The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-26

survey has been made and an approprla-
ton Of $4,000 secured for the improve
ment Of Rappahannock river. These were
all important measures of internal improve
ment, and general benefit to the State at
large.
During the sessions Of the Forty-second
Congress, Mr.. Platt's indomitable energy
contributed mainly to the success of the
following measures:
Appropriation for improvement of APP
Repairs Custom House Norfolk 20 600
For Norfolk Navy Yard extraordinary
appropriations in excess of usual nj
lotment to other Navy Yards.............". $4,000
The postal service has received his special
attention, and nearly one hundred Offices
have been established, and several new
post routes ordered in the State. Near
ly three hundred special bills, among
them bills for payment Of back pay
due to colored men for services rem
dered in commissary department during
the war; removal of political disabilities !;
and settlement of contested claims,
would have failed but for the activity Of
Mr.. Plat; who also rendered invaluable
services by assistance to numbers of his
constituents, who had legitimate but COM
plicated and suspended claims against the
government.
He also introduced bills to extend the
signal service to Cape Hatteras and other.
points, with Geographic connection with
Norfolk, to render the shipping interests of
that port as secure as possible; for deep
ening and widening the channel of the
southern branch of Elizabeth river; to inn
prove the navigation between Norfolk and
Albemarle sound by way Of A. & G.
canal for improving the Dismal Swamp
canal and the Blackwater river; also, for
removal of powder magazine fro,a Fort
Norfolk, and granting the free use of the
fort and grounds to the city of Norfolk, to
be used as an emigrant depot in connec-
ton with the Allan or other lines of ocean
steamers. am
When the tariff bill was under discus
sion Mr.. Platt secured notifications o.
great pecuniary importance to his district ;
while his labors in behalf of the tobacco
interest are attestcd by votes of thanks
passed twice by the Petersburg Board o
Trade, by large meeting of the citizens
of Lynchburg in May last, and letter o
thanks signed by every tobacco manuiac
turer of Richmond, most, if not all, polti
cal opponents.
AS Secretary of the Republican Nationa
Congressional Committee, his services ar
known in every part of the State, and wer
emphatically acknowledged by the commit
tee, who reelected him their secretary
: The demands upon his time by privat
business, and the canvass of his dstric
compelled him to decline serving secon
time.
Mr.. Platt has been constant and con
scientious employer OF labor, in manufaC
lures or agriculture. 1t is largely due
him that the granite quarries of Chester
field are furnishing material for the ne,
, State Department building at Washington
!, and that the wages of hundreds of we
paid mechanics, who are chiseling int
g +" things Of beauty " the shapeless masst
from the quarry, are added to the wealth NJ
only of our sister city, Manchester, but
Richmond also, while still larger pro-
pective benefit will accrue to the State b
r the publicity which is being given to Il
fact that the neglected granite of Virgin
is the best in the United States, and wi
be in demand wherever beauty and dur'
bility are required by builders.
! With such record of his past caree
q and enjoying "sound mind in sour
/, body" Mr.. Platt may well be popul
!. with his political friends and respected
/. his opponents. His reelection is concedt
as certain, all efforts of the Greeleycrats
q induce respectable Republican to II
;. against him as assistant Democratic cane
i date having failed. d. NJ. Norton, inwho
success the Enquirer appears to take SUI
;. special interest, may be kept in the field
E Greeley funds, but we can assure t
y worthy editor that he will prove as bad
! Investment as his party's old friend, Doct
: Bayne, proved in 1869. with prop
i management, Lee, Norton, and Platt in t
70 field, Platt should be defeated says o
q. contemporary. We are sorry to prophe
"a disagreeable things to our neighbor, but
predict that the Republican column of t
Second district will be broken as it was
/, Vermont broken to make room for NJ
:. recruits, who will give Grant, Wilson a
N Plat such vote as will secure sweep
J, Republican victory.
q THE FOURTH DISTRICT. a
At One of the most intelligent Republica