Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-12-05

!
If steamers and TIN. only doubt resting upon my
mind then WA. in regard to the time when we
should embark in that enterprise, and whether 1t
should be executed By public or private means.
Since then, however. the relations existing be-
tween the Northern and Southern States have SO
changed that every ye-tige of doubt has oeeh us
sipated in regard to the pol cy and imperl'us du-
~ II Virginia.
| Darnc the present year. the term OF ONCE OF
| Archibald Graham, the Commissioner OF Pubic
! Works for the second district, expired and I'M
der the act of OH March 1853, an election was
/ held to supply the vacancy. when resulted III
TIE choice Of Alexander II. llolladay. a pro-
clnmaton was made in compliance with the law.
aud Mr. fIolladay was qualified AS one OF the
nlrlnbers of the BuaId of Public Works
/ Ia the several communications heretofore mace
f, the General Assem- bly,. earnestly invited
their attention to the long neglected hut oil I'M
pnrtant ae icutural interest of the State Among
the suggestions then submitted was the app"iht
ment ct IA competent State agricultural chemist
whose duty it should to visit the different por-
ions of the State. analyze the soil. ascertain the
| elementary bodie, uf which it Is composed, point
! out the substances necessary To fertiize ana I'M
| part information calculated 10 instruct and en-.
tighten the farmer in al the important relations
apptrtaining Ia his occupation, and thereby IN
/ fuse spirit of enquiry d investigation through
I out the community, essential to the proper
! cultivation If the earth. and of such paramount
! imror to the general welfare. The history OF
TIE past added to tae experience of the observing
| farmer. afford abundant evidence OF the radical
chnngr Il beneficial effects produced by the recent
introduction of science and skill in the agrcutu-
raj mechanical and manufacturing drpar tiDrnts. 1t
is believed by many in other States that property
| /, deterorating in Virginia. and that our coun-
try is becoming depopuuted.-Th statistics OF
the past would have justified such conclusion;
but it affords me- pleasure to say that the reverse
Is the fact at this time. 1t istrue. that land IN
the tide water district decriorated in value du-
ring the twenty years preceding 1888, to the
startling amount of ten millions of dollars; that
other interests depracated in similar ratio; that
many of onr enerprislng young men reluctantly
abandoned their tatherland and all the endenr
insntS and associations which cluster around
! their native home, and in search of better land.
were vending their way to the ailuring
| West. The old fields thus abandoned we're grow
ing up in pine. and seemed rapidly returning to
primeyal solitude. Bat it is equally true that
the late assessment shows an increase in the
/, value of the same lands. in the short period of
twelve year, exceeding seventeen millions OF
dollars, with improved crops, the annual increase
OF which ha, more than doubled within the
period.
The same may be said IF the entire State
Every interest furnishes evidence of prosperity
and increasing wealth, and our people have eve
ry reason tn be eonteuted and happy.
We are thus furnished. within own State
with the evidence of the beneficial effects gros
ing ont Of the application Of science 10 agricutu-
raj purposes. Its practical advantages aud last
ing benefits too pal pablc to have escaped he
notice of the most casual observer. 1t has ao
complished more 10 improve the soil; augment
the crops, elevate the laboring class in the rural
districts prevent emi grafton. and make glad the
hear, of the husbandnau, than all other app'i
/ ances which have been employed IN tho last cen
tuty. These desirable changes have, ii is true.
been effected without the aid of the officer Whose
! appointment recommend, yet all will admit that
| they TO be cribel to the occasional efforts
/ of Il few scientific gentlemen who have magnan-
! imously devoted Il portion of their time and mo-
ney to the chemicn anal y-is of the soil, the dis
covery of calcarirus and compost manures, anu
/ the judicnus apphcation0 Of these to the growth
! Of " gtiabes. For this they are entitiedto our
gratitude and favorable acknowledgements. But
! how m l'h greater Improvement might be rccor-
/ p,hed Ivy the unliring and well directed efforts
/ of practical chemist. furnished with the lights
Of science with modern Improvements, and with
The necessary apparatus to apply his knowledge
to the best advantage.
Much has been affected. too, by the State
Agricultural Society, and its auAlIiafie-. But
thl> institution Though no longer an experiment
and in Furnishing and perm inent condition, Is
the result If nrividua enterprise, and has been
reared and nurtured at the expense ofindividuai
Hbera!iiy, uul though you may rely TO a certain
extent upon public spirit and patriotism, and
they may be appealed t. successfully IN times of
peril and emergency they should not be taxed too
heavily when no such emergency exists.
l. therefore, again respectfully invite your at
tenou to the subject, and trust you will not on
y call to your aid the services of a competent
agricultural chemist, bat that you will not per
.t the groogicai survey heretofore underta
ken to langnl>h, but cause it to he speedily
plet,d, aud thus develop the mcalcuable treas
ures mbedded in valleys plains and our
mountains.
submit herewith the annual report Of the
rector aud visitors ofthe University OF Virginia
which exhibits the institution IN most prosper
Gus aud Hourlshng condition sustaining. in an
eminent degree, the high reputation it has long
deservedly enjoyed.
The lung men, annually sent forth from, this
institution 10 conn.inse with the masses in their
various pursuits cannot fail 10 exert II whole some
iutlurncr and leave their mp,ess upon The com
manity in which they move. would, there
! tore, recommend an increase of the number to be
gratuitou>iy educated with such an increased
appropriation . viii enable the institution 10 ac-
cumpleh This purpose. Would that the number
coull be augmented, until the sons of the indi-
gent and the weelthy could find a common plat
torn accessible TO ull;that the portals of the Uni
verslty conid he thrown open wide as the cttri-
bues of divine mercy, procaiming, .'wEosoevtr
will, let him take the waters of life freely" But
il cannot be expected that a single institution can
Milford the necessary instruction tn population
ike that IF Virginia. Intelligence is the proper
~ of the nation aud constitutes the principal
element to secure respect from abroad, and secu-
/ rIty and happiness at home. To obtain il, any
reasonable sacrifice should be made, and no If
f,rtp .rr tod oh ,,,lJ Il