The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-01-23
PRICE ONE CENT
LOCAL MArTHRs.

LOCAL MATTERS.
Frozen TO DeaA-Mr. james Sutton, Of Hpc.
yer county, lost valuable servant man, Jsrpes
by the storm, last Sunday night Jim ana fello,,
servant left their masters kitchen after supper r.
go to their quarters, distance of three hundred
yards. After getting short distance, the storm
was 30 terrific and the snow deep. that one d
the servants turned back and reached the kitchen
In safety, but Jim being anxious get to bis moth
er cabin, kept on, and when within about fifty
yards of the cabin sank down and perished The
next morning Mr. Sutton and bis servants turned
out to search for the unfortunate man, but did no,
morning.1
The Country People have suffered terribly by the
late storm and 1t isfeared that their suerings are
not yet at An end. Gentlemen inform us that
neignoornood roads and farm lanes are closely
packed win snow, In many places to the depth Of
SIX and ten feet, which will have to be cut through
with spades before Communicated can be effscted
10 the main roads. In many places the snow drifts
are up to the caves of the stables and barns and
hundreds of heads of stock and cattle have been
ouried anve. In the woods the trees are breaking
down with the accumulated weight hesped upon
them by the storm Those who had mot sunni;ad
themselves with wood, have been compelled 70 eo
to the forest cut it down, and carry il home On
their shoulders, stick At time, because of the i'm
possoh1ty OF doing anything with teams Sncb
distressing times were never before witnessed ir
Virginia.
Comfortable Snggestioa.-We have heard Il sur.
gested by . number of gentlemen that the citv or
the citizens should present each of the members of
the Fire Department with q comfortable overcoat
and pair OF pants, to be worn Ia cold weather,
when engaged in active service. Those who wit.
messed the arduous labors and extreme suffering
OF these gallant men Sunday night, will doubtless
say that the suggested present is well deserved
and should be made at once. An old citizen, in
speaking OF the subject yesterday, remarked to us
that he would not have taken the place of either of
the fremen, on Messrs. Burke & Eeg,eston's store
last Sunday night if $50 600 had been laid at his
feet for SO doing And yet despite the peltiugs Of
the snow storm, and the furious north " est wind
that blew complete hurricane, these men stood to
their posts, and fought the devouring element IN.
I'll they conquered it, thus saving from destruction
thousands OF dollars worth of property that must
have been consumed but for their noble self sacri.
hcing heroisur Most of the fremen are young men
OF no other means than their health and industry
They have no property to save and no ambition to
crafty, save that which arises from the desire to
protect the helpless and to preserve from destruc>
ton the property in our city. These being their
aims and ends, Is it not right and proper that they
should be furnished with the recessaries to make
them comfortable in discharging q public duty of
such vast moment to alli
"SeJh-The new American comedy, entitled
"Self. written by Mrs. Bateman, was produced at
our Theatre for the first time, Wednesday night
SO much had been previously said in its favor,
through the medium of the press that our citizens
were led to expect dramatic treat of great excel.
lence, and the house was densely crowded at an
early hour That all were delighted with the
piece and with the performance was plainly ap-
parent from the applause, which was occasionally
manifested in the most enthusiastic fashion "Self
Is really an admirable transcript of New York
fashionable" life, ii we may judge from the nu-
merous sketches pencilled by Northern editors and
authors, and sent forth to the world as undeniabe
truths. The character of John Unit, a retired
banker, somewhat selfopinionated, but yielding to
the gentle influences of childish affection, was
played in capital style by Mr. Owens; and that of
quite IS effective. We should take pleasure If we
had the space in alludipg to the performances of
each member of the company, all of whom acquit-
ted themselves well, and are entitled to much
praise. We hope they will take the will for the
deed, and rest content with the assurance that the
audience fully appreciated their efforts The night
was stormy, yet we have never witnessed a more
brilliant dress circle" than the Theatre present.
ed on the occasion. The piece will be repeated
tonight and we advise our readers to 60 and see
it, feeling satisfied from personal observation, that
it Twill pay"
The Railroads.&c. we except the one from here
to Petersburg-are all blocked up with snow, and
promise to remain impossible for several days to
come On the Central, Mr.. Dodamead, the Super,
intendent, is making every exertion to clear the
track. He has succeeded iu getting a short dis
tance beyond Hanover courthouse. On the Dan
vile Road, Superintendent Campbell has four To-
comotives steadily at work. and is going ahead a.
rapidly as possible Last Wedne sday evening be
succeeded in reaching the Coal Fields, q distance
of fifteen miles.
Fuel is extremely scarcssea and, as a matter of
course, is commanding ex6rbitant prices On
making enquiry of dealers in coal yesterday, we
learned that there was very little Of any kind ia
market The supply of soft coal was completely
exhausted, but as the Danville and PETERSBURG z
roads have been opened as far as the pits, the
yards will probably be replenished in the cour g
of to-day or tomorrow, when dealers will be
able to furnish consumers at prices varying from
S5. so to 81 per load, according to quality. This
increase in price, it is said, is occasioued by the
high wages Golfers compelled to pay for la
bor and the advance of one or two cents in the
bushel, they have made to meet the demands upon
them. Anthracite Coal is very scarce, and readi.
ly sells at prices ranging from $3.50 to $40 per
ton. Coke Is also scarce and has advanced in
value.
Pine and Oak Wood can only be had in small
quantities, as all the yards are empty or nearly
so, and the supply has to come from the country
timaing the cost per cord, except by the fact that
cart loads resembling q bundle of matches, were
readily selling for $l.5O We saw one load sold
at this price, which could not have contained
more than oHe-eighth Of a cord
Vasronts are less numerous in the city since tho
Council adopted the ordinance establishing the
"Chain Gang" as most of them who were in the
habit of wntering in Richmond before persons OF
their class were put to work on the streets, have
sought easier quarters elsewhere. The Gener.l
Assembly, on the 26 OF February, 1856 passed
an act establishing q Work House in Richmond, y
and the City Couocil, in pursuance of that act,
adopted an ordinance on the 2lst of July last di
recting the Mayor to order such persons ~ are
designated in the act of the Legislature, to be EN-
ployed on the public works OF the city under the
management of the Overseer Of the public hands.
Since the passage of this ordinance the Mayor ha
sentenced to the public works such men only as
are known to be common drunkards, or have been
found guilty of cruelty beating their wives; but in
no case has he ordered them to be confned with
chains and balls. As has been supposed. The ordi-
nance of the city afiixes the appendsges TO Its
pauper labor, as the following section will show:
FOR the more perfect security Of the prisooers
tae superinfeodent Of Streets shau hare prorided
ehdtn snd 0dA for each prisoner that may be wark ed
on the streets to be affixed his leg before leavins
JAIL
We have said that the establishment of The
chain gang has kept off scores of yarrants whs
would have wDtered here but for the fear of get
ting into IT, and in that respect has proved benet
cal to the city: Men must first degrade them
selves before they entitled to the privilege q
joining that corps; and when they are so far gons
~ to become habitual drunkards. and cruelty bea
and abuse their families, the afixing Of bali ant
chain 10 their legs can drag them no lower thar
they were before.
Contributions for The Poov.-It 10 now the duty
Of every citizen to aid the poor by liberal contri
buttons, - they are without food or fuel and ars
suffering severeiy from the sxtreme coldness eft tl'