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

DepIorabEe Impoverishuaent otrthe countyv-
Uncertain PrOspsetS of The Coming Har-
-Used Up Condition oft1s Railroad
Lines and COmpanies-7Ae Negro's idea
cfhis Nct0 Born Liberties.
GREENSBORO, n. O., May 2l, 1866.
CSC TOUR THROUGH TIE SOUTH.
Travel through the South at the present
time has few attractions and many annoy!
ances and diecOmforts; but such are the
common attendants of those who would.
seek for Information. IA weeks travel has
brought me from Richmond Va, to this
place, and furnished me Opportunities of
noting somewhat the condition in which
the war has left the country and people in
Southern Virginia and Western North Car,
olina. 7''1
THH APPEARANCE CT THR SOUTHERN CoUN-
TRY AFTER WAR.
War is a pastime that it is safe to pre-.
sumo the South will not very soon be In.
cIined to renew. Fighting through four
long years for their rights has brought,
them, If not exactly the coveted boom, at
least desolRtion, misery and ruin. !.
TIE RA1LRoADs.
The first, because the most prominent
feature that strikes the attention ofsther
Southern tourist, aside from the numerous
battle fields along the wsy, is the almost
complete destruction OF the railroads and
their rolling stock. The road beds are
thoroughly out Of repair, rendering, speed
upon them wholly out of the question, and
safety by no means a surety. In theipur.t
suit of Lee from Petersburg, General Grant
caused the Sodthsi1e Railroad to be fitted
up as his lima of communication. Because
OF the absence of locomotives and cars fit.
ted to the gauge of the road, it was mar.
rowed to the gauge of the famous impro-
Vised military road running from City
Point to the army, and the stock of that
road put upon it. This work was accom-
Plished, and the road ppt!in fine running
| order as far Rs Burkesville Junction, under
/ the spperintendence ofsMr. G. n. sHuutinR-
ton, of the United States military rail!
roads, formerly in charge of the City Point
and army line. The work was pushed
forward with! great energy, and when
completed formed the bebt piece of rail-
road in the South. Over this road csrs
are now running as rapidly as ten miles
per hour, while construction parties are
constantly at work levelliug and ballastinp
1t so as to admit of higher speed. All
along from Petersburg to Burkesville the
road is lined with wrecked cars pitched off
the track and left by the rebels, with
whom both time and labor were too
i scarce, were means at their disposal to
admit of repairs. Their invariable system,
when car or engine broke down, was 10
throw it of the track and leave it, This
reckless waste was rapidly depicting their
roads, and promised soon to leave them
wholly destitute ia 49,. =
At Burkesville the Southside road taps
the Richmond and DAnVilIef road, a line
completed since the war, and which, with
the Piedmont road running from Danville
to Greensboro. also built u6der rebel AUS.
ptces, forms an entire new line of com
munication with the, far South, shorter
by hundred miles ct least than any other,
and destined toibe the great route Of travel.
The Richmond and Danville road has
been run up to this time and since Lees
surrender by the government; under the
superintendence of Mr.. o. q, Dorrance.
also of the United States military railroads.
In operating this road, because Of its gauge,
Mr.. DorranCe has found it necessary 10 q 1se
the stock he found on it, which consisted
OF motley collection of locomotives and
cars, gathered from nearly every road In
Virginia, and all in missrably dilapidated
condition, SO much go that no Northern
company would consider it safe to run
them single day. Two or tbree engines
Of the Baltimore aud Ohio road, captured
at WinOhester, were found here, and seve.
raj belonging TO the United States military
railroad establishment.
From Burkesville halfway to DauVille
this road is laid Withith6 old fashioned
strap rail awakening visions of snake
heads Whenever the WheeEy old engine
should get a little headWay on q down
grade. Over this portion Of the road csrs
are run as rapidly at times as Eve miles Del
hour. The lower halt OF the road Val
blessed, year ego, with a visitation by
General Wilson'S raiders, who SO effectual.
ly demolished the B1perstructure that Il
required to be rebuilt, In which process I
Eratl was substituted for the tVisted atrapS
greatly to the benefit of the line, enabliut
trains TO run now ss fast as ten miles pei
hour. 20 % - a :, r :
: The usual custom In riding over thes,
roAds on q passenger train, when one Il
fortunate enough to get . seat, is to-tskt
out Jour knife and hack of piece OF tn
seat or the side of the car sufficient lafr,
to wedge up the window sash, II thert
happen to be sash; and 'ttsn, beside
having Air, hHe Opportunity is secured o
s4amlnlng the wrecks along the line. Their
is no fear Of destroying the upholsterin,
of the cars, for evety particle OF smatertS
entering into themanuEacture of cushion
has long since disappeared. NOTHING pre
vents one trom whiting the whole car ur
Y go inclined, but the recollection tha
future travellers will want wedges 10 hol
!. the sash up for their comfort.
RElHL RAILROAD, ss5l
The Piedmont road is model of South
ern engtueeringS It runs through awil
/. tderness, with not q settlement visible fror