The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-07-15
prrrPsBryRG.

proRrAsE IN the SCHOOL POPULATION or
rur c1rY--AHRivAL or THE ILLUMINATED
rowru crocK-coxFERENCE ABOUT THE
.ppouATrox IMPROVEMENT PINES FoR
opnryAgcr yIOLATIONs-THE HEAT U
rcRM--FRIKNDLY BoAT-RAcE.
fcorrespoudelce OF the Richmond Dispaich.I
49, July IL, 1880.
The school population Of Petersburg
a. sbown nv the census OF 1875, was 7,4l1.
Tho .ens,,s for this year. which has Just
bcon completed. shows school population
~ less than G,4O0, or decrease OF over
one thousand In comparison with iha' OF
Ave year, ago. The present census was
taken nv careful and intelligent ofncers,
who say they made their work as complete
"a IL was possible to make 1t. and their re-
mort IL therefore believed to be correct
The school population embraces all persons
between the ages OF five and twesty.one
wears. The census OF 1875 has always Deeh
Thought by obseryant persons to nave Deeh
TOO large, and the enrolment OF the schools
rather confirmed this impression. During
fine mast two years the average monthiy en-
rolment at the public schools was only
about sixteen huRdred.
Our new Illuminated. dial towcr-clock,
purchased by the city at cost OF about
Al. 200, arrived this morning. Inc long
do.av in getting II il alleged 10 have been
caused by the necessity OF sending to Paris
10 procure the pIate-glass for the Illuminated
dials. The clock will be put up at once,
and will be in working condition, 1t IS pre-
sumed. by the 1st OF August. Our people
are very anxious TO see the new CLOCK IN
operation.
Colonel William p. Craighll, who has
charge Of the AppomattoX Improvement,
was i'm the city yesterday, and visited ana
inspected the river. In the afternoon he nad
a conference with the special committee OF
the Council appointed on the 1st OF the
month to report as to the cost OF deepening
and widening our harbor, and the feasibility
OF changing the channel through the mea-
doWs north OF Pocahontas. The conference
lasted for several hours, and was very lull
and free one. The committee gained mucn
valuable information from Colonel Cralghll',
who spoke from long and practical eXpe-
rience on the subject. The conference was
altogether satisfactory and encouraging, and
will doubtless result in good.
The MAYOR yesterday and to-day, imposed
fines amounting TO ninety dollars on citl-
zens for violating the city ordinance in
running vehicles without license. Inc
most of these violations were doubtless the
result of thoughtleSsness, but the court Is
allowed no discretion in the premises.
The quarterly term OF the Hastings Court
commences tomorrow. The criminal
docket will be light one. There are only
three cases OF felony and one OF INSIDE
meanor to 20 before the grand jury.
The heated term continues with undated
intensity. Yesterday in the shade the mer-
curry touched 100 degrees, and to-day there
is but little difference.
The rains have been so local in their
character that whereas in some sections
they have been quite abundant, in others
they have been exceedingly light. The SIM
cular spectacle is presented in some places
OF green crops on one farm. while on the
adjacent one everything is dry and parched.
Some two hundred and fifty ladies and
gentlemen went down from this city to GA
Point Yesterday. They arrived home this
morning a little before ; o'clock.
A friendly race on the river last evening
between crew OF the AppomattoX Boat
Club and an amateur crew attracted great
deal OF interest, and between 1000 and
1000 persons, including many ladies, were
collected along the banks to witness it. The
course was from Bates's Spring to Poca-
hontas bridge, a distance OF one and hall
miles. The amateur crew won by some
five or six lengths. Time, 9s minutes. The
probability is that we shall soon have two
good boat clubs in our city.
ROBIN ADAIR.