The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-16

of your grand jury abos full performance of them
will permit
AT about one clock the grand-inr came down with
six presentment jail cases and then dismissed till
eleven o'clock this morning
single case, in which Lewis L. Burnett was charged
with retailing sprtuous liquors without license, was
submitted. The court fined the party SIG and costs
The petit jury was then dismissed till the opening of
the court this morning at 10 o'clock.
The court then adjourned.
RAILROAD sIaNns-Mr L. Solomons, of Savannah,
Georgia, has placed at the southern telegraph Office in
this city, for inspection signals for preventing collisions
railroads. Should Mr. Solomons system prove ef-
fectve and assured that WILL railroad travel
ling will be rendered safer than il is at present We give
the following description of these signals, furnished by
Mr.. j. b Tree, Geographic engineer:
"Mr solomons railway signals consist of lanterns
placed at intervals of five ten miles along the whole
line of the road The sides of the lanterns parallel with
the road closed to exclude the light Revolving
shades governed by electrical current alternately shut
off the light from the lamps or allow it to be re-
fected up down the road. A single wire con-
meets these revolving shades in series of Geographic
circuits, which completed only when an additional
Wheel attached to each locomotive for the purpose passes
lever which is fixed with necessary insulation ON
the track each signal lamp. AS as this wheel
presses lever its further end is thrown up and the
point of contact completes teegaphc circuit of five or
ten miles, and makes magnet of coil of wire which
changes the position of the revolving shades
exposes the light at the lamp five or ten miles ahead
and engineers trains moving in counter drec
tons that they must go forward cautiously, If at ALL
When the train reaches the next signal lamp the wheel
again depresses second lever, which, by like opera
on closes the shade at the starting point depot opens
mt the second signal lamp, and also at the lamp five
ten miles in advance. The lights thus opened disclose
the fact that train is within the section which the
light is she'd while the absence Of light notifies the en-
gneer that the track is clear During the day the
effect is produced upon the shades and the same warning
given which engineers may plainly learn from the po
son of the shades they could from the lights of the
lamp at night The shades stand upright when the track
is clear and lay horizontally when there is train the
section to be passed.
REAL EsrATE.-The city papers show that during this
month"; large amount of real estate is to be sold at
ton. ''Handsome building lots, desirable dwelling
houses suburban villas, dairy farms, and market gar
dens," elegant tenements lin fact everything which
pertains to houses and soil Men with cash in hand could
doubt find profitable investments but the misfortune
is that such individuals few. In it is the
want of the money which compels the sales. Notwith
standing the 'stringency prevalent throughout the
city, and the fact that money commands two per cent
month, real estate has recently brought fair prices
ground like beef and vegetables and other household
necessities still maintaining high prices In consequence
of this and the increased pecunary demands for both
building materials and labor, comparatively few houses
are in course of construction The time was when
many mechanic could procure himself house. but the
present rates of living prevent such comfortable and
economical arrangement.
THE HORTICULTURAL EXHIBTIoN.--The first exhibition
of the Washington Horticultural Society opens to-day
o'clock, at Mr. Corcoran's building, street. be-
tween 18th and 4th The object of this society is the
improvement of the science of horticulture in the District
of Columbia. And we hope citizens will give it a
prompt and liberal patronage If the present exhibition
should be successful another will be opened in the fall
All the vegetables fruits and flowers exhibition will
be offered for sale.
PERsoSAL.-Genera Tyler of Philadelphia Hon. M
b. lamar, ex-President of Texas Hon Phillip f.
Thomas, of Maryland Hon. John B. Haskins, NJ c.
elect from New York Judge Buchanan, of baltimore
Hon. S. B. Gushing and lady, of Albany, New York
Hon. Fl. B. Todd, of New York Com. NJ Smith United
States navy and VIM Rice editor of the Pennsy yanan
Philadelphia at Willards and Hon Will Edw
Venable of Tennessee, at Browns.
Court OF CLAIMS YEsTERDAY. The court opened at H.
No counsel appearing to ask for the hearing of any claim
at hapast IL the court adjourned till y clock this
morning.
We grati6ed to learn that Col James W. Irwin Of
Kentucky has been promoted to 81, GOO clerkshp in
the General Land Office.