Connecticut western news., 1878-02-28

Temperance in Salisbury Blue rit- bons are all the go in Salisbury thls week, for two of Murpby's workers are here mak- ing great havoc among the rum-sellers. ''Sweet" William Hill is the leader, and has with him Prof. Frank Bradford of Ben nington, who has been reading some fine temperance poems. Over 25O have signed the pledge in two nights. MT. Hill is one of Murphy's best workers. They will he engaged in Lakeville and Salisbury during the balance of the week, and we have req son to believe by that time at least l,5OO or 3, 900 will have taken the pledge. Such a ''tidal wave" of reform has not swept over this town since the great Washingtonian movement of forty years ago.
 OCCASIONAL. Temperance in Canaan .-Messrs. Love and Miller, who havel done such efficient work in the temperance cause in Barring. ton. will be in Canaan the last part of this present week. They will address the peo- pie in the M. E. Church this CThursday) evening, and will be at the Congregational church in East Canaan Friday evening, and again at the M. E. church ln this village on Saturday evening. This Murphy move. ment, with which these gentlemen are con- nected, has wrought great work through out the country. their success in temper snce being nearly equal to that of Moody and Sankey in religion. A great interes, IS being awakened in tempe,ance in Sails bury, great number signing the pledge and donning the blue emblem of purity Let us see what can be done in Canaan.
 Murder in stookbridge-William Sill vernail, an overseer in the Richmond Iron Co.'S. ore bed at Richmond, in Berkshire county, Mass, was murdered last Friday night. He was found on the railroad track on curve in the road, and train of cars had passed over hlm, but notwithstanding this, it was found he had been stabbed with were found upon the body. MT. Silvernail had purchased farm a short time since, and had accumulated apout seven hundred dollara in money with which to stock it, and it is supposed knowledge of this mon ey in bis possession was the impe!ling mo- tive for the murder. The pocketbook and over shoes of the murdered man were taken from him. Mr. Silvernail formerly lived in Salisbury, and was employed in the ore beds there.
 Sheffield. While in Sheffield a few days ago was informed that the farm for forty years the property of Charles Sage is now sold to Chester Wickwire oi Cream Hill, Cornwall. This farm, 8 few years since, could have been sold for @l4,- 900. whereas now it is sold for $s, ,O00. Wt congratulate MT. w. on his purchase, fol it is one of the very best farms in Sheffield and worth much larger sum-but such il the depreciation of all real estate, in thi region! This farm was advertised in thu NEWS, and we doubt not this is why quick sale was effected, l understand Mir w. intends the farm for his son Eugene and we are sure he and hIs worthy wif' will be valuable acquisitions to the socie- ty of Sheffield. ......Mr. Vosburgh and fami ly had serlous fright last week wher their little daughter fell upon the ice, strik- ing upon her head in such way that sh' was unconscious for six hours, and for two days her life was despaired of, but we ar' glad to hear she IS now recovering. There are to be many changes in Sheffield this spring. ......The dancing schools ar' drawing to close, and will end ms mas qnerade, all of which your correspondents from that place will doubtless report.
 VISITOR.
 The Housatonic Road.-At the annua meeting of the stockholders of the .Housa' tonic road, at the office of the company il Bridgeport last Friday, the old board of di' rectors were reelected. At the subeequen meeting of the directors, the officers of tA road for the past year were re elected to th same positions for the year ensuing, excep Mir. N. M. Brown, who was promoted iron Assistant Superintendent to Superintendent Mir. Brown is cn efficient officer, thor ough railroad man and genuine good fel low, which is recommendation enough fo anybody, and we are very glad to see hin go up. From the Annual Report of tn company we find the business of the roa' to be as follows:
 For the year ending September 30th
 1877, the total receipts were $589. 4O7 lG of which nearly $35O, ,OOO was for freight
 The total expenses were $354, ,456. 72. lea> Ing $234, ,97O A balance over operating ex penses. From thls must be deducted fo taxes, interest and rent $l33. TAP 64, whic
 leaves $lO1 ,227.7O net earnings. Out o this were paid four quarterly dividends
 $23, ,6OO During the year the compan
 sold $40, ,0OO of Bridgeport Steamboat con
 pany's bonds and invested $32 900 of tL
 amount Tn steel rails. The company ow
 19 engines, IS passenger cars. baggage,
 mall and smoking cars and 439 freight cars
 Sharon The reading gwen by Prof } Hurlbut of Lime Rock, on Monday even ing last at the Town Hall, in consequenc of not being properly advertised, was en joyed only by the few favored ones wh had learned ot the fact. The Professor hs kindly consented to come agaln te-nigh
 (Monday) when we trust his well.know reputation as an elocutionist will draw crowded house. union meeting ws held in the Methodist church Sabbath ever ing to make arrangements for the series temperance lectures in this town, which al to commence on Thnrsday evening. Messr Bradford and Hill, who have been so sue
 cessfully laboring in Salisbury and Lake vile the past week. will have charge of tt