Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-06-05

its construction. IgtdouBt jfr there ii
throughout it's extent mile of level bed
Il Euns mp hill and down hill, always on 6
grade more or less steep, and generally
more, with curve and piece of trestle
ct the bottom of every graie. There is
no gravel abywhetei on tie Hoe, having
simply the common sofia clayey loan
for ballast, which when soft after rain
gives way uudseIR- SrainS likeEso much
mush. The company have little or no stock
of their own upon the road, but are run.
ming p similar motley collection to- that
upon the DanVille road, impressed by the
rebel authorities, ffbmf all parts Of the
south. The line is worked by It's proprie-
tor; Mr.. VIM. Dodamead; Of ,DRnyille, be
ing the superintendent. Mr.. Dodamesd
also represents the Richmond and Dan
vile company, whose line will be surren.
deEed BY :the.goYeFnpent into their haqdss han
from and after to. day. - - - n
This imperfect sketch of the condition
of these roads will apply, as I am inform
ed by southern railroad men, to. all the
roads in the southern country. They are
literally worn out and their stock used up,
and had the war continued longer would
have given ont completely within the next
six months. All'the sideroads and branch
es have been torn up to provide material
with which to keep the main lines ia pas
sable running order, and the point had
been reached where there were 90 further
resources OF this nature to depend upon.
THB CONDITION OF RA1bRoAD COMPANIES.
l chanced to meet last evening the su-
perintendent of the Portsmouth, Va, car
works, who has just come through from
Alabama, and fully confirms what have
written. He is acquainted with the va
'tious lines and the men who control them,
ana gives me very sorry picture of the
condition of things. The Companies have
have generally paid off their floating debts
and some of their bonds, but now they are
completely hopeless. They have cart
loads of rebel money, the collapse of which
was 30 sudden as to forbid their Convert
ing it; are nearly free from debt, but have
notia cent with which to purchase mater
tal and outfits withjwhich to resume bus.
mess. Undoubtedly they will soon be in
the New York markets seeking loans to
ret1t their roads. Thus much for railroads.
suARoITYo OF TooDgGz vT.-.
II was my misfortune to start out from
fetersourg as would start out from New
YORK on trip West. l forgot that eating
houses did not abound along the route,
and in consequence ofmy tbOughtlessuess,
came near starving to deathGi fAt Glover.
station on the Southside road, the cars
stop fifteen minutes, ostensibly for refresh
ments. Fortunately for me they were de.
taihed there two hours to await another
train, which gave me time to make the &C.
quaintRnce of "a telegraph OPERATOR who
politely came to the relief Of nv wants
with piece of pork and hard tack, else i
must have passed twenty four hours 10
hunger. mention the ,incidentas show
ing the destttutionof tho country. Southy
ern Virginia is thoroughly eaten out.
Hotels, tayerns; eating houses and saloons
are closed up becsuss bf the absence Of
the prime article of food. At DanvilIe
found an apology for q tavern, at which fer
i've dollars per day, iu advance, one can
sleep on the floor and eat corn dodgers.
rye coffee. without mill, !, being thrown in
Tor breakfast. Country people are bring
ing in a. few Strawberries and cherries.
which, however, go to the suffers, who
can supply them with something to take
back to their families. Ills sad condi..
tlon OF things when suffering for food actin.
ally exists 10 the midst of rich agricul
tprRl country. But 30 have the tender
mercies of JEFF. Davis left the people who
we're within his reach. Sherman's opera
ttons in South Carolina destroyed all COM
n9nlcanon with the far South, which to
this day has not been restored, cutting off
tne great sourcs OF supplies for the rebel
armlesI and, shutting both Lee and john
ston's armies into North Carolina and Yir-
glnla to eat ont the substance Of the people.
And, like the, loeusts of Egypt, they have
completed the work, leaving nothing nm
eaten. The whole population of North
Carolina and Southern Virginia .is to. day
dependent upon the charity, of the govern
ment and the fruit of the early season for
subsistence. The grain and the cattle
and thelsheep and the vegetables are alike
consumed. y u =
SCARCITY OF MONEY.
And to this sad picture of destitution
Is to be added the complete and entire
absence of money. Tie removal of restric.
tons upon trade does not promise the relief
that is needed; for of what avail are ware
houses filled With provisions when the
people have n6meahB with v WAi6h to pur-
chaser The stores but tempt the cupiditv
of the starving wretches! It is not INV
province to suggest the remedy for this
want and suffering. state the case as Il
is. But may not some Of the philanthropy
that is 90 freely bestowed upon the freed
negroes elsewhere find suitable field for
expenditure here2 These are not the peo-
pie who made the war and brought this
ruin upon the,country; they are the help
less victims of the war. -s55s-
THB APPROACHING HARVEST. ii
But there isza promise Of succor no I far
distant. Can any means be devised to
keep of starvation untilit comes. T. Within
six weeks the wheat harvest ia at hand. and
from that bread At least can be obtained "a
last Until the corn is availkbis, and thus
BY a. proper distribution the people may
subsist until the young calves and the
sucking pigs shall be ft for slaughter.
1MMEAsH DROPS OF WHEAT soW1.
Probably never. before In the history Of
this region of country was such e breadth
Of wheat sowh as last fall. The grad.
uslly diminishing quantity of stock, tht
embargo of the rebel aathorities on th,
/ lplautiuR of tobacco, and other eausea laF,