Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-31

e,ent Office of the CHIEF Signal Officer, Wash
'noton, D. g., Dec. 81, lS77-l0:3O a. H.
For the Middle States, rising barometer, slight
y co oler north and west winds, clear or partly
cloudy weather.
The sToRM.-Clouds began to gather Oh
Saturday evening. and duriog the Digbt rain
northerly aud easterly wind. The rain aud
wind continued during the entire day yesterday
and up to late hour last night, when the
who'd changed to northwest and the clouds
passed away. To day has been clear, bright
and beautiful, but the temperature has been
cold. The storm of Saturday night and yester-
| day has been quite severe throughout the State
aud on the,coast The bridge across Staunton
river, on the Midland road has again been dis
abled by the washing out OF three trcsllcs,
which will be replaced at opce Passengers
will meanwhile be transferred across the break.
The bridge across the same stream on the
Richmond ard Danville road is also reported to
have been swept away. o. the bay the storm
was severe, aud passengers on the steamer
Lady Of tho Lake, from Norfolk, report a
rough time, ard that Hampton Roads ia full
OF vessels. la this city 20 damage OF any &C
couut wss done. The water in the river rose
over the wharves. but not far enough to reach
the warehouses. Osipg to bad weather and
consequent lack of travel the Washington ferry
bo:t was ru1 at irregular hours.
VISIT TO Mt. VERNoN-Presideot Hayes
went down to Mount Vernon, CO Saturday, on
the steamer Arrow. The trip was very quiet
crc, the boat passing here without flags, or
other siggs of the pressencs of the distinguished
PASSOVER. The Washington Post, noticing tho
trip. says:
The de fac;o President went dowa TO Mt.
Vernon last Saturday, accompanied by his lam.
| ily. 1t was touching sght--our model Pfesi-
! dcnt dropping tear upon thu tomb Of his great
PREDECESSOR. The Returning Board President
should III Ike it point to 20 dowo every Satur
day and commune with the ashes of tho Father
of our country, by way Of penuauce.
WATCH MEETINGS. watch meeting to
watch the advent cf the New \ ear will, as
usual BE- held 10 the Methodist Episcopal
Church t, night, commeccog at ten o'clock.
The congregation Of the Methodist Protestant
mon will be preached By Res. w. Il. Graham.
Aa address will also b, delivered by Judge An
,lrews, OF Michigan.
a meeting will also BE- held 10 the NJ. E.Church
South. commencing at the same hour, which
will be conducted by the pastor, Rev. w. X.
Boyia The services will o)naist OF seImon
prayer, and the singing OF hymns
TIE GEORGETOWN PosToEFICE- Tho Post
niastcr General settled the Georgetown post
ofic; question during the past week by making
it branch Of the Washington office with free
delivery, &c. J. a. Jefferds, fer eight years
assistant postmaster at Richmond, Va, has
been appointed clelk 10 charge of the George.
towu office. His assistant will be MIR. Go.
Berry, tcrucr clerk 10 the Georgetown post
cioe. Mes>r*. Chas. II. Sawyer, J. Z. Ella
sou and S. W. Dez:ll, are appointed letter
carriers Twenty niDe letter boxes will b. put
up, and the uum Der will be Afterwards increased
if it is found necessary.
YESTERDAY. Owing 10 tho very disagree.
able weather yesterday the services 10 the
various churches were very slmly attended.
Rev. Mr. Powell preached at st. Paut's Church
in the moroius and at Christ Church at night.
Rev. Mr. Perry preached at Christ Church in
the morning. Rev. Father Sroug, OF George
town, preached in s.. Mary'S Church 10 the
m3rn,ns. Judge Andrews, Of Michigan. post
poued his lectuso to young men. which was 10
have been delivered a. the NJ. Il. Church last
night. lie occupied the pulpit. however, and
preached most eloquent and impressive
sermon.
New lSvGNr1oN.-Mr. J, l.. C4lhc,rt, Of
this city, has Invented new style OF steering
wheel for steamers, which it is claimed is muoh
superior to those nov 10 use, preventing the
violent wrenchiug of the Wheelsman by sudden
urching of the boat, and showing By an lodi.
Gator tho exact position Of the tiller at any
time. 4 specimen wheel WAS shipped on SIt'
urday to New York, where ooo ct tho East
River Ferry lines will test 1t. Shout tho veo-
turc prove successful the wheels will b manu-
featured to O considerable number in this city.
TO-. O. F.-The following offosrs have been
elected by the two Lodges of DAD Fellows. 10
this city, for tha cnsuug term -
Potomac Lodge-Wm. barley, N. e.; Z: NJ.
Drisooll, V. u ; Charles Goodrich, Per. Sec;
b. +. Peake, Res. Sec: Jas. II. Deyanehn,
Treasurer; L. NJ. Davis, Chaplain:
Sarenta Lodge--T ID. keyes, N. G.; w. A.
Nas, " g.; j. NJ. HeisIey, Rec. Sec, W.
W. Sherwood, Per- Sec; John A. Field,
Treasurer; Il. II. Hawkins, Chaplaip; f. f.
Padgett Steward.
New YEARS DAY.-ro morrow, New Years
Day, will, as usual, be only partially observed
in this city. The banks and Commercial TX
change will DO closed during the entire day,and
the postofiice, from $3.50 a. N. uutll 10 p. m.
The new year will be ushered 10 at midnight by
rho customary ringing of bells, led off by that