Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-23
Letter from Eauquier.

WARRENToN, VA, Aug. l6, lS5S.--The
evidence OF long drought every where meets
the eve throughout the line Of travel from
Richmond to this place. The corn shows
the want Of rain in the white tasscl and
parched and shriseled blade; the dried
stalks, too, plainly mark that point has
been reached when longer drought must
cause an almost total failure OF many fields.
| The crop in macy places will, under any
amount of future rain, be an exceedingly
! light one. From this place, West 10 the
! Blue Ridge, we are informed, the rains have
| been of much greater frequency, and the
crops Of cJrn present much more encourag'
| ing appearance. ,
Warrenton, situated near the centre OF
| Fauuaier county, is one Of the most Deautl-
| full OF Eirginia's inland towns; located upon
very high bills, it commands prospect Ut
surpassed in beauty CT landscape by any
place in the State. Being the terminus Of
| the branch OF stem of the Orange and Alex
andria Railroad, it commands very extern
siye trade with upper Fauquier and Kappa
hammock counties. Evidences of thrift and
moderate wealth are every where seen IN tue
style OF the private residences OF many OF
the citizens. Some of the residences IN and
around Ware ton, will compare most iaVor-
ably 10 style Of architecture, and beauty OF
, locality, with the best suburban or city resi-.
de0ceS around Richmond. y refined ana
elegant society, generous and true OH VIZ
GINA hospitality, mere welcomes the stranger
with that same cordiaIity that has made VIZ
ginia Kindness proverbial. The Warren
Green Hotel, empowered in beautiful shade
trees, reioices the burot up denizens of the
cities with its cooling shades AID mountain
hreezes. Many families from the cities here
find that comfort which is sought 10 vain ut
the crowded watering places. Inc Warreh-
ton House, kept by James Dcsheds, is Que
of the best hotels, out OF the cities, that eau
be found 10 the State.
Fauquier county suStains high raak
among lhe counties OF the State, 10 point oil
fertility of soil, beauty Of country, aud sa-
lubrifv of climate. Extending N length
from the summit Of the Blue Ridge 10 the
Stafford line, O distance Of fifty miles, 1t en-
braces grazing lands equal 20 any portion OF
the Western country.
Tue Kentucky blue grass pastures OF ny
per Fauqu:er fatten, annually, Thousands OF
Western cattle, which find sale in the ash
ington, Ba tmo-e, and Pniadelphia markets.
La the tall of the year thousands on thous-
auds OF Western cattle find sale III this coun-
ty, which, wint0reG on corn fodder. wheat
straw, aud little corn, are turned IN the
Spring, upon luxuriant clue grass fields, anu
are ready In the Summer and Fall Tor tue
market, vften bringing more than lUV per
cent profit to the owner. W heat has been
raised 10 immense quantities throughout this
county, until within the last lew years; but
the various insects that prey upon this pre-
carious crop has caused its failure tor scve-
raj years SJme Of the Intelligent AID cr-
terpriSiDg farmers Of this county are expert
nentIng this year With tobacco. The weed
Of luxury" was many years ago very eXtsL-
sivciy cultivated throughout tDis section oi
Virginia; but an ignorant system CT cnltiva-
ton IMPOVERISHED ine lands, un,! the growth
If tobacco became impossible. The rest CT
thirty years aud the grazing OF cattle, have
re-inygorated the exhausted SOIL ard lis now
carpet like tuff evii -uCes degree OF tertiH
ty surpassed By no portion oil the State --
Among the enterpris!ng experimenters VITA
tobacco we will mention Mr.. Robert l..
Scott, Mr. john Scott, Dr.. J. ID. Payne, aad
Mr. j. Scott Payne, from all OF whom We
hear very encouraging accounts OF the con-
dit,On of their tobacco fields. They are sat
isfed with the experiment and may hereai-
ter be classed among the planters OF the
State. With tobacco, wheat, corn, the nay
grasses and cattle, this county offers the
greatest inducements for farming invest
men,s of any portion Of tie State. 1t l.
well worthy of the attention OF the enter
prising merchants Of Richmond Here Is
new field for the Richmond merchants, now
occupied by Ntw York, Philadelphia, and
Baltimore: for Alexandria is the mere to;-
wardlng point 10 those larger cite. The
manufacturing facilities OF Richmond can
consume the products Of this part Of the
State, ard return to the farmer u tTger re-
mu,.cyaijOn than any mere shipping point
TIE wheat Of this county has never been
tested by RchmoLd's magnificent mills -
The merchants of this portion Of Virginia
are totally ignorant OF the capacity OF kcE-
moud to supply them With stocks OF goods.
The magnificent jjobbing houses Of Rlchmoud
are unknown 10 this part OF tbe State. his
most extensive and wealthy field, might be
occupied by the enterprise OF Richmond,
while its wealth is now poured into the laps
OF those who have robbed US Of our slaves
and traduced and slandered our State
| Heretofore this section has been cut of from
/ Richmond, but now a direct communication
Ell t..
The Orange ard Alexandria Railroad, b.
secting Fauquier, connects this tiue country
with Richmond through the Virginia Central
a, GordonsyiI!e; thus Warrenton is within
six hours OF r chmond, even BY the circuit.
Gus route OF GOrdorsvIl!e. An inspection
OF the map Of the State will show a periec:-
| ~ practicable and direct route between Sa-
lem in Upper Fauqnicr and R'cbmond.-
Leaving the Richmond, fredericksburg, ard
| Potomac X 4IlFvad at a point west Of the
| Rappahannock River, say Br0oks's S:ati1n,
an aim-st perfectly lesel country lies be-
tween that point aud the Warreuton june
ton on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.
Cuts and fills would be almost unknown on
the level route Of the proposed road. The
Gis;arce frcm BroCks's alton TO the War
rentOn junction, is about thirty lies
E:om the Warrenton Junction to arTenion,
a Railroad already completed, would con.
tinue toe proposed road; aud from Warren |
ten to Salem, distance Of ten miles, tie
road would find 10 impediwent worth No.
tice. The lower portion Of the Valley OF
Virginia is reached from Salem through the !
Manassas Gap Railroad; and thus, by the |
construction OF between forty aud City miles !
Of Railroad, the city Of Richmond would be |
in Immediate ard direct communicative |