Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-24
NEWS OF THE DAY.
"To sl,o,o the pery age and body of the Time

be held at st. PETERSBURG ID the autumn vi
1873. Information has been received at w ash
ngton that the Imperial Government and the
Russian public would be happy to- see an ex-
tcnsive participation in this exhibition on the
part of the American producers and manufac-
turers.
Sunday last the anniversary Of the procama-
ton of the first French republic passed offquiet-
w. In the town of Cbambery Gambetta ad-
dressed some two thousand persons, regrettpg
the prohibition of the banquets, but advising
his audience to obey the law of the present re-
public, which was now popular.
A steam canal boat has made successful
trip in quick time from Buffalo to New York
on the Erie Canal. The inventor, Captain
Baxter, will claim the reward OF $1,000 Of
fored by the State for the successful navigation
of the canals bp steam power.
1t was reported on the Berlin Exchange yes
terday that the government would shortly give
notice Of its intention to pay off the entire,
amount of the five loans made by the federal
government as means for the prosecution or
the war with France
From an official return recently published, 1t
appears that during the eleven years ending IN
1871. there were 2,774 persons killed, and
q,G4l persons injured GU the railways open for
traffic in Great Britain and Ireland.
Notice is officially given to France BY Russia
that nothing hostile to France was contemplate
ed in the recent meeting of the Emperors at
Berlin.
In the case of Thomas Farrell, charged with
having caused the death of two lunatics at
BIackwelIs Island, Judge Leonard has granted
a writ Of habeas corpus
Financial circles in Boston are much excited
over the troubles of the Vermont Central Rail
way Company, which eliminated on Saturday
by IFS notes going to protest.
The PIEDMONT AND PoToMAc RAILROAD
During the past summer the engineers OF the
Piedmont and Potomac Railroad Company have
been engaged in the vicinity Of Sperryvllle,
Rappahannock county, Va, surveying route
for the proposed road across the Blue Ridge.
According to the terms Of the charter the road
is to leave the Potomac river at or near George
town. cross the Blue Ridge at Thornton's Gap,
pass through Luray, in Page county, and move
on to Staunton. The city Of Washington, 1t
will be remembered, voted to accept S6OO,0OO
of the boLds of the company when the latter
shall have expended $ 000,0 900 upon the work;
As the company Is said to be very powerful
one, having money headquarters in New York,
working mainly New York capital, and bent on
beating all existing competition in the matter Of
western freights, there seems to be no doubt
that the initia,ory million will be forthcoming.
The president, Mr.. Sheerer, who spent part of
the summer at Sperryville with efEngineer
| Pryor and his corps, replied to interrogatorles
Of the people by assuring them that the road
would certainly be built IF Col. Pryor could
find place to put it,, and Col. Pryor has
certainly found the place. Up to the begin
ming of the survey the idea of passing the
great barrier of the Blue Ridge in this
quarter without tunnel was looked upon
by many as preposterous. But the engi-
neers have surveyed and staked off route
along the side of the ridge from the vicinity Of
Flint Hill, in this county, for distance of ten
or twelve miles up grade Of fifty feet to the
mile through Thornton's Gap, where fifty
feet cut is to be made; then for about twenty
| FIVE miles along the western side OF the ridge,
on grade Of only twenty feet to the mile,
down to Conrad Store, in Rockingham coun-
| ty This, however, will not take the road to
Luray, in accordance with the terms Of the
charter, but this difficulty, it is proposed, will
be met by the construction Of branch road to
that place
The road, it is stated is to have double
track and to be tirst-clasSln allreSpects through
its entire length. Connecting with the Chesa-
peake and Ohio road at Stanton the line to
the West will be complete. The latter road
will be finished to the Ohio river in October.
Whether the Piedmont and Potomac road will
ever be Quilt or not-and there seems to be
scarcely doubt about its constructions a
question which will not affect the fact which
the survey has brought out as to its feasibility.
Although much heavy work will have to be en-
countered in the mountains, it will scarcely
come up to that of the Central Pacific, while
the grade secured is not inferior to that OF any
other road Of like character in the country
Correspondence Baltimore SIN.
How THE FRENCH BAND WAS WELCOMED
HOME. Our cherry Gallo friends, who won
such substantial triumphs here during the Jubl
lee, had rousiDg welcome when they arrived
at Hare on the return trip A grand evening
festival was inaugurated, and there was a
torch-ght procession in which sixty thousand
persons took part The authorities at Havre
had arranged that the Washington, bringing
the musicians home should be signalled from
the furthest point at which she could be seen,
and as she appeared and came up to the docks
about midday the crowds we're packed along
the street for miles. The Havre musicians, or
ganized into a grand company, struck up a
joyous air of welcome; and when the Washing
ton arrived in the interior ha1 Dor the band Of
the American frigate Shenandoah, ranged on
the ships deck, jntoped the Marseillaise, while
the officers raised the French flag to the mast
head and dipped three times the StarSpan-
gled Banner. In response from the Washing
ton came the rafting refrain of Yankee Doc
die, and the sailors on the Steamboats, rig
ging were so excited at this time that they
huFrahed and cheered until they nearly fell
from their airy perches. The band then march
ed to the Court of Honor, at the Hotel de
Vile, where it performed the overture to
Tampa and the MarseiIlaise, and the Mayor
presented an address Of welcome All along the
railway line to Paris the enthusiasm of the in.
habitants knew no bounds. -BoSton Journal
THE MARRIAGE OF PERE HYACISTHE.-A
letter to the New York Herald describes the