The First Great fire--Council refuses to have fire Engines--Hard up for Cash
Sale of Water Lots--Stipulations for Cotton Factories

At the municipal election held on the first Saturday in January, there was a tie between John L. Lewis and Dr. W. S. Chipley, candidates for Mayor, and the following gentlemen were elected Aldermen:

1st Ward, Thomas Berry, Francis N. Ruse
2d, Thos. Morris, Edward Barnard
3d, N. L. Howard, S. G. Wells
4th, John Quin, Thomas Everett
5th, John D. Howell, Joseph L. Morton
6th, Joseph Sturgis, A. J. Abbott

At a special election held on the 15th of January, John L. Lewis was elected Mayor, by a majority of 30 votes over his opponent Dr. Chipley.

The following city officers were elected by the Council:

Michael N. Clarke, Clerk, salary $600
Nat. M. C. Robinson, Marshal, salary $1,000
James M. Hughes, Deputy Marshal, salary $600
John Bethune, Treasurer, salary $800
Richard Gray, Bridge-Keeper, salary $600
John J. B. Hoxey, City Physician, salary $200
Victor N. Townsley, Clerk of the Market, salary $250
Daniel G. Sauls, Sexton
John Magner, Hospital Keeper.

The City Guard, consisting of 12, was chosen, as follows:
James D. Wilkenson
Augustus A. Dill
Francis Madden
Benj. F. Coleman
John Sullivan
William H. Thompson
Simeon Guthrie
William R. Bradford
David J. Barber
William N. Jackson
Hugh McDonald
John G. Bunnell

Dr. Wm. S. Chipley was elected President of the Board of Health, and the following gentlemen chosen members of the Board: Dr. Anderson Hunt, Dr. A. I. Robison, Dr. Wm. K. Schley, Richard Sammis, Alex McDougald, Ephraim C. Bandy.

Port Wardens elected--Seymour R. Bonner, Jacob Barrow, Frederick Toby, R. N. R. Bardwell and H. T. Hall.

John M. Bethune was elected City Attorney.

The principal city taxes levied this year, in accordance with an act passed by the Legislature on the 10th of December, 1841, were the following: On all white males between 21 and 60 years, in commutation of patrol duty, $1; on all free persons of color between same ages, $6; on every $100 worth of town property, or stock in trade, or capital employed by brokers, exchange merchants, banks, insurance or trust companies, or due by note, or of any other property not otherwise taxed, 25cts.; lawyers, physicians, factors or brokers, $4.

The city and county authorities agreed, in February, upon a plan for improving the public square, by planting ornamental trees, &c., the city and county to share the expense equally.

In March, Willis S. Holstead was elected an alderman of the 2d ward, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of Edward Barnard.

Several citizens of the 4th ward petitioned council, in March, for the abatement of "a nuisance," viz: an iron foundry erected in that ward. This petition was referred to a committee of council, who reported against the abatement of the foundry as a nuisance.

On Tuesday night, March 15th, Columbus had a big fire. It originated in a frame building, west side of Broad street occupied by Rosseau & Choate, as a grocery and dry goods store. That was destroyed; Wm. Amos' two-story wooden building, occupied below by Mr. Abbott, as a grocery store, and Mr. Amos above; Peter Crichton's confectionary and bakery; Wells & Hudgin's dry goods and grocery store; Col. S. Jones' two-story brick building on the corner occupied by Estes & Illges, grocery, Moore & Hodges, and McGough & Crews, dry goods (this was blown up); Mr. Hargrave's brick building, occupied by Boswell & Billing, druggists (this was blown up); Mr. Hargrave's two-story brick building, occupied by Mulford & Adams, dry goods. The clothing store of Geo. C. Sherwood was also blown up. The market house and range below were saved by blowing up houses. Two small buildings and the residence of A. K. Ayer, on Front Street, were blown up. The fire was on the west side of Broad between Randolph and St. Clair streets. The city had not a single fire engine. The following losses are reported: Col. S. Jones' building, $7,000; Ayer's $2,000; Geo. Hargrave's (two houses), $8,000; Lock's $2,000; Crichton and Locks, $3,000 each; Geo. C. Sherwood, $2,000; Wells & Hudgins, and Rosseau & Choate, $10,000 each; McGough & Crews, and Mulford & Adams, $8,000 each; Moore & Hodges, $2,000; Estes & Illges, $5,000; Abbott, $5,000; Boswell & Billing $6,000. Total loss $100,000--little insurance. G. R. Hurlburt, Professor of music, was injured badly by an explosion, and died from the effects.

The origin of this fire was a mystery. Some persons entertained the suspicion that Messrs. Rosseau & Choate fired their own store for the purpose of obtaining the insurance, which was large. But a committee of Council, appointed to investigate the matter, made a report fully exculpating them, and stating facts which showed the suspicion to be unreasonable and unjust. The committee also reported that the house was undoubtedly set on fire intentionally, and Council offered a reward of $500 for the detection and apprehension of the incendiary. This fire also aroused the citizens to the necessity of better safeguards against such disasters, and caused a rigid investigation for the detection of merchants who were keeping more gunpowder in their stores than the city ordinance allowed. Several of them were reported as having violated the ordinance, and they were fined $50 each. Council ordered the powder taken from their stores to be sent to the magazine.

The committee appointed by Council to confer with the citizens on the subject of procuring fire engines, reported on the 15th of April. A majority of the committee, consisting of Messrs. Morton and Howell, reported against the purchase of fire engines at that time, insisting that it would require four engines at a cost of $8,000; that the city was so crowded with wooden buildings that the engines could not be worked with much efficiency; that there was not a sufficient supply of water; and that the city could not now afford the expense. Mr. Quin, the other member of the committee, reported in favor of purchasing the engines, in conjunction with the citizens, who, he said, would make private contributions. He took issue with the majority of the committee upon the points stated above, and contended that experience in other cities had fully established the efficiency of fire engines. The report of the majority of the committee was adopted by Council, by a vote of 6 to 3.

The office of City Physician having become vacant by the removal of Dr. Hoxey from the city, Dr. S. A. Billing was elected in his stead.

John Morgan, elected an Alderman of the 2d ward in place of Ald. Holstead removed from the ward, took his seat in May.

In June, in accordance with resolutions adopted by the citizens in public meeting, Council instructed a special committee to contract with some person for the construction of a dam or breakwater to arrest the encroachment of the river at the upper end of Broad Street, then represented to be increasing and alarming. At a subsequent meeting, Council adopted a plan submitted by Ald. Quin, which was for the Marshal, with the city hands and other help to be employed, to fill up the break made by the river, with pine bushes cut from the east commons, and weighted down with rock.

Funds in the city treasury being low and partly in uncurrent money, Council in October authorized the Mayor to negotiate a loan of $20,000, and to mortgage any property belonging to the city as security for its repayment.

At a called meeting on the 18th of November, Council resolved to offer for sale the remaining water lots belonging to the city, by opening books of subscription until the 1st of December, estimating the property at $20,000 and dividing the interest in shares of $20 each. At the same meeting Council agreed to sell to Dr. J. J. Boswell & Co., for the sum of $150, water lot No. 21, on condition that they put in successful operation thereon a cotton factory before the 1st of August 1844.

Subsequently Council agreed to exchange with Messrs. Howard and Echols, lot No. 1 for lot No. 4.

Incidents

Henry W. Arnett, a citizen of Harris County, was murdered in Columbus on the night of the 4th of January. _____ Green was afterwards hung for the murder.

There was a strong feeling in favor of Texas in her still unsettled relations with Mexico. In March the citizens of Columbus held a large meeting, of which the Mayor was chairman, at which strong resolutions favoring Texas were passed. Large subscriptions were obtained for Texas. B. F. Malone, D. P. Ellis and Dr. Chipley were of the committee of thirty-one to procure additional amounts. Santa Anna then ruled Mexico. Gen. Houston was President of Texas.

Thirty-eight men, styled "Coon Hunters," left Columbus for the Texas army, via Apalachicola. Major J. B. Hoxey commanded.

Jones & Moore's merchant mill, in the upper part of the city, during the spring had floated into the middle of the river. Mr. Bridges, with four men, succeeded in floating it ashore, where it was as good as ever.

We find a notice of the participation of two Columbus volunteer companies in a general muster on the 21st of June. They were the Muscogee Blues, Capt. Schley, and Columbus Guards.

The Sabbath schools of the city celebrated July 4th with speeches, &c. The Wynnton, Methodist Factory, Baptist, Girard and Presbyterian Sabbath schools are named. Revs. Drs. Baker and Goulding participated.

Gen. Mirabeau B. Lamar, ex-President of Texas, arrived in Columbus on the 12th, and took lodgings at the Oglethorpe House. He was tendered a public dinner.

The first bale of cotton was brought in by Mr. John Odom, of Russell county, on August 15th, and was sold in specie funds to Mr. LeGrand Wright for ten cents.

In September, John Hunter, L. J. Davies, Hall & Moses, D. & J. Kyle, Hill, Dawson & Co., Ruse & Barnard and L. B. Moody were appointed a Board of Trade to report a weekly exchange table. They reported, among other things, Columbus and Planters' & Mechanics' Banks "broke;" City Council's, 10, 20 and 25 per cent, discount; Insurance and Phenix Banks of Columbus, par; sight checks on New York, 2 per cent, premium.

The grand jury at the fall term, reported that Muscogee County owed a debt of $19,683.

Cotton in November 4 1/4 to 6c. in specie funds, and in December 3 1/4 to 6c.

The new and splendid steamer "Columbus," Capt. Allen, arrived in December.

The receipts of cotton from the 1st Sept. 1841 to the 7th May, 1842, (the latest statement we can find) were 40,424 bales.

Personal

At the county election on the 1st of January, John Mangham was elected Sheriff over M. Dancer; W. Y. Barden, Clerk the Superior Court, over Guerry; Nelson McLester, Clerk of Inferior Court, over A. G. Beckham; McNorton, Tax Receiver, over Lamar; Wilkes, Tax Collector, over Calhoun; [T. A. Brannon was elected Tax Collector in April, to fill a vacancy.] Coleman, Coroner, over Kenney.

W. D. Matthews was Presiding Elder of the Columbus Circuit, and James B. Payne stationed at Columbus.

The April grand jurors were: S. Boykin, J. B. Green, A. F. Brannon, A. G. Bass, R. A. Ware, W. H. Maynor, John Logan, B. A. Sorsby, R. H. Greene, E. Tarver, R. N. R. Bardwell, J. J. Boswell, J. J. McKendree, A. Hunt, Thomas Morris, H. S. Smith, H. King, R. A. Greene, T. H. Smith.

William Y. Barden was Clerk of Court.

S. W. Flournoy was announced as editor of the Enquirer in May.

The October election resulted in the choice of McDougald, Senator, over Flournoy; Baker, Guerry, Pool and Alexander, for the House, over Leonard, Green, Wynn and Jones, all the elect Democrats but Leonard.

The grand jury for the fall term was composed of A. H. Flewellen, John Woolfolk, Van Leonard, A. I. Robison, Sam'1 Koockogey, Jacob Fogle, Aaron Odom, A. L. Grant, Owen Thomas, M. W. Thweatt, Mansfield Torrance, J. R. Jones, W. E. Jones, S. C. Lindsey, M. D. Jones, Josiah Beall, Jas. McGuire, George C. Sherwood.

John L. Lewis was Solicitor, and M. J. Wellborn Judge of the Circuit.

It was announced on the 3d of October that the Enquirer had been bought by R. T. Marks and Thomas Ragland.

We find mention made, in their advertisements and other wise, of the following business men not heretofore noticed: