The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-09
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch

Inc packet Manson lclL hlcUlDOBu OH
special trip this morning at = O'Clock,
bound for Buchanan, and having on board
the Governor Auditor, and others con-
nected with the State government and canal
company. The day has been fine. The
sun is mild, and the air fresh and delight
fully rural. The odors o! the forest are
constantly with us, and "evcr and anon y
we have glimpses Of distant hills covered
with grasses, rapidly becoming imbrowncd.
| The trees are holding their leaves well.
! The "fall" " has not yet come, but already
| there is e. wonderful variety in the shades
and colors Of the foliage. The sweet gum
| is wholly garmented in russet and gold, and
many OF the vines cinging to trees mlnsle
! their ruddy leaves with the trees green
ones. We have passed many fertile fields
! and handsome bones, and to those or us
who now see the Valley for the first time
, the day has been one OF agreeable sur
prises. Most Of the Richmond people
| think, fancy, of The james River and IA
nawha canal as a succession OF curls and
kinks, as we see it about our city. There
are, however, in the first forty miles at least
many 'siraight-ShootS," where the tow
path is in excellent conditlon-broad and
! lctcl-and where everything seems to invite
q railroad.
PACkET TRAVEL
has advantages. You rarely run off the
track you never hear OF boiler explosions :;
YOU can see the country Is nicely as from
the top OF stage, and if you have plenty
OF time and pleasant companions your tray
elling is Il delight. Our forcfathtrS, when
they made this canal, thought they had done
wonders for their children. The huge cuts
through granite beds, the immcnse embank-
IA Of lao
ducts, and locks, were intended to enuurc
forever. Left alone, doubt not many OF
them would stand as long aS the Pyramids.
But they will not, cannot, resist the tide
which is so surely and steadily setting in
for Il railroad. The railroad is talked about
as fixed fact. No one seems 10 doubt that
it is coming. 1t may not be this year: pos
Sibly not the next, but the railroad-the
railroads the thing. Nothing but the ter
rorS (much cXag"eratcd) Of packet travel
would have ever kept our people as ignorant
as they are Of this lovely country, lying
almost at their doors. Every summer they
! fly 10 distant mountains for security against
heat and disease. when within Il few hours
reach By rail-when laid-they have Il pic
turesque country where high hills smile on
rich lowlands and all nature is charming as
4 bride.
| AT MA1DEN'S ADVENTURE
named because OF some romantic story
which came down 10 the people with other
Indian legends and tradtions-there is q
dam, supplying the canal, and back Of it Il
sheet Of water us lovely as any Scottish
lake. Here will be the place (three OF four
years hence for cur reeattas. The ride bv
rail Qhirty.two miles, will take about an
hour The route lies in the midst of scenery
that must ever be grateful to the eve of the
city-man. Here are excellent natural stands
for the spectators, and, what is Just as inn
portant, the water is very quiet. "Thc
stretch is all that could be wished; and
whether the race be for one mile or five the
advantages are equally great. One OF our
purty--a gentleman of enterprise, sagacity,
ard earnng-has selected 4 spot for 4
hotel, and predicts that the time will come
when the hearts of the hoatsmen will tend
is lovingly to Maiden's Adventure As they
now do to Saratoga. For about five miles
along this sheet oi water the boat runs in
the river close by the northern shore, on
which there is Il good towpa;h.
Some OF our party have already taken 10
| PEDESTRIANISM.
When the boat gets 10 Il lot OF locks, where
it is likely to be delayed some time, they
strike out for three or four-milc tramp.
The boat. later on, runs TO the shore for
them. Then they get aboard and tell about
what jolly exercise it is, wipe the sweat
from their fiery faces and the dust from
their shoes, and try to arouse tie eEthll-
siasm Of "thc stay-aboards >: but not al
ways with success.
| Imay observe, howeyer-and trust with
out treading upon any cornS-that the tow
path offers unrivalled advantages to the
tramp. 1t is far superior TO the best bal
lasted railroad.
The following gentlemen constitute
| ..~ THIS PARTY:
Governor Holiday, Auditor William r.
Tavlor. Superintendent S. \. Swami, OF the
Denitcnliary; Dr. NJ. n. Walker, surgeon
OF the same; Colonel John &. Cary and
Charles Campbell. Esq, OF the Board OF
Directors Of the Penitentiary; Colonel /.
H. Carter. Railroad Commissioner; l.. F..
Lucado, Esq, proxy OF the city OF Lynch
burg; Mr.. Il. G. Jones, Of the Brighthope
Company; John W. Johnston and William
p. Munford, president and secretary OF the
James River aud kanawha Company; W.
Ii. Haxall, A. L. Elicit, and R. W. Crcn-
shaw, directors OF the company; {. NJ.
Blackford, city attorney OF Lynchbure; j.
Is. Walters, J. A. Fl. St. Andrew, and K. u.
Agee, of the Press; Captain William A.
Beamish, late OF the British army; Hon.
Charles E. Worthan, Of Henrico: }. ID.
PendIeton, clerk Of the Senate; {. Z. Cos
by, superintendent Of the eastern division
of the canal; r. D. Ward, Esq, of the Su-
preme Court.
There is another member-I may call him
AN HONORY MEMBER
Of the party. II is old dog Tom.
This faithful and important adjunct OF
the packet company is about sixteen years
old. He is Il professional tramp. He pre-
fers TO trot along the towpath at the heels OF
the horses, but when he gets tired he seizes
the opportunity when the boat is going
through llle locks to jump aboard. He
rides until he rest0, then takes to the tow
path again. Sometimes be stops day or
two at one Of the eompaEy's stables. Eve
rywhere he is at home. He had been up to
Lynchburg. but on Friday last reached
RICHMOND and spent Saturday. Sunday, ana
Monday there. He lett with Rs this morn
ng, and has been alternately on the boat
md towpath. He is q sort OF ihspector-
general OF the company's property.
CAPTAIN ARTHUR C. HARMAN
) the master Of this good packet, and we
owe fo;tnd him euualIy valuable as hos,