The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-07
CAPITOL GOSSIP.
THE FIRE WEDNESDAY WAS THE
WORK OF AN INCENDIARY.


Red River Matters-The state Engineers
Preparing for Another Excursion.
Conversation at the state-House on Thursday
morning was devoted almost exclusively to the
fire which occurred in the third-story of that
building on the night previous, and an examina-
ton OF the room in which 1t occurred and It's sur
roundipgs leaves but little doubt but that the fire
was the
WORK or AN TNCEN1IARY
whose only object was the destruction Of the
building with all Of the State records.
The room seected was q small 'lumber" or
storage-room, on the north side Of the building
and almost hid from view, as ito only approach
was small entry way. and the window leading
from the room opened upon an alley way with q
building not six feet distant, 40 that were any
smoke to issue IL would not be observed until the
Ere had gained such Roadway that it would be
impossible to extinguish 1t without great Diff
Guilty.
The hour, too, at $50 p. M, was one that but
few If any persons, except the keepers, we're
about the building, this leading to the belief that
the incendiary expected that the fire
WOULD NOT BE DISCOVERED
until late at night, If at ali. Evidently the scoun-
drel, whoever he was, had lifted from q covered
box Of coal moss cushion, and had set fire to it,
dropping il upon the cover Of the coal box
through which hole was burned from the top,
the cushion at the same time being nearly de-
s.royed.
In close proximity to this box was another filed
with kindling wood. and so near that had the fire
gained much Roadway it must have commune
Gated to this box and next, in all probability the
fire would have communicated to and burned
through the floor communicating then with the
inner Office Of the Secretary of State, where is
stored nearly all Of
THE PARISH RETURNS
OF the late election. and 1t IL presumed by some
that the purpose was to have these returns de-
stroyed.
Fortunately 1t was discovered in time, and ex-
tinguished without serious damage. and IL will be
some time before The incendiary is discovered.
Gov. Nichols during the morning gave positive
instructions to have the st. Louis street entrance
closed promptly ct p. m. each day, and the
police will be instructed to admit no one after
3p. m. each day at the Royal street entrance
unless they are known or are connected with
some OF the Offices
The State Engineers are ready to start on
another levee-staking excursion, Major Richard.
son going up and Major Hardee down the river,
to-day or tomorrow. Major Harrod will proba-
bly, 60 up to the mouth Of Red river with the two
tugboats when they are chartered, and thence 20
up Red river. He does not think the Usage
MUCH OF SUCCESS
as channel maker for the "gut' at the mouth OF
Red river and states that the work she has accom-
pshed will not amount to anything. This is also
the opinion Of experienced steamboatmen con-
versed with upon the subject, one Of whom says
that to do ANYTHING at all she must be anchored,
and cannot, therefore, keep the mud moving In
the sluggish current that lie now running. The
general opinion is now that the only successful
method will be to tecure two light draft tug
boats and lash them together with stern. wheel
boat in the middle, and with their
pRopEILoRs AND RAKEs
the smaller boats can stir up the mud while the
stern-wheeler will make q current that will carry
IL out into the Mississippi, and by keeping them
moving day after day over the shoals which ex-
tend for . distance nearly three miles in length,
channel may in that way be worn through.
A Red river steamboat captain who arrived on
Wednesday night, says this ia the only practical
BILE method, and is even then but an experiment.
but he says also that, If anything is done, II
must be done quickly or
NAVIGATION WILL CEASE
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