Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-03-27

fhh ANNUN pAy ap1o III FaACe.
The AGAssIz MEMoRIAL.-Iu removing
Louis Agassiz, death has deprived US of one
who, for the last quarter of a century, has done
more than any other person to stimulate IN this
country the study Of nature and spirit OF sci
entifc investigation. Tweuty-eight years ago
he left Switzerland, his native land, for the
United States, and became an American clti-
zen Those twenty-eight years he gave to un-
remitted labor in behalf of that higher educa-
ton which, by the public at large, was little
understood.
1t would not be grateful for the country, nor
would it be for the country's interest, that
Agassz should pass away without fitting me.
mortal. Such memorial can be made out OF
the great Museum which he began and partial
ly built, and for the completion of which he
has left full directions. The Museum Of Com.
dent establishment, governed by faculty of
its own. 1t was founded fifteen years ago by
Agassiz, and has grown to its present large
proportions under his haud. The system Of
instruction has the widest character. and in-
cudes elementary teaching as well as the high
est investigations. The exhibition rooms are
free to the public. Large sums have already
been expended 10 bringing this National Muse
um to its present condition. Its collections, in
several branches, are superior to those OF the
British Museum or the Jardin des Pantes. 10
make such an establishment usefulit must have
large building, and considerable annual in-
come for the payment OF professors an,, assls-
tapts To perfect the grand plan conceived by
Agassiz will require at least three hundred
thousand dollars, of which about ne-third
would be used in enarging the building, and
two-tbirds would be funded.
T, ic RI ha hoped that the npODIa of Amprlca
for whom Agassz unselhshly labored, and
among whom he spent the best portion of bis
life, will not hesitate to carry on the work he
began. His example and his teachings have
benefited every section Of the country. The
Museum he planned and founded will, if suit
ably endowed, become an ever increasing source
Of scientific and practical usefulness to the na-
ton and the world. We cannot doubt, there
fore, that this appeal will be answered by the
public n the same generous spirit IN which
Avassiz devoted his genius to the furtherance
Of science and to the advancement of education
among us-Bnh. american.
AN EPIDEMIC OF FIRE.-For some days past
our news columns have been filled with ac-
counts OF fires, which have ragged and destroy
ed on most extensive scale, To-day the re-
cord is repeated, and the fires are as destruc-
tive as usual Yesterday severe fire broke
out in Philadelphia, and destroyed property
valued at one hundred thousand dollars. At
Elmira, in this State, yesterday, fire broke
out which destroyed property to the extent OF
TWO hundred thousand dollars, and according
to last accounts the demon of fire was still rag
ing. The fire at Wooster, Ohio, on Monday,
has proved to be alarmlngly guinous. ln our
own city destructive fires have extensively pre-
vailed. Why, with all our modern science and
and scientific appliances, should fires be so
common and so little under control One
thing we have observed is that whenever
high winds prevail fires break out all round.
This seems to prove that our present system
of building houses does not sufficiently guard
against the fire 6end. The great fault of Am
crican building is that wood is allowed to ap-
proach too near the hues. No one who knows
anything Of our present system of building
houses can fail to wonder that fires are not
more frequent than they are, 1t we cannot
build more safely, then our plain duty is to
provide more extensive means for extingulsh-
lug fires when they occur. We have often had
occasion to blame the insurance companies. 1t
is our privilege to blame where there is wrong.
We must still eeusure the insurance compan.
les if they cannot see and do their duty. On
them largely lies the responsibility of these
frequently recurring fires. Let them insist Oh
u
sent to INSURE Let them adhere to their
standard, aud in brief space of time they
will cure disease which affiicts the communi-
ty and from which they themselves severely
suffer- The cure is simple, but it will be found
to be as effective as it is simple.-N. l. Her.
THE FlTz j Ohm PORTER CAsE--The Phila-
dephia Telegraph publishes the following as
special dispatch from Harrisburg:
Mr. Bailey, of Chester county, who, on Fri.
day last when the Joint resolution calling upon
Congress to reopen the case Of Fitz-John Por
ter was under consideration in the House,
spoke and voted against it, states that the as
sertiou he made in his remarks, that certain
documents were in existence which, if disclosed
would deepen the infamy of General Porter.
and which he pledged himself to his country
should be produced in case the matter were re-
opened was not buncombe. He stated that the
editorial published some time since IN the New
York Tribune, which referred in a mysterious
way to certain papers which were in existence,
but which it were hoped, for the honor of the
American name, were not true, and which
occaSioned such great hutter at the time In
New York, Washington, and other places, had
reference to the same matter.
\ reporter on the Tribune, Mr.. Bailey says,
was on the staff of Fritz John Porter IN 1862,
and under his direction made drawings OF the
tortifcations on the Union line, which we're
made use of by the Confederates. If the case
is reopened, Mr.. Bailey will give the pane OF
this reporter, in order that he may be brought
before the court martial. He is OF opln-
lon that the Government in Washington Is
10 possession OF the same information, and that
consequently it has been in mercy to Porter
that his case has not been reopened.
\ "PEELER "A "'peeler" bond is q
coupon bond issued after the Legislature had
repealed the act making the coupons Of State