The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-14
Correspondence OF the Richmond DisDa'ch.]

COyINGToN,
Saturday p. NJ, October IL, 1879.
The party left Buchanan about 8 o'clock a.
VI. in stages, carr hinges. and Sprlng-WagonS,
for Clifton Forge, distance OF twenty-siN
whatsoever rough road, for the most part.
Colonel Jollitfe. engineer OF the Buchanan
and Clifton Forge Railroad Company; Mr..
Dillon, formerly OF Richmond; Mr.. Walter
Johnston, and other citiZens-whose names
it shamcs me to say | cannot rccal-accom-
panied u, and gave all the information
about the railroad and country that we
needed. We had opportunity 10 see the
progress which has been made on the rail
road. About two-thrds Of the grading ap-
pears finished, and the tunnel has just been
let 10 contract.
We stopped few minutes at one OF the
convict camps. The men have comfortable
log cabins, good food, and abundant open
air exercise, and are far from curious
crowds. Their situation appears prefera-
BILE to life within the priSon-walls. DR..
Meade G.. kemper, son OF the cX-Gov-
crnor. we'll known in Richmond, is surgeon
in charge Of two or three Of the camps.
He is making inc reputation.
There are about two hundred conyicts
and fifty or sevcnty-fve free hands at
work, and they arc making rapid progress.
Before our folks know il trains will be run
ming from Clifton Forge to Buchanan. The
plucky people OF Lyncbburg will never
consent for the railroad to stop at Buchan-
an. They will doubtless see that it is en-
tended 10 Lynchburg. II SO our interest
will demand that it be brought down the
James from Lsnchburg TO Richmond.
DINNER At DAGGER's.
Our teams were halted ut Daggcr's
les
FORGE, where dinner was waiting for US.
These springs are in a pleasant cove in the
mountains. The lawn and park are large and
beautiful, the building s in tirstrate order, tie
rooms neatly furnished, and, what is more,
there is fine sulphur spring. Many men,
bers OF our party declared that tner had
never seen preltier pluce, and not j few OF
after they had seen the
dinner set out-declared that they would
return there the next summer for longer
stay. Near Da"eer's Springs are the build
lngs of the Rebccca furnace, going rapidly
into decay. The Rchccca. Kate, and Grace
furnaces. in this section Of the country, we've
the property OF the Tredegar, and were op-
Grated during the war and until q supply OF
charcoal could no longer be obtained.
Betw cen these springs and Clifton Forge
we passed through forest OF white-oaks.
There are in 1t 2,U00 acres OF spienulQ t!nl'
Der, which the Buchanan and Clifton Forge
will bring into market.
Having reached clifton Forge and taken
a glance at the grand scenery, we boarded
fat 5:4S) the westward bound train OF the
chesapeake and Ohio railroad; went up TO
Gown gton and there had supper.
GOVERNOR HOLIDAY IN The CHAIR.
Before the gentlemen had left their places
at the table, Dir. +. d. Christian called
meeting for the transaction OF business, and
on his motion Governor Holiday was
elected chairman and W. D. Chesterman
secretary.
Mr. Backiord, Of Lynchburg, with a |
noble speech. offered the following:
ReS0Lued, /, That, having now completed
,ur excursion, and carefully inspected the
.rest central water-line Of the State and It's
,ropcsed railway extension to Clifton
Gorge, we deem 1t at once a pleasure and q
'uty 10 express our surprise and gratitica-
ion at the wonderful energy which bias
cen displayed in restoring the rayages OF
he great flood OF 1877 upon the canal and
D pushing forward the work upon the
,Iifion Forge railroad. When 1t Is remem-
cred that these labors have been accom-
lished under difficulties, financial and ply. +
lcal, which at the outset appeared insnr-