Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-03-16

United States lie examined the pnySlCal
conformation of the country and the natural re-
sources of the several sections He found New
York to be the natural port for all the belt OF
States extending westward along the lakes and
northern boundary to the Rocky mountains.
But he insisted that there must be second
seaport for the belt of States lying next south
of these, the central belt. He said
Another and new commercial city on the
Atlantic terminus of the great artificial belt
must and will rapidly rise up to control that
part of the trade of the great interior which
meets the commerce with the West Indies and
with South America Its site is due east from
the mouth of the Ohio, is midway the Atlantic
coast, is on the same parallel with San Fran
cisco in climate of medium temperature
is near the very pillars of H Hercules, the Capes
of the Chesapeake bay; at the mouths OF two
magnificent rivers, the York and the James,
which look out upon the sea; in near proximity
to the Gulf stream, which passes off Cape
Henry, 400 miles nearer from South America
and the West Indies than it passes Sandy
Hook And the same natural, causes which
compel the European commerce to turn III at
Sandy Hook will compel the commerce Of the
South Atlantic and Of the Gulf to turn in at
Hampton Roads, to the deepest and broadest
harbor on the Atlantic coast Much of the
trade of the interior bound to New York in
the winter months must pass through the
Hampton Roads and city there will have to
import largely from Europe for its own supply
aud that Of its own immediate back country
Do you ask the humbling question. "Why such
a city, at such site for commerce, secondary
only to that of New York, has not risen up
heretofore in the past p The answer is fair
confession that the plantation interest has
always heretofore controlled the mouth of the
Chesapeake, and that interest was ever and
ever will be anti-commercial and anti-manu-
featuring. But now that control has ceased by
the abolition of slavery, and Capes Henry and
Charles can and will be linked to the Ohio
river by both canals aud railroads.
TAME CoDFIsH.-Mr. Buckland, in recent
number of Land aud Water gives and iu
teresting account ola visit paid by him to a
pond containing tame Goldfish at Port Logan,
Wigntoushire The property in question be-
longs to gentleman by the name OF McDou-
gall, and consists of an amphitheatre about one
hundred feet in diameter, followed out OF the
solid rock by the sea. All egress from this is
prevented by barrier of loose stones, through
which water passes freely. On approaching
the shore OF the pond, many goldfish OF great
size were seen; aud when servant woman who
had charge of the fish approached with some
mussels, the surface of the water was perfectly
alive with the struggling fish. They came
close to the edge, and after little while per-
mitted Mr.. Buckland to scratch them on the
back, and play with them in various ways
Among other experiments tried by him, was
that of holding mussel in his hand and allow
ing the fish to swallow his hand IN the EFFORT TO
obtain the mussel. These fish furnish to- the
proprietor an ample supply of excellent. food
the flavor being considered much superior to
~ Il IL - fho W han-
ever needed for the table, a selection can be
readily made from the most promising OF those
at hand, and the fish secured without any
difficulty.
DoMEsTIcATED BUFFALoEs. Some expe-
rments have been tried in crossing the butta-
loes with domestic cattle, and the result IS
highly satisfactory, a breed OF animals being
produced which retains many of the valuable
properties of both breeds. The animals are
large and strong the chief objection to them
being that no ordinary fence stops them tor
moment, and that they love the water SO much
that they will swim and sport 10 it. even when
it is full of floating ice We have heard of
cow and calf whose love for athletic exercises
were such that they would jump from bank
ten feet high into deep water when there was
an easy path close at hand. These personal
peculiarities are drawbacks to the introduction
of buffalo blood into the veins of family pets
but on the other hand, when properly cared
for, these animals make most delicious beet,
and their hides, when soft tanned, are as much
superior to the buffalo robe OF commerce as
wool is to shoddy. The writer saw the ,pelt OF
the COW mentioned above. 1t was much larger
than any buffalo robe which he ever saw be-
fore, was covered with, mat OF SOFT; snort
curly brown hair, there being none OF the long
- bo.p ar,,Iv Nam Francisco
Post. :
TWENTY YEARS AGo-''A gentleman who
went to California from Davies county, Mis-
souri,, twenty years ago, returned recently, 10
visit married daughter: He went TO her
residence, aud giving fictitious name ne pc
gan asking his daughter questions about her
parents and as to the probability OF ner know-
Ing her father after SO long an absence. shno"
him? she replied; why I'd know him as taI
off as T could see him |" She then proceeded
to describe him as he appeared twenty years
before, and grew eloquent in her praises, OF the
beauty of his let black hair stately walk, ana
sshis yoiee,H she added, III never forget that;
I'll know that voice when hear it IN heaven.
The gentleman was so overcome with his emo
tons that he could sham no longer but clasp'ng
his daughter in his arms he proceeded to ao
minister a shower of kisses, much to the De-
widerment of her husband, who happened
to step into the room just at that moment =
He soon comprehended the situation; however
as did also several grandchildren OF the return
ed Californian, and soon there was joyous
time 10 that household.
FORTUNE TELLING AND ITS CoNsEoUESCEas.
The Grceuville Miss. Times thus briefly
sums up a fortune-telling case in MISSISSIPPI !,
Henry Barlow having had his fortune tola aa,
it was revealed to him that Louis HARRIS was .s
thwart destiny, aud announced that he would S ah1
kill Louis Harris; then Louis Harris lala ID, 1of OF
Henry Barlow and fetched him with load o.
buckshot. Louis, having thus established = q MS i