davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01
From Allegheny.

A UNITED STATES SuRyEY-ACCIDEST TO ONE OF
THE SURvgYORS-THE CROPS, &C.
rCorrespondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
ALLEGHANY STATION, G. Il 0. r. r.,
July 80, 1874.
A party of United States engineers, under
command of Lieutenant Turtle, assisted by
Messrs. Talcott and Adams, are now engaged
near this place surveying the lSng-talked-of
canal route. The party, with large force
OF ayemen, &C., are encamped in pictur-
esque place near the depo'. Lieutenant
Turtle is said to be an engineer of more
than ordinary talent. If he is as good then
as he is socially, be will do.
One of the party Mr.. Steif, made very
narrow escape day or two ago with his
life. He was standing on rock over a very
steep place at Jerry's run, and the rock gave
way and be fell about ten feet, catching on Il
bush, and sustaining quite painful though
not serious injuries. Ii he had not tortu-
nately caught by the bush he would have
been dashed to pieces.
The recent rains have put new face on
old mother earth.
Visitors to the springs are arriving slowly.
Mr.. A. J. Ford. OF Ford's Hotel, passed here
last night en- route to the Old Sweet, and
Hon. 4. II. Kelley this morning for same
place. l have noticed several Richmond
men, with their families, en- route TO the Old
Sweet.
Drought cut crops of all kind very short.
Farmers a few weeks ago were grumblIng
and praying for rain. now they grumble be-
cause they have more than they want.
No political excitement here. Nobody
seems to want to 90 to Congress. Can't you
send us candidate? MoUSTAlNEER.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01
College Brain and Drawn.

We have some very good sense from
Chicago-strange to say. The Standard of
that city has something to say on the con.
duct of the rowerS at Saratoga lake, and
more especially upon the address Of Presi.
dent BARNARD, CT Columbia College, to the
victorious rowers who were pupils Of that
institution. The Standard thinks the ad.
dress very much too complaisant. 1t thinks
with us that in contest which purported
to be one amongst gentlemen, in which there
was foul conduct and the free use of lam
guage that was insulting and gross, that gen.
tlemen did not elevate their standing by be-
ing participants it. We do not think the
word 6 blackguard" out CT place applied to
such conduct. The Standard copies libe-
rally from President BARNARp's speech, and
comments upon il as follows:
Now, we raise no objection to exercise
on the part OF college students adapted TO
develop the physical man and promote the
Drawn That shall feed and support brain, nor
would we say word In criticism OF the
above If it had been the high.foWn speech oil
some student in the rapture OF q triumph.
But re cannot help thinking that it reads
as falling from the lips Of o college
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

The WASHINGTON MONUMENT Washing.
ton, July 30.-The Washington Monument
Society, in their efforts to complete that
structure by contingent subscriptions, have
thus far fully realized their expectations.
subscriptions are flowing in steadily. The
society are anxious to have it thoroughly
understood that under the plan adopted no
subscription can pass through the hands Of
agents, but comes directly into the hands Of
the secretary, Mr.. John Carroll Brent. It
should also be understood that the society
do not wish, any money until the entire
amount necessary TO complete the monu-
ment is first pledged. About half u million
will be requisite. When contingent SUBJ
scriptiops reach that sum call will be made
for one.half the amount of the subscriptions,
and the balance will be called for in six and
twelve months from the dale OF the first pay
ment.
In forwarding subscriptions the form used
should state that the whole amount will be
paid as indicated when official notice is re-
ceived by subscribers that the whole amount
required has been subscribed. The Society
hope to be able to make this announcement
by the 1st of January next, so as to be ready
to hoist stone very early in the coming
spring. If all societies, lodges, corporations,
and orders in the country. act promptly this
will be done. A moderate contribution from
all promptly pledged will secure the compile.
ton of the monument during the centennial
year, and this all good citizens and patriots
in the United States must most earnestly de.
sire, that our national dishonor, perpetuated
so many years in the form Of the unfinished
shaft standing under the very shadow of the
national capitol, may not longer survive tC
disgrace the nearly approaching new century
Of our national existence.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

1t was not very surprising error in the
Dispatch Of few days since by which Mural
was printed for Moreau. 1t was MoREAu,
and not MuRAr, who was MORALLY wounded
BY cannon-ball on the field of Dresden
August q, 1918. MoREAu was one of the
greatest generals Of the French Republic,
and afterwards of NAPoLEoN's army. Being
suspected of completely with PIcHEGRU, he
was suspended for two years, came to
America, and engaged in agricultural pur-
suits. But restless and stung TO the quick
by his suspension, be went back to Europe
and took command in the Russian army.
He was Oh the field on the day he received his
mortal wound, aud standing in group OF
officers, at which NAPOLEON directed his
gunner to throw a dozen balls, remsrkine
that there might be some "little generals >
amongst them. One of the balls struck
MoREAu, breaking both bis legs, and he ditd
five DAYS after.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

COLLAPSE OF ANOTHER INSURANCE Com.
PASy.-The Security Insurance Company of
Philadelphia, closed its doors and suspended
operations on Wednesday. The Philadel-
phia Inquirer says: This company was
formed for the purpose of doing business in
banking. insurance, real estate and stocks.
The president is Harrison Grambo, and the
secretary Anthony NJ. Zane. Who the other
officers are is not known. The establish
ment in which the business was transacted -
the large marble.front store No. S19 Chestnut
street. and was rented several months ago at
$500 per month. 1t was magni6cently lifted
mn to carry on the business. II must have cost
$50, 900 to provide the furniture, which was
of solid W ,lnut, and to secure the hre-proof
safe. which was Of most costly character.
Business 10 this gorgeous place began seYe-
raj weeks ago, but it is not known whether
Il vas good or bad. II it was the former,
however, it ia hardly probable that the doors
would have been closed yesterday. The
president of the concern, no doubt, laoorea
hinder considerable disadvantage owing to
his former failure, and it is probable the COM
pany did not succeed ID securing The conn.,
deuce of the public. The closing OF the es 3.
Enlistment, it Is understood, was the result
of Judgment obtained blythe attorney ior
the Gerrish estate for 81 200 against MT
Grambo under his former financial troubles
The money was left with himior investme.it
and Judgment was obtained ID the Distric
Court in the spring OF 1875
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01
Reechess Paper on DR.. Bagby

The Christian Union, the peculiar organ
OF BEEcHEK, and long sustained mainly by
the prolific pen of TILToN--" Dear THEo.
ponE thus speaks of DR.. BAGBY's Fifty
Millions:
"Humorous newspaper letters, especially
when full of local illusions, are seldom
worth reprinting. A marked exception to
this is furnished by the paper-coyered vol.
lme before us, entitled What did NTH my
Fifty Millions Iippincott: PhiladeIphia)
reprinted from the Richmond Wing. The
cover bears the words For Virginians
Only yet, having no claim to the title OF
Virgnian, we have read it with not q little
ENJOY ment. 1t has all the audacity and
recklcssly grotesque imagination which be-
longs to the most characteristic American
humor. But there is also at times no little
deIcacy of fancy and feeling, and the
straight. forward, slap-dash newspaper style
takes on now and then finish that is unu
sual in such productions. Here and there
amidst the wild fun there crops out weir
of really noble thought and feeling, as in
the description of the cathedral aud its ser
vices. There are q great many personal al
lusions which are unintelligiblr at this dis
lance, but some Of the local coloring can b
appreciated even by strangers. We gather
from the newspaper notices appended tina
the writer's name is George w. Bagby. W.
should suppose that he was capable Of bet
ter and more permanent kind of work thar
is attempted in these letters"
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

The AsBURY LIFE Insurance COMPANY OF
New YoRK.-In the Supreme Court, Brook
Ign. N. Y, Tuesday, Mr. !Chauncey Shsffer,
on behalf of stakeholder and ex.secretary
of the Asbury Mutual Life Insurance Com.
pany, obtained q rule against the company
from Judge Pratt, to show cause why Pc
ceirer should not be appointed to wind up
their affairs. An ad interim injunction was
granted. The company was organized in
1868, with a number of such distinguished
directors as 8. V. Stout, Rev. DR.. McClin-
took, james Bishop, Rev. Dr. Curry, Daniel
Drew, Oliver Hoyt, and Fletcher Harper.
Isaac A. Stiles, general agent, secretary or
actuary of the company FROM its organlza-
ton to January 1, 1878. upon oath SAYS its
principal assets were $4,000 of United
States bonds, and that much of the other as
sets were made up OF fictitious book credits,
discounted agents notes, borrowed, dis
counted, and after annual statements made
returned, and bonds and mortgages of which
the official reports make no record. By the
official reports to January /, 1874. the com.
pany bad 1927, 1874. By the official report
made In April, 1874, the assets were reduced
to S236045, falling off of S91,539 since
January last. By the same report the La
bilities of the company on January l, 1874
| were S34S, 1876, pot including capital stock,
showing an insolvency Of $4,000, while the
| liabilities in April, 1874, are reported at only
S223,64S, q falling off of Sl24, 4S7 since Jan.
uary.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01
letter rr0M PeteIspnrss.
,orroaro,, danoe II ff,e Rtrhmona tk54st

& PETERsBURGs July 81 igss
A meeting Of tha2 stoekhoId OF the IN,
DER ppeal Publishing Company was held
this evening ct the Courthouse, Mayor
Gregory in the chair and W. III. Harrison
secretary. The only business Of importance
that. was transacted was the passage~of.-a
resolution authorizing the Board of Direct
ors to carry out, according TO all the details
of the plan of sale and the forms OF law, The
contract between the company and Mr.. N.
r. Patteson, the late proprietor Of the
paper. ,.j'3
The wster trouble with which the city
was recently afflicted, threatening serious
deartb, especially in the not improbable con.
:ingency of fire, has been met by the prompt
action of the Water Committee OF the Coun-
ell. The whole south side OF the city has
been connected with the lower AppomattoX
basin by means Of pipe which taps the
main in South street between High and
Washington, thereby connecting with the
entire water system Of the town. Inc en-
tire cost Of the arrangement was but Y5oo,
and if the water-works are subject at any
time to arrangement hereafter the supply
received from the basin will protect large
section of the city from the raTaees of"fire,
as we'll as supply all the ordinary daily uses.
The new wheel of the water-workS Will De
in place next Sunday.
The police headquarters have been estab-
lished in the old appeal building ON BANK
street, which has been handsomely fitted
up for the purpose.
at meeting of the Board of Overseers OF
the Poor held yesterday evening it appeared
that there are now in the almshouse fifty
three raupers, of whom nineteen are whites.
There were five interments from the insti.
tuition during the past month. The appro-
priation asked for next month is $500.
The feeling in favor Of holding Fair here
next autumn increases, and it is believed
that if the active cooperation of the officials
of the Society can be secured the people Oh
the city will lend helping hand, and the
Fair can be made fine success.
A dispatch received here today states tnat
Mr. J. G. Armistead, clerk Of tue City ana
Circuit Courts, whose child died recently al
Harrodsburg, KY, will return home to-mor-
row in charge Of the remains.
The gratifying news has boon received
here that Rev. K. n. Sledd, who is rustlca-
ting in Albemarle, has greatly improved III
health and strength, and will ere long be
able to return to bis congregation.
There is a horse-race at the fairgrounds
this afternoon, and it is presumed from the
silence along the streets that there Is large
crowd of spectators present.
The collections of internal revenue IN THIS
district for the omonth which ends to-day
amounts to $4,000. ROBIN ADAIR.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01


The COMET AND THE PITTSBURGH DISASTER.
Since and before The days of SENECA the dis
coveIy and appearance of comets have been
regarded with great dread, as having some
thing Of the nature of miraculous appear
ances, and as ioretelling some dread occur
renee. The idea that the contact of the tail
of a comet With any portion of the globes
surface would produce an immediate de-
stiuclion Of the world was at one time &C.
copied by many of our wisest men, and the
day when women and children would hide
their heads under their bed.pillows at night
to prevent being witnesses to the dread Ca
tostrophe belongs hardly to a past genera.
ton.
The question as to the influence of comets
nieteorologically speaking over this earth,
has long been subject of scientific discus
sion, but We believe no definite conclusion
has been reached as yet, except that the tail
being nebuous in its character, when it struck
the atmosphere of the globe, would be
broken as a cloud, and become ditiuSed over
the surface thereof.
Nevertheless, the Condolences character
istic Of the appearance Of comets upon the
northern hemisphere have been remarkable.
The records show us that in 1911 a
comet Of unusual brilliancy appeared,
aud that there were great floods in
Scotland and ireland, and that several
Irish villages were entirely destroyed, with
IN jorty Of their inhabitants. The atmos-
pierre in those districts was at very low
temperature, while in London the thermome-
ter stood at III at London Tower. Later in
June, 1858, comet was discovered by
DoSATI in Florence, and that season was
characterized by disastrous floods in the
South and West of America. Now we have
had CoGGIA's comet, and ere the departure
Of this nebuIous visitor has been announced
we have the Pittsburgh cataclysm, which
has brought death and ruin to so many
households. Low temperatures were pre-.
dicted for the'perigee period Of CoGGIA's
comet some time since, and as a contempo-
rary says, those temperatures may have had
"much to do with condensng these floating
"yapor masses and precipitatiDg their wa
"tery reservoirs upon the face of the
" EARTH"
Scientists entirely repudiate the idea that
the approach Of comet towards the earth
menaces it with any serious danger; never.
theless these remarkable condolences of
changes OF temperature and floods are worthy
of investigation, and in this day, when we
can predict so accurately the weather and
the temperature, we should certainly be able
to get some insight into these atmospheric
phenomena, and the influence that these
periodical and strange visitors have upon
the elements.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

Some interest is felt in question that has
been raised by President HINcHLEY, of the
Baltimore and Philadelphia railroad, with
regard to the mail service. He asserts that
the Post. Office Department does not pay him
enough for carrying the mails, and be
threatens to throw them up and discontinue
the service.
II is said that the Government contends
that the compensation is sufficient, and no
more will be paid. HNCnLEY wants the De-
partment TO advertise for contracts to carry
the mails u lh the view of giving them to
the lowest bidder; but as his road is the
most direct the Department would not be
satisfied with another and longer route.
In this dilemma, it is confidently expected
that the Government will force the road to
do the business OF transporting the mails at
its own price. The Washington Star, at the
SCI; of Government, possibly writes under.
siandingly and speaks as follows on the sub
ject:
The Constitution, under Which the GOV.
crnncnJ would douuIless undertake 10 find
authority for any action it might take in that
direction, says nothing about military neces-
sity.' In one clause it authorizes Congress so
establish p,st.ofices and post-rouds'; in
another it simply provides that private pro-
perry shall not he taken for pubic use with:
out just compensation.
1.-The latter clause evidently contcmplates
that any private property may be taken
whenever it is required for private use, pro.
yided the owners shall be justly compcn.
stated. Whether or not such property is so
required Government is the sole Judge and
whenever the question of just compensation
for railroad or q telegraph line that may
be needed shall come up we beg to suggest
that the basis of settlement be the actual
value or cost of the road or line, and not It's
fancy or watered.stock valuation, which is
generally from three to ten times its true
value"
The question will not want for dsputants,
and it is likely the contest over it will bt
lively and obstinate.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

.,,-o.idsnt Areswe really lo iufer tfiat stis
GolutDbia president places all the yal1ss
his words seem 10 i'npiysupon sue, an
incident as the one be so Lovingly
c5m,nenorates? Is he prepared to re,
copnize these rowing matches, Wild an
their imu1orii mpaiimentss as some;
thing emnently to be desired ID the Interests
Of college training, and does he really wei
come as supreme fact inthe history OF MS
coI'ege-something beyond all that has mere.
tofore been done since its fourdaiion-tnatll
has won in this way the worldwide netorie,
Il he speaks Of? That the colleges snouiu
tolerate rowing matches with their douD.,u'
accessories might be explained, upon Tue
ground that they cannot very well be heiPeu.
Bat to extol them as the croTntpg ine'usn'
of the college year, and thus by impllcatlou
make It prominently the business OF coileses
to turn out good oarsmen, IS queer tnins
to do. u;,,;.,
.sIt is we'll known that the University
rowipc-natches in England" have been long
regarded there as having very many pernl'
cious tendencies. The zeal in them has APP
narentlv very much declined of late. Per
han, this oralorical explosion OF, the Column
Inn president marks the crisis OF the fever IN
Ma American form. Let us hope that this
ia go, and that there will follow rejection
toward common sense and healthier and
more intellectual phase of college ZEAL"
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01
A Point of Concentration.

Looking upon RlchMond as the princiPa'
civ in Vuginis-a as town equal 10 wealih
and enterprise to all the other considerable
towns in the Subsequently regarding heF
s> the payer of one-eightb OF the puohc
revenue Of the State-wc cannot fail 10 sec
that ia a commercial sense for The gooo u
the State she ought to be point OF conceh'
tTasion of trade. Can any one donoe OF
deny this? :,
The growth OF Richmond would be wen
for Virginia, it would be well tor otoef
towns IN the State. To Increase the com
MERGE Of the State-i. e., TO increase the
commerce which is handled by our own
neople-uuSt add to The population, TO the
n,blc resources, and increase the demand
Tor the ncces>aries of life, thus giving our
farmers q near markets. demand that will
increase the variety Of their crops ana
quicken their returns for labor. Increase
the commerce, manufactures, and wealth OF
Richmond, and inevitably the growth and
nroSnefity of other towns in the State mus.
be greatly stimulated. Richmond, like
fountain. would irrigate circle Of country
gent in proportion to her means.
Now, if Richmond, with her natural ad'
yautaeas, does net prosper. can any other
town in the State prosper: We believe not.
For these reasons the policy of Virginia
should be 70 concentrate trade upon Rich
1oDd. Any railroad or other corporation
whose policy is to turn Richmond aside and
promote the trade in lines avoiding Der, is
opposing the best interests OF the State, and
doing that which Injuries Richmond i'm
mepsely.
ANY man Of common sense re1rcting upon
these points will be able to see how we are
severely Injured now, and may frame some
practical suggestions for our benefit.
Richmond should have the trade Of the
West and of the South. Her western con-
rections should be greatly altered and made
more efficient. Then, by all means, she
should have a facilitated line Of travel and
TRANSPORTATION North and South through her
territory. None other should be more ia.
cilitated and more accommodating. Such a
line would be of infinite advantage to us. 1t
Should be free from breaks and postage, and
VIC should be put in communication with the
people south OF us so closely and Familiarity
that no advantage we could derive from speed
and facility of transportation would be lost.
The subject is pain and very interesting.
We direct the attention Of the public to it,
satisfied that il it receives the proper re1ec-
ton some great Improvements will be made
in the systems by which the capital of Vir-
ginia communicates with those producing
districts which are properly within her
sphere.
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

ANOTHER CoART. Rochester, n. r., July
30.-In a communication to the Democrat
and Chronicle, Professor Swift says: "a
new comet was discovered at Marseilles,
France, Sunday morning last, in constella-
ton Draco, the announcement of which
reaches me this morning. / commenced
searching for it at early darkness, and in a
few minutes caught, sight Of the stranger.
1t is quite large and bright for telescope
comet, and has strong central condensation,
but as far as l could judge by observation,
both in solar and lunar twilight, it has DO
nucleus or tail. It is in the fourth coil OF
Draco, and moves ut the rate of about one
degree dav,: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

Our very clever and agreeable contempt
rary of the Petersburg Inder admres the
equauimity of temper, the versatility OF
mind, the indomitable industry, and general
information of the Dispatch. He should re.
member that, !" man is an improving animal"
and that we have lived long time. He de-
serves 20 be encouraged, and we say to him
that when be lives as long he may eclipse the
Dispatch.
A word in your ear, friend of the Inder ::
This will do for the public; but we say to
you, 8" it's all in the bow" We observe that
YOU speak Of "mint.' "Come over"
The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-01

A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER.-A poor Irish w0-
man asked q wealthy lady, the owner of a
beautiful flower garden in Detroit, for a
flower or two to put on the coffin of her
dead child. The good lady invited her to be
seated, and very shortly brought magniti-
cent cross and wreath. The afflicted one
was overcome, and as soon as she was able
to express herself she said most ferventlv,
s. May our blessed Redeemer meet yon at the
gates of heaven with crown uf flowers
more beautiful than these pa most touching
prayer, in which many will join the afflicted
mother,