The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-07

tho santee river (now the Catawba IN
South Carolina). Tho common method OF
CARRYING on this Indian commerce IS as
follows: Gentlemen send for goods prop :
err for such trade from England and then
either venture them out at their own
risk 10 the Indian towns, or else credit
some traders Of substance and reputa-
ton with them, to be paid In skins at a
fixed price agreed on. These wares are
made up into packs carried on horses.
ea CHI load being from $50 to 2O0 POUNDS.
with which they are able to travel about
twenty miles q day If forage happens 20
be plentiful. Formerly hundred horses
have been employed In one OF these IN
dian caravans under the conduct OF If
teen or sixteen persons only. but now the
trade Is so much Impaired, insomuch they
seldom go with half that number,
Then he gives description of this
then great thoroughfare, which Is prac-
tically the same, as Is the present route
Of the seaboard Air Line Railroad.
Finally after the country had become
more thicl1ly settled. the inland commerce
and travel between the North and the
South after passing Richmond southwark
was divided into two internal routes--Ihe
Eastern route passing Petersburg and
crossing the Roanoke at Weldon then
m ssfnc Tarboro, Newborn, Wilmington.
Georgetown, Charleston, Savannah, and on
southwards: the Western route from
Richmond crossing the Roanoke IN the
vicinity Of Taylor's Ferry. and passing
WILLIAMSBURG, Iiillsboro. Guilford, Salem
Salisbury, Charlotte, Camden, Columbia,
Augusta, Ca. and other points further
South, and the old Trading Path was
abandoned.
THE KINGS FORD.
During the Revolutionary War; after the
battle of Gulford Courthouse. In the
spring OF 1881, on Cornwallis's march TO
Richmond to join Arnold. detachment OF
his soldiers marching the Western route
forded the Roanoke between what Is now
Long Grass and "Cuscowlla" planta-
tions. Since then this point on the riv.
or has been known as 1.-THE Kings Ford
In the spring of 1901, when President
Washington took his Southern tour from
the seat OF government. then at Phila-
delphin, to Savannah after leaving Rich
mond. he went via the Eastern route. ana
returned by the Western route, cross
ing tho Roanoke at Tnylor's Ferry, which
is three miles above "The Kings Ford. :"
For some years there seems to have been
some rivalry between the. two inland
routes but the Eastern route being the
more level, was mostly Travelled.
In 1912 John Chesterfield Goode. one OF
| the members Of the House OF Delegates
from Mecklenburg. was the patron OF
| bill which lacked but few votes OF be-
coming law. providing for the appro-
! pration of..L sum Of money by the Com
4 monwealth Of Virginia sufficient to build
a good highway from the North Caro-
| lima line near WILLIAMSBURG via Taylor's
Ferry on the Roanoke to Manchester,
Some eighteen years later the Petersburg
& Weldon Railroad was built. which was
tho death knell Of the Western route.
In 1882. when the Randolph Macon
College was opened at Boydton. some en-
terprislng citizens OF Brunswick county
begun tho operation OF tri-weetly
stage line. with contract for carrying
tho governments mall from Bellhed. on
tho Petersburg & Weldon Railroad. to
Boydton, travelling via Lawrencevllle, and
entering Mecklenburg county on the old
Piney Pond road. thence running by the
present sites OF Lacross. Dockery. LON
hardy Grove Union Level. old Plain View.
then crossing Aliens Creek at Ferralls
old bridge and entering Boydton Just
west of the present site OF DR.. Atkins
dwelling, This stage line was run sue
cessfully for a number Of years.
| In 1S49 Col. c. S. Hutchinson. Meek
lenburg's representative In the House OF