The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1870-12-07
Virginia Calls for Settlers.
The OLD Domhaion's Advantages Her
People Treat Immigrants Kindly
Il Cheap and Pleasant Trip, etc , etc.
From the Pittsburgh Leader

Eiftor of Leader: Having numer-
Gus inquiries from Pittsburghers in
regard to this country l have thought
that 1 could best answer them all
through the medium of your paper,
and as many others may be thinking
of seeking homes in the South, such
information may be Of general inter
It to your numerous reiders. 1t is
now almost two years since l bid
adicu to the Smoky City, and took up
nv residence in the sunny South, and
having mingled much with the people
and carefully observed the character
istics of the country-i IFS h%ealthful-
ness, climate, soil, productiveness, DC =,
&C., L feel prepared to speak of that
which I know and have seen.
One of the leading questions asked
by our correspondents Is,
WILL NORTHERN SETTLERS BE,
TREATED KINDLY :.
by the southern ~people?' There seems
TO be considerable doubt and uncer
tainty in the mind of your people
upon this subject, and it is MOTTO be
wondered at when we take into cons
sideration the vast amount of miss
representation INDUCED in By political
speakers and new<paT ers during the
last presidential campaign. Conf
dence is a plant of slow growth, and
it has taken time to dispel the evil
effects OF such base misrepresentation.
We found the people here quiet and
pcac cable, not caring for, or wishing
t. mingle in politics, at the same time
they telt a deep interest In the wei
fare and prosperity of the State, and
looked forward ~anxiously to the time
when she would be fully restored to
the Union. She is now once more
back in the glorious Union; the state
government fully reorganized under
the new Constitution, and in o OF
the reconstructed states will you Wit
ness the same degree of order and
submission to the powers that be, that
YOU do in the Old Dominion. To
speak more particularly Of the feeling
in our section we but give own
experience and that of all others 4who
have been here, when we say that no.
where north among strangers could
we have met with any kinder recep-
ton or been treated with greater cord
ialitv than here.
We have mingled freely and
identified ourselves with the interests
OF the community. Have met them
often at our social gatherings and
publIc meetings, and have ever found
them kind and hospitable. And We
have yet to note a single instance OF
hostility to northern emigration. On
The contrary, they are exceedingly
anxious to have northern people come
in and help build up the country
A free and social intercourse with Our
people will remove all doubts, and
satisfy any candid observer that their
kindness is well meant, and among a
people SO highly intelligent and re-
fined he can have all the social advan.
tages that may be enjoyed in the most
polite and refined society h thdrpsth.
The range of
PRICES OF. LANDS
is from four to twenty dollars per acre.
For fine inn roved estates along the
Roanoke River, or in good locations
back from tho river, the average price
is from twelve to fourteen dollars per
acre. Good farms with good i'm
provements, can be bought at eight
to ten dollars, and others, with mod
crate improvements, at four to six per
acre. The proportion of cleared and
woodland is about equal. The tim
Der is good, and when sawed into
building lumber, will itself more than
pay for the original cost of the farm.
The face of the country is gently
rolling, very similar to Lancaster Co.,
Pennsylvania, and is finely watered
by streams which are clear and rapid.
The soil is varied. The river bottoms
are alluvial and bgihly productive.
The uplands are good, and the crops
in all sections of the country this sea
son have been very fine, Our corn
looks magnificent, and will compare
favorably with the best at the north
The chocolate and red clay soils are
of a loamy nature, are easily titled,
and are the best for grain and grass
es.
This is not naturally a blue grass
country, yet it is found to some ex-
tent upon our clay soils. White
clover and herds grass are natural,
and all the cultivated grasses do well,
he'd clover grows as finely and luxu-
as anywhere at the north. Of
THE CLIMATE
we cannot speak in too high terms
OF praise. 1t is all that could be del
sired. We have mild winters, early :