Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-08-30
RICHMOND CORR BESPONDENCE OF
THE STAR.

THE STAR.
Richmond in Re Dog Ddys-rhe Burnt District
Busy LOcdiity-AdgnifceRt Improremeass-
hdrdNs FIGURING hH-The Wdshia0tOaiaas
eho 'oeHt South Tks Political SitHdtion South
RICHMOND. VA, August %. 1so6.-Dedr Star
Richmond in the dog days is duller even than
washington At this season Of the year. and
that is saying a great deal. A Sabbath quiet
reigns in the streets, except when disturbed
oy tne shrill voice OF careful but shrewish
housewife berating her servants, or the
thoughless carolhng of the colored popuIa-
non; VINO, as a general thing, have not vet
lost the happy abandon and careless leyitv
characteristic of fslavery and ignorance. because
they have not yet begun to realize as thew
will in time, that freedom brings with il rrava
responsibilities and duties.
What we have said OF the dulIness of the eitv
does not apply to the burnt district Here
the hmm of industry is heard, and its rssults
seen In every direction. Though the effects of
the great confaRration are still severely felt 4,
having left many of the most active and suc-
eessful business men here penniless: vet its
visible traces are being rapidly effaced. and
piles OF building materials now cover thu
ground, wherever new and costly buildings
have not been already erected on the blackened
ruins.
Inc people OF Richmend are certainly doing
remarkably well for community who were
SAID 70 De without money. We had expected
10 see the ournt district covered with frame
or brick shanties of one story, built for the tenn
porary accommodation of business men.
few such were erected Immediately after tha
evacuation last year, but we find Main stree,
now lined on both sides for a mile with mac
nificent five and six-story buildings. of ,hs
most substantial character. They have stone
iron or brick fronts, of finest architectural de.
sign, and are finished inside and out with all
the modern improvements. Ii is no exaRgara
ton to state that this portion of the town
when all the Improvements now in prograss
are completed, will compare fayorabIv in ar
pearance with any of the business locaIi,iss :,
the wealthiest northern cities The ci,izsns
are Justly proud of the new portion of M.j,
street, and it has been suggested by some nm
feeling wretch that it would have been a good
thing to have burnt over some other portions
Of the city, and extended the operation to other
places, IL the same gratifying results would
follow. Among other celebrated establish
ments now being reconstructed" is Haxslps
Touring mill, sald TO be one of the larees, in
the world IL rs an immense building of rad
brick, just ready for roofing, and is as larsa
and substantial as before, and probably a ,,nsr
looking structure. At Rockets q mammo,n
distillery is being erected, aud as the temper.
ance movement does not seem to have sx
tended this far south of Washington. tbsrs IS
no doubt the enterprise will pay
Speaking OF Washington, we find that mos,
Of our friends from ''the city of magnificep.
distance who came here in the earIy mar, q
the war, have shaken the dust Of Ricbmond
from their feet, and departed fer other scenes
Of labor.
DIR. BOYLE has gone TO Mexico, Dan. Ra,cIi-.
TO Baltimore, and Walter Lenox 10 Washington.
Among others who remain here, we have seen
our friend Judge Ould, late Commissioner for
exchange of prisoners on the part of the Con.
federate States. He looks grayer and mora
care-worn than formerly, but is as genial as
ever. He is practising law, and has his resi-.
dence and office near the State CapitoI. ".
also met Col. Riyes, son of the venerable Wn
T.. Rives, former Minister to France Col
Rives was educated at the Polytechnic scboo
at Paris, is an excellent mathematician and
engineer, and was engaged on the Washington
Aqueduct, under the direction of Gen. then
Captain) NJ. e.. Meigs, at the brea king ont
Of the war. When the Virginia tjonyention
passed the ordinance Of session. he res,gnad.
and came here, where his experience and at
taInments soon placed him the head OF the
engineer corps of the T.. s. A He is now en-
gagged in civil engineering here, and so is Mr..
u h lcIs, "uO fcll tue w dSlingtOQ AQua-
duct AT the same time. These gentlemen ara
both weli-known in Washington, where thsv
have many friends.
We have mixed here with politicians of all
classes, have met any number of original se
cessIonsts, and few original Union men. ana
had intended writing something OF the feeling
in Richmond in regard to the restoration poIi-
cy OF the President, and the action OF the CON
ventioR at Philadelphia, bu having a proper
regard for the usually crowded columns Of
the Star, will reserve our observations ON
these subjects, only saying now. that we have
far seen nothing to change our opinion that
the people of the South are disposed to act in
good faith. and that the glory and prosperity
of our whole country can be better maintained
and promoted by admitting the Southern
States to the Union, and giving the people here
a voice in the Government, than by continu-
ing to exclude them, thus keeping up feeling
of disaffection and hostility to the authorities.
liable to culmInate again at any time in open
rebellion. Unless the excluded States are 10
be always held by military power as prov
inces, the sooner they are admitted the better.
Every day they are kept out adds to the feel
ing Of disafection. G.