The Daily Tombstone., 1886-10-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
NAMxaroS. Oct. 4.

emancipation fram slavery, than that afforded by visit 10 the Industrial and Mechanical Exhibition which was opened in this city on Wednes- day last This is said to be the first exhibition f its kind helI in thc country. IL was originated and de- veloped by negroes, without the az sistance of their white brethren, and is composed exclusively of the inven- tions aHd articles produced by the skill ofthe colored people; and there ale many articles upon exhibition which not only show intelligent mas. tery of the principles of ths trade in- volvsd, but also skill and taste in the execution. The display of fancy work, in the ladies department, would faNorably compare with the results obtained in school ot decorative art, and the same may be said of all of the various departments, which as whole constitute an exhibition which is tru- ly wonderful. There is probably no city in tAe country in which the col ored people are, as class, SO well dressed, well behaved aud intelligent as in Washington. Their schools in- cluIe the highest grades; their churches are large, and many of them equal in architectural beauty to those of the white denOminatious.
 A a largely attended meeting of citizens, on Wednesday eveuing last, it vas decided to have grand nation al competitive drill for military orsani- zatisnS, in this city, Tn May next. A committee waz appointed to perfect the details O. the plan, and six thou- sand dollars was subscribed towards defraying the expense. l. is proposed that the competition shall L' open to military organizations throughout the country, and $25,000 will be given in prizoT.
 This has truly been :, week uf aiS- mias&ls. Owing Co lack of available funds with which to Irfray the run- ming expenses Of th- of!ic-, tie new Iy-appointed Government Printer fou5::l t iI,'.:as,:rr to discharge three hvn..rcd aId s.venIy-tive Of tue em- rloyccs Of the Government Printing Olice, while a dismissal of two hun dred from the Navy lard was necezsi- tated by the recent order Of the SecIe- tary of the Navy, converting the Yard lnto an ordinance foundry. The number dismissed from the Yard in cludes all the employees in the con  struclion bureau, the s;ean! engineer ing bureau and the equipment bureau. The plant of the equipment bureau will b;, transferred to th,. Boston Navy Yard, that of the construction bureau to New York, and the steam engineer ing to Norfolk The equipmen; "f ihe Yard as ain ordinance foundry vii! be commented at once, and it will prob- ably require two years time. The plant of the prese 1t Crdinance burea Il will have to be enlaIgcd and renewed, and in the buildings made vacant by the suspended bureaus Il new plant will have tu be established.
 During the Cutting controversy the plans for the erection of Mexican legation building in this city were in terrupted. Since the matter has been settled and confidence restored the ar chitect has completed his work, and the designs have been forwarded to Mexico for approval. The building as planned is to cost $50,000, and will, in many respects, be similar to the B.itish legation building on Connec- ticut avenu>. The offices for clerks and attaches of the legation will be located on the first floor, and the re- i mainder of the building will be fitted up as the residence of the minister.
 The record in the office of the engi- neer in charge of the Washington Monument Ehows that during tae month of September twenty-eight hundred persons ascendtd the stairs in the Monument, and the rcceed from the first of April is ten thousand. MeRsrs. Slime Gallcn and John Nor