There is great trouble at New York among the ladies because the United States Assessor is looking around among the dressmakers, and demanding a tax of six per cent. of the value of all dresses made, notwithstanding the materials have already paid heavy duties at the custom-house, if they have not been smuggled. It is also announced that if a lady has dresses or other garments manufactured at home during the year, the whole cost of which exceeds six hundred dollars, she must pay a tax of six per cent. upon all of her wardrobe above that amount. Here is more trouble.
A new legal question, growing out of the emancipation of the negroes, has been raised in South Carolina. It is whether debts incurred for slaves purchased before the proclamation took effect are now collectable. Many of the people of the Palmetto State are deeply interested in this matter, being still in arrear on old purchases from the Virginia slave dealers. The subject has been brought to the attention of the Legislature, which , it is expected, will make provision for partially discharging the creditors' claims.
The revenue derived by the Government at Macon, Georgia, from the duty of two cents per pound on cotton, for the six weeks proceeding the 1st of November, amounted to four hundred and fifty thousand dollars; and it is estimated that the duties derived from the same source at that place will reach more than half a million dollars additional during the months of November and December.
The City Council of Atlanta, Ga., has offered one thousand dollars reward for the apprehension of the murderer of James R. Crew, candidate for Mayor of that city.
Interesting to Richmond merchants — Proposal to build a railroad Throughout Virginia.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, held in Baltimore last Wednesday, the startling proposition was made to build a railroad from Harper's Ferry to connect with the Virginia and Tennessee railroad in the Upper Valley. President Garrett, in his report, says:‘ "In the new era that has opened, another subject of the greatest importance to the country, and especially to the people of Virginia and Maryland, has been presented. Many of the most distinguished citizens of Virginia have expressed their anxiety for the early construction of a line of railway leading from Harper's Ferry, through Winchester and Strasburg, to connect with the great Virginia and Tennessee road, in the southwestern part of the State, and thus open a direct and effective line of communication from Baltimore to New Orleans, presenting to the States of Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana an admirable, economical and direct line to the national capital and the great seat of commerce at the head of the Chesapeake. The Valley of Virginia — fertile, rich in mineral resources, with fine water power, with a most beautiful climate-- possesses a region of wonderful attractiveness and characteristics for great populations and extensive development. The entire region through Virginia, Tennessee and the connecting States percents the geatest advantages for emigration, and these advantages are sure to give absolute assurance of prosperity and wealth.
"During the existence of slavery in Virginia, a jealousy existed of any line leading to the free States, by which slave property became less safe. That obstacle having been removed, all jealousies appear also to have ceased, and I have been called upon by many of the most eminent and sagacious citizens of that great State, who urge that the attention of the people of Baltimore and the managers of the Baltimore and Ohio road should be directed to this subject. Their region has been desolated, their capital has been almost destroyed, and now they are most anxious that the enterprise and capital of this community shall be thrown to their aid in accomplishing objects which, whilst vastly benefitting them, will also yield a rich fruition in increasing fraternity and commercial prosperity. Such a link will accomplish much in the restoration of kindly feeling, and assure mutual interests and the best and greatest commercial advantages, and will aid in binding in iron bands those great commonwealths to the union of our fathers.
"A natural route, full of local and general advantages, is thus presented. It is true, that whilst a portion of traffic which now comes up the Ohio river, and is received by Western railways from the Southwest--thus passing over the whole three hundred and seventy-nine miles of the Baltimore and Ohio road, would, through a valley line, pass over but eighty miles of the main stem; yet, in view of the great objects to be achieved for those interests and in securing a direct communication to Washington, and adding vastly to the commercial strength and importance of Baltimore, I do not hesitate to commend to the most, earnest and favorable consideration of this community and to this board this interesting subject.
’ "The Baltimore and Ohio road has built up the region of Virginia through which it passes. It has aided largely in the construction of the Parkersburg road, which has cost more than seven millions of dollars; and whilst it has enormously increased business and prosperity upon that line and made millionaires of the owners of oil lands, of coal lands, and largely advanced the values of all properties in that region, that road has thus far failed directly in paying any interest upon the investment; yet in the future it is believed that remuneration can be secured, whilst the general commerce of Baltimore has been benefitted, and that region so specially improved. Like difficulties may embarrass the enterprise proposed, but its results in the future will justify every effort in its behalf."
Mr. Garrett quotes a long extract from Governor Peirpoint's message in this connection. Governor Peirpoint was for a long time the counsel of the Company, at Fairmont, and his aid is no doubt counted upon by the Company. We need not say that a railroad which thus promises to place the whole Valley of Virginia (and through it the entire Southwest) in close and constant communication with Baltimore and the North, will receive the support of the people of the region through which it is proposed to construct it, nor that its effect would be to divert from Richmond much of the trade and traffic which our people have for years been led to expect from Southwest Virginia and the Valley. It presents an interesting topic of consideration to our legislators. Of the ability of the Company to construct the road, our readers, who, we fear, have never paid much attention to this mammoth corporation, will be able to judge from the following statistics. President Garrett says:
‘ "The Baltimore and Ohio Company has increased its equipment to about three hundred locomotives and four thousand cars. Its capacity for business is now far beyond the ability of lines working in connection with it to dispose of the vast quantities of freight it brings to our city. At this time more than seventy-five trains daily of passengers and freight pass over the main stem of the Baltimore and Ohio road upon the Baltimore division. The power of the Company, by its large additions of double track, and increase of facilities and equipment, with its additional branches, will be constantly enlarged. The direct outlets for this vast accumulation of traffic must follow."
’ Think of that, reader. Three hundred locomotives, four thousand cars, seventy-five daily trains! And all this, besides the business done on that branch of the same read which extends from Washington to Baltimore.
But the scheme above alluded to is only one of many which this Company has on hand an in contemplation. They are building a railroad directly from the Point of Rocks to Washington city, forty-five miles in length; extending their branches everywhere that a lateral connection promises to prove profitable; providing for the transportation away from Baltimore of the immense quantities of freight which they carry to that city, and adopting any and every measure that they deem probably conducive to the welfare of the Company and of Baltimore.
Mr. Garrett was re-elected President.
