The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-01-03
MECKLENBURG COUNTY.

TUE RICHMOND AND MECKLENBURG RAIL-
ROAD--PROGRESS OF THE wOEK-THE COUN-
TY ROADS-THE CROPS-POLIT1CAL.
(Corresoondence of the Richmond DispatchI
GAINESVILLE. VA. December 81, 1888.
The Richmond and Alecklenburg railroad
is now completed TO within six miles OF
this place. and freight and passenger trains
are daily running to Five Forks, about ten
miles this side OF Chase CITY. The grading
from here to Five Forks can be completed
with a few weeks Of good weather. The
pillars III Stanton and Dan rivers bave
all been completed except three. These
can soon be finished, and al that is neces-
sarv will he TO make them six feet higher.
This will place the bridges at such an eieva-
ton as to be out OF danger from any rise in
the rivers.
The trains over this road will reach here
in early spring. The track is laid with
steel rails and with the best cross-tieS OBJ
tainable. The contractor informed me that
it was the finest track he had ever put
down, and he had been engaged upon many
others. This road penetrates section OF
country rich in fOrestal supplies and agri-
cultural products of great value.
This town exhibits signs OF Improvement
anu Du>lutSs thtCl DilNts, anu pODtlt~lipi
have increased. Whether the road will
stop here or continue on To GreenYille
county, Y. c., where the bright golden
leaf tobacco is so abundantly produced, it
IS impossible at present to say. Tobacco
is the chief money product OF all this sec-
ton. 1t is as absolutely rs is cotton in
the southern States. To our surprise we
have seen here recently many bales OF
northern hay, brought to feed stock.
Such thing was before never known. 1t
should not be so now, while there is an
abundance OF oats and shucks in the coun-
try. Our country roads, however, are so
badly worked. aud the law in regard to
them so defective and unintellgible, that
it seems common consent to abandon
their Improvement until the Legislature
enacts better laws. In the mean time the
delivery Of produce in market will have to
be DELAYED.
The corn crop in this section last year
was exceedingly short, and corn is now
higher than il has been for many years,
some selling at 70 cents per buslel, and
shucks ut 20 cents per barrel. Oats, 70
cents 70 81 per hundred.
| Politically, We are still under the con-
troll, so far as the county is concerned,
Of combination OF Republicans and Re-
adiusters. There Will be an election the
It'll OF Jsnuary for senator from this dis
trict, composed OF the counties OF Char
lotte and Mecklenburg. William Townes,
OF Mecklenburg, is the Republican candi-
date, and Tbeo. w. Scott, Of Charlotte,
the Democratic candidate. Townes has
been actively at work but II he makes
no better run than be did at the cleo
ton appointed by the Governor in De-
cember, when the Democrats declined TO
vote, Scott will beat him by several hun
dred majority.
The Christmas festivities have been en-
joyed with becoming merriment and feast
ing. There were no disturbances, acct
dents, fights, or improprieties, so far as we
are informed.
Over two million pounds OF leaf tobacco
were sold here during the year 'S3.
Hundreds OF bales of cotton are shipped
through here from North Carolina TO the
! different cotton markets. y.