Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-10-29

THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS, at St per
.anum-payable in advance.
SPONTANEOUS GENERATIoN-The Weekly
Press was the first agricultural paper in the
United States to call attention to the remar-
kable discoveries OF Danish scientist, that
the rust on the barberry and the rust on the
wheat-although two distinct plants according
to all laws defining distinct plants-have really
the same origin. Through the microscope the
exact structures of these little plants, which
We call rust is plainly seen and the one
on the barberry aad the one on the wheat look
as different as, amongst the higher classes OF
plants, an oak looks from willow tree. But
the evidence is conclusive. Seeds lin these
rusts called spores) have been taken from tho
barberry, placed on the wheat, and their ger
mlDation watched with the microscope. When
they grow they do not produce the barberry
rust, from which they were taken, but the
regular wheat rust ; while wheat rust, seed or
spores, put on the barberry, produces barberry
rust.
The TACT so clearly ascertained is important,
not only as showing that the practical cultiva-
tor is often right, Notwithstanding the vigorous
opposition of men of science, who for years
have asserted with Buckman. I'VE can no
more believe barberry rust would produce rust
in wheat than the rust of any other plant would
de-" but it will have a remarkable influence on
the discussion now going on IN the English
journals about ''abiogenesis,' as the theory Of
Spontaneous generation is called. DR.. Bastian
boiled water, 80 as to destroy all living germs,
The air being previously and aterWard cxclud-
ed Examining this water after it had cooled,
with microscope capable OF maPnltylng to
seen. Soon alter this it was again examined,
,pd rlonfc moro fnrnd of ohont civ hun.
drcdth of an inch in diameter. When this
plant natures its spores can he seen; but as the
spores which originated tho plant cannot DO
seen, it would seem natural that the plant did
not at first originate from a seed or spore, but
was generated from some elements which them
selves had no lie. But the experience in bar
berry rust shows that plant may produce very
different seeds to those from which it origina.
ted; and 80 it may be that these little plants
sprang from germs though Invisible, and which
we're capable OF wthstaDding the great heat
to which the water was subjected.
We see here therefore, the importance OF
mall fact. But for this many would now be
believers in the doctrine that life can originate
from dead matter-that is, in spontaneous gen
Grafton. AT present it still remains improved.
1t is pity that it cannot be decided one way
or another with certainty. 1t would open up
j wonderfully new field in our treatment Of dis
eases in plants or animals.
REVENUE FRAUDs-ExpcsUREs IN CuIcA-
Go.-Thc Chicago Tribune makes the follow
ing demand and Disclosure:
The Grand Jury of the United States Dis
trict Court is now in session, and IL, we pre-
sume engaged in investigating. amoog many
other things, the enormous frauds that have
been perpetrated upon the Government dur
ing the past five years by that powerful and
hitherto intangible organization known as the
whiskey ring We speak of frauds perpetrat-
ed during the past five years, because that is
the statutory limit which bars prosecution tor
crime, but we would not be understood as
implying that it is necessary to 60 back i've
years in order to find something 10 do
1t is notorious. and may easily be proven,
that men who were paupers In this communi-
ty few years ago, and who had never had any
visible meaDs OF support, except the smal!
stipend of revenue officer, have amassed
fortunes within the short space OF eighteen
months. Some of these creatures have invest
ed their i'll gotten gains in real estate 10 this
CITY. The men upon whom these creatures
have levied their ill-gotten gains are now here,
many of them poor, having been bled TO the
marrow by the harDies who surrounded them
made some of them, at least, arc willing to
tell bow the revenue officers became rlcb.
1t is notorious too, hat large dis
tiIIery in this district was run for years
in high wines, which were nomlnaliy
shipped in bond to Constautinople, but were
actually put on the New York market and
sold thero at profit which made fortunes t.r
all concerned. In one instance an en>lrc cargo
of whskey was shipped from here to Glasgow;
in Scotland and, by means OF lraudu ent pa
pers obtained at the Custom House. the same
whiskey was Withdrawn and sold iu New 4"rk.
Bribes were boldly offered to honest revenue
officers, witnesses we're hired to leave the city
when the Grand Jury was in session, and suits
that were pending 10 Court were compromise
at an enormous loss to the Government. In
deed, everybody knows that during these three
years corruption and dishonesty pcrvaded al
most every department of the revenue service;
These corruptions we're By no means contned
to this collection district, but extended all over
Northern Ioois--at Peoria, Peklr, L'Salie,
and almost every place where there was dis
tlerv. ln fact, the corruptlous at chicago
aud Peoria made it i'm mpossible for any dstllIer
to make living honestly, even if he had been
disposed TO.
The engineers of the National Air Line Rail
road have completed their survey through New
Jersey. This road is Intended for the trans-
pnrtatlon of passengers and nails direct from
Washington to New York. without the delay
incident to making many stoppagcs, as is the
case on other routes. Where this line crosses
other roads 1t will either 60 entirely over them
by means OF tressel work, or under them by
tunnel ing, In order to prevent delays and ac
cidents. a portion of the road, commencing
at the Delaware river, is already in course of
construction.
A wealthy lady of New York recently went
a. orH1
rave out her engagement to gentleman in
Washington, had the cards sent out the guests
came 10 plumbers, many presents were sent in,
the clergyman was ready. the bride waiting
but the groom came not. 90 an explanation
being demanded of the astonished gentleman,
it appeared that tho whole thing was deu
sion, or an Invention of the lady s, without the