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


Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
RICHMOND, Oct. 2S.-The Senate meets to-
morrow at 10 o'clock for the purpose of going
into executive session to consider and pass upon
the nominations for County Superintendents of
Public Schools.
In the Senate, to-day, several bills hereto
fore introduced we're reported upon; among
them, the bill Incorporating the Richmond and
Potomac Railroad company, which it is pro-
posed to amend BY making the road terminate
at a point not west of Mathias's Point, and COM
| polling tho building of the main line of the
| road before the stem to Fredericksburg is con
| structed.
A resolution was offered enquiring into the
expediency OF amending the tax law so as to
| protect the distilleries in the State by taxing
ardent spirits brought into the State from 9TH
er States, or to abolish the tax of g cents per
gallon on spirits manufactured or distilled in
the State.
The tenc, law as amended providing that
| the Board of Supervisors of any county which
has not heretofore adopted the provisions OF
the act of 1866 may adopt the same in whole
or in part for their county, and after twelve
months may repeal the same, the repeal to
take effect twelve months after such order. In
counties where the magistrates have hereto
fore adopted the fence law Of 1866, the Board
of Supervisors are empowered to repeal the
| same.
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Johnson, OF
| Accomac, to prevent the killing OF partrloges
by Gon residents of the State.
| Tho bill in relation to unloading ballast from
vessels-gvng to magistrates jurisdiction, ana
giving to informers oce third of the imposed
| hneS-Was passed.
A bill was introduced for the relief of the
surities of w. Fl. Mansfield. late Sheriff OF
SpottsylvaGia county.
The House bill to dispose of the States in
terest in the Potomac bridge at Point of Rocks.
was amended and passed.
The bill authorizing the sale OF the State 5
interest in the Orange, Alexandria and Manas'
sas Railroad, was passed, as was the bill au-
thorizing subscriptions to the stock OF the Shen-
andoah Valley Railroad by certain counties,
cities and towns
The House amendments to the James river
bridge bill were coDcurred In.
In the House OF Delegates among the bills
reported were the following Amending the
charter OF the town of Fredericksburg max
ing certain portions OF the Shenandoah river a
lawful fence suspeDding tho collection OF taxes
from sufferers by the flood; declaring the Shen-
andoah river lawful fence in Clarke county
| incorporating the Cupeper and Madison
Turnpike company amending the act pre-
| scribing the duties and compensation OF certain
towoship officers; amending the act in relation
to chain gangs; authorizing county and corpo
ration Judges to award I'M functions in certain
| cases.
The road bill was further amended and re
turned to the Senate.
The grand Jury bill as received from the Sen
ate was further amended.
The following bills were passed: For the
protection Of fish in the Shenandoah river and
the tributaries Of the Potomac west OF the
Shenandoah ; preserving certain remedies Tor
loss of lapse of time; in regard 10 ialIors tees
joint resolution in relation to the release OF
citizens of Maryland and their vessels; as to
liens of judgments on real estate amending
the charter of the town of Winchester, and
perfecling the subscription of Page county to
the Shenandoah Valley railroad.
Fl Mr.. Johnston of Alexandra, has introduced
in the House Of Delegates bill to prohibit
seine hauling, &c., IN the Potomac between
o'clock on Sunday mornings and o'clock on
Monday mornings, under certain penalties eX
pressed in the bill. The idea - taken from the
recent legislation in New York and other States
at the North, where great attention has been
given 10 the subject OF the fisheries, which
have been almost destroyed by the wastefuI
practices Of fishermen, especially the shad fish
cries. Messrs. Green ard ROOSEVELT, the New
York Commissioners of Fisheries, who lately
visited the Potomac fisheries and inquired care
fully into the mode OF working them, their past
and present condition, &C., say that they too
are rapidly undergoing the process OF destruc'
ton by the fishermen themselves. Mr.J. does
not Intend to press the bill, but submits it to
the better judgment of the parties more imme.
diatcly concerned. Its operation, it passed
: will not commence until similar legislation Is
had on the part of Maryland.
Thomas boswell, celebrated turfsman OF
this Stale, died yesterday in Hanover county in
the seventy second year OF his age. Mr.. D. was
the owner OF several noted racers, and on the
day Of his death one of his horses won race
on the Baltimore course.
Two hundred and fifty members of the So
ciety of Friends passed through this city this
morning on their way to Greensboro N. g.,
to attend meeting.
The counsel in the Chahoon case have asked
for further time in which to prepare motion
| tor new trial.
The arrivals at the hotels are daily incresS-
ing and great crowd is expected here to at
tend the State Fair, which commences next
| Tuesday.
THE LARGEST CANON IN THE WoRLD.-A
piece of ordance, it is stated, is now in course
of construction at the Woolwicb, England,
ioundries, which will surpass all previous at
tempts at building large guns This piece Of
ordnance weighs thirty five tons. and will be
capable Of dscharging solid projectile wei gh-
ing seven hundred pounds and hollow shell
weighing much more. The ordinary cartridge
is 10 contain eighty pounds of powder, and the
batteriig charge will weigh one hundred and
twenty pounds. The gun will be riaed with
nine grooves, the twist increasing so that the
hundred and sixty inches The velocity Of the
shot, it is circulated. will reach twelve hundred
feet per second and the range will extend to
nine thousand yards. or over FIVE miles. 1t is,