Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-12-24
DEFERRED LOCAL ARTICLES.

Doslncss, tnc oeslgn ana execution or the public
works Of the country, together with brief des-
crption Of the instruments used by them In sur
veying. Among them was the level WI hich was
nsed In the laying out Of roads, railroads, and in
the construction OF bridges He did not attempt
10 trace the different conditions through which
the roads have passed to get to their present form
Hethought, speaking Of bridges. that our country
was very deficient in bridges, unless II be on the
railroads. In this country neither the bridges or
roads have attained the perfection % those in
Europe. The principles Of constructing railroad
bridges are to some extent identical with those
governing common road bridges, only the limits
are little different. But before 4 bridge can be
built, there must be road leading TO II. He then
proceeded to "the construction Of roadsn
The chief object of a road Is to connect two
points together by some mode where a vehicle
ean pass. In order to construct this road, we
must first make ourselves acquainted with the
tract OF country and with Its natural features and
choose from the two or three routes presented tfe
nearest and most economical one, avoiding hills
snd grades Refers TO the map to illustrate the
elevation OF hills, mountains, &c.) The idea
that straight line through tract Of country is
always the better, 10 an erroneous one; for IL is
better 20 go around hill especially II IL Is steep
one, than 70 sumount il, and Is no further.
horse does not experience so much fatigne in
going long way around, than over a slig ght slope;
Ter by ascending hill he has virtually 70 lrt the
Wnoie Ioaa, ssltwere, TO the blight a6ove the level
~ IS grade that the engineer studies 70 avoid.
illustrated by drafts) A great deal of attention
has been paid to this subject be has to consider
every half mile In relation to grade
IL Is matter Of as great importance to consider
vertical curve as horizontal curve. Yet In
nine cases out Of every ten pioneers have taken
particular pains to go over bin instead Of around
II IL Is not so with railroads for obvious reasons
They were designed by careful men, men who
calculated the power Of engines running on 4
level and over grades, and found 1t economical 10
level the country rather than to employ sufficient
force In an engine to cary train Of cars over q
slope, to be wasted on the lsng levels, not being
required. In building railroad there must be a
gradual or constant grade slight slope through
eut, IL any at all. After having taken general
survey Of the country and the features Of Il in a
rough way, and decided his route, the next point
is to make survey Of the route with a pass
marking out the zig gag way on his map. Then
he must go over the route with his leveling in
strument, to map all the levels and unlevels. By
this he Is enabled 10 procure his figures data so
that In bis ofce he can mark out his location, and
work, In such a way as to be commenced
The engineer Is enabled by the course OF rivers
since they always run down hill, to ascertain the
direction which the grade takes, within certain
limits The rivers are put down in our mars
nowadays In a sort Of spider track fashion.
These maps being devised for political purposes
more particularly, are not aSsista nee enough to
the engineer In his typographical calculations he
must make one himself. illustrates a lake
and the contour lines produced by the rise
and fall Of the water Swiss roads have 40
TO 50 zig Tag roads In going down hill, and
we all know the extreme heights Of these noun
tains and the deficiency Of horizontal des-
cent Here the lecturer gave account OF
Napoleon crossing the Alps, and constructing
arches 80 as to avoid the avalanches. He built
these arches or more properly speaking galleries,
mostly Of stone. the Longest one Is 500 feet long
The grade Of this road was to 10, and keeps its
grade. At some of the points this road snow
Is seen the whole year round. AS to the coHstruc-
ton Of roads, the work which is done upon them
will have to make the subject Of my next lee
ture, the I'd Of January.
Prof. Rogers then concluded by recitng poem
aesciiP; OF one OF these passages or galleries,
much applause.
SUPREME CouRr-Wsdsssday- 90 Rus
sell sturgts, claimant Of the steamtug Hector &c,
impleaded with ship Wisconsin, &c, appellants
agt Herman Boyer ct al, owners of the lighter
Republic, libellants- The argument Of this cause
was concluded by Mr.. J. It. williams for the
aPPsllees, and submitted by MIR. A. Seward for
No p Mignel Davila, plaintiff in error, agt.
David and Jesse Mumford. This cause was
argued by Mr.. VIM. 6. Hale for the plaintiff In
error, and submitted on a printed argument by |
Mr Ballinger for the defendants In error.
error, sgt Edward Noble This cause was sub
mittsd to the consideration Of the court by Mr
Rockwell, on the record and printed argument Of |
Mr Goold FOR the defendant In error. Adjourned
TAKTSday John Baxter, Esq ., Of Tennessee
and Samuel F. Miller, Esq OF Iowa, were ad-
mitted attorneys and counsellors Of this court
No IS Hiram Pearsous, appellant, agt. John |
ment and neither party being prepared to argue |
the same, twas dismissed, with costs, under the
18th rule /
error, agt II NJ Ames This cause having been |
called for argument, and neither party being pre-
pared 20 argue the same, II was dismissed, with |
costs, under the 10th rule
rated under the name Of 1.-The Niles Works, !" APP
pelants, agt Jesse w. Page ct al, claimants Cf |
argued by Mr. Lincoln for the appellants and by |
Mr. Phillips for the appellees. Adjourned.
Friday -Leander Holmes, Esq of Washi ngton
Territory, Geo b. Hi6bard: Esq and Daniel F.
TOmpkins, Esq Of New York, were admitted |
attorneys and couusellors Of this court
No 2. Original docket, parte In the matter
Of the Commonwealth Of Kentucky one Of the |
United states Of America, by Berish Magofan, |
governor and the executive authority thereof |
petitioner, agt. VIM DennIsnn, Governor of the |
State Of Ohio. Mr.. Monroe having read In open
court the petition filed herein, and also the exhi
bits flied with said petition, and having moved |
the court for a writ Of mandsmus, for a rule 10
show cause, pursuant TO the terms Of said petition
II Is thereuPon now here considered and ordered /
by the court that the said motion be and the same
is hereby set down for argument this day three
weeks to w.t. on Friday, the llth day Of January,
lsSI; and Il is further ordered that the clerk Of
this court do forthwith send copy Of this order
and Of the petition and exhibits fled herein to
be served on his Excellency VIM. Dennison, Gov |
esnor Of Ohio
No. 81. Henry winsor ct al, claimants of the |
steamship Palmetto, appellants, agt. Michael |
Molloy, Jr This cause having been called for
s,gIn.Rt and. and neither /, party pg being prepared to
under the 18th rule II
No. %. Jas A. Chandler, plaintifin error, agt |
Otta Won Roeder ct al The argument OF tbs
cause was commenced by Mr.. Paschsl for the
plaintiff in error, and continued by MIR: VIM g.
Hale for the defendants in error.
Adjourned until Wednesday.
MAsIsTRATRs' FEES We learn that a move
ment IL on foot amongst the magistrates OF this
city to induce legislation In Congress during its
present term, with a view TO the repeal OF so
much Of the ninth section Of the act OF Congress
Of May I6, 1856, ss deprives them Of fees in any
but cases Of felony. The clause of the section
referred 70 reads as follows
"4nd Be &c enacted, etc, That the United States
shall hereafter liable 20 the justices and con-
stables Of the county of Washington, In the Dis
trie: Of Columbia, for their fees and services In
cases Of felony only"
The magistrates com plain that they are subjected
TO Office rent, and all the incidental expenses
attending the keeping Of Offices for the purposes
Of public Justice have to buy their blank forms
and give their time 10 making out warrants and
irving parties charged with oyery conceivable
oeuse against the laws Of the United States; that
they must be ready ut all times and on all occa-
sOns 70 sit In discharge Of their duties and their
only recompense 10 In the plttance the law allows
them for their services In cases Of felony The
proportion Of felony cases In relation to other
zNr.af ft...IT l.x. 4,