Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-10-29
The Old Dominion.

lie UiQ DOilIllOl.
We regard the Old Dominion as one Of
the neoest States in the Confederacy.
She is Just awakening to the knowledge
that she possesses resources which, in
their variety and extent, are unequailed
by any of her sister CnmmOnweaIths.
Her Chesapeake has been the fshPond
of the large cites--Some her tide-water
counties their market-garden and wood
yard. Her ample ports have been mere
entrepotS for the commerce of other States;
whilst her production have sought the
ports of Baltimore, New Orleans, and
Savannah (!) for expectation. Her min
eral and metallic treasures have slumbered
in her mountains her lands have been
reduced to premature steriGty, and her
population was annually drained off into
the West and Southwest. Her statesmen
devoted their energy and intellect to the
discussion of distractions and TO super
visng the legislation of Congress. We
rejoice to see the evidences that all this
is changing. The Richmond Enquirer
states that the population of Richmond
will amount TO nearly 10000. The re-
assessment Of lands will show an increase
of from so TO 100 per cent within ten
adding at least one hundred mil
lions to the value Of zeal estate alone. 1t
is estimated that the gross population oil
the State has increased more than two
hundred thousand since the census OF
1910. There are other favorable symp-
toms of increasing prosperity. The IN
come of Virginia has within five years
increased nearly one hundred thousand
dollars, without any increase in the rate
of taxation. This evidence of prosperity
cannot be mistaken. The balance Of
gration is moreover largely in her favor,
whilst lhere is no emigration from Nr-
ginia. Northern manufactures and far
mers are exploring the State, purchasing
lands, and, by the application of agrcuI-
uIral skill, enhancing their value greatly.
A more lust estimation is now placed upon
the mineral resources of the State. The
valuable deposits Of camel coal are find,
inc all outlet for consumption upon the
Mississippi and at New Orleans. The
three great lines Of railway which ira
verse her territory will connect her me-
tropols and seaports with the productions
Iof the interior. The Virginia and Ten.
nessee railroads and the Central railroad
will. with their connexions, extend TO the
Mississippi at Memphis, and to the Ohio
at Cincinnati. The Baltimore and Ohio
railroad also will accommodate, when
completed, about three hundred miles Of
the territory of Virginia with an outlet to
market, constructed, too, at the cost of an
cnterprising city, which is willing to pay
millions for the commercial advantages Of
such an Improvement. In addition to
these evidences of physical development,
the statesmen of Virginia are devoting
their attention more to the study of her
natural advantages, and adopting a more
liberal system of rendering them ayalla-
! bic. With these indications of prosperl-
tv and enterprise, we consider that the
destiny of Virginia is established. She
will wisely maintain and avail herself Of
,he invaluable agencies of that Union TO
which she has contributed so much, and
rely rather upon the development Of her
physical resources, the increase Of her
numbers, and addition to her wealth, than
upon declarations Of abstract right, cX-
pressed by excited defamation against
other States whose political influence is
greater than her own, merely because,
/ from their enterprise, they have secured
more of the constitutional materials O.
political power than she Republic.