The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-03-25
enumeration and Improvement.

i 80
minds of the value Of agricultural lmm1-
| grafton to develope the resources OF the
State have not been overlooked in the
/ columns of this paper in the more familiar
discussion of the steps necessary to advance
its manufacturing and commercial pros
perity. We have recognized the truth that
with us agriculture must remain the CHIEF
basis of the wealth of our people, but not,
as heretofore, to the exclusion of commerce
and the mechanic arts. We are not unmind-
full of the truth that even at the North the
great secret of the marvellous progress OF
that section is to be found in the settlement
and agricultural development of the fertile
| regions of the West and Northwest.
If vel look more closely for causes we shall
| find that for some years past their accelerated
progress is mainly due to organized schemes
| of European immigration. With the prob
| lem has been to inaugurate the same system;
| and many laudable efforts have been made
to that end. 1t will not, therefore, appear
strange that we give something more than
passing notice to the settlement Of several
families of Germans upon the Central road
(turnpike), in Henrico county, about five
miles below this city. We are not advised
| of the exact extent of the settlement, but
hear it is in contemplation to extend it fur
Their. We learn that already, before the
arrival of the principal body, the work Of
| improvement is begun-a number of houses
are already built, which even now give an
air of thrift and improvement to the land
scape cut up with hostile batteries, and
which etill wears some Of the marks of the
desolation of the war. We chronicle the
advent of this useful class of citizens as
one of the signs Of the times. We trust
it tends in some degree to solve the ques-
ton of organized European immigration.
We believe the success of this enterprise is
due in part, at least, 10 the energetic and
public-spiritcd efforts Of some of our Ger
| man citizens of Richmond. We trust that
all of them will feel it their interest to do
something in behalf Of this cause. There
is one question at least which this incursion
| of our German friends will settle, and it is
one which has not little exercised the
speculations Of the curious. The name of
Darbytown is familiar to our ears as house
! hold word but what mortal eye has ever
seen Darbytown? Where is Darbytown
We beg pardon. General BUTLER must
have seen it, since its capture during the
war was heralded with no little eclat by the
northern press-unless, indeed, like the
famed attack on Fort Fisher, it was an affair
of noise, smoke, and gas. Like the tabled
floating isle, it might still have eluded the
vision of the adventurous inquirer, but the
magic of Fatherland" has ,aoao dissipated
the spell. "The Dutch have taken -
Darbytown!
Lest some may mistake this pleasantly
for serious detraction Of the locality in
question, we state very positively that it is
highly fertile section Of country.
We think it not amiss in this connection
to make some recognition Of services rem
dered by JACOB s. ATLEE, Esq, at present
the presiding justice of Henrico county
court, in the work of improvement which
has begun in this section. We say it is not
amiss to speak Of this, for the public useful
ness of private citizen is entitled to public
gratitude. X ..... y.
1t is we'll known that it was mainly
through Mr.. ATLEE's exertions that the
Central Turnpike road was made the valua-
BILE thoroughfare of travel it now is, and
we are gratifed to learn that efforts are now
being made to extend the road, with its
connexions, in as direct line as practicable,
into the county of Charles City, and to
open upon this line the turnpike authorized
by the act incorporating the Richmond,
Williamsburg and Central Turnpike Com
pany. ....
Farther than this, it vas Mr.. ATLEE's
farming of the lands now occupied by the
settlers of whom we have been speaking
which seems first to have attracted atten-
| ton to the euitableness of the lands for
grass. An hours ride from the city will
show to an intelligent inquirer their value.
We cen instance the farm of Mr.. GEORGE
| D. PEASANTS, recently reclaimed from the
forest, and redeemed from the wet, slashy
appearance which distinguishes the unre-
claimed soils of this section that are best
suited to grass. By judicious, but as yet
partial, drainage, and moderate apphca-
ton of lime and bone, Mr.. PLEAsANTs's es-
tate has become fine grass-yielding farm.
The hay from this farm has during the year
sold in the market at prices averaging from
ten to twenty cents above northern hay.
It is proper to state that during all the
time that Mr.. PEASANTS has cultivated
his lands they have yielded remunerative
crops of whest, clover, timothy, &c. These
lands are well worthy Of better improve
ment and culture than they have yet re-
ceived.
The citizens of Richmond and all the
country adjacent should exert themselves
to make this city the centre Of an indus
trious and enterprising agricultural immi-
grafton from the northern States and from
Europe. It is the point from which i'm
provement should spread into all sections
Of the State.
|
TIE CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN VIRGINIA.
Correspondents in various counties have
sent US letters telling us that there are no