The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-11-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM BALTIMORE.
The Late Election-Government Offices
Thanksgiving Day-The Horse Disease
Death of Gen. Ridgely, &c., &c.

BALTIMORE, November 10th, 1881.
Excitement appertaining to political matters,
elections etc., has subsidized and people are enter
ing more regularly and fxedy upon business pur-
suits, which hope will prove more profitable to
all concerned The truth is politics ut best don't
pay very well unless make a trade of it.
There is now good deal of anxiety among Re-
publicans here regarding the Federal appoint
ments expected to be made before very long in the
Custom House. The impression prevails general
ly that new Collector of the Port will, at dis
tant day, take the place Of Mr.. John L. Thomas.
The great body of the Republican party in Balti-
more and the State will be satisfied with nothing
short of change.
Preparations are already making for properly
observing the National Thanksgiving ON Thurs
day of next week. There seems determination
to make it an occasion of both thanksgiving and
sumptuous feasting. Our market people, turkey
merchants and those supplying all substantials to
line the inner man. are the qui ciUe to amply
supply their customers. All the churches are to
be open for morning service. There is likely to
be one great good fortune this year which will
contribute additional qualification to many who in
past years were unable to get exactly what they
craved for Thanksgiving dinners. That is with
having had plenty of work they will find them
selves possessed of ample means to cover their
tables with plenty of both substantials and delica
ces on that occasion.
The pink-eye malady among horses in our city
has been quite prevalent in the past fortnight and
some hundreds Of the city passenger railway ami
mails were more or less afflicted, some having died
and others rendered unfit for use, that fewer
cars had to be run on all the routes. | am glad
to learn, however, that the clear, dryer and cooler
weather has caused the disease to materially abate
and it is expected will soon disappear entirely
The horses on the York Road Company line have
also been much affected. The company for some
days past could only run cars every two hours to
IT, nj ", 10 ly md fhar
points on the route. now learn the disease has
very considerably abated and this afternoon addi-
tional cars will be and at shorter intervals of
time until very soon, it is hoped. things will be
again as heretofore. Some Of its horses died.
Gen. James L. Ridgely, q distinguished and
prominent Odd Fellow, for many years Grand
Secretary of the Grand Lodge Of the United States,
died at his residence in Baltimore last night, in
the 18th year of his age. There was probably no
gentleman more universally esteemed or more
widely known in the fraternity to which he be-
longed. He had been ailing for some months.
Our enterprising citizens are now preparing to
apply, soon as possible, the new Gunpowder river
water to manufacturing purposes within the city.
The recent death of your generally known and
much esteemed citizen of Baltimore county, Hon.
John Merryman, is much regretted by his friends
in Baltimore where he was largely known.
The Baltimore and Delta Narrow Gauge Rail-
road is progressing favOrably in laying the track,
which is laid four miles out. An engine
house is being constructed near the Northern Cen
trail depot. It is fully calculated that cars will be
running from Baltimore to TowsOntown by Christ
mas.
There have been thus far in all some eight or
ten recent cases of small pox in Baltimore. The.
disease is not considered alarming or likely to
spread.
On Sunday evening, 9th inst, I noticed a rather
uncommon circle around the moon, which escaped
the observations of our astute astronomical news
paper writers and reporters. 1t appeared in the
east soon after sunset and was very distinct and
beautiful What especially uncommon and
rarely was the two major planets, Jupiter and
Saturn, plainly visible within the circle, besides
some two three stars of nearly the first magni-
tude. 1t will be recoected that our late rains
and storms commenced on the following day and
continued nearly two weeks. This would seem to
verify the old weather-wise prognOstic's theory
that the number os stars and planets within the
moons circle signify the number of rainy days we
are to have after such q phenomenon. In this
case it proved-as l am told-nearly correct.
Efforts are now on foot by number of promi-
nent citizens to get the Belt annexation question
up effectively this season before the Legislature.
One proposition will be to have the citizens of GER
tain sections of the Belt vote either TO come in Or
stay out as best pleases them.
1t is both surprising and encouraging to learn
how rapidly the Western Maryland Railroad is
progressing and improving in its business. 1t
now has direct connection with Shippensburg,
Chambersburg and the rich Cumberland Valley Of
Pennsylvania, as also with New Orleans and near
ly all prominent points of the South, bringing
much trade and many merchants to Baltimore
Nearly all this is the result of Mr.. Heod'c the
President foresight and enterprise. NEsToR.