The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-08
Amoxs THE mosAcASs-

AMOHW Hk~t~
A Trip frssa Richmena Up sae A"
~n.ux Read 90 she Natural Bridge.
--~
rs~ var-osf land OF Captain yeha smith Una
u.rse. Of ylreinls To-Dsy-canai versss
n.s,ysas- Notes on People, SCENERY ana
ws,,rssding valleys air-L5aessafs VS..
,.ea, Prosperity OF its fccsie-bisms ana
rrss. slewn Dewn 80 Make che Ned fef ihe
.u..s.ux Ra,lro.d-B Beating Under DIM
wn,.,,.-The Prospect fsr the ssmes-RiveF
valley.
foorresponoence Of the R'chmond DiSpa'eel
JULY D. 1881.
ar fslle;h from Rockies farre west In a
cauutry inhabited by nation they caii
Ncrscsns.v wrote Captain John Smith
somewhere about 17s years ago, after view
sng our noble river at the bead OF toe. Ibe
land beyopd the "falies, ROCKIES, shoules,
xev which prohibited navigation "any
higber.v was upknown 10 him. 80, pracu-
.css,x Il remained 10 most Of our citlzens
nnfii the locomotive took the place OF tns
serene mule, add steel rails were substituted
sor the slp9gish canal, and rattllns trains
for the noiseIess and, seemingly, motioniess
ha,ss How macy thought that part OF inc
liver between the Three-Mile locks and
MAYORS bridge & fair specimen OF the whole
stream above Richmond we can never
know. especially since economical excur-
eiops and bankruptcies have opened up
she country got the Monacsns" and MADE
many OF us feel how shameful has been our
ignorance Of this peighboring territory. /.
whether upon departing from Richmond
we do not leave quite as much beauty
as we enter upon Is question some
perry less interested tnan na.I'e n'cn-
monder must decide. Certain 1t Is
mai rs the train leaves the depot, as
n shoots out from the corner Of The basin
where the filing has been made, and where
hut few months ago the packets lay at
aucbor.v and rounds the curve between the
blazing furnaces OF the Tredegar Iron
Works and the graceful terraces and drives
Of CANDLES Hill; as Belle Isle Is passed,
and the din OF Its nail-cutting machines die
IN the distance; as we come abreast OF H0-
iywood. its foliage now giIstening with Inc
dew. and think what great peace bath It's IN
habitants, while all the world about IS SO
noisy and contentious; as we look down
ppon the red roof OF the pump-house, and
NOTE the charming contrast OF the pleasure
rrounus about IL, the river tumblng over
the falls and dam, and picking its way oy
rocks and islands; as we glance back upon
the city, growing fainter In the distance,
but (earer In our hearts, be the prospect
shead never so promising, we cannot fail 10
think, II not to say,
"How BEAUTIFUL Is OUR CITY,"
Belle Isle Is the most conspicuous e" relic y
Of the war on the route. Ii was probably
the bealthiest, ssfest, and cleanest prison
camp ON either side of the Potomac. There
aour friends, the enemy" in captivity
Jared not merely as well as the Confederate
soldiers in the field, but better in many re-
spects.
From the train the traveller thinks be
sees two heavy batteries on the high ground
OF the island. Optical decisions. Those
fr0wnipg eartbworks, which have TO all
appearances defined the ravages OF time,
are south Of the James and on the Chester
field shore. They were put there to pro-
feet the camp against raiders and to sup
press outbreaks among the prisoners, too,
IL needed. There is redoubt ON the up
per or west end OF the island, but IT cannot
be easily seen, The Belle-Isle prisoners had
NOT only abundance OF fresh air, but fine
MACE for bathing, which privilege was
freely granted them under certain reasona-
bic restrictions.
At the Three.Mile locks
TIE NEW PUMP-H0UsB
Is seen rising upon the canal bank in all the
MAJESTY OF massive granite walls. The ca.
nal from this point TO the Nine-Mile locks
is being altered or enlarged to bring down
the power for the wheels, and when 1t Is all
done as Colonel Cutshaw has planned there
will be no more stoppages on account OF
high water. Eventually, the city will, l
hope, own all the land from the river TO the
northern boundary OF the New Reser-
yoir grounds. II Is the place for a magnif-
cent park, and very likely the Allegheny
Railroad Company would forget the shah.
bipess with which IL has sometimes been
treated by Richmond authorities and run q
branch track TO the reservoir. Then the
thousands OF Richmond people whose faces
are never turned towards the green fields,
and whose eyes become almost blistered
looking upon the glariDg pavements and
the cruelly.red brick houses, might take the
train at the basin, at the foot OF CANDLES
Hill, or at Hollywood, and have nice little
jaunt TO where the country Is Just as coun-
tryfed as tits a hundred miles away, and
where fishing pools, bathing streams, and
pretty walks are in plenty, or where the
fashion OF the city may be seen driving their
best teams. When this branch Is built
and have faith that 1t will be--peOple will
then begin TO say among themselves that
here is the place for permanent exposition
grounds, for vast Conservatives, and for
such artistic adornments as will beft the
beauty OF the natural scenery.
The Allegheny is
ROAD WITHOUT GRADES,
without dust, without coal'cinders, without
bridges--almost. For the most part IL fol-
lows the tow-path OF the old James River
and Kauawha canal. Lying between the
river and the canal. and usually very close
20 one or the other, the dust can never be-
come as troublesome as on the other less
favored lines. The grades are almost un.
perceptibte TO the Impractical eye, and
while curves are numerous there are but
few sharp ones, and they will be reduced as
time allows. For the present the locomo-
tiyes use wood, and the showers OF coal
cindefs common on other roads are here
happily conspicuous by their absence.
Bridges are seldom needed, as most OF the
streams were crossed by the old canal 10
aqueduets end the same remain for the use
OF the railroad.
Ia some places the water has been turned
OF from the canal and only
AREEBLE STREAM
ieaksge from the gates-runs down the
grass-grown trench. Grass and weeds
sprieg up with great rapidity and In wealth
Of Iuxuriance upon the bottom. At one
spot saw q man with his blade.eutting hay
upon what was lately the bed OF portion OF
sstbe great central water-line" which was
TO "unite the waters OF the Ohio river and
The Chesapeake bag" Now that the canal
=. ga. .ol~o Ahok