The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-10-19
TIE EoREgr FIREs.-The overwhelming


calamity ia Chicago, and the dispatches which
have been constantly coming in, fraught with
the latest intelligence from that Inflated city,
have Withdrawn the attention OF the public
from the extraordinary ravages OF the same
fiery element in Michigan, Minnesota, Wis
consin, Iowa, Indiana, and elsewhere I'M
mense fires have been raging in the western
forests for the last two weeks It is said that
in Wisconsin the fires have had no parallel
since the settlement OF the country. Two
thousand square miles are reported to be
swept by the flames. In Michigan it is STAG
ted that FIVE villages have been entirely and
two partially destroyed. All that portion OF
the State cast of Saginaw bay, and north OF a
| point forty miles above Port Huron, has been
burnt over AMI numbers Of persons hayc per-
ished. Scarcely county in the State but
las suffered more or less. The damage to
the pine lands is ncacuabc. There was
light rain on Wednesday, which seem to have
checked the progress of the fires through the
State. The fires have burned fiercely in the
immense woods in some portions OF Mlnneso
ia. Wood and prairie fires are also reported
to be raging along the line Of the Louisville,
New Albany aud Chicago railroad, between
New Aleanv, Ind, and Lafayette, on the
North End road, destroying miles OF fences,
hay, grain in stack, corn in the field, houses.
barns aud cattle pens There had been
long and protractcd drought in the West. and
the flames went over the country as it 1t were
finder 1t is feared that the losses will prove
enormous, aud assistance is said to be needed
nearly all through the Northwest where these
fires have been raging.
BASE WRETCHEs. -In many parts of the
city which remain uuburned, bakers, groccrs
and butchers, have raised the price OF their
stocks in trade to cruelty cxhOrbltant propor-
tions, aud refuse under any circumstances to
aba1e cent on their demands Many of the
landlords have also joined the army of ex-
tortionists, and now that shelter is required
by suffering humanity from the cold aud
damp, refuse to low their vacant houses to
be occupied, except by payment, IN advance
of fabulous monthly rent. One small Gsc
room cottage in the West Division, which Il
few days go could only have been rented Tor
about twelve to fifteen dollars Il month could
not be hired yesterday under seventy five dol
lars month, the laudinrl even congratula-
ting the persous who took the cottage off his
hands on having encountered so enterpfsing
aud generous man as he A hundred in-
stauces Of this character can be quoted. but
the above will suffice to illustrate the base
ness Of some specimens OF miscalled human
ity.- Chicago journal.
The WOODEN PAVEMENT IN CHICAGO =
Tho Ncolson pavement has been especially a
Chicago institution In the late conhagra-
ton an eyewitness says that they burned like
timber like petroleum would have been a
better phrase The New York Journal of
Commerce says, I'm the crowded parts of
New York this pavement should be ripped up
at once, leaving us the security OF solid. un-
nhammablc ground until Hrs,-class stone
pavement can be laid
THE ELECTION REsULr-The Chicago
calamity absorbed public attention last week
tosuch an extent that the returns from The i'm
portant State elections held during the week
almost passed without notiee. Returns are
not vet complete, but those atxeady received
show republican majorities OF 10000 in Iowa,
16 goo in Pennsylvania, and % ,00bin Ohio.
Ia the latter State the Senate is reported to
be tie, while in the house the REPUBLICANS
have 3 majority. Tn Cal,lnrnia, fal returps
give Booth (rep 5, 0Go majority for Governor,
A DELuGE IN CHtNA,-There has been Il
great food at Ten Tsn. It is estimated
that 10 o @ square miles were under wster,
which occasioned great suffering There has
been terrible typhoqns at Hong Kong aud
along the coast Several vessels were lost
aud hundreds af Chinese drowned The city
Of Hong Kow is threatened with innndation
J.YNcHBURg FArR.-Wc see from our
Lynchburg exchanges, that quantity of fine
at the fair, and from all accounts the fair
promises to be grand success. We should
think it would be well for the Agricultural
Association of Petersburg to see that its dele
gates attend the Agricultural Association
If Petersburg to sec that IT'S delegates at
tcnn The Lyncnhurg Fair and, it possible, in
ducc the cx.I 'btors thereto con iuue! thtir rip
to this city with Gae stock.
Rye has been more generally sewn the last
year or two than formerly. 1t is really a
more profitable crop han wheat, as the STRAW
Is OF nearly as much value as the grain, ant
there is always good demand for both
Land too. not rich enc ugh for wheat viii
produce full crop of rye.
~-
II c Shenandoah Democrat says that tn,
recent township meetings in that county
were such complete fzz'es as TO leave NJ
doubt in the mind of any sensible man, tina
the people Of that county will not suppor
nominee unless he suits them in all respects