The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-06-03
letter from Huntington.


HUNTINGTON, May 30, 1872.
There are few persons who realize the ra-
pidity with which Il city can be built unless
they have been witnesses TO the fact. One
year AGO Huntington was city on paper,
now it is rcs, city um fG,t GccOmpH one
wear ago there were only three houses in the
plpcc, to-day there arc nearly two hundred
one wear ago there was but one hotel in the
place. and ut that an agent and an engineer
we're often the only ones who sat down to din
ncr. to-day there are four hotels; and at least
ten clearinghouse, and the arriyalSa al the two
principtl hotels average twenty per day ; one
year ago the site OF the city was renlcm-
bercd only ASIAN orchard and corn-uiicld; to-
day there are miles of streets graded and full
of busy men and horses aiding on the won
drols car Of progress. Alas that l must
add, one year ago there were no grog-shops;
to-day there are at least twelve "whiskey
mills" in full blast, grinding out ruin and
unhappiuesS for the people; 1t is even so, and
We sec the evidence of their handiwork in
men who have been known as respected cti-
Zens sometimes lying in the streets dead
drunk. This is said to be one of the penal
ties of progress, but have never recognized
the necessity therefor. Our city ththers have
granted licenses enough they should "put
uOWn Tic uiIu SSlC" bhSliI
Excuse NV lnoraliZng. TO return TO our
Great deal in the matter of Improvement,
and is still doing much. They have built a
fine, large freight depot on the river front, on
a level with the railroad, from which al in
clincd plane with two tracks runs to the
whart-boat at the river. This Is for the con-
yenience of transferring general freight
from the boat to the cars and nee ccrSd.
The cars on the plane will be worked by
a stationary engine of sufficient Iower
located under the freight depot. BY this
means goods can bc transferred very rapidly
and very safely. At the company's coal-land-
ing another plane is constructed, by which
the cars can DC run to the waters edge (onto
a movable platform, which can be placed ac-
=cording to the depth Of water in the channeD
and dumped Immediately into the bargcs or
flats. The cars run by their own weight Oh
this plane. and the descending full Car fur
nshes the power TO raise the empty one to
the level of the road. The splendid new
passenger depot at the intersection of Ninth
street and the railroad is up one story, and
will be an ornament to the city. 1t is being
built of brick, with fine stone corners and
trimmings. Technically, it is brick wall
with cut-stone coping, plinths, quoins, and
piers. | will speak Of the round-house, ma
chine shops, &C., in future letters.
According to appointment, the tournament
t-lne off on last Saturday, and was the occa-
sion of much innocent enjoyment to the
Young folks of the town. After an eloquent
address by Ii. Chester Parsons, Esq, the
knights, gracefully attired and mounted on
splendid horses, did their devoir for the
guerdon of "lair woman's smiles" In the
words of Sir John Froissart, "after noble
and grand picnic" great numbers of knights
arrived and made themselves ready for the
tournament. 1t was held in "Johnson's
grove" and there were twenty knights.
This tournament was very handsome; the
tits were well performed, and lasted Il con-
siderable time. A young knight called
"Will Parsons, Knight of the Flying Cloud"
won the prize, who crowned the Queen of
Beauty after very eloquent coronation adj
dress by j. III. Layne, Esq, Il talented young
lawyer, formerly OF Highland county.
ON Sunday morning one of the inevitable
crimes from Kerosene oil took place. Aman
named Smith, who owned and lived in
large two-story floating hotel lying at the
river-bank here, being sick and his family
sitting up with him, some Of them under
took to rcplcnish the oil in Kerosene lamp
while it was lit. The consequence was that
it exploded and set the room in a blaze,
which rapidly spread through the boat and
destroyed it with everything in it. The man
had his money, about $500, under his pillow,
and told his wife to save it but, woman
like, she cared first for her husbands safety.
us he was unable to help himself, and then it
was too late to saye the money. They saved
nothing, not even clothing for their daily
wear. and had no insurance. The citizens
here have contributed literally to relieve
their necessities.
Yours, D.