Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-01-07

y
ed great unpopuarity 10 Massachusetts quite
early in life He belongs to the elder period OF
American politics the period of the Marcys
and Bentons and hasous; and us be has some
of the positive qualifications which education
and training give (among other things, ne can
even speak Spanish, the news sounds, the
World observes, like stories from the land OF
spirits" How well fitted Mr. Gushing may
be lor the higher sort Of diplomatic duty re-
mains to be seen. His recent afflir with Lord
Chief Justice Cock burn is not reassurng in
that regard. But there cau be no doubt OF his
ability to be of service 10 troubled waters.-
" T. Nution
AMERICAN RAILROADS Railway Moni-
tor toots up the Uuited States railroad mileage
at |, ,564 miles, with secoud track and sldings
OF 1852 miles, making total OF single track
Of s5,O1G miles Locomotives, II 223; passen
ger train cars, including baggage, express and
smoking cars, 1925; trei ght train cars of all
sorts, 33S, ,427; total capital stock, $2,072 25l,
va. or about $2s, $50 per mile; total floating
and funded debt, 81 ,999, TAI ,597, or 81, 957,
per mile; total cost Of railroads and equipments
$372S ,4l6, ,95S, or $4,000 per mile Total
gross traffic of railroads for latest year obtaina
bic was S47S,S 597. and total net receipts
over aud above operating expenses, STA, $780,
gl3, These earnings are based on 54. .454 miles
OF road, that beiog the total for which earp
ugs are reported; and hence the net income of
railroads applicable to the payment OF interest
and dividends amounted to about So, POI per
mile on the 81 asa miles operated. The re-
newa of confidence in all business circles, and
the disappearance OF the worst phases, hnancl-
ally, Of the late panic, has bad an effect for the
better oD the rail aud iron market. A more
cheerful feeling all around is to he noticed, and
representations Of a good business for 1874 are
reiterated.
MURDER OF A MAsoN.-As heretofore sta
ted iu the Gazette, Nathaniel French, prom
ueut Mason, of Nassau, n. p, who has been
missing siuce his arrival in New York, six
mouths ago. Investigation shows was brutally
beaten and robbed within twenty four hours
after his arrival; that he was taken to Bellevue
Hospital, where he died, and the body, being
uurecognZed aud unclaimed, was buried IN
Potler's field.
The mysterious death and burial of Mr..
Ercuch has created considerable excitement
yn Members of the Free Masons Club held
tu what course should be adopted to trace out,
IL poSSluic, WIN Tue duQ lnC
place where it was committed 1t was finally
decided to refer the whole matter to Grand
Master Fox, and to follow his advice as to the
up the case. and, it is said, will soon be able to
lhlow some light on the subject. The body of
Mr. Freuch will be taken from Potter Field
and decently buried in Greenwood cemetery.
CHARLESTON. Poor dead Charleston Eight
years have passed siuce the war, and the city
lies iu ashes, ruins and desolation. A United
States officer calling upon us says: "Oh, the
place has improved wonderfully this year. l
really lhlnk they have spent az much as SlO Tor
paint lie also tells Us that, not long sluce,
the othcers stationed at the garrison gave ball
and invited Charleston, suppo&lug, IN the lnno-
ceuce OF their hearts, that peace was establish
Cd. Charleston hesitated; but it was a loug
TINE since Charleston had seen q ball. So it
compromised, attended, and drew such line Of
danaIcatlou that 10 half an hour all the officers
aud their families were on one, side Of the line
while Charleston danced on the other. The aris
tocratIc quarter of the city is along the Battery,
iaclug the harbor. Here are stately old resi-
uruces: but they are shut up, or appear 80, out
o repair, and, in some Instances, bear the
marks OF our bomb shells. Cleveland Herald.
WILD HORSES OF THE VEST From the
l"prka Commonwealth. Large numbers of
Wild horses ab,und on the prairies between the
Arkansas and Smoky Hill rivers. They are
"'all sizes and coIors, aud are the widest of all
sld auiulalS. They usually roam in bands of
'7on SIX to twenty, and run at sight of
Sau two miles away. A great many domestic
horses as well as mules which have stayed away
''om their owners have taken up with the wild
Ynes Atter running with them for awhile they
YYecome as wild as their untamed companions.
arous methods have been adopted to capture
HeSe aboriginal horses, but they have general
proved truitless. A scrubby colt or broken
aowu mule is as general thing the only re-
ward Tor all the time, labor, and expense 10
suel Visionary schemes
b, ,srATUARY AT THE CAPITOL The State of
Noode Island has given to the Federal Govern
ueot two granite pedestals upon which the
statues Of Roger Williams and General Green,
pFeSenlcd by that State, and now 10 the old
Ia' Vl the House, will be placed. These Pc
-tsals arrived here yesterday, and the statues
"Hr De put upon them Immediately.
Inc statues Of General Kearney and Com
I'uore Stockton, to be contributed by the
S;a'e s;a OF New Jersey, are nearly flushed and
"''' soon be forwarded. .-Wass. Chronicle
IARls DUEL-At least one Paris duel has
bu:1 iuued well. The duelists met; the one fired
"T ""as',iy, the other quietly lowered his pistol
'el' NE what you are thinking about before
send You out Of the world p II was think
"Is, 'IIs, was the reply, that if I were 10 your
pace wouldn't fire. !" His sntaoonist Ianph