Evening Star Newspaper, August 3, 1889, Page 6

REAL ESTATE GOSSIP. The Builders’ Exchange and What it Proposes to Do. ‘THE WORK OF THE BOARD OF ASSESSORS AND THE EFFECT UPON THE DISTRICT REVENUES— SOME NEW HOUSES THAT ARE GOING UP IX ‘THE CITY 4ND COUNTRY. — A new feature in the building business has been introduced by the organization of the Builders’ exchange. This is an association formed among those engaged in the building trades or in furnishing material. The exchange ‘was recently incorporated, and has leased the building 1421 G street. It is the intention to hold meetings about 12 o'clock each day. In fact the daily meetings are regarded as the main advantage of the exchange. The build- ers, the sub-contractors and the material men ‘Will all come together at a certain time. and if ® subcontractor wants to see « builder or a material man would like to know how the bricks or lumber are holding out at aty building the exchange will be the place to go. In other words the exchange rooms are to be made the center where men can meet those with whom they have business-conveniently and promptly. Heretofore there has been no headquarters of this kind in the city and in consequence about noon each day the builders and others have been in the habit of meeting on 15th street near the Metropolitan bank. One of the organ- izers of the exchange said to a Star reporter that if the exchange accomplished nothing else it would have the fect of reliev- ing the heavy traffic which blocks up 15th street and transfer a large number of the waiting vehicles to G street. The mem- bership of the exchange is at present about fifty and the organization hopes that all the representatives of the various building interests ‘come into te exchange. While at pres- ent the majority of the members are builders, nearly all the trades are represented, and it is said that the organization will probably benefit the subcontractors and material men more than the builders. The president. Mr. Charles A. Langley, and the secretary, Thos. J. King, in talking with a Stan reporter about the ex- change said that it had been charged that it was a combination to raise prices. They said that they wanted it understood that the ex- change would have nothing to do with fixing prices, ‘THE OBJECTS OF THE EXCHANGE. The organization was formed as a matter of convenience. Similar organizations existed in other cities and there was a national body. If an exchange was found to be useful in other cities they saw no reason why it would not be of advantage to the building interests in this city. The objects as set forth in the constitu- tion of the exchange are as follows: “The object of this exchange is to be a cor- rate body, under the charter of its organiza- jon, in order that it may be a body responsible to those with whom it may have business; and it also purposes to maintain suitable rooms for the daily meetings of its members; to establish @ general and good understanding on the part of its members; just and equitable principles in all business done within its limits; to acquire, preserve or disseminate useful business infor- ation; to arbitrate, adjudge and adjust all differences or misunderstandings between mem- bers; to enhance its membership and contribute in all reasonable and legitimate ways to the Buccess and prosperity of its members in busi- Bess matters. individually and collectively.” The exchange has the following standing committees appointed from the members of the board of directors: Plans and contracts, mem- bership, finance, legislation, rooms and rules. Acomplaint committee is also provided for to investigate grievances or charges of one mem- ber against another. A FINE COUNTRY RESIDENCE. A handsome country residence is being built for Mr. Thomas W. Buckey. It will be located at a picturesque bend on the Woodley Lane oad, just this side of the Middleton place, and at the western end of the Woodley Park. The design of the architect, Mr. W. Bruce Gray, re- coguizes the fine natural surroundings and the aceful lines of the high-gabled roof, and the roken contour of the house will harmonize with the irregular but effective contrasts of wooded heights and glens with which this reg- jon abounds. The rough but massive stone i found along Rock creek will in the construction of the portion of the house. Resting Upon this substantial foundation will be the shingled superstructure stained in soft colors, with its irregular but picturesque roof. A Massive rounded tower at one corner gives a character of stability to the entire building, while porches and balconies are introduced with good effect. The feature of the interior is a large ceatral hall opening out from the en- trance hall. Itcontainsa hong ago and astair- ease, and the latter is lighted by long windows the front of the house. The parlor and library open out from one side of the hall, while at the end is the entrance to the dining room. This house is one of a number that are now Deing built in the suburbs of the city which in- dicate a new departure in the style of country houses. The picturesque houses of A. Parker Mann and Prof. C. V. Riley on Washington Heights represent one phase of the new style, while the residence which Admiral Quacken- bush is building on Columbia road represents another. W. E. CURTIS’ RESIDENCE. The contract has been awarded to Mr. W. C. Morrison for the erection of a house at the northeast corner of Connecticut ave. and § st. for Mr. Wm. E. Curtis. The house will be of brick, with a cor:fer tower, and in the third story the over-hanging roof will form a bal- ony. One of the features of the house will be the balconies, the two fronts giving an op- Pportauity to the architect, Mr. James G. Hill, to introduce them with good effect. The house will be on the English basement plan, and the main entrance will be from Connecticut avenue. On the first floor there will be an Office, kitchen, servants’ room and furnace room. ‘The parlor floor will hi tral hall separating the parlor the house from the dining room and library in the rear. The central hall will be 16x28 feet and will contain a large brick fireplace, with a five-foot opening capable of receiving a good sized log of wood. The interior will be hand- somely finished. 4 CAPITOL HILL IMPROVEMENT. ‘Two handsome houses are being built by Dr. J. W. Bayne oa A street, between 4th and Sth streets southeast. The houses will be three stories in height with basements. Mr. T. F. Schneider, the architect, in designing the houses has introduced the various features which are of convenience to housekeepers. ‘The fronts are of press brick and the interiors are fitted up in wood in the natural finish, ‘T4E NEW ASSESSMENT. On Monday the board of assessors will cease toexist. They have finished their work, and ‘Whether satisfactory or not their estimates of the value property will be the basis of taxation for the next three years. During the greater of last month the assessors been sit- ing as a board of equalization. They have re- ceived the complaints of citizens who for any reason were dissatisfied with their assessment, and they bave approved or disapproved them, It is estimated that only about 1.800 complaints have been received. Perhaps this estimate may be a little out of the way, but it is nearly accu- Fate. As there are over 21,000 taxpayers in the District it might @ inferred from these figures that some 92 per cent of the taxpayers are sat- isfled with the work of the assessors. Such a conclusion, however, would hardly be correct, as large number of taxpayers with whom a Stax reporter talked say that while they con- side: assessment on their property too high yet they did not consider it excessive. For this reason they made no appeal from the esti- mats of the vaine placed’ by the asscesor upon their property. There were a mumber of cases where men could ne es worth the value; yet, as com with the valu- — Placed upon other are the valuation of District. I: is said 'y throughout the A Byer cne have an op- ity of knowing that there has been but instances when the values of land have beén reduced. The members of the board, while acknowledging the general advances in values, justify it on the ground that they were Sworn to assess the true value of property, and doabs that property in the Dis- vag g ge & 4 : THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR. THE CITY’S SHIPPING FACILITIES, Preparations for the Coming Triennial Conclave. WHAT HAS BEEN DONE BY THE VARIOUS LOCAL COMMITTEES FOR THE COMFORT AND ENTER- TAINMENT OF THE VISITING SIR KNIGHTS— ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE GREAT PARADE. In about two months this city will be the scene of a grand gathering of Knights Temp- lar, From all parts of the country and even from Canada they will come by the hundreds. It is estimated that some 20,000 Knights Temp- lar will make a pilgrimage to the capital city at that time. Already quarters have been se- cured for between sixteen and seventeen thou- sand knights. Many of them will be accom- panied by ladies, and naturally a large throng of visitors will come here to witness the parade and the events attendant upon the assemblage of such large bodies of men. The city will wear a gala appearance and the scenes of inaugura- tion time will be to a great extent repeated. THE IMPOSING PAGEANTRY OF THE PARADE which will be participated in by the com- manderies from all parts of the country, wear- ing the brilliant uniform of the Knights Tem- plar, will in itself be a spectacle that will sur- — anything of the kind ever witnessed here. ven the inaugural parade will suffer in com: parison, as the uniforms of the various bodies will afford finer spectacular effects, than the rather sober garb which now distinguishes the militia of the various states forming a large part of the procession which escorts the newly- made President from the capitol to the White House. It is not a matter of surprise, therefore, that preparations were begun over a year ago for the reception of this expected crowd of visitors ‘THE ENTIRE MANAGEMENT was placed under the direction of a committee composed of eleven members from each of the four commanderies of Knights Templar in this city. This committee proceeded to organize and arrange for the proper reception and en- tertainment of the members of the Grand en- campment and such commanderies and Sir Knights as may make a pilgrimage to this city on the 8th of October. The members of this committee are as follows: Washington commandery, No. 1—Wm. G. Moore, Warren H. Orcutt, John H. Olcott, Jos. Brummett, Zach. T. Carpenter, Harrison Ding- man, Jos. Gawler, Allison Nailor, jr., Henry K. Simpson, Geo. H. Walker, Jas. H. Wardle. Columbia commandery, No. 2—James E. Waugh. Robert Ball, Myron M. Parker, Abner T. Longley, Edward H, Chamberlin, Jose M. Yz thew Trimble, Emmett C. Elmore, George Gibson, George W. Pratt, John K. Rob- inson. Potomac commandery, No. 3—John H. Schultz, Geo. E. Corson, Daniel Johnson, Albert B. Jackson, Regin W. Darby, William C. Doores, William B. Easton, James T. Greaves, Jesse W. Lee, jr., Frank J. Tennyson, Edward Turken- ton. DeMolay Mounted, No. 4—James P. Pearson, Andrew W. Kelley, Martin R. Thorp. Thomas Somerville, Robert T. Heiston, Fred. G. Alex- ander, Henry F. Breuninger, Geo. W. Evans, en C. M. Leefiier, O. G. Staples, John L. Vogt. The committee organized by the selection of the following officers: Myron M. Parker, chairman; Geo. E. Corson, vice chairman; Thomas Somerville. treasurer; Harrison Ding- man, corresponding secretary; Warren H. Orcutt, recording secretary. IN A WORK OF THIS MAGNITUDE there are a vast number of details, and after a careful canvass of the entire subject it was de- cided to appoint a number of sub-committees, This was done, and it is found to have worked well. Mr. Parker, the chairman of the general committee, or terminal committee as it is called, because the grand encampment meets only once iu three years, told Sran reporter the other day that ‘the work of the various committe were well in hand and the chairmen were nearly ready to make their final reports, The reception committee, under the chair- manship of Col. Wm. G. Moore, provides for the reception of the visiting templa: Ina number of instances the commandries in this city will pay @ special honor of marching to the depot in a body and escorting the com- mandries to their hotels. The Washington commandery will escort the grand commandries of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, De Molay commandery will meet the Chasseur command- ery of Philadelphia, Potomac commandery will receive the grand commandery of Ohio, and Columbia commandery will receive the grand commandery of Illinois. All of the local com- mandries will receive and escort several othrr commandries in addition to those mentioned, and the members of the reception committee will see that a hospitable reception is given to all visitors upon their arrival in this cit: ‘Bhe finance committee, of which James E, Waugh is chairman. have the important duty to perform of raising the requisite fund, and with the generous aid of the citizens they ex- pect to be entirely successful. A one-fare rate over all railroads has been obtained for knights intending to visit Wash- ington next October. This is the feature of the work accomplished by the committee on transportation, of which Edward H. Chamber- lain is chairman. The committee are very much |r goo with the hearty co-operation of the railroad companies, and their reduction of fares, which enables the knights to come here and return at half the regular rates. The committee, of which Ailison Nailor, jr. is chairman, has had an important duty to pei form in securing accommodations in this ci for the visitors. They have not only provided for all who have asked for rooms and board, but they are prepared to perform asimilar ser- vice for any who yet apply. Every some commandery is located and yet the fac ities of the city in this direction are by no means exhausted. THE COMMITTEE ON EXCURSIONS, of which William B. Easton is chairman, has arranged for a number of delightful trips, which will make the visiting knights rejoice that they came to Washington and want to come again. Among the items in the program prepared by this committee are daily excur- sions down the river, and, of course, frequent trips to Mt. Vernon, excursions to Fortress Monroe, Luray, Fredericksburg, Richmond and Gettysburg. Arrangements will be made by the committee on levee, Geo. W. Evans, chairman. for a reception by the President,and several other pleasant social affairs. There are a number of other committees whose labors are arduous and whose work will contribute greatly to the success of the coming encampment. for instance, the committee on carriages, Ed Turkenton, chairman; the committee on music, Robert Ball, chairman; the committee on badges, James P. Peagson, chairman; the com- mittee on theaters, O. G. Staples, chairman, and the committee on printing, George Gibson, chairman. The committee on hall and decorations, of which John H. Olcott is chairman, has selected Masonic Temple as the place where the meet- ing of the grand encampment will be held and they will see that it is handsomely decorated, THE GENERAL COMMITTEE some months ago opened headquarters at the Atlantic building. They have four rooms on the third floor. Two of the rooms are used for the meetings of the various committees. Across the hall is the office of the corresponding sec- retary, Harrison Dingman. He answers the vast quantity of letters that come in from all eg of the country, and also receives the vis- ing brethren who are sent on here by the commanderies to select quarters, Mr. Ding- man has clerical assistance, or he would never t through half the work that is piled up on is desk. He has all the details reduced toa system and is ready with a pleasant smile anda hearty greeting for all visitors. People who want rooms aud people who have rooms to Tense all couse $0 ove Sar. Dingman. He keeps @ list of the accommodations offered as re- ported by the committee on hotels and by indi- viduals and sends out agents to inspect them, so that he is able to furnish complete informa- tion whether the inquiry comes by mail or by Person. Although nearly 17,000 knights have already been provided with rooms and board, yet Mr. Dingman receives each day aj acm tions from commanderies, and his list is by no means exhausted, One of the features of the headquarters is an immense ice-water cooler, which is kept supplied with ice by the Willis ice company free of charge, and ‘ing the hot we Mr. has been able to offer a nt to his visitors. Accidentally Shot Himself. Dr. H. 8. T. Harris, a young surgeon of the What They Are and What They Prom- ise to Be. “In the readable article in last Saturday's Stan about Washington's fruit supply,” said a well-known business man of this city to a re- Presentative of the Sran. “an error occurred which might lead to a misapprehension as to the freshness of melons, fruits, &c., brought to this market. Instead of being six or eight days enroute the time on melons is about forty- eight to sixty hours, and on fruits from as far as Charleston, 8.C., not more than thirty-six hours,” jothing connected with Washington’s busi- ness interests,” he continued, “has been so completely revolutionized as the shipping of fraits and vegetables to 9 this city: within the past few years, particularly within the pas' eight months, ‘rhere is what is called a ‘refrig- erator car company,’ which owns and rents these cars to the railroads. Very few roads own their own refrigerator cars. It would not pay, for they can be used in one rection but a lew months of the year at best. At one season they may be in the south, bringing fruits and vegetable to Washington and the eastern mar- kets; at another out in Ohio or Illinois, or in California, They are now mostly bringing small fruits and vegetables to this and other eastern markets from the south via the Pied- mont line, through Danville and Lynchburg.” ‘The first shipments of vegetables by this fast freight line was made this past spring and 650 car loads have been transported. At a meeting of the Charleston shippers and agents a few days since they said that the trade next year would amount to 2,000 car loads, which prom- ises to make such things much cheaper then than now, On one train load 6,000 pounds of ice is used, and, if necessary, the supply is re- plenished at Lynchburg. In this work only a few minutes are consumed, as the amount needed is telegraphed in advance and arrange- ments are made to dump the ice intoall the cars at the same time from above. Then the doorsare closed and the train moves off. A train load of vegetables leaving Charleston, 8.C.. at 8 p.m. ‘Thursday finds its way into Washington at 8 a, m, Saturday morning. Last year 750 car loads of watermelons were brought by the Richmond and Danville system to this place. This year shipments amounted to 1,600 car loads and will increase every year, Just now heavy shipments of pears, peaches, berries, cantaloupes, é&c., are startin v watermelon crop of the lower country has been about gathered. Every season adds new facilities to shipping facilities and the products of both the summer and winter season will annually become cheaper.” ———.— A Hint to Washington Undertakers. To the Editor of THE EVENING Star: live in Georgetown. By some people such residence is regard as the acme of earthly hap- piness and by others very much the reverse, On this question I occupy neutral ground. It has been my misfortune to have to atterd sev- eral funerals lately, and on each occasion in returning from the cemetery the driver of the carriage has refused to take me to my home in Georgetown. This refusal is accompanied by more or less rudeness, regardless of the fact that there are ladies in the carriage, When I have insisted that the driver should me take me home, or drive to the undertaker’s office for an explanation, he has generally, with much grumbling, walked his horses ail’ the way as a means of revenge. My brother has i been treated in the same way, one dri refusing to drive him home from a funeral at which he was one of the pall-bearers, These things occur at funerals where I know the un- dertaker has been given carte blanche to ar- range everything properly, regardless of cost. As you will readily see the’ annoyance is very great, especially when there are ladies present, and, as is generally the case, the driver is loudly abusive at your front door. ‘To report such outrages to the aflicted family is obviously out of the question. If the drivers are at fault the Georgetown people would 1 to know it, and if the undertaker or liveryman give any such instructions to their drivers we would like to know that als i future such decidedly unpleasant episodes. I inclose my card. F. 8. eae Bryant McCullen Exonerated. Prosecuting Attorney Armes in the Police Court to-day investigated the charge of false pretenses made against Mr. Bryant McCullen, president of alive stock insurance company. t was shown that the company was regularly incorporated and that Mr. Mellen had done nothing in violation of law. The case was therefore nolle prossed. The Late Mrs. Olmstead. The funeral services over the remains of Mrs. Katie H. Olmstead, the wife of Mr. J. F. Olm- stead, will be held at the Portland on Monday afternoon at 5 o'clock. Rev. Dr. Townsend, of the Church of the Incarnation, will officiate. The pallbearers will be Elias 8. Hutchinson, Jesse Hutchinson, C. A. Wall, Hallet Kilbourn, Col. D, C. Forney, Gen. N. L: Jeffries, and Sur- geon General Browne o The inter- ment will be at Oak Hill. ones EE The Catholic University. A marbie bust of St. Thomas Aquinas is to be presented by the English-speaking colony in Rome to the new Catholic university in this city. Prof, Luigi Guglicimi has undertaker to execute it in Carrara marble. A donation ot 2,000 books to the library of the university has been made by Bishop O’Farrel of Trenton. ee ae THE GERMAN EMPEROR. How He Will be Entertained During His Visit to England. ariably fhe navy. Emperor William was entertained at a fam- ily dinner in Osborne palace last evening. The weather remained beautiful throughout the day. The emperor has been appointed an honorary admiral of the British navy. At the conclusion of the naval displays at Spithead, the emperor will leave for Aldershot | to witness the military review, arriving there on Wednesday. He will return to Osborne in the evening to pay a farewell visit to the queen and will rejoin his fleet on the following day for his homeward voyage. ‘The emperor’s proposed visit to the Sultan occasions considerable uneasiness in St. Peters- burg, where the reports of immense war pre- parations on the part of Turkey have alread: Baa the effect of quickening Russian sensibili- ties. Unless some satisfactory explanation is given by Turkey of her warlike attitude, it is doubtful if Emperor William will care to as- sume the risk of offending the czar by visiting Constantinople at this time. At Osborne house the queen received Em- peror William on the terrace and kissed him on both cheeks. Cowes and Osbcrne house were illuminated this evening. Many thousand lights displayed aboard the vessels in the harbor, and the effect was splendid. The ‘North. German Gazette, commenting on Emperor's William’s visit to England, refers to Great Britain’s sympathy with a ruler who is indefatigable in the interest of peace, and says: “The Spithead review will show the two nations the magnitude of the forces at their disposal in the great task of civilization undertaken by Europe in the remotest quarters of the globe. England's sympathy with Em- peror William marks the close relations and the community of interests existing between the two nations.” ——_—ee_____ Colored Exodus from North Carolina. The committee appointed by the colored emi- gration convention which met at Raleigh, N.C last April to go to the west and southwest to e: amine the country and learn what arrangements can be made for the movement of a large body of colored people from North Carolina, expect toleave Raleigh for the southwest to-day. ‘the committee says that over 78,000 names of those who will move have been enrolled, and that these have agreed to be ready to start in‘forty- eight hours after notice has given them, provided the commission makes a favorable report. Itis said by the committee that the people in the southwestern states have held mevtings, composed of farmers, business men, and capitalists, who bave inted commit- tees to meet and confer wit lina commissioners, an ments as will direct the . ANALOSTAN ISLAND. What it Was Like Nearly a Hundred Years Ago. . ‘MR. MASON'S HOSPITABLE HOME ON THE ISLAXD— WHAT THE ISLAND CONTAINED—INTERESTING NOTES—SOMETHING ABOUT THE PEOPLE, BIEDS, TREES, AND FLOWERS OF THE ISLAND. ‘Those who have seen the Analostan Island of to-day, with its tennis" courts, base-ball dia- mond, race track and other kindred equip- ments—the outdoor athletic home of the Co- Jumbia athletic club—may probably never have read of the island as it was when the great American republic was young. There are fes- tivities upon the island in these days which are fully as gorgeous as any that preceded them by seventy or eighty years, but there isa charm in ancient history which will compel everybody to read what David B. Warden wrote of the place early in the present century. Mr. Warden was a man of considerable ability and an acute observer. He was the United States consul at Paris in 1810, and when he returned kee wrote much of the city of Washington on environs, Here are his notes about the island: ‘Annalostan Island, the seat of General Mason, is situated in the river Potomac, oppo- site Georgetown, and contains nearly seventy acres, A flat-boat, of rude construction, awk- wardly impelled by an oar, placed near each extremity, affords a safe conveyance between the island and the mainland, a distance of about two hundred yards. The profits of the ferry are rented by General Mason for the sum of $700ayenr. Before the erection of the Potomac bridge it yielded more than double this amount. On one side the island is now connected with the mainland by an artificial mound, or causeway, which was raised at the expense of the government for the purpose of stopping the current on this side of the island and thereby increasing the depth of water in the Georgetown channel. This current, in 1784, was considerably deepened by the passage of an immense quantity of ice that forced itself down after a sudden thaw, and carried with it large masses of the’ muddy bottom. The Georgetown channel has been but little deepened by the erection of this causeway. Mr. Custis proposed to open a Passage fer ‘vessels by means of flood-gates. ‘e observes that there were from 15 to 26 feet of water in the channel. Near the close of the year 1810 it was proposed to confine the cur- rent by one channel means and to remove the soft bottom by increasing the velocit; water. For this purpose the corpora’ Georgetown entered into a contract with the proprietor of this plan, engaging to pay the sum of $3,000 for its execution, with the guaran- tee of its duration for the space of two years. If, at the expiration of this time, there re- mained 15 feet depth of water from the Eastern Branch to Georgetown, they were to receive the additional sum of $2,000; otherwise, to ex- end from their own funds, for other necessary labours, a 6um not exceeding $3,000. OF MODERN FORMATION, “Annalostan Island is evidently of modern formation, In searching for water, a mass of trees was discovered at the depth of 15 feet. Gen, Mason instructed a workman (Bryan Duffy) to cut through them. After having re- moved several of large dimensions he threw aside his axe, swearing by —— that he now met huge ones with their tops upward. In other places water was found at the depth of 25 or 30 feet. The highest eminence, on which the house stands, is 50 feet above the level of the river. The common tide rises to the height of 3 feet. Ican never forget how delighted I was with my first visit to this island. g’he amiable ladies whom I had the pleasure to accompany left their carriage at Georgetown and we alked to the mansion house under a delicious shade, The blossoms of the cherry. apple, a peach trees, of the hawthorn and aromatic shrubs, filled the air with their fragrance, THE HOUSE, of a simple and neat form, is situated near that side of the island which commands a view of the Potomac, the President's house, Capitol and other buildings, The garden, the sides of which are washed by the waters of the river, is ornamented by a variety of trees and shrubs, and in the midst there is a lawn covered with a beautiful verdure, “In July, 1811, Mrs. M. gave a rural dance to the friends and acquaintances of her son at the eve of his departure for France. Though the weather had been excessively warm during the day there was a delicious breeze. The young eople danced on the lawn. Tea, coffee, cakes, resh and preserved fruits wére preseuted to the guests, who sat or walked about conversing, or silently admiring the dance under the shade of trees, illuminated by lamps which were half obscured by the light of the moon. ‘The summer house is shaded by oak and lin- den trees, the coolness and tranquillity of which invite to contemplation. The refreshing breezes of the Potomac and the gentle mur- muring of its waters against the rocks, the warbling of birds, and the mournful aspect of weeping wil.ows inapize @ thousand various sensations. What a delicious shade—— ***Ducere solicite jucunda oblivia vite,’ TEE VIEW FROM THIS SPOT is delightful. It embraces the picturesque banks of the Potomac, a portion of the city, and an expanse of water of which the bridge termi- nates the view. Numerous vessels ply back- wards and forwards to animate the scene. Di- recting the eye over a corner of the garden we perceive the sails only, as if by enchantment. gliding through the trees. A few feet below the summer house the rocks afford seats where those who are fond ef fishing may indulge in this amusement, From the portico on the op- posite side of the house, Georgetown, Calo- rama (the beautiful seat of Joel Barlow, Esq.), and the adjacent finely wooded hills ‘appear through a vista. To the left there is a pros- ect of the fields and_ woods on the opposite yanks of the river rer? part of the i romantic, Hawthorn and cedar hedges and an improved cultivation indicate taste and agri- cultural knowledge. ‘By means of a hydraulic machine water may be easily raised from the river and condueted by pipes to every part of the surface, TREES AND SHRUBS, “This island has a great variety of trees and shrubs, owing to the seeds brought by the stream from mountainous regions—different species of oak, walnut, mulberry, poplar, locust. ash, willow, the paw-paw and the spindle tree or burning bush. At the summer house there is a white walnut of about a foot in diamete perforated by a grapevine of three inches in cir- cumference, which been squeezed to death by the growth of the tree. Near the cansey there is a species of eglantine, thirty feet in length and three inches in diameter, which is supported by a neighboring friendly tree. The poison oak, or poison vine, grows here and en- twines itself among trees, but is easily distin- aished by the mossy appearance of its stem. fia joeeth ardaten "an irruption over the body which is usually accompanied with fever; and this disease is ry to renew itself yearly about the time of first attack, “The poison ash, or fringe tree, grows at the extremity of the island. near the causey. A foreign plant of this species was sent to General Mason as a curiosity, and it was recognized by a farmer, unacquainted with botany, to be the same as that which inhabits the American woods, The Virginia jessamine grows in all parts of the island, entwining itself among trees and bushes, It flowers in June; the tlowers, during sunshine, are infested with red ants, Several species of snag gr grow here. That with purple flowers, which biows in July, contains in its seed-cap” sules a kind of silk which, mixed with cotton, forms a very durable thread. The asclepias with orange flowers is here called pleuris aname derived from this malady. for whic is supposed to be a sovereign remedy. coction of the root is a Se sudorific and is employed by the blacks as a cure for all dis- a7 e crimson flowers of the American rose! or Judas-tree, appear early in tho spring and have a fine ‘atfect, ‘Bue aas- safras tree thrives well here; its leaves are the first which chan; their colour in the antumn. Mrs. M. informed me than an infusion of them affords a beverage of a ant aromatic taste, which might employed as a sulytitute for tea, CULTIVATING COTTOX. “General Mason cultivates for the use of his family a species of cotton of the colour of nan- keen, which is spun and woven with facility, and wears well without losing its natural hue, Great pains were taken im tugee sd hs a yet colour uniform, = shade of yellow, ee] fruitfal soil, containi and twenty etrical duces five hundred pounds of cotton. THE SOIL OF THE ISLAND. “The soil of General Mason’s island and of the neighboring tracts of land is good for cotton, but the summer is not long enough to bring the plant to maturity, and it is liable to be ow by frost before itis <a General Mason cultivates a of (zea-mays), the leaves of which, of a deep purple colour, are —— asadye. For this purpose they are gathered before the grain ripens, when the; contain the greatest quantity of sap. Wi mordaunts of alum and copperas wool is dyed of different shades of purple. The plant is vigorous and has a great number of grains. I had the honour a some of the seeds losephine, who sowed them with her own hand in the gardens of Mi maison, where they gave a luxuriant produce, RESORT OF REPTILES, “This island is the resort of various reptiles, We found the nest of the terrapin, or fresh- water tartle, in the garden, at the distance of about thirty feet from the water, containing nineteen eggs, laid close to each other and the interstices filled with earth. The greater ci cumference of the egg was four inches and a ; the lesser, three. The nest or hole was of an oval form and four inches in depth. The eggs of this species are deposited from the first of June tothe middle of July Before the turtle commences the formation of the hole for her eggs she urines on the spot, then scraper out a little earth, again urines, and thus con- tinues until the operation is finished. I saw another nest, from which the turtle was taken at a moment when she had placed herself in an almost erect position to deposit her eggs, whic! she always performs during the day, and, it is said, never returns to the spot. ‘The youn ones are hatched by the heat of the sun an are supposed to remain in the nest till «pring. Several persons whom I consulted on this su! ject assured me that they have turned them up with the plough at this season. The turtle, when shaken before she lays hereggs, makes a hollow hoise, as if she contained water. One in this state weighed six pounds, which, it ap- pears, is the common size. TERRAPIN SOUP. “The species known by the name of the ter- rapin is very shy and ceases to walk as soon as it sees a person approach near it. When endeavoring to escape it runs nearly as fast a duck, The blacks make soup and eat the eg; of this species, of which they are very fond. The snapping turtle is also seen in the waters of this river. some of which weigh from forty to fifty pounds and lay forty or fifty eggs. ‘General Mason some years ago caught one of a huge size, which he threw into his canoe, and it attacked him so furiously therein that he was obliged to leap into the water. The reptile followed and thus made its escape. Its bite is severe and dangerous, PAINTED TORTOISE. “Two species of fresh water tortoise inhabit the island—namely, the painted tortoise (emys picta or testudo picta), and the streaked tor- toise (emys virgulata), The sternum of the first, with ten compartments, is almost as long as the shell, truncated at the extremities and sol- idly united to the shell, of which the plates of the disk, thirtee: namber. are bordered with irregular yellow stripes. In its circumference there are twenty-five pieces, The anterior part is narrow and nearly of an equal breadth; the head is flattened, of a blackish colour, with yel- low spots. The anterior feet are half-palmated, and the hinder are wholly palmated. The tail appears considerably beyond the shell, The other species has been described by Bose un- der the name of emyde or fresh water turtl by Latreille, under that of the small striped turtle; and by Lacepede, under that of la bom- bie. The head of the painted turtle manifested symptoms of life two hours after decapitation. Three cherry stones were found in the stomach. It is said that small snails are its daily food. ‘This species is not eaten. THE MUSKRAT ’ inhabits the banks of this island. The surface being now cleared there is no place for ite habitation, which was formerly constructed of vegetable substances in the midst of the reeds of « marsh, and was generally five of six feet in height and as many in breadth. The family reposed in a dry and neat apartment above the surface of the water, into which they descended when attacked and retreated by a subterranean passage to a neighboring stream. If the amily were numerous there were three such passages; if otherwise, one or two only. A method of taking them, practiced by the sav- ages, was to discover and intercept this com- munication by means of knots of twisted grass. The animal then retarned to the water under its abode, where, forced to seek air, it showed = — and was struck dead with a stick or club. HOW MUSKRATS WERE KILLED. The muskrat abounds in the swamp adjoin- ing the Potomac bridge and is killed by the blacks in a curious manner. A square board, bearing @ considerable weight of stones or mud,is placed in an inclined position and is supported by three sticks in a particular man- ner, Parsnips are put underneath. of which the rats are very fond. While devouring them they necessarily move one of these sticks, by which the board suddenly falls and crushes them to death. The skin sells at 25 cents, DUCKS AND GEESE. “The deer, wild turkey, canvas-back duck and wild goose, which inabited this place about fifty years ago have, all disappeared. This species of duck, so delicious to the taste, was then sold for sixpence. The following method was for- merly employed to kill the wild goose: This bird, shy and cunning, feeds in the midst of a lain or open field and forms a regular the extremity of which is placed a cen’ to give warning in case of danger; which, if re- mote, is indicated by a certain position of the head, and if imminent by acertain ery. The sportsman, by means of a docile horse, which concealed him from the view. approached slowly, until he brought them within the reach 8 yan act of 1730 the shooting of deer was prohibited from the 1st of January to the Ist of August. The penalty was 400 pounds of tobacco, By other acts of 1728 any master, mistress, owner of a family or single taxable rson.was obliged to produce yearly to the Justice of the county three squirrel scalps or crows’ heads. The penalty in this case was three pounds of tobacco. A premium of two pounds was given for every scalp more than three. The reward for a wolf's head was 200 pounds. BIRDS OF MANY KINDS. “Annalostan Island abounds with birds of va- rious kinds, Thecatbird isalmost tame. When the nest is in danger it makes a loud noise and seems as if it would tear the face of the person who approaches it. We saw in the garden a tridge nest containing higeteen eggs. The umming bird frequents this place. When a it feigns death, like the opossum. and by this means escapes from the hand. We saw one thus escape from the pretty hand of Mrs | B——e. The mocking bird does not frequent this island, though it is seen on the adjacent borders of the river. Perhaps it has been ex- pelled by the crow blackbird, its natural enemy, which swarms in this place. It is a pity that so enchanting a spot is deprived of the notes of this inimitable songster.” Ar Bay Rivce.—Mr. Sam Fort's celebrated opera company will continue this week. Sun- Piccanninies, John and Sam, ive daily ex- Their ludicrous to its vexual | e2°, epecles of and ‘Some pods have FROM FREDERICK. News and Gossip of Town and Neigh- borhood. Correspondence of Tax Evexto Stan. Fueprarox, Mp., Ang. 2 The three colored companies broke camp to- day and left for their homes. The tents were soon taken down, the sheds removed and the field cleared. The inspection and review of the colored camp yesterday was an interesting event. The reviewing officers were Brigadier General Stewart Brown. Col. John 8. Saunders, inspector general, and Brigadier General Ed- ward C, McSherry of the governor's staff, who represented the chief executive. The men and officers of the camp were highly complimented upon the splendid condition in which every- thing was found. The experience of the colored troops in camp has profited them greatly in the amount of instruction received in military matters, and, withal, enjoyed them- selves to the fullest extent. The two troops of United States cavalry from Fort Meyer who have been camped at the fair groundshere for several days this week, en route to the encampment of the Pennsylvania | national guard at Mt. Gretna. left yesterday, | resuming their march by a devious. route in | order to,avoid fording'the waters of the swollen Monocacy. They camped last night at Bruce- | ville, are due to-night at Hanover, to-morrow | night at York, thence to Gettysburg and direct to Mt. Gretna, Deputy Grand Chief Templar G. W. Tyson dest night installed the follow! fi ri . financial secretary, David 8. Ri W. HL seer geod chaplain, O. E. MeClow; mar- shal, Frank Suman; depaty marshal, Lucy | Willard. The todge elected Mrs. W. ¢ merman, Miss Katie Kemp, Messrs. Jobn J. Bielfeld and Thomas P. Rice a committee to represent the lodge at the District lodge con- vention, Olney, Montgomery county, on Sat- urday, August 17. Col. Baughman continues to in the in- | dorsements of the democratic conventions of | be the various counties of the state for a second term as state controller. Harford county is the last one heard from. He has an eppo- | nent for the controllership in the person of Dr. D. E. Stone of Mt. Pleasant, this county, who was yesterday nominated for the position by the prohibition state convention in session at | Glyndon, Baltimore county. The pe le of Harper's Ferry have already | expen, fed $1,000 cleaning the streets of the town of the debris of the June flood. Mrs. Wm.Armstrong of Frederick, a remark- ably well-preserved lady, yesterday celebrated her ninety-fourth birthday. Friends were present from Baltimore, Washington and else- where. She is the mother of Mrs. Thomas Paramore, Miss Nannie Clements of Georgetown, D.C., is visiting ives in this Mrs. Dr. Whitehill of Unionville, this county, has sailed for P and will spend the summer in France, Switzerland and Germany. Miss Jennie Steir of Washington, is the guest of relatives at New Market, this county. Miss Blanche Butcher of this city is visiti relatives in Washington. Miss Katie Hopk: of Washington, who has been visiting Mrs. F. J. Nelson here. has re- turned home, Hon. L. E. McComas and wife have just left Brussels for Florence and are en- oring their foreign tour very much. Mra. and iss Cartwright of Washington are visiting Mrs. Nannie Claggett at Oakland, this county. MRS. MAYBRICK’S ORDEAL. Popular Sentiment Revolutionized in the Accused Woman’s Favor. Interest in the sensational murder trial, now going on in Liverpool, grows daily, and the newspapers here print many columns of the evidence, morning and evening. When Mrs. Maybrick was first arrested, and the damaging disclosure of her relations with Alfred Brierly made, popular feeling was against her. Little doubt was expressed in any quarter of her guilt and of her ultimate conviction on the charge of poisoning her husband. Sir Charles Russell's admirable preparation of her case has completely revolutionized pub- lic sentiment, and if his work produces upon the jury anything like the impression already made upon the public, Mrs. } JUDGE LYNCH: A Romance of the Comtorate Vineyards, hy Gronon I. Jmmor, suthor wood ” ete, ete. THE LOST DISPATCH. [A Story of the Late War.) Galesburg, Ils: Galesburg Printing and Publishing Co. THE PACE THAT KILLS. A Chronicia, _ SaLTUs, New York: Belford, Clarke 20. Geeta POWDERLY MAY RESIGN. May Not be Master Workman for Am other Term. ‘From the Baltimore American, Friday. It is very probable that General Master Work= man Terrence V. Powderly will resign at the | meeting of the gencral assombly of the Knights of Labor which will be held at Atlanta, Ga, im November. There are a good many reasons why he may resign. His official life has not been a bed of roses, but has been full of care and responsibility, He has become disgusted with the petty ambitions and jealousies of the workingmen. Then Mr. Powderly is not so sure of re-election and may think it better to resign now rather than wait. There is no doubt that there will be strong opposition to j his election for another term after the two Years expire. Several of his staunchest friends in Baltimore have so expr pemselves, and | one who has attended several sessions of the general assembly and been bis staunchest friend says hé opposes a re-election because Powderly is not always true to his best friends. Another | potent reason why Mr. Powderly may resign is that no longer will the order many in the order who thought that €1,500, which was originally paid, was enough. It is well known that when $5,000 was voted at Richmond two years ago there was strong Opposition to the increase, and if the debate on the increase could be published it is said it would be exceedingly interesting reading. Another reason why Mr. acandidate is because he may become @ candidate for Congress in the trict of Pennsylvania, popular, having been mayor of Scranton, He has a friend in Jobn E. Barrett. editor of the Scranton Jruth, who is said to want him torun. Then, again, the general niaster workman is a good writer, and he thinks he can make a good living as a journalist, He may go abroad as « corre- spondent of a New lork paper. It is said he once stated that the New York World offered him $5,000 a year to xo to Europe as a corre- spondent and specially to write up the labor situation and economics. Another reason vhy Mr. Powd: not be a candidate is that the assembles are full of men am- bitious to accept the position at £1,500 a But Mr. Powderly may be persuad ‘on to the position. He has many friends who Will stand by him in the coming couvention, — BALTIMORE CLUBS ALARMED. In Trouble on Account of Violations of the Gambling and Liquor Laws. Some consternation was caused among club men in Baltimore yesterday by the news that the governor of the state had, upon the request of the grand jury, directed the state's attorney to institute proceedings for the confiscation of the charters of a number of social clubs. The present grand jury in that city has beeu mak- ing things lively for the liquor people gener- ally, and the basis of the present proceedings is that the clubs permit violations of the liquor and gambling laws. The state's attor ginning the crusade by filing bills in th court for the annulment of the charters of the Merchants’ exchange club and the Ivanhoe club. The more influential clubs have not yet been named, but the grand jury, which is a strong anti-saloon body, is expected to follow up the present proceedings by making a shot for higher game. It will be easier for them to make outa against the clubs composed of the “Four Hundred” than the others, as the proceedings there are less guarded than in the smaller ones, Throughout all the counties in Maryland there has been a warfare waged against the clubs, In most of them the clubs have been wiped out of existence. Baltimore county i# conviction is out of the question. It is gene ally believed that she will be acquitted, or the worst that the jury will fail to agree. The medical testimony introduced by the crown is very weak and is far from supportin the theory of the prosecution. Drs, Humphr and Carter, who attended Maybrick in his last illness, upon whose testimony the prosecution relied’ very largely, flatly contradicted one another on the stand upon some material points, and upon their cross examination by Sir Charles Russell both became confused and showed themselves uncertain of their ground. Sir Wm. Ewart, member of parliament for the north division of Belfast, is dead. He was a conservative in politics. . The short time movement in the cotton mills at Manchester, Eng., has proved a failure, An official note says that Prince Bismarck’s reply tothe Swiss note of July 10 does not ex- clude the hope of an amicable settlement of the dispute between Switzerland and Ger- many. Great surprise was caused in Rome yester- day by the sudden prorogation of the Italian parliament. No reason for the prorogation is a but it is surmised to be preliminary to dissolution and a general election. ‘The royal grants bill passed the committee stage in the British house of commons last evening. All the amendments were rejected by large majorities. The bill will come up for a third reading on Monday, An estate for which the ear! of Cadogan has just given £175,000 was sold for £200,000, less the chureh patronage, in 1828, M. Le Herrisse, the Boulangist leader, and several other adherents of Gen, Boulanger have been summoned to appear in court in one of the few exceptions. The political clubs are also expecting the attention of the grand jury. The Will of a Johnstown Victim. Among those who perished in the Johns town, Pa., flood was Christian Kimpel and wife. The husband was an undertaker, and during his life he accumulated property—personal and real estate—to the amount of $17,600. When the man was found he had only $3,100 on his erson. The couple had no children, and Kimapel hed made ¢ will which bequeathed ab- solutely his personal estate to his wife, and it is this which has caused a lawsuit. Letters of administration had been granted in Cambria county to the re! ene tine Kimpel of Philadelphia a brother of the deceased. through an attorney of that city, has taken steps to have the letters of administra- tion revoked. His claim is that the estate never vested in Mrs. Kimpel, because there is no evidence that the husbaud died before the wife. But,on the other hand, it is contended that they both died at the svme time, and the presumption of the law being that the woman—regarded always as the weaker of the two—died first, the estate, of course, never vested in her at all, The point is a very fine one in lgw, and the outcome will be watched closety. a The Price of the “Angelus.” Mr, Sutton, on bebalf of the American art association, has paid to M. Proust 580,650 francs for Millet’s picture “The Angelus,” which was bough! Secretan sale, A Daring Robber’s 000 Haul. In Kansas City, Mo., yesterday afternoon @ well-dressed man, riding a large sorrel horse, connection with the stealing of the 8vidence given before the high court of the senate, England has annexed the Union and Phenix groups of islands in the Pacific ocean, After Emperor William had reached Osborne he was welcomed in person by the queen. sscarntiaale rere Anope. Heiresses to Many Thousands. ‘Two young women of Philadelphia who ‘have been in extremely moderate circumstances, have discovered that they are heiresses and that a fortune aggregating $400,000 awaits them in England. Their names are Miss Etta M. Scott of 2012 Naudain street and Mrs. Schuyler Conger of 1515 Camac street. They will e for England in a few days to establish their claim. They are the sole surviving heiresses and their good fortune will avail them much,as they are in very moderate circumstances at present. ————_+e.—______ Additional Changes in the Jesuit Order. From: the Baltimore Sun, To-day. Additional changes in the Jesuit order of Catholic clergy, as ordered by the Rev. Thos. Campbell, provincial of the order, are as fellows: The Rev. Wm. McTammany, lately of New York city; Rev. Mr. Quill of New York city; Mr. P. Casey of G, O'Connell of Walsh le to St. Peter's college, O'Reilly will go to St. Francis Xavier's col- lege, New York city; Mr. Hearn to Frederick; Mr. Hayes to Woodstork college. ‘The Rev’ | J h Zwinge, lately of Frederick; Rev. P. F. josep! Dealy of the Gesu, Phi . F in of Boston, dass, Hev. Timothy 0° Worcester, rode up to Altman’s jewelry store. He dis- mounted, letting the horse stand without hitching, and went into the store. He asked to look at some diamonds which had been shown him the day before. The tray was handed to him, when he grabbed a handful and made a dash for the door. He sprang for his horse, but the animal became frightened and dashed off down the street. The robber ran to the corner, where he jumped into a hack and drove rapidly away, pursued by the police, He has not been captured. The diamonds are esti- mated to be worth tone ~d Kilrain Will Not Go. A Hampton special to the Baltimore Ameri can says that Jake Kilrain is still there and im- tends to remain out of Maryland for some days, The arrest of John L. Sullivan has some- what taken the nerve out of him, and be pre- fers remaining there to going home, where a Missinsippi detective with « requisition on the governor could pick him up. Be- sides, Kilrain has been advised by his friends in Baltimore to wait untid Sullivan's case is de- cided before he goes to Mississippi—that is, if it. If it goes lemently with the then Jake's friends think he should li bie an