The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-11-18
Local Items

fore, to believe in it's ultimate success. We are
aware OF the fact that, there are persons to
BE- found who have predicted its failure, and
who have, perhaps enthusiastically, injured
the road in the estim alton of the unthinking,
by speaking OF it as a failure; aye we have
heard it predicted that it would "change
hands, or in other words, would have to be
sold to pay its debts; but those persons were
hardly informed OF the actual business now
being done, and the bright prospect for a
large increase which its friends have in the
future. There is an Increasing feeling, all
along the line 10 favor of the improvement;
az increasing confidence, which is rapidly
augmenting its popularity by adding to its
business. The farmers in all the various coun-
ties contiguous to the line, are becoming aware
Of its Importance to them by increasing their
facilities, and those OF them who heretofore
stood aloof are rapidly wheeling into ranks
as its stauhchest supporters. We have even
heard that some thirty or forty of them, re-
siding in the counties of Isle of Wight and
Nansemond are about to petition the Direc-
tors to build them Depot at Johnson's Cross
Roads, between Suffolk and Windsor, that
they may be enabled to facilitate the trans
mission of their produce to this market
This petition grows out of the fact, that they
have determined to go more extensively than
ever into the cultivation of grain, and are
md thav he
fore, in view of this end. Nor does this feel
ing con6ne itself to Isle of Wight and Nan
semond, it is prevalent along the whole line,
and next season there will be more produce
raised along this Improvement, than the
road can conveniently transport, without
largely increased facilities; deed this is the
case at present, and we speak knowingly
when we assert, that the road could find
business for forty more "fats'..if they had
them.
1t must be remembered that this road pas
SEES through one of the greatest timber coun-
tries in this section; the lumber along the
line is almost inexhaustible; and there is a
large Investment of capital and energy at
work all through the Dismal Swamp, all of
which is directed to the production of slaves
and lumber. We must bear in mind also that
this is one of the greatest stave markets in
the Union; and that we are large dealers in
lumber; and that there is constant demand
for these products here, as there is for the
corn or wheat which the farmer raises; and
then, we will remember that this trade,
which must come over this road lis not drt
of few weeks, but it ia destined for score
or more of years; or at least, until that por.
ton of the Dismal Swamp shall have been
cleared of its dense forests. There has also
been a gradual increase in the through
freights, which speaks as well for the good
management Of the roa {, las it is flattering to
its friends, nor does the past war; ant us ia
any other belief than lat this business will
continue to increase until it shall have grown
beyond the present capacity of the line.
That the city of Norfolk has done her duty
by this improvement there can be no kind
of doubt; she has done largely more, in pro.
portion, than the State, and we feel conf
dent that the next Legislature, after having
received an impartial statement of its condi-
ton and its prospects, will come to the res
cue and render such aid as may be necessary
to fully equip an Improvement on which
Norfolk has so literally expended her means.
Certainly, the members from the counties
along the line, will aid the exertions of our
own representatives in this matter; and we
feel no doubt of their success, since the
amount required is comparatively small, and
the members from other sections will hardly
Withhold pttance where the interests of the
State are so deeply interested.
Our deep interest in this improvement has
led us into a longer article than we at first
intended, and yet, we Fl nd we have not said
an W desired; and will take another ecea-
sion to express ourselves on this, the most
important of all our local interests.
The BRAuTY OF THE SKY.-lt is strange
thing how little in general people know
about The sky. 1t is the part of creation in
which Nature has done more for the sake of
pleasing man, more for the sole and evident
purpose of talking to him and teaching him
than in any other of her works, and it is
Just the part in viii ch we least attend to
her. There are not many of her other works
in which some more material or essentia
purpose than the mere pleasing OF man is not;
answered in every part of their organization
but every essential purpose of the sky might
as far as We know, be answered, il once in
three days, or thereabouts, great black
ugly rain cloud were broken up over the
blue, and everything we'll watered, and so
all left blue again un til the next time, with
perhaps, elm of morning and evening mist
for dew. But, instead of this, there is not