The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-03-07

PETERSBURG.

1ur PETERSBURG RAILROAD ocEsTi0N----ANI-
v.rrn DISCUSSION BEFORE A LARGE Az
pIENcE--a WARM CANVASS ISPR0GREss---
ROTH SIDES CONFIDENT OF v1cToRY---Fu-
NERAL OF 4 LADr--PETERsBURG DISTRICT
orange orrETT-REGIsTER RETURNS FOR
rEBRUAEY-PoST&L STATISTICS AND OTHER
ITEMS.
fforres,,ndence of the Richmond Dispa,efl.l
MARCH 6, 1878.
The meeting called at the Academy OF
Music last night to hear a discussion OF the
nroposition for the city 10 purchase the
Petersburg railroad was very largely at
tended, MS well by the friends rs by the OPP
moments Of the measure. The building was
crowded by people who seemed to De anX-
o,ls 20 gain information on the sublect, Tor
really there is q wide difference OF views in
the community--eyen among the most intel
lioent c,asses-on the question upon which
tbrv arc 10 be called to vote next Saturday.
For the past two or three days the matter
has been warmly canvassed on the streets,
and both sides have been active. The meet
inc last night was arranged by the friends
OF The bill authorizing the city to pur-
chase The roae, but courteous invitation
was extended its opponents to attend and
ioin in the discussion. This invitation was
accented, and the speaking, which COM
meneed at S. O'clock, was not concluded
until near midnight. The bill was advo-
Gated BY George S. Bernard, Esq. and Sem
ator William E. Hinton, Jr., aud opposed
by Messrs. Alexander Hamilton and r. 3.
Davis. Colonel S. 3. Paul closed in behalf
OF the BILL The discussion was at times
animated and exciting, but always friendly
and courteous. 1t covered wide field and
brought out many facts of interest. and
doubtless resulted in much enlightenment.
Tomorrow night, by invitation OF the
opponents Of the bill, Major Charles 5.
Stringfellow will address the public at the
Academy An application has been made
to secure division OF time, which has been
granted. and the meeting Will doubtless be
more interesting than the one last night.
Both sides claim victory at the polls,
but where there is so much division Of sent
imcnt it is impossible to predict with any
certainty the result. There are less than
one thousand qualified voters in the city to-
day, and the probability Is that the aggre-
cate vote will be small.
There have been no nominations rs yet
for railroad commissioners, Probably no
formal ones will be made. The people
simply vote for one or more Of the best
men in their respective wards. Among the
gentlemen named IN that connection are
Major }. r. Young in First Ward, AleXan-
der Hamilton in Third, Alexander Donnan
in Fourth. and G. 3. Eancs and Judge
Jones in Fifth:
The funeral OF Miss Isabella Morgan, 4
most cstinable Christian lady, took place
today from the Tabb-Street Presbyterian
church oi which she had long been men,
bcr She was in The SiXty-siXth year OF her
age, and widely connected in our commu-
nifty.
The Petersburg District Grange, Patrons
of Hu~bandry, will hold IFS annual meeting
here on Tuesday next. A large attendance
i expected, and much business OF interest
will be transacted. The District represents
sixteen counties and sixty or more sub
oranges.
Mayor Cameron left this morning to pay
a brief visit to his relatives in Florida.
The Mohett registers in this city show the
following returns for February:
Seventv-6ve alcoholic registcrs-20,G64
II gistrations; tax. S516.G0.
Fourteen malt-S,620 registrations; tax,
$43.lo.
Tax on alcoholic and malt liquors sold in
quantities OF over one gallon, S6.15.
The total tax in February was S560.S5;
in January. S530.63.
sh-Wednesday services in the Catholic
and Episcopal churches to-day were I'M
usually largely attended. -..-..
The report Of the postmaster Of this city
shows that during the month OF February
sc. 035 mail letters were delivered, and 49,
GS5 letters were collected by the carriers;
5000 postal cards were delivered and 1914
collected; 22,149 newspapers were deliv-
cred and 2,57S collected.
The revival meetings at the Washington
Street Methodist church are so largely at
tended that the services have now to be held
i'm the main body Of the church. At the
First Baptist and Old-Street Presbyterian
churches meetings are also being held
nightly, with large attendance.
ROBIN ADAIR.