Middletown transcript., 1869-08-07
LOCAL AFFAIRS.


steam pump, said to be the only ono of
the kind in the country Your readers are
aware that canals are generally fed from two
sources, tide water or mountain streams,
which supply the waste of water caused by
evaporation, and by the process of locking.
Now at this point the surface of the canal
is about sixteen feet above the Back creek,
and as there are no streams which dis
charge their waters into the canal, the waste
must be supplied by artificial means, and tn
Canal Company have erected here pow
erful steam pump to raise the water from
the creek into the canal. The water
wheel is 80 feet in diameter, and is driven
by two condensing engines of 200 horse
power each, 36 inch bore and foot stroke.
1t lifts to height of 25 feet-177 tons
of water per minute, which is discharged
into the canal. Your readers may obtain
from the above figures some idea af the
power of this wonderful machine Chesa-
peake City, 1 am pleased to say, is not
yet finished, as some fifteen houses have
been, or are now being, erected during
this year. The Masons have commenced
the foundation of new hall, 80 by 60
feet, about the center of town. The first
story is intended to be rented for stores
the second as public hall, and the third
for the use of Cecil Lodge, No. 1875. The
building committee are pushing it Wig
orously and hope to have it ready for oc-
cupation by the latter part of the fall The
Canal Company have been doing larger
business this year than for several years
past. 1t is little slack now, but they
anticipate heavy fall business,
RAPE CASE AT New CAsTLE.-On Tues
day July 9th, white man named William
Walls entered house in the town of New
Castle, and attempted to commit an out
rage on the person of Miss Harriet Ann
Harman, a young lady occupant of the
house. The villain caught her and en-
deavored to drag her to bed. The young
lady made desperate resistance, which so
incensed the man that he commenced to
beat her with his fists, terribly brusing her
arms, and laceratng her breast Fearing
that the screams of his victim would at
tract attention and lead to his capture, he
released his hold upon her, and, without
consumma:ing his diabolical purpose, es-
capped from tine house cnd came over to
this city. On Wednesday Sheriff Rich
ardson came here from New Castle and
delivered warrant for the arrest of Walls
into the hands of Officer Carpenter, who
apprehended him in Shipley street, and
brought him to the City Hall. Walls was
taken over to New Castle on Thursday af-
ternoon, where he can enjoy the solitude
6 ho, al,
massive stone structure at that place, and
ruminate on his brutal attempt to outrage
an innocent and respectable girl, until the
time arrives for his trial-Journal and
Statesman.
FINE WHEAT CRops.-We mentioned
last week, the yield of 20 bushels of wheat
to the acre, on the farm of Mr.. Frank
Holcomb, in this county, from stalk
ground. We are informed that Mr.. r.
S. Griffith, of Head of Sassafras, Kent
county, Md, has raised this season 30
bushels to the acre. Thirty bushels to
the acre, we see it stated, is the average
in California, this year. We have good
report from Sussex county. A letter from
Lewes says Our wheat crop was never
better. In one case 35 bushels harvested
to one sowed. Who can beat that? Oats
turn out we'll. Corn could not look bet
ter. Farmers all wear smiling faces, OF
course. But the greatest yield we have
ever seen reported is the following, taken
from the Fredericksburg Va. Herald
DR.. G. j. Powell of Orange county, Va.
seeded last fall bushels of wheat on IL
acres of land, together with l 900 pounds
of guano. The land was prepared with
remarkable care. DR.. Powell has cut anG
stacked the crop. There are seven stacks
of his wheat, which several competen
judges say will thrash out an average o
thirty bushels each. IF so this will Civ,
210 bushels to the acre and half DR.
Powell, himself, thinks the yield will no
be less than $50 bushels
The Levy Court Commissioners of New
castle county are erecting workhouse il
the Jail yard, in connection with the pris
on. The object of the workhouse is to fur
nish employment for the prisoners whc
have been sentenced for long term
When finished it will be furnished will
looms for the manufacture of carpet,
large quantity of which is now made
which saves the country considerable ex
pense in the maintenance of the prisoners
The Commissioners are also putting up Al
addition to the Court House for the us
of the attorneys during the Court
' KENT RAILRoAD.-We learn that at tn
meeting of the Board of Directors of thi
!. road, at Kennedyville, on Saturday last,
e contract was made with the Messrs. Alb
e bott, of Baltimore, for sufficient iron to la
the track from Massey's to Kennedyville
: the same to be delivered in about tw
t weeks. There seems to be but little dout
E that the locomotive will reach Kennedy
= . vile by the first of Observation-Disclosures
Transcript.
HALE's EARLY.-This variety of pcac
; has been sent to market that is, sue
: portion as did not rot, which is believed t
E be about one-half. One gentleman VIII
estimated his crop of Hale's Early, at 60
baskets, shipped but 100 the balance hay
ing rotted. This variety is by no mean