The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-11-06
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
THE NAvY-YARD.

course OF next week She will take out the officers and
of the Metaoomet at Pensacola, and destined
for the Paraguay expedition she win also take out lot
of copper and brass work this yard for the Pens
cola navy yard The extension of the naval
up and covered in and the extension of the anchor shop
is making rapid progress the first story being nearly
completed large quantity of stores for the of the
Paraguay expedition to be sent on in the schooner
Thomas b. Florence and the vessel is also taking
board buoys, &C.. for the of the lighthouse esab
lishment, which TO be conveyed TO New York and
Philadelphia
In fprevious article describing the operations at the
navy yard, took occasion to mention some Of the
trophies that there be but was accident
ally omitted which We notice II is howitzcr
that surrendered to the United States the capt
laion of yorktown the 18th of October 1884, mount
ed stand composed OF thirteen different kinds Of
wood indigenous this country, representing the th
tsen original States 1hi. stand Is very neatly made
and strip Of hickory dtond the whole binding II
together firmly Among the curiosities at the yard
not before noticed two old Spanish beech loading
guns These not of large dimensions only carrying
balls weighing about three pounds but they are re
markable for their antiquity showing that the idea of
breech-loadng firearms il not recent invention They
to this yard in vessel together with lot of old
metal from California. How they got there is not
known they bear date, but have the Spanish
arms and must evidently have been carried there by tbe
Spaniards long time snce.
The machinery in the machine shop Is we'll worth visit
from all who interested in such matters There is
the machine for making Minnie balls which takes the
rod of lead cuts IL off into pieces Of suitable length and
passes them through the press where they goovcd
and cut into the requisite shape This will out
from twelve TO sixteen thousand per day There is
other curious machine for making percussion caps which
takes the flat strip of "copper" cuts out pieces Of the
qrcd size and then they by passed through
PTS which stamps them into the proper shape This
machi," i make twenty-five thousand caps per day.
Another larger machine, not in operation capable
of making twice that number; but the small machine
is adequate to supply the present demand 1t is crafty
ing to know that these beautiful and complicated
machines the product of American Ingenuity and
skill The other rooms where the Shrapnel shot and
shells manufactured likewise deserving OF atten
ton and these various objects Of interest politely
shown and explained to visitors by the gencmany and
accommodating officers Of the yard
CRY ORpISAScEs During the present week the Mayor
has signed an act appropriatng fifty dollars to William
Forsyth for corrected book of pats bound in the best
manner and presented to the town of Wakefield by the
city of Washington in the year 1851 act appropria
ting $20S for the purpose Of trimming travelling
Tenth street west between d and streets north an
act appropriang twenty dollars to build bridge
ditch Third street east North Carolina avenue
an act fixing the corporation per centage all auction
sales Of sugars and moasses in the original packages as
imported at the rate of onefourth of per cent; an
refundng William r. Bayly 800 enormously rs
scssed for taxes act for the relief of Thomas Towns
refnnling the amount of fine imposed upon him for
carrying concealed weapons and act approprating
one hundred dollars to indemnify Dr. Benjamin Hodges
for losses sustained by him in the burning Of the Wash
iDgton Asylum the I'd of March, 1851 he having
been at that time the resident student Of the institution
TnR MAGNIFICENT ESTABLISHMENT Of Messrs NJ w. Gait
Brother rapidly approaching completion and will be
ready for occupancy in week two. Yesterday the
plates for the front windows received being seven
feet by eleven. The box containing them was very
heavy and had to be handled with extreme care and
the services Of dozen fifteen were required in
taking it from the wagon and carrying it into the store
Quite crowd Of spectators collected who watched the
proceedings with breathless interest and when the box
safely deposited within the store feeling Of relief
experienced by many who had feared that
cideht might occur. The appearance of the immense
sales room is very fine, the ceiling being escoed and
the floor laid with tiles and when their and rich
stock of ewelry and silver shall be opened it will
present scene Of Oriental magnifcence.
ALEXANDRIA CHARACTERISTICS management of the
Washington Theatre gave three performances in Aexan
dria Last week. while the Strakosch Opera Company were
performing here and well they attended by the
refined and intellectual dcnizens Of sister city that
Messs Ford Knnke Co. have announced their intcn-
ton to give series of dramatic performances at Liberty
Hall, with the whole strength Of the Holiday Street
theatrical company who enabled to be absent from
Baltimore by the engagement OF thc Ravcl troupe there
This arrangement will be hailed with satisfaction by the
Acxandrans and will undoubtedly be remuneratiye in
pecuniary point of view, this company comprises
several very able and talented actoss
ALTHOUGH there has been considerable improvement in
the conduct of the hackmen since the Inauguration of
Mayor Berret still there is for much more thor
ough reform. stranger passing Browns Hotel few
evenings since, very much annoyed by the whips
who oiter in that vicinity to pick up ares AS soon
the most vociferous manner, and handled roughly
His appeals to them to let him alone seemed to produce
effect upon them, determined were they to have
their sport nasmuch they could secure customer
Such ourHgcs becoming much too frequent and It is
high time that rigorous measures were taken for
their prevention
WASHINGTON 1irEATnK-On account of the unpleasant
Of the weather last night the benefit Of Mr. Owens
not so well attended it otherwise would have
been The plays however, went OIL WELL and the audi
welcomed the beneficiary with the most enthusiastic
applausc At the end the niece which no