The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-08-01
LOCAL NEWS.

LOC a. r. +" 500
THE LInnAnr CoSeRgss. --Thc Library of Congress
6rs established during the administration of Jecr
SON. at his suggestion and by his exertion II at first
contained about two thousand five hundred volumes, and
destroyed by fire when the British burned the Capitol
in 1914 In the year resolution was introduced
into Congress to purchase Mr. Jeiersons private library
which passed the books bought and brought to
Washington and the Library of Congress again organ
lied Various valuable additions being made from time to
time the Librars Contained IN 1851 $4,000 volumes.
During that year it accidentally caught fire. and 30 600
volumes destroyed and the room very much IN
ured This accident finally resulted in the room being
made perfectly fre-proof by constructing the acoyes
and shelves of castron Soon after this fire an appro
prato OF SIS 600 was made by Congress for the pur
chase OF new looks This fund judiciousy laid out
and excellent Collection made of standard and
rare works The Library contains about 90 900 vol
umcs exclusive Of large number OF pamphlets and
about 1000 public documents and the annual appfo-
pation to the Library is IS 900 for miscellaneous and
81, 0e0 for law books
Amour Mamma Some half dozen different kinds of
marble being Used nj the construction of the Capitol
The external walls are Of white marble from Lee Msssa
chusets In the interior work used the pure white
Italian the varegated Italian, yaregated Tennessee,
yariegated Vermont or verd antique and one or two
OtneI husis ih sHli Iuaiduco' t'o''o"o " 'N'NS'o
marble for the walls Of the extensions twelve different
kinds -er- tested In order ascertain their strength
The four strongest sttnpies as follows sample
from Fust Chester New YofB, wtt,sood pressure of
23 OF pounds 70 the square inch Lee, Massachusetts,
20 1902 Hastings, New York. 1884; Baltimore small
crystal IsO6l All the other samples went under l0,50o
pounds
wAsnixGros AND ALEXANDRIA RAIlnoAp-we are glad
10 loa, tha md railroad
will be shortly in successful operation Those who have
had the management of this important Improvement have
labored faithfully for its completion aid have overcome
obstacles which at first seemed almost insurmoufabe
We feel satisfied that they deserve the reward which they
are destined reap. civil engineer of ability and
knowedged skill has been solicited to take charge of the
necessary repairs and improvements to put the road in
good running order.
SHARK IN THE PoroMAo.-It Is reported in the city
to-day that shark was early this morning playing
about in the Eastern Branch below the Arsenal nufn-
Der Of men, with strong SEINE making every effort
to capture the monster but without success The bare
of this fact should be sufficient warning TO
those who fond of the fine bathing afforded by the
Potomac that they cannot risk themselves in the water
with perfect impuny 1t is to be hoped that our fisher
men will yet make the capture
The CRIMINAL CouRr To-DAY.-Ihe prosecuting attor-
ney having closed his evidence Friday afternoon it
was expected that the defence would proceed with their
reluttng evidence to-day but on the meeting of court
they not ready the witnesses that they wished to
| commence with not being subp9naed The court ac-
cordingly adjourned until Monday in order to give them
time to get in their witnesses The defence have had
| issued about hundred subpnnas.
| THE GEORGETOWN SrADBNa AFFnAY.-Young Moore,
who stabbed in Georgetown several days since by
young named Nicholson died yesterday of his inu
res. post mortem examination was to have been made
this afternoon to ascertain whether not the death
| suited from the wound.
! TuE NAVAL ConnIs 1T is exrnced that sheA t,e
cases that occupy the naval courts disposed
recess of several weeks will be ordered 1t Is thought BY
persons that close confinement to the duties Of one
of these courts FASTENED the death of Commodore New
/ ton.
4 The STEAMER AuGusrA.--The steamer Augusta has
been aground Cape Island for several days past Yes
terday great efforts made to get her Off but without
success The steamer in charge Of the New York
underwriters.
SALE OF CORPORATION Stock. Yesterday j. G. Nc
CURE, auctoncer, sold of corporation stock 5000 at
81 03I, and $40 at 81 03l very good indication of
the credit Of the corporation.
SALE BEEF CATTLE. sales of beef cattle to-day
at Drovers Rest, Georgetown, quite small Only
fifty head sold at prices ranging from 81 to cents
gross. Prices have advanced tr1e
1 Cry ITENs.-F. A Klopfer esq, the chief of
police entered upon the duties of his Office this morning
BY next market day Tuesday, all the stands and other
fixtures belonging to Centre Market the avenue are
ordered to be removed to the Sheds near the canal
The pavcmens the outside of the sheds are to be APP
propated to country dealers and their customers and it
after be backed, instead of the south sidewalk Of the
avenue.
The venerable John Mountz, of Georgetown died this
morning at o'clock being 81 years of age. He filled
the Office of clerk the corporation of Georgetown for
sxtyfve years. and to the levy court of the District
| Columbia for ffty-hve years.
The population of the city is reduced in numbers
to its very lowest state Very few strangers arriving
and many Of the permanent citizens now absent on
| thir summer excursions.
The cornerstone of the Ebenexer Methodist Epis-
copal church edfce the navy-yard laid yeser-
day evening with religious and Masonic ceremonies
The following articles deposited within the stone:
Bible; Hymn Book of the M. T.. church Discipline OF
the same copy Of the Christian Advocate the Yves
leyan Advocate the National Inellgenccr the constt-
ton of the United States the constitution of the Grand
Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the District OF
Columbia and of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge
for 1856 seal of the GIfyntl Lodge and parchment