Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-12-17


PER ANNUM, payable in advance.
A PENSION MUDDLE.
From the Washington Capital
Rather a singular case occurred at the Pen
sion Office the other day. A venerable curios-
ty, by the name Of Kellogg, who seems to be
devoting the remainder of an ill-spent life in
procuring pensions tor widows, has been for
six months trying to convince Old Lockey that
oue-legged man. who walked off some three
years since, bad kicked the bucket, and there
fore that his reIict, the widow, was entitled to
the pension. The authorities of the Bureau
we're not satisfied with the evidence of the one
legged man S demise. 1t was proven that af-
ter he had procured from the Government the
latest patented artificial leg he exhibited
strange propensity to wander of. 1t was be-
lieved by Messrs. Jockey and Babsou that
like the man 10 the ballad, the missing peu-
sioner had got started aud couldn't stop The
last seen of him was on the steamer plying be-
tween this city and Alexandria, on his way to
that ancient mart.
One dav last week the untring Kellogg came
into the Pension Bureau staggering under
load that he brought down from his shoulder
to The floor with thump tha, made the room
shake and said
Now I've got il" and removing a course
bit of canvas he exhibited an old moss-covered
tombstone, on which was inscribed.
Sergeant John Smith,
''aged 62,
Died December 3, 1871"
''There now, cried old Kellogg, Il found
that at Arlington, dug it up and brought it
here to knock fact into your stupid heads.
That's what call sockdologer.'
The pension people were about giving way
to this last apd conclusive fact, when the noise
was heard of one-legged man stumping into
the room At the sight of him Kellogg let fall
his tombstone and went down into sitting po-
sition on the floor, with au expression on his
face that Booth might make a study for his
well, what are you up to now, old Run
aod -fetchit ~ exclaimed the oue-legged man to
Kellogg.
Il hearu tell you bin trying to git my pen
sion for my wife on the ground that | was
widow. Why, bless your SOUL bin DRAWN
of it all the time down in Key West, and ii
you'd just put yourself out to prove that she
was dead I'd be much obliged to you.
It's scarcely necessary to add that Sergeant
Smith continues to draw his pension, less
free paid old Kellogg for his humane endeavor
in behalf of the widow.
the working people Of New York are holding
mass-meetings to demand employment, in
tone rather suggestive of the spectre rouge and
the Phrygian cap of revolution, Mr.. Stephens
states from his place in Congress that the mem
bers of that body are still insufhciently paid
that they ought to receive $4,000 per annum
We quite agree with Mr. Stephens that brain
labor is for the most part but poorly paid; and
that it is entitled to more generous recognition
and more ample compensation than 1t generally
receives. We do not follow him into the corol-
larry, however, that all the honorable gentlemen
of the Congress or even most OF them render
this kind Of service; and hence we think they
are we'll enough paid at present, considering
how very little they contribute to the happi
ness or prosperity Of the country. AS an eVl-
depce of the kind of speeches that are made 90
the floor of that iustrious American Parlla.
ment. for which our Jcffersons Bricks aud
Birdofreedom Sawinses are paid at the rouDd
rate of 81 500 per year, We extract the Herald
report OF the remarks made Thursday IN the
House of Representatives, by Mr.. Crossland,
of Kentucky 10 the course of rambling and
personal debate 90 the salary -steal-resto
bill l:-Peters6urg Inden
''Mr Grassland, of Kentucky, was the next
man who amused the House by his observa-
tious He boldly declared that the great cry
raised about the grab was made by those who
wanted our seats He took the Increased pay,
and couldn't return it it he would, and, 80
help him God he wouldE't if he could. which
assertion was received with shouts oflaughter.
LAND IN THE SOUTH. The decrease 10 the
number of large plantations under cultivation,
and the increase of small farms 10 the cotton
States, is another notable feature of the new
situation. The latter has been estimated at
1852 in North Carolina, Is, is 10 South Caro-
lima, 1888 In Georgia. 3,673 IN Florida, l2,2o4
in Alabama, 25, 1873 10 Mississippi, II: l53 In
Louisiana. Is, 334 in Texas, 10, 42O in Arkansas
This is no evidence Of prosperity, but reverse,
the reduction of size in the farms averaging
from one half to two-thirds, and large number
of then, (so called) being merely small patches
under cultivation by squatters, chiefly coored,
Welding small returns, while great bodies OF
formerly cultivated lands are left to 60 to waste
for want Of capital and labor to cultivate or
work them. In some of the more unfortunate
States, such as South Carolina, Mississippi
and Louisiana, the decrease OF the area OF cul-
tiyation and production is startling, and the
figures would seem incredible it stated. Hence
he cry for immigration and labor which comes
up from those quarters. But recently Mich
igau lumber company bought 25O, 900 acres 4ef
Alabama wild land, heavily timbered with the
best nine for ten cts. per acre, for which they
now would not take quarter of million OF
dollars. Land is a drug 10 the Southern States
now, owing to the cause stated; aud even I'M
proved land can be had at ridiculously low
figures 10 all the States south ofVirgiDia, some
parts Of Georgia and Alabama excepted
The Neao South. }s -