The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-03-07


tors from Sussex and Petersburg, but he
must express his astonishment at the re-
ma, ks OF the Senator from Botetourt. That
Senator knew that the subject had been
carefully and deliberately considered by
had been afforded ample opportunity to Of
fer any objections or amendments to the
bill if he had desired.
He (Nlr. o. was sure the Senate would
not commit the bill. The majority had
fully considered all its provisions, and
agreed upon the details of the plan as pro-
posed, so the reference was entirely unne-
eessary.
Mr.. Greene remarked that it was very
well understood that this bill is the pro-
duction Of caucus of the majority party
of the General Assembly and it is be-
lieved that the apportionment had been
made entirely for partisan purposes. In
deed, the boast had been made by the
Democratic press that the State had been
gerrymandered so as to give the Democrats
seoer, districts, and the Republicans only
tWo. In all kindness to his Democratic
friends, he would suggest to them that in
their eagerness to arrange the districts so
as to carry them in that way at the
next election, they had overlooked the
fact that this apportionment is to stand for
ten years. He very much doubted the
ability Of the opposite party to carry
the seven districts as they proposed, even
next November and certainly he felt quite
sure that long before the ten years would
expire more than half of the districts will
fall into the hands of the Republicans.
He would urge this consideration upon the
other side as reason why they ought to
favor his motion to commit the bill. Sup
pose you take the matter up again, and ar
range the districts so as to give us three or
four Of the congressman, and then you can
fix up your districts in manner that will
make them undoubtedly Democratic. As
you have it now your districts are cut so
closely as to render majority of them en-
trely unsafe for you, and more OF them
certain for us than you think there are.
The question on committing, with in
structions was taken and defeated-ayes 8 !;
noes 81. /.
Tho bill was then passed and communi-
Gated to the House of Delegates.
AGRICULTURAL IMpLEMENTs.-Pr
badly no man in the South has done more
to promote the use Of labor-saying ma
chinery among the farmers and planters
than Mr.. Smith, of the firm of Ii. M. Smith
! & Co., of this city. The country generally
| is indebted to his inventive mind for many
of the most valuable inventions now in use.
Some of his machines have stood the test
of long years of use, and though many la
ter inventions OF the same character have
attempted to supplant them, it is most
creditable evidence of the great practical
worth of Mr.. Smiths machines, that they
have successfully withstood all compete
ton, and in the light of science and ad-
vanced agriculture, many of them are now
more popular than ever.
Among the inventions of Mr.. Smith
which now occupy a high position in the
| estimation of the farming community and
| among manufacturers, we may mention the
| following: ''Smith's Virginia Horse
power" "H. M. Smith & Co.'S Threshing
Machine,o the "Old Dominion Cider and
Wine MILL" "Smith's Patent Tobacco
CUTTER" "Smith's Improved Patent Well
| Fixture" "Straw, Hay and Fodder Gut
ter" the "Old Dominion Corn-Planter, !"
tina "Eureka Corn-Planter," the 'Virginia
| Corn-Sheller," and various other machines
of practical utility. The patents and sew
| eral reissues on some of these machines
| have long since expired, and they are now
subject to the free use and manufacture of
the entire country, and are largely and
regularly manufactured and sold by the
leading establishments throughout the
country, even in the agricultural West.
| The " Eureka Corn Planter" which we
have mentioned above, is comparatively
recent invention, and we consider it worthy
Of special notice at our hands. 1t was
first introduced in the latter part of last
season, too late for general trial of its
merits. 1t was, however, subjected to fair
tests by some Of our leading corn planters,
who have voluntarily given the highest tes.
timonials concerning its value for the pur.
poses of corn-planting. We have examined
it, and consider it simple in construction,
and possessing features which render il
superior to all others Of the same
description. It is so arranged as to
enable the planter to guage the distance al
which he wishes to plant with absolute
certainty, and as the dropping process is
controlled by spring, instead of brush
as in most other planters, the amount o.
grain dropped is always the same. The
aperture through which the grain reaches
the furrow is so large and so shaped as te
l preclude lne possibility ol CloSSllS. anu tnt
covering plows just in the rear aresnscep
tible Of immediate change to any desired
depth. 1t is strongly and admirably built
and if well taken care of will last a grea
number of years. We consider it wei
worthy of the attention of the corn planter
of Virginia and of the South.
The Eureka" as we'll as the other in
ventions mentioned above, are specialize
with Messrs. Ii. M. Smith & Co., and the,
are largely manufactured at their immens
works on Main street in this city.
} CHANCERY COURT OF RICHMOND
, The following cases have been disposed Q
since last report:
| Rutherford and others VS.. Rutherfor
5 and others. Decree confirming report {
| commissioner providing for partial distr
hution Of the filnd on hand and anpointin