The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1868-02-28
ORANGE COUNTY.


Having, in a previous No. presented
some briefyiews on the general features
of the County of Orange, l proceeded
in this to suggest the means required to
| develop and render available its dor
Inant wealth.
| Admitting that the difficulties which,
at present embarrass agricultural de-
velopment are great and discouraging,
yet they should by no means be regard
ed as insurmountable victims of the
unatoneable crime of the 10Th century
the subversion of institutions coeval
with American civilization-the ami
hilation of millions of recognized prop
erty-the destruction of all labor or
gaNization and the happiness of de-
pendent race--the natural advantages
We yet enjoy are great, and the attrao-
lions which surround US are too inyit-
ing to be neglected. The'subject which
should now address itself to every con-
siderate anil enterprising mind, should
be, the mode and mears by which the
rich endowments Of nature may be de-
veloped and made conducive to our ma
terlal and social happiness. The power
and influence of every people-their
moral and intellectual attainments,
depend on the success with which they
cultivate and improve their physical
advantages. To maintain the position
which we have reached in the arts of
civilization, and to insure our future
progress, we must sedulously devote
ourselves to material interests-no uto-
plan views must be INDUCED, nor pre-
JUDGES fostered in the struggle to adapt
ourselves to existing circumstances
Time, with its healing influences, may
alleviate, but cannot relieve us of the
responsibilities nov. devolved upon us.
Action, associated and individual,
prompt and vigorous energy OF mind,
aud industry untiring, must be the In
struments of success in all noble enter
prises. The subject of Agricultural de-
velopment is, at present, matter OF
| special interest to the owners of the
soll-and, as the handspring which
yitalizes the whole machinery of human
industry, claims, the highest considera-
| ton OF the patriotic statesman. Capt.
tai and labor constitute the lubricating
element which, .stimulatesindustry and
and harmonizes conflicting pursuits. -
These are the great desiderata of the
| tlmes-as hand maids to agriculture,
the foster-mother around which, all
other industries cluster andiii draw
their MISUNDERSTANDING as indispu-
| table that, without these active agences
agriculture cannot prosper, and assum-
ing also, as not less true, the inefficien-
cy of free negro labor, it follows that,
our fields must be iniperfectly cultiva-
ted or lie unproductive, until new ele-
ments OF population are introduced and
new systems adopted suited TO the al
tered condition OF affairs. The farms
of the County with few exce9tions,are
too large for profitable husbandry with
the present means oftheir owners. 10
render them remunerative in proper
ton to the fertility of the soil, they need
to be divided and sub-dvided into
tracts OF easy dimensions, SO as to
encourages their own parts to improve
them to their highest capacity --por-
tons of many large estates, now ly-
ing unproductivc,. might be judiciously
sold, enabling proprietors to improve
their husbandry-the parts producing
more than the whole and at less COST
If there be one fact more clearly demon
strated by recent experience than any
other, except, perhaps, the uncertainty
of free-negrO labor, it Is the impracti-
cability, with present means, of profita-
bly, conducting farming operations. up
OH the scale of former years. A sys-
tenn of Tenantry, such as has hitherto
been unknown in the usages OF Virgin
Ia. in which it should be made mutually
the interest of proprietor and tenant to
combine amclioration of the soil with
increased production-rendering the
former progressively auxiliary 20 the
latter, IS a mode suggestive of the hap
piest results. The lands of Orange are
beginning to attract the attention OF
strangers wishing to purchase, as well
as those DESTROYS of becoming tenants.
b ut grave obstacle is met by both, IN
the want of building accommodations. |
Until this is remOved our surplus Ia nds |
will not be estimated according to their |
admitted intrinsic and comparative |
value. The industrious and intelligent
yeomanry Of the Valley of Virginia,
than whom, there Is no more valuable I
population, would flock TO the cultiva- !
ton of our fields, impressed as they are,
by the superior advantages here pre-
sented, but for the want OF suitable |
dwellings. The best interests of the
county, indeed its social welfare, appeal |
to its patriotic proprietors to address
themselves actively to this work. Ma
terial abOunds and the happiest results
would follow-increased value OF their
estates-eniigration, capital and intel
iiScilL lHuuSGTy-dll cOluDlulng 10 pro-
mote their permanent prosperity. A
majority of them by strict economy and |
judicious arrangement, may in a brief
space, add each, from one to ten in num-
Der, 30 the active, producing population
of the county. and thus augment indi-
vidual and national wealth.
In conclusions, without intending to
any portion of Our beloved
commonwealth, may l not ask wherein
consists the superiority over Orange of
other counties in which sales of land
are often made at from $40 to 100 per
acreY is her climate less salubrious or
her fountains less pure-her soil less
fertile, her scenery less beautifil-her
men less noble or her women less love-
ly? Truth and candour forbid other,
than q negative response-modesty
claim to superiority. Then let the mi
ner come and explore our mineral re-
capitalist seeking invest
ment and the enterprising emigrant-
let the weary merchant needing repose
and pining for pure and invigorating
air come and find happy retreat. A
home aud a welcome there will be for
all, and when industry and art shall
have accomplished hale that nature has
done, the good County of Orange will
become, what Mr.. Jefferson said the
of the universe designed this
Piedmont region to be, 'sthe home of a
hadpy people, AGRICOLA.
l