The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-01-14
Letter from q PhiIosopr,er.

d., 40; midnight, 36.
Letter from a PHILOSOPHERS.
FRANKLIN, W. VA, January I, 1878.
Editors Dispatch: The recent flood in
Virginian waters was type Of the Noa-
chan deluge. A wind from the southeast
waited the Atlantic yapors continuously for
several days and nights, and in their passage
over US they were partially discharged
through the windows Of heaven. This phe-
nomenon, protracted to forty days and forty
nights. would have destroyed everys living
creature within the limits OF this inunda-
ton, as "the world that then was" ex-
ceptipg that part Of it in the ark, was de-
stroyed in the days OF old. The language
of Scripture-"the world that then was -
seems to settle the fact that Noah's deluge
was partial, and confined TO that part OF the
earth then inhabited by man.
The flood was a sublime spectacle in the
mountains, and grander as the turbid wa
tiers, gaining volume and power, approached
their outlets. It was an ocular lesson in
hydrodynamics. The gushing torrents from
the skies, the roar Of riyulets and rivers,
the moving scene on every sloping ground,
the heavy materials drifted on the larger
streams, and the grating OF rolling rocks
all gave proof OF the powers Of water in
mass. They brought before the eyes some:
thing Of the resistless power OF ocean. that
boundleSs and sublime mass OF waters-the
image OF eternity.
The aqueous element is worldwide and
almost incessant wanderer, and appears un-
der very diverse forms. The dark and
bright-hued cloud, snow and ice, the deep
green mirror and white spray OF ocean, are
some Of it's different forms. Rarely at rest.
In running stream, in ocean wave or moving
cloud, it Journeys to and fro over the whole
earth. The primeval deep doubtless envel-
opcd the globe. But. from the time ."God
divided the waters above the armament
from those below" they have been in almost
ceaselesS motion. In this circulation the
same particles must revisit the same springs
and channels. How long they are in making
one Of their circuits is question which may
never be answered. In the clouds they often
travel on the wings OF the hurricane, andin
the biffows OF ocean ride with the tempest.
Oft they repose in the CLASSY lake, and seem
motionless in the sluggish stream.
Often we losk on tue Fastening clouds
and say, with Schiller, ur,@, i -
Eilerde wolken, .Segler der Lutte, -. . '.. -.
,Wer NIT euch wanderte. nit ouch schidte
fastening clouds, sailors Of she air, who
wanders with your who voyages with YOU
Or, With Milton, we see,
Mountains, on whose barren breast,
The labering clouds do often rest. ...sE ..'
To break up the fountains OF the great
deep and open the windows OF Heaven be-
longs to the Omnipotent One. The grand
phenomenon may we'll increase our Yenera-
ton for Him, and keep His fear before our
eyes. ~
The food swept away in some places fer
as1 Iofk hof1 Loo or,3ll inc
In other places it deposited an alluyium,
which will be abundantly productive for
years 10 come. Our brldlc-naLhs, wagon
roads, and turnpikes, are torn out or
choked up to an eXtcnl which will require
much time and labor to repair them. Our
poor, patient people will have to do as our
foreiathers did: stay at home and wear
home. made. We arc reminded OF an anec-
dote of DIR. Spence, the celebrated divine.
Returning from tour west OF the Allegha.
nies, he turned on top Of one Of the noun.
tain ranges, and looking westward cXclaim.
ed, " FAREWELL give you up to the bears
and the wolves, who could long ago have re.
covered possession il they had sued before
Chancellor Brown" s q
The Wholesale destruction OF our roads
should not induce despair or remand our
county to barbarism, but, on the contrary,
should be the era when q new system OF
roads will he begun. Our presiding justice
Is. Hiner, has just located few miles O
new road from Franklin to connect with
the road 10 Circleville. hope this will be
the beginning of the turnpike to Harrison
burg, and that Colonel Hiner will bt
granted health and strength to superintenC
| the location Of this important road from
border to border OF our county. urge
my friend to devote himself with as much
OF bis Youthful energy MS he can till sum
| mer to this great work. May health ant
strength be granted him TO associate hi.
name with great highway across Pendle
ton as that OF Claude Crozet is with thai
across Highland. rIri.@l
May Colonel uiner cntitle himself to thu
gratitude Of the present and future genera
tions OF dwellers in these mountains by
taking in hand the survey and estimates fol
| this road and demonstrating it to be within
the taX-payine capacity OF our people. 4
tax OF 40 cents on the 800 value would in
crease the annual tax OF three fourths o
| those who,pay on personal property alon'
only, 81 or under, and the annual tax o
three fourths OF our landholders who ap
pear to pay on $500 value and under woult
be increased only 81 or under. On
tooi Sh VA od4 spGopiSs "hO-oAS tohtS wv
more than $500 worth OF real and persona
tproperty, would have TO. pay much th
largest part OF the tax. IL they will vot
for the tax surely the three iourths shoul'
be ready tO!do likewise. IL Colonel Hine
will inaugurate this great Improvement an,
take steps that will insure its completion
! his name.wiil go down to posterity as on
1 or Pendleton's greatest benefactors. Th
4 work will be TO him monumentum der
!; psrennius--a monument more lasting tha
rjbrass.a .May the new system Of roads I
4 our county be at once commenced, and fol
e eyer do away with the applicability OF th
4 remark OF Colonel Crozet. that it was.
a remarkable fact that the peop!esof Virgini
were always going down when they shoul
! lbe going up, and going up when they shoui
I5e going down. y fisi 5's
The shortest route on 4 good location
j the one for the turnpike. Southern G,
q posures should be kept on the sides OF hill
y ridges, and mountains, and the road $
J graded and drained as not to wash unde
our heaviest rainiails. OF the $4,000 4
auired to make the road, S5, 900 can /
raised by private subscript ton, and q tax
4 90 cents on the 81, ,00o. 600 oi our taxab
8 property will discharge tia debt in ~
! years EflfeiY the County Court Wilt ord