Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-30
VIRGINIA NEWS.

entirely destroyed ny HTc. Oh 'HatItlelS niSnl-
together with all the furniture. The building
was the old family mansion of the Prestons,
and was one Of the largest (of not the largest
and most elegantly furnished residence 10 the
Southwest. The loss is estimated to be at least
500. 600, upon which there is only q small in
surance. The fire is said to have been acct
dental.
On Monday,th boiler of the engine i'll J. D.
Shomo's Door, Sash and Blind Factory, in
Stauntop, exploded, carrying with it about one
half of the works. damaging L good deal OF
the machinery, and making total wreck of
almost the entire building The first bound of
the boiler landed it about 100 feet from It's
foundation, and from that point it turned nine
somersauts aud stopped in the creek about
zoo feet from the Factory. There were num-
Der of hands Working in the building. but not
one of them we're injured or killed.
The Richmond correspondent of the Peters
burg Index says there is foolish rumor
in that city that the bankers and bondholdcrs
OF the North have raised enormous sums OF
money to effect the elections Of certain candl-
dates for the Legislature, known to be in favor
OF the carrying out Of the Funding Bill, and
declares that there is no truth whatever IN the
rumOr.
4 conflict of authority has arisen between
Gen. William H. Richardson. Adjutant Gen
cral, and Col. Thos II. Owens, who was ro-
ccutly appointed by Governor Walker lnSpec-
tor General of Militia. It. i hoped that the
matter will soon be settled.
There is quite Il lively competition in the
staging business IRON Hamilton in l.oudoun,
to Winchester Both Major Harmon, the mai!
contractor on the route, and MIR. Kemp, the
old contractor, are running lines OF coaches.
There is I reduction in the fare.
The Hillsboro' camp meeting clo:ed On Frl-
day morning last 1t Was very largely attend
ed throughout, and the services were of Il more
than ordinarily interesting character rs some
of the ablest preachers in the conference. IN
Guiding DR.. Munscy, were in attendance.
Peach Lawn. confirming about two hun
drcd and eighty acres, located III Stafford coun-
ty, about six miles from Fredericksburg, was
sold on last Friday ut public auction. to Abner
S. Randolph. Of New Jersey, for IS, $50.
In Richmond, Yesterday, Miss Julia penoon,
was stunned and Frustrated by 4 fash Of light
ming 1t was some time before she Was re-
stored to consciousness.
A parsonage has been built by subscription
at the University OF Virginia, and il is now
proposed to raise sufficient funds to supply it
with the necessary furniture.
WAsHtNGroN ITEMS The following llr,u..
are collected by the correspondent Of the Bait
imore Sun -,
Mr.. J. W. LIE Barnes. citizen Of aud voter
in New Hampshire, and occupying the post OF
assistant sergeant alarms at the House Of hep,,
resentatives. has been appointed by the hoard
of public works custodian Of the tools, picks.
shoyels, watering carts, sweeping, machines.
&C., OF the board, for which he receives 4 good
salary, and is allowed besides all assistant. in
the person of A. VI. Green, a 90 orrd politician,
late Of Philadelphia. better knnwr hrr rs
Resolution Green.
There is a fatality among the horses IN this
city. and one brckmaker in the Seventh ward
has lost SVEN animals within 4 week, valurd at
800
John c. Cleary, ] wc-klnwn citizen. was
found at the corner Of Sixth street ana Penn
sylvania av last nj ght with cash four inches IN
length across his throat, and bleeding pr0tuSe-
". He refuses to give any information rs to
the cause of his wounds, and Is SUPPOSED by
some to have it is believed attempted suicide;
But he had fight with Il man. who stabbed
him in the throat with knife.
Ex-senator Cattel has purchase, >'vrulcrn
lots in Rhode Island avenue. between 18th and
| 10th streets, from Mr.. Shedd. for So n'. lie
intends to bud.
The amusements ut the SchuctG"n festival
give great satisfaction
JUDGING Soil BY TIMBER. --Almo>t every
one knows that the quality Of Snl may in a
great measure be determined by the timber
which grows upon it. but Of the exact nature
indicated by the primitive trees, people are not
so we'll posted Mr. B. Smith. of Patmo>.
Ohio. writes to the New York Farmers Club
of this matter and says that white oak land Is
Door that red oak and soft maple also indicate
Door land that shell-b mostly grows in cold,
wet land that fiat beech and sugar lands are
good for summer crops and grass but not for
wheat that rolling beach and sugar lands
where large poplar and black walnut abound
are fine grazing lands, and produce, when new,
large crops of all kinds Of grain except wheat,
where it is winter killed that large white oaks
and chestnut growing together, and black oak
and hickory indicate loose su5sol; aud lands
where the water soon sluks into the subsol are
much the most valuable for grain that soil
that will raise large crops OF all kinds OF grau,
| and then clover anu tlluOtHs, dul dltcl lucI
run out will come in with green grass and
white clover, is the best.
GENERAL GRANT a PRINTER. The Presi-
dent visited Brooklyn on Thursday. and among
other places of note, was taken to the Union
office After being shown through the varions
editorial rooms of the paper, and upon It's be-
ing said that he possibly would not care to go
into the composing ruoul, he said: We'll, l
guess have set good many columns OF type:
myself in Georgetown. Ohio, years ago. :,
:.Why Gen, said Gen. Porter, Il never heard
of that. Cen Grant replied that it was true
| nevertheless.
Then, the President and Vice President
! we're both Mt one time printers. Nlr. CotaS
we believe, served regular apprenticeship 10
the u ;uess.
KILLED BIZ LIGHTNING.-Iesterday alter
noon, about five o'clock. Geo. H. McNeaeen,
aged II years. and son Of widow residing on
p. street. between Twenty first and Twenty.se-
1ol- h nuh tnl n