Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-09-07
OLC-TlME GULLlES.
How the Springs Found Their Way 70 the
River.

How the Springs Found Their Way 70 the
River.
This city is noted for being hilly, natu-
ral sequence Of which IN ground Ike ours
le rulics.
Local historians aud others have taken
pride in comparing our " seven hllicd "
ats to Rome. and the fancied resemblance
la- been much commented on, but very
lfitle Las been said about the old gulllcs,
which are and We're nguisliing features.
Ia fact. iu tho beginning these gulhcs
were not without many features ~ beauty
aud might hnvc been poctlcally called small
valleys or glcns without any great stretch
nf the imagination. as these pure and
lmpid streams flowed over their bottoms
and trees and bushes of every description
.pr1nc mp and shot ont from thor scanned
aud almost pcrpendlCular slOcs, ana THESE
ln many places were drhped and testooned
with beautiful vines Indigenous 10 tins sec
fon Of Virginia. the whole forming such "a
picture 0f natural scenery as 10 STIR the
Imagination of a lover OF nature.
sc,ns oS NATURE.
The namc Of gully. however. has not a
very poctical ung about it, and one IS apt
a. toa-4ociate with n polluted streams and
the idea Of "a dumping place FOR garbage
and ncighhOihood rcfu-" matter and death
dealing yupor- and odors. such they iuNa-
r.al ly become when near cltlcs and towns,
and such they hnNc become TO some extent
I'M Tins citv since their streams have been
polluted and they have been shorn Of their
mtlml growth of trees and bushes. De
ruIclo them. these Culhes have lost their
uruuty and become as scars on the face Of
nature.
MANS HAND.
Tie ruilics of this city arc fast disnp-
gearing undDr the busy hand Of man. who,
ATOM as he D., is capable of rcmoV-
ln- mouutains and filling up great valleys,
a. % were Thrre are few citlcs where the
dwelling hand Of man has been buster than
r..lt here iu our midst as there are men
u.w living who have seen the great gully
extending from near First street eastWardly
o. Shockoecrcck filled up nearly level with
LEIGH street. and over which has since been
extended nearly an the cross streets he
tween First aud Navy Hill The depths
filled boa many cases being 20 or 80 iect, the
proligiou- labor required To do tins may
be- imagined.
Tho gully commencing in the vicinity
of The New market, and running south and
parallel with Clay and between 1t ana
tciln streets. and ending IN the Butcher
town valley urnr Twelfth and the Normal
school. was no small affair and must have
required ages of wear and tear Tor lorna
finu.
rrNIrTNTIAHY PoNp.
Another famous Gully that has now near
Is entirely Disappeared commenced near
flt corner ot Grace street, aud extended
m .luth.ily direction 90 the river, and
whose water. lplu,l 20 form what was
formerly krlwn o.. the Peulteutlary pond,
whore were located .he canal-boat shops.
There a,rc many 3ther smaller gulhes
fl'.i up before thr days of tins generation,
aII Nu.ch are being discovered and deYel-
,U.l IA. BIS tD She great loss and cost Of the
purchasers Of lots who only mike the dis
c.,.rf when they commence the eNcava-
t..n for the erection OF houses, when their
e.r. are opened 60 the bad foundation.
G..l.r- are hot confined 10 Shockoe Hill,
f.talI of "our hills" have thor iull COM
l..mclt Of them.
CHURCH hill.
This hil had two notable gullies one Of
....l. r,ar Church Hi avenue. has been
l.rp filed. the earth for tins purpose
I...... come from the Church Hi tunnel,
..I tnu- much land has been recovered
a-.l made available for business purposes.
other Us Bloody Run Gully" chron-
DH m history as the scene OF "a bloody III
dian massacre, when The stream ran red
Wtl blood. 80,
Nr.h of this gully still remains untitled,
iu f ls being rapidly ehcroachcd upon py
g..f,.it- from the foundations OF the many
i..... NOW being built in that now pros
porous ucighborhoOd.
What remains OF these deep gulhes IN
f.'a. places afford ia their almost pefpch-
di.ulr slopes excellent opportunities ior
trr study of local geology, rs the various
strata of earth. with their contents OF ante
d..uvi4i remains. may be examined With
Out The expense Of excavation.