Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-23
THE JAMES RIVER.
IMPROVEMENT WORK LOOKED
AFTER BY RICHMoNDERs.
VIRGINIA COAL FOR The NAVY.
War seems Inevitable, Though
Maine Report VIII Probably Ex-
Observation-Disclosures Personals.

| III view Oi lHlS IdCl, lneTe nave Deen
numerous delegations here from various
seaports and harbors in the country 10
urge a continuation of the annual appro-
priations to keep the improvements al
! ready made In good order, at least If
not in stage Of advancement. To-day
a delegation. consisting of Messrs.
| Warner Moore and John A. Curtis, of the
! Chamber of Commerce, and n. T. Mosby
and James L. Vaughan, of the City Coun-
| sci. Of Richmond. called on Senator Mar
| tin and Representative Lamb in regard
| to the James river Improvements. They
| stated that IL the work already in hand
| was allowed to stop. it would occasion
| incalculable injury to the river and the
| channels approaching Richmond. They
! urged upon Senator Martin and Repre-
sentative Lamb the absolute necessity of
an appropriation TO continue this work
| so as to preserve the present favorable
conditions of the water approaches to
Richmond. Senator Martin and Repre-
sentative Lamb will now endeavor to get
the usual appropriation for the James
river Improvement in the sundry civil de-
ficiency bill.
The gentlemen from Richmond left for
home by the afternoon train.
THE WAR PREPARATIONS
There has been no material change in
the war outlook during the last few days
BY those best informed it is believed that
If the Maine disaster were entirely elimi-
mated from consideration by a finding OF
the court to the effect that the explosion
was attributable alone to accident, grow
ing out of internal causes, the conditions
would remain quite as threatening and
serious as they have been since active
preparations for war upon the part of
our government commenced.
learn from high authority at the Navy
Department that the court will report
that they have found no evidence from
which they can conclude that the Maine
was destroyed from external causes, and
that it is most likely that the remnant
of the once powerful battleship VIII have
TO be placed i'm the dock before this ques-
ton can be definitely settled.
That this view does not have any seri-
Gus weight at the White House, and at
the War and Navy departments, Is tully
evidenced by the fact that unceasing ac-
tivity and preparations for war are Wit
messed there on every hand The higher
silence, that is noticed on all sides, and
vet an occasional word falls from which
IL may be readily seen that there Is
something unusual in the atmosphere.
II is believed the President will sub
nit the findings of the court as TO the
Maine. together with report as 10 the
condition of Cuba, TO Congress at one
and the same time, and from present indi-
cations, If this is done, it IS belieVed'
to say the least of It, that the lndepeh-
dence Of Cuba will at once be declared
by Congress. This granted, II Is hardiy
possible to see how war can be averted.
A number Of our people, 1t IS DeueNeu'
will at once enlist in the Cuban cause,
and this with the prospective search OF
our ships, or stray shot, VIII a'Hilo''
certainly precipitate strife.
COAL FOR THE NAVY.
Amongst other preparations being maze
in which the people OF Virginia are inter
ested, is the purchase OF large supplies Oh
coal for delivery at Key west ana me
Tortugas 1t is said that negotiations 10
the effect are now pending. Inc PehhsSI-
vania dealers in anthracite coal are pc
Ginning TO be most active, claiming that
for war purposes an anthracite coai
needed. because it is smokeless, anu
therefore. less liable to be observed at a
distance by the enemy; and they cite the
fact that this coal was for this reason
mainly used by the government in the
late war between the States. For the
Toms Creek coal, Of Wise county, Va, it
is claimed that. though bituminous, it is
Of such character that IL produces mini
MUM quantity Of smoke and ashes, ana
at the same time bears transportation
better. and remains in Jumps longer than
any other bituminous coal upon the mar
ket. and that the fact that It does not
disintegrate when exposed to sea breezes
and the like, coupled with its well-estab-
iished reputation as quick, even, and
uniform steam coal, renders ii most de-
sirable for the purposes Of the navy. 1t is
further claimed 10 be free from the dan
ger of spontaneous combustion.
learn that there is in contemplation
contract for the supply OF a large quantity
Of this coal at both Key West and the
Dry Tortugas. Mr. T. p. Trigg, Of the
company controlling the output Of the
coal, has been In communication with the
Navy Department, both I'm person and by
letter, on the subject.
POSTAL.
Among the fourth-class postmasters
commissioned March 18th were the fol-
lOWlHB lidllle a. w dlldtt, 1luSleT, ~ u,
James w. Simpkins, Saint Stephens
Church. Va; Moses b. Kyle, Snowden,
Va; Martha w. Pickral, Taos, Va.
New offices have been established as
follows: Haurahan, Pitt county, n. c.,
Alonza Phillips, postmaster; Kilgo, Chat
ham county, n. c., William +. Snipes,
postmaster; Staunton, Wilkes county. n.
c., William NJ. Wilcox, postmaster; STRAIT
ford, Allegheny county, n c., Wilbur
b. Estop, postmaster.
Star mail service changes have been
made as follows in North Carolina:
Aulander 20 Anneta-Leave Aulander
daily except Sunday II NJ, arrive Anneta
by Ills p. NJ; leave Anneta daily except
Sunday 1870 Il. NJ. arrive Aulander by
2:45 F. NJ.
Windsor TO I.ewiston-Leave Windsor
daily except Sunday 7 A. NJ, arrive
Lewiston by IL NJ; leave Lewiston daily
except Sunday p. NJ, arrive Windsor by
Z p. NJ.
Potecasi TO Creeksville-Leaye Potecasi
daily u. NJ, arrive Lasker by l:3O p.
NJ; leave Lasker daily except Sunday
10 A. NJ, arrive Potecasi by 1l:30 A. NJ;
leave Lasker daily except Sunday A. NJ,
arrive Creeksville by A. NJ; leave
Creeksville daily except Sunday $50 y
NJ, arrive Lasker by $3.50 a. NJ.
Columbia to Mackey Ferry-Leave
Columbia daily except Sunday in time
to connect with steamer for EdentOn, but |
not earlier than a. NJ, arrive Mackey !
Ferry in 6 hours; leave Mackey Ferry |
daily except Sunday after arrival OF !