Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-06-17

PR ANNuM, payable in advance.
STEAM ON CANALS. The experiment of
steam navigation on the Erie Canal has prov
ed successful. The engine. designed by MIR.
William Baxter we're awarded the first State
prize OF S7U,UO0 Of which $35 900 Is TO be
paid after he has put seven boats on the canal.
The second priz. $500 IN TWO insta mcnts
was awarded to the plan of Mr. DobblnS, OF
Buffalo, on condition that before drawing the
first moiety Of the sum be should place three
the commission had announced the award,
formed the Baxter Steam Canal Transportation
Company, which already has two boats running
between New York and Buffalo. Their time
IS from six to seven days each way, while the
boats drawn by horses CONSUME trom thirteen
TO fourteen days. Mr. DJbbius, owuer of the
.cond best, has consolidated his interest with
that of the Baxter Company aud is build
ing three boats 10 Buffalo on Baxter's
plain. For the Baxter Company five un-
fnishs d boats are on the stocks iu Roudout and
Two 10 Frankfort, Hcrklmer county. Before
uavi Cation closes the Company will have ten
or more boats running. Their capacity Is to
be from POO to 225 tons, as it has been demon.
strated that a boat Of larger size cannot uavl-
gate the canal proitaby. Their drau yht will
New York on the new line for grain are from
one-half to one cent less per bushel on grain
than on the horse boats.
RITUALlsM The pastoral letter of Bishop
Lee to the Protestant Episcopal Diocesan Con-
ventiou of Delaware refers freely to the with
drawal irom the Church of Bishop Cummlus,
Of Kentucky, and TO the causes OF controversy
which threaten the peace aud unity OF the
Church. Bishop Lee expresses great regret oD
account OF the step taken by DR.. Cutnmlns, aud
says that 1.-The erroneous doctrines which tor
more than thirty years have di>queted and
alarmed our communion, have produced their
legitimate fruit Que usage after another has
been introduced from the Church Of Rome, and
the deep line of demarcaton drawn by our mar
tyred re formers has been as far as possible Oh
liberated Iustead of the General Convention
meeting the evil and danger with outspoken
decision, the question was evaded 10 1868 and
1871"
Iu respect to ritualistic practices be says that
Expressions of indignation at the abuse OF
past forbearaDce, and at the extent TO which
the evil has grown, have come from diocese
after diocese with tones chat cannot be mis-
taken. And appearances now augur vide
spread and resoute purpose 40 longer to toer-
ate the avowal of dogmas as objectionable as
those which the reformerS resisted uoto blood,
the turning Of our churches into stage
for theatrical exhbtions,;the beguilllug OF un-
suspecting worshippers into actual ido!atry,
and consequent upon these things, the driving
away from the Church Of godly aud consclen-
tlouS men.
NARROW ESCAPE -Passengers who reached
this city yesterday by the Norfolk accommo-
dation train, report that the ladies' coach 1.-THE
rear car of the train) narrowly escaped being
thruwn over the Appouattux bridge into the
river below. The train had just left the depot,
and was proceeding over the bridge at rate OF
about four or five miles per hour. Suddenly
several Of the passengers were startled Dy the
omincus humping aud bouncing OF the car,
which convinced theul at once that the car had
Jumped the track" Major Wm. +. Tanner,
OF this city, who was in the car, and one OF the
first to discover the accident, with great pres
ence Of mind and promptness gave the bell
cord steady pull, the engineer whist!ed down
brakes, and 10 d moment more the train came
to stand still; but that moment will be ever
remembered by all who were on board.
Upon examining the bridge and the car 1t
was found that the wheels OF the front truck
had not only run of the track, but two OF the
wheels were upon the very edge oftbe bridge,
and one revolution more and the coach would
probably have been thrown into the swollen
and muddy river below Several OF the cross
ties were cut in too. Ii was found Impossible
to put the car back upon the track without con-
siderable delay, ar so another coach was got
ten and the train Game 90 to Richmond. hav-
ing been delayed nearly an hour. - Richmond
Dispatch.
A REMARKABLE MAN The boys who have
found the mysteries of mathematics terribly
tough subject to grapplc with will envy Mis-
souri, rustic who grasps by intuition all the
Jules OF arithmetic. lD description of this
marvellous man. given by correspondent Of
the st. Louis Republican, it is stated that he
cannot read or write letter or figure, and
never had days education. He cannot cx-
plain the method by which be solves the most
Intricate mathematical problems, except that
he has enumeration table which is away on
beyopd the books" The correspondent who
interviewed him gave him some very difficult
questions such as might have puzzled the
most learned arithmeticians- he gave the
correct answers almost in moment. When
problem that has never been answered was
presented to him, he said at once, 1t can be
told" This queer genius is rude aud llllterate;
he travels around the conutry fixing up the ac
counts of tax collectors, farmers and dealers
A wholesale firm in Kansas City sent for him
to adjust their books, aud he did 10 one day an
amount of work that ten clerks could not have
done. He refuses to take the school education
that has been offered him, saying that it he
could read and write he would know no more
than any other man.
SUNsTRUcK HORSES The first thing to be
done when the animal falls down is to press his
head down in order to prevent his attempting
to rise, and then to pour on water until he Is
strong enough to get up without aid. II the
horse is permitted to paw the ground and
make strenuous efforts to get up he will only
become more heated and tie chance of his re-
covery less certain. The other day, in Rich
mond, mule fell from suustroke, and at once
piece OF hose was attached to hydraut. and
continued stream poured on the mule for one
hour, at which time the mule rose and walked