Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1880-03-31
Letter from C.lasseur.

times-lhe flush times that the Lytchburgers
have been Sigbiug, wishing, hoping. and pray.
irg for by turns have come ct last. and there is
more money hero at present than there has
ever b.en.
Iron is klcg, and is asserting lis sovereignty.
Each year witnesses Increased demand for the
orc, and it has become favotito and safe n-
vestuent for capital. Eight thousand more
miles Of railroad have been built this year in
Auelic' than in apy other, ard the demand
sxc,eds the supply. When it is known that
The Virginia ore is richer by Is per cent. than
the Pennsylvania orer there is little wonder that
The Northern iron men are fl cking down to
the Virginia mines aud spending their moley
freely. There have been within the past Xix
months over two millions of dollars of Northern
capital Invested 10 ore 10 this section, and the
rush still continues.
had very Interesting tour among the mills
aud 10 the shops here 10 company with Cocnsl
Munford, Who is vice president CT the Lynch
burg Iron aud Steel Mining Company, This
earc'rn has been for somo years pulling along
over head sud ears in debt, but now everything
is changed. Since The recent boom ia iron the
I1h hoo OSSb uiSul auu uuy, HQu
eIu men have taken hold OF it. Van
Rspssllear and General Grub. Of New jersey,
have brought it Out, ard will commerce this
week 10 build smelling furnace for ores, at q
COST OF over $4,000. O:bcr Furnaces ia the
Vicinity OF this city arc in progress of erection
n0p.
1t seems strange that the raw material is oct
ulliz ID here instead Of being carried to Pits
burg, aud then returned. Ii costs Sc ton
freight on all ores scot to Pennsylvania, wboh
could be saved by having the mills 10 Virsiuis.
lron 10 selling at $50 ton. Buchanan sends
QUO toes alone to Piltsburs every week, whlo
from the different sources the amount sweIlS
up to thousands. Millions of dollars annually
are lost TO the State by the niggardness and sui
cidai policy of The few ca men 10 Virginia who
invest thelf money 10 bonds, ard will not turn
huger to help the Old Donition. Had Alex
andrla good iron mill, the benefit it would
confer upon tho sncient town would be lrc,l-
culibie, aud would make it 8 miniature Birm
ioeham in waalth, IN business, and ia popus.
tioo.
Iron lands have suddenly Jumped from
nominal hgufe into fortune, and there is q
mama tor speculation 10 this kind of real estate.
Men who have lately owned barren stretches Of
moor, upon which they grumbliDgly paid az.
nuslly lew dollars taxes. are now c)oliy re-
l3c|lug oilers that would have raised them 10
tho seventh heaven OF happiness and content
mcDt few months ago. The Maud mine, in
Amhest county, that was bought for $3.50 on
New Year, was sold last week for S. 900 clsh,
and this is but sample of the sudden rise 10
lron lands that has taken place in the last six
week. That this unexamplod prosperity will
steadily iooreass all business men ooncede, and
Lynohturg rta! eatee is consequently steadily
rising.
| spent SEVERAL days 10 B .dford couaty.-
1hero is 20 money TO bo made there jn forming.
A greater portion Of tho land has been r.n.
dcred sterile by successive groupings of tobcc,o,
an1 with tho exception Of a few farms here pni
there, tho face cad surroundings of the COUNTRY
$40 barren indeed. There is ab!o'u ely no sale
tGr real estate; foe farms OF some five hundred
acres or 80, can be bought for four dollars an
ttc'e, with the dwelling aud outhouses thrown
IN, costlog three times the amount. VERY few
farmers are doing well, and tumbIiug down
hous:s, staggering fences, and dilalidated barns
arc common all along the route.
The L7Icbburgers have been making money
oil these past ten years, and their town is
thflVlrg plsco. Tie people are hospitable
10 a taut, love fiae houses, el joy pleasure, and
always have tloe libraries in their houses. They
ara very literary 10 their tastes, and Lyuchburg
Is really Inc Athens OF America, or rather tho
Doston or FlrR!nlo. Iho men are energetic,
the women are lovely, but tho hotels arc the
Deautsi on Gods Garth. | stopped at one
Ct these and got dinner, which consisted
OF cod scraps that would have disguised n
tFemD and caused him to burn down some>
bodys 6arn IN retaliation. Supper was little
n
meals and bed, two Of us we're charged Fix
dol ars or three dollars apiece. 1t NAV be law.
IS the man said when his adversary raised him
his whole pile Oh fJuT aces, but it amt Justice
Anybody starting European hotel here
would make fortuoe; as for these hotels il ia
slmpy legalized robbery
ny freed is hesvJ sleeper, like Joe i,
pickHlck. When he slumbers BIO is like the
!rlshman, no puts his whole attention TO it, aud
is hard to wske. He is as strless as one Of the
seven sleeper5 of Cologne. Breakfast time came,
a9d the proprietor cent The call hoy 10 notify
him OF tho tact. Ia qlaiter OF 40 hour he
returned
'Bes', l ncvcr seed such q man in nv life,
t'led to wake him up but can't"
- "! said the proprietor, sIcrnly, "and
tell him breakfast is ready"
AGAIN this Child IT Ham went and again
catne oack-this ttno 10 despair.
What do dcbbel got iuto dis man | d,u't
shoW. but be won't wake up''
LII so myself" said tie IrJrrietor, ard
to sthr up stalrs, and no notico being taken
or bis knocS, enttrS tho room, and there Law
tbs guest soofIrg awsy with happy suils on
Stranger u said tho keeper Of tho l;carsed
hash house, wake uu?"
:, MY name IL Norvello, and tend nv Noc, IN
dresm,. N''' ~ LIB
III rouse him, said the irata dispenser of cold
' viclusls; 20 he sat him up in bed then rolled
LIN LIMO, over ana ended by pouring pitcher Of
By the Lord I'M ao 10 no purpose;
ialnied and away went the mercury in quest of |
en- u; On the steps he met his c0nrsde,
What's the row? ho inquired
Your friend has probably taken laudsnno
ana csu't be Weakened. tho keeper replied.
T T De Wakened what do you mean
Why we've tried to wake him up in eve,v
way. but can't I'm going 70. q doctor