Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1892-01-14

much interested in some of its early his
tory. Among its many objects of inter-
est is 'Old st. Paul's Church." the most
ancient edifice in the city, built of i'm
ported brick in 1889. During the war of
1776 the British robbed the church, car
rying the communion plate to Scotland.
On the south corner may now be seen,
half imbedded in bricks, small cannon
bail, which was fired from the frigate
Liverpool, of the British fleet, when the
town was bombarded and destroyed.
This church was about the only build
ing that escaped destruction, and the
people have refused to alter its exterior,
permitting it to remain as landmark
of "old times" In it we were shown
"John Hancock's chair, presented to the
church by a LADY, Through the gener-
Gus courtesy Of a prominent citizen, who
drove us in his carriage to all the princi-
pal interesting points about the city and
its suburban cities-Berkely and Ports
spending two days; the first day,
drove about 25 miles, and the second
day II miles. Had a splendid view of,
aad picked up good deal of information
about, Norfolk and environments. I'M
mediately opposite Norfolk (and eoneet-
ed Herewith by steam ferry, is the city
of Portsmouth. 1t is said to possess one
of the best harbors in the world, in
which the vessels of our navy are gener
orally lying at anchor. Its commodious
water front affords berths for the largest
ships. The United States Navy yard
one of the largest and best-is directly
on the southern extremity of the city,
about half mile from its center, in that
portion called Gosport, where the general
government has built large dry dock
of Richmond granite, costing one million
dollars, and capable of admitting the
largest ships. Whilst on the Portsmouth
side we drove out, on splendid shell
road, some six miles southwest of the
city, among the truck farms. Here /
had an opportunity of judging of the
quality of the soil and of seeing what
they raise. The land lies level, the soils
good -pulverizes finely, and all manner of
truck is produced plant something near
ly every month in the year, from the
stately and golden corn to the lowly but
festive peanut-the latter on the weakest
and most sandy soil. We, in our drives,
called on one of these farmers, Mr..
Cox by name, who lives in a mansion
facing out on the water, near the west
branch-owns and has in cultivation 100
acres, from which he in one year by
truck farming alone cleared $4,000,
he says He is one of type of old gen.
tlemen frequently met with in the
courteous and well
preserved (of 75)-has lived here since
long before the war-has liked it first
rates he says; bat there was one time, he
said, he would have been glad to get
away: adding, you cannot even, by
the aid of your most vivid imagination,
fully understand and appreciate the times
we had here during the war, unless you
had been here yourself. But, said he, that
is all over now, and I'm glad of it; but 1
never want to have another experience
like it again. Then addressing me as his
"Ohio friend" he said, "come down and
dwell among us, you are welcome; you
can have plenty of chances of spending
leisure time, if you want to, or of invest
ing any surplus money you may possess,
1t is out back of and around Ports
mouth that divers land and improve
ment companies have their properties for
sale. The finest property of the sort
have looked over, believe, however. is
the Port Norfolk company's tract consist
ing of 400 acres. 1t faces on the water,
having fine view of Hampton Roads,
and harbor, is laid out in lots 40x140, with
streets and avenues graded, railroad
runs through it, new hotel nearly COM
pleted- an electric line of street cars pro-
iected, and also hosiery factory, organ
zed while we were here. The building
IS to commence at once in which il is in
tended to employ 800 hands. The popu-
alton in and around Norfolk is estima-
ed now at 10000. 1t might not be too
to expect it to increase in the
next ten to twenty years to 10000. In
Iced it will have to before all the outly-
ng lands that are now laid out into lots,
md for sale, are built up. intended TO
iay in another place in speaking of
Hampton Roads, that oysters are found
n great abundance in and about its eapes
md bays, sold at low figures and shipped
o other parts in large quantities.
There are many other things of which
might speak, but this letter is getting
90 long for its thickness, so I'll only say
hat, take it all in all, l am rather pleased
With Norfolk-its beauty of surround
enterprise and push, its climate
nd the "great future it may have in =
tore" II. C. W.
To Buy the Union Bridge.
1t is announced in Wheeling that ne
citations are in procress between the