Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-08-09
Letter from Rockingham.

Correspondence OF tho AeXaoufla haZeltcl
Cross KEYS, Va, Aug, 7. There ls such
scarcity of news in this section Of country that
it is next to impossible to get UP anYthlng 0!
interest to your many readers.
We are blessed with Gus crops, particularly
80 Of wheat, of which there is an abundant
crop to add TO the gsraers now groaolng under
the weight Of last years crop, which has not
been sold to great extent. Our farmers com
plain very much CT The low price for wheat,
and say they cannot pay for fertilizers at htty
dollars Dor ton with wheat at eighty live cents
Der bushel, Virginia farmers have realized
the fact at this late hour that they must stop
paving out every surplus dollar for machinery
and fertilizers, Of which this country has been
flooded since the war. The great trouble lies
in the general poverty of the people, and stern
necessity compes them to drain the last cent
from their impoverished laud to meet taxes
and other liabilities. They have been working
too much for the dollar in hand, and really can
not afford to wait By so doing the lands have
become poor and Will not produce without
stimulus, and with the hope of 40 abundant re.
turn they invest in all kinds of patent phos.
pilates at high price, and finally it takes the
whole crop to pay these debts. Some farmers
who are able burn lime and put Oh their lands
at comparatively small cost, and fiod it bet
ter fertilizer than they can buy ll the north,
and at the same time the cost OF producing this
manure is kept at home, where it is needed.
The season In this section ls now favorable,
With good prospect for the late corn.
During severe thunder storm last Sunday
evening (4th) MIR. Jacob Showater, near this
place, had his barn struck by lightning aud CO.
tireIy consumed with all his wheat, oats, hay,
&c., with many farming implements, none of
which could be gotten out, as the flames spread
so rapidly. Mr.. s. has the sympathy of the
entire community in his great misfortune, his
lcss being about one thousand dollars it was
insured 10 the Rockingham Home Mutual Fire
Insurance Company for $500.
This company was organized about eight
years ago, and now has q membership Of four
hundred and fifty, and represents $4,000
worth Of property insured. The workings OF
the company are strictly mutual, and nobody
pays unless somebody burns" The average
COSTS sinca its organization to insure thousand
dollars worth of property for one year has been
$l50, which makes il the cheapest AMI safest
plan known.
The political outlook at present indicates
quiet time, but there may be considerable
contest between the present incumbent, Hon.
John T. Harrls. and as many DOW believe, DR..
s. Ii. Moffett. At any rate it will be an open
race and a free fight, as there have been no
nominations whatever, As to this section, many
are satisfied with the Hon. John f. Harris re-
cord and advocate big return. 'SCRIpToR
DEDICATION. The Samuel Ner manual
labor school building, near BatesvIe, Able.
marie county, Va, was dedicated Oh Wednes.
day. Addresses woro delivered by Governor
Holiday and Dr.. Rufaer. superintendent of
education in Virginia. Prof Vauter, late Of |
Emory and Henry College, is the superiataud-
ent. Samuel Miller, OF Lynchburg, who, at |
bis death, seven or eight years ago, was rroba.
bly, the richest man 10 Virginia. left the bulk CT
bis fortune to found this school. 1t is on
tract of land near where be was born. He was
an exceedingly penuriOus man. He had will
prepared before the war; and designed by it to
make his intents so clear az to save the courts
and lawyers all trouble. But such changes in
bis estate and affairs were wrought by the war
that the courts were necessarily called upon to
oonstrue it. Then natural children came in to
claim big share Of their father estate. They
enforced compromise and got big slice of
he fortune. With the remainder Of MilIers
estate the school building was erected. The
consists of sS5000O in Virginia