The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-10
Warren.


CRAZE CULTURE AsD THE vISTAGE-THE BEL
MONT wISEs-sIGSAL MOrNThIN--THE COR
louisville AND CHESTER Gar RAILROAD.
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispa,ch.]
FRONT ROYAL, WARREN COUNTY, VA.,1
September ), 1873.
/ ba1e just returned from visit to Bel
mont. the residence Of NJ. b. Buck, Esq,
distant two miles from here, whom we found
to be whole-souled, generous Nirginian :;
and while there we were kindly shown
through his extensive vineyards. apple and
peach orchards, and winc.ceIlars. was
truly astoniShcd to find the Belmont vine
yards and orchards so extensive, for they
have grown famous for the purity and excel
lcnce of their wines and magnificent fruits.
What do you think, Mr.. Editor, of sew enty.
five acres in grapes, of casks holding about
one thousand gallons Of wine or brandy
each, OF one hundred acres in apple and
peach orchards. The stock now ready for
market would suppose to be worth about
100000, and the capital invested in lands,
buildings, machinery, and other improve
mcnts is at least 100000 more. The grapes,
apples, and peaches here are Of magnificent
size and unsurpassed flavor and excellence.
Such crops these fruits the eye rarely ever
rested on.
The Catawba grape, generally tender,
grows here as perfect rs dollhouse fruit.
This is the secret of the superior excellence
of the wines and brandies made Mt this
place the perfection Of The fruit. His stock
is decidedly the best have tasted of Ameri-
can manufacture, and would pass well for a
fine brand OF real German Hook. His red
wines are, however, his specially, and are
particularly commended. Taking the sug-
gestion of my host that red wines should
not be drunk with ,rhite, l am unable to
speak from the card. The brandy made
from wine is certainly very superior. The
perfect order and neatncss so manifest in
the handling OF his wines and brandies is
the best guarantee Of their fine quality.
The whole Of this immense establishment is
under the immediate supervision and man
agemcnt Of the proprietor, NJ. b. Buck, Il
sclf-nmde, systematic, and energetic gentle.
man. Would that we had more.
VISITED too, Signal Mountain" $50 called
from being used during the late war rs 4
"signal station" and one of the highest points
of the many spurs Of the Blue Ridgc,) and
Il more beautiful view mortal eye never be-
held than is seen from its summit. In your
front and to Your right and left you survey
the fertile valleys OF Piedmont and Shcnan-
dcah, and in your rear the Luray Valley
to this add the smooth and respondent
waters of the north and south branches of
the Shenandoah cUursing their way slowly
down to Il point near this town. where by
their junction they form the Shenandoah
river proper, and all this intcrspersed with
neat little country towns and handsome re-
>dcnceS to the distance of forty miles on
either side, and you may perhaps form an
imperfect idea of this really grand panorama
made still more attractive by the many now
historical events enacted here during our late
war.
In riding down the mountain on our re-
firm and taking one more view OF the beau
tifrl country around. could but think OF
Moses when the Lord led him on the noun
t,ip and pointed out to him " The promised
Land " (which, however, he was not allowed
TO cnter), Will we of Richmond ever be al
lowed to enter here and SHIRE with ON
brother Nircinans their prosperity and
build I'D Richmond and other Virginia
cities, or must we and they still continue &c
make this part of our State tributary to FOR
EGS cities and aid their growth!
Vow. if ever, MIR. Editor, arouse our bust.
ness men to the important fact that some
thing must be speedily done to secure
the trade of this magnificent country
for Richmond, or it will be lost to lis for
ever. Baltimore is eycrting her utmost to
secure the trade of This whole rich valley,
and already she has one railroad here entire.
" in her interest. But what | suggest to
divert the products Of this garden spot" OF
VIRGINIA TO Richmond is for our city to assist
in the speedy construction OF the Chester
Gan aud GordonSyille railroad, which would
be Il most important feeder TO our young
piant the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
The distance from Front Royal to Gordons-
Vile is only sixty miles, and build this Ches-
fer Gan and Gordonsvic railroad and
these prosperous people would be thirty
miles nearer to us by rail than they arc
now 10 Baltimore. 1t would pass through
4 rich part Of Orange county, and through
the heart Of the fertile counties OF Madison
and Rappalrlnnock, and enter the noble
county of Warren through Chester Gap
without any tunnel. Here. ut the growing
and cntcrpriSing town Of Front Royal tits
western telminl>). this road would inlcrScct
the Washington City, Virginia Midland and
Great Southern railroad, securing Il portion OF
its travel and freight, and commanding Il
GOOD part of the trade of Page, Rappallan-
mock. Clarke, Fau1uicr, Frederick, and She
nandoal counties. cannot comprehend
how Richmond can be so blind to her
best interests as to allow others again
to step in and drive another stake
against us. The people of this county,
and, indeed, of every county along the line
of this railroad, are anxious for It's IMMEDIATE
CONSTRUCTION. They offer the rig ut OF way,
and will subscribe us literally as they call 10
its stock. Should our city be called upon
to aid the Chester Gap and Gordonsvllle rail-
road she would, in my humble opinion,
stand very much in her own light to refuse
it. The Warren Sentinel, Il LIVE Conser'a'
tive paper here, is doing all in its power to
have this road built as soon as possible, ana
know that you will aid it in its praise
worthy efforts in behalf of so important 4
road to lis and the Valley. But l know tins
subject, in your hands, will find due consid,
Grafton, for you are known to be ALIVE to all
our Richmond interests; and having already
taken more of your valuable columns than L
intended am, yours. w.