Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-23
Az rsrrMATr OF THE F1nsr ExPgNCE.

Provision. ...................... $4,000
30 soa neo'uo"'' a"u 'nais $4,000
To Soliciting the Grant IN England. $4,000
To Surveying the Dismal and tue ex-
pense OF the Patent here........... bO'oO'O
{ 100000
To 90 Negros tho 2d year............ 100000
10 % NegrOs tue "a year............ bOO.OO.O
To % Negros the 4th year........... oOO'OO.O
TO rs Negros the 9th year........... bOO.OO'U
To % NegrOs the OH year.........." 5OO.OV'O
To % Negroes the 9TH gear ........... 5Ou.OVO
To 20 Negro5 the Sth year.. oOO'OU'O
GtoOo.CO.O
The foregoing Account shows only how
many negros may be purchased Tor t4OOO,
being the SUNNI subscribed to be employed
in the Dismal: But besides that mony
there is no Question but the Profits arising
from the labour of the negros on tho
land. which will every year be laid dry,
will be very considerable. Insomuch that
il will not only defray all incident charges,
but also purchase many more People 70
finish this great work. And for those
which happen TO dye. 1t is probable thet
their places will be fully supplied by their
children. If care be taken TO buy as many
women as men.
And because il will be some years before
such children grow UP to stature mt 10
work. il will be prudent to Law out part OF
the money in Boys and Girls. which Will
not only season better than men and wo-
men. but will be very soon lit tor laDOur
and supply the mortality that must happen
among 30 great a number. Besides ths sd-
vantage of propagation there IS another
benefit in providing wives for the men-lt
will keep them at home and prevent their
rambling abroad anlgbts. from wnlcn arse
many great Inconvenience.
BY this practice they learn to be D1shon-
est, take cold and loose their rest, whereby
they are less fit to do their work the fol-
loving day. Besides when they have
wives in Other Familys they are frequently
poisoned by the Jealousy of their Rivals,
who think they have q much better rlgnt
10 the affections of their Fellow-Servants
than any stranger. BY this many lose
their lives.
TO the Kings Most Ercellcnt Maj.
The petition of - - humbly
sheweth that whereas there is Large Bogg
situated Partly in Virginia and partly IN
North Carolina. which lyes west by reason
of the mire and water with which 1t Is
covered and corrupts the air OF oil the
nelghbouring country by the noxious VA
pours that perpetual!y ascend from 1t, 90
the great annoyance OF Your Maiesty's
subjects. and Whereas many CONSIDERABLE
advantages would arise both TO Your Ma.
iesty and those Colonys from tho ehectuaii
draining of it, which can't be performed
without a very great Labour and Expense.
Your Petitioners, therefore, humDly pray
that Your Majesty will be graclousiy
pleased to grant TO your Petitioners the
sald Bogg and oil tho land not yet taken
I'D lying within half mile or any part or
IT. And the better TO enable them 10 sup
port the heavy charge of draining 1t. your
Petitioners further pray that Your MaJes-
~ will please TO grant them the said Bogg
free from Rights and also exempt them from
paying any quIt-rent for the Space OF fifty
years. except one pound OF Hemp 10 De
paid yearly.
And your Petitioners Shall ever pray.
Tho Dismal swamp Canal Company.
THE Father of his Country has not
idly been SO designated.
The early schemes of George Washing
ton, his resolution OF character, and. to
borrow a phrase. his conservation to
duty has been extensively presented by
reyerentlal blographers. His fidelity, as o
surveyor when a mere lad and his aolllty
and courage as q commander III the held
under trying circumstances are familiar 10
the public Other undertakings suggested
by his providential services, % well proVl-
deutially, were suggested 10 him.
Schemes for internal improvementsfor
facllltatllE tlH OtNtlOpuutulb VI bhO 10
sources of the country often occupied
Washington's most serious attention.
About the year 1893 he was engaged with
other enterprIsing gentlemen IN project
TO drain the Dismal swamp"
Into this dismal region Washington pene-
trated on foot and on horseback until he
reached the lake in its centre. He cir
cumtraversed this lake in journey
Of almost twenty miles, sometimes
over a quaking bog and at Others
in mud and mire; and just al
sunset he reached the solid earth on the
margin of the swamp, where he passed the
night. The next day he completed his eI-
plorstions, and having observed the SOL,
its productions, the lake and It's attitude,
he returned home, convinced that the I'M
mense morass might be easily drained, tor
il Law considerably higher than the sur
rounding country. Through his influence
the Virginia Legislature gave charter 70
an ASSOCIATION Of gentlemen who consn.
tutod the Dismal Swamp Company.
Some less sanguine of success than Wash;
ington withheld their corporations, ana
the project was abandoned for the time:
Ii was reserved tor the enterprise OF Q
later day to open the Dismal Swamp TO the
hand of industry. 800
The Legislation referred 10 is entitled
IAN act TO enable certain adventures "a
drain large tract of marshy ground IN
the counties of Nansemond and Norfolk,
and was passed in January, 1764. The al
yenturers were authorized to enter
upon and have free passage and make such
canals or causeways through the lands OF
any persons for the same.
The project was revived about 1856, and
the Virginia Assembly December /, 1851
passed IAN act for cutting navigaole
canal from the waters of Elizabeth river
in this State, TO the waters OF PasquotanH
river in the State of North Carolina.
Subscription books were opened in the
principal towns IN Virginia and NORTH
Carolina. In the DISPATCH OF April 30
ls93. il is stated that Washington wa:
tho owner of one share of stock IN the
Dismal Swamp Land Company, the CAPT
tai stock of which was originally only
$1,000"
This was probably the company inhu
enced IN organization IN l764.
Whatever the period, however. the m
! terest of Washington was, subsequently
! perhaps, greater, as in the schedule OF
property" appended TO his will appears
/ the item: "Great Dismal Swamp-my
dividend thereof-about $40, 000,"T and an
/ explanatory note gives this further
/ information: This IS an undi
| y,ded interest, which l hold in the
/ Great Dismal Swamp Company, con
tanning about 4,OOO acres, Win my pal'
/ of the plantation and the stock thereon,
belonging to the said company In the said
| swamp"
THE Dismal Swamp Canal Company
received aid from the State Of Virginia II
a su absorption to fifty shares by act Of
| of November II. 1871. The Legislature
passed another act February 20. 1917, Il
augment the interest OF the State in thai
! company TO tho sum of $64.000." Marct
10. 1919, the Board of Public Works was
authorized TO loan the company $4,000
! February 10, 1920, the stock of the company
| by enactment was made personal estate
In a communication of Hon. Marshal
Parks to the Chamb Der Of Commerce o.
Norfolk. dated January 9, 1892, II Is citeC
that the canal in 1897 extended twenty
two miles in length from Deep Greek, I
| branch of the Southern Branch OF Eliza
beth river, seven miles above Norfolk, e
| Joyee's Creek. branch of the Pasauotant
| river, q northern arm of Albemarie Sound
| Vessels drawing Q 10 8 feet may ascene
both creeks TO each extremity of tint
canal"
In this same communication the pro
gress of Improvement OF the Dlsna
| Swamp canal. the inauguration OF tn
| IIL.u..xia and f,hega0AHka Canal Com