The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-01-10
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION.

On Saturday morning last, most destructive fir
occurred in this town at the Depots of the N. c. ant
c. Il S. c. Railroads. About halfpast O'Clock fir
broke out in q small building few yards from the
large Passenger Shed, and the Quartermaster
tgildings. The wind blowing very heavy at the time
il spread with great rapidly, and in few min the
Shed and the two Quartermaster Warehouses were
,xropn-d in flames From these it caught the build
ing formerly used ticket Office by the c. & S. c. r.
r. thence the piles Of Cotton on the platforms
around the main Depot buildings and then to the n
G. Depot The Warehouses, sheds, and onehalf of the
\ c. Depot building were consumed, destroying vast
quantities Of corn, -four, cotton, sugar. &C.
The loss to the Confederate Government is severe.
We learn that there stored under the shed ard in
the warehouses % 900 sacks and oats, 1900
sacks -four GO hogsheads sugar besides Blankets sol
icrs clothing leather, and varods other articles. One
Of the warehouses about 400 feet long, the other
200 feet; both filled with Government stores. few
hog-hcai5 Of the sugar were saved before the ire
reached it, and has since been gathered upton
beneath the burning About 5000 sacks corn
were taken from the fuins Saturday in a damaged
condition. besides small quantity Of cloth, flannel &c
Major Echols the Quarermaster, lost portion Of his
books and papers. The iron safe belonging to the Of
fee remained in the burning building, and learn
tina, the money, &c. which was in it, is not damaged
The loss the Government is estimated from five
to six millions Of dollars, at least
Around the Depot buildings about 200 bales Cotton
were burnt. Tie portion of the y. C. Depot which
was consumed used by the C. L S. c. Railroad as
room, in which large quantities of freight
belonging to individuals, all OF which totally de-
sroyed. Next to the Government, the c. S. G. Rail-
oad is the heaviest oser-the loss probably, amount
ing two millions. The loss of cotton is
sustained mostly by individuals and the Columbia &
Hamburg Railroad Co. The total loss by this FIRE is
thought to be millions Of dollars. Had it
not for the rain which fell in the early part of the
night and for day Two previous the destruction of
property would have been much greater.
The fire is supposed to have originated from defec-
tive stove pipe, but various opinions expressed on
the sujcct-some attrbung it to negligence. large
guard has always been kept the premises, and why
the fire discovered in time to it, is rather
strange 10 say the least At ary rate it is
fortunate Especially is the loss of provs
ions TO be regretted.
We not sufficiently Informed to say whether or
any of the government officers are to blame in the
matter.
R<s5- We direct attention to the large number Of new
advertisements in our o-days issue.
THE CHARLOTTE POsT OFrlCE.-Mr. Overman,
the efficient Postmaster at tIis place, has rendered
quencc of the compensation not being sufficient to
enable him to live The salary is but two thousand
dollars and out of that the Postmaster has to pay
Office rent and other expenses. This sum is
ly sufficient to pay office rent alone in this town.
We regret that Mr.. Overman has thus been obliged
to resign, fer he has made q most excellent Post
master The Office pays to TIE Government about
ten thousand dollars annually. and think the
Ill ID
larger salary than So 900.
The position of Postmaster here requires an ac-
tive, business man-the labor is considerable, and
is than ought to be required Of man.
Nevertheless. Mr. Overman has promptly discharged
the duties and with satisfaction to the community;
but he cannot be expected to work for the Govern
ment for nothing. Oflice-rent. lights, fuel, &C.
amount to a great deal more than his salary. The
r"prctors of the four newspapers published i'll this
place especially interested, well the
munity generally, in having prompt and efficient
Postmaster. We respectfully ask the Immediate
attention of the p NJ General to this matter.
t-y- The Post Office known "Alexandriana,"
III this county, has been discontinued simply be-
the Postmaster had no key with which to open
The mail. We are informed that the Postmaster's
frequent requests to the Department for key have
never received tie least attention The discontin-
uance of the Office is great Inconvenience to the
large number of newspaper Subscribers in that Sec
ton.
Somebody in the Department at Richmond does
not attend to his business.
THE HOME GUARD.-Gov. Vance has publish
ed Special Orders discharging the Home Guard
troops from further service in the field at present
lie ihSnks them for their promptness, and compli-
ments them for their valuable services"
THE VA. SALT WoRKs-In the latter part Of
December the enemy captured the Virginia Salt
Works, held them for a short time, and were then
driven off The official report Of the Engineer Of
the Works states that the damage will be repaired
in less than mouth. 1920 kettles were uninjur-
ed, and 7eS broken by the cnemy-the North Ca
rona, Georgia and Va River works suffering
about the entire loss. The sheds were all destroy
ed, and the salt on hand slightly damaged by fire.
OF the salt now at the works % 500 bushels il for