Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-01-15

shortly afterwards joined oy Ellen Bride.
Mary Hall, who appeared In suit OF virtuous
black, next arrived, in company with her sis
ter Lizzie Hall, and proceeded to the Marshafs
office, where Lizzie went security for her sister.
Mary Hessler, on arriving, went to the Mar
shal's office, and sent after security.
SMALLPOX IN THE DIsTRICr-4n Unneccs-
sdry Paaic-We notice that considerable alarm
has been expressed in the Congress halls and
| elsewhere IN view OF the reported ravages OF
| the small pox in this city. Some correspon-
dents for northern papers, writing from here
| sensationally. have put the number Of cases Of
small. pox in the CITY OF Washington as high as
| from -, Ot0 to 2O,0GO! 1t seems impossible that
any intelligent reader should not detect the
| improbabilities in such an absurd statement at
| once but from the manner in which the canard
| is travelling the rounds of the press uncontra-
| dicted and unquestioned, we presume that it
| is accepted as correct. Perhaps the author is
| the same who so successfully palmed upon the
country the statement that there are in Wash
| ington 10000 prostitutes, comprising fifth Of
| the entire community!
There is no donbS that the city is pretty
| well peppered with small pox, or rather an
exceedingly mild type of yarioloid, which In
| most cases leaves no visible marks upon the
| skin. Physicians tell us that there are really
| less cases OF smallpox in this city this winter
| then there were last winter, but that it prevails
this year amongst class where every case
| attracts attention. Lost year it was anon sst
| the colored people and the poorer class OF
whites huddled together in small tenements.
| Further we may say that from the statements
|
| ly in the decline. The city and police authori-
| ties have been active in taking all possible
| meas ures to prevent the spread of the disease,
ard to this end to afford prompt accommoda-
ton for small pox patients.
Within a week past the police have been
endeavoring to ascertain the number OF cases
! In the city, with the blowing results: 1st
Precinct, 80 cases; Cd, 10; Sd, 80; fth, l20 5th,
80 9th, So; 9TH, 100; Sth, 90; 9th, 80; 10th, 100
| This is an average for three months past. The
| average in the whole District, including the
| hOSnItalS in the comfy. ia set down Lon
cases, by those who were engaged in making
| the calculation.
One great cause for the spread Of the disease
| has been the careless indifference with which
| convalescents emerge from their sick chambers
| and mix with their fellow citizens. 1t is de-
| sirable that houses where the small pox exists
| should be designated by q yellow nag, as is
| done in the New England States. The worst
| cases of small. pox in the comm unity have been
communicated, it is believed, from soldiers
| coming from hospital in the same clothes worn
| by them while either suffering from vlrulent
| smallpox or while amongst such cases. At
our city smallpox hospital no convalescent is
| permitted to take clothes SO infected away with
| him, but they are promptly burned and ether
| clothes furnished him.
| RAILROAD PRoJECTs.-The air is full OF
| railroad projects of all sorts and stripes; in
| fact the famous Hudson specializing railroad
! mania in England W hich involved thousands
| in pecuniary ruin, bids fair to be put quite in
| the shade by the kindred mania rising in this
| country. Some of these projects are sound,
| but large proportion OF them deserve to be let
In the House Of Delegates of the Virginia
| Legislature, ('ettiDg at Aleyandria) yesterday
the following named bills were referred to the
| Committee on Roads: can Act to authorize the
| Washington, Alexandra and Georgetown
| Railroad Company, To increase the capital
stock and funded debt, and for other pur-
| poses" aAn Act to authorize the Washington
and Alexandria Turnpike Company to change
| the location of said Turnpike, and for other
| purposes" Gan Act to incorporate a company
| to construct Railway from the city of Alex
| andria to connect with the Aqua Greek and
Richmond Railroad"
| The Alexandria Journal thinks the bill for
| the Aqua Creek road will pass the Assembly
| without opposition, and that it will be con-
structed as soon as the rebellion is suppressed,
and will prove to be one of the most important
reads in the State.
KIDNAPPING NEGRO Captain
ScheetZ having received information that GER
tain parties were in this city recruiting negroes
to 20 North, he put his detectives upon their
trail, and yesterday evening they made the
arrests OF the following persons: James
McNiven, Of Orleans county, N. Y; Andrew
Manning, New York city; Samuel Miller, of
Monroe county, N. Y; Frederick A Mitchell,
9TH street, near H street, Washington; and
Henry Gordon, Of Chicago, Ill.
These recruiting agents had succeeded in Sc
curing twenty men, and it appears from the
statements made by the negroes that they were
to receive $40 per month, and all they would
have to do would be to work in the Quarter
masters Department.
The prisoners are now confined in the guard
house at Capt. Scheetz's Office awaiting trial,
and have been identified by the negroes as the
parties w no induced them to enlist.
The recruits thus enlisted were to be taken
| to New York to fill up the quota Of that State
DIGEST OF THU CORPORATION LAWs-By
action OF the City Councils lately, joint COM
mittee was appointed to cause to be prepared
new digest Of all the general laws Of the Cor
poration Of Washington, systematically ar.
ranged nDdpr 8nnrOnriata heads This
mittee, consisting OF Mayor Wailach, chairman,
and Messrs. Brown and Utermehle Of the
the Board Of Common Council, have entered
upon their work, and selected Police Superin-
tendent VIM. B. Webb, to make the required
digest of the laws.
Mr.. Webb is peculiarly fitted for the ia SIX by
| his legal knowledge and his familiarity with
the laws OF the Corporation.
PORT OF GEoRGETowN.-The river is greatly
obstrucued by the ice; but is believed by the
captains OF vessels trading to this port that
navigation Will be unrestricted in a few days.
Entered Steamship Empire, Hunter, mas
ter, from New York; merchandise for various
merchants. Steamer Salvo, Mershom, master,
from New York; assorted cargo for District
merchants.
CIeared-Steamer Salvo. for New York, with
freight shipped mostly by the Army Of the Pc.
tomac. ...-
CRIMINAL CoURT.-The Diron- MaqiU Shoot
ing Case.--With the examination of Mr.. James
McGill. (watchman at Willard's) the testimo.
ny for the defense closed, and Mr.. q. w. McGiIl
was recalled to explain his conversation with
Mr.. Creepy. Witness is certain that he did not
use the remarks Mr.. Creecy attributed to him
lin relation TO the Virginia farmer.)
Mr.: Creecy was also recalled to explain his
evidence
AMOUNT OF TAXES CoLLECTED-The books
of the City Tax Collector (Mr. Dixon) show
that the total amount OF taxes collected and
deposited since July 1. 1863, to the present time
| is S91 GOO. The business of this Office Is ad-
| mrably conducted by Mr.. Dixon and his eff
cient elerks-Messrs. Hepburn and Wheeler.