Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-01-21
Baltimore Letter.
The Ever-ctangiag Weather Destruc-
tue FIRED Tough Story.
BAnr1MoRr. Jannnrv 1a. Is


BALTIMORE, January 16, 1882
The genHeman who has charge of the
weather in this city, upon whose head SO many
blessings have been -showered during the past
month, Is a firm believer in the old maxim that
"Variety is the very Spice of Life I" at least
1t looks that way from the varieties of weather
we have had. Last Sunday was beautiful
day. and ii IL we're not for the numerous cal
endars which have been so lavishly distributed,
we would almost be forced to think we were
just beginning tile opening of a baImy spring
instead Of its being the middle of January
Ladies promenaded on the principal streets
without wraps, and the parks and various
roads were flled with teams of all descTip-
tions. Then after that we had a cold wave
that made the heart of the coal dealer and the
plumber happy; and now we have fallen back
Into the old beaten track and are having more
of the exposition weather" which, by the
way, will be remembered by many of your
readers, especially those who were In the city.
La grippe is still with us, aud many are still
sick. Persons who have been residing In the
city for number of years, say that they do
not recollect time when there was as much
sickness in the city Us there has been this
month. Many of the large printing establish
ments and factories have been put back in
their work by the numbers of their employees
who were victims of the grippe. AT the Johns
Hopkins University number of the professors
have been sick and unable to meet their classes,
and \ number Of the students also have been
absent. The physicians have al been kept
busy and the druggists have reaped a harvest.
well known physician was forced to refuse
eleven calls one day last week owing TO the
number of cases among his own patients.
One of the large grain elevators of the Bal
timore Elevator Company was totally destroyed
by fire on Monday night. There was in the
elevator at the time 900 bushels of wheat
the loss of which will be great blow on the
market, as there are u number OF steamers sail
| ing from this port chartered for grain The
building burnt nearly all night and the sky was
brilliantly illumined by the flames; the light
city. The British steamer SucrobascO which
was lying at the pier, also caught from the
flame, and Will be a total loss: three of her
crew persisted in the flames. Other steamers
were also damaged, and many others would
have burnt had IL not been for the timely as
sistance of the tug boats in using their pumps
ON the flames. The harbor was lighted up Tor
miles, aud the reflection of the hulls aud rig
ging of the vessels made strange. weird forms
along the waters edge. The losses by the fire
will amount to 500. 600 which is almost dou-
BILE that caused by all of the fires in the city
during the year 1850. The Insurance. on the
building was $l75, 600.
The merchants and manufacturers of the city
are using all their persuasive powers ON
Congress Tor the erection of Is new Custom
liunsc the old one IL far too small TO meet
the demands of the business Il now has. a bill
for Tins purpose WAS introduced III Congress by
Representative Rusk. on Monday, it was ac-
cOmpaalnd l'y petition signed by the mcm-
beers II the Merchants and Manufacturers As
soriaIir'I.
Tho - roads question" Is still hcing ngitated
by Tue MIrylL land editors. aud &c the struggle
keeps up we will in the future have good roads
through the counties. A travelling salesman
who uses the roads frequently III one OF the
counties. tells The following story: He had Oc-
casiOn one Hftrnouuiu tie fall. afIcT tile heavy
rains. To drive out to see one of his customers,
" hU resided uear one OF tue small towns. in u
Isishbuiiu;s county, Securing Il team. which
consisted nf spring wagon and two mules he
started ont with his samples. tlrougl, tile mud.
After he had driven about I. mile his wagon
had sunk into The mud far that he was
obliged TO stand on the seat to keep from get
ting his feet wet, aud only the heads OF the
males were visible; but, however, he still kept
moving. After another mile had been driven,
the seat of the wagon was even with the road
but the mules were entirely hid from sight. and
the only way he could tell that they were alive
as he drove along. WAS by the bubbles coming
up through the mud. caused by their breathing.
As this was told by carriage drummer and
one of much experience. there will of course
w. i H