The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-07-11

A COURT-DAY IN MARTINSyILLE-A THRIVING
vILLAGE-THE IRON H0RSE-IMPR0yE-
MENTS-THE TOBACCO INTERSECTIONS
GOVERNMENT.
Correspondence of the Richmond DisDatch.I
MARTINsvILLE, July 8, 1888.
Martinsyille is the county.seat OF Henry
county, and has population OF 1,200 peo-
pie. Ii is located about the centre OF the
county, on the Danvile and New-River
railroad, forty-two miles from Danville,
and is a thrifty and growing village. The
Danylle and New-Riyer railroad which is
a narrOw-gauge road, was completed TO
this point in September last, and since that
time sixteen miles Of road have been con-
structed in the direction OF Patrick Court
house, which il is expected to reach on or
about the 1st OF December. The road
passes through wild and picturesque
country, aboundIng in most excellent TIM
Der OF oak, pine, and poplar.
The IRON-HORSE.
One Of the most amusing scenes that q
stranger witnesses here on court-day is
when the whistle Of the engine Is heard
approaching the village. The large crowd
OF country people who have collected toge-
fher on the cOurt-green from different
points in the county discussing politics,
transscting business, and cracking Jokes,
make run in the direction OF the train to
behold the iron-borse in his majestic APP
proach. They stand upon the hillside and
look amazed, for many OF them never be-
held train OF cars before.
PAST AND PRESENT.
The Martinsville Of to-day is very differ
ent from the Martinsville OF two years ago.
AT that time the village only consisted OF
a few frame dwellings, one country hotel,
badly kept, and four or five small stores,
and had, apparently. no future before It.
But now are TO be seen Workmen Dusty
engaged i'm constructing handsome stores,
private dwellings. tobacco factories, ana
warehouses. In the last ten months there
have been built twenty-fOur private dwell
ings. Gothic style; nine handsome brick
stores, two large frame tobacco ware
houses, four tobacco factories that VIII
employ, on an average, 100 hands each, ana
fifty small frame houses for factory hands.
A Joint stock company has been organized
for the purpose Of building handsome
hotel to cost not less than $4,000. Most
OF the stock has been taken, and 1t is said
that it will be completed on or about the
first of December next. There is also 10
be seen aioundry, which has been recently
built, and at which is made all kinds OF
castings for country purposes.
CHURCHES.
The population has increased 300 per
cent, and the merchants and businessmen
are chiefly young men. There are only
four churches-two Methodist Zone OF
which is colored), one Episcopalian, and
one colored Baptist. The Episcopallan
and Christian denominations Will build
during the year handsome churches to cost
several thousand dollars each. Martins
Vile was incorporated in 1873. Its town
government consists Of a mayor (the Hon.
James Redd) and Common Council OF six
members.
INDUSTRIES.
The principal business Is the manuiac-
ture and sale OF tobacco. The county, 1t Is
well known, raises superior class OF dark
nutmeg or mahogany-coloredt tobacco, espe-
cially adapted for fine chewin g-tobacco'
Nearly oil that is produced is now manu-
featured in the county, where there are If
teen tobacco factories IN operation.
ARANINTA