The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-09-02
THE SOUTHWEST.
yorTINGs IN AND AROUND ABINGDON.
Scratching About the Tswp-The Products or
Washington Ceunsy-The Cattle Interest
Peiitics-The Democratic Outlook Bright.
Icorre.pondence of the Richmond Dispatcb.I

4 ~.
dious COURTHOUSE. where the United States |
District Court for the Western District OF
Virginia Judge John Paul., the Circuit |
Court John A. Kelley iudgel and County |
Court William +. Rhea ludge). are held |
The town government consist OF a mayor |
fCap;aip John W. Barr and Common |
Council; Town Sergeant, John Love; |
Treasurer, Rev. George X. Barr There |
are seven churches, representing the diff |
ferent denominations, rs follows: Metho- |
dist, 2--1 colored; Episcopal, Presbyte- |
Ran. Methodist Protestant, Catholic. and |
one colored Baptist. The Methodists are |
now having built handsome brick edifice. |
Abingdon has two banks-the Bank OF
Abingdon: George l.. Palmer. president; |
X. VI. Page. yice-president; X. III. Nicho-
las. cashier: capital. Sl50,000; and the |
clearinghouse Of Greenway Brother q
Co. James &. Greenway president; L. b.
Trigg, cashier.
BUSINESS.
o II has three hotels, three drugstores. five |
grocery, two hardware, three clothing, |
and eight dry-goOds and general mercban-
disc stores; four tobacco factories. two re-
prisiug establishments. and two ware
houses; also two weekly newspapers-the |
Virqinian, Judge George W. Ward editor; |
the STANDARD, :. 7. Witbers editor. Near
the courthouse, on q LOT Of Mrs. A. +. t.
Campbell, is a cave, which is frequently |
visited by strangers coming 10 Abingdon. !
IL extends a considerable distance under
the town, and am told that the end has |
never been reached. Few people are IA
miliar with Ifs history.
PRODUCTS OF THE COUNTY.
Washington county raises large crops OF
wheat. corn, oats, barley. rye, and millet
(which Is used chiefly for home consump-
tionl. and in some sections tobacco. The
latter is of a superior quality. The prin-
cipal industry is that Of raising cattle and
sheep for market, as this is essentially
grazing country. Among the largest cattle
raisers are George w. Palmer. James NJ.
Bvars, John +. sutton, Francis Preston,
Henry Preston, William Nj. Gray. John
Gapd, James l.. White, X. A. Preston.
Frank Robinson. John ID. Hall. W. b. and
James Earnest, and W. c. saunders. These
gentlemen also raise blooded horses.
VILLAGES.
Washington county is one OF the largest
in the State. and formerly embraced the
counties Of Lee. Scott, Wise, Dlckerson,
Russell. Smyth, TazeweTl, Bland. Pulaski,
Wyfhe. Giles. Montgomery, Roanoke, and
Craig in its territory, and was formed into
a county over one hundred years ago.
There are in Washington seven towns or
villages. Abingdon, the cOunty-seat; Good
son. ten miles west, on the Tennessee line
nronerty. part Of Bristol, and Glade
Snrinp. twelve miles east, are the most
important. Glade Spring is great ship
ming point for cattle. Ii Is estimated thai
not less than "A thousand carloads OF stock
have been shipped from Glade Spring du-
ring the year.
THE sALT-wORKs.
Two and hall miles from Glade Spring
is the famous Washington spring, sum
mer resort. and two miles further are the
noted Seven Springs, which are located IN
wakes Mountain. Northeast OF Abing-
don. eighteen miles. Is Saltyille. where the
well-known salt-works are located. FROM
the works during the late war the Conied-
crate STATES had TO obtain its chief supply
Of salt for its troops. Ii i the property OF
Colonel George l.. Palmer, and l am toid
NAYS Handsomely. There arethree furnaces,
which have about two hundred kettles.
Each kettle holds one hundred gallons OF
water. which, when boiled down, makes
two bushels OF salt. This process takes
sbout twelve hours. The water l. sup
nlied FROM inexhaustible wells. The coal
nsed In the furnaces is from the Alton
mines. in Pulaski county.
Al Mendoza is located the Hamilton IN
stitute for Young men and misses. Inc
pupils are chiefly from the back counties:
In this county is a goodly number OF
saw-mills. The timber consists OF walnut
chiefly. poplar. wild-eherry. and OAK.
THE North. South. and Middle forks OF the
Holston river flow through the county, and
sIong them are TO be found the most fertile
delds OF grain and the richest pasturage.
These waters supply the farmers with bass,
red-borses, red-eye, and catfish. The cat
fish are said 10 equal IN size those caught
In New river.
yur cAT1IE INTEREST or THE SECTION.
The number of cattle in Washington
county at this time j. estimated at l4.OOO
head In Russell there are $4,000, ana III
Tazewell 10000. The dry weather mas III
| iured the grazing, and they are not I'D a.
GOOD order as they should be. When ready
for market they will average in weight
| from 900 TO 400 pounds. Most all par
| ues engaged in the cattle business Keep
large focks of sheep.
POLITICS.
| Washington is proverbial for her politics.
| Tuesday was court-day, and notice hay-
| ing been given out that both political par
ties would hold conventions 10 nominate a
Ticket for the House OF Delegates, there
were large number OF people in attend
ance-more than had been here on any
co,irt-day for some years. The Demo
crats met I'm the courthouse at IL O'Clock
in mass-conyention, and were called TO
order by Colonel Con. Trigg, who made
| oul-stirring speech. He congratulated his
feIIow-countymen that they had met in
snch large number, representing as they
lid both wings Of the Democracy, for
suong them he recognized many that he
Rad met with before on the stump nghting
Tor reimbursement, and who had. he said,
heretofore differed with him politically.
THE LINE DRAWN.
' ,rhs only enemy they had now TO con-
,snd with was the Coalition Repubiican
narty. which consisted OF three fourths
| bI.ets and one fourth whites. He warned
the democrats that II was no time for play,
for the foe that they had 10 contend with
uas sn unscrupulous one, and from them
no ousrters could be expected; that II
they GOT into power through the negro
vote. those who had already placed ne
groes upon ehool boards as Ius'ee'
would have to 20 step further. Inc OPP
moments OF the Democrats, be said' were
nothing but Stalwart Republicans. VINO
were afraid 10 come out openly and pro
claim themselves such.
THE DEBT QUESTION SETTLED.
They were instead endeayoring to pull
the wool over the eyes Of The peoply by
discussing the debt question, which had
- ....l.l ~ fho highacf eourf ~ the