The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-06-04
PETERSBURG.


IMPORTANT ACTION OF THE coUNcIL-REDUc-
TION OF TIE Neutrality-suspicious. GAUG-
ING-THE PETERSBURG RAILROAD BRIDGE
DEATH OF A CITIZEN-THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
THE CONGRESSIONAL CANvASS-ARESIDEN
INVADED BY SWALLOWS, &C.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.I
JUNE 3, 1878.
The Common Council, at its meeting on
Saturday night, transacted good deal OF
business OF Importance. First ana lore
most in importance was the adoption OF a
tax bill for the fiscal year commencing July
1st. The recommendation or the FINANCE
Committee, that the rate Of taxation on real
and personal property should be fixed at
S1.55, was adopted. THE present rate is
S1.75 on the one hundred dollars. propo-
sition was made to fix it at SLIGO, and an
other at $3.50, but both were withdrawn.
The Finance Committee made their recon-
mendation upon an estimate OF expenses
based on those Of the present year, and ac-
companied 1t with the suggestion that these
expenses might be still further reduced.
An adjourned meeting is to be held to con-
slider the subject OF the estimates.
The Council also amended the ordinance
concerning gauging, reducing the fees OF
the gauger from twenty-five cents on all
packages to fifteen cents on casks contain
ing sixty gallons or more, and ten cents on
casks under sixty gallons, and making the
gausng OF all casks compulsory. Hitherto
gaugng in this city has been generally OPP
tional with the seller.
The Council also adopted resolution in
structins the City Attorney, in behalf of the
city, to cooperate with the receiver of the
Petersburg railroad in the request TO the
United States Court to grant his application
to rebuild the bridge over the Roanoke
river at Weldon. The receiver is now pay
ing rent at the rate OF $4,000 per annum to
the Scaboard Railroad Company for the use
OF their bridge. 1t is estimated that the
cost OF rebuilding their iron bridge, which
was washed away by the flood OF last year,
will be about $4,000. Three spans were
washed away, two OF which have been re-
covered and can be used again, so that re-
ally only one span will have to be purchased.
Mr.. Wesley j. Sadler, L very worthy
Young citizen, died or Saturday evening OF
consumption, after long and painful Ill
ness.
The first shipment OF cured onions to the
North from this city was made on Satur-
day. in quantity about twenty-five crates.
In comparison with previous seasons this
shipment was fifteen or twenty days earlier
than usual.
The final examinations in our public
schools are now in progress, and the schools
will close on the 18th OF the month.
Interest is being aroused in regard 70 the
congressional contest in this district this
fall. 1t is understood that DR.. Joseph Jor-
gensen, the present member, will be cam
didate for denomination. Mr.. Edgar Allan,
of Farmville, is also in the field. General
Starke, OF Brunswick, is mentioned as a
strong man.
Among the gentlemen mentioned in this
vicinity in connection with the nomination
of the Conservative party are Captain Will
liam +. Hinton, Jr., and Judge Robert IL.
Jones, either one OF whom would be accept
able. Whether or not Captain Hinton
would accept the nomination am not pre-
pared to say. He has &great many friends,
however, who greatly desire TO see him III
the field again.
The residence of afamly on Washington
street was invaded an evening or two ago
by hundreds of chimney-s lows, who
made their descent into the parlor through
the chimney. For some minutes before the
descent the air above the residence was
darkened by great number of these little
birds circline around in the vicinity. One
OF them suddenly dropped into the chin
ney and the others followed so quickly that
they were crowded down through the CRATE
below and filled the parlor. filling the room
with SCOT. 1t was not before the next morn
ing that they could be gotten out, and in
the mean time they did serious damage to
curtains, carpets, pictures, DC.
The inspections OF tobacco ut the ware
houses to-day were unusually large, while
the sales of loose were, as is the case Sener-
ally on Monday. small.
DR.. John Herbert Claiborne left yesterday
for Edenton, n. c., having been summoned
there bv telegram announcing the severe
illness OF one OF his daughters.
ROBIN ADAIR.