Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-10-06
Letter from Southwestern Virginia

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Letter from Southwestern Virginia.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
WYTnEv1LLE, Va, Sept. 90, lS70.-Wythe-
ve,as most of your good readers know,s sit
uated in Southwestern Virginia, on the Eir-
einia and Tennessee Air Line Railroad (famll-
iarly known as Billy Mahone's) on the West
crn slope of the Allegheny mountains, and
contains about (2,O00) two thousand inhab-
tants.
The Southwestern Agricultural Society held
their annual fair at this place. 1t is DOW 10
progress and of it will write. This section
OF the State has long been noted for its fac
stock, and Wythe county takes the lead. The
display of thorough breds is not to be exceled
in this State if in any otber-many OF the
largest and best known stock raiSers were eX.
hibitors, and each had rare specimens.
In such county as this you will not wooder
that the hotels give you good bcef-steak, but
ter milk, &c.
The display of horses was not as good as one
would expect, and would doubtless be much
better if horses had ''hornS," for it is self cvi
dent that the animal that "cheweth the cud'
aud "partcth the hoot' is the iavorite here.
| even heard it remarked and with much re.
gret that the Agricultural Society took much
more pains to provide good comfortable quar-
ters for the stock than tor the ladies. Reason,
they, poor things, didn't have ''horus," and
as We have had Two rainy days, they have sut-
tered much, but have borne it nobly.
What is true of the horses is also true of
the Department Of Agricultural implements.
This department IS usually one Of much inter
est, but here the display was very meagre.
Among the few implements on exhibition,
however, 1 noticed assortment Of Koutts
Flows from Orange county, a Walter A. Wood
mower from Alexandria, Drill, Cider Press,
Hay Rake, patent churn, (which is sure to
bring fortune TO the inventors), AID halt
dozen other traps not worthy of mention.
Owing to the rain the race track was IN very
bad condition, and the races things are called
by their right names hcre) were less exciting
than they otherwise would have been.
Among the objects of interest / must not
forget to mention that of little girl four years
of age whose body is entirely covered with
hair, one of the most curious freaks OF ma.
lurc' that ever saw. The head is covered
with dense growth of raven black hair. The
eyelashcs are fully an inch long, while coat
ing OF hair covers her whole face, neck, arms
and limbs
She was born in an adjoining county and
tGlS is Der nrst appearance 10 puOnc. llOSe
who have her in charge propose to take her to
all the principal places in the State, and Alex
andria may be favored with call. The curious
will be sure to visit her.
10 what have said of Wythevie and her
fair ~ do not wish to cast reflection deroga.
tory OF her worthy citizens who have been
unusually kind aud hospitabe to the crowds
who have come here. The public accommo-
dations are limited, and the fair grounds are
not yet completed.
10 the good time to come, hope to come
here again, and find mprovementa-at the
hands of the society in their grounds and man.
agcment.
Rich in mineral, with soil productive, espe.
cially 10 pasturage and grain, climate which
is without the rigor of several winters, and
people alive to their own interests and that OF
the State [ conuot but predict glorious fu.
ture for the great southwestern valley Of Vir-
gina.
Passengers by the Consolidated Line see but
little OF the glorious country, as the only pas.
sauger trains either vay from Bristol to Lynch
burg ruo at night. OF the management OF the
llnc will not speak, only to say it affords less
accommodation to the travelling public and to
the people along the line than any road |
know OF. Let those who m ay not have spoken
favorably Of the o, A. l. NJ. r. r., take
trip this way and see fur themselves. | am no
d. Ii. on the Orange road but speak facts.
There are to be several other Fairs in the
State, and If agreeable you will hear from me
again. s.