Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-07
BRUNSWICK COUNTY
The Finest sospstons and Grsnite-Fse-
tories, Warehouses, and Bsnk-bess
Crops In Twenty I've Yssrs-Poiiticah
lcor..ponaspce Of ~. RIchmend pIsp.tch.l

Sropsn twenty-five 1esrs-A oAAs'~
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispstch-l
LAwRExczvnLE. Va, Sept. 4, 1880.
Not having seen anything in the Dispatch
for several months from this county, 1t
seems to me that it might not prove devoid
of interest at least to some of your readers
to know how the people of this portion OF
the Black Belt are getting on and what Is
being done for the development OK sec
ton Of the State that until recently has
been handicapped by every disadvantage
that want of transportation could
possibly impose upon the INDUSTRIAL
interests of people. have con-
cluded Gas dm ne Tds. in the language
OF Sambo to Dinah, " to drop you rev
lines" to tell you something OF the hap
penings hereabouts within the recent past.
Before doing so permit me to preface what
have to say with the statement that
owing to the lack of railroad facilities no
section Of the State has been less known
or appreciated than the county OF Bruins
wick. The lands in this county are as
fertile and productive as any to be found
east of the Blue Ridge. The climate Is
equable and enial--characteristic OF the
belt Of country between Piedmont and
Tidewater, and is the mos. healthtul OF
any that / have any knowledge OF
either in or out of this State, as VIII be
attested by the longevity of human
life here land here / will mention that
think / have found the centenarian that
the Dispatch has been so eagerly searching
for. and as soon as | can procure the au-
thenticated record will forward IT.. The
county is better watered and at the same
time better drained than any in Eastern
| Virginia. The Nottowaylriver skirts 1t on
the north, the Roanoke on the south. and
the Mehefrin passes almost directly
through the centre from west TO east.
| The forests, which abound in every sec
| ton of the county. are heavily timbered
with hard and soft woods indigenous to
this climate.
QUARRrEs INEXHAUsTIBLB.
We cannot boast very great variety
| of minerals, but have inexhaustible quar-
ries of soapstone and granite-the lat
ter in the opinion of the architect
| in charge of the national capital, to
whom specimen was exhibited, being
the finest in the United States. The quarry
whence the specimen referred to was taken
is not more than two and half miles from
the line Of the Atlantic and Danyille rail-
road. Notwithstanding these great natural
| advantages We have heretofore been dis
| tanced in the race of development by other
| sections less favored by nature, simply be-
cause there was no means of transportation
to the markets of the country except
by the slow and expensive road-wagon.
This is all changed now. The, Atlantic
and Danville railroad, which passes
almost directly through the centre
of the county distance of about twenty
| i've miles, furnishes cheap and rapid trans
portation to the markets OF the country.
| Utilizing the long DELAYED advantages this
road affords, tho people of this section
| have entered with jealous determination
| the van of progress and Improvement. A
land and improvement company has re-
Gently been chartered and organized here,
having for its principal object the develop
ment of this town. IL is in charge OF
solid and substantial businessmen who
have no faith in wildcat schemes.
nor in the stability of that prosperity
| the stimulated growth of speculative
| frenzy. The company has been organized
on q solid and substantial basis, and the
! improvements it proposes to make Will be
| of the same character.
WHAT IS PROPOSED.
A large tobacco-warehouse will be es.
! tablished at once: afterwards factories
| for the manufacture Of the weed and
other industrial enterprises will be
| GfaTTe0. a Dlllk 10 DB kuOnu ID IhN
| Bank of I.awrenceville" has been charter
ed and organized with ample capital al
ready subscribed to commence business on
| a safe and solid basis. On every hand are
| to be seen evidences of thrift and pro-
gress. New stores that would do In
| finite credit to more pretentlous
town have been erected or are now
| ins course of construction. local
| paper, the Br1msiclck Gazette, has been
| established and supplies longfelt need
| This town in days gone by, owing to
| its healthfulness and the culture and re-
| finement of its citizens and the excellent
| educational advantages u afforded, was
noted for its fourishing schools, both male
and female, but our isolation and the ditti-
| Guilty of access. as in everything else. mill.
| tated against us, aud even our schools had
to succumb TO the general disadvantage
under which we labored. | am glad, how
ever, to note that two enterprlslng Young
| gentlemen, graduates of the University; APP
preciating the advantage oflocation and the
public need to be supplied will open pre-.
paratory school for young men and boys al
| this place some time in september.
| FINE CROP PROSPECTS.
The feeling of gloom and despondency
| everywhere apparent few months ago Il
now entirely dispelled by the finest crop
prospects that have gladdened the hearts. OF
| the agriculturists for the last quarter or q
| century. do not believe that there is
man living who ever saw falrer prospect
! than that which now promises to reward
| the labor of the husbandman., The corn
| crop, which is already made, viii be
| amply sufficient to supply all local
| demands and leave q goodly surplus
| for market. The tobacco crop is be
yond all doubt the finest In every
respect / ever saw. and In passing 1t may
| not be amiss to state that BrunsWicR
county, according to the testimony OF
| BUYERS both IN Richmond and Petersburg,
raises the finest shipping tobacco IN the
world. and that since the fine silky, golden
leaf article has become so fashionable, as
we'll as so remunerative, it has been demon.
strated by practical experiment that at
| least two thirds of the lands in this county
will and do produce that description of to.
! bacco of as fine quality and texture as
| those of Granville and Vance counties, in
North Carolina. Some of our farmers have
already sold their primings at twenty-seyen
cents per pound. The cotton crop Is the
best raised in this section since 1865. The
yield will probably be between i've and SIX
thousand bales, great part OF which viii
be sold here.
| THEIR BLAMING FACES.
| IL would do you gOOu 10 iOoh upon
the beaming faces of the hardy sons
OF toll This. as you know, is large and
| in ante-bellum DAYS was very wealthy
county, much of tho property consisting
Of slaves. The result of the war came
with crushing effect upon our people; but
by uDtiring industry and the exercise of q
prudent economy they are rapidly recover
ing their lost ground. The recent assess
ment of lands in this county shows an in-
crease. as compared with the assessment Of
hveyears ago, OF 1929, 147.14. The railroad IL
assessed for taxation at S264 800, making
the total increase of taxable values from
these sources S564,0i7.A What county
east of the Blue Ridge can make more
favorable exhibit? / have been greatly
surprised that Richmond does not make
greater efforts to extend her business re-
lations in this section of the State. Seve-
raj of our merchants and many individuals
now trade with Richmond, but notwlth,
standing we are only three and a hall
hours distant by rail there seems to De
practically no effort on the part OF the
businessmen of your city 70 extend then
trade in this section. While Norfolk
Portsmouth, and Petersburg (the latter tc
| 1h<