Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-10-06

| Till 1, with them shall join tn angelic choir.
, This goal attain'd-loud peans shall be giv'n
! From Sire and Son for all the bliss of heaven.
| E. P. w.
Physical Survey of Virginia.
| OFFICE OF PHYSICAL SURVEY, J
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE,
September 10th, 1868.
| To THE PUBLIC Il have been appointed tc
the Chair of Physics in the Virginia Military
Institute, for the purpose of conducting a
physical survey Of the State.
The main object of this survey is to make
known the natural resources of Virginia; to
invite enterprise to stimulate industry; en-
courage commerce; promote immigration and
advance the material prosperity of the people.
Much useful and valuable information, tend
ing to these ends, already exists among you,
and the object of this appeal is to draw from
every one, who will be kind enough to assist
us in this undertaking. the results of his own
observations and experience with regard to the
productions of his part of the State its in
dustries and natural resources; whether of the
soil, the mine, the forest or the water-to the
liminary report may be compiled, embodying
such portions of them as may be especially use
full to immigrants and capitalists.
In making known to the stranger the many
and vast resources of our country and inviting
him to make his home among US, it is proper
to assure him as to the welcome that awaits
him, and to inform him as to the price of lands
and labor-both agricultural and mechanical
the expenses Of living, the conveniences to
schools and churches, &C.
To give practical shape to such information,
let US suppose the case Of young man and his
wife coming to settle in your neighborhood as a
n L., 1, 1,,,1 11l
lars in gold, and desires to become the proprie-
tor of a farm, say of forty acres.
Required, pro-forma estimate showing the
most judicious expenditure of this sum in the
purchase and stocking of his farm. State also
the quantity OF each article to be cultivated and
his earnings for the first year, ditto the second,
ditto the third
What is the greatest amount of earnings you
have known one man with occasional help to
earn from the soil in your neighborhood? Dit
to from any other branch Of industry?
These are general questions to which an
swers are requested from every correspondent.
In order to elicit other information In a more
tangible form the State is arranged in four in
| dustrial divisions.
The first, lying along the sea and bay shores.
Here the industries are directed chiefly to
the water and to trucking
The second division includes the rest of the
tide water country.
The third, the strip of country between tide
water and the Blue Ridge.
The fourth, the country west of the Blue
Ridge.
FIRST DIVISION
lst What are the fish, including under this
head crabs, oysters and terrapins, that most
abound in your water?
I'd. The fowl?
| 3D.. The capital required in the various kinds
of fishery?
4th. The value of the years catch?
5th. The greatest known yield from the
smallest capital? ....:. <t
9th. Ditto trucking ?"
7th What are the principal fruits and vege
| tables?
Sth The average price Of each received by
the producer?
9th. Where does he find market?
10th Does he have monopoly Of that mar
ket, and for how long? aila
llth What is the season for each of the va
rious articles coming to market?
u. How much Of each kind may one man
with the assistance of wife or child, cultivate
and gather? -
18th. How long is navigation closed in win
ter?
| SECOND DIvIsION-FRoM THE SEABOARD TO
THE HEAD OF TIDEWATER.
14th. What are the staple productions?
18th. What the yield of each kind to tn
acre? 0aI
10th. How much of each kind may one man
with the assistance of his wife, cultivate?
18th. What of wood-chopplng and lumber
ing? - : ~
18th. Ditto stock raising and wool growing,
18th. How long is navigation closed by Ice
| THIRD DIVIsIoN-BETWEEN TIDEwATER AND
BLUE RIDGE.
Goth. What are the chief Industries here :!
2lst. What are the minerals and the mines
22d. The fruits and the vegetables?
23d. What the TIMBER the range for cattle
and the water~power!
oath How long, during the winter, must tn
cattle be housed?
25th What are the greatest profits know
from sheep and cattle raising?
Goth What are the chief agricultural sta
plesl? .1y. aton co
9th. Instance cases of greatest profits?
2Sth. Do the ponds and rivers freeze ever
year?
, FOURTH DIvIsION-WEsT OF THE BLUE RIDGl
29th. What mines and minerals are IN yol
neighborhood? .,.....f.. .,I.
30th. The chief industries?
31st The value of land, improved and III
improved? esf esi
32d Describe the timber, range and waite
power2 ~ -
SD The chief agricultural staples a.
34th. The yield to the acre?
35th The market value of the products?
Both. What drugs, dye stuffs and orname
: tai woods have you?
; 37th. The expenses of procuring them?
! 3Sth. Mention the most successful instanc
! of individual enterprise and labor in each
uorr covaral branches of ipHuStry2
Any other information tending to assist
this undertaking will be thankfully received.
Please address answers, until further motto
to the Office of Physical Survey, Virginia NJ
itary Institute, Richmond,
And obige respectfully, &C.,
Nj. I. MAURY,
Professor Physics, Va. Military Institute.