The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-08-02

NEw RIVER wHIrs SULPHUR. !
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loosnEspoSDsscE OF rHE RICHMOND DAILY pisrArcH.l
Hkw RIVER wHIrs suIpHua.
July Goth, 1858 I
Ny Dear Dispatch .---Reneving the assurances OF
my kindest soicitude for your welfare aud quiet.
ing your anxieties for my condition by inform
log you that AN In the best sprits, enjoying the
hest cheer, surrounded by the boldest and most
beautiful scenery. aad insigorated BY the purest
atmosphere and q temperature never uncomforta
bie undertake to make up another contributiop D
to your columns, the length of which hope you
will pardon, on the score of the interest of the
subject.
A few days since party Of gentlemen uuder took
"supernciai,' survey of New River, from this
place TO the Central Depot on the Virginia and
Tennessee Railroad The distance IL about twenty
two miles by river, aud about twelve by land. So
you see New River 10 almost as crooked as James
River; yet the curves in its current but graduate
the rapidty of its fall aud favor the expediency of
its ultimate adaptation to the purposes OF Haviga-
tiou. The party employed a canoe and two exDa
rienced boatmea and with a store Of provisions set
.sii with dag hying, at about o,cioek, A. ~, on
None Of the party had ever travelled far on the
waters Of the river, and they anticipated their trip
with the utmost interest All believed that were
the river made navigable for sseam or even for
batteaux, the most important results would fol-
low. The trade and the production Of the fertile
lands upon New River would be incaicuiably en-
hanced, and the general comfort aud convenience
Of the inhabitants materially promoted They
moreover anticipated, from the We've they had had
OF the stream at several points, the opportunity Of
beholding the graudest of river scenery. With
thess feelings they departed In the highest outku-
siasn. E.
There have been surveys of parts of New River
by Engineers; hut have not a report BY mo,
and am not certain that that portion between this
place and the Central Depot has ever been survey
| ed. Measurements ofits current have been taken
atthe Central Depot and at Peppers Ferry, few
miles below 10, which show that in comparison
| with James River it has decidedly the largest
| supply of water. The measurement at Peppers
Ferry proves that more water passes that place in
twelve months than flows by Cartersvile on james
River In the same time, aud the skilfu Engineer,
who measured the current at Central Depot de-
clares that three times much water passes thero
| IN twelve months as passes by LyDchburg in the
same time. These are important facts. But to
1 our yoysAe:
| The fijt day We travelled fifteen miles aud pass
ed the night the residence of Col DAVID BARNETT
| situated on the river, upon handsome emineDce.
| which overlooks it and affords commanding view
of the grand cliffs which rise the opposite shore.
| The Colonel, we regretted was not at home; but
| mis- kind lady did the honors of the house with au
amiability and grace which placed her tired guests
entirely at ease; and after a refreshing nights
rest and hearty breakfast, they resumed Their
journey, full OF praises of their kind hostess. and
| bestowing their best wishes upon the hospitabie
| dwelling ana its inmates.
The party reached the Central Depot littl,
| after IL ociock-thus making the journey, in g
| rather unsuitable plank skif, in about eleven
| hours, exclusive of stoppages. Returning, they
took their time, getting back to Col BARsErT's t
dinner. There they again recruited themselves
| by an excellent and elegantly prepared repast
| and their praise aud gratitude were extorted BY
the kindness of their hostess, Col. b. being still
| absent. Leaving this mansion, 80 long tc
| form o pleasant reminiscence in their mem
| afsl ttxo:~
| to the magnificent estate of Major KENT
| at the "horse-shoe'' of New River. In their down
| ward route they examined many beautiful farms
| and among them the extraordinary rich lands o
| Messrs JAS TAYLoa and GORDON CLoYD Maj. KEN,
was at home, and entertained his guests with
| cordial and profuse hospitality, in keeping will
the superb estate with which fortune has favored
| him. His own frank and generous manner. {se
like the old fashioned Eastera Virginiau) Wa
| adorned by the grace and gen:leness of those who
now preside over the affairs Of his household. fa
tigued as were his gscsss, toe luxurious repos,
| they enjoyed beneath his hsspitable roof, wal
| most opportune. They left after breakfast and
reached the New River Springs on Friday with
| out accidept-not even ducking-to any Of thu
| party. Providence indeed seemed to favor them
for the long drought which has continued here
and which was parching the luxuriaut grass Aed
| of the ''horse-shoe," was terminated immediatel,
after they reached the shore, by copious showers
They were welcomed on their return by shouts ant
the firing Of many gums, in which the entire ar
fUOIy c1 p1stplb, EeNOlNtEB, Ilues, ana snOt gum
of the place, was employed.
Returning for moment to the laudsIof New
| River, may say that we found them highly fer
tile. The low grounds, though not extensive, were
very rich; the second low grounds we're hardly lest
80, and the third terrace or bluff lands very
little inferior and often equal to the low grounds
| The "horse shoe" may be crossed at the point o
beginning in three miles, yet the river makes
beautiful curve of about ten miles from point IL
point. There are about 5000 acres Of the very rich
| eat land, included in the curve-embrncing q
| large body of low grounds and much of tht
| second and third terraces. A part of the last
| mentioned, which we trsversed, we considered
| fully as rich as the low grounds. This body o.
| rich earth is owned by Mr.. GORDON CLorD and BY
| Miss LIZZIE KENT, daughter of Major KENT. The
| Majors estate is opposite the '.horse.shoe" and
sweeps its entire front. 1t is hardly inferior IL
richness. The yield of his low grounds 10 incredi
BILE. One acre ouce yielded one hundred and Jffty
sir bushels and some quarts! This, however, il NO
the average yield, which will come very near ont
| hundred and fifty bushels The Major has 10 {
| body here eight thousand acres Of land. His pos
sessions run far back into the highlands, but the,
also are fertile, being fine grazing and grain lands
re1er thus to those lands, because it Is impor'
tant to note what sort of lands lie upor
New River, in view Of its improvement and navi
CATION.
And now, as to the river: have mentioned
the results OF the measurement of its stream
That Is an important point. There are many 'srif
ties, they are called here or lesser rapids an,
occasional alle. There are three of the latter 1,
tae twenty two miles. They are all occasioped b,
lodges OF rock tn at cross the river at different an
sles. Both below and above these iedges the ,va
ter is deep. Now, II gaps or sluices be cut i,
these lodges they will be permanent, as they cal
mover fill up. Where these lodges are in falls. Tia
opening of gaps in them will distribute the fal
over longer space, lessen its rapi1ity and deeper
its current by concentrating it, while this con
centration is o gusrantee against its filling up
let 1t be remembered that many of the Obstruc
sions now presented may be removed withou
blasting How difficult it may be to remove thos
which require blasting, cannot be decided unit
the drill is put 10; nor can il be known how mucl
OF this work will have to be done until the engi
neer applies his instruments to ascertain it b.
| measurement. After an earnest investigation
with their limited means, the party of the recen
expedition came to the conclusion that not onl
was the river navigable for batteaux AZ triflinl
| expense, but that with some greater outlay,
could be made navigah!e at all seasons for tha
| class OF steamers which ply on the western wa
| ters at their lowest stages, some of which ont
| draw ten inches The New River clearly has NOR
water at some periods Of simmer, than the Ohio.
The last Legislature passcda most liberal char
ter for the Improvement of the river below tn
Central Depot, aud enough stock hos been takel
by one entsrprising gentleman, from kaster'
Yrnn,d, to secureis. Heis man who will eithe
push the enterprise through, or be satisfied Of it
impracticability at this time. But he will no
fail. lie 10 bound to srcceed. He will donbtles
have the aid Of many wealthy gentlemen who ar
doeply interested, both because Of the enhance
ment OF the value Of their lands and the promo
slon Of their own convenience by the improve
ment.
/ am glad to learn, too, that company has bee
formed to improve the river above the Centra
Depot, with fair prospects. do hope the peopi
here will fully wake up 10 their own interest ans
improve this noble river, so that II will be 9
seme service TO them. II will stand - reproacl
to them If they do not.
The question is. why has not this river been pas
igated before. if il is 90 easily rendered sol Tn
answer 10 plain 1t is becauss IL flows Ia the Wron!
direction; North Hest instead Of North Eas. Lool
ct the Shenandoah, which ought not 70 be names
In the same day with itand yet It has been nayigs
Proyidestfai arrangement yet that this nobl'
stream takes the course 1t does. Its availability
delayed, but when II 10 brought into use it maj