Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-05-13

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indefinite upon this point and that other le-
gal gentlemen had expressed doubts upon the
subject. He hoped that ifany member of the
City Council was present who could explain the
matter be would do so, as it was understood
that the Radicals were to run candidate for
that Office.
| COL Suite stated how the indefniteness had
occurred and explained how it was that there
would be no election for Mayor until May, 1872.
A prolonged and rambling discussion then
took place in which personalities were indul-
ged in, and during which COL NJ. D. Ball an
nounced his determination to withdraw from
any active participation in the present contest;
and the motives of the City Council having
been impugned by Col. Stuart and DIR. j. b.
johnson, were defended by Capt. j. NJ Steuart,
Col. Suttle and Capt. D. L. Smoot, who also
advised harmony of action as the only means
Of securing success.
| Capt. Smoot made speech in which he DEM
onstrated clearly that no Mayor was to be cleo
ted until 1872.
Mcssrs. Shim and French also participated
in the debate. ...
The meeting then adjourned, having recon-
mended that the Executive Committees Tor
the different Wards hold their nominating
meetings on the nights designated by the Su-
perintendents, and already published in the
Gazette
VISITING SCHOOLS The Superintendent of
Public Schools started yesterday morning on a
visit to the various schools in the county. he
first visited and examined Jefferson School, No.
l, of Jefferson District, at Camp Convalescent,
colored school, in charge of Miss Charity L.
Bowen The school house here is comfortable
one, in beautiful grove, bat the furniture is
still Of primitive description. though rather i'm
proved since his last visit There were present
but very few children, and these mostly in the
lowest branches, the larger portion OF the pupils
being engaged in planting corn; SO the eXaml-
nation was brief About mile and half fur
| Their, in beautiful locality, on the Columbia
Turnpike, is Columbia School, No. |, of Airing
ton District, for white children, occupying
very fine school house, better fitted up BY far,
however, Miss Julia +. Mosher, being indis-
posed, the school had been closed several days,
so there was no examination. Half a mile or
so further on, in the Freedmens Village, is
Arlington School, No. 2, of Arlington District,
for colored children, under the charge of Miss
Celnda D. Anderson and Miss Ella Henry.
Here full examination was held, with
satisfactory results, though here, as in Jefer-
SON. many of the pupils are said to be engaged
in planting corn. The house and furniture are
good Two miles farther brought the Superin-
intendent to Balls Cross roads, where Walker
school No. 3, of Arlington District, is kept by
Mr. James F. Green, for white children only.
As at the colored schools, the number present
was small, but very creditable examination
was passed by those present. The school Is
kept in the neat hall Of the Good Templars,
and has good furniture. The last visit was
paid to the white school in Jefferson District,
called Ruffner school, No. 2, and taught by
Miss Fannie l.. Mills, in the new school house
nearly opposite the city aims house Here
there was very good attendance, and good
lessons, though both the house and furniture
need improvement. The above facts are fur
nished US by the Superintendent: We are IN
formed, however. that the visitation had
rather unpleasant termination to that officer,
as his vehicle broke down on the old factory
road, whilst it was raining hardest, and he had
to walk into town through the mud.
EXPLOSIVE BALls-'rhe origin Of the ex
plosive balls used by the armies of France and
Prussia and now by the French, having attrac
ted considerable attention by military men ow
ing to their effectiveness, is claimed by Maj
George w. Dufey, of this city, as will be seen
by the following - Explosive balls Of various
kinds have been used in modern warfare, but
we're thrown aside on account of want of accu
racy. and liability to explode prematurely
The ball now used by the army Of Versailles
was the invention OF Major Duffey OF Virginia,
an artillery officer on ordnance duty at head
quarters Army Northern Virginia. This terri
BILE explosive was made in three parts, and so
arranged that any infantry soldier could pre-
pare and use them with perfect safety. They
we're used for blowing up magazines, Timber
chests, etc. On the breaking out of the war
between France and Prussia, Major Duffey,
bearing letter from General R: +. Lee, speak,
ing in very 1attering terms of his services and
qualifications, was introduced by prominent
citizen of Washington to Count Les Jardines,
secretary of the French Legation, and made a
tender Of his explosive ball and services to the
French Government. He received favorable
answer, and was directed to produce drawings
of his projectiles. which were forwarded to
Count Pilakalto, the Minister of War at Paris.
Before their arrival the battle of Sedan had
been fought and the Imperial Government was
at an end
WOODEN WARE, which embraces an almost
infinite variety of useful articles, says the Bos-
ton Commercial Bulletin, included among which
are pals, tubs, brooms, &C.: is now i'll good &C
tive demand. The country trade are buying
freely, and, though they take supplies in mode
rate quantities, orders come in often,and good
business is being done. There arc SIX or eight
wholesale dealers in Boston who do yearly
business of nearly 81 100000" Now, why
could not mandatory of wooden-ware be es-
tablished herc-aud worked to great profit?
There was once in Alexandria, 4 mandatory
of cedar-ware which supplied quite large
trade, and was extensively patronzed by our
oi}io