Water Works---Mobile and Girard and Opelika Railroads

City officers elected on the first Saturday in January:
J. L. Morton, Mayor
Aldermen, F. G. Wilkins, Wm. B. Robinson, Wm. Perry, A. I. Robison, O. Danforth, T. M. Hogan, F. Jepson, George Pitts, Wm. Daniel, Wm. Matheson, Wm. Brooks. Clerk, Calvin Stratton
Treasurer, J. L. Howell
Marshal, James M. Hughes
Deputy Marshal, A. M. Robinson

Council elected:
Edgar G. Dawson, City Attorney
Wm. M. Bosworth, Clerk of the Market
Jere Terry, Sexton
Dr. T. J. Brooks, City Physician
Ephraim C. Bandy, Bridge Keeper
Burnet Ingram, Hospital Keeper
Joel T. Scott, Magazine Keeper
E. Birdsong, J. C. Calhoun, J. S. Hill, J. S. Ivey and Lewis Livingston, Port Wardens
Willis Holstead, Wm. Y. Barden, Dr. T. Hoxey, J. K. Redd, J. M. Everett, W. G. Andrews, John Kyle, J. W. Frost, Wm. C. Cooper, Pat Adams, J. Seely and T. R. Herendine, Health Officers
E. Barnard, H. T. Hall, Wm. Gesner, R. R. Goetchius, George H. Peabody and Thos. W. Kelly, Fire Wardens
Thomas Ragland, City Printer.

Wiley Williams was on the 8th of January elected an Alderman of the 5th Ward.

An ordinance authorizing the issue of bonds to pay the city's subscription of $150,000 to the Girard Railroad, was finally passed on the 26th of January.

Judge Iverson having, in January, proposed to sell to the city the water-works then supplying water from the neighboring springs, a committee of Council made a report on the extent and condition of these works, from which we copy the following:

That the franchise or privilege granted by the Mayor and City Council of Columbus to the original proprietor, was for forty years, and made in 1844 it still has 32 years to run; that the proprietors have a deed of the present spring or fountain head from Col. Seaborn Jones, which has 25 years to run; that easement or parol licences have been obtained from the owners of the lands through which the pipes run; that there is a written license from Col. John Woolfolk, which is on record; that the distance from the spring, which is commonly known as Leonard's Spring, to Broad street in the city is about three miles; that there is a chain of pine logs of 3¼ inches caliber from the spring to Broad street, and lateral pipes of smaller dimensions in several other streets, making in all probably four miles. The first two miles, beginning at Leonard's Spring, is considered by your committee in good order; the balance of the pipes are in bad order and require repairing, but to what extent your committee has been unable to ascertain; that the water flows freely through the first two miles, but is obstructed in the latter, and that therefore the supply reaching the city is limited and greatly less than the spring could afford. The spring (according to measurement by B. V. Iverson) discharges at the rate of 150 gallons per minute, making over 200,000 gallons per day, a supply which, if conducted to the city, would be sufficient for a population ten times larger than the present. At the present there is not probably one-fourth of the supply discharged into the pipes at the spring, from the imperfect condition of the works; at, however, this outlay of $100, the whole of the water could be discharged into the pipes at the fountain head; that more than three-quarters of the water that enters the pipes is lost on its way to the city; that the number of hydrants heretofore supplied has varied from 40 to 90 per annum, as the supply warranted; at present the number in actual use is between 40 and 50. There is no doubt that if the supply of the water was constant and abundant, the number of hydrants would in a short time, probably within two years, reach 300 hydrants, at an average of $10 each, which would bring a revenue of $3,000 per annum. There is no doubt that Leonard's Spring, the present fountain head, is not only the best, but the only source in the vicinity of the city from which a supply of good spring water can be obtained.

The Committee proposed the construction of a reservoir about one mile from the city, at some point below Woolfolk's spring, into which the existing wooden pipes would conduct the water from the spring, and a chain of iron pipes from this reservoir into the city, say of 6 inch caliber. They estimated the cost as follows: Purchase from the proprietors, $3,000; reservoirs and conductors at Leonard's, $100; reservoir below Woolfolk's Spring, $75; cost of one mile of iron pipes from last reservoir, $6,000, making in all $9,175. They estimated that a sufficient quantity of water could be brought into the city and 300 hydrants be erected at an expense which would not exceed $10,000. They recommended the acceptance of Judge Iverson's proposition.

On motion of Alderman Williams, Council authorized the Mayor to employ a competent engineer to make a survey of the route and report. It also instructed a committee to ascertain at what price the fee simple title to the springs could be obtained. We do not find any report on these questions by the engineer, but a few weeks afterwards Judge Iverson asked for an extension of the privilege for supplying the city with water, and the City Attorney was instructed to draw up a contract to that effect. The committee reported that the fee simple title to the springs could be bought from Colonel Jones for $2,000. The report was laid on the table.

Charles T. Pollard, President of the Montgomery and West Point Railroad Company, in August, asked a modification of the restrictions imposed by the city in subscribing to the stock of the Opelika Branch. He asked the right of way across the river and over the North Commons to a designated depot lot. A committee of Council reported against any connection of the road with the Muscogee depot, and against granting a lot for a depot at the place asked, but proposed granting a lot on the North Common north of Oglethorpe and Jackson streets. The committee reported a contract to this effect on the 26th of August, which Council adopted. The Railroad Company was to pay for the lot or right of way by a certificate for 120 shares of stock in the road. Council subsequently reconsidered this action.

A question of much interest and controversy during the fall and winter of this year was a second subscription of $150,000 to the stock of the Girard Railroad (now called the Mobile & Girard Road.) The question had been submitted to a vote of the people, and decided in favor of the subscription; but its opponents in Council contended that the vote was so small that it could not be regarded as a certain expression of the popular will. They proposed to submit it again to the people at the regular city election in January. The supporters of the subscription insisted that the funds were needed at once to procure iron for about 22 miles of the road bed then about ready, commencing at Girard. A condition of the subscription was that it should be expended on that part of the road between Girard and Union Springs. The ordinance authorizing the subscription was finally adopted in November. The Mayor entered a protest, and many motions to delay or impose conditions were made in Council.

Incidents

The city assessors reported their valuation of the taxable property in the city $1,597,925.

The cars on the Muscogee Railroad were running this spring to Butler, and the Southwestern Railroad was completed from Macon to Reynolds within ten miles of Butler. This gap was filled up in May, and a continuous railroad communication opened to Savannah.

A great railroad jubilee, to celebrate the completion of the railroad line to Macon, was held in the city on the 20th of May. Among other interesting incidents, the Mayor produced some water from the Atlantic Ocean and mingled it with the water of the Chattahoochee, in typical union.

A fire on the night of the 19th of February consumed the old Theatre building on Crawford Street, the livery stable of Dudley & Martin, and the residence of Mrs. A. J. Hall. Messrs. Dudley and Martin lost most of their carriages, buggies, &c.; Mrs. Hall, all of her provisions and kitchen furniture; and other persons lost goods in the houses. The fire originated in the Theatre building, and was believed to have been the work of an incendiary.

The steamboat Retrieve struck a rock in the river, a short distance above the junction of the Flint and Chattahoochee, and sunk on the 18th of February. She was going down, and bad 1,000 or 1,200 bales of cotton, much of which was lost. A Negro man of Columbus was drowned.

A very severe storm swept over the city on the 8th of March, unroofing and otherwise damaging houses, prostrating chimneys, fences, &c. The damage done in the city was estimated at $50,000 or $100,000. No lives were lost. The new Methodist Church in Girard and the bridge across the creek were blown down, and the storm swept a considerable portion of the country with like effects.

William, eldest son of Judge Robt. B. Alexander, deceased, lost his life on the 5th of March, by an accidental punch or stroke with a small piece of wire in the hands of another boy with whom he was playing. The wire entered his fore head just above one eye, and penetrated to his brain.

There were very heavy rains about the middle of March, and the river rose to a great height. The train of cars on the Muscogee Railroad fell from a trestle which gave way, some eight or nine miles from the city, on the 18th, and Mr. Charles D. Schoomaker, the engineer, and a fireman named Gilmore were instantly killed. No passengers were hurt.

Charnot Newberry was killed by Lewis Jernigan, in a difficulty between them at the corner of Oglethorpe and Franklin streets, on the 27th of March. Pistols were used.

Joseph Updegraff was on the 17th of April, run through the body with a sword cane, by Britton McCullers, and died a few days afterwards.

On the 27th of May, the kitchen of F. G. Wilkins on Oglethorpe Street and the same night the dwelling of Mrs. Williams on Forsyth Street, were burned.

A woman named Fish fell or threw herself into the river on the 24th of May, and was drowned.

Council in September subscribed $10,000 to the stock of the Gas Company, payable in bonds. The bonds were made payable in 25 years, bearing 7 per cent, interest.

The receipts of cotton up to the 16th of May amounted to 55,893 bales. Prices, 7½ to 9¼c. in January, 7¼ to 9¼ in March, 9½ to 10⅛ in April, 8½ to 10 in May, 9 to 9½ in October, 8 to 9 in December.

The factories that had been compelled to suspend after the breaking of the dam in the spring, resumed work in June; also the Palace Mills.

The extensive building used by Messrs. J. & M. Barringer as a sash and blind factory and carpenter's shop, was burned on the 1st of July.

The first bale of new cotton was brought in on the 18th of August, by A. H. Rowell, of Russell County, Alabama, and sold at 11 cents.

The steamboat Franklin, on a trip from Columbus to Apalachicola, with 1,100 bales of cotton, took fire on the 27th of December, and was consumed, cargo and all.

Personal

Jordan L. Howell and John J. McKendree were in January elected Magistrates of the Upper District, and F. M. Brooks and John Quin of the Lower; James Lloyd, Wm. Nix, John Tilly and E. H. Calhoun, Bailiffs; Bethune, Weems, Ragland, Flewellen and McGuire, Justices of the Inferior Court; Noble, Tax Collector; Rees, Tax Receiver.

Messrs. Gettinger & Barschall, Arnold & Robinson, Patrick Duffie, Thos. S. Hays, Richard Robinson and Charles Bize had stalls in the market this year. Their aggregate rents amounted to $178.

R. C. Forsyth was appointed Postmaster this year.

Edward Birdsong was in June elected Clerk of the Superior Court, vice John Sturgis, deceased.

Robt. T. Simons and John Cleghorn were elected extra Deputy Marshals in February.

Thos. W. Scoonmaker was, on the 1st of March, sworn in as an Alderman in place of O. Danforth, resigned.

E. H. Musgrove was in March elected an Alderman in the place of Ald. Robinson, resigned.

John T. Ector and F. M. Gray were elected Aldermen in October, to fill vacancies.

James J. Slade was in June elected an Alderman, to succeed Ald. Wilkins, resigned.

Marriages

January 3, William W. Whipple and Mauria Fletcher
Jan. 5, William Rynehart and Mary A. E. Hinton
Jan. 6, John W. B. Mehaffey and Susan Copeland
Jan. 6, James M. Simmons and Letitia B. Marcrum
Jan. 6, Thos. Hudson and Eliza Vickers
Jan. 8, Richard H. Shirley and Mary Ann Smith
Jan. 19, Benjamin Wooton and Elizabeth Read
Jan. 22, John Younger and Margaret Thompson
Jan. 25, Benjamin S. Cummins and Mary T. Lokey
Jan. 27, Edward M. Weems and Teresa E. Sapp

February 6, Luther T. Vinson and Elizabeth C. Nix
Feb. 8, John T. Pruett and Susan R. Mealing
Feb. 10, James A. Caffey and Mary A. E. Lanier
Feb. 15, Allen Lambertson and Fannie Brown
Feb. 16, Thomas L. Morris and Martha E. Wilson
Feb. 16, Benjamin Beall and Henrietta S. Hodges
Feb. 17, Kinsey Davis and Harriet Piggot
Feb. 17, Charles E. Dexter and Clara M. Hodges
Feb. 20, William Hawes and Martha Smith
Feb. 24, Richard C. Taff and Nancy A. P. I. Hale

March 10, George T. Bray and Sarah Eady
March 10, Thomas J. Watt and Sarah J. Kimbrough
March 10, Enoch Bland and Lucy A. Jemison
March 27, Miles A. Hearn and Mary Corlee
March 27, Joseph P. Whittlesey and Rebecca J. Schley
March 27, Cornelius S. Whittlesey and Ann Maria Schley
March 31, Aaron Fussell and Elizabeth Wooton

April 6, Henry H. Sizemore and Cassa A. F. Goss
April 10, Jonathan A. B. Williams and America A. Frazier
April 14. Elijah Martin and Lucinda Champion
April 20, Joseph W. Morris and Elizabeth Jones
April 27, Isaac T. Robinson and Mary A. Meacham
April 28, David Gunn and Mary A. Nappier

May 5, William D. Miller and Isabella Browning
May 5, John I. Day and Nancy A. Brooks
May 8, Gideon Easterwood and Laney Owens
May 12, Charles A. Hansler and Scilla A. Roscoe
May 13, William D. Brooks and Sarah J. Scott
May 15, Sherard Statham and Abigail Pike
May 19, James M. C. Luker and Elizabeth Blackmon
May 29, Calvin A. Hearn and Epsy J. Hall
May 31, Robert Badkins and Judith Updergraff

June l6, James Lockhart and Amanda Parker;
June 22, Henry T. Hood and Elizabeth Averett;
June 30, Bryant Howell and Nancy A. Brooks.

July 5, Lovic P. Fann and Mary J. Haskin
July 7, William C. Rice and Sarah E. King
July 8, William McCandless and Sarah A. F. Nix
July 14, Thomas G. Pond and Mary C. Jones
July 17, James H. Jones and Susan Clark; 19
July 17, William D. Johnson and Anna L. Twitty
July 23, John Butts and Mary Kale
July 24, George W. Gunn and Amelia Milam

August 1, James R. Rodgers and Anna M. Hudson
August 2, John L. Truax and Ida Burnes
August 3, Daniel M. Patterson and Mary Fudge
August 4, Jas. Measels and Mary Monkus
August 4, William Davidson and Leah Colee
August 7, Thomas J. Stephens and Mary E. Sessions
August 7, James C. Hall and Sara Riley
August 11, Joshua G. Cobb and Matilda A. Phillips
August 14, Joseph G. Terry and Sarah A. Teat
August 16, Casper Lewis and Catharine Roland
August 16, Charles Field and Nancy Roland
August 18, Thomas J. Skinner and Louisiana Patrick
August 25, Thomas Jordan and Levinia C. Arnold
August 28, James Smith and Sarah Lipsey

September 2, William E. Brooks and Martha Allen
September 4, William F. Pike and Mary J. Mason
September 4, James W. Wilson and Susan Cook
September 8, Henry C. Vigal and Helen Wooldridge
September 14, Edmund Cartledge and Euphemia G. Thornton
September 20, Burrill Bartlett and Amanda M. Thomas
September 22, Walker Cartledge and Priscilla Cartledge
September 22, John S. Wellborn and Amanda S. Barron
September 27, James N. Smith and Elizabeth Lee
September 29, Robert Reid and Sarah Joins

October 2, William Phillips and Abey E. Sanders
October 9, Burrill Bartley and Eliza Bartley
October 13, Thomas J. Coleman and Mary A. E. Baker,
October 13, Lewis Robinson and Elafan Northington
October 15, David Culpepper, Jr. and Elizabeth Butler
October 16, Adam P. Jones and Sarah A. Weaver
October 18, Charles A. Goosuch and Parshamia L. Cook
October 24, William Holley and Elizabeth Kelly
October 25, James Bond and Sarah Silas
October 28, John W. Rutledge and Martha C. Roland

November 3, Jacob Heil and Frederika E. Sternberg
Nov. 6, Henry J. King and Mary E. McCook
Nov. 7, David Richey and Martha Lewis
Nov. 17, David Wynn and Susan Wooldridge
Nov. 20, William A. Bartlett and Rutha Hall
Nov. 20, William D. Adams and Rebecca E. Waddell
Nov. 24, William H. Glaze and Priscilla Jackson
Nov. 27, James A. Caswell and Mary A. Clark
Nov. 28, Robert B. Green and Susan Odom

December 1, Joshua J. Pate and Epsy Browning
Dec. 4, Robert C. Redding and Martha McLester
Dec. 8, Abner Howard and Sarah Glaze
Dec. 14, Absalom D. Wooldridge and Lucy A. Green
Dec. 14, Charles A. Redd and Eugenie A. Weems
Dec. 14, Robert C. Patterson and Hester A. T. Fincher
Dec. 15, William J. Coffield and Elizabeth Welch
Dec. 22, Benjamin W. Orr and Martha M. McBride
Dec. 22, John A. Frazer and Mary Tommy
Dec. 25, Israel F. Pickens and Mary Dunning
Dec. 25, Henry A. Scott and Virginia A. Lester
Dec. 27, Henry R. Toler and Martha J. Nicholson
Dec. 28, Aaron Cordery and Sophia Haynes
Dec. 29, John A. Jackson and Elizabeth A. Count

Deaths

(From The Sexton's Reports.)

January 1, Mary Rowe
Jan. 1, P. Hancock
Jan. 1, Mrs. Coker's child
Jan. 4, W. S. Marble
Jan. 9, Clara Wynn
Jan. 12, Thomas Spivey
Jan. 21, James Collins
Jan. 28, Holcomb's child
Jan. 28, Mrs. Barrand's child

February 3, G. Richard's child
Feb. 8, Julia A. Richardson
Feb. 9, D. G. Upchurch
Feb. 10, Clara Frey
Feb. 10, A. J. Hall
Feb. 13, T. Schley's child
Feb. 16, Thomas McKennel
Feb. 18, Thomas Kelly
Feb. 19, Gammon's child
Feb. 25, Mrs. Curry

March 8, William Alexander
March l6, N. P. Foster
March 19, C. Schoonmaker
March 19, N. Gilmore
March 22, G. Redd's child
March 28, C. L. Newbery
March 30, Mr. Dowd's child

[N. B., We presume that all of the dates given in the Sexton's lists are those of the interments of the bodies, not the date of death.]

(From The Newspapers.)

April 8, (in Albany, Ga.) Mrs. Barbara Day, of Columbus
April 22, Miss Sarah A. Burt
April 24, Mrs. Alice Ann McCardel
April 25, Warren, child of John G. Dolly

May 1, James Terrell, infant son of Charles E. McCardel
May 18, Mrs. Fannice B. Stoddard
May 18, Anne T., daughter of T. M. Hogan
May 22, John R. Sturgis, Clerk of the Superior Court
May 28, Chipley, son of J. D. Williford
May 29, Mrs. Frances Love

June 7, Patrick B., son of David J. Barber
June 12, Samuel Bass, son of Lewis Livingston
June 15, Thomas Daniel, son of R. G. Parkman

July 6, John J. Hickey
July 25, Jacob D. Hightower, of Greene county
July 31, John Caldwell

August 14, Sarah Virginia, daughter of R. H. Harris
August 25, Joseph J. Ballenger
August 27, John Neal, son of B. F. Griggs
August 28, Mrs. Elizabeth Broadnax
August __, John Ward

September 4, Julia Munro, daughter of Samuel Bonfoy
September 5, (in Montgomery, Ala.) John B., son of S. B. Harvell of Columbus
September 13, (in South Natick) Mrs. Lucretia M. Curtis, of Columbus
September 19, A. L. Bryan
September __, George S. Carey

October 6, Mrs. Sarah C. Griggs
October __, Alex. C. Hickey
October 27, Nicholas Ware, son of Dr. R. A. Ware

November 10, Major Thomas M. Nelson

December 24, Mrs. Ann J. Bingham.