davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
Chanter Of Secret History.

The Chicago Tribune publishes a story
which relates that soon after the battle OF
Antietam MCCLELLAN wrote letter to LEE
asking LYE 60 meet him for conference.
but that this LEE refused TO do.
This was Just before LINCOLN issued the
emancipation proclamation, and it is now
alleged that MCCLELLAN had gotten wind
Of LIScois's purpose and was hostile to it.,
and wanted 10 combine his army with
LEE's and march to Washington, over
throw the LrScoLS Administration, and
compel the holding OF new presidential
election"
According to the Tribune. the only man
who knows all about the purposed propo-
sItion refuses 10 talk.
1t occurs TO us that he has already talked
too much, and that he has told more than
he knows.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
Strent-RailrOads.

We add TO what we said in a recent issue
on tho subject of street-ralroads the fol-
lowing interesting paragraph from the
New York Sun:
"Ihere were ! ,G6j miles OF street railways In
operation in this country ut the close Of last
year, comprising $3.50 miles Of electric roads,
AGO miles OF horse roads, GAG milcs cable,
and go miles steam, The mileage Of electric
roads increased 1875 miles during the yeai'
while there was a decrease Of SAG in tho num-
Dor Of miles operated by horse power. and
also decrease Of - miles in steam~car lines.
Finy.two miles.of new cable roads we're built
during the year. These figures show how large
ly electricity il supersediug other power Tor
street-car traction on lines already bnilt, "a veu
"a the great actual growth Of new electric roads
Tho NUN Der OF street-cars in use in the United
States is stated to be 3S,400, which is almost
Is. 900 in excess OF the number Of passenger
cars in use on TIE regular steam railroads"
The figures given bv the Sun signify
tEet cable roads. horse roads. and
steam roads cannot compete with cleo
trio roads. The despised trolley has
come to stay unless some better
method be discovered OF applying the
electric power thau we now possess lhe
"unsightly posts" which cumber our
streets NAV have to give way TO an under
ground system. The deadly wires"
which. singularlv enough. are also called
.'live wires" may be superseded by wires
concealed from the vision Of men, but the
propulsion will be done by electricity.
Nay, more; the transportation of passen-
gers and freight between the people OF one
city and those of another and between the
people of the. city and the people of tho
country is to be done by electricity. Let
US prepare for the day of its undisputed su-
premacy and muster" the patient mule
tout Of the service"
The last statement in the SIMS para
graph ia hardly credible-namely, tho
statement that the street railroads of all
sorts run nearly 1900 more cars than are
run by the regular steam railroads.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
Emmet and "Dixle.'

On page II of this issue we publish q
letter from Mr.. JoEs p. SMITH. of New
York. q gentleman prominent in dramatic
and theatrical affairs. on the subject OF
the authorship Of Dixie"
He awards that honor 10 DAN EmxEr.
and his evidence. added TO that 81 other
persons who have heretofore spoken.
seems TO establish the fact that though
some sort of song of Dixie may have
been known in a limited circle prior to
1860, the minstrel gave IL new birth. o
new body. and an enduring vitality.
Other Europeans before COLUMBUS may
have discovered and set foot upon Ameri-
cas- shores. but it was COLUMBUS who
made them known 10 the world. The
same may be said of EMMEr and Dixie
After he had put II before the public from
the minstrel stage the public realized that
it was gem in its way bright, catchy,
and insplriting, aud 1t proved to be Just
the thing that the Confederates were IN
search ola national air suitable Tor
military bands; an air to cheer men on
weary marches an cir TO break the loneli-
ness of camp an air, like the "Marseiilaise'
70 rouse the battle-olood in every SOUTH
ern soldiers breast. EMMETT was the In
strument for doing all of this for Dixie
though he seems 10 have been with BRY-
ANTS Ministries in the North while
CuRIsrY's people were introducing his
song in the South.
Mr. SMITH, whose letter we have re-
I r - - u II. Il Ia
learned the trade of compositor IN the en-
ployment of the founder OF this paper,
and thence took his fight INTO dramatic
realms. He was in 1860 the advertising
agent of CHRIsTY's Minstrels, and he re-
lates that Dixie" was sung in the south
ern country for the first time in Richmond
in October, 1860, which was before the
election Of LINCOLN. The same troupe
was in Charleston when South Carolina Sc
coded. and Dixie" at once became very
popular there. Later it was sung by the
troupe during a six-weeks' engagement IN
| New Orleans. Popularity followed 1t every
where. Tie occasion and the song had
met. The young men who cheered
Dixie" IN the theatres soon became SOL
diers. The southern orchestra-men be-
came members of Confederate regimentnl
| bands. and thus Dixie" was drafted into
the service and was popularly adopted as
| the national air.
Mr.. SMITH relates that he told Mr. EN-
NIT all of these things upon his return to
| New York from his southern tour and that
EMsrEr offered to give the copyright OF
the song to the Confederate States.
DAN EMMEr is now IS years of age and
is living ct Mt. Vernon. o.. in great power
ty. The Actors Fund has relieved him OF
immediate want. and efforts are now
beng made to raise sum of money for
him which will suffice to sustain him in
comfort for the rest Of his life. Dir. A. NJ.
PALMER, president of the Actors Fund,
will. we suppose. be glad to receive con-
tributions and to see to the proper appli-
cation Of them.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
Postal Facilities.

In the United States Senate few days
ago. while the post-office appropriation
bill was under consideration, the follow
ing item was put into it
"ror free-delivery service, including existing
experimental iree-delivery Offices, Gil ,2549O0,
OF which the sum OF $4,000 shall be applied
under the direction Of the Postmaster-General
TO experimental free-ielivory In rural commun'-
ties other than towns and villages"
Experimental free-delivery in towns
and villages, If not in rural communities,
was first proposed by this paper We are
glad to see that experiments are to con-
tinue to be made in the manner so well
employed by Post master-General WANA-
MAKER, who testIhes that tree-deliyery in
towns and villages has proved to be snc-
cessful reform or Improvement in the
postal service. 1t could not be otherwise
TO deliver letters free IN town or village
is 10 give new life TO that town or village
and 10 begin work of education which
will end in condition of intelligence in
that community which will never bless
any such community 80 long as the pres
ent postal customs are adhered to.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
rho yice-presIdent,s Address.

The remarks Of Mr.. STEVENSON in as
Stunning the Office Of vice-president OF the
United States and taking the chair as pre-
siding officer Of the Senate were BRIEF
modest, and practical. He said nothing
that no ought not to have said ana ieit
nothing unsaid that should have been SAID
upon such an occasion. He rightly con-
sidered that il would be improper for hiIn
10 discuss measures OF public policy. All
such things he left to the President, to
whom they belong.
Mr.. STEVENSON is not q SNOWY man in
speech. His strength is in fine common
sense and sound judgment, hence we find
in his remarks an absence OF rhetoric and
an indifference TO show. He starts ont
upon his vice-presidential career in a sena-
torial style, and We doubt not that he is
destined 10 WELD great influence over
that body.
We may almost say that he is the first
Democratic yice-President that we have
had since the outbreak of the war. IL is
true that in 1884 Mr.. HENDRICKS was elected
Vice. President on the ticket with Mr..
CLEVELAND. but he died in the month of
November following the Inauguration.
He was not so robust man as Mr.. STEVEN
SON appears 10 be, nor was be quite SO
adept IN minglins with his fellow-men.
We trust that Mr.. STEVENSON will not
only live through his term but many years
afterwards, aud We doubt not that he will
be of great service IN the Senate. His ripe
experience IN public affairs. his approach
ableness and suavity of manner will invite
condolences and establish him as leader.
The Constitution gives him no vote in the
Senate except in cases of tie. and no OPP
portunity of arguing questions which come
mp for consideration. but in O quiet way
ne may make himself very influential. In
many respects the vice-presidential Office Is
very enjoyable one. 1t is dignifed
enough 10 satisfy most men; it carries
with it no weighty responsibilities, and is
blessed in having no patronage worth men,
tioning. So we may expect for Mr.. STEVEN
SON not only success but happiness.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
Convict Life in Virginia.

For scores Of years the Virginia Peniten-
tiary was heavy burden upon the State
Treasury. Now it is self-sustaining. The
change was brought about some years ago
when the State stopped manufacturing on
her own account and leased out hundreds
of convicts to work within the walls in tho
manufacture of shoes and tobacco. Had
things gone on in their old way the people
would have bad levied upon them an extra
tax to meet the regularly recurring deficit
! on account of this institution.
OF late years the income of the peni-
Tertiary has not only paid all expenses,
but has enabled the Board Of Directors to
| increase the cell-room from $50 to 200 cells.
In the women's ward there are about 100
other cells, and these are sufficient; but as
there arc 1900 prisoners on the books
most of them held within the walls and
most OF them men-it will be seen that the
200 mems cells must be greatly crowded.
The time will doubtless soon come when
the State will have to provide quarters on
farm for some ofthe youths and oil of the
men who cannot pass the surgeon as
able-bodied" and be assigned to service
under the contractors.
Ii is frightfu to think Of what might be
the consequences should an epidemic
break out in the prison. crowded as 1t Is.
Generally, however. the health Of the
conyicts is good. Those who are kept
within the walls are vastly healthier than
those who ore sent out under contractors
to work on railroads or county roads. The
statistics prove that they live much
longer, though, 50 tar as bodily strength IS
concerned, the men sent to public works
are the pick of the prison. This result
seems to be defiance of the laws OF hy-
cene. but it is fact. nevertheless-a fact
that the men who are worked in crowded
factory-rooms, who sleep in densey
packed cells. and who never get n chance
to step outside OF the high prison-walls
live longer and are better content than
those who are put TO work in the country,
where certainly they may always work in
the open air, though frequently they are
compelled to sleep within stockades
which are really moro crowded than the
penitentary.
1t is great pity that the penitentiary
was not located farther from the city. 1t
never should have been put within mile
of the Capitol; but here il is. and here to
stay, we suppose. Still it is better that it
should be where 1t is than on the spot first
selected for it. which Is about where Lin
den Row First and Franklin streets) now
stands. It's but q question of brief time
when the walls will have 20 be extended.
| They are too confined to give the necessary
| shop-room. The shoc-contractOrs would
take at least 200 more men if the authorities
couidf furnish themgith the necessary shop
room, and this would mean about $1,000
(net) additional PIT into the State Trea-
sury annually. As we understand, arrange
ments are now being perfected which will
probably enable the authorities to put one
shop partially without the walls, and thus
make room for a large addition to the
shoe-factory.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
How to Secure Good Roads without In
crepse OF Taxation.
For the Dispatch.l

Having written several brief articles on
the need Of better reads. suffer me nov
10 say a word on the phase OF the question
indicated in my text.
The man who can solve the problem Will
be entitled to the gratitude OF his county
men.
There is hardly any one 80 blind as 10
deny the utility of good thoroushfares
but these cost money and a great deal OF
It, and just here is where the rub comes.
Our country friends are. or think they are,
taxed lust as much Gs they can possibly
hear. and the revenue raised from the pres
emf road-tax Il utterly inadequate To ac-
compllsh any great improvement What
then shall be donet
Let the counties issue bonds redeemable
after i've years and payable In thirty years
bearing interest at the rate OF per cent.
per annum, payable seml-annually. Let
the amount of the issue OF these bonds be
governed by the amount OF revenue do,
rived from the road-tax, two thirds OF
which tax TO be used in paying the interest
on the bonds and tho remainder TO be set
aside as sinking fund 10 redeem the
bonds at or before maturity. Lett road
work be done by contract under the su-
peryision of skiltul engineer.
BY this plan just ten times as large q
sum will be al once available for road i'm
movement as under tho present system.
In other words, It will enable rs to accom-
plish in road-making Ia one year just as
much as we could in ten years without it.
BETTER roads will Immediately enhance the
value of our land. save ali immense
amount Of wear and tear TO our vehicles
and teams, attract settlers 70 our State
aud omen a market for our uncultivated
lands as nothing else will.
should IL be found alter the new system
Ia begun that annual repairs to roads re.
auire further expenditures. the enllgnt.
ened public sentiment. educated by such
striking object lessons. may be relied up
on 10 provide the necessary means: u
fact. the greatly increased population and
General prosperity TO be expected from
highway improvement will be almost sure
10 increase tho road-tax revenues TO suct
an extent as 20 obviate sll trouble on ths,
score. and II not, supplemental revenues
NAV be derived by small tax upon We
hicies. graduated according to the width
OF tho tire, as recently suggested bv Z
writer IN the DisPATcH. SO l think on the
whole tho scheme Is conservative and
practical. What soy you. our country
friends1 HrxHx Il bzArLu.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
LIE Of Winfield Scott.

The ninth volume of the Great Com
mander" series, tho life of General VIM
FIELD ScoTr, by General MARcUsJ. WRIGHT,
will follow the biographies of General
JOSEPH +. JOHNSTON and General THOMAS,
from the press Of d. APPLETON & Co., New
York.
General WEIGHT hos for O number Of
years been tho agent of the War Depart
ment IN the collection Of Confederate
records. All of that time he has been
living in an historical atmosphere. as it
were. and in his leisure moments he has
made a study of the life of General VIM
FIELD Scorr, who is said to have been a
much misunderstood man in many re-
spects. and about whose position at the
outbreak Of the war no little mystery at
taches.
General WRIGHT has therefore chosen an
Interesting subject, and as he is thorough
in his searches for information and writes
well. we shall expect his book to be both
valuable and entertaining.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
A GREAT NAVAL REVIEW.
1t win Eclipse Anything of the Kind
Ever Before Seen.

Renr-Admiral Gherardi before leaving
the nayy-yard. spoke very enthusiastically
of the coming naval review. He said that
no such assembiage Of representative SHIPS
from the nayies of the great powers OF Eu-
rome and America as will be seen at this
review was ever got together in the his
tory of the world. he thought, saws the
New York World. the United States navy
would make a very credltaole showing
when compared with the foreign vessels.
The following are the vessels already pro-
missed:
Gerinany-The armored cruisers kai-
serin. Augusta, and the Seeadler.
Russia-The armored cruisers of the
first class Dimitori Douskol and the Gene
raj Admiral, the corvette Rynda, the line
OF battlo-ship Emperor Nicholas and the
armored cruisers Nachinof and Pamlate
Azowa, all under the command OF Vice
Admiral Koznahof. the senior ylce-adml-
raj Of the Russian Imperial Navy.
Ensland-The flagship Blake and the
vessels of the North Atlantic Squadron, as
we'll as two armOred cruisers of the first
class.
Italv-The cruisers Etna. Giovanni Bau-
san. the Dogali, and the fridano, under
command of Rear-Admlrai Maguaghi.
Spain-'rhs cruisers lntanta Ysaoel. the
Reina Regente, and the gunboat Espana,
under command of the Duke OF Neragua.
Brazil-The cruisers Republica aud Ii
radentes aud the ironclad Aquidaban.
The Netnerlands-Ihe frst-class frigate
the Van Spevk.
France-Vessels not yet designated.
TO HAMPTON RoADs-
II hope 10 sail from here in twelve
DAYS" said Admiral Gherardi 20 o World
reporter. as be paced to and fro IN his
cabin Wednesday afternoon. We snail
90 direct TO Hampton Roads and there
await the arrival of the other ships.
There will be plenty for US TO do down
there for some time TO come. / have IS
sued to-day n.y. orders in accordance with
| special Order No. II Issued by the Secre.
tary OF the Navy. and 1t VIII DC carried out
! to the letter"
The order Of Secretary Tracy referred to
| by the Admiral reads:
Rear-Admiral Bancroft Ghernrdi Is here
by ordered TO assume command on March
| lst of the combined feet for the naval re.
view as authorized by the actof Congress
approved April %, 1880.
Upon the date specified. the North At
Iantic and South Atlantic stations will be
! temporarily discontinued until the CLOSE
Of the review. when they will resums
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05

Mr.. S. 4. JONAS. of Aberdeen. Miss.
writes TO the Mobile daily Tribune that he
is the author of the well-known Lines
Written on the Back OF Confederate
Note" His statement is that the lines
were written on the back Of a $500 Comic
derate bill in the room Of Major Nj. y.
GEonGF, az the Powhatan Ford's) a. ,
IN Richmond, soon after the surrendc,.
and in the presence Of Major GEoRGE
and Captain ID. L. SUBLErT OF Gene
raj S. d. LEE's staff, Captain CHARrEs
VIpoR Of General STEvENsoN's staff.
and Captain SHE'LL Of Nashville, and
Colonel RICE, Of the FIRST Texas
Volunteers. A copy was gwen to an &C
tress at Richmond Miss ANNIE RUSH OF
Philadelphia), and she caused it to be pub
lished in the North, but his first publica-
ton of the lines was in the Aberdeen
SUNNI So,uh in November, 1865.
Mr.. JONAS states that he has always as
serted his proprietorship and now comes
forward to claim his property, in view Of
the fact that the authorship of the lines Is
often ascribed 10 other persons.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05

!. q. .or,e conditious a. exist at the

under the same conditions a. exist OF the
On On the ist day Of March, Or as soon
AFTER as possible. Rear-Admirai Benham.
commander n-chief OF the Sgusn A''a na','
mander.in.chief of the North Atlantic
Station. will report to Bear-Admiral Che
rardi at such point as he may designate.
with the ships CT their respective COM
mands for duty in the naval review rs nsc.,
stations ut the close of the review.
During the period named tho Yantic
will be considered as assigned to tempo:
rary special service on the east ooas! on
south America, resumina her place on inc
south Atlantic Station at the termina'ion
Upon the completion of the review and
the duties connected herewith Rear
Admiral (iherardi will haul down his nag
and rellnquish command ahoat.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
rhe Seven1v.Cant Dollar.

The people of the silver State of Colo
RADIO have confidence in the white metal.
On Fridag last Mr.. TELLER. senator from
that State. made it known to the United
States Senate that the Denver Clearing
Association had offered 10 give to the
United States million of dollars in gold
for a million of dollars in Treasury notes,
the government to pay, OF course. for the
transfer Of the gold TO Washington city.
But UNCLE SAM decided to keep his Urea
sury notes. He would not accept the offer.
He thus declared his faith in the Treasury
notes and in silver, for the cost of trans
fer would not have been one-hundredth
Of per cent. Money talks" Mr.. TEL
IRR's State took this means OF approving
bis course in voting with the Democrats on
the silver question. Silver dollars may be
called "seventy.cent dollars" but tho
men who call them such refuse to sell q
thousand silver dollars for nine hundred
and ninety-nine gold dollars.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
WASH GOODS AND SATTEENS.

Such an array OF pretty aud cheap materials
as We viii place before our patrons tomorrow IL
seldom saen In Richmond.
Fine Dress Ginghans, oil new styles. In
stripes, plaids, ana solid colors, only SIS. q
yard.
Fine Zephyr Ginehams, lovely styles i2l6c. a
yard
Fine Scotch Ginghams in stripes, plaid, and
pink checks, only l5c yard worth 2Jc.
Nice Apron-Gingham Ol4c yard.
Fine French Zephyr Glnghans only 3Oc. a
yard worth soc.
Beautiful Gros-Grain d. Lyon Satteens in new
patterns and a great variety light, delicate
cOors, light grounds. Win neat ngures aud
strires, only i5c. a yard worth - and 30c.
Sattesns In dark and medium grounds, oil
nice, pretty patterns, I2I6 ana &c. yard.
Fine, soft Outing Fanncs, light grounds,
with neat stripes, only 12t1c. Il yard worth 25c.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
The German Agrarlan Movement.

The agrarian movement in Germany is
In itself and by the accretion OF elements
in sympathy with il assuming proportions
which threaten an entire resdiustment OF
party lines and some remarkable political
combinations. Already 1t has placed the
Emperor in dilemma as respects MS eco
nomic policy. aud if. as predicted. it forces
dissolution Of the Reichstag, one OF the
most exciting elections Germany has ever
witnessed may be anticipated.
A most interesting suggestion of the sit
uation is the wide difference between the
agrarisn movement In the Fatherland and
the agrarian movement in Great Bril-
tain. In the latter country the laborer
and the landlord ara at war and the la
borcr looks for relief to the Liberal party.
That party teaches as cardinal doctrine
that Gil that stands in the way OF
agricultural prosperity IS the landlord,
and hence he must be abolished.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05
SILK DEPARTMENT.

Hundreds OF new and choice things havo heeh
added 10 our SIR stock during tho past week,
and we are prepared % show some II the hand
sOmest Stks ever shown IN this CITY.
Fine Iaffeta ChangeaOlc silks N variety OF
stvlcs-smGll pin checks aud ugures-the land
soonest goods ever shown, az 81.
Fine BengGline silks ~ variety OF shades,
all changeable with small figures, real hand
some, at sl.S2.
Bencaline silks in all new shades-oxquisi,e
goods-at sl.25. real value. sl.45.
Figured China SILKS, dark and light grounds,
81.
Figured China silks, dark grounds with colOred
flowers, J7iSc. worth 15c. yard.
A new line Of those SOlid-C OlOred China silks in
all shades. every thread pure sllk, 81 inches
wide, only 5Oc
These silks are exceptional bargains aud are
attracting wide attention.
Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-05

Every day brings out a new rumor in
New York about what is to be the disposl-
ton Of the Federal patronage there by Mr..
CLEVELAND. The latest, which is also the
most sensational, Is that there will be an Al
lance between CLEVELAND and Iamuany,
and that Senator Hut, on the one hand, and
GRACE, FAIRcHnD, OTTENDoRFER, ELLyRY
ANDERSON, and other Anti-Snappers, on
the other hand, will be loft "out in the
cold" 1t is said that this scheme has been
arranged by DAN. LAMONT with CROKER
and MURPHY; but it lacks confrma-
t,on -