The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-23
Various Subjects Touched Upon.

E0CkFlSH GAP, November Zis 1913.
Editors Dispatch: You would not eX-
pcct any good thing to come out Of Naza-
rcfh. Yet the once notorious clinton
Rowan Helper" we thought had perhaps,
or ought TO have, crossed the river StyX,
turns up months ago at Lima, Peru. In
letter OF nearly three columns in The South
for November. addressed to Colonel
Thompson, Secretary of the Navy, on
"South and Central American Trade with
the United States,' he adGllces facts that
ought 10 command the prompt and most
decided attention OF Congress. He has
twice crossed the continent OF South
America by different routes, and
alleges lie has looked in vain for Il
single article OF American manufacture.
He says: - From the little pin with which
the lady fastens her beauc itching ribbons
to the grand piano with which she enllyens
and enchanis the hearts OF all her house
hold: from the tiniest thread and tack and
tool needed in the mechanic arts to the
largest pIoughs and harrows and other agri-
cultural implements and machines required
for Use on the iarm-all these, and all
other things, the wares and fabrics and
light groceries and deicacies in common
demand, the drugs and chemicals sold by
the apothecary, the fermented and malt and
spirItuous liquors in the wine-Sal0on, the
stationery and fancy goods i'll the book
store, the furniture in the Dar!or, and the
utcnsil, in the kitchen, are, with very rare
exceptions. Of English, French, German,
Spanish. or Italian manufacture; yet the
American articles, so much more elegant,
so much better adapted TO the special uses
for which they are intended, might be sold
here with fair profits at even less prices
than the purchasers now have TO pay Tor
those they have 10 obtain from the old
country"
Mr.. Helper urges with the strongest ar
cuments the Immediate establishment OF q
line OF steamers twice q month from New
Orleans. or oftencr, to all ports OF Mexico
and Central and South America, both on
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. His advice
is sound. and sustained by the strongest
reasoning. Would that Congress will act
promptly, and thus open up wide field
10 our now 5tagnant industries.
BoLIvAR's ANCHOR.
Little over mile west OF this gap, direct
ly on top Of the Blue Ridge, is now living
an old man. raised near Singers Gap, in
Loudoun county. For twenty-five years he
has resided in Augusta county. He was
among the seekers for gold in California IN
1852, and traversed the isthmus Of Panama
before the railroad was built. We crossed
it in April, 1860. He asked il we saw
"Bolirar's Anchor" as he called it, which
lay beside the road he travelled, and he
learned the effort had been made to carry it
up the ChagreS river, and reaching the
highest point OF navigation, it was too much
Tor their imperfect means OF land transport
tatlon, and was abandoned. 1t was all new
10 inc as an incident OF history, and l ask,
through your columns, il any one can
throw any light upon it, confirming or re-
3uting the old mans facts; and il correct,
explaining the circumstance, that it may be
done.
a VIRGINIA INVENTION.
just under the shadow OF the Blue Ridge,
as you know, nestles the pretty village OF
Waynesboro'. Almost within It's suburbs
there has lived some years a mechanic,
miiiwright, by the name OF Childers. | do
not know his christened name. He has
contended with poverty, and found it diff
cunt TO drive tie wolf from the door. In
us experience as workman he has seen
tue great wa'at OF an adjustable joint in the
mili-splnd,.e. Putting his wits to work, he
Las, IN the estimation OF practical millers,
aitaine complete success. His model, put
up ~ W. B. Alexandria, OF Waynesboro',
one OF its most ingenious and best cabinet
D'dkers, attracted much attention at the
State Fair. VIRGINIAN.
Alfonso, OF Spain, it is asserted, has writ
ten TO the Pope, asking his advice on the
subject OF contracting q SECOND marriage.
The young King begins by lamenling the
loss OF Mercedes and asking prayers for her.
de goes on to say that, personally, the
thought OF another marriage il distasteful
70 him, but that every influence is being