Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-07-18

terprise they are mainly indebted tor their IN
pfeeedented prosperity.
These fabti ar statements show that the aver
age value of farming lands in the adjoining state
of Maryland is sic II per acre. while ours Is es-
tmated ut - ~ per acre But the average value
Of the farming lands in the District OF COLUMBIA
in the last census j. put at the enormous sum of
Sie3U3 per acre. These fac's ought 10 arnnse
rs TO prompt and decided action. What, but the
commerce of Baltimore has given Maryland such
decided advantages over Virginia in tie value OF
her lands Tan we fail TO perceive that the $50
lated District Of Columbia owes its superiority
in the value of its lands over both Mary land ana
Virginia. Ia the combined advantages resulting
from the action Of the Federal Government, and
the trade OF Washington, Georgetown and Alex
andria Does any one believe that inirlnsioaily,
the lands of Maryland are more productive or val
uabi than those of our State Can suppose
thai '.e New England lands are us rich or pro-
duetiye a. the lands of Kentucky, Tennessee,
Missouri, Mississippi, or Alabama Yet the
farming lands in the latter are valued at about
- 81 per acre. while farming lands in the former
are estimated at an average of S229 The
farming lands in Michigan are valued at 81 -
per acre. while those of Kentucky are placed at
only 80 81. In Ohio farming lands are valued
AT : 10 93 per acre, while those IN Missouri are
estimated at 50 30 per acre. Arc not the lands
in Missouri aud Kentucky intrinscnlly about
equal to those in Michigan and Ohio Yet wha4
an astonishing disparity in cash valuation. We
cannot ascribe this difference in values to my
thing as legtimately as to the benefits flowing
from the superior commercial enterprise of the
two more fortunate States.
The farming lands in Virginia arc estimated in
the census returns at %. IJ2,3l1 acres, which ut
the average valuation OF 81 - per is worth
S2l6.4l0,41I Suppose the people by advocating
and encouraging, induce great extension OF our
ii 4 Ia
the present value Of our farming lands, or elevate
their cash price up 10 the Maryland standard OF
Sls,sl per acre, who could calculate the direct
and incidental benefits resulting TO all the great
interests If the State Who does it well be-
come to take the initiative in this great improve
ment as the country people Under this i'm
preston we respectfully invite the cooperation
and aid of all parties, all interests, and all eas-
SEES. If true to themselyes--if alive to the future
prosperity of the State-we trust they will ac
lively and efficiently exert themselves in his
great common cause. The facts heretofore ad-
duced relative 10 the extraordinary average value
of the farming lands in those States enjoying the
joint advantages of commerce and agriculture.
admonish us that the land owners in Virginia
ought not only to feel deep interest in our com
mereial prosperity, but of all others ought to
stimulate and sustain whatever movements may
be directed to the acc omplshment of that end
This is emphatically the great question of the
day. Longer to delay prompt and decided action
would he suicidal. Our agricultural societies can
render great service by impressing upon their
members the Importance of encouraging direct
foreign trade, and inducing our country and vii
age merchants to purchase their stock OF goods
i'll Nirginian cities, because organized societies
can accomplish great results AMI it has been
shown TIL perhaps of all methods of enhancing
| the value of our lands, none promise more favor
ably, or more certainly to attain that object than
rapid and extensive augmentation of our com
merce. This great question. involving the future
! policy and destiny of the State, appeals with
great propriety to the agricultural classes for
support.
We will proceed now to present other views
! equally entitled to due consideration. Suppose
we were 10 make Richmond, Petersburg, Norfolk
and Alexandria centres of trade; or in other words,
make their situation relatively to own state, what
Baltimore Philadelphia, New York and Boston
are to their respective localiti5s; would not our
specie funds be more abunda t. and our general
circulation less fluctuatng and therefore moro
healthy, because less Influenced by eXtraneous
considerations, aud more Immediately responsive
TO the exigencirs and demands of our own inter
ests q wants When the great commercial cities
of the North have 10 pay cash duties upon inpor-
| ted merchandise, they seek their supplies from
distant points, otherwise the specie in their city
banks would soon be exhausted, and down would
!
tail mount of specie needed in each commercial
centre has then to be drawn from all tributary
| points, and thus by various eXpedents the cash
funds of our banks are made subseryient to Their
! purposes The brokers' in laying their hands
| upon our specie, must either send it TO the large
importing cities to sell to those paying duties, OF
else hold it for speculation upon our circulating
bank paper Under this .suryeilance > our banks
are repued to exchange large amounts with Other
banks It remote points, so as to make ii more in
convenient To get notes in the vicinity OF
the banks issuing them to lie offered at theil
counters for cash, or its equivalent. But if bank,
from whatever eXigency or by whatever device
discredit their own notes, they cannot nationally
dents, therefore, by augmenting the discount or
their notes, stimulate the appetite of the broker
by enhancing his profits.
Our existing commercial dependence upon the
! North, has converted our banks fir IN mdepen-
dent State institutions to "provincial' banks, be-
cause they are by the laws of commerce appell-
dages of northern trade. worked as auXaries
during its flood tide and as subordinates rrquir-
ed To bearan undue proportion of all money pres
sures. But the banks in the great northern COM
mercal cities being at head quarters, their bust
ness men and patrons, TO relieve them in their
hours of need, draw the life blood from our pro
yincial banks. By this method, sustaining the
commerce and banks Of our community by de
pleting and Gripping both the trade and banking
interests in all tributary points. If we abandon
our custom of dealing 50 exclusively with the
North, it would not only materially relieve our
ba ks from these everlasting drains to sustain
the commerce of other States, but enable them
to maintain in reality and in truth, bona fde''
specie payments, and to second more powerfully
whatever commercial enterprises we might thinl,