Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-10
District Government Affairs.

The contractor for improving 9th street south
west has been directed by the engineer TO put
the Belgian block pavement on that street in
repair AZ once.
THE GOOD WORK OF TREE PLANTING.
Preparations have been made by the District
Commissioners Tor the planting of 600 sbade
trees on the streets and avenues of this District
the present season. The parking commission
have commenced the work on Missouri avenue
Of opening the holes for these trees, and will
continue the same during the dry seasOn, leav-
ing the other portion of plsrting until the wet
cultvat0T of the soil knows that is not good to
disturb the ground while it Is in a very moist
state.
HAPPY THOUGHT.
Many complaints have been made for some
time past about the dingy appearance Of the
signs on the corners of streets with names of
streets and avenues, rendering it almost i'm
possible for strangers in the city TO find out diff
1eTent localities, especially at night Lieut.
HOIte has addressed a communication to the
District Commissioners upon this subject, in
which be states that the convenience of resi-
dents and strangers could be promoted by some
uniform method of identifying the various
streets and avenues, and suggests that some &C
ton he taken in the premises.
The commissioners have determined 20 adj
vertise for bids and have a uniform system of
numbers, letters and names, which are to be
placed upon the street lamps on the corners and
nIon corner buildings when there are no lamps.
STABBED BY A FRIEND.-Yesterday after
neon, MIR. Joseph A. Msttingly, the we'll known
passenger agent of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad in this city, was stabbed at DOugherty's
geometry Nolsn's) saloon, corner Of 9th street
and Pennsylvania avenue by ID. W. Irving.
From what can be ascertsined IL appears that
about O'Clock in the afternoon, MIR. Mattingiy
with friend entered the saloon, and Mattingly
seeing Irving invited him to join him in a drink
or cigar. Irving approached rs was supposed to
ACCEPT the invitation, but suddenly turned and
struck Mattingly on the right breast, and he
felt Immediately that he was stabbed. Mr..
hattir gly Immediately jumped the counter as
Irving seemed disposed TO follow up the attack,
but vas prevented by persons present. The
wounded man was taken to Gilmans drug
store and subsequently TO the Metropolitan
hotel, where DR. Bradford WAS called in and il
was found that the weapon, a dirk knife, had
entered the left breast about one inch and a
half above the nipple, and had it gone q little
deeper would have caused instant death. Mr..
NJ. ard his friends are at loss 10 know why THE
attfDpt against his life was made, as nothing
bad occurred TO lead up to IL. Detectives
McD6vitt and COOmbS arrested Irving and took
him 70 police Headquarters. He presented the
appearance of man who had been under the
influence of ardent spirits, and said he could
not account for the attack on Mating ", who
vas one OF his best friends. He gave bonds last
night in -, GOO for his appearance at the Police
Court this morning, but when the case was
called he tsied to respond, and Mr.. Evans
prosecuting attorney, asked that a bench war
rant he issued 81 once for his arrest, which was
ordered.
The condition Of SIR. Mattingly had so much
improved this morning that his friends hope he
viii be able TO be out in a short time.
MessTs. COOmes and McDevitt brought SIR.
Irving into court at noon, and he renewed his
bends for appearance from day to-day for
hearing.