The New Orleans crescent., 1868-03-03
LETTER FROM ST. LOUIS.


Special Correspondence Of the New Orleans Crsscent
ST. LOUIS. Feb. 26 1868.
The weather continues mild, but the day is dark
and gloomy with indications of rain which we are
badly in need OF. Very little rain has fallen here
for the past eight months and stock raisers have
been put to much Inconvenience in procuring
water for their stock. Nearly all the wells, springs
and cisterns in the country are dried up, and a
copious fall Of .'pluvial drops" would be great
blessing to the rural districts.
Business Of all kinds has improved a little Of
late. and leads US to hope that when the spring
trade fairly opens hustle and activity in all de.
partments of trade will be the order Of the day.
We entertained similar hopes last spring but sig
naily failed to realize them. All
Our citizens have naturally been much excited
for the past few days over the news from Wash
ington, bat have finally settled down to the con-
viction that it viii be call talk and no cider"
The corner stone Of the western abutment Of
our great bridge across the Mississippi was laid
yesterday, and Capt. Eads will push the work to
completion with all possible rapidty; aud in four
years from to-day our visitors from the Crescent
City will cross the river on railroad trains. This
is prophetic, but I'll bet my "bottom dollar" ON it.
On the landing, business ia quite lively, bur the
rates OF freight for the South are ruinOusly low,
caused by the barge line cutting under the steam
boat rates. The barges are receiving flour for
New Orleans at 35 cents per barrel and the steam
boats at 40 cents. This is fine opportunity for
shippers, but will no doubt be of short duration
as under such arrangement steamboatmen are
bound to come out at the little end Of the hornn
and can better siiord TO lay their boats up. The
owners OF the magnificent and entirely new Bis
marck entered into the contest on Monday, an.
nouncing that the Bismarck could carry freight
just low as anything else afOat and she is now
receiving at mere shade above barge rates and
is announced 10 leave on Thursday, this being her
maiden" trip. She was loaded and ready to
leave in the latter part of December, but the &C.
emulation of heavy ice 10 the river and the un-
certainty as 10 the depth Of water out 10 Cairo,
csused her to abandon the trip and she went into
refinement" The Olive Branch arrived from
New Orleans 10 day. The W. r. Arthur Is an-
nounced TO leave to day and the Olive Branch and
| shark tomorrow.
Among the boats first due from New Orleans
are the Great Republic and Commonwealth.
TIE following New -Orieans guests were regis.
tered at the hotels yesterday Laclede-H Mere.
diih, G.. II. Chase, g. o. Walton Barnums-A.
r Mann Everett-B. Brisby; Southern E.
King.
In the amusement line the greatest event Of the
season was the benefit of Geo. J. Jones, treasurer
Of DeBar's Opera House, which took place on
Saturday night. Georges friends rallied in full
force and the house was densely packed. The
performance commenced with the farce Of "Tne
Lucky Number" followed by clog dancing,
Essence Of Ole Virginny," Harmonica solo,
sThe Triple Psrterre." by the Wilson Brothers ;
bone solo. song snd dance, Happy Little Nigs, ["
Bowman and Harris the farce of "a Youth that
never saw Woman" champion jig, recitation
"Charge of the Light Brigade" BY Mr.. A. B.
| Pearson T; fancy horDpipe, Billy Emerson's song
and dance by Little Mile and concluded with
the crib scene from "rom and jerry in which
| Nike NcCoole, champion, and JoEn shaw were
introduced to the audience, after which they had
a set-to. The bill was brim full Of fan, and q
| better pleased and more delighted audience never
| sat within the walls Of the Opera House, and
| hereafter Georges annual benefit will always be
| looked forward TO with anticpatons Of unal-
| loyed enjoyment. The Varieties this week is
| closed, but viii open on Saturday night, on the
occasion OF q complimentary benefit extended by
| many Of our citizens 10 Manager Desgle. / IN
derslsnd that the house hereafter will be for rent
| by the night or week. The French Spy Il
| played by Nile. Zoe, at DeBsr's this week, and
thus far has drawn very good houses. Her en-.
| gagement will terminate on Saturday night and
she will be succeeded by W. J. Florence and wife
| Who are great favorites here, and never fail 70
draw. The Olympic is in the full tide Of success
The performances are invariably good, the theater
Is comfortable and coy, and to drive away dull
| care one has only to enter this bjou establish
ment and sit an hour, when his object viii be &C.
complished. RAINBOW.