Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-02-10


THE METROPOLITAN TRUCK Housx.-Ths
Metropolitan Hook and Ladder Co.'s trucs
n .oa ON MASSACHUSETTS avenue; between TIA
Monday the key was delivered to Mayor Wal
ZACH, who turned the building over to the Gus
tody OF the company. The building is fine
structure of two stories, 80 feet in width, and
90 feet deep in the clear. The first story ia N
feet high, and will be occupied by the trucks
and on the back Of this floor there are bunk
rooms Tor six persons. The second story is in
ssnded as the meeting room, an is IL feet hish
Inns nall has, at the north end, q light iron
esuety ior an orchestra, and is furnished with
chandeliers. A hot. air furnace heats the build
ing, which also has every Convenience. snch
as Potomac water, water closets, yentiiators.
&c. The front Of the building is Of press brick,
and is highly ornamen'ed. The two main
doors are 10 feet by :, between which is a small
door to the main hall, which is reached by a
spiral stair case. The windows are in The
French yie. The building is surmountsi nv
a handsome beltry 81 feet high, buiIt partly on
a projection of the front wall, , feet 6 inches
from the face OF the building, on top OF witch
is a ag-staff, the top being 60 feet from ths
sidewalk. Over the front door is a handsoma
circular transom, surmounted by fine piera
of marble work, executed by w. Flannery
representing fire hat, with ladders, hooks
&c. The building is a substantial one ana
erected under the supervision OF Mayor
Wallach and Aldermen Clephare and Tier
mehle. The structure was planned by Adolp
Cluss, architect, and erected by the contractor
Y. A. Bian, who did the carpentering; Moses
Merrill bricklayer, VIM. Carr painter, w.
Flanagan plasteier, George Goodall plumber
and F. Il A. Schneider iron workers We're the 4
master mechanics employed. The building
reflects great credit on all con cPrned each de-
parment of the work having been done in a
substantial manner, and the entire cost, as, COO
is regarded very low, when the size and
character of the work is taken into considera-
ton.
CIRCUIT CoURT, Caief Jashee Cdrttrr.-Ths
case OF J. w. Thompson Bro rs Riggs h
Co, bankers, is still on trial This action ia of
much importance to business men, rs il in-
wolves the question whether a bank of depos,t
in the habit of discriminating between specie
and currency in receiving and in paving out
deposits OF customers may. when coin and legal
tender notes are of unequal value, DISCHARGE n
specie balance by paying the same number OF
dollars in Treasury notes. and Justify hy the
law which makes the latter legal tender for
all debts.
1t was in evidence that the distinction he
tween coin and currency was mutually racor
Hized by the parties in the transactions which
were at date anterior 10 the legal tender
statute; and bankers and officers connected
with most OF the banking institutions OF the
city were summoned, and testified that il had
beer the usage here TO pay back on demand
such money as had been deposited-as specie
for specie, and currency for currency
The admission Of this Il stimony was obactad
to by counsel ior defense, who held that, usage
is admissible evidence TO interpret 4 contract
yet " hen n statute, by destroying the distiuc-
tons 10 which such usage appertains, sup
plants it. proof of the usage is irrevelant
The Court ovsrruled the objection, remark
ing that if the argument was sound the evil
dence would be inconsequemt on the trial. In
the opinion OF the Court, me legal tender stat
ute laid no injunction upon parties against
their using the law OF contracts in making
their bargains or the appropriate methods for
their Interpretation.
The defendants counsel took exception.
This morning the Court is engag d In hearing
the arguments on questions OF law.
MIR. Nathaniel Wilson appears for plaintiff,
and Messrz. Kennedy and w. :. Cox for de-
PENDANT.
The DISTRICT IN CoSGEEss.-Ia the Senate
yesterday, Mr.. Grimes submitted an amend
ment for prin ing. intended 4 substitute for
til" bill to provide for the education OF the youth
OF the District of Clum ba
This bill provides for the appointm by
the Levy Court, of a school commission for
each district outside OF the city, the whole 10
constitute 4 board OF school management. II
authorizes the levylng of a tax Of one fourth of
ole per cent for school expenses, and allows
fifteen hundred dollars in each district towards
building school. houses IL also provides that
the fund shall be increased by one eig0th of all
the fines by the United States arsha! and Ius-
ticcs OF the peace. The property OF coIored
persons may be taxed to the amount OF one
eighth OF one per cent FOR schools tor their chill
dren, and fifty cents per month may be levied
on parents for each child towards defrayiug
the expenses OF the school. Referred To the
Committee on the District OF Columbia.
CIRCUIT COURT, Chiy Justice tdrttsr-Ths
morning, john T. Ferguson agt Johnsonn,
action OF reple vim: non suit.
Joseph W. Boucher agt. Elizabeth RappPl,
action of ejectment dismissed payment of
costs
Thompson agt. Riggs i 90, action for dam
ages for refusing TO pay check in gold; leave
granted plaintiff 10 amend bill, and case sat for
TO- morrow.
Wall, Steveps Co. agt DR. F. ODonohue,
action of debt judgment for plaintiff by
tesson.
replevin. The plaintiff claims that horse was
stolen from him, which he found in The posses
sion OF Biebl, who claim that he purchased the
same in Frederick county. A large number OF
witnesses are summoned in this case each
SIDE, all Of whom appear equally certain that
the horse belongs to the party by whom they
were subpenRed.
MCelCAT.-The concert at the Church of As
censicn last night OF the most inter-
esting musical events that has ever come on
in Washington. The church building, seats,
aisles, cbancel and every available inch of
space was occupied ny the immense throng
drawn there by the character OF the musical
entertainment promised and the enthusiasm
excited by the superb style III whick the parts
were executed-solos, DUETS, tri2s, quar.etts,
ard choruses-was so great that il broke out
6udibly not infrequenriy, despite The request
that no applause should he INDUCED in. Al
most every prominent vocalist OF note here
took part III the performance; and the pro-
eramme, so admirably arranged b. Mrs. Du-
bant was made up of the gems OF musical
composition
But for the fact that tn lenren season is now
commencing, we should hope for an immediate
repetition of this grand musical feast.
BURGLARY At THE KIMMEL HoUsE.-Iast
night, a burglar operated at the kimmei House,
on G. street, and made 4 heavy haul. Sidney
Sweet, of Dams vile, n. T., lost a gold hunting
watch and chaia and his pocket-book contain
ing about SIS in money, notes and checks
amounting To $1,000. John J. Barber lost 8
osIr nrfn
attached. Fl. Chritman lost $40 and a buckskin
purse with q number of valuable papers.