Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-04-11
DUInfrieS. Vn.

Inc lOr Lne QrSC insertion, ana eight cents pc
line for each subsequent insertion
Dumfrfes, Va.
DUMFRIEs, Va, April 3, 1s7O.-We have
had week of high tides and floods. Last Sun
day the streams were too high to ford with
teams aud at the different landings on the
river and creeks, the tide rose 30 high as to
cause considerable loss to individuals by float.
ing off cord Wood, cedar, posts railroad ties and
hoop poles.
Three sea going vessels the past week loaded
with iull cargoes Of posts, ties, wood and hoop
poles at the mouth Of Quantico creek for
Philadelphia.
Twenty FIVE years ago there lived in Wash :
ington city, revolutionary peDsioner, named
Cornelius Wells He died about twenty years
ago the advanced age of ninety-siz. / had
frequent conversations with him on revolution
ary subjects. He had been sailor, and said
that " hen small boy he was bound an ap-
prentice on board Of q ship trading between
this place and Scotland, and at the time there
were seven ships anchored off Ship point, at
the mouth Of Quantico creek. loading for the
West indies and Europe.
Dumfries was at one time thriving place.
There were extensive tobacco warehouses,
bank, newspaper, theatre, two tan yards and
currying shops, a hat mandatory, two silver.
smiths, watch makers, three hotels many
other trades carried on, with a large
titles of wheat, -four, whiskey, bacon, fax
seed, &c, 60, were brought from Lou
doun, Fauquer, Culpeper and Clarke, and
exchanged for groceries and dry goods ; and in
the spring the farmers from the upper counties
would bring down produce to exchange for salt
and fish. On the stage route between the north
and south, and halt way between Alexandria
and Fredericksburg, the hotels were generally
filled with travellers; and the large number Of
horses required on the road consumed most OF
the nay and grain raised along the route
The discovery Of steam, and the consequent
change in the routes travelled, the removal OF
the courts to Brentsvillc; but, above all, the
large emigrations to the west, caused a rapid
decline in the old town, until the streets we're
bordcrcd with blocks Of houses, more than half
unoccupied, and of so little value, that good
dwelling. house and store room could be pur-
chased forffty dollars. If farmer IN the
neighbo, hood wished to build dwelling house
or barn, he found it to his interest to purchase
the deserted houses in Dumfries and remove
the materials for the purpose. Aarge ire de-
stroyed the eastern end of the town, IN 1916,
and the Federal troops 10 the late war, destoy-
ed all tho churches, and damaged private prop
erty.
The old town has improved in the past year
or two, and when the contemplated railroads
are completed, it i. hoped it will recover its
future prosperity. IN Prince William
Advocdte.
The WASHINGTON AND ONO RAILROAD
On last Saturday, the corps of Engineers now
engaged in surveying the route OF the proposed
extension of the road formerly known as the
Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad
IL ~.
Railroad, made their appearance IN our town.
These gentlemen have Just completed the
survey from Letart Falls to Mason City. and
had intended to survey through from Letart
Falls to Point Pleasant, but owing to the re.
cent heavy rains and the breaking of one OF
their instruments, they did not do 80. They now
propose to get the width of both the Kanawha
and Ohio Rivers OF this point then to com
mence the survey from Point Pleasant to Lc-
tart Falls, thence through back to place of
commencing.
Col. Msruerry expresses himself as highly
pleased with the country through which be has
surveyed, and reports the grade as being easy.
Tho heaviest grade be says will not exceed so
fsst to the mile He also kindly furnished US
with the distances of the different routes from
the Ohio River to tide water whiek are as fol-
lows:
From Baltimore to Parkersburg over
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 3S9 miles;
fren Sandy via RiehAosd TO York River
over Chesapeake and Ohio Railreal, 476
miles and from Lstart to AlsIsndris, Va.
tide wate,-by the Washington and Ohio
Railroad, $40 sniles 1t will b sesa that this
air line road is shorter by 49 nies to tids
water, than the Baltimore aud Ohio Road,
ana is 136 miles shorter tbss the Chesapssks
and Ohio Read. This road whom completed,
will be the shortest route from the West to
tide water. thereby making freight and travel
much lower than now.
Exactly when this road will be completed to
Point Pleasant, We are not prepared to say,
yet VIC are led to believe that 1t will DC within
the next two or three years Ofone thing We
are certain, the exigences OF the times de-
mand its speedy completion. Some bright
morning not long off, We shall wake up to
the accomplished fact OF = tide water rail con.
nection with the Ohio river at this polnt-and
with the whole West P6int Pleasant, West
Iu.) Gazette
THE ELECTRIC FARO BoX.-Onc Of tho most
ingenious inventions for fraud and deceit ever
Introduced to the "sporIing fraternity has re-
Gently been privately exhibited for the insprc
ton of few select gamblers. 1t consists OF an
electric tsro box So constructed as to permit
cards 10 &c secretly drawn at the will OF the
dealer, without the possibility of the manner in
which the movement is made being detected
MISCELLANY. Hooper, the Mormon dele.
gate to Congress, says that the reason our first
parents did not practice poygamy was THAT
their marriage was exhaustive ;" 10 other
words, that Adam married 'al the women IN
tho word?''
n Church o! England clergyman recently
asked hes hearers (which of us was ever found
IN IN tears during the general confession OF the
a man" had a scolding vile, being asked
what he did tor living, replied that lie kept