Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-01
PLEASANT GRovE, LOUISA COUNTY. Va,

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July %, 1890
This pleasant country place Ii situated on the
famous Backbone of Virginia." which 10 low
ridge stretching from Fortress Monroe in q
northwesterly direction through Richmond and
up to the Blue Ridge mountains. 1t is not
notable generally for tho fertility of its soil,
but at the present time its mineral deposits are
claiming vast amount Of the attention of the
residents OF Louisa county, which it traverses.
number Of copper mines have been in opera
ton in the county for long time and a. early
as 1880 rich veins of gold and silver were dis
covered here, and it was the ore of one OF the
mines of this county "that surpassed in rich
hess the best ores of the whole world at the
Centennial exhibition of 1876" For some
reason. however, these mines have not as yet
been extensively worked, but now mining 10 all
the talk anu copper is the metal that is being
talked of. Many u farmer, who but recently
considered himself the posScssor OF SO much
PLAIN farming land, is now in hopes that he hos
beneath the surface rich store Of copper
pyrites, as it is said that the ore is being IN
earthed at various points in the neighborhood.
In consequence OF this boom a new town un-
der the name of Mineral City, has been laid
out i've miles east of Louisa Court House, on
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad and in the
midst of the mines Here il is proposed to
that the ore, instead of being sent north, will
be reduced here. Therefore, town lots in tho
new city are going off rapidly and preparations
are being made for the erection Of u hotel. q
church, factory, stores. dwellings. &c.
The crops that have been gathered up to the
present time hereabouts this seasOn-wheat
rye. oats, &c.-have been much behind the
average yield, and the apple crop will be a
failure, but now since the rain Of the past few
days corn and tobacco are looking finely and
will no doubt turn ont we'll.
The amount OF land in this section that was
once farmed, but which has now become over
grown with oldfeld pine, is immense The
reason assigned for this is that before tho war
the farmers owned slaves and were therefore
able to work large tracts, but that by the
emancipation proclamation they lost this help.
and hence were compelled to narrow their
borders.
The other day went across country from
this grove to the South Anna river, a distance
OF some six miles, and on the way saw only
some five or six houses, although travelled by
roads, county and private, all the way. Woods
seem to be everywhere, mostly on land that
was once cultivated
am told that there are ouite n nnmbey NJ
cabins through the country occupied by col
ored people, who cultivate only small patches
OF ground, but they are hid away from the fire.
quented roads and are only reached by by
paths.
From this it would appear that there is vet
virginia, and If farmers, who are well &C
qualuted with the nature of land and we'll UP
IN the business of filling the soil see fit to come
here and settle, have no doubt that MANY can
III very short time have themselves estab-
iished IN comfortable seif-supporting homes at
comparatively small first cost Such men must
however, know their business from the start
as some of the land here is very poor. and the
unknowlng might ignorantiy come into posses
sion of it.
Poplar Grove, from which this letter is dated.
IL farm located five miles from Louisa Court
House. The house, well-preserved story
and-a-haf white frame. situated in the midst
OF slightly rolling cleared fields that stretch
away quarter of u mile or more on every
hand, thus leaving a clear view in all direc-
tons, and on the northwest presenting the dis
tlnct outline OF the Blue Ridge, forty miles
away, was built by an Rngllshman named
QuaWies more than a hundred years ago, who
imported from his native land the nails
Wrought from and some OF the other material
entering into the construction of the building
Here eleven Washingtonians from the neigh
borhood OF the Government Printing ONCE are
spending pleasant month. They are Mr.. W.
5. Babbitt, Mrs Gussie Laing and daughters,
Susie and Estelle, Mrs. w. H. Miller and
daughter Grace, Mrs. J. E. Slick and Mr.. and
Mrs. U. =. Lowdermilk and daughters. Ellie
and Jennie.
Here they rest pleasantly from the turmoil OF
city life. The covered front porch, before
which Is the large yard, full of beautiful tow
ers and tall shade trees is the starting point of
all expeditions, where plans are laid. adieus
said and handkerchiefs waved When the rain
fills here they sit and talk and laugh; when the
sun shines they watch the humming bird dart
among the neiShboring flowers and hearken to
the oft-repeated notes Of bob White" and the
hundred and one other birds, among them the
English mocker that al present in numbers:
while III the evening shades the solemn boot OF
the owl and the cry OF the whipporwill are
waited to their cara
Outside they play croquet, ramble over the
FIELDS and into the deep woods, take lessons in
Craftsmanship, some of which are very ludi-
crous or take ride on the OK cart. ride on
an OK cart Ii jolly thing under auspicious cir
cumssances; Tor instance, just after shutdown,
with twelve or thirteen persons aboard-girls
boys, men and women. y, what laughinQi
what shouting! and what screamingi The cart
is full up. II has no springs under it, and the
road Is rough The oxen 60 at lively pace
and there is great jolting. but everybody en-
joys 1t immensely. or course it does not last
long. Too many bumps might become monot-
GUS, as il is estimated that solid fall of the
tire of two inches produces on the uovice's
constitution Jolt sufficiently powerful to crush
busbeI OF stone IN a crushing machine.
Then there Is the ride in the jersey or the
road wagon to church or to the post office four
or hye miles away, or to the fishing grounds in
the North or South Anua--streams stocked with
German carp. eels, catfish, DC, aud made
memorable By the military operations occurring
on their banks during Tie war.
The members of the party are delighted with
the country, and with them tho DAYS are pass-
ing dreamily and happily away. but no doubt
when the last hours of their stay arrive thew
viii wake up aud gladly return to their homes
IN the prettIest city in the world. n,
Low RATES TO DEER PARK AND OAKLAND
During the present season the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company will sell excursion
tickets from Washington to Deer Park Noun
tain Lake Park and OAKLAND tor the Friday
night and all Saturday trains each week at rate
of 80 for the round trip. The tickets will be
valid for return passage until Monday follow
ing day OF sale. Tickets to Berkeley Springs
and return will be sold under similar cond,-
tions at $3.50 for the round trip.
Yesterdays Heat
Tho tenn I'm For In tu. f~u.