The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-09
THE DAY BOOK.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.


mouth Nanufactwes-1he Crops elCon
Companys Shops Manufacture Pvched
Warren Depot-FreigM Train of
Iobacco- Wa'renton-Hs magnificent shade
Trees-Joness Sp'ings-Paint and White
wash-Oak Wood and Ltue Coals-Cona-
plsteness Of arrangements at the Springs
Ebb and 7ot0 Of the tide Of Visitors
Grand Tournament and Ball.
JoNEs's SPRINGS,
Warren Co., Aug 7, 1866.
THE RAIL ROADS.
During the existence of the Confederacy,
my railroad experiences were peculiarly un-
happy. | remember to have been partcu-
larly amused at pictorial satire which made
its appearance in Richmond, representing a
train drawn by gigantic terrapin; and the
Justice OF the humorous criticism will be at
tested by all who were doomed, by special
orders and an offended Providence, to incur
the periIs incident to transportation by rail,
in the "days which are no more"
On the morning of the 9th | made my first
experiment as traveller since the mournful
day when reached tide-water, as a prisoner
of war, and the contrast was, as you may
imagine, very striking | found, to my inf
mite satisfaction, that | had an entire seat to
myself, and the internal splendors-I use the
word deliherately-of the coach in which
rode, made a a stunning antithesis to the for
lorn appointments and absolute squalor of the
old familiar boxes wherein my precious car
cass has been SO frequently transported. ln
my narrow inspection of the car i'll which
sat, it did not escape me that it was manu-
featured in Portsmouth, and while thinking
over the probable future of "our two cities"
and the enterprise of Major Grice, the last
whistle blew, and our iron horse tugged out
the passenger train, in the early sunshine of
as pleasant morning as your special re-
members to have felt for month past The
train was full but not crowded, and the local
travel over the Seaboard Road seems to be-
if | may Judge from what | saw in that par
ticuar--of a remunerative character.
Our Iron horse aforesaid, soon cleared the
town and ratified along at good pace; but
confess, with humiliation, that in place of
carrying out my virtuous resolution to study
the appearance of the crops and country, |
fell into premature Siesta,. only broken by
vague recollections of a. glimpse of Suffolk
and an occasional halt at water tank. |
have, therefore, to rely upon my travelling
companion for the information that the corn
presented very thirsty appearance, and gives
no very fiatterlng promise OF an abundant
yield. And SO alternately, wondering at my
own comfort, doing and dreaming, | found
myself in Weldon. Here also was change.
The aspect OF the place was materially i'm
proved. The rival darkies who once assailed
you with the the horrid discord of gongs,
were invisible; the gallant men in tattered
grey, who once lounged about the place were
scattered, heaven only knows where; and the
great tumultuous tide of travelling military
men was reduced to a moderate company of
ladies in fashionable hats, and gentlemen in
bob tailed coats and busters
At Weldon we changed cars, and on the
Raleigh and CASTOR train my reflections were
very similar to those have already described.
The car in which | rode was gorgeous in
plush velvet; the panels shone lustrously
with varnish; and here also saw another evil
dence of home enterprise, which gathered
from little memorandum, setting forth the
fact that the fine vehicle in which | rode, Or
namented with plush velvet and vanished as
aforesaid was manufactured at the Company
Shops"
Here | got look at the country, and found
its aspect unaltered The desolating marks
of invasion are happily invisible, and except
the parched look Of the fields, there was moth
ing visible to tell of any possible depreciation
IN the productive energies OF this part of
North Carolina.
WARREN DEPOT
At one o'clock we reached the station at
which passengers bound for the beautiful vii
lage of Warrenton leave the train. Here |
saw, to my great satisfaction, prodiglously
long freight train of eighteen cars, principal
ly laden with tobacco bound eastward; and
confess to some melancholy as | reflected
how little OF that rich freight would ever find
its way to either of the fair towns of ''our
common harbor."
Here found collection of carriages and
one or two of the hospitabe people of the
town on the alert for expected guests
After exchanging salutations with a few
old acquaintance, | scrambled into
brougham and soon found myself in Warren
ton. This is picturesque place, and like all
the towns have ever seen in this State, is
ornamented by great numbers of magnificent
shade trees Here | changed vehicles, and
after an hours ride through beautiful coun-
try, found myself at my present quarters.
JoNEss SPRINGS.
These springs, though very little known
OUTSIDE Inc Otate, nave great local celebrity,
and the waters have reputation which | am
anxious to corroborate by my own experience.
Here again l was struck with the contrast
presented by the place to what it was four
years ago. Paint and whitewash, those twin
beautifers, have wrought miracles on the ex-
terror, while the internal arrangements are
immeasurably improved. The table d hots is
excellent, and it is apparent to man doomed
to the denominations of ranges and cooking
stoves that the good old fashions of open
chimneys and live Goals of hard wood have
not been abandoned in this region. Asa con-
sequence, one can discriminate between NUT
ton and beef, while his mind is not disturbed
by painful doubt whether his chicken is roast
or hrnilad 1anintc hu-tha-mau of M eaSu so