Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1865-09-08
LETTER FROM LoUDoUN COUNTY.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette

t...- LETTER FRUM LUUUUUN CUUN14 l.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.]
LEEsBURG, Va, Sept. 4, lS65.-Ple lease
state that the farm sold by c. E. Fadeley, was
situated on the Eastern slope Of the Mou ntain
overlooking Leesburg, and was sold to God
frey Shellhorn, and that the estate of Charles
Williams was valued at $62, 500, and not at
s625, 900. No man who ever lived in Loudoun
county, died worth more than $4OO000 And
this leads me to speak of Loudoun lands,
people and facilities for reaching the outside
world Until 1882 the only means of getting
to and from Leesburg, the county seat, was
by the stage coach from Washington city to
Winchester. At that time Leesburg contained
] 800 people, and it has not varied 100 at any
decimal census since, and now every house IN
town is occupied but one. The Rev. Mr.
Cutler, (lately, and probably now OF Brooklyn,
n Y, is said to have made the remark that
&C. "Leesburg would be a very pleasant place It
it were hitched on to the rest of the world. "
This process was accomplished in 1860 when
the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire
Railroad was completed to this place; but the
traces were rudely broken at the beginning Of
the late war, and have not since been mended.
A daily stage with the Point of Rocks connects
us with Baltimore, and one to Edwards Ferry
connects us with Georgetown by the steamer on
the canal Please hasten up the railroad, tor
we long for more intimate connection with our
old neighbors of Alexandria, Our communl-
cations with market are not SO bad. On the
the North from Harper's Ferry to the Point OF
Rocks Us miles) the Baltimore 4 Ohio Rail
road and the Chesapeake {, Ohio Canal give
the farmers both the District of Columbia and
the Baltimore markets, and below the Point OF
Rocks the canal gives pretty good outlet to
all the rest of the county Bordering on the
Potomac for about 30 miles the land is very
productive, not only In whe eat and corn, but IN
the grasses, while the raising OF hogs is very
profitable The water is abundant and very
good, and there is a full supply OF timber,
But the Piedmont region, dotted over with
villages and having fine water, fertile land, ex-
cellent fruit in great variety, and healthtulness
unsurpassed any where 10 the world, Is the
best country to live in under the heav
ens The people are kind, hospitable and In
tellgent and we'll supplied with schools and
churches. Two turnpikes one through Lees
burg and the other through Aide and Middle
burg to Winchester, give additional facilities
for those who travel In their own conveyances,
as does the turnpike leading from Purcellvllle
to Berlin on the Potomac. A few movements
towards the sale of lands show that the people
are beginning to be aroused, and the only
draw back is the uncertainty which ''Circular
No. l" has thrown over some titles l have
heard Of one sale of farm on the west side
Of the Catoctin Mountain, containing l2O
acres, which has been smade for about SIS
per acre. 1t will pay at that, especially, when
the more active competition between Batl-
more, Georgetown and Alexandria shall take
place by the completion of the railroad The
names of the parties [ withhold at present as
they do pot wish to be known. Yours,
ALIQUIs