Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-09-03
marble with the filth of his greasy paws or

muddy end Of his umbrella to illustrate its
points. Indeed, ladies will, at times, take the
parasol wet from their lips, and rub it thought
lessly over a chef d oeuUre that has cost years
Of genius and labor. Those finely executed
marble heads of Columbus, Americas, and
Lamartine, in the Presidents house, have
been thus shamefully vandalized by dirty
fingered vulgarians. But what's the use of
wasting ink, This IS free country; and
every citizen, of the class to which we refer,
wiH enjoy this peculiar American luxury Of
rubbing his fingers over the chin and nose of
a parian marble bust, upon which not even
the dust of parlor ought to be allowed to
settle. -
The Death Of Mrs. Commodore Joseph
smitn.-The demise of this estimable lady, so
long a resident of this city, shortly after the
dreadful railroad catastrophe in which she
was a sufferer to the extent of being bruised
and shocked by the conclusion, was not unex-
pected to her large circle of friends here, who
knew that the condition of her health was not
such as to justify the hope that she could sur
vive the excitement and arrangement Of the
nervous system consequent upon being in
car wherein many of the passengers were
killed and others mangled. She died in the
Naval Hospital in Philadelphia, on Saturday,
having been taken to the residence of its COM
mander, a family friend, when able to leave
Burlington. Her remains were taken to
Oak Hill Cemetery this morning, followed
by large cOncourse of mourning friends, who
previously attended the funeral services over
her remains at st. Johns Church
The Recent Catastrophe.-The following
suggestions, for which we are indebted to
friend, possess great force, and should De pom
dered over by. all interested in the manage.
ment of railroads;
The papers are censuring the Camden and
Amboy Railroad Company for not having pro.
Vided double track. 1t is just censure upon a
road connecting the two greatest cities of the
continent, and carrying the great stream Of
travel between the North and South.
This particular accident might have been
avoided had there have been "a double track
at this point, bu, the only security against
these accidents at crossroads is an inlexible
rule that the railroad crossing shall always be
over or under a bridge. The money to be paid
by this railroad company in damages to its
property and to the sufferers, or their heirs
would suftlce TO raise every road which crosses
above, or sink it below the level of the rail-
road.
In France, no railroad is allowed to cross a
country road at the same level. Necessity
compels canals to make this arrangement. If
wise regard for their own interests, and for
the safety OF their passengers, will not induce
railroads te adopt the same means of safety
let tho States or Congress enforce it by legis-
latlon; and for this purpose let the public press
take the matter in hand, and ali for legisla-
ton to secure our lives by well-fenced roads
and ,bri1ge crossings. Then there will be ain
end to the running over of cattle ard wagons
September L, 1855. MCM.
Dead.-Our fellow-citizens, though they will
| not be surprised to hear of the death of the
late venerable VIM. Cranch, Chief Judge of the
Circuit Court, and Judge of the District Court
for the District of Columbia, will with entire
| unanimity mourn him as great, learned, and
good man departed. Wequestion whether, take
him all in all, he had superior on the bench in
this country while in the possession OF all his
| faculties, though for short time past extreme
| old age had incapacitated him from the dis
| charge of the duties of his Judgeships No man
ever possessed more Of the confidence of his
| fellow-citizens one and all; having been, foI
| half century and more, looked up to in the
District of Columbia as the very embodiment
Of legal learning, practical sense, and stern
| integrity of purpose. For interesting partic-
ulars concerning this sad event. see the Stars
| local columns.
The Return Of the President, which took
place on Saturday, after we went to press, has
greatly enlivened the politicians in this city,
who had become shockingly dull during his
short absencs. There are several important
posts to be filed, none Of which are of more
interest to our district readers than that made
vacant by the death of the late venerable
Chief Justice of the U. S. Court for the Dis
trict Of Columbia. As is very natural, thi,
| community feel intense interest in that partic-
ular appointment. We doubt not, the Presi
dent will select some gentleman of we'll estab.
| liShed personal and judicial character, tho
roughly competent in all respects not only to
| command the confidence of the citizens of the
District, without distinction of party, but to
administer the law here as well as it il adj.
ministered in any State of the American Union.
Public Lands Reserved for Railroads, &c.
Lands which have been reserved to the United
States in acts granting lands to States for rail-
| road improvements, where the minimum was
more than 81 Is per acre at the date of the
passage of the graduation act of 4th August.
1854, are not subject to the operation of said
| act. 1t has, however, been held by the Cen
| eral Land Office, that, where entries of said
lands have been permitted at local land offices,
at the graduated prices, in virtue of valid pre-
emption claims under the act of 9th March
1854, the said entries may be confirmed upon
the claimants making the additional On yments
to the receiver Of public moneys required to
perfect the same at 81 % per acre
An Important Removal and Appointment
We understand that the President removed