New-York tribune., 1869-03-05
LANDS IN THE SOUTH.
OLD VIRGINIA.
LETTER FROM GEN. IMBODEN.

o,,;,r ton IN the South generally but more particu
1rl 70 Virginia For this courtesy to me personally
and the evidence you daily giving Of interest in
opr material recuperatiOn thank you most heartily
That the subject is of absorbing interest to our
neople is manifect from the fact that some of the
leading journals Of the South have reproduced the
letter imperfect as it was; and Others have epito-
uized it and cordially ndOrsed its sentiments and
ments Of fact But, gratifying than this gen
cral sympathy OF my Southern countrymen the objects
had in view is the overwhelming testimony l have
received from all parts OF the North that about
have an invasion that will bring life, prosperity and
wealth. in its train Not iucurson OF hungry carpet
baggers," TO stir up strife and reopen the wounds
left by the war, and which, God knows, heal
slowly enough under the best treatment-but
countless host Of earnest honest active industrious,
ana entefprslng men and women. who mean TO settle
here buy land build houses establish stores shops, and
our bone and flesh OF Our flesh"
have been absent from home for several weeks, and
find return hundreds Of letters from your Northern
readers OF almost every pursuit and walk In life, seeking
Virginia, all expressing an earnest desire to move
and settle here. would like TO all these letters
me to do II has taken to-day from morning till
night TO read them Pressing business engagements for
ten or twenty am glad these letters have been written,
and thank the writers for them. They bring hope and
career OF renewed and unparalleled prosperity The
wide range Of inquiry made by the different writer's shows
ADVANTAGES and resonrcrs of tbs state one great Vr
gnia mind is engaged in this important work Ihat
most distinguished OF all American scientific men, Com.
modore Matthew Mauy ia applying his great intellect
TO the enlightenment of the world IN regard to the SOIL
climate, productions mines. forests rivers, DaTDOrs com
mercial advantages, and population OF this state His
preliminary report has Just been published, and hope
will soon be spread broadcast throughout the N0rtn anu
in Europe book too has been recently published by
Frederick b. Goddard, No. 432 Broomest N " entitled
where 10 Emigratc, aud Why, that viii ala US greatly
But 1t NAV be long time before hcse important publ
cations will reach the hundreds who have read my letter
THE TRIBUNE, and written for immediate information.
TO guide them III the selection OF home. no sIatmy
these your readers and in the only way possible 10 an
all their letters propose to group the subjects OF
through your columns. The information thus I'm,
parted may not be IN every case as as Iuie CO n, @
personal honor for the truth OF every statement mas
much as shall cohhne yseI 10 iaes VIII ,r S Sontirn
knowledge, being acquainted with almost tle f,dto m @
State, and In my early life plowman and farmer III my
competent Judge Of soil climate aud productions,
aud all my feelings and sentiments Nrgnian, In fun
avoid misleading any With this preface proceed
the most important questions that have been
FIRST: Can a Radical Republican lire here IN comfort,
and roe 4s Pr"epes c m ae seg Settled in the state since
the war pnd thousands have visited H. aud have vet to
near of the FIRST Instance I'm which there any further
restriction on freedom OF speech and action than there ~
in Massachusets The laws Of gcntcel society are In
force here and bully or backguard who trangresses
tbem SO far as to offer personal insult by wholesale
crimiuating remarks, VIII be US readiIy ts ae
commodated with hght as Would
| 10 Uuzza for jeff Davis" there aud Damn the
whole Yankee nation" But gentleman and man 81
scuse and character speak, wtte, ana publish win
perfect freedom any Of the political dogmas of The day
aud IT, In other respects, he Is what ne should be mere
in any community, his social standing VIII De tAASy
what lie chooses to make II for himself We nave hau so
many Lard cases 20 swarm down upon Us, and ~ many
instances Of humbug and swiudng Dy such people since
the that We naturally receive toia s'IahgeIs now
with caution and reserve, III We hhd theh 10 be worthy VI
confidence and esteem when they are As cordially treated
as they would be anywhere. But upon l, point ihlnk
nothing moro need bc said AS the intelligence of the
N"rtb /. Lcgnuiug To discover the truth and the maig
nant party hacks have sought TO keep up strife or
second. Are ne negrocs Troublesome or dan2croust
In few localities. where they have oougftghird IN
large numbers especially discharged negro soldiers IN
some Of the lower tdcwaier cOuhil'r mere nave h'th
om A. race the negro Is harmless aud inert n let
alone by bad White men. there never VIII be hy tuuue
anywhere with them. except the trouble o inducing Ho
TO work aud support themselves. , ,
known Good characiSr hfe 10 farmer. at about $40
year and Riious. with the use of cabih ana palS,
corn meal and three pounds Of bacon week with yegc
tables season, such a. TIE farmer uses hi-i Goog
] Tbcy are moi active good hauds unless the employ
c or an o,recr j. along 10 lead aud direct them Money
wages paid about half monthly, ana tho balance at
''g go,,rm; SrF - Is Gs ,rho,e state healilyt
Yes almost the entire state In nc lower couh'os, ,
NJ "A mild form Away from the miasmatic localities
there Is no healthier country on the globe than virginia
Finh: What is ne qualify of the Idndf
A. yoriou. os I'm any Stale in the Union. There Is
great deal Of very fertile land in Virginia. large guam
fity of fair guaiy ana much that excellent,
but has been exhausted by Tobacco and bad husbandry
But the worst woruOut land That was ofghaIy goou IA
very easily reclaimed. especially by tue Use Vi 'lo'o
SiJth: What is the price Of LdndF ,,,-
low ranging from 81 to 50 per acre according 10 luny'
imuroyements and location in reference TO market
Between the Blue Ridge aud James River would put put
tho average at about S2 10 10 per acre bi"teu tuo
James and the North Carolina line In 20 or 80 counties
the average is under SO, including all Improvements;
Some of the finest estates, combining river bottoms ana
upland with ample buildings and good market facilities
in tracts OF from 1000 10 5000 acres are now on he mar
ket at from SO to SIS per acre tracts az sa as ~ W
the best sOuhslde counties are oH'tls az nom
s. 10 go Exhausted but u M eau cS h" be M
tracts Of any size desired at nom IS 70 e. per I
proportion Of cleared and wood land sold about hhand
nall This section OF the State Is not naturally gtazng
country but all thr cultivated grapes do well The staple
crops are Wheat Corn Tobacco. and oats The variety
Of fruits aud vegetables embraces the WhOle catalogue
OF this mild latitude. Gardening IN the open ar mas al
ready commenced AT this season -, .,o -.
In iheShcnaudoah Valley, lands command from $50 70
$50 per acre. That limestone, bluegrass region
Along the eastern slope OF the Blue Ridge grass gpWs
farms can be bought there from $50 10 $40 acre In
the Upper Valley South western virginia toward Ten
hans This side Of Texas Improved farms there are worth
from SIS $50 per but much cheaper lands can he
ments have not made Iidewater s the great gar
dening and fishing region Of the state, ne ,,ihe Ihe
can be procured from that down TO 8 or 81.
Sersnh: Where uouid you ddrise Northern ma" 70
II is impossible to say unless he tells me what he wants
o., 40 ~ tbe lndu.trous man OF small capitalsay from
$500 10 a. OOO-I would advise settlement south OF James
River where lands are cheapest, ana where every va
rety of crop produced. In almost any county there,
a man can purchase from 20 acres upward GENERALLY,
by paying onefourh cash. he can get from three TO hye
eas credit on the residue aud thus use large part o1
his capital get himself fairly under way lhe man OF
means can also suited In this Section or he can
Inv pncely estate ia the rich valleys OF the James.
Roanoke or DAN for oneourth the value OF the prop
figIih can lands be leased, uim option 10 ptTehuSe
during Me term ,,.,,.,, a.,
TO very largo extent The usual rent paid to tho
landlord rs oueOurh OF the crop for the OF the land
a man with say $500, can lease farm and readily sup
mort family on IT, and by economy and industry In hye
~ 80, ,cors own $50 or 200 acres In good heart