The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-02-22

sly corner neartIy enjoyed inc success OF
his joke.
The miserably moist weather which we
have had for week back has brought out
the latent mud in all It's glory, and our streets
will comrare for filth with the Augean sta
bles Of ancient fable--only that we have no
Hercules to clean them. Never before have
they been so profoundly dirty, and at no for
mer time have our citizens been so much
alarmed ut their condition or complained so
loudly thereof. These complaints have ut
last been herd by the worthy Board that
presides over our municipal affairs, and they
have directed the proper authorities TO pro-
ceed against the offending parties. No sooner
was this resolution passed than our Street
Commissioner Arcularus resigned his post.
Contentcd to enjoy well-paying sinecurc,
the moment he found he would be compel
led to do his duty he abdicated. The pres
ent system has proved miserable failure.
The four contracts, on which the city pays
from $4,000 to $4,000 piece per amman,
have been given to men who have sought
the maximum of profit with the minimum Of
consideration. Sweepers are among tho
things that were The envious cobble.sioncs
are unable to lift thci heads above the SUI
pcrincumbcnt mass. If the mud were only
snow, we should have capital slcighing till
Michaelmas. Heaps Of filth are made up in
the streets by waggish houschodcrs with n
hat at one end and boots at the other, and
labelled ''Sacred TO the Memory Of the Con-
tractors" But alas. neither irony nor sup
pic;.tion tan move these rhinoceros-hidcd
gentlemen, and the city will have TO adopt
tie best remedy in its power. A council
man suggests rs an improvement that each
housekccper be required to have the walk in
front of his dwelling swept once week,
and that the Corporation carts be passed
around TO take up tho refuse bat this plan
would unqucstionably lead 10 difficulties ~
great rs those under which we arr now la
boring
Out Of IN aggregate Of I97 deaths repor-
ted IN tie city last week, 81 are from sin,ll
p"x; oven consumption, which usually heads
our list, yields in E,t;tlncss to the dangerous
epidemic. The Mayor has issucd procl.,-
nation advising all person, to get vaccina-
I'D, and informing the poor that they will
b. attcrd.d o fee If expense at the various
city d:sprEsarirs.
The report that the International Copv-
right treaty is again before the Senate has
revived the hops Of all friends Of Amrriea,
literature, III Ia, LIST the stigma of leg ,lised
piracy may b. wiped from our country's~s-
cutchron, and that rncour cement and pro-
lection extended to our authors without
which we can never have an Independent lit
crat"re Of our own. The publishers arr mo-
wing heaven and earth against the proposed
measure. 1t would 60 nightly ng,ins' their
grain To pay cash for the products Of En-
glishmen's br ins which they have So long
enj"yed the privilege of stealing withou, a
thank yon. II would cut this overbe. ring
and rorHrious class 10 the heart. 10 b. obi
g"d. having il no longer in their power ,o
draw yratui'ouSly from the English market
tn pay onr own writers Il rates commcnsu-
| rate ~i'h their deserts. They have pursued
tim" III they share their enormous profits
with the men who are In real producers Of
Tho wares which they are mcr. " the insight.
| fic' Mt means Of circulating. II is not 10 be
wondered that they struggle hard ag,;r 4
any measure which will have tendency 10
curtail their unrightcous g,ins. Cary nni
Hart. Of Philadelphia. and few Of the small
Try that follow in their wake, openly oppose
the Copyright treaty, and have issued a me-
mortal to the Senate, which they are eirru-
latIng for signatures among their fellow cor
mornnt-. Onr New York firms are all. with
III" single honorable exception Of Mr.. Pn,-
m, understood 10 he violently opposcd %
he law. The PIPER making interest is also
strongly arnyed ag inst Il, not from any
considerations Of public good, but simpiyb b.
cause less paper would be consumed and the
interests Of the crlff would suffer propc-.
tionately. II remains TO be seen whether
the SENATE Of the U. s. will allow such petty
considerations To weigh with them when
justice, IN well rs their country's ultimate
good requires at their hands prompt con-
currenee in the proposed treaty.
On Monday LAST, and ever since there hrs
been caekling in The city the like Of whi,h
has never before disturbed our metropolitan
musings. The great poultr show has
opened at the Museum, and Barnum nav be
emPhatically called the cock of The walk
Four thousand specimens have been entered
rs competitors 70, the vari"a~ prizes. They
comprise every variety Of fcaihered fowl, in-
cIuding "swans, shanghse-, dcrkiugs, BAN
tams, pheasanis, muscovies, Wild geese, rab
blts, and terriers-thouah Why the last two
classes are ranked In the category Of "pou'.
try" Il light puzzlea naturalist iotcll. The
show is a fine one. and calculated to do our
farmers mnch good BY calling their attention
to the importance " improving the breed of
their domestic fowls. Some of the shanr-
baes are lordly fellows, weighing over -
pounds apiece. The weather haa keen A..