Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-12

Ice MouNTAIN.~-~A correspondent Of the Ma.
tional intelgencer, writing from Ronaney, Va,
furnishes the following account of the remarkable
natural curiosity existing in that region.
1t lies in the vicinity of the North river. tribu-
tary OF the Capon or Cacapon and is surrounded
with hills of some eight hundred feet in height.
while its own elevation is not over five hundred
1t is commonplace affair to the casual observer,
but, on being Inspected it is found to contain near
| Its submit kind OF natural ice-house built of
sandstone. 1t is subject to the rays ofthe sun from
nine o'clock in the morning until evening. and vet
the Oldest inhabitant ofthe country cannot remem-
Der the time when abundance of the purest crvs-
tai ice could not be obtained therefrom at all sea-,
SONS lnthe year. The ice is imbedded in the rock
and In some ofthe crevices snow, friabe and crys-
tane as when newly falen, is often found even
In the month of August. AS might be expected,
the waters flowing from the mountain are by sew
era degrees colder than those in the neighborhood
Accommodations OF ice similar to this have been
discovered In other sections of Hampshire coun-
ty, but none so extensive. To account for this
phenomenon upon scientific principles is out of
my power, but can see much pausibty in the
following remarks from the pen of C.. b. Hav-
den, Esq, as published in Silliman's Journal in
1S43:
"The solution, conceive, is to be found in the
CIl,lT
| their porous homogeneous texture, are extremely
poor conductors OF heat. One side of the noun
tam consists OF massive wall, many hundred
feet In thickness, and heaped up against this as
an abutment, is mass of rocks containing seye-
raj thousand cubic feet. AS the mountain has
general direction from notheast to southwest, the
talus heap containing the ice has northwest ex-
posure. The cavernous nature of this heap would
admit the free entrance of atmospheric waters,
| hIph Grri,C o<ou 4
interior of the mass. The ice thus situated would
be protected from external heat by the surrounding
rocks, as ice in refrigerator is isolated and pro-
tected from the externa temperature by the nom
conducting sides OF the refrigerator The ice noun
tain only requires for the explanation of its phe-
nomena the application of the familiar principle
upon which lis constructed the common refrigerator.
which Temporarily effects what the ice mountain
permanently does-a temperature independent of
external causes. This mountain is, in fact a huge
sandstone refrigerator, whose increased and unu-
sual effects. beyond those of the ordinary rerige-
rator, are due to the increased collection OF poor
conducting materials which form its sides"
| EXTRAORDINARY CAsE.-A case has lust come
to our knowledge which deserves notice. A
gentleman of Virginia wrote recently to an ac-
quaintance in this city, making inquiries in regard
to mercantile house with whom he had former
~ had dealings, and stating that the firm of which
ne was the surviving partner, was indebted to the
Philadelphia house fora bill of SIT due in the
spring of 1917, more than thirty-three years AGO.
that he regretted that it had not been paid was
anxious to pay it now, and hoped his friend would
be able to find ouths creditors or their legal repre-
sentatlyes. The gentleman soon found repre-
sentative of the firm and informed the Virginia
gentleman, who Immediately wrote to him. en-
closing check for the amount of the principal.
VT rs, and interest $l56 4O-in all 1924 Is.
The writer concluded with many expressions of
regret that the debt had been so long unpaid and
with his wishes Tor his correspondents sheath and
happiness in this life, and everlasting 10Y and fell
city in the life to come.'' We need not state that
the debt had for years been deemed worthless by
! the creditors. Bulletin.
OUTRAGE AT AcAPULco.-One of the firemen
of the steamer Tennessee, whilst she was living
at Acapulco had difficulty on shore, with native,
when one of the soldiers rushed Oh him, and after
stabbing him with his bayonet fred load into
his body, rendering death almost certain Lieut..
fotten, commander of the Tennessee, demanded
an explanation, but could get no further salisfac-
ton except that the soldier was not authorized to
flre Upon the arrival ofthe Tennessee at Pan
anna, Lieut. Totten made report of the case to
Capt Hudson, of the Vincennes, which ship
would proceed at once to Acapulco.
| We extract the following estimates from commu-
nication in the last Wytheville Republican on the sub
lect OF Wool-growing:
! agricultural writers estimate one acre of land as
sufficient to maintain head OF Sheep, summer and
wlner-bu calculate to three Sheep and WOOL
! growing ID the most profitable Agricultural empoy-
| ment, it land can be had at 81 per acre.
The average increase OF Lambs is always estimated
at eighty per cent Now for the account-nteres be-
| ing ten per cent. price ST. per head
loO Sheep interest OF purchase, $40 90
| Interest OF So acres OF land at 81, % 90
Gurihg nay on acres, 90
| Expense OF shearing, 3 90
| Loss by death over WOOL 90
Winter feeding, s 90
Salt, TAR and summer Keeping, 4 90
Interest on winter shelter, Q so
$5S 90
Or.
By 800 lbs. wool at IS cts, S75 90
BY so lambs at IS cts, 60 90
S135 90
Cost as above, So co
Balance, II co
yielding profit OF more than 76 cts per head. and
| nearly 80 per cent.
The Railroad will make mutton worth from three
to five cents per pound No region of the United States
is better suited to the growing ofwoo this section
OF Virginia. and yet there hundred sheep in
the county that ludcious wool grower would com