Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-10-13
VIRGINIA NEWS.

The road bed Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad will be ready for the rails between
Covington and the White Sulphur Springs by
the lst Of May next The contractors are
pushing ahead with indcfatigable energy, and
are constantly increasing their force. There
will be no interruption on account OF winter.
The Richmond Evening News says that
duel was fought near that city, a few days ago,
between two young foreigners. The weapons
chosen were cavalry sabres, in the use (which
each one OF the Hotspurs was anadept Both
received slight gashes, when the affair was adj
iusted. lti5 hardly necessary to say that a
woman inspired the difficulty. ...
On route Washington city to Strasburg, W.
B. Hazlett being sick, caused by excessive Ia
Dor, is allowed one months leave of absence:
Winfield Walters is designated as tenn porary
agent to fill tho vacancy to be paid by the post
master of w ashington at the rate Of Sl,OSQ
per annum.
! The receipts OF cotton at Petersburg, last
week, amounted to seven hundred and ninety
bales, against three hundred and twelve bales.
the previous matchmaking total OF nearly
400 bales received since September lst.
Application has been made to the Governor
for tic pardoDof George ". Wilder, ofAlez-
andria, who was sentenced to the State Peniten
tiary for five years for receiving stolen goods,
knowing the same to be stolen.
The Atlantic Hotel in Norfolk, elegantly
fitted up, has been opened under the direction
of Mr.. Albert G. Newton, formerly of this
city.
One hundred and twenty four head OF splen-
did cattle, shipped by L. Morganthal, passed
over the Orange road on Saturday, on their
way to the Northern markets.
Among the unavailable letters in the Post
Office at Richmond, is one for Dr. Richard
Stuart, King George County.
How TO RIDE VELocIPEDE.- New
York Sun Of Saturday says:
''The velocipede seems destined to come In to
use in this city, though it will not soon attaln
here the vogue it has reached in France. Our
streets are TOO narrow and too crowded. and we
have lew broad, smooth avenues atfordlng the
opportunity of employing it extensively, as
means of exercise and health. Still, it IS so
attractive and fascinating, developing so much
strength and Skill and affording so great amuse-
ment to the rider, that its votarles and stu
dents must become numerous .'... ...-..
Wheels-the one directly behind the other-and
connected together by light iron frame work
The fore wheel is usually little the higher of
the two Where great speed is aimed at, its
diameter may be made as great as four feet,
while that Of the hind wheel should hardly ex.
coed two feet and eight or ten inches. In most
Of those that have been seen in this city the
two wheels have been pretty nearly equal, with
diameter of about two feet and four inches.
''Thc propeling force is applied through
treadles, which are fixed to the fore wheel.
The rider drives himself by the alternate action
Of his feet upon these treadles. The motion of
the feet is not unlike that in rapid walking.
The rider sits upon little saddle just over the
tore part OF the hind wheel. He guides his
velocipede by turning the fore wheel to either
side. This is done by means OF stiff iron rod
which rises from the axle, and has cross bar
at the top that is held by both hands Of the
rider.
1.-The Grst art Of the veocipede is to keep
your balance. This is not like the same OPP
GRAFTON in skating. 1t can only be acquired by
practice. The more rapid the motion, the easier
it is to keep the machine upright. In Veiocl-
pede contests in Paris prizes, have been given
to the slowest riders
with wheels OF small diameter, the rider
stops himself by putting his foot to the ground.
With high wheels he checks his speed with
brake, and descends to the earth by inclinlng
to one side till the foot touches. In n ounting
with high wheels skilful practitioner starts
his veocipede with push, and then springs in
to the saddle"
Rich gold mines, it is said, have been dlscoV-