Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-07-07
TO TIE EDITORS Of TIE ENQUIRER.
SOrTHMrsrrn. E1ncI.,. Lima 90 LAO


powers OF Britain and her coadutcrs. NJ Y.
TO TIE EDITORS OF TIE ENQUIRER
SOUTHWESTERN YIRGI4IA June 90, 1913
noliced IN late number Of the Enquirer, an arl
Gle the subject Of emrration TO Virgnia in which
1t IS stated That persons from the North had settled
upon old ands IN the Eastern part of the State which
they were improving; and also, that emgrnnls were
crowdihg INTO N0rMiecstern Virginia. This has led
me TO prepare sketch Of the inducements which South
,cesiern Virginia holds cut 10 The eminrant; and re-
quest you 10 publish 1t in your paper, if your columns
should not De otherwise more adyantsgeously occu-
pied wish 10 present lnir statement of the adyan.
tages and disadvantages of this country, and in SO
doing shall confne my remarks, for the most part 10
the 18Th Congressional District which is the extreme
Southwestern part of The State including the counties
of Grayson, Carroll, Wythe, Smyth, Washington, Lee
Russell, Scott, and Tazewell.
Tins country is very diversified in its appearance;
possessing The general features Of mountainous re-
gon, ana having many high and rugged peaks, and
some long, continuous ranges OF mountains within its
borders; but 1t is nerspersed with numerous fertile
values, rich bottoms the rivers and streams and
many large tracts Of level islands; and the noun.
tame themselves, for the mos, part, fine pasture
land and range for stock. lntersected il is By the
Allegheny and Blue Ridge, and the branches of those
mountains, The country is elevated TO considerable
degree. This renders it colder than it would other
wise be- but at the lime counte rbalances that dis
advantage by bestowing upon it that greatest Of all
Phere
All the counties in the district, except Grayson and
Carroll, res, upon substratum of limestone, oording
an lnexhaustible supply Of The useful article of lime
THE soil is OF rather than ordinary fertility
and though the short for tobacco and
corn crops sometimes do not succeed quite as well q,
those of other sections, yet for small grain in all lis
varieties potatoes DC, il is hard to surpass; and fo
the production of grass it is almost unequalled. In
many sections all that is necessary to procure good
grass is to Gu, Oft the bushes, deaden down the
timber, and let the sun shine upon the ground the
grass will grow spontaneously in abundance, whilst
The cultivated grasses may be improved TO any
Perhaps few countries in The world well wa
tered as this. Several considerable streams take Their
rise, at least have of their head waters in h:
region, whilst the number Of large creeks and othe
sreamsis almost countless. Most of the waters how
ever are too rough for navigation: but they afford
ter power TO boundless extent Nearly every stream
in fact might say every one furnishes excellent site.
for mill and manufacturing establishments Such
thing, scarcity Of water is hardly known: ever
where rood springs cannot be readily found "a
/, currency water may be easily procured by sinking
wells Speaking OF this matter, the mineral spring,
must MT be forgotten Numbers Of these, of variou.
: gualtlea are found throughout this whole region
D Some them have been lately improved a consider
able eXtnt, and attracting the attention of nvada
S and oihrs from various parts of the country.
Manufacturing facilities are abundant. Water power
az haze SAID, may be found every where; and slaves
and tinse for building may generally be obtained for
!, The cos Of preparing them for Tine manufacture
Of wooden goods, OF leather iron, steel, lead and
= add, sal might be carried TO great advantage The
country prominently a stock-rasng region, is well
" adap.edo rearing sheep; iron is abundant, and
Is lead is ound IN great quantities in the county Of
e "y,he ud the parts adjacent. Salt water in mex
haustibe Quantities found in the county of Washing
u nn whee great deal of salt is annually mnde
D. attempts now being made TO find salt water in othe
~ places favorable prospects OF success. Through
out the Mole region, where the salt is found, there
q immose beds of plaster of Paris, sufficient proba
u bly, supply the State OF Virginia, with that ar.
IS ticle.
u As pomsed to state the disadvantages as we'll
the benefs Of this country will say that the great
j. inconvenience is the difficulty of reaching market
e Facilities for navigation possessed 10 very limited
= extent ard but little attention has been paid TO the
IS improyemnt OF the roads However, we are bounded
on the sohh by North Carolina-a country differing
from ours many espects-whch affords an excel
lent markl for variety of our products and would
be still, be,er if good roads constructed, leading
into that State. BY improving The roads, we would
! also be eiabled to reach James River much more
J cheaply AID expedtously than at present.
, There sc persons still alive who remember the Pc
Rod whe this region almost unbroken wilder
ness; whn constant watchfulness was necessary to
ruard aanst The attacks of Indians, and the ravaget
0C wild Ieasts. When we reflect upon this fact the
!, degree improvement which this country has alrea
DIV attained seems remarkable; but its capabilities are
as vet developed to very moderate extent. Numer-
Gus tracts Of excellent and still lying in their primi
tive staa awaiting the time when the and the
poueh will convert them into beautiful and productive
: farms
All TINT this country requires, with lis pre.eminent
" healthy climate, its good land, and it's abundance o
wood w.,er and mineral productions, is enough Of the
proper Srt of population; and although nothing cor
he said against its present Inhabitants yet they are loo
few in rumber, and have too much 10 do 10 render
full ushce to the country. We want more farmers
mechanics and manufacturers men who possess skill
enterprise and capital; and if we had enough OF these
our country could be made equal or superior 10 any on
the Continent We have enough OF merchants and
professional it is characters such as those men
q TONED above s',he bone and snew, who are wanted
To such let say, "if you desire TO hnd country
where land may be procured cheapy, where there IS
demand for your labor and the products OF your IN
dusy; where you will enjoy good health, unknown &c
the nckly swnmps and burning plains OF the southern
and western S,ates where you will live among nos
nisble honest and law.abding people, come 10 SCUM
wes,ern Virginia; 10 "Ltttc TENNESSEE; and 1t you
cannot take my word for it, and see Tor yourselves
IF YOU are dissatisfied, and desire to return you will
east have the pleasure of seeing beautiful and TO
m,rtc country the Inhabitants Of which will treat yot
with kindness and hospitality.
WV" Yours, &c,
~ The Northern Press is requested publish the ao7ye
n7 We understand, that the Rev. MIR. Tilinghast
now Deacon, will be ordained Priest OF the fpiscoPa
Church by Bishop Johns, this morning at ii A. Nj
81. James Church.
), VAS BuREs II vERmosr AT the Convention bel'
oF tn n