Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-01

get ont of its banks except at some Of tho
low places IN blck lots and alleys between
Main and Cary streets. The water did not
get into either Cary or Dock street.
AT TIE wHAEvFs.
The water reached the floor Of the Ariel
wharf early yesterday afternoon. and IN
short while that structure was entirely
submerged. Not, however. until all Of the
freight had been moved ont and stored in
safer and dryer quarters. The other steam
boat companies were also making prcpara-
tions 10 give way 10 the watcry element
should II decide 10 invade their domain.
At O'Clock the river was thought to be
rising about foot an hour at the Iredeear
bridge. and 1t then appeared TO be about
g. feet above common tide at this point.
THE RAILROADS.
Ass. ss.stant-Postmastcr Jenkins, when ask
eG about the arrival OF maIls late yesterday
afternoon. replied that al had arrived about
on time and no trouble had been reported.
On the Chesapeake and Ohio road, in-
cluding the main line and the James-ldyer
branch (Richmond and Alleghanv), all
regular trains are running, but on slightly
bclated schedules. There were several
small washouts and landslidcs on both
tracks west of LynchUurg, but none OF
them were serious, and most OF them had
been repaired yesterday afternoon and the
trains were running over them.
There is trouble ON the Virginia Midland
som, where between Danville and Lynch
burg. $50 the travel from the North rim this
line is now brought 10 Richmond over the
Chcsapeake and Ono and sent on South
over the Richmond and DanvIlle line.
The Richmond. Fredericksburg and Pc
tomac rond is experiencing some trouble.
Their trains were all right yesterday morn
ing. and when Major Myers was seen by
DtsDGfch reporter shortly before i. Nj. ne
thought the slight Inconvenience which his
trains had suffered earlier in the day was
over. Later, however, II was learned that
the trestling or track over POlccat run,
thirty-three miles north of Richmond
and one mile south Of Penola, was
not in safe condition, and the
north-bound train arriving here at
q T.. VI. was not allowed 10 90 any
further: neither did the late tram from the
North ria this line come IN. The passen-
gers and baggage for the North were sent
bv the Chesapeake and Ohio to Gordons-
yille and thence over the Virginia midland.
Travellers coming South followed the same
route.
Tho Chesapeake and Ohio is really the
only line going out of Richmond that
makes northern connection, and all Of the
travel from here aud further South has
now 10 take this route. A large number OF
Midland passengers were brought here
last night and 90 South by the Dan
VILE Passengers going North TODAY
can either go by the Chesapeake and ONO
and Midland or take the afternoon tram
on the Newport News division of the
Chesapeake and Ohio and take the Cape
Charles route. arriving in New York to-
morrow morning I'M time for breakfast.
Ii was reported last night that there was
a washout on the Fredericksburg road hut
one of the officials thought this was a mis-
take; that while the place referred 10
above was not considered safe there was
really no washout II the water falls as
rapidly as is expected the company hopes
to get their trains 10 running again to-day.
MIDNIGHT.
At12 o'clock last night the river was over
the Wharves at Rockets and within eight
feet Of Mavos bridge. and was still rising.
Many Of the people IN the districts subject
TO iuuudatiOu were moving their goods,
though the general opinion was that the
rise would not be very much greater.
Agricultural Virginia.
Virginia is largely an agricultural state.
True, she has many manufacturing enter
prises, and her mines Of iron. coal, copper.
sulphur. and other minerals and her forests
also bring her considerable wealth, and
her cattle and stock-raising and fish and
oyster industries occupy the attention of
rOOdlv portion of the citizens Of the state;
but the vast majority of the people of Nir-
gnia live from the crops they raise from
wear TO year, and therefore any loss TO the
farmers in general is felt directly 10y a very
large percentage of the people of the state
and indirectly bv the entire population.
WET YEAR.
The summer has been the most unfavor-
able To crops for many years. The lnces-
SAINT rains have discouraged the agricultural
population 10 no small degree. Not only
is this true of Virginia, but of many other
States.
WHEAT. OATS. AND GRASSES.
The reports received by tho Commission
er of Agriculture from nearly all the coun-
ties in the state dating up TO about the
middle of July predicted that the wheat
and oat and hay crops IN the state had
been injured fully 30 per cent. Many said
that unless dry weather came quickly the
loss would be fully 80 per cent. Since that
time 1t has raiued almost every day. ana
" hat is more discouraging the weather
shows no sign of Il change at tins date.
INJURED CROPS.
The prospect in the spring was a bright
one-in fact, the reports 10 the Commls-
sioner of Agriculture showed the most
favorable outlook for many years. Wheat
and grasses were then far ahead OF any
prospect since the war. The wheat crop
was especially fine at that time
There are numerous cases IN which large
crops of hay from early grasses were eX-
pected and little secured, and that which
Is yet uncut is greatly injured.
THE CORN CROP.
"The corn crop was very promising"
saws Commissioner Whitehead IN late re-
port, both as to area planted ana early
growth, and the prospect on good hlgh
land is still fine. but the wet weather pre-
vented both planting and working IN some
sections in tidewater. and the crop IN such
sections and on all water-cOurSes has been
severely damaged
In many instances farmers have only
planted their corn, and II has neNe: beth
worked at all, and after the plant grew
awhile it was chOked up with grass and
weeds.
This. of course. refers 20 low lands. The
more elevated grounds viii produce fairly
good crops. though they have not been
worked IN many instances as they would
have been under more favorable clrcum-
stances.
OTHER CROPS.
The area planted in tobacco is reported
10 be much less than last wear. The crop
has been damaged considerably, though
not TO the extent of the corn crop.
The area planted III corn, oats. grasses.
md wheat was largely increased, according
10 the report of the Commissioner of Agrl-
culture
The potato crop is represented TO be
.bout as good as that of last year.
TuE OUTIOOR.
1t would be impossible at this time TO
,stimate the damage to crops IN Virginia.
The facts given above We're gotten from
he latest information received by Hon. !
Thomas Whitehead, Commissioner OF Agri- |
'ulture.
Tie farmers are very much disheartened |
II the outlook, and many who worked low |
apds altogether will lose their entire crops. |
The agricultural people in many other
States have had like damage to their crops. |