Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-04-04
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

10 ADVHkrIsEks.--Ihe daily circulation OF the Or
gan IL far greater than that Of any paper in the city
with exception and the weekly circulation which
already reaches nine thousand Is increasing at the
rate Of twenty-five hundred month. 1t has increas
ed at this rate with remarkable regularity, from the
first month Of its publication. Advertisers who wish
to give their advertisements wide circulation, should
bear these facts in mind The daily Organ is dstrb
nted chiefly in Washington, Georgetown Alexandria,
Fredericksburg, Richmond, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and
Baltimore. The weekly Organ is sent 70 every quar-
ter Of the Union.
A HOUSE, on REFoRAATIoE FoR JUVENILE oRrEE-
DERs.--An of our citizens who have ever had occa-
sion 10 be in and about the guard house, criminal
court or magistrates Offices, who have read the
reports of the doings at these judicial seats must
have perceived the exceeding large proportion of
youths in the number OF maletactors and law-ohen-
ders who are brought to these places 10 have JUS
tice melted out TO them. 1t is really painful 10
look upon youths, from nine to thirteen years old,
and TO hear them charged with the most daring
robberies and misdemeanors. II must appear ra-
tional 70 evey thinking man, that to send such
boys 10 the jail or the penitentary to expate these
offences is only sending them TO an academy of vice,
whence they win become adopts in every species of
wckedness which, before their entrance into this
school they had not dreamed Of, and which also,
they would DO Very apt TO attempt at the expiration
Of their term, prompted as they would be alike by
necessity and their curiosity, in relation to the
success Of the trick ITSELF which they have learned.
From this they 60 until, again entangled in the
law, they spend another short term in the peniten
tiary, from which they usually graduate with all
the honors and virtues Of an accomplished thief, or
burglar.
The object OF punishment is supposed to be re-
formation, and not revenge, and the beat means of
promoting this end, in regard to juvenile offenders
against the laws seems to US to be in the estab-
lishment of an intermediate place Of correction
where all white offenders, both male and female,
under the age of sixteen years, might be sent upon
conviction of any penal offence, and where they
should be required to work and study certain
number of hours, improving both the body and
mind. Their term of sentence should be until they
reached their majority, and young men and women
might come from such ain institution with moral
feelings good trades and stout hearts, in the very
beginning of their maturity, and make better cit-
zens than those who may have had full liberty to
run the streets during their youth. We win not
enter into details, however, but urge the import
ance Of the general proposition upon our citizens
one which is absolutely necessary for the future
protection of life and property, which cannot but
be more endangered by the speedy increase and
manufacture of criminals which is now going on
in our penitentiary and Jail.
viii our peace-loving, wise, and philanthropic
citizens take this matter into consideration, and
act as their own hearts must necessarily dctates
FOR THE ORGAN.
Mr. Editor: As you are expected to know eoeyy
thing, and to keep your readers booked up in
all important changes, viii you be pleased to pub
fish that section Of the recent postage law requr-
ing us, as notified by our city postmaster, to pre-
pay after LIST January, 1856, all our letters "exc.u
siyely by stamps, or stamped envelopes 7" can't
find the section AGO.
In answer to the above, we win state, that there
is no such section in the act. This portion of the
postmaster's notice is based upon the following
clause in the act, which closes the Cd paragraph
"And from and after the first day of January
eighteen hundred and ffty-six, the Postmaster
General may require postmasters to place postage
stamps upon all prepaid letters upon which such
stamps may not have been placed by the writer's.
By this it is plain that the writer's not re-
qured either to use stamps or stamped enve
opes but all letters must be prepaid to insure
transmission through the mails. While on the
subject we viii also say that until January !, 1885,
stamps or stamped envelopes not required TO be
used the act merely stating that the rate of three
cents for each letter shall be charged where the
distance il is to be conveyed does not exceed 5000
miles, not mentioning whether ii is to be paid by
stamp not, leaving it, as We think, entirely at
the option Of the writer.
FIRES IN VIRGISIA-0n Sunday last Judson's
barn, at the Falls Church, Fairfax county, was
burnt down, and the fire communicated TO the adj
acent woods, and did considerable damage Sew
eral other fires in the woods occurred on the same
day in the same neighborhood.
A large quantity Of wood corded up-about five
hundred cords--on the line of the Orange and
Alexandria railroad, three miles above Bfistoc,
caught fire on Monday morning from a spark from
nd he tVh ala wan Tha
wood belonged TO Mr.. William A. Bowen.
ALMOST A FIRE-The counting-room of Messrs
J. b. Ward Bro, corner of 18th and b streets,
was slightly damaged by fire this morning. The
fire caught from the stove-pipe where it projected
from the inside, and the roof was Invested OF shin
giles at short notice, which stopped the progress of
the combustion.
The alarm of FIRE about IL O'Clock last night was
raised in consequence of very bright light seen
in north-easteily direction As IL was long dis
lance from town, none Of the firemen repaired to
the place, and We are unable to state the origin or
effect of the fire.
We ascertain, however, as We 60 TO press, that
Il came from the barn Of Erasmus J. Middleton,
ESQ, the worthy Secretary Of the Board Of Alder
men, which was totally destroyed. The place is
about three miles from the city, in north east di
rection. 1t contained quantity ofhay, &c, which
was also consumed.
The loss is considerable, and not covered by in
surance, 40 far az We can learn.
FIRE ~ GEoRGETowN.--Last night about eight
o'clock, an old barn on the Virginia side Of the
river, opposite Georgetown, near the aqueduct
was destroyed by fire. The light was quite bril-
liant and gave the impression Of large fire in that
vicinity. The loss is comparatively tri6ing, as Il
was occupied for fish house, and was Of very
little value.
New MusIc.-We were In the music store Of
Messrs Hilbus Hitz few days ago, and observed
two new pieces Of music, which they have just pub
lshed, one OF which IL composed by "W. b."
young gentleman Of this city, entitled "Why did
Love False Flora" and the other, the Rose
Cottage Waltz" by r. T. jackson, Of the 9th regi-
ment Of T. S. infantry.
This enterprising firm have lately received a
" Capriccio," and two "Morceaus Dc Salon, by
by Wollenhauft, and "Immortele," by Gockel,
the pianist who accompanies Paul Julien in bis con-
certizing all three Of which brilliant and fash
ionable pieces.
"WHAT's THE MATTER.-The denizens Of the
neighborhood complain loudly that the pump Mt