Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-30
THE SOUTH SIDE.
THE suRaY, SUSSEX AND SOUTHLAND
rox RAILROAD RAPID PROGRESS.
The Railroad Troubles ct Claremont and
Their EHsets-Tremsndous Rain.
storm-contract Awarded.
oftne Rlcnmond Dispaton. ]

iCrUreepondeuce ofthe Richmond Dispscn'l
PETERSBURG, July 20, 1885.
It's learned that the Surry, Sussex
and Southampton Railroad Company is
rapidly pushing its work. Two large
forces Of hands are doing the grading
and another force is following with the
track.laying. A Baltimore firm has
contracted to build the wharves at the
.James-river terminus, which will be
almost opposite jamestown and about
two miles above Jones's Wharf. This
work will DO commenced within the
next ten days. The company expects
TO double its force OF hands in a few
DAYS. This road will pass through the
village of Surry Courthouse, and will
cross the Norfolk and Western railroad
at Wakefield.
A private letter received to-day FROM
prominent citizen of Surry county
makes the following reference to the
recent troubles at Claremont, of which
brief mention has already been made in
the DispQtch =: Z" About ten days ago
the Atlantic and Danville Railway Com
pany discharged ali Of its colored wharf
hands at Claremont and filed their
places with convicts from the State
prison. The discharged men held a
meeting and petitioned the Common
Council of Claremont to take some ac-
ton in the matter. A meeting was
held and q committee appointed to wait
on the president Of the road and request
him, in quiet and respectful manner,
TO remove the convicts. 1t was thought
that this request would have received
proper consideration, but the president
of the road declined to remove the con-
yicts. And now comes one Of the most
serious features Of the case The Knights
Of Labor in Baltimore and Philadelphia
have refused to unload the vessels ar
irving at those ports from Claremont
which were loaded by convicts. or to
allow any one else to unload them. 1t
is also reported that the owner of
vessel loading with lumber at Clare
mont telegraphed from Baltimore to'the
master to leave Clsremont, which the
master did, though only one quarter
loaded. The masters Of the vessels
loading for L.. NJ. French and G. W.
Alcott & Co., New York. refused TO al
low the convicts to load for them. The
people of Claremont are much exercised
over the matter. While they do not
object to the company's employing con-
yicts to work on the extension of the
road, they think the company ought not
to put them in competition with honest
labor at other points,"
A letter from Greensville county
says that one of the seyerest thunder
storms ever known passed over that
section night before last. The fall CT
rain was very heavy, and in some quar-
tiers accompanied with considerable
hail. The storm lasted from $3.50 to ii
o'clock at night, with continued vivid
flashes Of lightning and heavy peals of
thunder.
The corn, cotton, and peanut crops
on good lands IN THIS sectlOn are report
ed to have greatly improved in the last
few days-more even than was antici-
pated by the most hopeful of the plant
ers.
The contract for building the new
brick passenger depot in this city has
been given out by the Norfolk and
Western Railroad Company, and work
will be commenced within the next few
days. The new building will occupy
in part the site OF the present structure,
which has pretty much outlived its use
fulness. The new house will have con-
yeniences for the comfort Of the public
and oftrayellers never before known in
this city, and will be Of handsome
architecture. ROBIN ADAIR.