Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-03-14
The Piedmont District of Virginia.

| reaclieu Tnllauepllla III QdyDredh, ueAl Ddltl-
more, where We saw grand set Of horses,
used by the railway company to convey the
trains across the town, something like the Lon
don carriage horse, but with more substance;
| passed though Washington, and reached Al
| exaudra at 6 u H. on the 2Gth Of May. L av-
ing our luggage at the station Tor in American
parlalIcr our baggage at the depot, We sailed
forth to inspect the town, which we found laid
out in large squares, called there blocks, but
| partially built over, many houses only recently
finished, gardens full Of flowers, roses III tuIl
| bloom. We were directed to the Mansion
| House Hotel as the best, and found it on a
large scale, making up 100 beds, and having All
e>tute agency in connection with it. Finding
that We came to look for land, We were able to
make good terms for a tortnights stay. For u
good doube-bedded room. three meals day;
breakfast at seycn--tca, coffee hot meats, iced
milk. and tea; excellent dinner at two, and
supper the same as breakfast; We paid Sls
each Next day We took walk round the
town. The country bears in many ways the inl
press of the late war We We're surprised TO
tiud wheat so forward, as it would DC ready to
cut ID fortnight The country generally
is unduatng or, as they call it here, rolling; the
soil Of reddish colour, much like land III
Northampton>hire, and very deep (Gft. to lott. },
well adapted for making bricks, Of which Alex
audria is built We saw very good crops ut
wheat and red clover. Alexandria is six miles
from Washington; there is hourl y commuuica
ton between them. We made arrangements
with Messrs Green & Wise, estate agents that
their travelling agent Mr.. Freeman, should
show Us over some Of the best farms on their
books
We started by the 8 a. m train: accompanied
| by MIR. Freeman; got out at station about
Fifty miles south west OF Alexandria, and walk
cd over faru about two miles off; 400 acres
very nice small house. in capital repair; land OF
good quality, bu: badly cultivated Price ask
ed ~ an acre, worth, say, e.. Two miles
further on we viewed another farm, 4UU acres
with IA much larger house twelve good-seized
roolus), also in very good repair; price fl an
acre worth ES adjoining this farm lies the
estate OF MIR. c., weIi-known all through Nlr-
ginia as being one OF the best in the Piedmont
district, 1900 acres All the timber house,
and fencing were burnt III the war. He has
since built up small house, well fenced most
of his estate aud has it in good state Of cu
tivaton the crops looked very we'll. This Is
quite picked estate, for which he asked
high figure, Il an acre (g0ud value tor 9SJ
Mr.. G. took us all i'll for the night; We passed
II very pleasant evening. sitting III The reraniah
aud humung- bird moths (here called lightning
bugs and tobacco bugs. All the lands W.
viewed this day are called red land 1t is held
10 high estimation except wheE too light, when
it washes in the heavy rains. 1t Is capable OF
growing to perfection wheat, oats. Indian corn.
very fine clover, aud cocktool and catstall
grass, Of which can be cut very large crops OF
excellent hay. Little hay is used, however,
owing to the quantity Of fodder they have from
the Indian corn s;alks which is preferred to il.
On May 81, after an early breakfast, walked
to Brandy station, about Two miles. crossed the
railway, and walked on five miles through i
timber district, which was mostly cut down by
the troops in the war for firing. Came to a
farm of Dr. B $ very useful land; mixture OF
chocolate, red, and white soil. Saw some very
tine fields Of wheat The land is adapted for
grazing: the blue grass growing naturally IS the
stantial frame building, with little addition
might be made very comfortable. Here We
took up our quarters for the night, and were
attended by coInred servant Of the doctor s,
who made US very comfortable. The doctor S
farm consists Of 400 acres; his price was Is,
but it should lie buught for less money, owing
to the distance from railway station (slx miles,.
[ forgot to mention that for our pedestrians
tour of inspection my friend and had provided
ourselves with napsacks upon a novel principle,
but by far the best have seen. They consist
OF two shapes, one l5n by l0in., aud BIN.
deep; the other just fitting over it, made OF
strong patent leather giving the power of ex.
pansion and deprcssion and by simple ar
rangement of straps made to adjust to the
shoulders As an ordinary knapsack They car
~ a change of light clothing. three shirts,
handkerchiefs, socks. slippers, and brushes,
the whole weighing Alb. Carrying our own
> luggage made IL quite independent OF convey
anceS.
After breakfast We walked on to Cul pepper
(six or seven miles,. Passed through IL good
country producing grand crops of red clover,
which is here used to plough in for wheat not
being required for hay Culpeper is flourish
ing little town, with u very fair hotel close to
the station, kept by Capt Thompson. We
went to see an estate three miles from the sta
ton; very good house, fifteen fine large rooms,
with 100 acres of superior land, 80 acres IN
fine timber: the crops looked very we'll indeed.
The house escaped being burnt down, owing to
its having been used as one of the headquar-
tiers of the Federal army. Here We. spent the
night, and were very Hospitality treated. fl0
an acre is asked for the estate worth fS)
Next we went to see Mr.. HIS farm, about a
mile from station, quite i new house, With
fifteen rooms in perfect order, and elegantly
furnished; substantial outbuildings, COO acres
of good land in fine order, but rather too billy
Mr.. II. wished to sell his estate, furniture
crops, and stock for sl2 an acre. Such oppoIr,,
tuuities do not often happen; t o an acre would
very likely have been taken. We returned to
Culpepper for the night
Next day my friend and | started to, view
Mrs r. farm in our shirt sleeves, with our
knapsacks as usual accompanied by Mr.; Free
man, who, having acted as sub sheriff, knew
the country WE'LL and whose good temper, at
tention and fund Of information cannot speak
too highly of: We arrived in the afternoon,
after rather a long step in the sun twenty
miles) at a fue large house, though much out
Of repair, situated in beautiful country, with
in ten miles of the foot Of the Blue Ridge
mountains We enjoyed much glass Of iced
water, which seems to be drunk here with I'M.
punity, however hot you may be- Walked
over the estate, about 300 acres 1000 under
cultivation: very good land perhaps better for