Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-03-26
Great Snow Storm at Boston.

Boston has been visited BY real olC-lash
toned snow storm, recalling, in the length OF
it's duration and in its effects, the. traditional
snow storms which in New England, years
ago. used to bury whole villages. Commenc-
ing on Thursday forenoon, it continued with
unabated violence for nearly two days. The
Journal says of it:
Such q tempest has not occurred hereabouts
for years. The snow, damp and heavy, Tell
in great fakes, and was dashed with binding
fury into the faces of all who CHANGED to be
abroad. Buildings exposed to the force OF
the gale rocked and creaked from base to root
loose blinds and shutters annoyed their
owners by their continual slamming, or were
blown from their hinges and scattered about
the streets A great deal OF damage was
done to trees, both in the city and suburbs;
large limbs were broken off and strewn about,
fences were blown down and swing signs car
ried away by the wind.
The snow was blown in drifts into door
ways and upon sidewalks, and not q little
muscular development will result from the
exercises in the manual of shovellng snow,
through which hundreds were put IN the
morning. The windward sides of buildings
received a fresh coating, laid on by the bois-
ferrous stucco-wrker of the North, and the ideal
"winter SCENES" often seen on canvas, but
seldom in nature in this latitude, were fully
realized in the fantastic dashes OF the pencil
of the Storm King The storm ceased for q
few hours Friday morning, but having gath
cred new strength as noon approached, 1t was
renewed with fresh vigor until one, when 1t
ceased.
The railroads, both steam and horse, were
laid under complete embargo. The snow
fell heavy and deep upon the tracks of city
railways, forcing a substitution OF omnlbuses
on runners for cars on all the roads except
the Cambridge, and even preventing this
mode of conveyance between the terminl OF
the branch lines and the city. Up to half
past 10 in the forenoon nothing had reached
town over the Cambridge road from Water
town, Brighton, or West Cambridge. The
people of Somerville, Medford, and Maiden
were equally unfortunate; while on the south
side Of the city, business men were detained
until late hour.
The shore train from New York over the
Providence road was only an hour late Thurs
day night. 1t rained between New Haven
and Providence most Of the afternoon, and
thus kept the track open.
No trains were sent out to Fall River on
Friday, although two locomotives attached to
one passenger car started for Cape Cod.
The clock on the old State House stopped
cheating time" at 625 Thursday evening,
and the old South clock followed suit TAT l0.45.
At South Boston many limbs Of trees, some
of them quite large, were blown down and
broken off on Broadway and other streets, ST
that in some places the sidewalks were great
ly obstructed by broken branches. Many OF
the trees in East Boston were also badly Dor
ken by the storm and wind.
We learn that two vessels were discovered
ashore Friday morning near Nahant, with
masts cut away. One of them is stranded
near North Spring, adjoining the grounds OF
Mr.. Tudor. The other is on the rocks to the
eastward of that point. The weather was SC
thick that it was impossible to make out what
vessels they were and no communication
could be held with them.
The New Tariff Explained.
| Official Circular from the Secretary Of tie
Treasury-Duties, Warehousing and Al
| {oWances.
The Secretary Of the Treasury has issued
ia relation to the new tariff law.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, March 20, '6l.
"Sir-As numerous inquiries have been
made respecting various provisions otthe ia
riff act Of March 3, 1861, it is deemed pro,
per to state for your information and govern.
ment, az we'll Us the information of others
concerned, the views in part entertained
| by this department on the subject.
| "All questions Of liability to duty or ex-
emption therefrom, Of merchandise imported
under the provisions of the new tariff, and
questions as to the rates Of duty thereon,
will be determined in accordance with the
provisions OF the 9Th section of the tariff act
| 1857, which section will, in the opinion OF
this department, still remain in force on and
after the lst proximo unrepealed and unmodi.
| fled.
"The clause is the Tariff act Of 1861, re-
pealing such Of existing laws as are repugnant
| to its provisions, is not considered to change
or modify the warehousing or appralsement
| laws and regulations now in force, except in
one particular, which is that i'll case where d
bill of lading is presented showing the day
of actual shipment certified to by a Consular
officer of the United States, such date in lieu
of the period of expectation prescribed by ex-
listing laws, shall be the date at which the
foreign market value of the merchandise shall
be estimated and ascertained by the apprai-
sers, in order to the assessment ofad ralerens
duties.
an the case of merchandise actually on
shpboard and bound to the United States, On
or before the 18th instant and of merchan-
disc on board of vessels i'll port Oh the lst OF
April next, where the vessels have been regu-
larly entered at the Custom House, the own
ers Or importers of such merchandise will be
permitted to enter for consumption or ware
housing at the rates Of duty now existing, or
if the rates of duty on the merchandise are
lessened by the Tariff of 1861, they may at
their option enter at the lesser rates. The
same privilege will be extended to all mer-
chandise in public store, unclaimed on the lst
proximo, when entered for consumption Or
warehousing in pursuance Of law; and all
merchandise in warehouse under bond on the
lst proximo will be entitled to entry for
withdrawal at rates oil duty now existing, or
il the rates Of duty on the merchandise are
lessened by the Tariff Of 1861, the entry
thereof may, at the option of the importer or
owner, be made at the lesser rate.
"In allowance on, account of tare, draft &c,
on goods subject to specific duty under the
new tariff, officers of the customs will be gov
or,oa Nv thn prnyisi,ns of the 5Sth and 50.b