The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-22
Dismal Swamp Land Company.

The history and operations of this company
arc very interesting. 1t is All old corpora
ton. When we first knew it, forty years
since. MARSHALL PARKS, Of Norfolk, was its
president, and now his son, Colonel MAR
SHALL PARIS, the delegate from Norfolk,
holds the position. Its labors consist Of cut
ting canals and opening inland navigation
upon thc interior lakes, rivers, and sounds,
living between Norfolk and Pamlico Sound.
The company own an immense body of land
upon the Dismal swampand elsewhere contig-
uolls. 1t is covered by the most magnificent
forest. in which is found some Of the finest
timber in the world, while submerged be-
meath the waters and their muddy bed are
found immense trees which have lain there
for years, and which are even better timber
than the new fallen trees. BY the aid of in
gcnious machinery these submerged trees are
sounded and their dimensions ascertained;
after which they arc sawed into convenient
lengths and raised. These large bodies, that
have lain for perhaps thousands of years
under the swamp, are found to be the best
and most durable of all timber.
Thus we see the possessions Of this COM
plny rich in resources on the top and away
down in the deep beds which have not been
disturbed for many centuries.
The extent of navigation upon the inland
seas which are the scene of this company's
operations embrace the immense distance of
eighteen hundred miles. They have line
of lighters and steamtugs which extends
from Norfolk to New York Uia Baltimore
and Philadelphia--the entire way by the in
land waters. They also convey immense
bodies of logs to different points OH the way
on the SusqNehannah, the Delaware, &c
where they are sawed up. In this waya raft
of q mile In length has been lowed by q
steantug from the Dismal swamp to the
Delaware river.
But one Of the most interesting lights in
| which we may regard the enterprises of this
important company is the prospective re-
claiming of their vast acres of swamp land
from the water as well as the forest, and their
appropriation to the uses ofagriculture. Their
lands are as rich rs any in the world, and
once sufficiently drained they would teen
with products. The day is to come when
they will be regarded the granary of the At
lantic coast. Drought will not curtail their
yield, andlying upon nayiSable waters, their
products may be distributed with the great
est facility to every market. Three years
ago, when the drought had destroyed the
crops over large part of the State, we saw
a few farms in land that had been cleared in
the swamp, and their growing corn presented
picture of fruitfulness and abundance that
was enchanting after bcholding the blasted
fields Of the higher lands. They were seas
of waving green, and the birds, driven from
the upper country to find subsistence were
b,sily flying from stalk to stalk, nipping the
grains which appeared at the ends OF the grim
ming and bursting ears. There were numerous
| rcd-birds in the tlocks, and their brilliant hue,
contrasted with the living green, gave a
| trace OF the beauty that one may fancy to
have been in Paradise. If we may imagine
that all OF these vast swamp lands of the COM
pany were cleared and drained what world
of wealth they would yield to mankind!
The canals cut by the company have
drained some very rich land, part of which
has been put under cultivation, and they
have opened communication with Albcmarie
and Pamlico sounds, from which and the
riyer-c that EMMY into them thpra is n great
trade carried on with Norfolk and the north
ern cities through the swamp canal and via
the inland water route. The company's
lines Of lighters and tugs are most actively
engaged in this rich trade.
The labors of this company in the local.
ity which they are endeayoring to turn to
the best account promise a great deal of
wealth to the State, and we cannot but wish