Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-04-29

The FIRE ALARM NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
tendent II. j.. Miles. of the tire alarm telegrat,h
i nss LrePaIsS h,s annual report, IN which he
states that the old lines upon the hOusetops can
not be made reliable by patching up and no
more moSey has been expended for Temporary
repairs than was absolutely necessary 20 keen
the wires in q reasonable working CONDITION.
for the reason thar all expenditures above IN AZ
requiISm eRt would be a waste of mon4y The
total expense OF running the telegraph the psst
year, exclusive OF salaries Of the officers, has
been less than g 800. He suggests that sne-
cine sum be annually appropriated for the
maintenance o. the tire alarm telegraph. The
law, he says, requires the superintendent 10
Keep the telegraph lines and the instruments
connected herewith in good working ord r and
IN thorougn repair, bat, strangely enough, fails
10 make any provision for the PAYNE MT OF such
repairs, thus making the telegraph wholly de-
pendent upOn the general appropriation FOR the
nTe Der aTtmen1. He calls attention TO the ne
eessity OF having an additional operator an
pointed. alleging that, in view OF the fact that
some one must be in the once might and dav
constantly, II u more labor than two men can
endure he asks for authority to appoint AL
experienced rePaiTman to be paid the same
salary as the fremen; recommends IN at thu an
CINE houses and the once OF the chief engineer
the nagneto-cisl system in order TO correct ir-
regulartties, and closes his report by urging the
rebuilding Of the entire tiTe-alarm telegraph
wthout clay adopting the latest im proven snts
In use he asks for an appropriation of e. Oo0
to defrsF the ordinary aud contingent expenses
OF DIS once for The coming year.
DEATH or A VENERABLE CITTzsN-The An.
noupcement OF the death Of Col. VIM. SeIdsn
which took place yesterday, on NJ street near
18th, was received with sorrow by his many
frieIds and scquaintances in this District
Col. Selden was born IN Norfolk. Va. in I7sD
and came here in the latter part OF President
Van Buren's administTa alton, and in rs or 40
wac appointed Treasurer OF the United States
succeeding Hon. John CampSn, who resigned
on account OF III health. He proved to be such
an upright, conscientious officer that his ser
vices were retained by the succeeding stmInis
uations-TyleTis, Folks, AM during mart OF
Taylor's. He resigned in November. 1S5O
and shortly afterwards took an interest
in the banking firm OF Selden, wIthers
x Co., succeeding X. W. Latham x Co.
In ls5' he was appointed by President Buchanan
U y. marshal OF this District succeeding Major
,. ID. Hoover. This position he held until ISSi-
Marshal LamOn succeeding him. During Pres
ident JObnson's administration he was ap poinfe1
collector Of internal revenue for the Norfolk
Va, district, but in consequence OF advanced
years and failing health be held il but few
months. Col. Selden was q man of upright
character, COMMUNICATE or the Episcopal
Church for many years, and leaves behind him
spotess reputation, Of which his children may
well feel proud.
HIS funCrsi will take place from the Church
OF the Incarnation, 18th and n streets, on
EridQE "a At fxra a. lnoL