Newbern weekly progress., 1860-10-02
"Ye Gods, how l prate.
While bits of news sit by unheeded."


While bits of news sit by unheeded.''
However. you and your sage readers should
not complain if we anonymous writers occa-
sonally insinuate into our lucubrations
few lines that are directed to our exclusive sat
isfacton. For think that no pecuniary emolu-
ment, would be equivalent to the privilege of
writing nonsense now and then. Indeed. if was
compelled to write nothing but sense and reason,
[ might as well be an "amthor at once q con-
slider this last hit, setter)
The merchants are returning from New York,
&c, variously elated or depressed, by their con-
tact with northern politicians. (poy tckers. j.
The piles of goods boxes ranged before the seve-
raj stores eclipses all former displays of the kind;
and would be caution to the limbs of "noc-
turnal perambulators,' were it not for the gas
light. Besides, Dr. Hall has nearly finished two
new stores. which will be occupied
ready, bv parties from Wilmington Mainly de-
pendent, as this place is on local trade, it is as
tonishing how the immense semi-annual relays OF
dry goods disappear. But the we'll known taste
of Salisbury merchants, induces the really fash
ionable people of all the neghboring towns, to do
their ''particular shoppimg' here; which, partly,
accounts for the extensive retail business of this
place.
There will be a Breckinridge Democratic Mass
Meeting here on the 4th of October and Il Bell
and Everett ditto on the 18th of October. l will
give you faithful synopsis OF each soon as they
are over.
l forgot to say in my last that over the spacious
market house. erecting here, is to be Il lofty
Town Hall, So feet long by so feet wide. 1t will
be elegantly fitted up and adapted to theatrical
and concert purposes. Plenty Of public halls and
parks are of incalculable benefit to towns, and
Salisbury certainly has full share of the former,
at least.
The Salisbury Band is employed by the State
Agricultural Society to play for the State Fair in
Raleigh next month.
A fire broke out in Mr. VIM. Murphy's kitchen
at o'clock on Saturday night last. The fire
completely consumed the Kitchen and was very
near being communicated to his dwelling house.
Nothing but the almost superhuman and well di-
rected exertions of the fire company and a few
other public spirited citizens prevented it. The
kitchen being so large and SO the house,
Ga very combustible wooden structure) and being
completely enveloped in flames before the engine
got there, added to all which, the difficulty of
getting water, made the preservation of Murphys
There are many people who attend fires here, men
of property too who strut about and view the
spectacle with that sort of speculative and philoso
phic Indifference which people manifest at py
rotechnic display III public garden. This may
all be well enough to certain extent, for the
seanty supply of water may be an excuse for many
who run to fire without taking buckets with
them; but there is no excuse for such individuals
selecting the most eligible points, from which to
watch the progress of the confagration, and thus
impede and often completely obstruct the passage
of the water carriers between the well and the
engine Of course they do not intend this, and
as soon as any of them are aware that water
carrier is trying to pass they will jump nimbly
out of his way but, very often, only to against
the bucket of another spiling half of its contents.
Officers should be appointed to keep the way
clear for water carriers, at least. An arteslan
well, some other provision, for supplying wa
ter at fires is very much needed here. 1 think it
would be a good town law that would levy 800
from every one who had valuable house clearly
saved by the fire company. This would soon pro-
duce fund sufficient to get artesian well and
reservoir with, or else there would be more
fires. A desirable contingency, either way.
Bailey's Theatrical Troupe opens here tonight
and plays all the week under canvass. In my
next you will find my opinion of their perfor-
mances, &c. COSMO.
GoLDsBoRo Sept. a, 1860.
Dear Progress Our citizens were awakened by