A Year of Health--Faith in Railroads Weakening

This was not a year of remarkable events in the history of Columbus. Business appears to have been rather dull, but by no means stagnant. The expectations entertained of the success of the railroad connection with the North, in aid of which the city had so liberally done her part by subscription and the authorized issue of bonds to the amount of $750,000, grew faint almost to despondency as the year rolled on. The failure of a scheme of railroad connection with Florida, and of the banking institution connected with it, also had a depressing effect. But it was a year remark able for its health, and its freedom from violent personal collisions and local excitements, such as have been so often noticed in the preceding pages.

The city government of this year, elected on the first Saturday in January, was composed of the following gentlemen:

Mayor-Gen. D. McDougald.

Aldermen-
1st. Ward-J. C. Holland, C. L. Bass.
2d Ward-John E. Bacon, Neill McNair.
3d Ward-Jacob I. Moses, J. L. Lewis.
4th Ward-T. M. Sanders, J. W. Watson.
5th Ward-Lewis C. Allen, James Kirvin.
6th Ward-Jos. Sturgis, Martin Brooks.

At a meeting of the Board the following officers were elected:

Treasurer, John Bethune
Marshal, E. C. Bandy
Clerk, Calvin Stratton
Attorney, J. M. Guerry

At the county election on Monday the following officers were elected:

Tax Receiver-G. W. Short.
Collector-James Moss.
School Committee-John Bethune, W. S. Chipley, O. Eley, John Patterson, Joshua B. McCook.

The several wards of the City were designated by the names of streets bounding or running through them, as well as by numbers. They were known as Franklin, Randolph St. Clair, Thomas, Few and South Wards.

The Council re-ordained the salary of $1,000 for the Mayor, by fixing the salaries of all City officers the same as last year, except that of Treasurer, which was increased to $800.

The office of Deputy Marshal was re-established, with a salary of $800, and Wm. McGehee elected.

There were three papers published in Columbus this year, the Enquirer, Sentinel and Herald, and Georgia Argus. Council paid each of them $100 for publishing its proceedings.

Council made special contracts with citizens of Georgia and Alabama for crossing the Bridge, the charge for individuals ranging from $5 to $100. The Mail and Telegraph Line of Stages was required to pay $1000 for the privilege.

On the 14th of January a committee appointed to examine the city improvements reported in favor of the immediate filling up of the upper sewer, and stated facts going to show that it was a badly managed enterprise for the city. We copy from their report:

"The expense for the brick and the building of the sewer with the, same, without the labor performed by the City Council, cost not less than ten thousand dollars. The original contract for that sewer imposed upon the Council the obligation to excavate and fill up the ditch in which the bricks were laid. This part of our duty has been per formed only to a partial extent, as a large portion of the ditch is still unfilled and exposes the whole work to a total loss. We cannot, under such circumstances, hesitate to urge upon the Council the employment of such a number of hands as will enable the Marshal to have the sewer filled up without delay."

The committee also reported against a proposition to divide the commons into suitable lots and rent it out for agricultural purposes, on the ground that the commons was designed for the common benefit of all the people of the city, and its contribution to the beauty and health of the city and the convenience of its people would be impaired by converting it into corn fields.

The report and recommendations of the committee were adopted.

In accordance with authority conferred by Act of the Legislature, Council this year assumed the full patrol service within the limits of the City, enrolled for this duty all citizens liable to State patrol service, and elected John Bethune Regulator of the Patrol, with a salary of $250. He resigned in July, and Calvin Stratton was then elected.

The Sexton reported on the 4th of May, that there had been but one interment in the Cemetery during the month of April, and that one was a child.

At its meeting on the 11th of May, Council appointed a committee to call on the officers of the Chattahoochee Railroad and Banking Company and inquire what were the condition and prospects of the company.

John M. Bethune was elected, on the 31st of August, an Alderman from the 1st or Franklin Ward in the place of James C. Holland, resigned.

On the 23d of September, Council appropriated $1,000 to be expended in the improvement of the channel of the river at Woolfolk's Bar and Uchee Shoals.

Six fisheries on the Georgia side of the river were rented, on the 6th of September, for $973; and on the 26th of the same month, three on the Alabama side were rented for $147 all for the term of three years.

Alderman Allen, of ______ resigned on the 21st of September, and Michael McQuaid was elected in his stead.

On the 19th of October, a committee of Council, appointed at the request of citizens to report some mode of securing better protection against fire, reported that the city was "totally wanting in the means of resistance" in the event of fire, and that the best means of defense would be water works and two or more fire engines; but that the appropriation for the purpose would have to be larger than the City could make at that time, and therefore it was desirable that the citizens should act, either by private subscriptions or by obtaining from the Legislature authority to levy a special tax for the purpose. The committee also reported an ordinance providing for the establishment of a Board of Fire Wardens, to consist of the Mayor and Aldermen and one other member from each Ward, and prescribing their duties and other regulations to guard against fire. Council adopted this ordinance on the 2d of November.

The Sexton, at the last meeting in December, reported the number of interments during the year 44, of which 21 were children under ten years of age.

The military companies existing at this time were the Columbus Guards, Columbus Blues, and Muscogee Hussars.

The Columbus Lyceum was organized in March, Thos. Hoxey, President. Several very interesting lectures were delivered by members during the year, and it proved to be one of the most valuable societies the City ever had, by furnishing entertainment and instruction to the people.

Incidents

On the first Monday, in March, in Girard, Jonathan Edwards was killed by Franklin Word, in an affray.

Jacob Cunningham was arrested in January as the suspected incendiary who burnt the courthouse and clerk's office in October last, and Council loaned L. B. Harris $150 in consideration of his services in arresting Cunningham.

The Chattahoochee Bank was organized in April--George E. Clayton, President, Edward Carey, Treasurer.

On the first Monday in May three boys were drowned in the river while bathing. They were sons of George Reese, Mrs. Reese, and Mr. Norris; and later in the month a little son of Mr. Round was drowned in the falls.

Hamilton Duke, a citizen of Talbot County, was fatally stabbed on the 17th of June, in Girard, by Monroe Lynch.

The Fourth of July was celebrated by the reading of the Declaration by Capt. John Peabody, and an address by S. T. Chapman.

The first bale of new cotton was brought in on the 16th of August, by Dr. Thos. Hoxey, and sold to Terry & Moody for 12 cents.

The first steamboat arrival in the fall was that of the Osceola, on the 26th of November.

Harrison, eldest son of Wm. P. Yonge, was killed on the 18th December, by the falling of a piece of timber.

Personal

The following were teachers of the Female Academy: W. D. Cairns, Principal, Mrs. H. C. Tichnor, Miss M. J. Coolridge, A. Joerson.

At the October election in the county, the "State Rights" ticket was beaten for the first time. John L. Lewis was elected Senator, and Messrs. Watson, McDougald, Livingston, and Guerry, Representatives. But Columbus gave a majority for the "State Rights" ticket, which was composed of Hampton L. Smith for Senator, and Messrs. W. H. Mitchell, Wiley Williams, S. W. Flournoy, and H. C. Sapp, for Representatives.

Marriages

Jan. 6 - James E. Roper and Savannah G. Tilley,
Jan. 14 - Samuel Baker and Arcada Varnadore.
Jan. 20 - James Rankin and Agnes Affleck
Jan. 20 - Peter Crichton and Ann Grieves
Jan. 24 - Hiram Green and Elizabeth Greer.
Jan. 27 - Wm. Terry and Martha Jones
Jan. 31 - Alfred Meazles and Martha Height.
Jan. 31 - H. Y. Smith and Lucy A. Willingham.
Feb. 17 - Benj. Phillips and Lucretia Self.
Feb. 17 - Wm. Ragg and Harriet Harrill.
Feb. 28 - Geo. W. Douglass and Mallissa A. Riggers.
Feb. 28 - P. H. Brittain and Orra Williams.
March 3 - John Weaver and Francis A. Wilson.
March 6 - T. V. Rutherford and Frances E. Mitchell.
March 27 - F. M. Myers and Caroline Kirvin.
April 18 - Chas. D. Bize and C. Faulkenbury.
April 23 - Peter W. G. Kent and Nancy A. Owens.
May 2 - Hardy Benton and Mary Hamnerr.
May 12 - James Orrington and Nancy Thomas.
May 15 - John Thornton and Mary A. Ellis.
May 16 - John Cozier and Emily Huff
May 30 - Thomas Bush and Epsy A. Watkins.
May 30 - John L. Ridgeway and Martha A. Kimbrough.
June 6 - E. Morrell and Mary Dishroom.
June 6 - Levi Coleman and Margaret Brooks.
June 7 - James Glenn and Emily Skelton.
June 13 - Thos. L. Kilpatrick and E. L. Brunson.
June 15 - James Foran and Margaret Brady.
June 16 - B. L. Hargrove and Cretia Womble.
June 18 - Thos. D. Hays and Louisa Weaver.
June 20 - Nathan Height and Eliza Horton.
June 24 - A. L. McDaniel and Nancy Harrison.
June 27 - Phineas L. Martin and Sarah D. Studstill.
June 30 - David Ridgeway of New Orleans, and Martha Kimbrough.
July 3 - J. J. Langham and Martha Hollinan.
July 4 - David J. Barber and Mary L. Bostick.
July 9 - Wm. Boren and Louisa Haws.
July 20 - Henry Roberts and Margaret Smith.
July 23 - Elbert B. Ramsey and Sarah A. Davis.
July 23 - Agnes J. Brown and Martha S. Wood
July 31 - E. Rowland and Eliza Harrison.
Aug. 1 - Cornelius Flowers and E. Sizemore.
Aug. 6 - J. H. Andrews and Elizabeth J. Ashly.
Aug. 8 - James Nilson and Mary A. Simms.
Aug. 11 - J. J. Parnell and E. K. Moorfield.
Aug. 21 - Andrew J. Spiller and C. Baker.
Aug. 27 - Horace Hearu and Martha Williams.
Aug. 28 - O. L. Olmstead and Mary J. Fuller.
Aug. 29 - Joseph K. Smith, of Columbus, and Margaret H. Jacobs. In Rahway, N. J.,
Aug. 29 - Benj. Walker and Mary J. Howard
Sept. 5 - Julius-B. Clapp and Eleanor H. Howard
Sept. 5 - Benoni Rhodes and Susan Hyatt.
Sept. 7 - John Massey and Georgia A. Russell.
Sept. 8 - Elisha Reid and Elmira A. Owens.
Sept. 11 - E. E. Goetchius and Mary A. Bennett.
Sept. 18 - Henry L. Braining and Mary Howard, daughter of Col. Seaborn Jones.
Sept. 25 - John A. Huff and E. H. Stallings.
Sept. 27 - David Moore and Mary A. J. Ferryman.
Sept. 30 - Wm. Roberts and Nancy Dillard.
Oct. 1 - Robert Motley and S. J. Spears.
Oct. 3 - Lewis M. Durr and Eliza W. Ragland.
Oct. 15 - John L. Walton and Adelia L. Tharp.
Oct. 20 - William Snow and Mary E. Mahone.
Oct. 21 - W. D. Fontaine and Nancy Bates.
Oct. 22 - Frank E, Baker and E. A. Chapman.
Oct. 25 - Hezekiah Williams and Sarah C. Seins.
Oct. 31 - Wm. Myhand and Elizabeth Culver.
Nov. 3 - Aquilla Cobb and Sarah Bagley.
Nov. 14 - Absalom Lochla and Sarah Williams,
Nov. 14 - Alex. Calhoun and Mary Hobbs.
Nov. 18 - S. T. Scott and Elizabeth Harrell.
Nov. 21 - Wm. A. Douglass and Harriet Tarver.
Nov. 25 - Isaac Williams and Martha A. Godwin.
Nov. 27 - Elliott II. Muse and Adeline S. Howard.
Nov. 29 - Simeon Mote and Rebecca Roberts.
Dec. 2 - Stannon D. Pitts and Adaline Brown.
Dec. 4 - Wm. Thompson and Elizabeth Hearn.
Dec. 8 - Ephraim Brown and Susannah Cobb.
Dec. 10 - Jesse J. Kimbrough and Frances A. Watt.
Dec. 12 - Jeremiah Terry and Sarah Ann Frederick.
Dec. 26 - James H. Reed and Elizabeth Gordy.
Dec. 29 - R. E. Snowdon and Rebecca J. Smith.
Dec. 31 - Stephen Shaw and S. A. Hammond.

Deaths

May 28�In Girard, Malcom Cameron, a native of Virginia.
June 21 - Hon. Augustine Clayton, a distinguished lawyer, who had represented the State in Congress and filled other high public positions.
Aug. 21 - Mrs. Elizabeth J. Jones.
Sept. - Miss Sarah Amanda Benning.