Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-01-05
Letter from, Loudonn County.

Letter frOna LOutiOun County.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
LEEsBuRG, January New Years day was
in happy contrast with the noise. confusion and
drunkenness of the earlier part the holidays.
White men and colored men seemed to be in earn
est converse, and reminded one slightly of the old
time hiring day They were evidently discuss
ing the rates of wages and the desirahility OF
having comfortable homes for the year, secured
early. The day was too bad one and too near
Saturday for people to venture out much.
Notwithstanding the continuance of the driz'
cling rain and seet, the number of persons in
town to-day was considerably greater than 1t
was yesterday
The rate of wages for good farm hands near
Leesburg is $l2 per month with rations furnish
ed and houses, and where separate houses are
not furnished Sl5 per month occasionally an
extra hand commands $500 per snnum and
board and house room
More than SIS, 600 of real estate has been sold
during the past ten days, at prices that do not
indicate any decline in lands, John l., Rinker,
Auctoneer, has sold in that time eight farms,
ranging from 1925, $40 25 IS up to SSl,25
per acre Most of them were sold for debt, one
only for division
A better hope is felt of getting up the Aide
Turnpike, rs understand a gentlemanof ener-
gy and tact has undertaken the business of get
ting subscriptions for the Aide section.
Leesburg is looking up; great many work
ing people preferring the town locations for
their families, even if they have to leave them
for five or six days.
Our farmers are beginning TO feel the neces-
sity of having small houses for their laborers,
who work much more steadily for those who
have them.
VIM Taylor, constable has just brought to
Jail negro man, named Cain Duncan, who, in
company with another negro, took tho horses
of James Skinner and Nathaniel j. Skinner
from the rack in Middleburg, Va. Cain WAS
captured, and both horses were recovered, but
the other rogue escaped
They were from Long Branch Church, in
Fauquier county, about four miles south of
NIiddleburg and Cain formerly belonged to
Major Love. He was free before the war, hay
ing been manumitted by the Colonel or some
of his children.
Good luck and happiness to you in the New
Year ALIQUIS
FREGGHT RAILRoAD.-We have published
communicationfrom Judge Sherwood, of TcXas,
in reference to the advantages which We should
derive from the establishment Of a cheap freight
railroad from this city to Lynchburg, Virginia.
His letter is written 10 view OF the interest
now felt by our people IN the subject OF new
railroads and the proposition to embark the
city as a shareholder IN one or more OF the
roads. He, at least, recognizes one great TACT
10 - L. -
citizens, fact to which we have repeatedly
called attention, viz that it is in railroads as
arteries Of commerce, and not rs mere lines OF
passenger travel that we are interested. The
advantage of road such as Judge Sherwood
proposes, or at least the supposed advantage,
is. that it could find sufficient business to sup
port it by freight alone, when as passenger
route it might entirely fail. The idea is one of
great Importance. Hitherto our railroad lines
appear to have been laid out chiefly with re-
ference to the passenger trade, and there are
but few which seem to have been built princi
palIy with q view TO the accommodation of
freight And yet Judge Sherwood shows that
of two of the principal roads In the country
the New York Central and the Erie, make
their profits on the freight trade, and not
on the passengers they carry.
la regard to the line he proposes, la cheap
freight line from Washington to Lynchburg,
Va, y he points out the advantages OF the route
and the strong probabilities OF the success OF
the enterprise.
And beside this it must be remembered tina
such road would make freight for ITSELF rs
railroads always do, tor it would multiply popu-
lation along its route and increase the produc-
tive activity of those already living there. No
one can properly estimate the extent to which
production is checked throughout the country
for the want of adequate means to transport
produce to market. Even those who suffer by
it are often wholly unconscious of the tact that
they are so suffering, 1t is only by compari-
son Of their condition with that of people en-
| loving ample facilities for transportation, that
they could get an adequate conception Of the
great disadvantages under which they labor
| As to the benefits Of the litegiving current
| of commerce which railroads bring with them
to city situated as Washington is, nothing
need be said What is it that makes real estate
| in New York sell at prices which seem fabu,
| louS? Just this fact, that it is the point of
| departure for a system of railroads extending
almost across the continent, and of the chief
part also of the foreign commerce Otthe United
| States. The wealth created by many millions
of hands thus flows through there, rests there,
changes hands and pays toll; and it is simply
| for the privilege of dipping into this rich
stream and getting share Of this toll that peo-
pie are willing to pay for land enough to put
up store in New York almost the value at
| Government rates of good sized Western Ter
ritOry.- Washington Chronicle
WASHINGTON ITEMs.-Newman and Levy,
detectives in the employ Of the secret service
department Of the u S. treasury, yesterday
arrested Ia. +. Rolfe, claim agent here, on
the charge OF presenting to the quartermaster
general office fraudulent claim of the Evans
vile and Charlottesville undiana) Railroad
Company Tor the transportation Of government
| troops, the claim amounting to S2,97099.
The U; 5; Supreme Court re- assembled yes
terday, all the judges being present.