Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-02-04
CITY AND STATE AFFAIRS.

CITY AND STATE AFFAIRS.
Mn. Jous MorrAr-Don't forget the lecture to
he delivered BY Dir. Moffat this evening at the
Old Sd Street Methodist Church. 60 early and
secure good seat
Mr.. Moffat will deliver another lecture to-mor-
row afternoon Mt 3 o'clock in tho same house.
F,pr At CoScoRp.-The store house of Mr.. Ell
ward Hughes, at Concord Depot, was discovered
10 lie on FIRE yesterday morning. about o'clock,
and SO rapidly did the flames ~ read, that the
house an the entire stock of goods were cousum-
cd notwithstanding vigorous efforts were made 10
arrest the DESTROYING element
Mr. Hughes was barely able to save his money
and pancrs The origin IF the fire was entire
" accidental. having caught from the chimney.
Tar GREAT SourHwesrERS LINE.-We published
some DAYS since despatch from Chattanooga sta
ting, that the gap in the Mississippi Railroad was
finished and the connection through to New Or-
cans complete. By the completion Of this link
there is now continuous railroad from Bangor
Maipe to New Orleans, the Susquehanna, tho
Potomac and Jamcs Rivers This vast chain Of
railways is composed of eighteen independent
roads. costing in the aggregate for 1891 miles of
road 800 794 0S4, nearly one-tenth of the whole
railway system OF the United States OF which
loo6 miles are used in this continuous line.
G.,Asp GAs-NErREs-We published few
doys since, the bill Introduced in our City Council
by Mr.. Owen, providing for the appointment OF
nm inspector of gas. meres, and setting forth the
dnties pertaining tn such Office. We observe that
n hill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania
LEGISLATURE now in session at Harrisburg. which
provides for the appointment OF gas-metre IN.
spector. to stand between the public and the gas
camnany: In New York, not long ago,
plants were made against the two gas companies
of that city, that more gas was charged for ,han
was consumed. Many persons, who had gas
pipes in their houses, did not gas at all, but
l,urnt camphene or OIL and yet charged a. If
they had lcen burning gas all the time. On
complaint the gas company declale ed, first, that
it was impossible for them to have made mis-
tale and next, when the parties put in aff
dayts of the fact, that # the error
mitted. there W something wrong with the
meter"
Such explanations were deemed SO unsatslac-
tory that confederacy Of gas consumers was or
ganized in 1857, which applied to the Legislature
OF New York, and after much oprosition--for the
gas companies Stockholders had money and in
tuence-succeeded in obtaining the election of
State officer, whose business it is To inspect the
meters, once year, or when called upon, pnd test
their accuracy to the registracy OF the gas con-
sumed. ltstrjkes us that gas companies. who
must be perpetually annoyed by complaints OF
overcharges, ought to be anxious az gas coasuln
TO have responsible officer appointed who
would always be at hand to examine the meters
This would save u world OF trouble.
The weather has such tendency to affect, i'm
pade and even alter the action of meters, that the
dry meter should universally be used. In New
York, the Manhattan Gas Company issue dry me
ters to oil consumers who desire to them
The water meters liable to be frozen u which
often puts them out OF repair, but the dry motors
are unaffected by any change of weather or tenn
perature. In this city the water metres are used;
they have the disadvantage of being lar less exact
in registration Of the quantity of gas consumed
than the dry motors are.
The present system is very unsatisfactory to
gas consumers and if the latter were properly
awake to their interests, they would at Oh
tain the necessary enactmens from this Council
The gas company will. Of course make no STIR in
the matter, because they see it would make great
change to them.
IMroRTANT.--N give below an extract from the
Acts of the Legislature OF Virginia, 1850, and
another from the Code, showing wherein persons
may offend against the laws of the State, and be-
come justly obnoxious thereto.
4 %. If a free person, by speaking or writing.
maintain that owners have not right of properly
in their slaves he shall be confined in Jail not
more than one year, and fined not exceeding five
hundred dollars. lie may be arrested, and carri
cd before justice, by any white person"
"s23. If II free person white, print, or cause to
be written printed, any book or other writing,
with intent to advise or incite negroes i'll this
state to rebel or make instruction, incutating
resistance to the right of property of masters in
their slaves If he shall, with intent to aid the
purpose of any suc, book writing, knowingly,
circulate the same he shall be confined in the PEN
itentary not less than more than five years
Code of Virginia. Chapter CACNlll.
1927. If a free person advise slave to ABB
scond from his mas err aid such slave to abscond
procuring for or delivering to him pass register
or other writing or furnishing him money. clothes,
provisions or other facility, or be in any manner
accessory to tho escape attempt to escape of
such slave he shall be confined 10 the peniteniiary
not less than fee nor more than ten years; and
the jury may, in its discretion, condemn such an
offender to be publicly Whipped to such extent and
such times as it may ft.'-Acts Of Assembly
1856, Chapter XLSIli.
nrsrRurTIyE FIRE. About the hour OF n'c,nek
vosterday tnurniur the large three story lrirk