Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-06-12

hve hundred yards only, would be necessa-
ry. Except a small space, where the
road to Richwond crosses York Greek, the
town is inaccessible to the approach of
cannon deep ravines, formed by York
Greek. interposing its protection. Upon
the most elevated points between the town
and the margin of this raviue, batteries
may be erected. which would enable gar
rsson to defend the place against thrice
its force OF until the militia of the coun-
try could be embodied in such power, as
would compel AN invading army to raze
the seige. If this line of defence should be
deemed too extensive, the line of defence
may be considerably reduced. by commu
nicating the head of &" York Creek" with
the head of a deep valley at the lower ter
mination of York Town, by fosse or dry
ditch, the length of which would not ex-
coed two hundred and fifty or three hum
dred yards.-This line would form a curve
around the town, of one and an half or two
miles in extent. semicirclng the town of
York, from its upper boundary on York ri>
yer, to its lower boundary on the river.
Within this line, various eminences pre-
sent themselves, to invite the erection of
Notifications.
Materials for uilding-Within the Ii
mits of Yorktown, vast beds OF yellow
rock are found, which, whGn first dug up,
is sufficiently friable to admit of being saw
ed or hewn into blocks, but which, when
exposed to the atmosphere, aud particu-
larly to salt water, becomes hard and firm.
The walls of several buildings in the town
are built of this stone, and now SO firm, as
to be with difficulty and labour brok
This stone will answer we'll for buildings,
and for the walls of locks, &c. Timber
for house building, can be had in album
dance, and much good timber for naval
purposes /; the growth of the country is
chiefly pine, with much oak. The fertile
counties of Gloucester, Mathews, Eliza
beth City, and the shores of York river and
It's branches above, Will furnish large guam.
titles of valuable timber and plank; the
timber and naval stores which are now
carried to Norfolk and Washington from
the South, can, with more facility, expe-
Cition and less expense be transported to
York.
Workmen.-The county of Mathews, in
which more shipping is built, than in any
other county in the state, is distant only
twenty miles and will furnish workmen
equal in skill in naval architecture, and
cheaper, than can be had in Norfolk
or Washington; and / am informed,
that many, nay the majority of the ship
wrights who have worked in the yards at
Washington, and Gosport, were employed
from that county.
Cen1enf-Large quantities of shells, the
sxcurvi:s of oysters, and other fish, are to
be procured on the river but IN addition,
an inexhaustable body of concreted shells
is found, not more than a mile above the
town, and Immediately on the river, which
from experiment made some years ago,
was found to yield lime of first quality.
Nater.-The ravne in the rear of the
town furnishes abundance of good Who'll
some water. issuing in springs from rocks
of shell ard beds of she'll gravel (; within
the town are several wells, which when
opened, furnished en- ample supply of good
water and which may be placed III COM
pete repair with little labor 1t is known
TO many of the present inhabitants, that the
British army under CORVALLIS, full seven
thousand, with ali its attendants, when dri-
ven back to their inner lines OF defence,
and deprived of the use of the springs IN
the ravine, were adequately supplied from
the wells within the town.
Suhhfiss.-Large quantities of wheat,
grown OH the lands on York river, are an
nually shipped down this river, for Balti-
more, and other markets if a demand "a
TO -four, and doubtless would be, by the
mills on the branches of the river, and a
supply readily furnished the place. The
land on York river is fine corn soil large
sales of this grain are also made from this
river. as much of this grain, either whole,
or reduced to meal, as would be required,
would stop at YorkTown--The lands are
also fine graz Dg lands ; which with the fer
tile counties of & Gloucester and MATHEW VS. &
the extensive marshes on the river above,
and on its branches, will, it is confidently
believed, when a demand arises, satisfy
that demand, for beef, pork, mutton.-In
summer, there is no place within the Uni
ted States, that can be better supplied with
fish, have heard thirty different species
enumerated which are taken in York ri
yer. from the large Bonetta, of eighty &
an hundred weight, to the Perch of half a
pound.
Heaith-The town Of York stands on ell
cvated, airy, dry ground, of light SOIL
Its unduIating surface presents no stag
nant pools of " greenly mantling" W alter
no fens. or boys, or muddy creeks, are seen,
which upon the recess of the tide, exhale
foul and fe,id air, poisoning the source
OF life.--York Creek is often overlooked by
high tides, swe ping in their refux all We
sitable aud other depositions, which might
infect the air by their putridity. The salu-
brity of York is further attested by record
ed instances of the longevity of many Of its
inhabitants, and the number of children
raised there; which is believed to be lar
ger, in proportion to the number born and
ats adult population, than at any place
south of the Hudson. ] have known
s., ~ In