Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-01-28

In our present attempt to divert a btsucb
of the current of emigration towards our
modest bat hopeful young commonwealth,
1--WE do not intend to follow the usual prac.
tice Of undertaking, the merits of competing
States. It is not to be doubted that while
thousands who have failed to realize their
hopes in the western Eldorado would have
found contentment among u9, there are
many more who would not now exchange
their situation there for the most tempting
prospects We could open to their view. On
the other hand numbers of Western Yir-
gipiaus, who had been allured away from
their mountain homes, by the praises Of the
distant prairie, are continually returning,
not seldom broken in health and spirits
to the shady valleys and warblipg brooks
/ Of their native State. This fact proves
significantly that individual views, wants
and tastes of emjyrauts differ just as wide j.
ly as the natural features of the different
States, and entitle us TO the presumption,
that tens of thousands of pilgrims from
congenial regio0s would have Cheerfully
stopped aud built their huts among US, bad
their road to the vaunted vest led them
! thrOugS our home SEZgestiVe scenery.
1t is bat little more than one year since
West Virginia was admitted as one of the
sovereign states of the Union; but as a
section of the old Commonwealth of yir-
ginia she had long been known and inhab-
tied, and faVorably recommended by the
emigration literature of Europe, especially
of Germany. Notwithstanding the latter
advantage, however, the step OF the foreign
emisraut bat seldom and cautiously found
its. Way across our border. Human Rla-
very, trough claiming little more than
nominal existence on the western slope of
the Alleghanies, still forWned upon enter
prise and intelligence from the statute book
of the State, hand in hand with the confu-
sion of land title systematically nursed by
the ruling GLASSES to the detriment OF the
poor and illiterate pioneer.
The frst mentioned evil is now irrevo-
cablY disposed of By the new State Cousti.
tuition, aud the other grievances has been
gradually mitigsted by equitable legisla-
ton to such an extent that the danger of
imposition can, in doubtful cases, be avoid
ed with the ordinary degree of prudence
required in such transactions in every
other State.
The fact that since the removal of those
two leading obstacles to our prosperity.
others of miner importance are fast dissp-
pearing, and surrendering the field to an
tivity,w will be easily accounted for by rete.
renee to the census tables exhibiting the
relative progress achieved by the western
section of Virginia in comparison with
the eastern during the last 15 years, in
spite OF the adverse circumstances above
alluded to. -
THE GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION roo
of West Virginia, is between latitude 37o
and 400 and longitude land SO 3Or west
Of Washington. Her bouudry embraces
the counties of the State of Virginia living
between the PennsylVania line, the Ohio
river, the Kentucky line, the head valley
OF the Tug Fork of Big Sandy river the
East river mountains, the Peters and ALE.
gheny mountains, and on the east of the
latter ridge, the counties of Pendletou,
Hardy Hampshire, Morgan, Berkeley and
Jefferson, along the Potomac and branches,
thus extending almost TO the tide water
limit OF that river.
The area of West Virginia is estimated at
$4,000 square miles, with
POPULATION
of about S76,00 souls, or fraction over
10 Inhabitants to the square milp. In com
parison with Scotland and Switzerland.
where sterile mountains occupy a much
larger surface than in West Virginia, our
State would be able to sustain a populs.
tion OF 100000.
/ The first settlers of our territory came
principally from Eastern Virginia, and thev
| and their descendants constitute a majority
of our present population. They are chief.
ly Of English, Scotch and Irish descent
sparsely iutermixed with Pennsylvania
German blood, aud, as a whole, form one
OF the most interesting communities of the
United States. Native tact and sagacitv,
urbanity, hospitality and self esteem are
among their leading characteristics; and
although not remarkable for enterprise and
pubic spirit, our people eyince in theil
business transactions degree of shrewd.
ness and judgment, which goes far towards
compromising their lack of intellectual on.
PorIunlues, and is susceptible of high or.
der OF mental Improvement,
lhat ProVerblal village aristocracy, dis.
hngulshed for its traditional aversion 70,
political daylight and honest and usefu
labor, is still feebly represented in some O
our uinglest county towns by few re
tred traders, speculatiug lawyers. and gen
uemen OF business or leisure, who bayt
aspired to rank among the .tchivalrvn by
PrlVateering on wild lands honestly sc.
. 1 HSSHAOI AOliCNluk tue Do
cuuiary necessities of the public at sextuni,
rates OF Interest, and forecIosing mortgage,
against their less prosperous neighbors.-
But as IN general they are disinclined tc
part with their baronlal acres, lest SOM
one besides themselves might be benefited
oy the operation, and manifest digui6ed
reserve In the face of the universal pro
Rtess which Is consigning them to the los.
sis, it is not likely the immigrant will
come 10 close contact with this formerl,
much dreaded class of the community.
The foreign clement of recent iumigra.
ton is already Very credttabiy ntet
10 sne cities OF Wheeling and Parkelsburg
aud in several settlements of the inter;e,
whose members, by their industy, useful.
ness ana social qualities have contributed
materially to predispose public opinion il
iaT0r OF immigration on larger scale.
The exhibition of our natural resource,
mas begun to attract the serious attention
md