National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-27
VIRGINIA STATE NEWS.

years the foreman In the Office OF the Nor
folk Landmark, has accepted a position on
the Richmond Wing.
Thepeople Of Fincastle, Botetourt county,
will vote on the 9th Of March on the sub
scription of 5000 proposed to be made TO
the Allegheny Institute.
Rear Admiral Truxtun, OF the Norfolk
ball the first OF next month, on his retiring
from the command Of the yard.
d. II. Pitts & Co., Of Scottsyille, Va,
have been awarded the contract for cross
ties for sixty miles Of the Memphis, Blr-
mingbam and Atlantic railroad.
Another large fruit and vegetable can
ming establishment will be opened in Bote-
tourt county very soon. Joseph g. Lay
man and Geo. W. Splgle, Of Fincastle, will
be the managers.
The contract between the heirs OF Jos. b.
Ficklen, deceased, and She commissioners OF
Stafford county having been signed, Flick
lens bridge, between Fredericksburg and
Stafford, will be opened to the public as a
free bridge on March 1.
Prof. n. b. Webster for the past forty
years the principal Of a large school for
boys, at Norfolk, has removed to Yonkers,
Ny. He will, however, continue to edit
department OF the County Farmer and
Trucker, published ut Norfolk.
The T7,yinia Lancet, published at Peters.
burg for the last four years by Geo. L.
Bragg, jr., is now being conducted and
edited by HIS sister, Miss Carrie Bragg.
This is the only paper published in the
United States edited by a colored woman.
The net receipts Of cotton at Norfolk
from Sept. |, 1885, to Feb 70, 1886, amount
to 442, 164 bales, against 5ll ,126 bales for
the same period year ago. This Is a
much better showing than had been ex-
pected, owing to the present lack OF bank
ing facilities.
Many Of the truckers around Norfolk pro
pose this season to grow tobacco instead OF
peanuts, owing to the low price now pre-
vailing for the latter. One hundred years
ago this section OF Virginia produced to-
bacco largely, but Of late years Its growth
has been entirely neglected.
Geo. ID. Hackney died at his home In
Caroline county last week, In the S0th year
OF bis age. He was m old bachelor, and
lived most OF his life In a small log cabin
alone. Two Of his sisters, who died several
years ago at advanced ages, lived in another
house about fifty yards from his.
The city and county superintendent OF
schools, Just elected by the legislature OF
Virginia, are all but one new and untrled
men. L. A. Niche, OF the county OF AL
bemarle, is the only one of old superiu-
tendonts that has been reelected. The old
officers had all made good records.
The board OF supervisors OF Augusta
county are determined to improve their
county roads. At their last meeting they
asked authority from the legislature to
borrow $4,000, and with the money thus
raised they propose to grade and macadam-
lie the leading roads throughout the county.
The construction and dry dock company
Just chartered by the legislature has not
yet decided where they will build their dry
dock. The Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
desire II built at Newport News and the
Norfolk and Western road are endeavoring
to have 1t located at Lambert's Point, about
three miles from Norfolk, on the Elizabeth
river.
The farmers Of the Middle River District,
| OF Augusta county, propose to establish a
| creamery at or near Fort Defiance, in that
county. 1t is proposed to commence with
| the milk from $50 cows. These enterpris,
ing citizens Of Augusta will take all the
risk and furnish all the means to put the
creamery into operation.
For the past three years the public schools
OF Rockingham county have made the best
record and attained the highest proficiency
ever made by any schools In the state, Last
| week Mr.. Funkhouser, the superinten lent,
was unanimously awarded by a committee
Of teachers the only Peabody medal ever
| offered for the best and most meritorlous
school superintendent
| The city council of Norfolk on Wednes-
day last appointed Hon. William Lamb,
mayor, and Messrs. Marshall Parks, Jas.
Barron Hope, Geo. i. Bowden, V. ID.
Groner, and L. d. Starke a committee to
proceed to Washington and endeavor to Sc
cure from Congress an appropriation Of
m ha Had 30 hull -
Office adequate to the requirements Of that
city.
A steamer cleared from Newport News
on the 2lst February with 81, 600 bushels OF
corn for France. This is the beginning OF
what is expected to develop into very
large business. On account Of the low
rates OF freight which the Chesapeake and
Ohio road offers a large part of the grain
which has heretofore been shipped from
New York will be In future forwarded to
European ports by way Of Newport News.
All the colonies OF Mahone's old famous
brigade are still living. Col. Geo T.
Rogers, of the 9th, is in Norfolk; Col d. A.
Weisiger afterwards general is In business
in Petersburg; Col. Richard Whitehead, of
the 10Th, Is lawyer In San Francisco Col.
j. p. Minitree, of the 4lst, is purchasing
agent for the Norfolk and Western railroad
at Norfolk, and Col. V. ID. Grouer, OF the
6lst, is agent for the Boston Steamship
Company at Norfolk.
Wise county was formed in 1866 from Lee,
Scott, and Russell counties. 1t has BOO
acres of land, assessed at $1S6,000, or 6C
cents per acre. The soil In part is Of good
quality, and well adapted to grain and grass
Other parts the land Is poorer, but produces
corn and fruits, and is well suited to the
grape and to pasturage, especially Of sheep
The greater part, however, OF the area OF
Wise county is still covered with Original
forests Of oak, chestnut, walnut, poplar
abundant and of large size, and popiai
trees, some six and eight feet In diameter
with long, straight trunks, seventy-nye u
eighty feet to limb are common.
or all the immense deposits OF iron oret
that abound In the state not ton can bG
economically used In the production OF stee
by the Bessemer acid process !; but by the
use Of the Reese basic process 1t is claimed
that every ton Of iron ore found In the state
OF Virginia may be converted into ingot
Iron or iDgot steel Of superior quality Ia
Bessemer steel and at lower cost. Fol
every tone Of steel made by the basic pro
cess about one.third OF q ton OF phosphate
OF lime Is produced which contains 90 pei
cent. OF phosphoric acid. Virginia land
are impoverished and have been robbed o.
theirphosphorlc acid to a very large extent
One sinSie oasic planI iochteu IN virginia
having capacity to produce 300 tons o.
basic iron or steel per day, would also pro
duce 100 tons Of phosphate Of lime, having
20 per cent, OF phosphonc acid In IL, thu
producing 10000 pounds Of phosphoric aciC
per day, sufficient TO fertilize 500 acres o
land.
Accomack is the northernmost OF the twt
counties of Virginia ON the "easterl
shoren peninsula. II contains 243,65l acre
Of land has population Of "a ,40S, is abou
forty miles long, with an average width o
ten miles, the Atlantic ocean bounding 1
, on the east and the Chesapeake bay on tn
I | Mnaf Z he anlL mfr frnnl the ana and III