Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-09-16
PETERSBURG NEWS NOTES.
The Opening Of the Public Schools
Railroad Case Dispositions.

PETERSBURG. VA, September b.
Special. THE public schools of this city
were opened to-day for the session Of
lS9s-'@. with an enrolment Of 1881 pupils
1889 in the white and 1,4iS in the colored
schools. This enrolment will, Of course,
be considerably increased By the LIST OF
October. There are over two hundred
pupils in the High School.
The announcement in to-day's Dispatch
Of the death of Mrs. Evelyn May Per-
kins relct OF Judge John Perkins, OF
Louisiana, recalls TO the minds of the
older people here a lady widely known
and beloved in this community many
years ago. She was a native Of Peters
burg and a daughter Of Judge John May
She II was who gave to St. Pauis Epis-
copal church the splendid set of chimes
which have rung ont their music from the
tower of that edifice ever since before the
war. 1t is one of the finest and most
correct sets Of chimes in the country.
Dispositions are in progress this week
in Mecklenburg county in behalf Of the
Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina Rail-
road Company, in the matter Of a certain
suit pending in the Circuit Court of that
county between said company and the
Richmond, Blackstone and Southern Rail-
road Company. In the dispositions taken
In Petersburg In the same cause, In
which officers of the latter road were
summoned as witnesses, counsel of the
Richmond, Petersburg and Carolina road
was unable TO get at the facts he wanted
to establish by reason of the refusal of
the witnesses to answer questions.
Moran, of Washington. and Wilson. of
Baltimore, nnateur riders, have entered
for the bicycle races to be held here on
Saturday. Messrs. Griffin. Hone. Yeats
Edwards, and Tignor, who took part In
our last meet, have also given notice Of
their intention to ride here on Saturday.
The Cockade City Cycle Club. under
whose auspices the meet is given, will
offer prizes valued at over $500.
Rev. II. M. Hope left here this morn
ing in charge of party of seven ladies
and gentlemen, who 30 on an excursion
of some days TO Niagara Falls and other
points of interest in New York State.
The water i'm the Appomattox river Is
very low and sluggish. 1t is said that
Just below the dam. near the central line
OF the city, one can walk across the
stream on the rocks without wetting his
shoes when the tide is out. All the fish
traps i'm the vicinity ape high and dry.
The river Is as shallow now as 1t has
ever Dtcn knOWn 10 NC III many SCdiSt
but an old citizen is authority for the
statement that on one occasion he drove
across the bed Of the stream. near where
Pocahontas bridge now stands, one Of
the deepest points in the river
The people Of Petersburg have suffered
greatly during the past few nights from
an invasion of mosquitoes. The extreme
~ dry weather of the summer Is sup
posed to have been very favorable TO
the propagation of these pests, and they
have become unusually numerous.
Hon. W. p. McRae declined TO stand
for reelection to the House Of Delegates
This leaves only two candidates in Peters,
burg. and the Central Committee. when
IL meets. will probably declare Messrs.
Thomas l.. Ivey and William II. Mann
the nominees Of the Democratic party
for the House. and not order a primary
Mr.. McRae ably and faithfully served
the city for two or three terms In the
lower House of the Legislature, and made
for himself fine record in that body.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. w. Phillips and daugh-
tiers, Misses Pearl and Love, will leave
tomorrow 10 spend some days at the
Buffalo Lithia.
Some three years ago white female
infant was left at the house OF colored
woman named Laura Taylor. in this city,
who has reared and tenderly cared for
the little waif ever since. Recently the
Taylor woman took the child with her
on an excursion 10 Norfolk, where she
attracted the attention of married
couple. who proposed to adopt the child.
The negotiation is now in progress.