The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-02-07
THE KALEIDOSCOPE
"A map OF busy life
no. LvI.
OUR VIRGINIA LETTER,

| "hu am compelled to acknowledge
that there is to-day, as much business
transacted in Richmond rs i'm Philadcl-
phia; city more than ten times grea-
ter. This, too, in spite of the almost
crushing influences of the dread politi-
cal outrage to which Virginia is being
Sublected, and, indeed, in spite Of ev-
| erything but what we may call the in
evltablc workings of her destiny.
| One reason, undoubtedly, of this com.
| parative activity in business circles
here, Is that Virginia produces one of
| the staple luXuries of the world i. e..
tobacco. Mems luxurious longings are
| gratiiied while his necessities are ip-
nored and, like the young lady who
wept because "they were so poor that
| they hadn't even Photographic album
III the housc"-thcre are thousands who
| viii wear thread-bare clothes while
they spend literally to crafty some
Sehseless passion. 1t is great question
thcn, among those who desire to grow
rlch (and who does not p whether min
lstering to mems necessary Mrvies, if
l may be allowed the expression, is not
the surest means to that end. Many of
our Pennsylvania farmers, at least,
nave so concluded, and almost every
virginia newspaper heralds the fact that
the "old Keystone" has made another
friendly raid upon us, and bought up
some OF the fine plantations selling so
chcaply.
In my last disjointcd letter referred
to the immense profits arising from the
cultivation of tobacco, leaving the read
er to sum up the matter for himself.
But there are other crops no loss pay
ing, and for which the soil and climate
OF Virginia are particularly suited;
while the cheapncss of labor and the
low price of land, tend to demand adj
ditional attention to their feasibility.
Ot late, much interest has been felt in
hop-raising, and a personal acquaintance
with one Gen. Newberry, formerly of
New York. who has given the subject
his attention, enables me to give the
following results of his experiments in
this section of country. His field of la
Dor has been near Petersburg, some -
miles south of Richmond. He has, he
says, produced 2,3i3 pounds to the acre,
which he sold at 80 cents per pound.
This, he adds, was under peculiarly
favorable circumstances, and it would
be unsafe to calculate beyond 200 or
l,3OO pounds per acre, during several
years But even at the lowest figure,
say l,2OO pounds per acre, it would
bring return, at AZ cents, the average
price for the past six years, of 1854 per
acre-or over SOS, 900 for fifty acres so
planted!
Now, as to cost of labor ETC., we will
see what he says of the price at which
they could be profitably raised some
years ago, when the demand was much
less. "From 1910 to 1861" he says,
"growers considered Il! cents per pound
a very paying price, and labor in the
Northern States was then about the
price it is here now, while land was
much higher and poles much dcarer. |
conclude therefore, that hops can be
produced at that price without loss, and
during eighteen years past the price has
averaged 81 cents. During the past
six years the average has been 47 cents
per pound to the producer" From q
private source we learn that poles,
which may here be obtained for mere
nothing, cost in Central New York, ;
cents apiece-and taking into account
the fact that the season is at least a
month in advance here, of either Cen
tral New York or Wisconsin, the pres
ent great hop-growing section, and that
early hops command higher price in
the market; also taking into account
the low price of land and labor, and
that the climate and soil has been
proved to be particularly suited for the
hop culture, and | can see no good rea-
son why this crop should not be added
to the staple products of Virginia and
form ano ther of those RecesSdyylUrurieS
which are already proving regenera-
ting power to her. But nothing can be
done without capital, and this, enter
prsing and farseeing spectators are
already beginning to furnish; especial
~ solid Pennsylvania farmers. So it Is
as much for the purpose Of keeping the
citizens of the "old Keystone" "post-
ed" rs to the dOings in this region, of
her children, IA for any other reason
that ! have undertaken to show the
natural wealth of this, the mother of
states, and the peculiar advantages here
presented to the speculator.
1t has been wisely stated that "there
! are no safe snort roads to fortune !" but
it must be admitted that some roads are
e0Sier than others.
As yet, the great influx of emigration
has been confined to the fabled valley
| of the Shenandoah; but we can assure
spectators and settlers that just as rich
| lands may be found along the valley OF
the James, and about Norfolk, and at
| much lower prices and nearer to the
worlds great markets. Near Peters
burg, for instance, where the expert
ment Of hop-raising, referred to, took
place, land may be bought good, clay
sub-soil) at $40 to SO per acre. This too,
| bordering an excellent, straight and
level pike road, within mile or so OF
Petersburg, which city is connected by
railroad and boat with City Point and
| Norfolk; is the through point of the
Great Northern Il Southern route, which
connects it alike with New York and
New Orleans; is the terminus OF the
South-Side road, which pours out the
mountain wealth of the "bluc grass
region, and all the immense tobacco
wealth ofthe Piedmont and Lynchburp
section, right at its doors.
SO-MET-I-MEs.