Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-10

Nearly An Passed Out Of she Family.
other ola Hemesseass win no
mantle secord.-cassis with Good
MOOD. 49,

BLAcKsBURC. VA, March s--(special.
a lady Just from the hot South once re-
marked upon ascending q high eminence
from which comprehensive view OF the
surrounding country might be had: well.
everybody knows Cod made this country"
The sentiment was but the natural out
bayst OF an inner conviction OF almost
every one who stands upon one OF these
grand mountains and inhaiss the health
giving air of the Aiieghanies. II is
grand. glorious. God-endowed section. and
Il u not strange that tho fertile valleys
just about Biacksburg should have been
among the first to attract the attention
OF our FIRST settlers. The result In that In
this country there are not a few old
wsll-known, historic homesteads. Within
q gurshct almost OF the academic build
tngs OF tho Virginia Agricultural and Me-
chanicsl College were the three lordiy es-
tates OF tho Prestons. Colonel Robert
Preston owned solitude" now belonging
70 the college: Colonel James Preston
"wnite Thorn" and Colonel Ballard Pres
ton. Smithfield. Sad as 1t is to reiate'
from one unfortunate cause or another'
these have oil passed out OF the Preston
family, with the exception OF Smithhe,u'
Mr.. A. L. Boulware. OF Richmond Who
married Miss jamie Preston. the youngest
daughter of Colonel Ballard Preston mas
bought this property. and put II an III
good repair. preserving the antique mouse
which has stood for more than century
being built before tho Revolution ar.
stockton Hsth, OF Radford, two years
a.. fx.Nrt a w
Of Colonel James Preston white Ihofh-
ROMANCE AND HERoIsM.
Thsn. again. but few miles below
swhita Thorn one comes TO the grano
estates on Nsw river belonging 10 ,ne
cioyds, Kents. and ingles. all hlslorio
names while about the latter hangs
romance and deeds Of herotsn as sulhlns
as any 20 be found IN Coopers tsmeu
Misunderstanding series. somewhat on
the other side Of the county lay the es
tatos OF the craigs and that OF CORONER
Henry w. Edmondson. who Tor yea
represented thls district In Congress. Dld
time and space allow, nothing wouio 90
mora interesting than an account OF tne
flfe ara personality OF the old-time mas
ters ana unistresses Of these homes anu
the immense influence exerted oy .neli'
on this bounty and section OF the state.
Our last two Lfeutenant-Governors
IIore Tyler and Mr.. Robert c. kent-haVe
20 20 back but ons generation TO place
their ancestors In Montgomery. ana neI
sons have in all the decades OF the Union
and In Colonial times also gone ioroh
winning honors and offices for themselves:
and thus rejecting on her a meeu Vi
honor. too.
SHORT HORN CATTLE.
Co... yeara ago the College Farm
bought a number Of thoroughbred snort
Horn" cattle and stocked the farm with
them. The farmers OF the county were
encouraged 20 improve their stock from
that al the farm. They took advantage
OF the opportunity. The result Is that
now even the poorest man In the county
possesses cattle OF good blood. Later
Jerseys, Holsttins. and Guernseys nave
been added to the college stock. and the
same opportunity is offered as before
and IN the cases Of the Holsteins' espe-
ciaIly. our cattle raisers are availing
themselves of II. The Jerseys are TOO
small for beef cattle and hence not popu-
lar. while the Guernseys have been intro
duced too recently for the experiment
20 be made SO gratifying were the re-
suits In cattle that IL was determined 10
make the same effort to improve the
-. al OF hogs. and the station accordingly
purchased q number OF pairs OF the best
breeds.
APPRECIATED.
The farmers appreciate very much this
generous policy on the part Of the COL
iege, and are eagerly improving their
hogs. We need very much the introduce
ton into our county OF several first-rate
riding and driving studs and mares. The
breed OF horses here can be very much
improved. and should be. Mr. c. b. Nc
Donald has made a move in the right d.
rection, but he has received but luke
warm support.
Mr.. w W. Bennett who has been alb
cent for several months in England visit
ing relatives and friends has sailed from
England on the return trip. Mrs. Ben
nett. with true English spirit, has man.
aged all his interests. which were quite
large, since his departure. but will for this
reason. we suppose. give him but the
heartier welcome.
MAPLE SYRUP.
Craig's Greek, a section Of the county
remote in the mountains. has long been
famed for the quantity and quality OF its
maple syrup, than which. along with good
mountain buckwheat cakes, nothing is
more palatable. One OF Its denizens, who
was In town about two weeks since said,
owing to the sudden and general thaw
following the stiff freeze the quantity
would be very much decreased this sea-
son. was, however. at the house OF a
gentleman q few days since who had
just tapped twenty-one trees. and he re-
ported the yield as very satisfactory, and
see II Is already on the market
The government has printed and sent
out for gratuitous distribution a number
OF circulars containing the proceeding of
the good roads convention held in Rich
mond during the State Exposition. We
do hope that these gentlemen will keen
this matter before the people, and that
they viii cordially support the movers.
Country people have certainly had a
striking object-lesson In this matter this
winter. AS an illustration a prosperous
farmer recently left home with two ex-
ceilent horses TO take ten bushels OF
wheat and corn each 10 the mill for
grinding, bringing back his -four and meal
The mill was distant from his home but
nine miles. but so fearfully bad were the
roads that he was two days in going and
returning.
HOPE 1T IS TRUE.
We hope very much that an item seer
IN Thursdays Dispatch stating that
, law had passed the recent Congress for
bidding ore-wasbing in New River may
be true Aside from the fact that II 1.
gazing Tor whole counties 10 be Imposed
upon by few individuals. to whom
dollar Is Of far more value than the com
fort and well-being OF many OF thei
neighbors and fellows. this is. a question
OF vital interest to a large section O
country. both In point OF money ane
health. IL does seem curious. 10 say tn,
least OF II. that since the government &
liberal enough to stock our streams will
choice fish. few men, In order to saw
frifing expenditure. should be above,
to Kill them out.
BUSY-SMART.
There are some people who are entirel,
too busy. too smart. and one OF these &
kir. Haskins Hobson Why should he b
bestirring himself about fair elections ii
Virginia? II Mr. Hobson knows anything
about the last election. and will speai
the truth. he will be forced 20 confes
that Il was as fair as any election by tn
people in which utter ignorance and
low moral sense must be taken into ac
count can be.
BY his efforts he fiaunts before IN
world an accusation on Virginia's TAI
fame which has no foundation, in fact
but Will, DESPITE proof TO the contrary an,
contradiction, take root somewhere I,
The desriment OF the Commonwealth.
RIVAL CIGARETTE MACHINES.
-
injunction Against Munson by the
Bonsack-afrs Hode Iusaue