davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning times., 1897-01-10
Paid in Tobacco.

They paid for everything. Making the
fires were paid for, so many po unds of to-
bacco for the winters firing. They paid
the clerk in the vestry twelve hundred
pounds of tobacco a year. The worship
ers asked no one to serve the church for
nothing Even the wine for the sacra-
ment was paid for, MERCHANT receiving
four pounds in money for years supply
Everything these canny Scots put their
minds and money into was reduced to 4
fine system, and their scrupulous business
methods showed them to be men of wis
dom.
Some of the old ledgers and daybooks
are maryels of systematic bookkeeping.
Nothing was too small to be recorded, and
many of the inventories of the merchants
of Dumfries show that they carried stock
ranging from $4,000 to $4,000.
Their prices We're high, compared to
those of the present day. For example:
salt was So per barrel; common sugar, Is
cents per pound; tea, SS to So per pound;
coffee, SO cents per pound.
Coal was imported from England at
great expense, before they found time to
dig it from the hills in their back yards.
II cost as much as shilling bushel at
The morning times., 1897-01-10

tico at this point is no more than six inches
deep, and the few scattered blocks of
dressed freestone which are visible mark
the foundations OF the long-vanished ware
Eouse, where hundreds of hogheads of to-
bacoo owerestored and a t whose wharf ships
drawing twelve feet of water were loaded
for England.
The open field on the left was shipyard
a century ago, and in it seagoing vessels
were built and launched. Several hundred
yards further up the narrow stream, where
The morning times., 1897-01-10
The River Grew shallow.

AIDED, vessels sailed up the Potomac and
into the Quantico to this growing mart
unobstructed.
The River Grew Shallow.
The day came, however, when these ships
difficult to ply the river any distance above
Dumfries. The soil washed down from the
TILED fields with every rainfall, and soon
began to fill the river.
The channel became more and more OBJ
structed, and as time wore ON only high
tide would float a vessel to the wharfs at
Dumfries. There came time when the
head Of navigation fell back quarter of
The morning times., 1897-01-10

mile from town turn in the road
opens vista heQuanticovalley Beyond
the fields, and on the opposite slope CT the
Quantico, lies the rambling settlement of
the present Dunfries. Itisa town of about
a score of frame houses, while looming up
on the hillside a little further back in sharp
contrast TO it, is what remains of the old
city.
A narrow lane-like drive leads off from
the main road, and we followed that TO the
ford, lust at the edge of town. The Guam
The morning times., 1897-01-10

mile, half nile, one mile, two miles, be-
low the city.
DuInfries then began tosdecline.
All of this took years, the better part of
a century, but the steady downward course
was never checked after the tide had
turned.
Dumfries had wealth. Thousands of
dollars were expended in canals and dredg-
ing, TO give back the means of transport
which made the city prosperous. But the
persistence of nature told on her treasury.
The falling off Of business and the steady
decline of population was being sorely felt.
Merchants packed their goods and To-
Gated in other business scenters-principan
Alexandria and Baltimore-to continue
their exchange with England and the
colonies.
One family after another moved away
to rising busi ness centerS where the genera
ton to come might haye the advantage OF
social intercourse, and to establish them
selves in lines of trade with the money
gained by their parents in Dumfries.
The Ruin by Fire.
When the decadenee was almost COM
pleted, the great fire put anendto Dumfries.
One October night the sparks from
chimney fired the roof of u Leighboring
building. and before morning the entire
business portion OF the town was in ruins
There was no motive for rebuilding. The
commercial prestige had long since van
ished, and this last blow drove away more
of the Dumfrieites.
Scarcely any trace OF the buildings now
remains The walls were torn down and
carted away to be used elsewhere, as the
Inhabitants found occasion TO use them,
and row corn fields and pastures occupy
the grounds. where once stood the busy
stores, and the bank here drafts of ex-
change were made on London for as N uchas
$50 ,000 at time Only they did not write
it dollars and cents in those days, but pounds
and pence.
The English money was the circulating
medium, although tobacco passed current.
And when pounds Were mentioned it was
necessary TO specify whether sterling or
tobacco was smeant.
Even the church, which stood on the hill
top back of the city, commanding a good
view OF it, was paid for in tobacco. 1t
took hundred thousand pounds of the
weed to establish the place OF worship.
What those Scotch pioneers undertook
TO do they did we'll In the records of this
church can he seen such items as making
fires in the church," That may not seem
at all strange in this day, but in the early
period of this country a warmed church
was not thought of. A hot brick was car
ried by those who Were not stOrical.
There Were number of rich people at
tending the church, which has long since
disappeared. and their private pews, not
unlike toxes in a theater, were erected
around the interior above the rest of the
congregation, and thus each favored family
was removed from the common parishion-
ers.
The morning times., 1897-01-10

when they thought it would collapse.
walls are still firm.
On the main street of the town is an
other relic, "a survivor of the flames. 1t
was formerly the residence OF one of the
first families, but with the decadence and
fall of the Dunfries, 1T changed hands,
and was finally converted into tavern.
After navigation ceased, the principal
means of communication with the outside
world was by stage. Dumfries was in
later years denied the advantage of rail-
road facilities, but in the days OF coaches,
taverns and relays, it was on the di-
rect line between Washington and Rich.
mond.
The Midway Point.
Fredericksburg was the midway point,
and Dunifries was halfway between Fred
.erieksburg and Washington This building
then held the most important place IN the
dwindling city, and as tavern for the
stage line and relay station, it also be-
came the principal rendezvous for news
mongers and curious people, as wen as
hetravefing public and business men,
ed on three sides, in place of the stone
stoop of today. Those eager for news
would loiter on this porch, and as they
caught n glimpse of the four reeking
horses they W wouldshout,' Here she comes
When the swaying coach pulled up to
the entrance, with rafting accoutrement'
and cracking whip, half the population OF
Dumfries would be on hand to welcome
tile new arrivals, who came to stay or
who only stopped long enough for d meal
or a nights lodging with mime host"
~ Between this bnildng~and the Bumfrie:
of today are pasture fields and truck
patches on the sites OF buildings, where
skin and enterprise once made the name OF
Dumfries rcspectedinth the commercial world,
Now scarcely stone remains TO tell Of it.
Tie exports and imports, compared with
The morning times., 1897-01-10

wholesale, and people who could afford
the luxury of ccal fire sent from the
nearby State to Dumfries for their supply,
The morning times., 1897-01-10
Vista OF the Valley.

Thushe continued. having quite forgotten
TO resume his directions.
The morning times., 1897-01-10
"Ticket TO Dumfries, please"
~ e.;,.o,,

A
"Dumfries? Dunfries?"
After n oment' thought the ticket seller
fof the Washington Southern railway curtly
replied: mo sEch station; never heard of
the place; better inquire at the information
Office
The blue-c Dated and -buttoned pur-
veyor of Information, sitting snugly behind
little window in a corner of the waiting
room, eyed the interrogation for an instant,
then asked: Virginia? Did you say Dunn
fries, VAR
He SPOKE with marked accent on the
word Virginia" He also had 10 admit
that he had never heard hepiace-
ThisisI otto be wonderedat. Few places
in this country are 50 completely for
gotten as the dead city of nunfries Many
OF the maps fan to locate il at all
After diligent search TIN ough number
o. guide books, however, it was concluded
10y the officer that the nearest point on the
ranIoId is Quantico. There his informal
ton ended How far IT s flcm Quantico
he did rot know Neither did he know-in
which direction.
The conductor on the train Is the only
person who knew of its existence. But
his Knowledge of geography, further than
that sect on trayerscd by the Washington
Southern would not be sufficient To raise
any undue an. oJnt Of cOEceIt in the breast
of a twelve-year- school boy Be
yond misinforming the inquirer that IL was
foIr miles Up the Quantico river, he knew
nothing Of Dgmfries-
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-10
ABOUT CON, MINATED
THE PURCHASE or THE SAN IA
CINTO BATTLE-GROUND.
The Sacred Spot About to Pass Ia
the Possession nf the
State.

The San Jacinto Battlefield commission
composed of James NJ. Hill. Austin, chair
man; w. t. Burns. Houston; $. j. Hem
drok, Henderson. and George A. Hill, Aus.
tin, secretary, appointed to purchase the
land made famous by Houston and his
bend OF patriots, met in room III al the
Hutchns House yesterday morning and
were in session the greater part of the day
Every member of the commission was
present.
A complete understanding with each OF
the battlefield property owners save Mr..
Harbermeh was reached He was not in
the city. In the afternoon Secretary Hll
went TO Harrisburg to confer With Mr..
Harberlnthl. He will report the result of his
visit to the commission this morning The
purchase of the sacred soil is expected u
be consummated early today. The commits
sion will meet again at the Hutchins House
at O'Clock and the business thai called
them together is expected to be disposed
of IN a few minutes.
Judge Hendrick, a member of the COM
mission said TO Post reporter: 1--WE
should have disposed of our business today
and should have done so had Mr. Harber-
mehl who is one Of the owners OF tho
property, been present We do not ex
| pect to be in session but a. few minutes
when we meet tomorrow Everything vii
| be satisfactorily arranged in short while,
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-10

aud large number OF people gathered to
hear the goodbyor said
The meeting was opened with music.
which WAS followed by an inyocation ny
Rev. Brown.
The programme for the evening consisted
OF a ten-rninutc speech from each OF the
speakers,
Rev. Ring OF Galveston spoke first and
said he was sorry be had been unable TO
attend the fun session,
Mrs Wilson. who had endsared herself
10 the audiences throughout the entire sss-
sion. then arose amid n storm OF applause,
To say farewell" She rotated that sh"
had received so much Inspiration daGsng
her visit In the city and that she hoped all
wrnild ca.ry away with them to their homes
the best thoughts and emulate the LESSONS
from one who has travelled long IN this
ield.
Mrs. Wilson then rendered a solo, Flow
Gently, Sweet River In pleasing man
nor,
Rev. Brown, In closing referred TO the
work that is being done throughout the
State. There are new five settled speakers
aud five field workers, lie requested al
to remember after they had gone TO then
respective homes. that All were travolins
| fcg tho same purpose, no for the oaus,
| all that you can. Help somo ono to learr
| how TO work out their own salvation. fI'
| thanked lie friends Of Houston for tbei'
| Kindness.
| Mrs. jackson was then asked TO sneak
| She, too, had become a favorite with IN,
| audience and waH received with applause
She said Goodbye meant "God bies,
| you and that is easy to say.
| Rev. hnecShaw then said farewell q
| the visitors, He said there comes an enc
| 10 all thinga, lie said he was proud o
| tho president and zach individual memhe
| Of the association and felt that a grea
| good had been accomplished by the meet
! ing lie closed by reciting an oriEina
poem fitting TO the occasion.
| Pr1dent Brown th6p announced that
| the next quarterly meeting would be helt
| ia III paso, Texas, In March of next year
the exact date 10 be announced later
Mira, Jackson then rave another OF he
extemrorancous poems appreciate TO th
| occasion
The hencdiction WAS pronounced and tn
| convention closed.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-10
0PERET'TA TONIGHT.
Miss Ida BuckinGham's Entertain
raent VIII Re Rcpeatcd

The operetta of Three Bears and Golden
Hair" or "The Carnival Of the Insects. "
will be given at Turner Hall tonight This
Buckingham. was presented for the tirse
time week or two ago and proved de-
cided success For tonght's performance
several new features have been added. The
cast is as follows:
Golden Hair, wood engraver's daughter.
............,..,.....A Annie Beth Chew
Henry. King of Thuringra ....,..,.
.......... .... Desdemona Wheelock
Prince Hail.. 80. ..... ..Austinc George
Lord Charles ...... Jennie Blake Sprong
Lord High Chamberlain Caddie Crawford
Alexis, valet to the Prince Willie Sprong
Princess Alice ........... -. Eta Powell
zoan, Queen of the Fairies. Lutte Calvert
Elsie, a wicked witch ....... Bessie FitSe
Sparkle Queen of the Fire Flics,....
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. .,.....,. Julf1 sstSer
Puff, Queen of the Butterflies ......,.
Rosebud leader of the dance ..,,......
- .......... Beryle SegeI
Lily bloom, leader Of the dance.
.......... Mabel Powell
Firafhes, Butterflies. Fairies and Bears
BESSIE Sinclair, Ellen Lotus, Caddie
Crawford Ils Stone, Beryle SeSer, bess,t
Fitze. Louise Niece. julia Buck
ley. Clara Crawford Ruth Grant. SADIE
Morris. Bette Smith Beatrice May, Le'
ona Henke. Lucille Lane, Dot smith
Beatrice LOTUS, Julia Seger, Della Burns
Rachel Tilbrook, Molie Baker.
Fancy Dancing
| Bonnie Blue Flag .'-,.'-...''' '''''.''
Miss Jennie Blake Sproni
Highland Fling '-uc'He i-s+i'
puring operetta the following numbers
will be given:
| =, lightning Sketch lin pssteD.,,...-
.............M Mrs. B. a. Randoip'
Forgotten" contralto solo. .Cowle'
Miss Marian Walker.
4. spanish Serenade Miss FRANKIE po,e'
| A omartette. Come Where My Love Lie
| Dresmtng.". Miss buckingham, MIS-
walker. Mr. w. z. Seeger, Mr.. Geo. %
Grggs s.u
| Z Vocal Solo Miss Belle Mcleod smit
| & The Alabama Coon ..,.- -.
| Minnie kaufman, Willie Archs
T Houston Mandolin Club, Professo WI
liarn Morris, director.
The admission price will be % cents
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-10

members who have come in since the fore
noon session enroll their Games.
In obedience to this suggestion the fol-
lowing additional names we're enrolled:
J. J. Mansfield, county Judge OF Colorado
county.
J. NJ. Massingill, county Judge Of Ange-
T. j. Newcomb. commissioner Of Burie-
son county
D. K. Beedy, commissioner OF Bee county
w. P. Porter, commissioner CT BIrleson
county.
NJ. s. Cooper, county judge OF Monsgom.
cry county.
Judge Scott offered resolution thanking
the county judge and commissioners oil
Harris county for their courtesy.
Report OF the committee on programme
To the Chairman and Members of the
Convention:
Your committee to whom was as
signed the duty OF preparing pro-
gramme Of subjects to be discussed,
respectfully suggest the following or
der Of business
/. The exchange OF experience in
practical road and bridge construction,
and incidentally the Importance OF good
roads and bridges to county, to be
opened by Judge Sumner of Dewitt
county
2. The proper disposition and man
agement of county convicts, and in
| cidentally their use or employment as
| furnishing the b7st results to the
| county, to be opened by Commissioners
| Hrsch OF Harris county
| g. County poor farms; their care and
management, and incidentally the care
| OF the countys poor, to be opened by
| Judge Gray Of Jefferson county.
| 4. A general discussion OF the recent
ly enacted fee bin.
5. A general discussion as to the care
| OF the insane. Respectfully,
W. n, Shaw.
John o. Rowlett
| T, d. Scott.
Adopted
The convention then adjourned and tn
| visitors were taken in conveyances to vis
| Harris county's model farm.
Tia convention viii reassemble at
| o'clock this morning.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-10

pected, and II they 30 about 1t In the proper
way congress can undoubtedly be induced
10 wurrant the undertaking. Four million
nearly one-half than the Galveston jetties
cost. At any rate, the cost Is immaterial
so lons as the results Justify tho expcn-
diture.
HoustU Is to be congratulated upon the
new hope that this report holds out to
her, and II may now be said that she has
her destiny in her own hands. While the
project is for the general welfare and all
tho West ia interested. yet rs the chief In
cidental beneficiary Houston will be ex-
pected 10 take the lead In pushing the
project and in bearing tho burden OF pro-
motion. That is inevtsh,e. and unless
Houston realizes 1t, success Is q long way
on.
From Galveston point OF view the I'M
dertalslng is 10 be Welcomed. II Will make
Houston an active deep water rival. and
rivalry within proper bounds Is always
| desirable, II will put this city on her
| mettle and will develop her latent onergies
as nothing else could Incidentally Il viii
| put the two cities on traffic level and
will give Galveston railroad rate equality
which she has so ,ong been denied.
| From q general South Texas view II viii
quicken development all along the line.
With two such cities and a continuous
| deep water way between, tho time is no,
| far off when there viii be sixty miles OF
| deep water front available for this harbor
and the greatest outlet in the world Will
| have been yitRlized With such facilities
the port of Galveston will be unrivaled 90
| either continent. and the West will have
the cheapest and most comprehensive sys
| tenn of docks on this earth.
Locking forward ten or twelve years. II
battles the widest flights of tho imagina-
tion to picture what can he accomplished
for the glory OF the West and for the en-
| hancement of local interests. With such
results as are too patent to escape the dull
est understanding, the next two decades
which are not too long for realization by
middle aged men OF today, will witness Q
growth that will rival tho greatest com
mercia! and shipping centers of the United
States.
The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-10
says Colonel Ihck wynnc will carry Pei
nola county for governor.


Mr.. f. l.. Parish Of Huntsville has been
In the city for the last two lays. Mr.. Par.
ish was postmaster at Huntsville during
Clevelands last administration. He states
tha the political situation Ia quiet in his
section just now, but a lively campaign u
expected next year.
Hon. Charles S. Morse. clerk OF the SUI
preme court and one OF the tire Masons
IA Texas who have received the thirty third
degree, is In Houston. MIR. Morse knows
more lawyers aud has more friends amoug
them. perhaps. than any man In Texas.
He Is one OF the brightest Masons In the
South.
| Hon. Frank Brigance Of Navnsota.
| Grimes county rs IN town. He snd: II
am FOR Joe Sayers for governor. He Will
| carry Grimes county. | am opposed 10 be-
| Inc instructed MS to how shall vote ON the
| senatorial race IL looks 100 much like
| telling enc what to do. The race for sen
ator IN my county is between Cnibcrsou
and Mills"
| Among the distinguished Visitors who
| visited the Industrial hall exhibits yecter-
day was Lieutenant Governor Jester OF
| Corstcann. He expressed himself rs we'll
| IttsSSu WIN the uiSNtdNH NniiG ia luo
| building 30 took occasion To Visit Mayor
| II Baldwin Rice in his office ~ the city
| hail and While there WIS greeted with
| many visitors.
Captain G. u. Wilcox. Vice president OF
the Temple National bank ani one Of the
best known residents OF Bell county. "
mlngliug with the MAaons. He said TO u
Post man The young mea OF my town
have recently formed sons OF Con'eder-
| ate Veterans camp which was rAfned In
| honor OF Joaerh i. Sayera. This Is an IN
GirRtion of how the bestrop man stands
| with as. | ihink he viii carry Sell county.
I am for Hon, II. H. Harrison FOR con-
gress
Mrs, r. c. Bhldry. who has iust returned
from salt Lake city, Utah, has lot OF
cocoous. recled silk silk lace, souvenir
hsndkerchicfs, etc, which she viii exhibit
at Gaines drug store. corner of Main
and TexeS avenue. stls culture - one OF
the growing Industries Of Utan Womeh
and children devote their timo to 1t en-
trely II pays better ,han farming and
The work is light and interesting. AS little
| ~ known of silk culture In Texas, Mrs.
paldry will take pleasure ID giving aucn
| information as will he OF 'Iterest 10 thasis
who may wish 10 engage IN the business.
, Texan climate IL well anlted to the raisinS
OF the silk wor,s.
= She has aiao specimens Of the famous
I uncompahgre asphalt In it's natural ana
refined state and OF oil the cnrbons iorhd
In Utah and other things that VIII ihter-
est gentlemen and ladies.
2 Mrs ealdry went tor Utah little ever Q
. year ago in search OF health, and has rs-
turned fully restored. She is 20 delighted
with its wonderful climate a1a curative
waters that she is DESTROYS OF DOING al
,ha gonl sho can for others who are ia
III health and will take pleasure in Swing
nll the information regarding its climate.
syringe. otc. Those Interested will please
cali at Mr. Gaines drug store.