Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-03-18


Supply OF WArER--Th Philadelphia North
american says:
aThe Washington ID CT Wlter Works
project is described in some OF the newspapers
as most expensive affair, the plan being to
take the water from tho Falls Of the Potomac
river, and convey it, by = brick conduit, four
teen miles long and nine feet in diameter to
the city Of Washington, supplying Georgetown
on the way The estimated cost is seven mill
lions of dollars; but as the cost Of Government
undertakings Of this description generally far
exceed the estimates it is expected, that this
seven millions will only be nest egg Works
Of such local character are certainly beyond
the province Of the National Government
Whether the plan adopted ID the best and
most economical, or not, it is for Congress to
determine. But why may not this District be
supplied with water And, if it may, who is
to supply it? Will our contemporary inform
ust If tho United States agree to restore to
the District all it has received from it, and to
pay taxes, and in oil other respects conform to
what is required of individuals, and also per-
NIT us to have local Legislature, then moth
ing Of this kind will be expected Of the General
Government. Bot, as matters stand, the inn
provement now projected will be no cxtraordi-
nary boon, especially as the General Govern
ment is itself 90 deeply interested in the supply
Of an adequate quantity Of water. II the works
now desired had been in existence two years
ago the west front Of the Capitol and the Ii
brary of Congress would not have been de-
stroyed nor would the Treasury and tho Post
Office Departments have been destroyed, a few
years earlier. The interests Of the nation are
indeed deeply involved in this improvement
bat, were it not 90, in view Of the peculiar dis
abilities OF the District Of Columbia, and the
relation OF Congress to it Us its only Legsla-
ture we feel well assured that its aid to so
necessary and SO benefcent a measure would
not be withheld
The plan in progress contemplates q brick
conduit from the Great Falls as is stated in
the above extract. 1t is contended by many
that this is as great an error. rs it would be
for Philadelphia to tap the Schuylkill fourteen
or sixteen miles above that city. On this point
alone, we believe, is there any difference Of
opinion here; and this, we presume, will be
finally set to rest during the present session Of
Congress. Another appropriation will hardly
pass through Congress- without clear and
satisfactory understanding Of this question.
HIGHWAY RoBRERY.-The most extrordina.
ry and outrageous act Of villany we have ever
known to occur in this city, was that commit
ted in public street on Thursday afternoon
A young lady, a neice Of the President was
walking down Third street, but half square
from Pennsylvania Avenue, when man, who
appeared to have been awaiting her approach
in an alley which passes through and around
the entire block Of buildings, advanced and
struck rude but not severe blow on hel
breast and at the same time seized her kerr
chief and portmonnoie. The lady grasped hel
property and held on to it until the fellow Lit
orally wrenched it from her, and then fec
through the alley. She pursued him some
distance, calling Tor help, but unfortunately
no one appeared in time to arrest him. Be
sides other things, The Iortmt nnoie is said Il
have contained valuable diamond ring.
SUDDEN DEATH.-We learn that q young
gentleman, named Scott died suddenly al
Georgetown College on Thursday, just as he
had sat down to dinner. He was afflicted by
disease OF the heart Mr.. Scott as we un.
derstand, was soon to take orders, and ocou.
pied at the time Of his death the Office Of pre-
feet Morning Paper.
10 We perceive that the Texas Creditors
are to have meeting at the National Hotel
in this city, on the 22d day Of this month.
-Mr. M w. Shaw, for two or three
years known in this city as the general agent
and correspondent of the Associated Press Of
the North, and who has been for the last eight
weeks confined to bed of sickness, is this af-
ternoon in dying condition, and, it is be-
lieved, cannot possibly survive the coming
night.
HUGH CAMERON.
nEALER In Books Periodicals. and Stationery,
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