Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-05
PLEASANT SURPRISE.
Appointment oil Mr.. Myers as Asst
Sup't Railway Nail Service.
CLOSING ST. AsAPH RACE-TRACK.
II Startled the Washington "sports."
New Financial Proposifon-F"y
for Southern Slaves-Machtnery Oh
the Texas Pronounced superb.

WASHINGTON, u. c., January A.
Especial. 1.-THE appointment OF Mr.. l.. 1.
Myers, Of Richmond. to the vacant office
OF Assistant General Superintendent OF
Railway Mail Service, was a gratifying
surprise TO nearly all the officials OF the
Post-Office Department, as well as TO the
colony OF Virginians here. The Office had
been so long vacant, and there had been
so many disappoiniments in regard to IT,
that many in official position believed the
Postmaster-General would allow IT TO
remain vacant during the remainder oil
his term. There Ia no doubt, however,
that Mr.. Myers had a strong friend In
the person Of Mr. Charles Nelson, the
Second Assistant Postmaster-General'
who formerly flied the office
Mr.. Myers was appointed because Of his
peculiar fitness for the place, as t re-
quires a man who is thoroughly famiiiar
with railroad transportation, and with
the management of trains. Mr.. Nelson
had had considerable experience III thls
line when he was appointed TO the posi-
ton at the beginning of the prese.l ai-
minstration, and in securing the services
of Mr.. MYERS. he has but followed Well
established precedents in the department.
SPORTS" STARTLED.
The Washington sporting fraternity
were somewhat startled when they
learned of the closing Of the st. Asaph
race-track for the winter season; Dut
when this was follow by the announce
ment that the Alexafder Island track
would close also IL came as a terrible
setback. The Bulletin, published here
every evening, and which is posted IN
all public places, stated that on UP
received from Richmond, the 81. Asaph
people had determined to discontinue VIII
ter racing, or run the FISK OF losihs
their charter. IL was stated theh tha'
the Alexander Island folks would remain
omen and continue racing. as both the
concerns had always been doing; but
they were too shrewd for that, and they
also nut themselves on the same plane
as their st. Asaph rivals. Alexander
Island is the more convenient place lor
patrons from this city, and Is said To
have the better track OF the two resorts
The island track is about one .hird OF
mile from the southern end OF the Long
bridge. and IL easily reached, while ~
Asaph is about three miles farther
south.
lbN agreement Nilt PfOPi' nav
racing or alternate days, and almost the
same crowds. the same horses. and In
same booksellers that are seen at the
island track one day are seen at -.
Asaph the next. Neither place had any
connection with the gambling dens that
existed at Jackson City and Rosslyn,
which were so successfully broken up by
Governor O'Ferrall but the island track.
on account Of its close proximity TO Jack
son CITY has always been enormously
associated with Jackson City in the minds
OF people who were unfamiliar Win
the situation. Consequently. a war has
been vaged on Alexander Island for law
lessness in a locality with which its man
ayers had no more to do, ard for which
they were no more responsible than were
the managers of st. Asaph.
In closing their track at the same
time the island managers were smart
enough not TO allow the ST. Asaph
people TO get any advantage Of them
on that score. Their object is to go be-
fore the Legislature and the people and
ask for the same privileges that may be
granted their st. Asaph rivals, If any be
granted
TALK ABOUT FINANCE.
In this hour of financial distress. when
our most profound statesmen and best
lndntltIS are DuLLitl " p4di7
which will either partially or wholly re-
lieve the situation. il was refreshing to
meet a man who has a panacea for all
our monetary ills, and one which he en-
Enthusiastically believes will. If carried into
effect. set the country on the nigh road
10 prosperity. He is a new man, with
an old scheme, and he comes from way
down South in Dixie" He says he should
have offered for Congress in his district
on his pet measure, so that he could have
introduced and pressed IL himself, but
he did not then anticipate the present
financial crisis. He IL certain of success,
and will not listen to any adverse criti-
clsm Of his patriotic plan. AS he is not
n Congress himself. he is going 10 get
some good northern Republican. If he
can find such a person, TO introduce his
bill" when he prepares IL. and in the
mean time he will stump the whole coun-
try at his own expense. and agitate the
question"
What this statesman wants is payment
for the slaves emancipated, as he says.
by the war between the States. and he
submits some singular and novel argu-
ments In support of his rather absurd
proposition.
PAY FOR EVERY NEGRO.
Asked why he should think of legisla
after they had been so long free, he said:
81 expect the people Of the South to re-
ceive pay for every negro they owned.
The reason | have never expressed my
self before is that l have been waiting
for better feeling to come between the
two sections Of the country. That time Is
now right here and l think the northern
people are in the proper frame Of mind
to do justice to the people of the South"
"Why do you think they would pay for
slaves%'
"Why shouldn't they? The slaves were
property, and the South was plundered
of that property. The people. too. have
become much better disposed towards
each other. and all men who obey the
golden rule or try TO. will soon say, Pay
these people for their slaves IL the
South had conquered the North and taken
possession Of their lands and property.
as II looked as If she would do when her
troops were in Pennsylvania, and gold
at 2So. the northern people would have
expected pay. and the southern people
would have been generous enough TO al
low Il. Honest men will say pay for the
negroes, and politicians will fall into line.
II Abraham Lincoln was living to-day
think the South would have no stronger
advocate on this subject than he would
be. The soldiers OF the Union army are,
most Of them | think, in favor Of IL, and
al n a