n including Mrs. Darlington, it wa:
said have been on visit with the view o.
seeing "ihe Bull Of the Woods" as the steam
fire engine is called, as well as committees
from other cities. 1t is the curiosity of th'
city, visited and wondered at by our owl
citizens and strangers, and is certainly thu
most effective machine known, in the wa.
of fire engines. have seen it in operation
some two or three times, and despair Of CIV
ing any adequate idea, or description Of it
In general appearance it resembles a locomo
tive engine. The city has built apartments
specially for it, where also, four horses ar
kept harnassed, in readiness for emergencies
When alarms are given, the horses are hitch
ed in, and while on the way to the scene o
action, steam is SCOT up 1t supplies i'sel
with water, and throws four streams upo
the devouring element, and ncrcr tires. !
is very heavy and cumbersome; though tn
builders Of this are constructing another
much lighter, and introducing other improve
ments. Indeed all sorts Of labor is bein
cheapcned and facilitated by this motiy
power. There is here locomotive stem
poOd.saw, which cuts up your fire-wood a
your door. The latest idea have seen,
met the other day near the canal. in tn
German quarter Of the city. This was nc
thing less than small grndstone, for grind
ing scissors, knives, &C., propelled by a mir
iature steam engine, all mounted upon some
thing like a wheebarrow. The scissor.grir
der was slowly passing along the pavement
ringing his bell, with steam up, boiler HIS
ing and smoke pouring out of the little chin
ney, followed by a crowd Of curious boy
men and women, and ready for a job.
OHIO.
Extract Of q Letter to the Editor date
Cuuppp,.Nn Nil. April a, 1854,