New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-06-20
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
Its Present Cendisisa-D estissties Or the
Peeple-The Late slaves-value Of
Iand.-Ths Germas EIemest-Whss
the Valley NeeAs-A Fine Chance fer
Northern Capital aad Nsrthern Undue

the Valley Media Fine Chs"ce fer
Northern Capital aad Northern Undue
Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.
READING Pa. June IS. 1865.
We have had conversation with an intelli'
gent business man who has Just returned FROM trip
through the entire Valley of the Shenandoah Some In
formation with regard to this region will probably %
interesting To many readers Of TIE TRIBUNE.
This gentleman started from Winchester on Thurs
day. the 25,h OF May for Harrsonbura. At winches'
ter hc found Rebel colder from up the Valley who
had como in buggy TO that place to take the oath OF
allegiance. and who agreed to convey our friend 70
Woodstock. From Woodstock he hired a conveyance
to Mount Jackson. From Mount Jackson to New
Market went on foot and took the stage from thence to
Harrisonburg. distance ls miles. fare 81 rs. From
Harrsonburg he went to Stanton 25 miles. and from
thence to Crawfords Springs sc miles-a the way BY
private conveyance. Returning. took the cars rom
stanton to Richmond hut found tho railroad much
broken the bridges mostly gone, and part VI the a
tanos Travelled by horse cara.
From Winchester 10 Harrisonburg fences are scarcely
TO he seen; but few houses have been destroyed but
near Earrisonburg many barns and mills have ocen
burned From Winchester TO Strasburg scarcely any
crops have been planted. and scarcely chicken
borse COW pig 10 to be seen- Toward Hnrrsononfs
considerable wheat 10 cut and corn has been panied'
Beyond Harrsonburg toward Staunton ~est fe TURN
pike near Messy Greek Is the section which, by order
OF en- Sheridan was laid waste for the alleged MURDER
of a Union officer The citizens there assert that no
was not murdered but killed in open fight he having
first wounded his adversary in the arm. within CIR
Gle Of FIVE six miles In diameter. with scarcely an ei
oeption not house. barn. mill or other building nns
been left s,anding Many Of the citizens were cnh"n
nlsts who are non.resstants and many OF them ehry
in tho war had left for the North. They are que1
hard SorkiDg industrious people never owning or mr.
ing slaves and are already returning to their desoiicd
farms and putting up smn frame buildings 10 shelter
themselves and families.
Extreme destitutiou prevails throughout the whole
valley. Having been 90 often trsvcIsed by both ar
mics farms have been entirely stripped 81 their stock,
and In many districts OF all their fences. The able
bodied negroes have all lef those only remaining who
are not able to do any work. and who are burden on
their former owners In many cases the agents OF tue
Government compel their former masters to Keep ana
support them although recognizing the fact that they
Free and while they are entirely useless Tor asroi
tural or domestic purposes This Is regarded As great
injustice the citizens have scarcely enough IN sup
port themselves and think that the rights OF freedom
should be reciprocal. They recognize the fact that
Slavery ia extinct. think that they should have the
right employ snch labor should he most advanta'
geous TO them and that they cannot have the serv'
Ices OF the negroes uto could labor and raise crops the
Government soud the care or charge OF those
who are mere consumers.
AZ an illustration Of the way in which things are
done a negro woman came IN q Provost MArshars
Office aud complained that her late master had benten
and Ill used her. lilo showed coucinsisely that her
story was an utter faschood and offered TO furnish her
aud her three chill with complete outfit II the
Government would take charge Oft The Provost
Marshal refused accop; the offer, ordered her late
owner TO take her back and prescribed the wages he
was TO pay. Unfortunately lie was unable to support
himself and family having plenty OF hrsf'cass lana
but 10 WORK A.. and crowd OF hcp'ess Oh" mo"
and women to support This Is mentioned not Tor TIC
rurpos, Of finding ianlt with tho Government. but to
show tho condition Of the people
A large number Of the people have been friends OF
the Union the beginning but were forced into the
support Of the Confedgaoy aud not few have suffered
severely IN consedncnee Of their wellknown Union
feelings The Whole people. with very few exceptions
recognise the great question rs forever settled Ihey
are heartily tired OF tie war having experienced IT'S
most teri bic evils They desire to return as soon ~
possible to tie quc, pursuits Of industry and trust that
the pcopl. Of the North will uoet them 10 kind and
fraerna spirit And surely such should be and we be-
lieye is the feeling OF the North toward them We
shall again become great brotherhood and free from
the once fatal dsiui brig element will be closely
bound IN intcrcs. aud affection than ever before.
This immense volcy lundieds Of miles In length. Ia
one OF ths finest Agricultural and mineral regions In the
world ard with free men and free labor no limits can
be set TO its fatur. greatness Its people are disposed
TO receive frankly northern men ard northern capital
The soil ~ unsurpassed for agricultural purposes the
whole valley being he best limestone land. and gene
rally woll-v oodod aud watcTed. What Is nov needle
is capital to stock aud Improve the farms. To re-
build mills and manufactures and TO develope the I'M
mersc mineral 81 the valley The best lands
may b. purchased on The most reasonable terms
Soy for less Than haf what they would command year
or Two hence Good farms where the feuces have been
destroyed ay be boOgt FOL s25 per acre; farms with
excellent buildings and fences for si1. For example.
farm containing 40 ncres good arabic limestone land
and 100 acres hrrtrae hite oak timber land no two
story brick mansion house large barn. stnliing and
other ouuiliings with fine stream Of water running
through the land good springs in various parts OF the
property ard good fences was offered for $50 per acre.
On the farm wssa splendid crop Of wheat. corn and
grass II is within six miles Of railroad and about
l2O miles from Washington or baltimore.
Many German families from Lancaster Co., Pa.
found their way into this valley many years ago. and
taking with them their industrious and thrifty habits
have become large aad prosperous land owners. Tie
induceUent he'd out in the cheapness and fertility
Of The onds their proximity to markets and removal Of
that great draw Osos Slavery will doubtless attract
large Immigration
What the valley Low needs Is labor and money. The
LII Lunka and Ii lIuCh