Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-09-23
Small Farms and Good Ones.
From the Wash. Chronicle. I

Inc upper or 0OrtnerD END or the original
Mount Vernon estate, is only about four miles
below the city of Alexandria, and is made up
of the Wellington aud Congwood plantations,
comprising together six or seven hundred acres,
with long front on the maj cstic Potomac of
mile or two, and ruoning back three-quarters
of a mile to the main road leading to Alexan
dria. By the quick western bend Of the river
at Fort Washington, reaching all the way to
Mount Vernon, this tract is throwu into KIDD
of pocket, 30 that, from tue wharf at Coliiog
wood to Mount Vernon, the direction is south
west and the distance in straight line three
or four miles,
| Wellington and Collingwood have been given
over to subdivision, especially the former. Pro.
| ceedlng down the river 10 steamer, which,
by the way, Is the easiest plan of reaching the
tract, an old Virginia mansion house, with
ehimneys on the outside, meets the eye, stand
ing high up on the slopint bank of the river
and surrounded by grove of trees and the
usual out-houses. This is the Wellington do
mclle, and there have been left attached to it
only nluety-slx acres. 1t belongs to aud is oc
cupied by Mr. Valentine Baker Next, up
on projecting point stands modern struc-
ture, very bare IN appearance, aud located TOO
near the river, as we think. The view from
the spot, however, is beautiful, both up and
down, the Capitol being EASILY seen 10 the dis
tance above, aud Fors Washington below.
When surrounded by trees and shrub
berry 1t will look much better. 10 this
belong seventy-two" acres, and ther owner
is Mr.. David Frost. Next comes little
farm of only twenty-sx acrss, With fue river
front beautiful grove Of trees on sopng
lawn and 10 the midst cottage, modern aud
convenient 10 all lis appointments. This is the
residence OF Captain William Il. Snowden and
what ne does not know 10 the way of raising
hne fruit aud vegetables aud living we'll is
hardly worth knowing at all. Next, and upon
the same plateau, but we'll above the river,
is the dwelling of Mr.. Daniel p Smith. built
IN modern style and looking very home-
aud comfortable. This gentleman has sixty acres.
Besides, the honor is his of having the Colhug-
wood wharf on his property, asy the further
felicity of being the postmaster. 'Tnc first p
NJ. we will observe, Was Miss Jennie cnowdeu,
who, by her own exerrions had the Office locat-
ed. Beyond, on The high ground some dis
tance from the river, and at least halt mile
from the wharf, is the old Cougwood House
This is owned by Mr. Stacy H. Snow,leu aud
he reloiees 10 the possession Of four hundred
acres. This gentleman is thrifty farmer, on
pretty large scale, as his fields Dear by, and
large peach orchard, and commodi1us barn
I
lions to divide his tract aud erect another houae
upon it, considerably nearer the river. Very
likely, as time moves along, four farms will
come from Colllngwood acne. Already it will
be seen. there are six sprIOging from the two
plantations.
Now this is the kind Of movement that will
bring the South out Of her troubles the subii
VISION OF large tracts OF land AID the occupation
thereof by Intelligent and industrious agrcultu-
rlsts. Here, a few entcrpriSug Jerseymcn,
who are not the least afraid Of work, have been
laying tue foundations Of Il d,z.n wel!-workcd
farms in this pocket below Al.xandria, where,
III !hc oldcn tine, only couple of 1iowsy plan
tatlonS managed 10 worry along. To-day, it
would pay Virginia, aud other Southcrn States,
as we'll, to give away the half or three lourths
| OF their Iaui to the right kind Of immgratiou
Every plantation owner at thus moment, ought
to be engaged in dividing and su5dividing his
properly Into small tracts, each having We'll de-
hncd lines aad convenient access to travelled
| roads, water and ,,mber, SO that, at moments
notice, he could sell.
Ii Alexandria would establish we'll organic
cd land agency, which would comprise all the
marketable property in the adjAceot counties.
as basis OF operation, it strikes US she would
soon have less grass growing In her streets and
there would be less likelihood Of rival city
prospecting on the Potomac below.
The LAW OF TIE RAIL Some one who
| has taken the trouble to post himself on the
laws governing railroad passenger travel, says
| that extra charges tor failure to buy tickets
are universally sustained by the courts, but
there must be full opportunity to buy
afforded by the tickct-seller. Passengers
must show tickets when asked for. As 10 stop.
ping of, there is only one decision, which
is that passenger cannot stop off aud re-
sumo his journey without the previous as
sent Of the company. As to the obligation of
the road to furnish seat to passenger de-
clslon says: "A passenger who exhibits his
| ticket need not surrender it until he has been
| furnished with seat" A railroad is not liable
Tor things stolen out OF passenger 8 seat, there
being no previous delivery to the company's
servants; tor the same reason the company is
not liable for baggage in the passengers own
! care. Passengers who neglect TO look after
| their owu baggage on arrival at their destina-
ton cannot recover it if it is lost without fault
of the carrier. Baggage left 10 station houses
for the passengers convenience, after it has
| reached its destination, comes under new
class OF rights aud duties, the baggage master
assuming the position of ''gratuitous bailee,"
who only becomes liable in cases of gross neg
llgence. The obligation of the railroad as car
rer ceases when it has delivered to its owner
at the place OF destination, or when he has had
reasonable opportunity Of receiving and remov-
ing It, 1t will interest sportsneu to know that
they may recover tor the value of dogs when
they eDtrust them to baggage masters for hire,
because of their exclusion from the passenger
cars.
A pastoral has been issued by the Irish Bish-
ops recently in session at Maynooth 10 which
they say that the primary system of education
is more than ever nlstrusted by them. and
that 10 a few years it will be impossible for the
State to withhold legal recognition from the
teachers who are now being trained by the
Catholic University.
THE squirrels are migrating towards the
South iu large numbers. They are said to
cross the James river on pjpcns of h,rl u,;ny |