Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-07-23

gether supped sat the high deck Of the steaul-
er Baltimore, smoked Operas" and gazed with
admiration upon the cloud tinted of the broad
Potomac, they rolled from our paddle-wheels, az
ter the sun had fallen below the distant heights OF
Georgetown My companion was bound for his re-
sidence at Hillsboro some twelve miles North OF the
State University Of North Carolina
After sleeping soundly in the cars from Aquaia
Greek, we breakasted at Petersburg; came over the
povertylike soil of Virginia in that section of the
State, until reached the rich lands of the Roam
oke, in North Carolina, extending to Weldon. And
here, at Weldon, commences new route OF travel
At two o'clock P. NJ, after fine dinner at Moo
dys new and cleanly eating house, took the cars
of the Weldon and Raleigh Railroad; and after pass
ing through good oakland farming country. where
tar, pitch and turpentine though extremely valuable
to the world, not known reached the beauti-
fully embowered little city of Raleigh. the North
Carolina seat of government where the large granite
state house, with its collohade fronts, and almost
every private residence is overshadowed by groves OF
tall oaks in full summer green. The granite of which
the fine capitol is built was taken from quarry
about two miles from the town; and the capitol
stands in square of $50 to 200 yards in diameter,
and surrounded by an iron fence. The oaks of the
square are tall and spreading.
While speaking of the capitol of Raleigh, it may
be as well to state, for the information those who
do not know the fact, and for the honor of North
Carolina, that she the first State of the American
Union which had scuptured and paid for splen.
did Italian marble statue of Washington. 1t was
the work of the great sculptor Canova and cost
twenty thousand dollars. 1t was seated on an TIA
liam marble pedestal, clad in the Roman toga, and
holding tablet and scroll in the left hand and
pen in the other The marble of which the whole
work was composed white as snow. It was
destroyed in the conhagration of the old Capitol,
about twenty-five years ago. You may know all
this, but majority Of your readers do not; and
hence this historical synopsis
Prior to 'the date of this great work by Canova
Virginia had statue Of Washington the size Of life
! in he: Capitol at Richmond; and it faithful
and true likeness. if those who knew Washington
were judges but this statue neither sought
| a Frenchman, who chiseled it himself to the com.
menoration of American heroism under the Divine
4Egis, and his own characterization, the result will
be. A fac simile of this work of Houdon in plas-
ter, stands in the rotuuda of the Capitol at Wash
ngton City. But to my narration. After visit to
some business men at Raleigh, good supper at
Col. Yarbrough's hotel, and treat with piano
music and singing at the house of friend, / slept
soundly in No. II Yarbroughs on fine bed; and
left the next morning. at half past nine, the North
Carolina Central Railroad, for Charlotte, accompa-
MED bv my Young friend who left the at Hills
boro'; after which. Judge B.. of the Superior Court
who entered the cars at Hisboro (strictly burrow
among hills) became my companion and instructor,
as far as Charlotte.
While speaking of Raleigh, I ough to have stated
that it contains Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb;
and that an Asylum for Lunatics, about 700 feet
long, has been recently completed one of the oak
clad hills the border of the town, and is occu
pied by number of inmates. 1t presents quite an
imposing appearance viewed from the town. l be.
lieve it is State institution.
The country after leaving Raleigh, becomes more
and interesting; and the eyes of the traveller
are gratied by the alienation of good farms, well
cultivated tail oak woods, interspersed with 1uxu
RANT undergrowth fields of grain, ripe for the SICKLE
or covered by green corn and extensive open oak
woods handsome residences situated in large groves
of tall oaks; small streams and rivers and hill and
dale without termination; the soil being red and
brown, like that of most Southern hill countries,
even to Texas inclusive.
Much of the scenery near the Yadkin river re-
minds me Of the country from Plainfied in New
Jersey to the Delaware. bordering the New Jersey
Central Railroad; but Jersey has, nowhere such
elegant groves and woods of tall large, spreading
oaks. are to be bordering the North Carolina
Railroad and there is fact connected with this
road, which ought to recommend it. Aye, three
facts 1st. 1t has trussel work to give way, let
the cars fall through, burn up. I'd. The bridges
across the rivers are strong, and rest upon stone
pillars And Sd. 1t passes through o handsome,
billy and healthy country
The first river the rout is the little Emo so call.
ed by the Indians at Hillsboro; I'd. the Haw an
abbrevation of the aboriginal Saxapahaw; and not a
corrupton,a Tar is of Tau river or River of Health
in the original and Sd. the Yadkin The Emo is
about 80 yards wide; the Haw 100; and the Yadkn
some 200
The principal towns between Raleigh and Char.
lotte, are Hillsboro where large numbers of Young
men have been prepared for college, Greensborough,
where large numbers of females have been highly
educated in one of the best female colleges in this
or any other country; and Salisbury, a rich and
thriving place. At Charlotte spent two nights
and one day, and found it to contain many handsome
TWO story white residences, situated in groves Of
oaks, many of which (oaks) Judged to be at least
sixty feet in diameter from point to point of limbs
Mr.: Young, proprietor of the Mansion House. at
Charlotte, in which had fine room, called my at
tent'on to lump of gold ore weighing SO ounces
valued at 30 per cent. pure gold, which, the owner
stated. was picked up by one of his hands, on his
plantation, between Raleigh and Weldon. At seven.
teen dollars an ounce for pure gold this lump is
worth 1854 40 He stated also, that he had recently
sold fine diamond, from the same premises, for
$s5 A gentleman of Charlotte, who has a fine
collection of North Carolina minerals showed me
curious specimen of sheet stone about one.third of
an inch thick, which bends to the extent of several
degrees back and forth, which had not seen be-
fore, though it has been written Of He also showed
me enormous specimens of amethyst; some opal,
garnet diamond, most beautiful red oxide of lead
&c. all found in that region of North Carolina with
car0uncles and other precious stones.
Inc belt Of country, some go miles wide, between
the Yadkin and Catawba rivers is said to be one of
the garden regions Of the earth, a farming dis
trict independently Of its rich minerals Let travel
ers pass over the Weldon and Raleigh. and the NJ
T. Central on their way to the South, via Charlotte
and they will discover what few strangers know.
that the piney lowland the board does not
constitute the State Of North Carolina any more
than $ Naa-ncemond' county and it's sisters in
poverty .stricken Huckleberrydom constitute Viz.
ginia.. - s
From what I have said, 1t will be seen that from
Weldon to Wilmington, 1.-THE distance is 81 miles
e then. about one mile to the W and Manchester