The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-10
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispa'cll.l
On BOARD PACKET MADISON
"WEDNESDAY. October s, 1879.

oS BOARD IACkEI VI aDISON,t "
WEDNESDAY, October S, 1879. !
Last night our packet anchored " neal
Elk Hill, and the main body OF our eX
ploriDg party peacefully spent the night or
board. The Governor and a few others ac
cepted the hospitality OF friends ashore
and rejoined US bv O'Clock this morning
A little later, with q fine team, we entered
upon our second days journey. and have
been passing through lovely country
The river-lands merit the praise which has
long been bestowed upon them by intelIi-
gent agricultllrists.
We have had the opportunity OF seeing q
good many country people. They talk
cheeriully OH most subjects, and are almost
unanimous in their support Of the McCul.
loch bill. Before leaving Richmond often
wondered il the amateur Journalists who
have been so well supplying our papers
with political news were not little too
unanimous and enthusiastic. From what
have so far seen and heard. can say in re-
lation to the James-River Valley, that they
have not miSrepresented public sentiment.
At Columbia, for instance, was told by a
gentleman who was until lately and earnest
political and personal friend Of General
Malone that there were no d" ReaGiu>tcrs .
about that town; that they, like himself,
were all we'll satisfied with the readjus'.
ment effected by the McCulloch bili. At
Bremo Bluff it was stated by a cllizcn OF
that place that he knew Of but one = Re-
adiuster" in i've miles OF the country
around. 1t is admitted that
THE NEGRO VOTERS
constitute an uncertain element, bat the OPP
position party itself does not count upon
more than half OF them. do not claim to
have made anything like an accurate survey
of the situation in this Falley-not at all
but unless 1t is that we just happen to meet
people all OF our way of thinking the s. Re-
adjusters so far AS whites are con-
cerned-are by no means numerous. hole
what have said will not cause any one 10
think that this is 4 political trip, for it Is
not by any means. But the debt settlement
seems to be uppermost in the mind OF the
people, and it is impossible for them to meet
together without talking about il. In our
company OF about TWENTY-FIVE gentlemen,
drawn together with no reference to their
views on this or any kindred question. there
happens to be only one Readiuster. lie is n
worthy old chum Of mine from Richmond.
But he makes it habit to take the side OF
The "under dog in the fight" and very Sci
dom votes the winning ticket.
TALKING ABOUT HIGH TAXES
and the burdens upon the taX-payrrs (near-
" all OF whom are for The >c,t!emcn'l, Il
member OF this party to-day ted OF an nc.
tual occurrencein his county. Their court
house building had been destroyed, and the
Board OF Supervisors resolved TO levy thN
for few years and get the money to le-
.,,.i - 'In,y In ..
made the levy, and collected it. Few knew
that il was being collected-the increase IN
their bills being so small as not TO excite
attention or stimulate inquiry. The cash
being in hand, the Board commenced 10 AK
for proposals for the building. 1hercnpon
some buSybodies raised an outcfy. They
asserted that the people. could no.-and,
what WAS more, would not-consent to have
their taxes increased for this purpose.
Said the spokesman "PlI be ID il we
can stand this sort thing. We are taxed to
death already" but, my fricud,'' said
member OF the Board, "you have already
paid the money. We have it IN the trea-
sury." "The devil you say was all the
response that his astonished braincould
frame, and further proceedings Interested
him not.
PLEASANT INCIDENT.
When we reached Lock No. 1G, about 0
o'clock this morning, all hands being on
deck, we saw in the distance, over the toW-
psth, a cloud OF dust, indicating the ap-
proach OF cavalry. Just as we were emerS-
inp from the lock considerable number OF
horsemen came up and halted in line oppo--
site the boat. Mr.. James B. Ficken and
Colonel Leech were their leaders, ana the
former made an enthusiastic speech from
the saddle in presenting his friends 10 the
Governor. They bad come over the river
from buckingham to meet and welcome the
Governor, and Mr. Ficklen said that they
were worthy representatives OF the old ana
new citizens OF that gallant county. Coy
ernor Holiday made brief speech,
EXPRESSING his thanks for the compil-
mpnt, and saying some handsomc-and
ell-deserved-things about the James
River Valley; which, hesitate not TO dc.
clare, is the prettiest and richest section OF
Virginia have seen. Governor Holllday'
having acquitted himself nobly in his re-
sponse to Mr.. Ficklen, introduced Captain
Beamisb. an Irishman, late OF the British
army. who made few observations, lndlca-
tive Of his appreciation Of the hospitality
shown him and expressive OF his good
wishes for our people, particularly lor tpose
of his who have become Flr-
ginians by adoption.
3 The Buckingham gentlemen were invited
aboard the packet and rode with us up to
Bremo; their horses being left meanwhile
along the towpatb. At New Canton ths'.
were assembled number OF lad .es
who had the very creditable T.sirt
TO see, hIr. Ficken said, "s. liv,
Goyerpor.' There we stopped ae w min
ntes. and saw the ladies and insp ..cted th'
hure piles OF slate from the Buckingham
ouarries awaiting shipment to Richmond
This slate is absolutely uns| vailed in th
of the world. The le is especial,
demand for it in the Wet. The operator
are praying for - e,.:.'
4 RAILROAD FROM RICHMOND TO CLIFTo,
~ Fr,RGE, 7
and can't undersf and how 1t Is that tn
Richmond people are not more alive to tn
importance of t''ae subject. Buckingham ha
slate, iron, gcid, and timber in untold quan
titles to ser.d to market. What they nee'
is the REBUILDING OF the bridge across tn
james at New Canton and rail and tele
graphic connection with the busy world
frrm which they are now practically eS
IyI.,a n srarnro thn {. .RnCEinplan CiVhl