The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-08
A Cosby Letter-SOmewhat Practi
cal, Somewhat Ridiculous.
CONVICTION. VA. January 5, 1868.

=. CoVINGT0N, VA, January D, 1865.
There is much additional animation i'm
parted to this village, imprisoned among
the mountains, by the extension Of the
railroad to it. 1t Is destined to no little
fame in the future, when the railroad is
completed to the Ohio, and when the canal
shall have reached the base Of the Allie
ghanies. Some new stores are opened, with
larger and more variegated stocks than
heretofore. The arrival of the cars, the
sound of the whistle, the moving Of omni-
buses, and the gathering of passengers in
the Office of McCurdie's Hotel, conversDg
about things in Richmond aud Baltimore
to one who has known Covington in other
days. The cheerful landlord, one Of the
best humored and most obliging Of Boni-
faces, has all the activity and sharpness
requisite for the times, while he preserves
enough Of the open-hearted geniality and
accommodating disposition of the olden
days to place the modern and the ancient
traveller alike at ease. He is building a
capacious hotel at the depot. 1t will be
completed, possibly, next summer, when he
will be able to entertain his guests in q
style better adapted to the wants OF these
/ met here a printer who had for four
teen years been engaged upon morning
Philadelphia paper, where he never left
work until 3 o'clock in the night, and did
not breakfast until IL O'Clock in the day.
He ate two meals a day, never dined with
his family save on Sunday, and with mourn
full face he informed us that he was worn
= - <rfo a-l, x,k
locality, where he at least could get some
sleep. He was journeying to just such a
place, and contemplated his arrival there
with evident ecstacy. You understand the
sutferings past and bright anticipations of
this exhausted man better than I, possibly.
But to me his description of his fourteen
years suffering and his bright anticipations
made me envy him. He has, indeed, a
heaven on earth before him. | inwardly
wished that poor fellow might have long
sleep and an uninterrupted peace the
balance of his life ! IF his be a speci-
men of the life in the printing Office, the
world never can reward the printer.
pictured to myself the busy life to be
witnessed in this locality when the great
works for transportation are finished. The
Soi.S'"ii' eAtifoi VI iiCiSut ouu paooCuSCl
trains-the incessant whistling of engines
the freighting and unfreighting of ponder
GUS burthens Of coal, iron, and other
things-the .ingathering of mineral wealth
from the surrounding mountains-the busy
and active local trade and manufacturing
of very large town which will cover the
level space from the river to the high hills
which enclose twill form one of the
busiest scenes to be contemplated any
where outside Of the cities on tidal streams
and the larger rivers. That such will be
its aspect in the course of short time
/ have not doubt. ss
! was struck with the increase of the
product of the lesser but yet very import
ant articles of industry this side the Blue
Ridge. The diminished rates of the Gen.
trail railroad are stimulating the active
cultivation and the Shipment of a variety
If things which formerly were but sparsely
prepared for market, because Of the small
left after the freights were
aid. A few days since the Virginia Ex-
ress Company brought to Staunton from
Iarrisonburg, where they had accumu-
tied, sixteen hundred pounds Of dressed