Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-08-19
LETTER FROM WooDsToOK.
'Woopsroo1K. VA Anens. + & 1s7ei


WoopsTooK. Va, August S, 1873:
mfr. 1gditor:-You discover lam swinging
'ronnd the circle largely. Bidding adieu to
Warrenton on the afternoon of Wednesday,
the 9th. I was set down at the Relay House.
on the b. q o. r.. r., at.9 O'Clock that night.
As ever, the usual annoyance Of changing
from rail car to boat, aud from boat to omnisl
bus, between Alexandria and the Washington
depot, chafes the traveller. Will it ever
cease? Why not make and have through
connection, either by the air or by tunnel?
i believe Col. Scott, the President of the
Pennsyl Central, has effected this de-
ssirable object in his Southern connection with
the Baltimore and Potomac road, over which
he'has control Passengers go right through
by railroad to Alexandria, and on South with
out anyevexatious change. Toeffect this Mr..
Scott encountered the opposition Of Mr.. Gar
rett of the Baltimore and Ohio, but in the
war of the giants the former Striumphed. I
believe Mr.. Garrett is building road through
Maryland that will terminate opposite Alex
andria, the passengers ito !be transferred over
the river bysboat. This will, ito some extent,
obviate the difficulties encountered.
From the Relay we were transferred by
carriage to the home of Reuben Dorsey, Esq,
eight miles distant, in Howard county. Our
road for two or three miles wound among alb
rupt hills, many Of them topped by beautiful
residences, built by gentlemen from the city
as summer homes. Then the country opened
up more level in its surface, and the regular
farming interest showed itself. rec ,gnized
along the road old acquaintances among the
trees, that was familiar with in the county
of Stafford, Va, long, long ago, indicating
thin soil-such as the chestnut, chiuquapin.
frooo md L..
long to narrow belt of country, for. a little
on I discovered black oak, dogwood and
shickory growing, showing a stronger soil
naturally. But all this country has been
drained of its best elemcuts. The modern
fertilizers have to be used freely to produce
wheat and corn. Tobacco, the great product
fifty or more years ago, has brought about its
poverty. Mine host Mr.. Dorsey, (whoby the
by was college mato of lawyer Travers)
belongs in the line of the original Dorsey,
who way back in Colonial days obtained a
grant from the Grown to 80, 600 acres, which
he himself surveyed, two Indians carrying
the chain, who received in pay 1000 acres Of
the land. The country around me is beau~
tifully undulating, we'll adopted to farming.
icing only five miles from the large W ley
Grove camp meeting held by Southern Meth-
odistg fro,a Baltimore, on Sabbath, with the
family, went to this feast of Tabernacles
l found large number of tents pitched,
nearly 200. great congregation gathered,
numbering thousands, aud fifteen or twenty
ministers. l spent two days at this great
spiritual gathering, during which time L
heard able sermons, especially those of I,ishop
Marvin, of. Missouri, and DIR. Edwards of
Virginia. On Tuesday left by rail, stopped
day at Charlestown, which was delightful
eDisode in travel of cOnrse look ed in unon ~
Court of Appeals, and now, find myself at
the old shire town ofshenandoah, Woodstock,
whore four years ago I lived, when in the
Providence of God my health gave way. 1
find many changes hero as elsewhere, have
taken place. PHI cally the old town is look
ing up. New b.-..dings have been erected,
the paint and the brush have been at work,
and Frightening scenes are on every hond-
Some gentlemen of this neighborhood have
invented and patented what is pronounced to
be perfect thing in itself. lime and fertI-
1cer sprcader, desidaratum that has never
before been supplied. 1t has been tested and
proved to be complete affair, and will likely
prove source Of wealth. The purpose is to
establish maRufuctory of the Improvement
here on large scale, giving employment to
hundreds of hands doubtless, and dsbursing
thousands of dollars in this community. All
honor to the genius of old Shenandoah. Tho
season is very fine about here, and the grows
ing crop is luxuriant. l am the guest at
present, of Rev. James IT. March, who is we'll
known and loved in Charlestown, who was so
fortunate to get his better half there, n lady
who brought him not only some of the cone
thing needful," but in her self fortune more
to be priced than piles of gold and silver
Yours truly, TIMOTHY.