Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-06-04
A TRIP OVER THE V. M. R. R.


4 correspondent of the Huntingdon, Pa,
Journal, who has been on trip through the
South, writes:
AT 730 | take the 0. & A. car for Alex
andrla Orange aud Alexandria !" Who does
no, remember these uames so familiar during
the late war? A few minutes ride brought
Us TO the fine railroad bridge across the Po.o-
mac. 4 ine view of the Potomac, with few
vessels lying upon its placid breast is to be
had as We approach the bridge. We cross aud
strike the Sacred Sol'' Of old Virginia,
which, by the way, here is very poor one.
The la nd is low aud narshy and the under
growth small aud uniuvitiDg. A few minutes
brought us to the Alexandria depot. Here We
were detained twenty minutes for breakfast.
The car is no. full, but there are evidently
number of very intelligent persons on board.
I'm fifteen or twenty minutes We were hooked
10 the train of the W. G., V. NJ. Il G. S. r.
r., and away we roll for the historic grounds.
The first ten or fifteen mites out the prospect
is dfeary and uniuvitiug one. The soil is thin
aud worn out, the forest trees mere scrubs, cor
does this change until we near Manassas Juno
ton. We stop at Burke's, Fairfax, Manassas,
names that few years ago we're big with fate.
To-day they are less important, yet their asso-
citation will loUg make them OF great interest
to the American people. Here two mighty
armies, for mouths, lie facing each other; here
minor little affairs which, in proportion, were
as destructive to human life; here the nation
first realized the magnitude of the task which
was involved in the suppression of tho re.
bcoD; here great genius and mcdlocrl,y,
with great pomp aud circumstance, paraded
themselves before the country, and here We
learned that to succeed slavery must be eradl-
Gated. But must write OF other things
now. Manassas Junction is quite brisk
place. 1t really looks altogether northern.
There are plenty OF negroes on every hand.
A few of the redoubts thrown up In the
days when the Republic was in peril are
still visible We cross the Rappahannock and
hail Culpeper. All this is garden spot
There is DO prettier country to be seen any
where, and if the farms were cut up it would
be most densely populated. Here the general
government has located National Cemetery
which looks very interesting from the railroad.
The grain and vegetation generally looks splen-
didly. Within few miles of Culpeper l saw
the first growing corn of this year.
"We passed on to Orange Here We took
on a trio of most enthusiastic and accomplished
young ladies. They were handsome and witty.
They were accompanied by several young gen.
temen, and amongst their luggage was large
basket, which was filled to overhowing. This
could be readily discerued by the protruding
bumps elevatbg the covering. The basket was
carefully placed on the parallel seat in the front
of the car. We heard several witty illusions
TO eggs. The ladies were exceedingly viva
ciou. and facetious Wit and good nature
prevailed. The cars rolled on, and roughly, as
cars will. Then, in moment, there was
"ker chuck p ard bottles, cups, saucers,
chow-chow, and about dozen of eggs, went
spinpug about the floor. Such little screams,
such delicate bushes and such vivacious laugh
ter 10 turn, it has seldom been our pleasure to
witness The eggs, of course, were only tit tor
scrambling. Many were The witty allusions to
this eggs-traordinary performance, which was
eggs-tremely awkward for the ladies, but alto
gether eggs-temporoneous<
'"The trouble with the average Virginiau,
l thiHk, and I have no doubt this is the
case throughout the entire South, is, be
has too much land. The more be has the
poorer he seems to be. Of course, there
are exceptions to this as rule, but in the
main it is correct. | write this at Gordons-
Vile. The country residences many of which
are very fine, and tastetully enclosed, are gen
orally built on prominent elevations, where
they have o commanding view OF the entire
estate and surrounding territory. All traces OF
the war; save the absence of fences, are IN
great measure obliterated. Here and there the
ruins of a mill or factory are yet to be seen,
however. The conductor just tells me that the
6ne residences which we passed in that second
garden spot, the Rapid Auu region, were built
before the war. Charlottesville is another
splendid center There is magnificent coun-
try surrounding it. Lauds cannot be bought
here for less than $50 to $75 per acre. Thous-
auds of acres Of what have seen this morning
eau be bought at trom IS 10 Sl2 Ii our Penn
sylyania farmers desire lands tor their sous
near home, and which, in few years, they can
make pay them fully as we'll as lands in Penn
sylvauia, here they can buy them, and save tho
expense of trip to the Rocky Mountains.
Land companies, with good. reliable men at
their head, have been organized tor the pnr-
pose of bringing these lands before the public,
aud thousands OF acres have already been SOLD.
"Siuce leaving Charlottesville the country
has become extremely hilly, but it is pronouuc-
cd u most excellent fruit district. The Abe
marie Plppip here COMES to perfection. Other
fruits arc raised in large quantities. Grapes
are grown extensively aud vineyards are to be
seen on every hand. Lands are worth from
eight to ten dollars per acre. The labor Is
principally performed by negroes. They are
we'll behaved and we'll dressed. This is holi
day iu this region. The dust has been simply
trivh,lul to-day. Many Northern mco have
located along the line of this road already, and
ii Virrinaus would agree to cut up their es-
tates, mauy Of which exceed 1000 and 5000
acres, many more would locate here. Those
tina, are here spend money freely in adorning
their residences aud improving their lands
HOTEL INVOLVEMENT. The dining room OF
the Exchange and Ballard House has been
moved from the Ballard to the Exchange side
of the hotel and into what IS known as the Ola
Exchange diniug-room. This dlolng, nall 10
now one of the coolest best lighted and Ven.i'
lated, aud most commodious 10 this part OF the
country, while the kitchen, pantry, and ser,
vau,s' hall have been rendered complete IN sll
their annnintments. Besides being accessible