Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-07
SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.


SPIRIT OF THE MORNING PRESS.
The Union to-day publishes the following
gratifying synopsis of the result Of the test of
the capacity of the eulverts of the great Wash
ington aqueduct, involved in the late almos.
unprecedented storm along its line:
"The effects Of the late almost unexampled
rain upon the works Of the aqueduct NAV be
looked upon with some interest by our citizens
They Will be gratifed to know that the flood
which raised some of the streams higher than
they nave been since lS47 passed Off without i'm
jury: No culvert was overloaded not one was
nled entirely ful. One Of the smaller culverts
OF the arch but the discharge at its lower end
being free, this was only half full. This being a
pipe culvert, of rapid descent under a high bank,
would have borne a rise of water three or four
times as great without injury.
"The result Of this, the first severe trial to
which the new culverts of the aqueduct have
been submitted, was looked to with interest by
the ngineers, and il is such TO give assurance
that, with proper attention the part Of those In
charge to prevent a culveIt from being choked
with drift, rain storm likely to occur here will
ever be able to displace brick or stone OF these
works.
I" The Little Falls branch rose about eight feet;
1t broke into the canal; the culvert intended
to pass its centre under the canal having been al
lowed, IN course of years, TO become DISTRACTED
with stone and gravel the consequences are, two
breaks in the canal and an interruption to naviga-
ton.
"The contractor for the receiving reservoir on
the aqueduct suffered some little danage-one of
his shanties being carried away-but the work
done by the flood, in cleaning out the bed of the
stream for him, is probably a compensation for
all damages.
By the rain guages 1t appears that there fell
AZ the GTeat alls, sixteen miles from the city, a
little more than inches Of rain; at Cabin John
valley, nine miles, inches; at the Little Falls
six miles, So inches; III town, 6 lilo inches"
The Intelligeacer effectively disposes of the
last mare nest, in the way of on cutlery against
the Post Office Department. 1t is that the mails
heretofore transported by the Northern New
York railroad, from Ogdensburg to Rouse's
Point, are greatly disarranged and delayed, to
the great detriment of the interests of those
depending on that route for mail facilities
The blame for this state of things is of course
thrown on the Department, which will not come
to the terms Of the railroad company, and is
accordingly just now being roundly abused by
the northern New York opposition press gene
rally, and those journals particularly that are
In the interest of the particular corporation.
To all this the LnteiIigeneer replies, spiking
the gun most effectually. We extract from its
reply sufficient to enable the reader to see that
this case is but another one of the many in
stances in which railroad companies in dealing
with the Department, sacrifice the interests of
those for whose benefit they hold chartered
privileges, In order to gouge the Government:
1.-The above line, we have authority for saving"
Is not chief connecting link between Boston
and the West, as Is alleged, the great channel for
mail purposes Of this sort being by way of Alba
ny. The state of the case, we understand, in re-
gard to the delay here spoken of, is thus ex-
planned: The Postmaster General has offered
this road the highest pay heretofore allowed il by
any Postmaster Generals, $50 per annum. The
new trustees, who seem bent on making money
rather than accommodating the public, refuse to
accept, and throw down the mails. thereby oblig-
ing the Department to contract for an inferior and
slower mode OF conveyance, much against its in
clinations. The demand OF these trustees being
Just double the maximum pay heretofore received
Dy them, as well as much higher than he can
conscientiously allow under the law of ISIS, he
has determined not to be coerced into so extraor-
binary proposition"
In the matter Of compensation, we learn that
the Paytendered the company by Postmaster Gen.
eTdi brown Is equal to the highest sum ever al
lowed them by his predecessor, notwithstanding
me road as mail artery, is of greatly diminish
ed Importance since the completion last all of
the Potsdam and WATERFOWL railroad, which
takes the heavy New York city and other South
ern Pac kages to Ogdensburg, the chief point on
the line. Finding, however, that the Trustees Of
The road specified determined 10 persist in
their exorbitant demand, the Post Office Depart
ment Will, we understand, issue within few
days an advertisement, in accordance with the
provisions Of the act of Congress above referred
70, Tor proposals for mail service between Rouse's
Point and Ogdensburg."