Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1838-10-17
From the charle.towu Free Press.

JEFFERSON LASDs.--We often hear
the opinion expressed that the lands of
Jefferson county are ove:rated in val.
ue. As to the correctness or incor-
rectness Of this opinion, we profess to
know but little. We are satisfied,
however, that il this opinion be cor
rect, the value OF lands in other Sec
tons Of the Valley are still more great |
ly overrated. A gentleman WHO has
recently travelled through the Valley
of Virginia, and taken some pains to
acquire information upon the subject,
informs US that good farms,-farms Of
fertility equal 10 those Of Jefferson
rate us high as from 40 to so dollars
per acre, in all the counties through
out the Valley Bottetourt perhaps
alone excepted. This is about the
price Of Jefferson lands, where the ia
cilities for market and all local advan.
tages are decidedly superior From
either of the counties oil Shenandoah,
Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge or
Bottetouft, the cost OF transportation
upon a barrel Of -four, to Baltimore,
Alexandra Fredericksburg, Scotlsyllle
Farmville, or Lynchburg, is not less
than one dollar--all other marketable
commodities at proportionatc COST
From Jefferson barrel OF -four can be
transported to Baltimore, Georgetown,
or Alexandra, wheru -four commands
generally a higher price that at Fred.
erlcksburg, Lynchburg, &C., at cost
of fifty cents perhaps for less--corn,
rye, &c. in proportion. Here is al
once an important consideration in IA.
vor ofthe value OF Jefferson lands over
the lands ia other portions Of the Valley
which rate rs high. The farmer here
who makes five hundred barrels Of -four
for market each year, pockets at least
$50 collars more than the farmer Of
Shenandoah, Rockingham, &c., TOR Il
like number Of barrels; and not less
than $50 dollars more, when the flour
Is wagoneJ over the Blue Ridge, as it
IS III many Instances, and sold in the
Virginia markets at 80 cents or 81
less than the Baltimore price. As
much more perhaps $3.50 or 5000 is
realized by the Jefferson farmer, each
year, by the sale Of the various other
products of his farm, when compared
with the prices obtained by farmers in
sections more remote from Baltimore
and the seaboard understanding in
the whole Jefferson farm of $50 or
800 acres yield 10 its owner between
500 and $1,000 more, year!y, than
farm Of equal size aud fertility in the
counties higher up the Valley.
Wnen we consider the locality Of the |
farms of Jefferson, their proximity to
the great cities Of the Union-( within |
10 hours travel from Baltimore and |
Washington, Is hours from PhiladeI-
phia, and not more than 80 hours dis |
lance from New York; with unrivallad
facilities for the best markets-tho no. |
bic Potomac and the grand Cheasa. |
peake and Ohio Canal on one side, |
the bnld Shenandoah on the other, and
the Rail Road from Baltimore through |
the centre OF the county when we
look at the advantages derived form
the river mills and the numerous other
iine merchant mills throughout the
county whose fine never-faihng streams
enable them to grind at all seasons
the peculiar adoption Of the lands to
the production of wheat and all other
profitable crops-surrounded by good
schools, churches, mechanics of every
descriptions where goods sell
at Baltimore retail prces-and many
other advantages not enjoyed by the
people Of other sections, where lands
rate nearly or quite as hlgh-when we
consider all these things, We cannot
but think the lands Of Jefferson are not
in any case overrated, and that they
are comparatively, by far the cheapest
IN the State, at from 40 to 60 dollars
per acre.