The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-01
LETTER FROM RICHMOND, IA.
The City Nearly Rebuilt-Chesapeake
and Ohio Kaflroad-The Coffee Trade
-Spotswood HoteI--A Returning
ProdiSaI. Z
rrsox AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT

RICHMOND, July n.
A visitor to this city would scarcely recog-
nize the Richmond Of '65 as the Richmond Of
III. Then, square after square of the finest
portions ot The city presented only heaps of
ruins. Deso,ation and distress were every
where seen Now, the Esburnt district has
been almost entirely rebuilt, and with class
of buildings superior to the original edifces
in point OF architectural beauty and convent
ence. Main street, in Richmond, presents an
appearance not unlike Broadway, In New
York.
Since the war the business ns Richmond has
not been so prosperous as before that time.
The prospect is, however, Frightening, and
the business men are becoming far more
cheerful The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad,
between Richmond and the Ohio, is being
pressed to completion, and 1t Is thought when
this Is finished 1t will hold the same relation
to Richmond that the Baltlmore and Ohio
Railroad sustains to Baltimore. Besides this,
Richmond Is fast regaining her coffee trade.
Anterior to the slate unrleasantness.h Rich
mond was one Of the best. If indeed not the
best, coffee market in tue United States, and
tor this reason : Tine foir manufactured here
sus:aius less injary fou. climate influences IL
crossing the tropics than flour manufactured
at any other place. Vessels were accustomed
to bring in their careoes of coffee, and 10 re-
turn laden with -four. Tie mills of the city
can now manufacture four thousand barrels OF
-four per day, and could easily increase their
capacity to ten thousand q day when neces-
sary. When Richmond gets back her coffee
trade, as she probably will do, her prosperity
will no longer be doubtful.
The municipal government OF the city Is
very satisfactory TO the citizens. Nearly all
the Office are filled by men OF high standing
and respectability, among whom may be num-
bered many.of the old inhabitants.
Preparations are now being made to rebuild
the Spotswood Hotel on its former site, and on
grander SCALE a curious discovery was
made by the workmen who are excavating
the foundation for the new building. In dig
ging several feet deeper than the base Of the
former walls, they came to an old lanyard
which had been buried thirty or forty feet
beneath the level of main. street. Several OF
the vats were covered over, and In one OF them
perfect preservation, and not less, probably,
than century old. 1t has excited much in-
terest among the antiqua1ians.
Your correspondent was travelling few
days ago between Washington and Richmond,
when he observed among his fellow-passen
gers gentleman of somewhat "foreiSn" ap-
pearance, with his family, (as pets,) two mon
keys and two parrots. My interest was arous-
ed, and managed to fall into conversation
with him. He said that he was South Caro-
linian, that at the close Of the war he was 80
much disheartened that he emIgrated to South
America, but that now he was returning home
to do his duty to his dear old State. I mention
his example as one ,worthy.ot imitation by Gil
who have since the war forsaken their homes
for foreign parts. L.