Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-02-07
LErrER rRoM SOUTHAMPTON.
Southam Observation-Disclosures Impressions DE
scriPtion of Franklin-Its People, &e.
FRANKLIN, SOUTHAMPTON COUSTY,l


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FRANKLIN, SOUTHAMPTON COUSTY,l
February |, 1866.
To the Editor Of the Whig:
From wandering to and fro, up and down, in the
earth, your correspondent finds himself anchored ut
last, in the good county OF Southampton so famous
IN -dzys of yOre as the place Tor producing the
choicest hams the finest sweet potatoes and the best
apple brandy to be found in the world. Until re-
cent date this county has been somewhat insulated
having no direct line Of communication with any
place OF consequence, but now the partial compile
ton of the SeabOard and Roanoke railroad Vhe
building Of the bridge over the Roanoke n'er u
Weldon is all that is wanting 10 make the road
completely gives free access to the markets oil NOT
folk and Portsmouth and the iron horse, that Sre!t
auxiliary 20 commerce, thunders by daily, much "
the convenience and qualification OF the cltzehS'
There are many circumstances OF interest cor =
neeted with the pas, history OF the county ana 10
communicate these aud furnish items oil interest
with reference to the present day. propose 10 MAN.
myself heard occasionally through the columns ~
the IPhig NV observations, for the present, VIII
b. confined TO the most tOurshing village Oh inc
cOunty-Franklu-nOt altogether Unknown W ms
tory during the three last years oil the wal anu
may add not altogether stranger 10 'ie Iuue Pr
tirCs OF war a. the rough scars OF the cannon DAN
on il neat houses but too well attest. There Is no
thing in the site of the place progressing TO TUE
visitor Franklin is built upon rather sAnuy ,"u"
daton with the dark floods Oi the Black "aHI
river rolling sufficiently near 10 lemIhI QUO 'l''
sneL foundations have IN time been washed away
The location does not seem 10 nave peeI HetoS 'eu
with especial reference either To comfort Ut
soils RAYS are no doubt, reflected by the sahd WIN
line effect in midsummer, making II extremely
warm. and the proximity of the low land adjoining
the river would nil the residents OF mountainous
region with apprehensens OF masnal atIlos-
phere But Franklin improves on acquaintance
and these FIRST impressions are dlsspated by tln'e
and association with its Inhabitants. True, they
say, 1t Is warm, but not very unGomiortapiy So
The sand prevents Our streets from being much
worse in winter. and We do not expect always 10
exhibit a sand-bar here. few years hence, and
all the vacant places will be occupied ny persons
anxious TO locate in 81 thriving town. With ref
eence to the health Of the place am told that it is
i rare thing for any one to die here. ....
Franklin is situated Immediately on the Seaboafd
and Roanoke railroad, and at the head OF nayigS
ton on the Blackwater river The railroad crosses
its main street at right angles, and distant about
two hundred yards, the same street, Is the steam
boat wharf | suppose it does not number more
than eighty inhabitants, part Of whom reside on
the Isle of Wight side OF the Bac6waief, the river
forming the boundary between the two Counties
The Importance OF the place is not, however, TO De
determined By thc number SsitS inhabitants, but
by tie amount o! business done here; and let not
the residents of large towns laugh at its compare
tive ns;gniicanco, because
Great oaks from little acorns grow" . ....
find here at this time, when business has been but
recently resumed, the PROJECTORS OF three stores
supported by large section of back country, DIS
posing of almost every kind Of erchandise, for the
most part i'll exchange Tor produce, with astonishing
rapdty A steam saw mill furnishes large
amount of lumber for market, and is now filling eN-
tensive bills for several Of the railroads IN Eastern
Virginia Besides the daily communication with
II, - IA. nj Wallnn Tiara IL
steamboat connection with the cities of eastern
North Carolina situated on the Albemarle Sound.
The Blackwater affords other advantages. Upon Its
bosom ave borne, from the earliest OF the hshhg
season till ts close, thousands Of the scaly victims
of the Carolina fishermen, OF almost every deScnp
tiou common to fresh water. These are brought
To Franklin, where they find "a ready market
and ara thence carried To many portions OF
Virginia aud central North Carolina. But the old
North State has other currency besides hcrrlngs II
deals in grain also and its eastern portion has been
STYLED its granary. The Black water has served to
some extent as outlet for these productions, aud
will no doubt, be more largely used as such here
after Franklin boasts of trst class hotel, the Al
hemare House, whose gentemanly proprietor eN-
GELS both in the attention paid his guests anu IN the
selection of yiands for his table. Masonic Lodge
shoe shop two grOg shops, about complete the list
at present. | should not forget to mention that 1t
has resident physician. One thing still Is lacking
which would speak well for the morality OF the
place No church spire lifts its head to Heaven aud
points man upward no church bell breaks the still
ness of the Sabbath and summons the people to
Worship The village, with the assistance OF the
surrounding country, might afford a church, aud We
may hope for it yet.
Such is Franklin at this day. What it will be in
the future, do not venture TO predict. with It's
natural advantages il must be place OF some I'M
pOrtance But the best guarantee OF its future pros
perity is to be found in the intelligence and enter
prise of its citizens Sociable hOspitable, AS bust
ness men, they have caught the true spirit. Lots
are much in demand. New buildings will soon
spring up and Franklin will move on in its career Of
prosperity. H.