Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-06-17

Ine Hftn hnnual To-uDlOn OF tH6 nlhIHlhnu liu-
itoral ASS seiation was held on the State of Vir-
qinia, of the York River Line of steamers on
Thursday last, in the Chesapeake bay, the first
link in the extended trip which they are now
taking TO the South and West. The party COM
sstH Of the editors and representatives Of thirty
one newspapers Qess than half in the State). and
honorary members, including Hon.W. ]. 0Brien,
Representative in Congress, from the Third dis
trict; Richard O. Hollyday, Secretary Of State
O. A. WALES, State Insurance Commissioner
Hon. Joseph Stewart, OF Baltimore; Fl. N. Gal
lagher. OF the Charlestown wv. Va.) Free Press,
and others. Hon. Isaac ID. Jones' accompanied
the party to Richmond. to make further inquiry
into the intcrmnable boundary question. The
exoursionists are under the conduct OF Major N,
II Hotchkiss. whose reputation as manager OF
excursion parties is national, and whose good
offices to the Maryland editors are highly appre-
ciable.
Lesving Baltimore at o'clock, on Thursday
the party proceeded down the bay by Steamer,
and after pleasant ride of about 13 hours en-
tered the York river at o'clock A. M on FRI
day. Historic ground stretched away along the
river on both sides, and traces both OF the kevo-
lutionary and our late war, were still perceptible
on either hand. At Yorktown, long lines of
earthworks remain. but broken at intervals, and
in the rear of the town ID located Federal bu-
rying ground in which flag pole Is rsised.
This also marks the spot where CORVALLIS sur
rendered to the Continental army. AT Glouces-
ter Point, opposite, several forts remain, and
Dahlgren gun, exploded. is still shown as a
relic OF the This was an important point
during the war. and vas fortified and garrison
ed by the Rebels with cartoon of soldiers"
as we were informed by native of the place.
At West Point the party disembarked from the
steamer and took the cars for Richmond, which
was reached after ride Of something over two
Waat Point ia m tha famOua paninEtla
where Mcclellan lost the glory which he had
previously won. and is located at the confluence
OF the Pamunkey and Mattapony rivers. The
road passes through the battle fields OF the
ChickAhominy and Fair Oaks, and earthwork
forti6cations are still visible at other points.
The country has only partially recovered from
the ravages Of the war, and devastation and pow
erty are widespread on both hands Even before
the war the country must have been in an inn
poverished condition, for a thick growth of pine
timber covers the greater part of the earth,
broken here and there by cultivated
fields in which stunted crops are growing.
Wheat is ripening for harvest, Dbt is only about
two feet hig and stands thnly. Corn is up, but
it is difficult to determine which will succeed i'll
vigor of its growth--the corn or the grass The
best cultivated farm we saw along the whole
route was that OF Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, known
as the ''Whto House and this was about like
| the average farm land in Sussex county. Even
| in the vicinity of Richmond the prospect bright
| ems not, save in the valley beyond the James,
| and the country This sluo, as lar us NoToOna-
vile. is but little better than that below Rich
mond. How tine people maintain themselves We
cannot imagine but n thcy exc out a living from
| the productions Of the soil 1t must be a slim
ono. In the valleys greater reeuperatiye
energy manifests ITSELF aud the fields stand
| thick with waving crops Of wheat and grass,
The hay crop is now being harvested Labor ls
plentiful, and when paid is readily obtained.
The hospitAlties OF Richmond were extended
| the excursionists aud they were welcomed by
| the Mayor of tho city. They were driven in
carriages through all the principal streets enter
| tanned at the Ballard and Exchange hotels, and
| treated with a consideration which almost equal
| ed an ovation. They were also tho guests OF
| Gen. Bradley T. johnson.
! Richmond Ia a peculiar city. In no part OF II,
save in portions OF Main and one or two aijoln-
irg streets, is it closely built up, but spreads
| ont for hve or six miles upon the hills which
overlook the James. There are really no hue
mansions in the CITY, such as are seen in Phla-
| depha, or even in Wilmington, but there are
many homes of comfort around nearly all OF
which are fine gardens The burnt portion OF
| tho city has been built up in magnificent style,
| and save this and distance OF about Ia miles
| on main street. with the public buildings, the
! city wears much the aspect of country town
| Tie Spottswood Hotel has not been rebuilt yet,
/ but will rise from its ashes this season. This
/ reminds us that in Richmond there is monopo-
lyof first-class hotels. the owners of the Ballard
having purchased the Exchange. and also the
/ lot upon which tho Spottswood stood, with the
/ view to rebuilding it.
| or one thing Richmond may we'll boast her
/ Hollywood Cemetery. 1t is lovely spot deep
| ly embowered in shade trees, with serpentne
| paths winding along the hilsides aud through
/ the ravines while the James murmurs urge
as it rolls along through it's rocky bed, at the
/ lower end In one end it has been given up 10
i the burial OF the Confederate dead, aud rough
i pyramidal grahite monument has been erected
| 10 their memory. Only week or two ago aOont
200 additional bodies were removed thereto
/ The remains OF Presldont Monroe are entomoen
IL this cemetery beneath handsome monument,
| while falling into decay, within few yards, is
the grave of President Tyler. NO storm wrecks
| the mound of earth that covers him, aud moth
ing but rude board fence encloses it, but he il
| sleeping as quietly as is he upon whose grave
| stone is written "a tribute from the anecuOns
of the people, Some sixty or seventy acres OF
land adjoining this cemetery will be donated the
city free OF charge il it will fix it up for park
purposes Opposite is Belle Isle. tue great Rebel
prison pen with its camel back rslng above the
| river Some of the forts still stand.
| Governor Walker extended the excursionists a
hearty welcome during their stay at the Capital
in his mansion. The Governor is very hand
same man-said to be the handsomest Governor
in the United States, not excepting Governor
| Ponder.
The excursonists left Richmond on Saturday
morning, via the Chesapeake & OHIO Il. H., az
irving at this point after nighttal, having
travelled 1856 miles. From Richmond TO Goruohs'
| vile the road passes through country stamped
| with starvation a. we have already stated, but
after that it penetrates fine farming region
To the tourist its principal attraction is its noun
| tain scenery and as it crossea both the Blnt
| Ridge and the Aleghenies this is abundant We
have now travelled nearly 150 miles through the
| mountains and as much more lies before US
| But il that which lies beyond is ns full or wilt
| beauty and romantic interest as that through
which we have passed,we shall part with 1t witt
sorrow, for the scene is unrivalled. That whlcl
| most eiicits our admiration is the gorge, or can
| pon, in the AleghanIes through which the road
passes-at times just wide enough TOR the roat
bed and then again stretching into valleys o
| great fertility At all times the travellers 5azel
upon lofty mountain ranges. capped with 10
. liage of green. and some OF the spurs shootn!
up TO prodgious height No admlrer OF ha
tare can fail to find objects which will call fortl
the full extent of his powers without their iui
J qualification, nor can he resist the feeling o
Wonderment which will steal over him in spite
4 himself 1t is claimed that this scenery Is no
| | surpassed by the Hudson, Watkins Glen, tn
| White Mountains nor even yet by the Yosemite
q | and from that which we have seen OF them al
we should say the claim is not an extravagan
| one. -
The Chesapeake 4 Ohio r. r., asit traverse
this mountain region, ls work OF the creates
. | magnitude. 1t is one succession OF tunnels
varying in length from so yards to miles, wit
Q | excavations through tho solid rock 5O feet Il
Q depth and with course so serpentine that ID
traveller il swayed to and fro in his seat as th
" curves arc passed. Still the road is we'll bull
A and ia admissible of q high rate of speed il
n trains Its rolling stock is for tho most par