The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-24
Reply of Governor Floyd.

RICHMOND, June 10, 1851.
! DEAR SIR received two days ago your letter of the
It'll, which take the first moment have at command to
answer | read with the newspaper extracts which
you me. from the National Integencer the New
York Commercial Advertiser, and the Daily News, and
and essential features They scarcely exhibit the re-
sources and capabilities OF Virginia favorable point
OF view as they deserve; and this think, will appear
quite manifest from the brief view which shall take the
liberty OF presenting 10 you
Virginia s you know, the largest of all the States in
territorial limits this side of the Rocky mountains except
Texas. She is watered on the by the Atlantic and
on large portion OF her western border by The Ohio
river, whilst the Potomac, of noblest rivers fur
nlshes, throughout It's whole length, all the facilities of
ITS navigation, improved now by the Chesapeake and Ohio
canal TO our northeastern frontier The rivers which
empty themselves into the Chesapeake bay after ira YER
sing the State for longer or shorter distance, afford
amount OF navigabe water certainly not surpassed by
any country OF the extent in the Union The soil
IN The entire region waered by these of good
quality, whilst very large portion OF it is extremely fer
tie. Throughout almost the whole OF the tide
ter country large beds OF mari 10 be found aordng
certain, cheap and valuable for the improveme
OF that SOIL either exhausted from cultivation natu
rally poor; Ihe climate OF our country, lying between
the foot of the Blue Ridge and the capes OF Virginia. is
one OF the most delightful upon the whole Atlantic
coas-n the greater part OF II not surpassed in salubTi
BUSINESS by any part OF America All cereal grains
produced here in great perfection, whilst the fruits Of
every description are unsurpassed Nearly all the larger
streams abound IN the most valuable water power
advance towards Their sources
The transmonorial tract OF country lying between the
Blue Ridge and Allegheny range is certainly unsurpassed
by any other OF similar extent in the Atlantic States Ii
is perfectly healthy in lis climate extremely fertile in its
soil, pleniifuy watered with abundant springs and
brooks, whilst II abounds in streams afording the most
valuable water power for the purpose OF machinery Be-
yond the Allegheny range lies that portion of the State
designated Western Virginia, much greater in extent
than either OF the other two, and differing in some par
culars IRON both 1t is IN many parts mountainous and
broken, but almost everywhere fertile and productive In
many parts OF Western Virginia the mountains are OF the
most fertile SOIL quite 10 their submits The climate here
n tho nth liE than
The country abounds in every capacity for the greatest
production OF grains and fruits One feature Of this
gon is striking and remarkable aude to It's water
power. doubt II there is the continent tract OF
country OF the extent al all 10 be compared TO ii in
this particular The kanawha, which towards lis source
IS called New yer takes ITS rise near the summit of the
Blue Ridge IN North Carolina, and running from thence
IN northern direction iraverses the entire State pass.
ing through the whole great Appalachian chain OF
ans which separate The waters of the Atlantic from the
Gui Of Mexico. This stream is very rapid and mpetu.
ous ahordlng an extent OF water power which have
means TO approximate by calculation From the great
falls OF kanawha upwards for one hundred and fifty
miles, 1t affords greater volume OF water than the Mer.
rimac at Lowell and there but few miles tog ether
IN that whole distance where sites equal to Lowell are
not TO be met with The tributaries of this stream also
abound IN water power inferior only to that OF the main
river
could not tax your time with detail of the mineral
resources oil Virginia. will, however, send you two
geological reports, made by Professor Rogers OF our
University, which will save that necessity, and give
you far more information than could in more abbre-
/
abounds IN the richest minerals OF almost every variety
lead, iron salt gypsum, and coal in endless profu-
sion. A rock OF fossil salt Washington county has
been found measuring two hundred feet in thickness
whilst bed OF the purest gypsum the adjacent county
OF Smyth, has been penetrated 10 depth of than
SIX hundred feet without passing tbroughit
The coal region of northwestern Virginia is unsur-
passed IN both the quality and the extent of its mineral
and recently there has been discovered in the county of
kanawha exhaustless beds Of the best camel coal any
where 10 be found Lead abounds in different parts Of
the State and the iron OF Virginia proverbia for its
celen qualities Ii may well be doubted whether or not
there IS IN America iron region more extensive,
Astounding IN OF as good quality that OF Western
Virginia Copper has been discovered in various parts
OF the State, but TO what extent exists IL not known
These features 10 which allude constitute mainly the
natural resources possessed by Virginia. and, when per
iecy developed, must swell to a vas, extent the wealth
OF the State.
The tide OF emigration has heretofore strongly
from Virginia to the western States that this development
has not taken place for want Of population This how
ever Will not prevail to any great extent hereafter for
me emigration OF people il not only greatly dimn
lshed, but there beginning to be manifested dspos
ton by foreigners 10 emigrate TO Virginia
| But IN all probability might have spared you this
tedious detail, and have answered the objects of your
inquiry by simply stating the debt OF the Commonwealth,
9au her means TO pay.
ne whole amount OF bonds issued by Virginia up this
ums sl1,24so62 81
oonos WIZ be issued in part, md
Wh'ch lhe stale must pay whenever
the money may be demanded, but
winch depends upon the formation
OF Joint. stock companies 10 large
extent J1Q2 0o3 "a
......
Making altogether as the actual debt Of
ug ,G M