The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-08
LOCAL MATTERS.


romantic or sentimental feeling, and yet even
its dusty streets and cobble-stone pavements
recall remembrances and associations which
must ever be cherished with tenderness by rs
all Less than one year ago, Rockets was
daily crowded with throngs of gallant men, far
too many of whom, with dauntless heart and
smiling lip, have marched silently into eter-
nifty. There passed the gay cavalry soldier on
his way TO town to shoe his favorite horse, and
visit, incidentally perhaps, his favorite
sweetheart; there paced slowly along the
wearied foot soldier, happy in the re-
ception of his long deferred furlough, and
darling ones at home; there trudged the
stalwart "local defenrers,' unused TO arms
and the terrors of war; wishfully looking
back at those church steeples hallowed by the
worship of many Sabbath, and which
they now might never behold again there came
the merry, careless youth who had success
fully "run the blockade and cared but little
for the " extra duty which would infallibly
be meted out to him on the morrow; and there
walked, slowly and quietly, the good and
noble woman, eager TO cheer with her presence
for a few short hours the trials and rigors OF
camp and to illume anew, in the pine-covered
hut or tattered tent, the sweetest memories OF
distant southern homes. All have passed like
a vision before US but even now in our dreams
we may ride with the chiyalrous dead
we may press once more the clay y-cold
hand we may renew again the tender glance
of the loving eye, and hear in fancy the clear
ringing accents of that voice, clarOn-l like in
battle, yet fute-like in tone when speaking
to dear woman, now silent forever, and
which in this life was never heard but IN the
defence of liberty, purity, and truth.
1t was with a saddened feeling, then, that
we passed the York River railroad; on by the
handsome storehouses occupied by Ludlam Il
Watson and K. o. Haskins on by the wharf,
where a solitary flat-boat is creeping slowly
to completion, over the stone bridge which
has echoed with the tramp of many clatter-
ing squadron on by the open lot, furrowed
deep by wagons and dinted with the stamp
ing of the impatient horses hoof, where every
trace of those who watched and wept twelve
months ago has been trampled out of the soft
and yielding sand on by the Sugar Refinery,
not now in operation, (but we hope soon to be y
on over those rounded stones which cause
unutterable pain to the tender'1ooted traNel-
Ter and now our journey is almost done.
Turning to the right, we pass along mar
row lane, struggle through pair OF dilapt-
dated gates, which will neither close nor re-
main open, and reach the lot OF ground where
stand the remains of the old distillery. The
ground is numbered with piles of brick, the
walls stand gaunt and bare, and the tall CHM
ney still points unerringly TO the grey clouds
which scud across the darkened sky. The
inevitable negro is there, hurrying about,
picking up sticks of wood, doing everything
but work, living in an atmosphere redolent
with all the perfumes OF Africa, the Blest.
There is no sign of movement, no sign OF ac-
tivity, and with some difficulty we scramble
over renee ana pass on
We are now near the river, and III moment
we reach a busy scene of industry and enter
prise as different from that through which
we had lately ploughed our way as is the
idle negro from the industrious white. There
is the merry ringing of the hammer, the musl-
cal iingling of the trowel, and the sharp,
clear chipping of the stone-worker's chisel.
About one hundred men are busily at work,
and, as we watch, the building which they
are constructing seems to grow beneath our
eyes!
Sometime ago, a ten-acre lot on the river,
adjoining The old distillery, and with front
of six hundred feet ana depth Of five hun
dred feet, was purchased by Messrs BetH'
Euengliug l. Boyer, of New York, for the pur-
pose of building n brewery OF greater dlmen-
sions than any which exists in the South. Mr..
Samuel Strong, the well-known contractor
for the Petersburg bridge, undertook the
work and with characteristic energy, COM
menced his operations.
The brewery building, which will be seven
stories high, will have a front on the river OF
seventy five feet and depth OF one hundred
and twenty-SiX feet. The two lower stories,
thirty feet III height will be of cut stone, and
the five upper stories, tifty-eight feet in
height, Of brick, the floors all supported by
massive columns of 1luted iron, and braced
and strengthened by iron girdons OF great
strength and huge dimensions, the whole
being crowned by Il handsome cupola seventy
five feet high. We learn that the lower stores
will be vaulted over, the arches being sup
ported by iron pillars, and they Will contain,
besides the beer vats, an engine OF thirty horse
power. and every necessary appliance for
pumping water throughout the building. In
the upper story will be reservoirs for hot ana
cold water, each having a capacity OF three
hundred barrels.
Upon the bank of the river, an elevator
sixty feet in height is being put up, arranged
so that vessels may be unloaded at the wharf,
and their freight rum without handling, back
into the brewery.
At this time the work is we'll under weigh,
the foundations are all laid, and the walls
have been carried to q height of about twelve
feet. 1t is expected that the building VIII De
completed in August or September next, at an
entire cost of one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars The new brewery-or the James
River Brewery, as we should prefer 10 call 1t
will be as large and complete in every respect
as the famous " Lion Brewery of New York
city, and will be able TO brew hree h~ndFe'
barrels Of beer per day.
We have always advocated the endeaYor TO
make Richmond great commercial and man
ufacturing city, and we hail with pleasure any
exhibition of enterprise and energy, no matter
where or when it may be shown. Inc James
River Brewery will employ permanently
about one hundred and fifty hands; II Will ald
in giving an impetus to our city IL VIII DE
handsome and attractive in an architectural
point of view; and, more than all these, II
will. by the force of example, tempt other
capitalists TO undertake the erection OF mills
and workshops, for which our noble river
offers unequalled advantages. 1t Is never 100
late to pluck up courage; and surely when we
see that others can realize the facilities that
we can afford them, we need not be falnt-
hearted, but may rest assured that, III spite Oh
croaking and grumbling, Richmond will one
day become a great and. prosperous city.
TRIAL BEFORE JUDGE MCESTEE.-Elbert Cox,
Isom Cox, and Joshua Nj. Cox, from Grayson
county, were tried yesterday before Judge NC
Entee charged, first, with burglary and as
sault with intent TO kill second, burglary
and third, arson all in the county OF Gray
son, The witnesses examined for the rrosecu-
ton gave nothing conclusive; but those Tor
the defence proved an dLiJi. The case was
submitted ,safter examining the evidence, by
Messrs. Gilmer & Son, and the Judge DIS
missed it, The Judge secured transportation
for the parties TO their homes
ASSAULT AND BATTERY.-Mr. Charles Jantray
was charged with beating and assaulting
Catharine Writ, who lives on Seventeenth
street, between Main and Cary. The plaintih
stated that she contracted TO sell some lumber
to Jantray, and that he attempted TO carry on
a cart body which was not included In the
bargain A quarrel ensucd, Catharine was
knocked down by Jantray, and badly cut
about the head, and Jantray was then arrested
under warrant from Justice Chandler.
THE LATE ELECTIoS.-Slnce publishing our