The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-14
From Washington.

From Washington.
WASHINGTON, d. q. June, 18th, 1871.
TIE WEATHER
here is perfectly delightful on account Of
the cooling effect the recent rains around
ms have had upon the atmosphere; no dust
10 the streets. and the promeuaders are
now making the best use of Pennsylvania
avenue possible.
THE STRIKE.
The strike among the laborers here OF
which there has been so much said of late,
Is now at an end, and work is now re-
sumed In all parts of the District of Co.
lumbia. 1t is well known here that the
back bone Of the strike was 10 few OF
the many loafers who live on public chari-
ty through the winter, and when spring
comes with her demands for laborers, they
aim at sitting the energies of the enterpri-
sing people SO that there will be no work,
and they can have semblence OF good ex-
cuse for soliciting public charity through
the summer. e.
SENpOo DOhEAOs
The work of the census office is pro-
crossing rapidly. There are 426 clerks
employed at present, large force to be
profitably employed, and yet the work is
30 systematized that there are no drones.
Tables are kept, showing every man 3
work, and the superintendeuts knows every
week the amount of work done by each
man. When it is considered that this en-
tire force is new organization, without
experience, the difficulties of the task will
be understood. A permanent bureau Of
statistics, with small force to be added to
every decade, would be great advantage.
There are 80 many details connected with
the work that experience is valuable
SKETCH OF THE PoLARIs.
The coolest caprice Of the season here, is
visit to the steamer Polaris. All her ar
rangements, outfit, &c, smack strongly of
icebergs aud sea of ice and snow. A
look into the officers cabin sufficed to give
your correspondent an ague fit. A visit to
the cooks gallery, where the heat of the
cooking apparatus is utilized latter being
employed 10 the furnace) to melt ice and
snow for supply of water, modified our
feelings somewhat until we came in sight
of dog sledge which had been used by
DR.. Kane 10 his expedition, which caused
the fit to return. It is fearfully chilly to
contemplate. But was soon accosted by
a representative of Captain Hall, one Col.
Lupton, who warmed me with fit of
laughter. He is a character fit for some
fpturn Dioko pu ond c,npot osca,a ;,,,,oa-
tally save by the greatest neglect. In his
address he is cross between languish-
ing, lolling, drawling young lady, and the
very humblest type of an Uriah Heep.
When these two specialities are com bined
in large heavy, brown-faced whesker-
ando, you must imagine the effect; for
this Is no place nor time to do the picture
Justice. He certainly was affability am.
plifed, and it is really too bad to write an
honest description of this accommodating,
bland gentleman, after bis being SO par
ticular In stating to me the points of the
valuable vessel and the objects Of the expe-
dition.
The PoIaris was originally the "Peri-
winkle." propeller built for an ice boat
to keep the navigation open between Phil
adelphia and Camden, N. j. When the
war required the vessel, it was purchased
by the Government, and being built in the
most substantial manner, it was selected
for the Polar expedition, and the hull was
literally filed with bolted timber which is
fourteen feet thick at the bow. A nose was
added, and the Polaris is really new ves-
sci, which, like other novels, is "founded
on" the Periwinkle.
Everything about this craft is of the
most compact description possible. Her
power is immense, and yet her machinery
occupies but little space. Over her pro-
peller Is a we'll walled with timber, in
W hich, when required by contact with ice,
the propeller itself can be unshipped and
drawn up out of the way Of Arctic break
ers. She is schooner rugged of the long and
low order, and seems well adapted to run
ming with speed under canvass. She left
Washington on Saturday for the Brooklyn
Navy Yard, where she will remain for a
number of days before starting on her
journey to the home Of old Boreas.
IN THE P. o. DEPARTMENT.
:. - Mr.. F. A. Mccartney, discussing clerk
and superintendent in one of the offices of
the postofice, a fellow-student of POST
MASTER General Cresswell, who had the ut
most confidence in him, has turned out to
be defaulter 10 the amount of $4,000.
This sum is said to be secured by the
transfer Of certain speculative interests 10
which he had been dabbling. He avows
insanity to be the cause of his detection,
and has been regularly pronounced insane.
His case is said to be sad one of mental
alteration on the one hand, while on the
other, some are suspicious of the fact, and
denounce it as an adroit effort to screen
ordinary guilt from punishment, and that
it will prove no very salutary example for
those who have opportunities for pecula-
ton in that and other departments.
Mr.. Mccartney was, at different times.
an editor of the Daily Chronicle, National
htelligencer, and Eoening Express of this
city, and was much respected before his
default was discovered, while many who
know him still sympathize with him.