Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-08-03
FROM Virginia.
THE Observation-Disclosures ,yt.
Correspondence Of the Commercial
ALENANnn1A VI. Inlv

THE CROPS -DRoUGHr-PoLlrICAL tt.
Correspondence Of the Commercial
ALEXANDRIA, Va, July 20
The appearance Of the country around here is
very discouraging to farmers. There has been
no rain to wet the ground for more than two
inches since tie first of April, and everything is
completely dried up. The early peaches are
rpening about the size Of walnuts, all skin
and stone and the late ones are driving up
without ripenng at all. Corn which was planted
early has no ears on it at all the continued heat
having kept 1t from setting. and unless rain
comes soon, that which was planted late will fol-
low suit. None but the farmers who have
meadow land have any hay crop, and very few
have any wheat Streams which have never
gone dry within the memory of the oldest inhab-
liant are dry this summer, and Hunting creek
upon which the city depends for its supply Of
water is so low that the Cameron tlour mills,
which also depend upon it for power, are unable
to run The Potomac is beginning to be brack-
sh up even as far as Mt Vernon, on account of
the small quantity of fresh water flowing into il
The political situation here much resembles
that in Delaware The Old Democratic party
accustomed to a good solid majority in AleXan-
dria, are making strong efforts to swallow the
Dolly Warden candidate and platform. They
will probably succeed well enough to give the
city to Greeley IN the fall, but the struggle is
much like that Of snake with toad which is
entirely too large,-it takes long time to get it
down.
Washington is as dusty as it usually is at this
time Of year, and looks very inactive and lazy
as it generally does when Congress is not in sen-
sion. The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad has
completed it7 bridge across the Potomac by the
side OF the Long Bridge, and now runs through
trains from Baltimore to Richmond. The fare
from Washington to Baltimore by the new road
s only one dollar, while by the old it is one dollar
twenty cents but the inconvenience Of getting and
to and from its station in Baltimore as vet conn
terbalances the difference in fare. When the
tunnel s cut through to the Calvert street sta
tion OF the Norten Central Railway it will be
quite convenient. The route of the road. below
Washington follows the line Of the Orange
Alexandria and Manassas Il Il. for about fifteen
miles, and then bends to the southwest toward
Acquia Creek, where it makes connection with
the richmond and Fredericksburg Il. Il. for
richmond. The city Of Alexandria very foolisll-
ly asked the company an eXorDitant price fort
privilege OF running through, and so the first
route adopted, which led down the river close
to Mt. Vernon had to be abandoned aud uart
of the country between Alexandra and Acco-
tink which much needs the benefit of tile road
is left without 1t. After the city found that tho
Railroad really would not pay the price demand
ed they compromised. but not until there had
been good deal Of work done on the oth,l
route. so that the road comes to Alexandria but
not to the other part OF the country which most
needs it 1t is to be hoped tlat more energetic.
far-seeing set Of men will get at the head Of the
city government soon. who will know better than
TO drive away the benefits OF such public i'm
provementa as railroads, etc. X