Daily American organ., 1856-08-29
CITY INTELLIGENCE.

.
BUILDme.-Thsre is at present bat smsl
nuinber Of buildings in progress In this city, which
is always the case under Locofoco administrations
During the last two years Of Mr.. Fflmors's admin
istration more valuable buildings were erected il
Washington than In the four succeeding years.
Still, we are happy to state that our mechanic,
are not altogether out Of work.
The Attorney Generals new house on street
Franklin square, Is under roof On the opposite
side OF the square, ON street. an elegant house
is nearly completed for the occupancy Of Mr.. Jus.
tice Campbell of the Supreme Court. This is one
of the most spacious and commodioas houses in the
city, and has been taken by Mr.. Campbell for five
years, at q rent Of 81 200 per annum.
The magnificent house Of G. w. Riggs, already
noticed, win cost 100000. Mr.. Riggs has also
bought the adjoining Gothic house Of Elisha Riggs
for $4,000, and win take it down, IL Is said for
the purpose OF extending his grounds.
In the suburbs OF the city many small houses
are gong up.
On Louisiana avenue, opposite our Office, two
three-story brick stores, owned by Mr.. Lyons, are
nearly completed.
On Pennsylvania avenue, between Tenth and
Eleventh streets, the Messrs Snyder have In course
Of construction two four-story stores cf large di-
mensons
On II street, between Ninth and Tenth, Mr..
Brown is erecting large four-story dwelling,
hSoAtJ okSpOSASO tuc OfPueu Asylum. 4
The Asylum itself is being enlarged by the ad.
diton OF wing on the west side.
The German Catholic Church, on Fifth street,
has been ornamented with tower In the Sara
cenic style
The new Wesley Chapel, on the corner of +
and Fifth streets, is rising rapidly. 1t will be one
OF the largest churches in the city.
LIBRARY FOR NORTHERN LIBERTIEs-Any one.
on stepping into one of our popular periodical
bookstores, and casually examining the contents
Of the pamphlets and newspapers on the counter,
would come to the conclusion that they were got
up expressly for the qualification OF a vitiated
taste; and that If the art Of printing was exer-
cised only for the dissemination of such works Il
had better never have been discovered This, in
deed, has often been my own reflection upon the
subject; and have joined with others in exclaim-
Ing against the demoraizing tendency Of the liter
ature Of the day, the deterioration of the public
morals, and the depravity of the rising generation
But then, again, let him 60 into any public H.
bTary, and look into the works of some of the
writer's of the last two centuries which have come
down to us classic, and whose names were in
their day held in high respect, and he will find
that many Of them rival in grossness the worst
productions Of these modern writer's, many, of
whose names are held in no respect at all In fact
if the icentous literature of the l7th century was
less mischievous than that of the present time it
was because il was not SO widely disseminated;
and those who are old enough to recolect the
youth of forty years ago, think will agree with
me, that they were not on an average, equal in In
telligepce morals to the present rising genera
ton, whom do not.desire to fatter for, with us
ALL there is still room for improvement
All this shows that, Notwithstanding the amount
Of trash spread abroad by our now steam-driyen
presses, there is still enough cheap literature of
useful kind to make its mark on the time, and to
enable the laboring man who chooses to bring him.
self up to an intellectual as well as political
equality with the wealthy and college taught
For am in favor of that mode of bringing man
kind to an equality which consists in lifting the
low, and not dragging down the high
was led into these, perhaps not very edfying
reflections, by being informed that the Northern
Liberties Fire Company had gathered collection
of books, which is to form the nucleus of library
for the use Of the members; and particularly OF
that portion OF them who are organized into an
Active Association" and who, by turns remain
all night at the engine house.
For the purpose Of raising funds to increase their
library, as well as to procure shelves for the books
now in their possession, the company propose to
give CotIon Party at their new building, corner
OF New York avenue and Sixth street, on the eve-
ming Of Thursday, September 4th, 1855, to which
they invite their friends, and where we are assured
everything will be done in style to please the
most fastdious
All who partake of this delightful recreation will
have the satisfaction of having contributed to the
laudabe object of raising up institution the ten
dency of which viii be to amuse and diffuse know
ledge among respectable and meritorious class Of
men, whose philanthropic and successful efforts in
saving the property of their fellow citizens from
destruction, are not in my humble opinion, always
appreciated as they deserve. FRANKLIN
THR EXCURSION TO NORFOLK AND OLD PoIsr
CoaFoRr.-By reference to the advertising col
umns it will be seen that the Powhatan has been
engaged for another trip to Norfolk and Old Point
Comfort, the excursion to be under the same man.
agement as on the former occasion. OF the late
trip, we hear all who participated speak in terms
Of qualification; and, aided by their enlarged ex.
perience, the managers viii doubtless contrive
to make the present excursion more satisfactory
than the last.
The time assigned for the Powhatan to leave
this city is P. NJ. this evening
The tickets are put at the remarkable low rate
Of 81 so for the round trip.
NATIONAL THEATRE.--An overhowng house was
assembled last night, for the benefit Of the Flor
ences, and the performance went off with great
spirit and eclst.
Mr.. Florence as Lord Flanagan convulsed the
audience with laughter. His delineation of tipsy
Irishman suddenly elevated by prize in the lot
lery 10 tne possession Oh castle and an estate In
France, was admirable.
Mrs. Florence as the Yankee Maid to Mrs.
Gumption, an American lady travelling In France,
was as usual, inimitabe, and sang her famous song,
Ny Mary Ann" with dramatic and laughter-mov-
ing effect
We regret to part with these amiable perform
ers and hope that the success of their recent en-
gagement will induce them soon to revisit the
boards of the National
The regular season win commence on Saturday
night with Romeo and Juliet Romeo, Mr.. Daven-
port; Juliet, Mrs. Davenport. We can promise
our readers finished and attractive performance