The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-10-10

EFDtia EsehsstOEsl TO sutsfa snsrrtoH.
Il Hu AoRovs 3NcsrENTs on THE w4g--GEsEnA1
AAAoNE Knows How no nTfLp AND 70 MANIAC,
II = sNAILR0An---ro LTTTCAE MEETING IN suF
ToLk--FLouR.sHlNa TRApE at FRANKLIN
LIr-~gOTTGN G1ss--CoTToN VS.. PEA
NoIs--s GsPrERNosa GRAPES, APPLE BRANDY
. AND AM. LUMBER sEAgoAID AND ROANOKE RAE,
hoAn--sEW cHuR C H-PRorRAcTEp MEET
iNa-suspAf-seHtoL pTo-NIc-EAT. TuR.
NER--GEfERAL GEORGE II. THoMAs--GrSrR 4,
MALONE. -"
FRANKLIN DEpoT,
SOUTHAMPTON co., Va, October 8, is72.
| a trip from Richmond to this point has .
good deal of variety and intcrest-at least
Tor Dispatch reporter who keeps his eyes
open and his pencil sharpened.
| Every foot of ground from Richmond to
Petersburg recalled some "Reminiscences of the
war. either sad. thrilling, or humorous. The
s'ght OF beautiful! mansion surrounded by q
grove reminded us of the following, which
we have never seen in print: As our column
was hurlying on to the defence of Peters
burg III the summer OF ga one Of cur o,ar.
t2rmasters selected this cool yard for his head.
quarters, and put up IA large placard on which
was written, Preserved for the exclusive
use OF Colonel --." This was the sub
Ject of many jests from our ragged BOYS, who
were marching rapidly along the hot, dusty
road, until one Of them stepped out of ranks
and wrote beneath our O. Ms Inscription.
"Colonel - ,riN hold his position at all
hazards and at achateusr cost" The Joke
was appreciated, and elected peas of laugh
ter from these hardy veterans, who never
enjoyed joke more kecnly than when it was
at the expense of one OF the @. MS or COM
misSarcS
Changing cars at the depot we saw little
OF the "Cockade City," and should be sorry
70 Judge it by the very poor dinner and OK
| oroltant Charge which we encountered at the
railroad eating-house.
"Bily Mahone's" ears were, of course,
| on time, aud we were soon whirling towards
Norfolk. The extensive breastworks and
forts thrown up by the Confcderates and
Federals during the siege of Petersburg
seem to have almost entirely disappeared, or,
at least, one sees but little trace of them from
the cars.
The Norfolk and Petersburg railroad is
one of the finest we have ever scen-as
straight as it seems possible to make it.
With scarcely any perceptibe grade, and all
| Of its material of the best quality and con-
struction, and with fine engines and coaches,
we make very good time, and with unusual
comfort to the traveller. This road was
originally built by General Malone, and
reflects the highest credit upon his talent as
al engineer as well as his ability us railroad
manager.
Spending night in the town of Suffolk,
we had an opportunity to hear IN exceed
ingy sensible Greeley and Brown speech by
Hon. John Il. kilby. 1t is thought that
there is very fair prospect of eecling Major
Baker Z. Lee 10 Congress from this district,
rs the breach between Platt and Norton
seems to widen.
have found this (Franklin) most thriv-
ing and pleasant little town. 1t is situated
on the Scaboard and Roanoke railroad. at the
bead OF navigation Oh the Blackwatcr. BY
steamers and so0ps it drives brisk trade
with Edenton, Plymouth, Murfrecsboro, and
other points in North Carolina, and has a
very considerable back country through
northumberland NanSemond from which to
draw.
There is here (as your correspondent can
testify from actual triad one of the very
best hotels in the State, and the stores are
large, Tiled with good, and conducted III
the most enterprising style. They have in
the outskirts OF the town one Of the largest
steam Saw-nil!s in the State and three large
cotton gins-one OF them worked by steam
and the others by horsepower. Cotton is
fast becoming ''king" in this region. just
after the war The peanut was he staple crop,
and fabulous sums were made by raising
them. But for several years the seasons
have been more mtaroraIle, and the prices
haze fallen. 1t las been suggested that the
decline of prices is due to the fact that Dr.
Bayne. "Uncle Specs.' and others of Under
woods " B:;,ck-lnd-I'an'' Convention went
out Of power and lost their per diem, so that
the FARMERS do not now raise such Lll3se crops
OF peanuts. but 20 more largely into The Guilt
yut!on OF cotton, which grows well in this re-
gion. These cotton gins pick ami bale the cot.
ton for oae-tarc,fh aud The seed, or they buy
the cotton in the seed. This county is famcu;
fol- Scuppernong grapes, which are very pro-
life and yecy delicious. 1t is also noted for
its apple brandy, which is produced in great
quantities, and is said TO he Of superior
quality. | have been told that the United
S.;tcS assessor has listed over 800 diStiicrics
in Southampton county. One would infer
from this statement that the temperance pco-
pic ought to send Il few missionaries to thi,
region. | am glad 70 say that there has been
reformation in Franklin, the number vi
bar.rooms having been reduced from five TO
one.
Lumber ia a most important source of
revenue TO this county. Saw-mllls are To-
Gated il: nearly every neighborhood. and at
Ivor Station there are five, driven by steam
and turning out immense quantities Of lum-
Der, for which there is ready sale. Hoop
poles, barrel and hogShcad sta"es, shingles,
latlss, g., form most important trade.
The Sca50ard and Roanoke railroad seems
to be doing an immense business, if we may
judge from the number and length of the
freight trains that pass along the road.
There has been just completed here very
neat Baptist church, which reflects credit
upon the libcrality and enterprise Of the conf
muuity. For several days there has been in
this house protractcd meeting, in which
the pastor, Rev. DR.. i. Paul Repiton, has
been assisted by Rev. j. William Jones, oil
Richmond. Rev. \. Z. Owen, of Ports
mouth, arrived to-day. Rev. Il. Hume, ST.,
of Norfolk, is expected, and the meeting is
to be continued all the week and probably
longer.
We learn that the Christian Sunday Schoo
ut Chuckatuck had Oil yesterday grand
picnic, which was cnliveued by recitation>
from the children and addresses by Reys
w. b. Wcllons and J. I. Whitley.
We hear the old people tell thrilling incl
dents Of the Nat. Turner Instruction, whicl
occurred in this county. And interesting Incl
dents Of the late warure also rife The Black
water was the line between the belligerents
and Southampton was remarkably free
from Federal invasion or depredatiOnS. Thi:
is attributed by many to the influence Of
General George II. Thomas, who was ma
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