Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-08-21
a Trip ON the Manassas S. R. 10 Ms'
Jackson. Shenandoah 60"
TReported for the Alexandria Gazette.l

jackson, Shenandoah Co.
Reported for the Alexandria Gazette.l
The party Of excursionists who left here on
Tuesday and reported as arriving at Mount
Jackson. Shenandoah county, Va, the present
terminus of the Manassas Railroad. that even
inc were received there in true old Virginia
style by Mr.. John G. Meen and his son, Gen.
Gilbert MeeSl, who were awaiting at The depot
the arrival Of the train, and who appropriated
as many 81 the party az their several vehicles
would bear safely Those not carried off were
appropriated as the guests of Mr.. Farra, who
"knogs how to keep u hotel, and by whom
they were entertained in as much style as the
crowded condition Of tho house would admit.
| After supper the party skrmlshed over the
village, and shortly hetook themselves to slum;
ber undisturbed by mosquitoes, though aroused
at intervals during the night by, incoming
| squads of cxcurSlonlsts, who desired to return
on the morning train, and IN one instance, It Is
said, by the troubled sleep Of Z gentleman who,
nartakipe too freely Of sandwiches and ice VA
ter, ran an imaginary locomotive in his dreams.
| Mt. Jackson, in Shenandoah county, Va,
ll3 miles distant from Alexandria, 42 miles
| from Winchester, and so miles from Staunton,
| on the turnpike connecting the last two places,
| is small village deriving its present import
ance from its being the present terminus or the
Manassas road, as it was prior to the war
| Twelve miles west Of this point are the Orkney
Springs, a watering place of some celebrity.
| The road bed from this point to Harrison
burg, distance Of "a miles, is already graded,
with the exception OF a short but rocky cut, and
has the track laid for about half that distance,
that is to New Market. A considerable force
| IS at work on the construction of this part
| The bridge at this point over Mill Creek, which
| was destroyed. is being rebuilt,
When it is remembered that from this point
alone previous to the war an average OF 1000
| bushels of grain, besides produce OF other sorts
| in immense quantities were shipped daily the
importance OF this road to the citizens OF the
! Valley, as a means Of reaching market, may
be in Dart estimated and appreciated. With
Harrisonburg as Q terminus this immense Val.
| lev trade must be diverted to the Alexandra
| market as the best in the State.
At the various depots on this ROAD we noticed
MANY evidences OF spirit of improved method
of agriculture; reapers, drills guano, fertili
zers &C., are piled up at the stations, at which
| long trains Of teams are arriving, laden with
produce and grain the Valley Turnpike, fur
nishing a fine road for transportation by wheel
ed vehicles, being one of the best in the country.
The excursionlsts assembled at the depot on
| Wednesday evening to make q tri p few miles
down the road to the bridges recently construct
ed, to replace those destroyed during the war.
They are substantial structures, over tributaries
of the North fork Of the Shenandoah, which
are crossed, some of them, at lmmengc heights
that over marrow Passage" near Wood,
stock, crosses 4 chasm at an elevation Of l12 It.
,Ui,i 0h ia lo1n
the Valley, Strasburg, Woodstock, Edinburg,
and, others are neat and pleasant looking places,
Judging from the cursory view that 1 few min
utes halt Of the train allowed.
a gentleman from Maryland Oh the train re-
marked that they far surpassed the villages Of
his State in neatness and usefulness, while for
natural scenery the former are indispensable.
The view Of the MaSsanulten mountain from
Strasburg, is alone worth the trip to that point.
The Whole Valley, indeed, is fnll OF picturesque
and lovely scenery. One is struck with the
number Of churches in these villages, u lact &C
counted for ny the thickly settled country
| around them.
just beyond the depot at Mt Jackson lies the
locomotive no g. SIS wheeled engine,
abandoned by the COnfe0erates in 1862, after
having been llsmantiea, and subsequently
bnrned. The engines are at work eating 1t in
condition 10 bring to the company's shops 10
Alexandria for repairs. One in similar cOndl-
the depot at this place, though on the high
road Of war marches ana burnings vas not de.
srOyed
Thursday yesterday morning The party as.
aenlblcd nj the train and moved off from the
depot at Mi. Jackson, amid the faTewelIs Of old
and new made friends, who had strVen hard
and most successfully TO preserve nntarnshed
the fame Of Virginia hospitality.
The re-opening OF the railroad to this point is
a theme full Of Importance On these lines,
stretching away into the heart of the State, we
are depending for the development of her hid
den resources Where they 90 they carry with
them the spirit OF enterprise, the busy energy
OF steam waking to new life The apathetic and
iniusing with newideas the antiquated thinkers.
The people OF the Valley are anxious for the
further completion Of the Manassas road, and
the promise Of the Directors and officers that
it shall, if possible, be finished to Harrsonburg,
before winter, will be hailed with. delight The
President and Chief Engineer visited that point
on yesterday to make arrangements for its COM
pletion as fast as circumstances will permit.
1t is felt that this report will be incomplete
without an acknowledgment Of obligation to the
managers OF the excursion, who proved them
selves gentlemen OF rare discrimination IN Sc.
Letting the conaloangons tlas voyage TO Dir. NJ.
Mclean, also who offciated as caterer to the
party, much of their enjoyment is due. He
evidently possesses rare accomplishments in
that line, and We wish no better fate than to be
consigned to his care on a similar occasion, if
one should occur; . wish which will be echoed
by all who were under his care on this occasion.
WASHINGTON ITEMs.-Last evening there
was an assemblage of a large number of the
citizens of Washington favorable to the cleo
ton of Seymour and Blair, as President and
Vice President Of the U. S. The occasion was
the ladcatinn hu the .Iacl-snn Danonrntic : G