Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-10-07
Correspondence Of the Beacon.)

" AO@NI WV - @OO~'
Messrs. Editors = Probably no bet
ter idea could be obtained OF the capa-
Lllities Of the coIored man, and the
advancement he has made since his
emancipation from slavery, than that
afforded by a visit to the Industrial
and Mechanical Exhibition which was
opened in this city on Wednesday
last. This is said to be the first exhi.
Lition of its kind held in the country.
1t was originated and developed by
negroes, without the assistance OF their
white brethren. and is composed ex-
c.usiyely OF the inventions, and articles
produced by the skill Of the colored
people aud there are many articles
upon exhibition which not onl Y show
intelligent mastery OF the principles
OF the trade involved, but also skill
and taste in the execution. The dis
play Of fancy work, in the ladies de-
partment, would favorably compare
with the results obtained in school
2b 4sfqrStiye art aed vtahE ei ssm Hep Ray
ments, which a as whole, constitute
an exhibition that is truly wonderful.
There is probably no city in the coun-
try in which the colored people are,
as class, so we'll dressed, well be-
haved and intelligent as in Washing
ton. Their schools include the high
est grades; their churches are large,
and many Of them equal in architec-
tural beauty to those Of the white de-
nominations.
At a largely attended meeting OF
citizens, on "Wednesday evening last,
it was decided to have grand national
competitive drill for military organi-
cations. in this city. in May next. A
committee was appointed to perfect
the details OF the plan, and six thou
sand dollars was subscribed towards
defraying the expense. ltispropossd
that the competition shall be open TO
military organizations throughout the
country, and S25, 900 will be given in
prizes.
This has truly been a week OF dis
missals. Owing to lack Of available
funds with which to defray the run
ming expenses Of the Office, the newly
appointed Government Printer found
1t necessary to discharge three hum
dred and seventy-fve Of the employees
OF the Government Printing Office.
while dismissal OF two hundred from
the Navy Yard, was necessitated by
the recent order of the Secretary of
the Navy, converting the Yard into
an ordnance foundry. The number
dismissed from the Yard includes all
the employees in the construction
bureau and the equipment bureau.
The plant Of the equipment bureau
will be transferred to the Boston Navy
Yard, that OF the construction buresu
to New York. and the steam engineer
ing to Norfolk. The equipment Of
the Yard as an ordnance foundry will
be commenced at once, and it will
probably require two years time The
plant Of the present ordnance bureau
will have to be enlarged and renewed,
and IN the buildings made vacant by
the suspended bureaus, a new plant
will have to be established.
During the Cutting controversy the
plans for the erection of a Mexican
legation building in this city were in.
terFupted. Since the matter has been
settled and confidence restored the
architect has completed his work. and
the designs have been forwarded to
Mexico for approval. The building a.
planned is to cost So. 900, and viii,
in many respects. be similar to the
British legation building on Connec-
ticut avenue. The offices for clerks