The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1869-03-18

need be said, as the intelligence of the
North is beginning to discover the truth,
and the malignant party hacks who have
sought to keep up strife or falsehood are
being found out
Second: Ane the negroes troublesome
or dangerous
In few localities, where they have
congregated in large numbers, especially
discharged negro soldiers, in some of the
lower tide.water counties, there have been
some triAing disturbances. They are
nowhere dangerous. AS race, the ne
gro is harmless and inert. If let alone
by bad White men, there never will be
any trouble anywhere with them, except
the trouble of inducing them to work and
support themselves.
Third: What can negro laJorers be
hired tare
The best of them, ranging from 25 to
80 years of age, of known good character,
hire to farmers at about Sl20 year and
rations, with the use of a cabin and
"patch," or garden. The negro ration
here is a peck and half of corn meal
and three pounds of bacon week, with
vegetables, in season, such as the farmer
uses himself. Good women hire at about
half the above. On large tracts of land,
the negroes in many cases work
for share of the crop. They are not
active good hands unless the employer or
an overseer is long to lead and direct
them. Money wages are paid, about half
monthly, and the balance at the end of
the year.
Fourth: Is the whole State healthy !!
Yes, almost the entire State. In the
lower counties, where there are marshes,
they have chills and fever, but of mild
form. Away from the miasmatic locali-
ties there is no healthier country on the
globe than Virginia.
Fifth: What is the quality ofthe land'
AS various as in any State in the Union.
There is great deal of very fertile land
in Virginia, large quantity of fair quail
ty, and much that was once excellent, but
has been exhausted by Tobacco and bad
husbundry. But the worst wornout land
that was originally good is very easily re-
claimed, especially by the use of clover.
,Si;rth: What is the price Of land'
In all the country east of the Blue
Ridge lands are very low, ranging from
81 to $50 per acre, according to quality,
and location in reference
to market. Between the blue Ride and
Jamyes River, 1 would put the average
at about sl2 to SIS per acre. Between
the James and North Carolina line, in 20
or 80 counties, the averrge is under $40,
including all Improvements. Some of
the finest estates, combining river bottoms
and upland, with ample buildings and
good market facilities, in tracts of from
l 900 to 5000 acres, are now on the
market at from $40 to SIS per acre
Tracts as small as 800 to 500 acres in the
best south h-side counties are offering at
from So to $40. Exhausted but improv-
able land can be had in tracts of any size
desired at from So to Sc per acre. The
proportion of cleared and wood land sold
is about half and half This section of
the State is not naturally grazing coun-
try, but all the cultivated grapes do well.
The staple crops are Wheat, Corn, Toba
eco, and Oats. The variety of fruits and
vegetables, embraces the whole catalogue
of this mild latitude. Gardening in the
open air has already commenced at this
season.
In the Shenandoah Valley, lands COM
mand from $50 to $3.50 per acre. That
is a limestone, bluegrass region. Along
the eastern slope of the Rlue Ridge, grass
grows remarkable well, and it is a fine
stock region. Excellent farms can be
bought there at from $50 to $40 per acre.
In the Upper Valley or South Western
Virginia, toward Tennessee, is the great
grass region-the best for cattle, perhaps,
this side of Texas. Improved farms there
are worth from s25 to $50 per acre but
much cheaper lands can be had, perhaps
equally good, but on which costly i'm
provements have not been made. Tide
water is the great gardening and fishing
region of the State. The best river land
is worth 500; but any grade can be pro-
cured from that down to IS or 6.
Seventh: Where would you ddvise a
Northern man to settle?
1t is impossible to say, unless he tells
me what he wants to do. To the indus
trious man ofsmall capital-say from $500
to $4,000 would advise a settlement
south of James River, where lands are
cheapest, and where every variety of crop
is produced. In almost any county there,
q man can purchase from 20 acres up
ward. Generally, by paying one-fourth
cash, he can get from three to five years
credit on the residue, and thus use large
part of his capital to get himself fairly
under way. The man of larger means
can also be suited in this section, or he
can buy princely estate in the rich val
leys of the James, Roanoke, or Dan, for
one-fourth the value Of the property be-
fore the war.
Eighth: Can lands be leased, ,oith an
option purchase during the term /?
Yes, to very large extent. The usual
rent paid to the landlord is one-fourth OF
the crop for the land. A man, with say
$500 can lease a farm and readily SUM-