Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-12-04
letter from Clarke County.

Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
WHITE Posi-, November 20.-Hearing to-
day for the first time sirce an early period OF
the late war, the whistle of a Manassas Gap
Locomotive, somewhere on the western slope
of the Blue Ridge: it has carried NE back to
those more prosperous days, when our valley
and your city were becoming fast united by
the bonds of a mutual interest. Alexandria
$. ems, naturally to be the outlet. for the~trade
Of this Valley-ss you doubtless remember,
in the olden time, before railroad improve
ments, the long line Of heavily loaded wagons,
moving from points far up the Valley. From
| all around here, farmers were usually engaged
| during the winter months in transporting in
| the sa1ne way the crops secured during the
summer, and returning, bringing back their
supplies Of groceries, &c, for the year. The
Winchester and Potomac railroad, however, dl-
verified all this trade; (but there arc not a few
old wagoners that even at this day, in terms
neither maM nor polite, speak of this modern
ilnuouatiion as a decided step 6ackWdrds. =
| Then again nature seemed to dictate a Compel
ing road; and Alexandria, through the Man
assas Gan, recovered her lost treasure. This
was, however, hardly realized, before 1t was
snatched away by the rude blast OF war.
With peace, again looms up old Alexandra, as
if determined not to be outdOnc and l hear
! tiIy hope, for the sake of her energy, and old
Vrginiu feeling, she will succeed, and will Sc
cure, and hold permanently, and grow Ilch over
the products of this Valley.
We here are interested in both tho Manassas
Gan and Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire
| roads, as one passes near tho Southern border
of the county, and the other is expected
through the Northern end.
The expectations OF our farmers were fully
realized as regards their wheat crops-gcncr'
ally they were very fine, and good prices OBJ
tanned, all Of which has, OF course, done much
TO relieve the pressing wants or many, and re-
store improvements, &C.. lost during the war.
The present wheat crop, which is an average
one, as regards acres, looks well, though there
is some complaint OF fly in the early sown:
There has been a very great influx OF land
buyers principally Pennsylvanians) into this
portion of the Vallcy-many of them having
made purchases. The cheap lands, in what VIC
term the ''Pine Hills, seem principally to at
tract their attention. AS these men seem en-
%crgcLic, and many of them OF the better class
Of population, | hope, in more respects than
one, they may be of service to the State.
Our county Will DC represented II VIC Con,
servativc Convention of the 18th, by seycraI
of our best and most reliable citizens. Much
| interest is manifested in what it may Go, but
many think it would have been better if it did
not meet until the adjournment OF the other
Convention.
In consequence Of a difficulty between a rad
ical mail carrier and our deputy postmaster,
our Office was closed in August last, and this
l,rr, onr,,,,,nit, nuF pf from vaDfSO nS nj
the mail. by present arrangement we get
about one Alexandria Gazette a week, and
that, a week old-and consider ourselves Iortu-
nate at that! ,...... NJ.
The action of the Senate in correcting their
journal and striking the prefix Of" honorable"
| I'm, tLo nnna az aacE Cor atnr IL clImmns1iun a