Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-06-14

FAIRFAX COUNTY. The Fairfax Farm e.
says:
but few counties in the State are as we'll le
Gated or Rave as many advantages to present tt
the Northern settlers, or settlers from anywhere
as this.
Extending on the North and East to the Pc
tomac river it is cut OFT from continuous wa
ter front of nearly sixty miles only by the mar
row strip of land from the Chain Bridge, above
GEORGETOWN, to the mouth OF Hunting Creek, al
Alexandria This strip of land, about four mil es
across at its widest, and coming to point al
each end, about twelve miles in length, is known
Fairfax from immediate contlgulty to the Ma
tional capital, above and below, for about fifty
miles. Our county is bounded by this historic
river which laves the wharves of the great po-
litical centre of the Union, destined to be the
most magnificent city in America.
andria, to the mouth of Occoquan river is q
frontage of about thirty miles on the river, nav,
igable for the largest vessels OF any navy, and
upon whose lovely banks repose the remains of
our Washington Vernon, the Mecca OF
America
navigable to the village of Occoquan, six miles
from its mouth, and up the said river to Carter 8
mill, and thence by straight line to the Poto:
mac river again, at the mouth of Sugar Land
Run. =,
1T contains about 200 square miles, with a
population of l3, 0O0-about one third colored. 1t
is intersected by many creeks and runs, afford.
ing numerous mill sites, most OF which are un-
used; and on the upper Potomac the Great
Falls with power equal to any in the United
States are sure, at no distant day, to be devel-
oped and utilized for manufacturing purposes
on large scale.
1.-THE county Is traversed by three railroads in
active operation, another partly constructed,
and several others chartered.
From its situation it must, at some future
time become sort of funnel through which the
direct line of travel from the West will reach
the National capital; and great railroad enter
prises will look to Fairfax as the starting point
to reach the great graneries Of the far West, to
bring the rich products of that great agricultural
country to deep tidewater. Twenty-t may be
ten yeurs, will witness perhaps dozen railroads
from the South, the Southwest and West, con-
verg;lg through Fairfax to Washington and
Alexandria.
1.-THE climate of this section of Virginia is I'M
surpassed. The soil, although much impover-
ished by an imperfect system of cultivation for
msny years, responds quickly to generous and
iarmer-like treatment and can be brought to
the highest state Of improvement, IS ls sbund-
ntly shown by the many luxuriant fields and
farms scattered all over the county, and espe-
chilly in the vicinity Of Fairfax Court House.
Falls Church, Accotink, Vienna and Herndon !;
while the celebrated red soils of the upper Sec
tons seem scarcely to have lost anything of their
original fertility, but yield annually abundant
crops, although cultivated in manner which
would speedily exhaust much of the crack lands
of the North and West Wood and timber
abounds; soft, pure, cold water, Cod 8 only bev-
erase the best in the universe, gushes from al
most every hillside, and runs laughing to the
Potomac, whose loving arms on every side EN-
brace our hills and valleys, receives the contri-
hut, TO 0f n n
depth in any part reach the same health-giving
element
"Frut of all kinds for the temperate zone
thrives, especially of the smaller fruit, such as
peaches, plums, grapes and berries. 1t seems
the natural home of the grape, and berry, and
their culture is the most profitable Of any of the
branches of agricultural industry"
FAIRFAX COUNTY ITEMS. -Arrangemen ts
are being made at Falls Church for celebra ting
the approaching Fourth of July. Lieut.: Gov.
Thomas is mentioned for presiding officer of
the day, and there are to be about one hun
dred singers present who, together with band,
will discourse patriotic music. 1t is expected
that the occasion will be Of such character as
to attract the people of the county, as Well as
the citizens of Washington, Georgetown and
Alexandria.
Willie Nodiue, of Clifton, captured terapin
aud on examination found three letters, A. D.
Y. and the date 1916, plaiuly carved Oh the
part of the shell. tis hard to tell
how old it is. but the above date shows it to be
oyer SO years Of age.
The Misses Thomas, daughters of Lieutenant
Governor Thomas, who have been 10 Spring
field, Ohio, on visi, for the past two months,
have returned home much to the qualification
Of their many friends and acquaintauces.
On Tuesday last Mr.. Franklin Miner who
resides near "Goodiug's Tavern" had fine
Devon COW, seven years old, valued at $75,
poisoned by some person or persons unknown.
The strawberry crop has been large one,
and ordinary berries have only brought from
three to five cents quart this week. Prime
ones, however, are selling for eight and ten
cents. -FaiJa1 Farmer.