The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-04-19
Letter from Virginia.
CORRESPONDENCE of the Democratic Advocate

R,pp1u,yNocK STATION, Fauquier Co., Va, |
March 18th, 1884.
Messrs. Editors AS there seems to be a
general influx of settlers to this part OF 1.-The
Old Dominion from Maryland, the Valley OF
Virginia, and great many OF the northern
States, | thought would give the many read
ers of your paper a short sketch OF this sec
ton of Piedmont Virginia.
Fauduier is the third county in population
in the State, and the richest in proportion to
its inhabitants, who number 2S,5o0. The
county seat, Warrenton, is situated IN the
central part of the county, and Is the western
terminus of the Warrenton Branch of the
Virginia Midland Railroad. 1t has popula-
ton of $50. 1t is situated in grazing re-
gion which rivals the famous Blue Grass re-
zion of Kentucky. Warrenton has an extern
sive cattle trade with Baltimore and other
eastern cities. Bethel Military Academy,
situated three miles northwest of Narrenton,
is the principal seat of learning in the county.
1t has an excellent corps of teachers who are
under the management of Maj. A. G. Smith,
who is a son of Ex-Gov. William Smith.
The next town in importance is this place,
Rappahannock Station. 1t is situated on the
river of the same name, where it is crossed by
the Virginia Midland Railroad: Rappahan,,
mock has an extensive trade with Cuba and
New York in ''Shooks'' l. c. slaves for max
ing sugar and molasses hogsheads.
The merchants shipped from this place last
year about 200 bushels Of wheat, and be-
tween ZOO and $4,000 bushels of corn. A
great many cattle are also shipped from this
point There is an extensive factory for the
manufacture of Drain Tiles here, which will
be greatly enlarged this summer. There are
two churches, one of which, the Episcopal,
has Just been completed. The Baptist con-
gregation are going to erect a fine brick house
of worship this summer. The V. M. R. R.
Company have Just completed fine bridge
over the Rappahannock river, and intend to
build large freight depot, and extensive
side-tracks on their land.
There is a, splendid -four and grist mill
within few hundred yards of the station.
Where the mill now stands was heard at one
time the roar of artillery and the clash of
steel, for around this place some of the sever
est fighting between small forces of the Fed
erals and Confederates took place just before
the battle of Fleetwood, (which is seven miles
from here). The plowshare turns up old
shells, minnie balls, rusty bayonets, cannon
balls, solid shot, scabbards, military buttons,
and sometimes parts of old muskets or navy
pistols.
The bridge over the Rappahannock at this
place was set on fire by the Confederates after
the second battle of Manassas and totally
destroyed, but was rebuilt by the Federal
forces in about six months after.
| A first class boarding house is to be opened
| in u few weeks here. 1t should be well pa
tronized by city people, for Rappahannock is
only two hours run from Washington and
Alexandria, and about three hours run from
! Baltimore. A few years ago there was quite
a mania for gold digging in the lower part of
this, and the adjoining county of Culpeper.
Northern capitalists sent machinery of the
most improved patterns for crushing the quartz
| and refining the ores, ''down South" as they
called it. About 8 or 10 mining companies
commenced operations with a great flourish
of trumpets, but one after another closed their
immense buildings and discharged their en-
ployees. In some instances the toremen
would contract with parties to haul wood and
supplies for them, and would keep them en-
ployed until too late to plant corn or prepare
| for any summer crops at all, and then dis
charge them, in many instances not paying
them for more than half their work. A few
of the mines were worked with some profit to
the owners, but all have closed now. The
most celebrated of the mines were the ''Chang
| Ling" or Summer Duck mine, owned by a
''heathen Chinee' by the name of Charlie
| Ling, now of North Adams, Mass. He thought
that Celestial learning united with Yankee
acumen certainly rouid make the mine pan
out equal to any OF the Callfornla mines, but
he was disappointed. The Kelly mine was
right profitable for a while, as was also
the ''Culpeper Favorite.' For one to go
down into ''the pines where these mines are
situated, and see the large buildings and huge
engines standing idle, you feel that they ought
to be occupied, and hard at work at some
thing if it is only saw mills, for this part of
the county is heavily timbered with pine.
Prominent railroad engineers and capitalists
think that in a few years this will be the june
ton of road built from Fredericksburg tsit-
uated on the Rappahannock, 30 miles below
here,) up to the Blue Ridge mountains and
through the upper part ofthis county and into
Rappahannock county, and the Virginia Mid
land railroad. Only a few days ago | heard
the opinion expressed that sin less than five
years railroad would be built along the Rap
pahannock river, from Fredericksburg to the
rich timber lands of Rappahannock county,
and through the fine grazing region of upper
Fauquier' All that is needed to make this
a fourishing town is the capital and plenty of
good, industrious mechanics of all trades;
there is no reason why this should not be as
fourishing town in few years as the mush'
room city of Roanoke. Cant you send some
capitalists here and help build up this place,
and then we will help you finish building up
your city? Yours, VALLEY EIRGINIAN.