The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-10-11
LEXINGTON, VA. October s, 1863.


Our people seem TO have railroad on the
BRAN Just now, and their hopes OF nearing
AT no distant day the snorting OF the iron
horse among our mountains are greatly en-
HANGED by the fact that the Pennsylvania
Central railroad has entered the field as a
competitor of the Baltimore and Ohio.
The Central proposes to build a railroad up
the Lurav valley. and by Wavncsboro' and
Lexington to Salem. 1t Is hoped that the
Z rivalry Of these two powerful corporaIionS
and the contest Of Baltimore and phliadei,
mia for the trade of this fertile region will
Hasten the day when we shall nave Iail-
road ouf}ct. Colonel Harman is prince
g., ,,,ono stare contractors. and the raging
rnnowl" is n good institution, (when 1t Is not
'oynrfiowed, or too low. or frozen over, put
we must have railroad. The approaching
meeting of the Valley Railroad company
next week in Staunton ELECTS no little lnte-
rcst and although Rockbrdge is by far the
largest stakeholder. our county paper nomi-
mates for the presidency lit being under
stood that Colonel Hartman will dcclncl two
Anm,sta men-namelv. Colonel Bolivar
Christian and Colonel John B. Baldwin.
Preparations for our approaching Fair
Goth, DIST. and 22d-arc being pushed i0r-
ward, and we anticipate grand tlme. Inc
papcrs of "Big Richmond have scarcely
noticed our Fair. The h1q4 w.! ;, IN o us
NOT aIludc TO the fact that old Rockbrldge i
in the field. and we believe the Dispatch
bas had nothing about us save the few lines
written by your correspondents. 10 come
nm and see what We mountain people can
do ,rjthom a railroad. and then you VIII be
prepared to Judge of what We ac'H DO when
we get one.
The College is fully at work-about three
hundred have already entered. and there
Ihn StIlpOtS said
n he generally farther advanced, and bet
ter class of Young men than they have ever
Ind certainly their conduct thus far would
indicate this and that is sayinga good deal.
There seems to be 4 large proportion OF the
students who are proieSSed Christians.
The Young Mems Christian Association
has organized under peculiarly favorable
auspices. and bids fair to be power IN the
college. At their meeting last night Mr.. X.
II. Fleming, Of Highland county, Va, was
elected president. and Captain \. Il. tea-
gin. of Alabama }. Il. Logan. OF fncas-
tie. Va; Frank McCutchan, OF Augusta,
county, Va. and w. l.. Prather, of Texas,
were chosen vice-preSldcnts.
Rev. Mr. Pratt made an address before
the Association OH 1.-The relation OF Christ
10 the human intellect "a Wcll-digcsted
plpcr. written in the fcctouS style which
chtractcrizcS the productions Of its author.
The Association are proposing TO erect Ill
~, early dav 4 chapel 1T their House
Mountain Mission" where they have III
excellent Sunday school and Il fine prospect
Of accomplishing great work anon" poor
and ignorant people. Any benevolent per-
son who should send Through General Lee
OF any member OF the Faculty. Il contribu-
ton Tor this object would make most eX-
ccl!ent investment of his money.
The Virginia Military Institute is ad-.
vncing with flying colors on career OF
uncXamplcd prosperity. There are 34'
cadets on its roll, and $50 now present "1or
duty" Others Will enroll during the coming
months, making this the largest corps they
have ever had. The evening parade pre-,
%aT n Hnn an P2sifaSJ!H IRs 'SnS ns q
perfect precision with which they 60
through the manual and perform the cvo-
buttons of the battalion, while the bright
ewes of the bellies of Lexington look on-thc
walls of the Institute, rising with new iuStrc
from their ashes, and the landscape bathed
in the mellow light Of such sunset as lta-
liam tourists rarely WilncSS-comblne to
form picture which one of the great mas
tiers would delight to sketch.
Captain Sim. Of the English Royal En-
rinccrS-a highly accomplished and most
agreeable gcntlcman-has been in LcXlng-
ton for several days, and seems to have been
very much pleased with his visit. After
thoroughly inspecting the Institute, and
examining into It's system, he spoke OF it in
terms Of high commentator and praise.
Virginia and the South may well be proud
that they have Il military school of such
high grade. The late war proved its etii-
cheney. May no other war come to prove
that it is now more efficient than ever be-
fore.
About one hundred and twenty of the
cadets present are members of some church,
and the religious element is unusually
active.
Cadet Brooke, of Richmond, has resigned
the presidency of the Cadets Christian
Association" in consequence OF the press
of his official duties as adjutant of the corps,
and Cadet Randolph, Of Virginia, has been
elected in his place. Cadet Samuel Taylor,
OF Richmond, has been elected to ill the
vacant vice-presidcncy.
The Rockbridge Bible Society, of which
General r. Z. Lee is president, held its au-
nual meeting several days ago. The old
officers were reelected for The ensuing year.
I.ESINGTO \.