Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-08-28
VIRGINIA NEWS.

Marcus Buck. He is the pioneer OF vine grow
ing in Virginia. Judging from his success it
will become great interest in the mountains
of the State. He has IS acres in vines, 10
acres of which arc now bearing. He cultivates
principally the Concord, Ives and Catawba
but has nearly all the standard varieties, OF
grapes. He employs Mr.. Fail, an intelligent
German vine dresser, and seems to think the
Concord the most reliable for vineyards. MIR.
Buck expects to make ten thousand gallons OF
wine and one thousand gallons of brandy this
season. He is also the poSsessor OF an orchard
Of superb peaches.
Joseph H. Ham, Postmaster ut Stanards-
vile, Green county, was before Commissioner
Buffum, Saturday, charged with refusing post
Office stamps; opening letters not addressed to
him; removing stamps from letters and en-
velopes for the purpose Of reusing them; and
for Improper cancellation of stamps. In de-
fault of ball. fixed at $4,000, he was commit
ted to jail.
The Warrenton Index says:-'We hear
complaints from all parts Of Fauquier county OF
drouth. 1t will shorten late crops of corn, and
as pasturage fails necessitate the feeding OF
stock. Mill races in this region are almost
without water; and consumers are being sup,
piled with corn meal from Alexandria and
Baltimore"
The Virginia Star says "A farmer from
upper Stafford informs US that the cholera Is
quite prevalent in that section, and that many
farmers have lost all their hogs in consequence
oft"
The Stanton (Na.) Nirginian understands
that the friends of the respective proposed
routes Of the Valley railroad are actively at
work.
The amount of the State debt funded at the
treasurer Office on Saturday was $3.50. o.69,
making the total to date $40, $40, 045.5I.
Mr. Jefferson Davis and lady arrived liz
Richmond on Saturday evening. They leave
to-day for the White Sulphur
OLD TINES. A correspondent Of the Bos-
ton Journal writes from Hampshire county:
Mass:
We are domiciled with a patrarcha pair,
who more than dozen years ago celebrated
their golden wedding and who, coming to
this homestead in the beauty of youth, have
changed only into the beauty Of old age with
hearts fresh and young as when they, sixty.
three years ago, clasped hands in pledge OF
eternal fellowship. Near by are the ruins Of
school-house, the walls of which once echoed
to the shouts of eighty urchins, representing,
however, only about eight families, showing
that in olden times one OF the first scrlptura
commands was faithfully obeyed. We hear Of
il mother of twenty-five children who once WAS
dweler on this hillside Now there is not
probably district in town that numbers over
twenty pupils, and the ruins OF scores of houses
are pointed out, with farms overgrown with
weeds, indicating the depopulation of our hill
| towns.
When our host first came here to live, it was
no uncommon thing for dozen stages to stop
daily at the tavern on the hill. en- route to
Boston or Albany. Our informant recalls the
sight of artillery wagons passing to and fro on
this old stage route in the war Of 1872. Now
the appearance of Il single stagecOach Is the
event of the day, as it brings tidngs from the
outside world Of railroad and telegraph. In
those iar-away years there were no matches
save those made in heaven, and 1t was no unu-
s,lal thing to wade through snow-driit half
mile on a wintry morning, to the nearest neigh
Dor for few live Goals for the breakfast fire.
Post Office and grist mills required goodly
part of the day to reach bnt life was full of sim;
pie rural pleasures, and with Il well-stockcd
library this venerable pair have walked the up
ward pathway, waiting patiently for the sun
light to illumne the mountain top, and for the
voice which will bid them Come up higher.
FAIRFAX COUNTY From the Fairfax coun-
ty News. "A certified copy of q resolution of
the Board of Public Works has been received
for record in the clerks office transferring to
this county, the State s interest in the several
turnpikes traverSing the county. We do not
know the amount Of stock which has thus be-
come vested in the county, but it must repre-
sent quite a large amount 1t is chiefly valua-
ble however, for the influence it will give the
county in the management Of the roads, as the
people, will through the Board Of Supervisors,
be enabled to enforce better attention to their
interests, than he's heretofore prevailed.
Mr.. n. S. Wright, residing near Accotink,
states that Miss Hannah Mcpherson, lost
valuable COW on Wednesday last, for which she
had just paid $50, by being choked in attempt
ing to swallow green hard peach. The COW
lived thirty-six hours after the peach had
lodged in her throat The same gentleman in
forms us that the hog cholera has been very
serious in Mt. Vernon Township. MIR. Will
liam Ward of High Point has lost seventy
odd head, Mr. Richard Windsor OF "Hayfed'
about one hundred head and other neighbors
have lost smaller numbers. It's said the feed
ing OF salt fish to the hogs has resulted in ar
resting the disease.
On Thursday last while Mr. Eda Watkins,
was feeding threshing machine at Mr.. B.
Canfcld's in this place, his left arm was caught
by the spike in the cylinder and torn off within
three inches of the elbow.
A man named Spillman, was on Monday
committed TO the Jail Of this county, convicted
before Justice Croker of Falls Church, of
erecting a booth and engaging in the sale of
liquor ut the camp meeting near that place, in
violation of the act Of the Legislature. The
Justice ordered him to pay $50 for the benefit
Of the county. But he was unable to liqudate,
and So he was sent to Jail.
NOVEL EXPERIMENT. "A gentleman of this
city who has been troubled with neighbours
fowls. and had repeatedly cautioned him to
keep them at home without avail hit on the
expedicnt. as he didn't wish to kill, of shooting
them with water He charged his gun with
powder, and placed tallow wad over it, and
poured in comfortable charge of water, over
which he placed another talow wad Thus
prepared for the foul experiment, he awaited
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