Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-01-09
ALL OVER THEsTATE.
xEcxLExBURc COUNTY.
,u.fs,,m..s. ~ commandments
Rssds- Ednesties.


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-Ednestses.
fcorespondence Of the Richmond Dispatch
CIARKsvrLLE, VA, Jan. =, 1885.
For having been long time inscces-
sible and remote from communication
With the commercial world. this town
now rejoices with the advent Of the New
Year in completed railroad with daily
trains over a steel track and a telegraph
line connecting with the great centres os
trade and travel.
II is astonishing what n change a rail
road makes upon the appearance OF a
community in short time. New build
ings aud other improvements greet The
eve in every direction. The people seem
actuatcd with new life and vigor. their
step is more elastic, their language be-
comes brief and prompt, their dress
more busincss-like trade increases.
merchandise cheapcns, hotels feed bet
ter. politeness more general. the hum Of
industry takes the place Of idleneSs,
and progress and prosperity supersede
inactivity and adversely.
Many substantial Improvements are
now in process Of construction and new
business enterprises inaugurated.
This is essentially tobacco town.
The people buy. sell, talk, smell. see.
handle. chew. smoke. and almost eat
the weed. Its aroma is in the AIR, and
upon its manipulation and traffic rest
the peoples reliance for trade AMI tie
necessities and luxuries Of life. The
amount sold here last year exceeds
three millions Of pounds. IL is all
sold loose, priced and shipped.
Strange TO say, there are no manufac-
tories here. Before the war thousands
of boxes Of choice brands were manu-
featured here, and at one time the
Moses employed more hands than any
other factory in the State. The country
adjacent and tributary to this market
produces all the various kinds. from the
common lug and dark working to the
finest sun-curcd and silky yellow leaf
Of the golden belt.
The farmers for the ensuing year are
provided with sufhcicncy Of food for
man and beast. and the remuneratiye
prices prevailing for tobacco will make
them truly independent. The question
Of labor is still an embarrassing one.
but now better understood and more
easily regulated than feT years ago.
Land. teams, ard agricultural imple-
monts are the farmers capital, and the
muscle. endure &c. and general adapta-
bIN, ul ID, 90 iFou m4D '.r .ID'd-N orb
con nitute the labor. Between the two
there can be 10 antqr ,usH Properly
..a.. .nu, IA t,,.heiits a,,:ac
tn. roads are now in better condi-
ton than they nave been for years at
this soason. The county authorities
and the people have walked up to real
ization of the importance Of good high
ways and the great advantage they az
ford not only to travel but convenience
of the people and protection to vehicles
and draught animals.
At the ferries here ropes have been
attached TO the boats. the current pro-
polling, thus insuring more certainty
and security in crossing the rivers than
with the old-fashioned poles belonging
TO the past age. This looks more like
civilization and progress.
There have not been the usual mar
rage festivities here this season, but in
their place can mention the splendid
health enjoyed by the people the past
year. In fact, this place and surround
ings are proverbial for health and
of the people.
The public schools in this county are |
in full operation and well patronized. |
Teachers and pupils manifest unusual
interest and an improvement apparent
in more systematic and general cul-
ture. The passage of the Blair educa-
tional bill would be glorious boon for
this section. Ii would ameliOrate the
of the people, give fresh inn
petus to education, and be responsive to
the necessities of the country and the
requirements and spirit of the times.
n II