The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-14

a Walk TO Observation-Disclosures
ferson's Mtl!s-AEfnerniD Developments
--Afbcunric Vtneyar<lS-M Monticello
Wine Cosnsany--County Courts
Charlottesville nktn:s Up, etc, etc.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatcl.l
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, January 10.
The visitor to Charlottesville has hardly
done Justice to the place or to himself until
he has visited Monticello, the home of
Thomas jefferson. living and dead. So plain
IL in view from Charlottesville Is the historic
n,lace that YOU seem almost there before you
have started. We almost wished we hadn't
started before we GOT there, for we walked,
| bit we won't do SO any more. We
uSed 10 walk in those Jeilum days all over
tEe country. and climb any mountain that
| ,mDpened 10 come in our way without
so much rs change Of color; but
we have lost the knack Of 1t, and when at
last We had landed our corporecty on the
| summit Of the mountain we sat us down 10
find our breath and hurl anatbcmas at the
boy who said cit was buta stepoycr there"
| Wen. nuW we are here, what can we say
that everybody else has Lot said: Here Is
! the mae ui!rent view that tourists feel honnu
TO 90 iGto ccsiacicS over because the i'iuSlfi-
! Gus L. J. lad 80 often scanned that horizon
with his eagle eye. Here is the rambling,
old-'ashioned house, dilaplda.cd ana
mcldy relic Of the past, that scores OF CORE
>DonGrDs have described with tedious mi.
nutcncSS: the print upon the oaken floor
made By the iron hoof Of Tarlcton's horse
when The Tory leader came at the head OF
his wanda! troop to arrest the author OF
Ne Declaration Of Independence; and here,
! retired Il little in rear OF the house,
-. ta ,1>s nd InFNaal rf
| rendered rough and unsigh,ly by the ruth
| less bands OF rifcring rec-huntcrS, under
| which lies all that is mortal Of the great
| statesman. scholar, aud public benelactor.
| A mile or two from Monticello, and about
three miles from Charlottesville, on the Ri
wanna river, is Shadwell. the birthplace of
Jefferson and his childhood'S home. He af-
forwards inherited the property aud erected
extensive Touring mills, and also nail fac
tory, at this place, which enterprises re-
cciv"l much Of his attention when resting
from The cares of public life. The crumblipg
walls and halr-buried mill-stoneS alone serve
TO mark the spot. But recent developments
may give birth to q new era for Shadwell,
and again, perhaps, may the sound Of
the hammer and the wbirr of the "blaSt "
wakeu the echoes OF the neiohboring NOUN
tainS. Rich veins Of iron ore have been dis
covered in this locality on the premises of
Litticton Macon, Esq and with the facilities
which the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad now
affords for furnishing coal from the mex
haustible beds Of our own West, if capital
aud energy can be diverted in this direction,
Shudwell, Albemarle-aye, the whole Sec
tion-wil fatten and prosper thereby.
From Monticelo's commanding height we
could see many yine-clad hills around us;
arlo az
following the bent of an inquirIng mind, we
gathered some interesting grape etaiIs-re
rIctliH@ the season, however; for we would
have preferred the grapes to the details.
The soil and climate of this section seems
peculiarly adopted to the grape. This was
discovered first by Mr. Hotoh, a German,
from New York, who settled here in 1865
snd planted five acres in vines. He has
gradually increased his vineyard till it en-
braces twenty acres. Others, encouraged by
hi, success, have also engaged In tue enter
nrise, until there are a Number Of vineyards
of from one to twentg-f9ur acres around
Charlottesville, and about one hundred in
bearing. The fruit ripcns here from two 10
three weeks earlier than in the West aud
North. giving shippers from this popt a
great advantage, as they for few weeks get
the fancy priceS-ten, tit cen, and even twen-
Is cents per pound-for their finest variety,
which is, we believe, the Delaware. The
Weld averages about three tons per acre,
though year before last the enormous crop
of i've tons (or 10000 pounds) per acre was
realzed from Minors vineyard, on the top
of Il mountain, about three miles from this
place.
After the season fairly opens it does not
pl, to ship the grapes from this section, and
I'LL # *
| There are several varieties of grape suited
TO this locality-the Concord, the Delaware,
Ives. Alvey, Norton, Hartford, and Clinton.
OF these, the NortonS make the most valuable
and saleable wines, being with age Il heavy
Burgundy. From the Delaware is made
fine citerveScing wine similar to champagne.
In order to encourage gape-culture and
give a home market for the grape Wine
Cellar company has been organized here.
We visited their establishment the other day,
| and were surprised at its extent, being sub
stantial three-story stone building over 100
feet by 40, with magnificent cellar capable
of holding 10000 gallons, and containing
| ,rhen ,ce entered the house 5000 gallons.
| we have only to add that new wine is not
| bad, and we can now understand why the
| outsiders on the day of Pentecost inferred
| that so many Of their acquaintances were
| filled with it.
Here as elsewhere we find that public
sentiment iuclines strongly .in favor OF
| a repeal of the acts of the last Legislature
with regard to the county courts so far IS to
| give back to them criminal jurisdiction. The
| ends of Justice are not met under the present
| system. For example: The cases sent up
| from the County Court OF Albemarle to the
| Circuit Court last June have not yet had a
hearing, and there are now in the Jiil at this
place several prisoners who were committed
last july and have not been able TO have a
trial I'D to this time. The circuit Judge is
always hurried to get through his docket.
which is too much crowded for his time, and
consequently many important cases must be
sighted.
Great things are expected of the present
able Legislature, and it is to be hoped that
their wisdom will devise some beneficial
change in the county Judiciary. The people
expect it, aad await with Impotence theil
i action in the matter.
a new life seems to be infused into his
old town. Her people seem to be awakina
from a ten-y ears nap. Many new anC
pretty buildings have made their appearance
recently on the streets and outskirts. Ne"
enterprises are getting under way, anf
money seems to be circulating, and energetic
mcu busly engaged in pushing forward
measures for the advancement OF the male
rial interests Of the town. But am getting
Iong-winded again. SO, unit! something
turns up, adieu. BoTEroURT. !
CONVERTIBLE BoSDs.-The House Commit