The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1866-07-07
Virginia COrrespOndence-~Lett from
John w elch.
VIRGINIA. NEVADA, June 10th, 1866.

giving your readers few items Of things general
/ ly in this land of silver and sage brush.
THE LATE FIRE.
A few evenings ago Virginia was visited by one
of the most destructive fires that ever occurred
here. The fire originated in the Fountain Heal
Restaurant on street about one o'clock in the
morning and before the engine could be got ready
by the boys the adjoining buildings, the engine
house of No. l !. Hanaks Bakery and the Virginia
| Hotel was one lurid sheet of fame. The fire next
communicated to the Newman lodging house kept
| by Mrs. p. S. D Riley thence down Sutton Avenue
10 9 street. burning up z street to the hedln
building, on both sides of the street. and down Z
street to Latliffs Music Hall, down ID street where
after devourng good!y portion ci that street was
finally extinguished. The estimated loss is said
to be about $3.50 900, 100000 Of which was cGv-
cred with insurance The fire was, beyond doubt
the work of some iendish incendiary who is now
perhaps glodting over the misery he has entailed
on many helpless families who perhaps had their
all in the hOures in which they lived. The first
engine on the ground No. /, was disabled by sume
one who bored hole in some vital part OF the
| machinery which completely disabled her, but for
that the fire would not have extended beyond one
| or two buildings, and thus would thousands Of
dollars have been saved from tile fiery element.
| Brick buildings that were considered fire proof,
were deyoured by the fame as 1t camphene had
offered no protection to the buildings they were
intended to protect After the fire they were
warped and Oent as if they were made OF tin in
stead OF iron The burnt portion OF the town pres
ents at present very dllapdated appearance, and
from the stagBatiOn in mining and all other bus
ness, is very apt to relapse back TO Its prlmevaI
state. A few wooden bulldings may be put up
but the major part OF the lots will never be built
upon. The banking and insurance companies have
lost heavily. and iii consequence have offered
reward of two thousand dollars for the arrest and
conviction Of the supposed incendiary.
THE MINES.
Work in the greater portion of the mines con-
tinue to be prosecuted with vigor. Stocks are
very low, and altogether Virginia to the old in
habitants presents but sad picture of what it
once WAS. Houses in the best business portions
of the town can be rented for almost nothing and
in great many cases are, and have been lying
idle for want of occupants. The business Of the
town is being centered betW cen Union and Taylor
streets. | am thus particularzng things because
great many of your readers were formerly resi-
dents of this rlgce. There is no lack Of work for
those seeking it; account of the various excite
ments OF New Grenada, Montana and the various
other steamboats, that have taken place this year
taking off the surplus population.
THE APPROACHING FALL ELECTION.
Politics begin to boil here as we will have a
general election next fall for new set of officers
from Governor down. Parties are taking their
sides between the President who desires recon
structi0n of the Union on terms of equality to all
sections of the Union, and the Radicals who in
slst that the Southern States were and are out OF
the Union. and are to be treated according to
their dictati0n as conquered provinces. They
thus stultify themselves by insisting on a pro
gramme which they strenously opposed during
the past five years, and want to make Poland
or an Ireland in the American Republic to be
thorn in their sides for the future. / am under
the impression that the majority of the American
people irrespective of sections see through the
timsey pretext OF the radicals who are bent on
keeping one half the States out of the Union in
order to subServc and keep in power the present
narrow minded, bigoted majority in Congress. If
the American people are wise they will say to
the people of the Southern States, let by cones
be by cones, glorious future awaits US. ne will
treat you as Americans and as equals II they do
this glorious destiny is in future for the Republic
of the West.
FENIAN MATTERS
have been very qniet since the failure of Sweenys
project of the invasion of Canada; but the cause
| is by no means dead. At the present writing the
Telegraph informs us that war has all but com~
menced in Europe, and in that lies gleam OF hope
for the consummation of the Fenian cause. A
Egreat many. perhaps the majority, of the Broth
Eerhood never could see anything but defeat and
disaster in the attempt to free ireland through
/ Canada 1t is only now that people perceive tie
many obstacles that laid IN the way OF General
Sweeny's cOnqnering British America. He had
to contend against the Canadian authorities ON the
Que hand the neutrality laws of the United States
on the other, and last, but not least, the whore
power and resources of the English government
and hostile people. For party purposes a Ger
tain class Of newspapers beLG6Or the President for
doing that tchich If he fUiLsd to do hostile Con-
lgress ucOuId hGUe insps0ched him TOR. 1t is all
livery fine now, when 1t is too late, to talk about
repeating the neutrality laws Why did not Con-
Il gress do so before, when it might have done some
j good. The talk about doing now is all bosh, in
order to enlist the Irish people on the side OF the
Radicals, and against the best interests OF their
/ adopted country. Then what is the duty Of the
i Fenlans in this emergency? Cling to the advice
and counsel of James Stephens-the man who is
undoubtedly possessed Of more brains and admin
istrauve abllllles than all the other leaders com
bined. If we cannot stand one defeat we are not
worthy the boon OF freedom aud independence.
But some, doubling and ever tmid, will say there
is no hope, and why torture us with your vain and
visionary efforts? Yes, nay cOuntrymen, there Is
hope. There is to-day in Ireland three hundred
Thousand OF as brave men as ever went forth to
battle three hundred thousand of the youth and
intelligence of our cOuDtrymen, all of one mind
and oDeying, without murmHr, the commands Ot
him who seems to exercise an almost supernatu
raj influence over them. and whom trust Is yet
destined to lead them to glorious victory. Those
brave men offer as sacrifice on the altar Of their
country their lives, asking nothing OF US In re-
turn but officers, arms and munitions OF war;
Will we give them, or will we falSlfy the pledges
given at our various conventions, and disappolnt
- q IL 0s.nA II rTh