Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-05-10
WEALTH IN THE GREAT DISMAL.

WEALTH IN IHE GREAT DlSM AL.
Since the time when Col Byrd made his
survey of the dividing line between Virginia
and North Carolina, of which he gives SO
graphic description, the shinele ana lumber
getters have been more or less at work in the
great Dismal Swamp, engaged in the conver-
sion Of the juniper and the cypress and other
timber, in which that prolific region once
abounded, into gold or greenbacks. Since the
conclusion of the war, these lumber getters
and swamp men have resumed their work.
though under crippled circumstances. They
want capital to enlarge their operations. : a4s
There is now very large number OF juniper
and cypress logs cut in this swamp. These
logs are placed on board northern vessels on
the canal, or transported to Norfolk by lighters
and heLce shipped North-and returned to
u4 in the shape Of wooden ware of every des-
cription, with which the wants Of the Southern
people have been and are supplied.
We know.of one gentleman engaged in this
business who furnishes to one firm in Balti-
more, timber of this description or similar TO
the amount of twenty five thousand dollars,
and we have no doubt the business amounts
to from seventy five thousand to one hundred
thousand dollars in the course of year.
The swamp is about twelve miles broad from
the canal, more or less. and though much has
been cut from it, it still abounds IN cypress and
other timber. fs
Now, why cannot some enterprising men Of
capital erect factories on the line of the canal,
in the very midst Of the material and make
wooden ware and broom handles to supply
the Southern country? The factories ut the
North do it from the same material and grow
rich We likewise send them from the swamp
and its vicinity, material out OF which car
riages, buggies and other vehicles are manu-
featured and returned to the South. .-IVoJok
Journal
NEWSPAPERS. "A paper lives by the .adver-
tising which it does. The subscription and
sale OF papers hardly pay for the paper used in
printing, and when man asks for notice OF
any matter by which he expects to be benefit
ted, he is asking for SO much money out ofthe
pockets of the prorrielrs. 1t would DE just
as reasonable for him Ito 60 into store and
ask the merchant fol, a suit OF clothes or bag
of fcoffee. And yet he would open his eyeslin
astonshment at such a request.
Newspapers cannot be published for moth
ing. Every line Eut in type costs money nnd
has to be paid for in cash-there is no credit
on anything which goes into the printing and
publishing of q paper, Notwithstanding which,
there are some inconsiderate peoplewho com
plain that printers try to collect their bills
promptly, and do not give unlimited credit.
A moments reflection ought to convince such
people that no paper could be published sixty
daysin times likesthese on such system:
With every inclination to be accommodating
and foTbearing, self. preservation demands that
in the newspaper business, above all others, the
cash system should be rigidly adhered to. Un7
der any other plan, the resources of the pro-
pnetors would be scattered in small amounts
all over the country, to collect. which would
cost almost as much as the accounts amou nted
to. 1t IS much easier for the many to pay the
small sums due by them, than for the papers
to wait the convenience of the debtors for the
payment Of the aggregate of the bills owing
Petersburg Express.