Middletown transcript., 1870-01-08


brother for accommodations for the night,
proposed walk around town, which is
composed of Court House, Masonic Hall,
three stores, saddlery, coach factory
(not in operation), Jail, clerks office, and
several private dwellings, all of which
have the appearance of having been built
a long time ago. We retired quite early
having travelled some twenty miles, and
after good nights rest beheld our second
day on Virginia soil. We enjoyed a
hearty breakfast of oysters, chicken, &c.
and at o'clock were on our way to Farm
ham, twenty miles distant from Lancaster
q. III. the whole distance with the excep
tion of tract of cleared land here and
there is dense forest of pine, excepting
one tract of oak and chestnut, and the on
ly piece of timber of that kind we saw
during all our journey. At 3 o'clock, p
M. we came in sight of Farnham Church.
around which may be seen fine section
of land. There are several fine farms in
the neighborhood, among which may be
seen the farms of Messrs. Scott, Booker,
Price, Lyell, and others. We called up
on Mr.'G. w. Price, an old acquaint-
ance, who extended to us an invitation to
stay with him, which was accepted.
While at Farnham we were requested to
read an article in late issue of the J." Ce-
Gil Whig," in which the writer, during his
late visit to Virginia, did not speak very
highly of the accommodations, &c. also of
the windows not being clean. Now,
think he has not done justice to those with
whom he stayed, as l myself have seen as
dirty windows, and eaten bread in other
sections far worse than had in Virginia.
Hoping he may, on his next visit, be bet
ter pleased, by giving due notice of his ar
rival, everything conducive to his comfort
and pleasure will be provided.
The town of Farnham is composed of
several private dwellings, fine store,
owned by Mr.. Lloyd, a shoe shop,
large brick church built in the form of
cross, (of the Episcopal denomination the
bricks of which the church is built, were
sent from England. The soldiers were
quartered there during the war, in conse-
quence of which the building is very much
out of repair, but in the spring they pro-
pose repairing and fitting it up for use.
Near the town is fine Academy at which
all those who are able can have their chill
dren educated. During the afternoon of
the third day we took leave of Mr.. Price
and again started on our journey our des-
tination being Mr.. Gills, who lives near
Union Wharf, some seven or eight miles
from Farnham Church, at which place we
arrived at 5 o'clock, p. NJ. The country
for several miles from Union Wharf, both
up and down the Rappahannock river, has
some of the finest farming land we saw.
Mr.. VIM. Lore, living near St. Georges,
Del. has fine farm of 600 acres on which
MIR. Gill now resides, the soil being a
black rich loan, clay subsoil, ON which the
wheat and grass cannot be surpassed on
lands in Delaware, at double the amount
MIR. Lore paid for it, which was not over
twenty dollars per acre. In the neighbor-
hood are great many steam saw mills,
one being on Mr.. ellis place and one on
MIR. Sharp's farm, neighbor of Mr.. Gilrs,
each of which have all the saving they
can do. Lumber of any size suitable for
building purposes. can be bought at the
mill for $3.50 per thousand, or they will
saw for one half, or $6.25 per thousand.
The lumber, when shipped to Baltimore,
will clear from $1,000 to $1,000 per
thousand. A great many object to living
in Virginia, on account of the alleged diff
ficulty of sending produce to market. Now
there are two steamers running between
Fredericksburg and Baltimore on the one
side, and two between Washington and
Baltimore on the other, with any number
of vessels, and if they will try to raise
grain and other things for the market suf-
ficlent to induce steamers to make busi-
ness of freighting, they need never fear
but what market will be found, The
roads in Virginia are far better for travel
ling than with us, the repairing of which
is done by persons living in the neighbor-
hood, each man being required to work on
them so many days at his own expense
Captain Pearson, who owns fine farm
near Union Wharf, on which he has rais-
ed twenty-five bushels of white wheat per
acre, bringing from ten to fifteen cents per
bushel more in Baltimore market, than red
wheat, insisted on our spending one night
with him. We accepted and passed ve-
ry pleasant evening. He stated that dur
ing the war, in one day, there WIS taken
from him thirty-two horse loads of proven
der, farming implements, and stock suffi-
cient for six hundred acre farm. The
oyster business on the Rappahannock gives
employment to a great many men. Dur
ing a calm day the river up and down is
covered with oyster canoes, days work
being from twenty to thirty bushels, for
which they get from thirty to fifty cents
per bushel.
Bidding farewell to our Virginia friends
we made preparations for leaving for home,
and at II o'clock, NJ. were on the fine
steamer Matilda. Captain Kirwan, who is
very much of gentleman, and everything
left in his charge will be properly attended
to-. A great deal of freight is sent to
Baltimore by this line of steamers. The
Matilda had on board 500 bbls. of oysters,
any quantity of grain, chestnuts, cattle,
n0nlfru 70 Notb;on