New-York tribune., 1870-04-23
1,nUGRATION TO VIRGINIA.

IETTEk ~ w vrpcIsIA LAND COMPANY - RE-
rncrs o OF yIRGINIA-wHAT THE STATE
yrrns-THE WESTERN LAND sfsIEM-fLANs
or THE VIRGINIA Co@PANf'
rso President Of the International Lana Company
A. MeKaye-hsving devoted considerable time
Cs.,estieating the condition and needs OF Virginia
-. addressed letter TO Gov alker on the SUBJECT
DSrbich we give below the essential parts. 1t sup
@alrable and interesting information on the re-
rrces of that great State and 1dicates the pros
"O es t,ture she viii secure if immigration is
rp.trscted to her fertile lands;
NEw-YoRK, April 70, 1870.
know that nothing so constantly occupies your
% the present time as the consideration Of the
sneans Of reestablishing the social and material
ritv Of Virginia. This induces me- although com
F.,olv stranger to yourself and 10 the citizens Of
s.ote 70 address you briefly a subject to which
devoted considerable attention and which is init
- connected wi tn the advancement OF Virginia
Ter to the diversion Of immigration toward Virginia
~ south generally. II seems to me that the public
-,,uires that the combined strength Of our people
Ale employed in sustaining the silent hut arduous
- FOR a new and improved social condition, which
- taking place in Virginia and elsewhere in the
s.-ts Every consideration Of common patriotism and
n-srshp. 10 say nothing 0f common CHRISTIAN 0Nhl-
ot o must unite i'm favor Of such action write with
"a ,5ter confidence on this subject, because contr-
a. hiring the late all that lay IN my power 10
oe,rrn slavery, and because during the year which
sTfut ON this side Of the a considerable part
sue hme has been devoted 10 Virginia. ~
'xIver charges the people Of Virginia with still en-
,ouinC rebciOus spirit does so through ignorance,
uherve selfish and evil ends. The citizens OF Vir-
i comprehend perfectly well that their uest friends
tSe North today We're during the war; from convc-
~ and upon principle the strongest oppOnets Of
very They respect the convictions that conquered In
tie struggle and as far my experience goes have
~ heard sin gle complaint al the result And must
a. that nothing has my esteem as the selffe-
sD,iiDg rctcence OF men suffering under the rum OF
pfr fortunes.
THE NATURAL WEALTH OF VIRGINIA
Irmany respects Virginia has been always considered
the most highly favored State Of the Union. In geo.
graphical position she stands prominent The Atlantic
shores afford the finest harbors for shipping OF every
description be found in the world Her climate is on
the average more temperate and uniform than that of
suy other portion Of the Atlantic slope and is proven
bay healthy No state has more fertile or inexhaust-
le SOIL or mere varied productions. She is abundsntly
hvoVd with rivers aud other Water-courSes when
affd great facilities for internal transportation, and
iSo an uAlaluIs Supply i mi, rd yitb yr,eyaI
d'pes oi Der hills ar stu amp! covered Win PIneA l
0rcsts OF the finest timber. Her mountains are known
n filed with coal aud iron, copper and lead. In
natural wealth and resources the state OF Virginia may
challenge comparison with any equal portion OF the
Federal Union and yet to-day at least twOthirds Of her
arabic lands lie faow and more than that proportion Of
her other natural resources remain wholly undeveoPed.
II useless nov 10 inquire into the causes OF this ano-
raOus state OF things. What most concerns all inter
ested IN the future OF the State the remedy for IT. Who
takes the trouble 10 20 over the state as have
recently done-traveng into its byways as well as upon
thOrOughfareSWl recognize her chief necessities.
Rr and above all large sccesons of enterprising and
Industrious inhabitants are needed-nen who shall have
energy enough TO cultivate IT. and utlze lts mdden
wealth The simple truth the State Is famshng for
Constitutes condition precedent TO any cure Of the
uaadies from which the State is suffering.
EOw SETTLERS MAY BE ATTRACTED
Tie next question is from whence and how are these
new inhabitants TO be obtainedi While by no means
upderyalue the importance Of immigration from the
- my ne chief
e drawn from the overpOpulated portions Of Europe,
whence have come the strength and prosperity Of the
new states in the West. By what means then can
portion Of the great flow OF European emigration TO this
s hand. By Offering 10 the emigrant inducements TO
ste Virginia greater than are offered to him else
vbe. In many respects this IS not difficult. As have
already said, in point OF mldness, uniformity, and
hahulness Of climate, richness OF SOIL abundance OF
good water fine timber, and proximity 10 the great mar
les Of the world part Of this continent offers as
TTea Inducements 10 settlers
When however We come actually TO face the work OF
inducing and directing lmm grafton TO Virginia, we are
net al the very threshold by obstacle which, unless
hesn b tnecualy removed, VIII bar the door against
vs tracts Of unoocupied lands in the Western States
Sd lsr1tOries, properly surveyed and divided into
tvlsIips sections quarter-sectOns, and lots of so
are held under Government grants, and are ex-
posed for sale IN all the great centers of European lmml-
caton. The intending emigrant may seldom actually
pse part Of these lands until he reaches the local.
sned by the knowledge that they are at hh command
ts5 esyes direct for that quarter The fact that the
n Of destination Of the emigrant is nearly always de-
vned before he out, and II rarely changed after
vCd II most important fact with reference 10
Il subject under consideration, for II proves
that the emigrant must be sought for, ana
Inducements applied at his place OF departure.
the part held IN large tracts by private own
These tracts not surveyed nor divided into con-
Ulienty szed farm lots However anxious the owners
SELL they have not the requisite experience or
prepare and subdivide their lands so a. to Sc
re the attention Of intending emigrants In Europe or
sseWh Aaff haV
n them for sale in the European countries where they
NJ n request Cooperation Is essential TO accomplish
A. this which forms the first step Of any successful
Eheme Of Virgnian immigration.
THE VIRGINIA LAND COMPANY.
In order to obviate these difficulties and to supply the
AndOwners Virginia with the necessary cooperation,
Eary year ago it suggested, IN consultation OF
sver patriotic citizens Of the STATE that joint stock
company should be organized, wherein unoccupied lands
ught he represented by shares. After much prepsra
b-y inquiry and effort. both az home and abroad, the
ed IN oStanpe @ , from the Iesiature Of vifgina the
Incorporation of the Virginia International Land Loan
a. SSrds ia 'ne SrSsmSe are To aid
Z the movement OF immigration and the IN
deduction Of capital into Virginia, and in the
yeopment OF its agricultural and other interests"
Ie Company has made haste 10 complete us organza
Bon the details Of which viii shortly be given 70 the
c lean assure you Of ts earnest purpose TO carry ont
good faith the objects Of lie incorporation and that II
the landowners OF Virginia, for whose use lts PRIV
sges were granted II must be clearly and distinctly
~A4rstooO ildt the Lana can 40 or
hex u nothing without such cooperation, It's pi1nci
use and purpose being 10 afford these landowners
1tOpportuny OF captahzng their unoccupied lands in
u shares IL Will be thus enabled 10 survey, lay out
N prepare them for sale and settlement in such form
2d upon such terus will afford the strongest induce
neas n all desiring TO immgrste. AT the same time,
ne almost useless lands Will furnish TO present owners
Absorption OF property far more easily convertible.
'tbOut such medium as tins plan proposes see
sway IN which the millions of acres Of unoccupied
I'd now. worthless lands IN Virginia be brought
h competition with the lands of the West In the great
~utsrs of emigration elsewhere. Without this do
T believe that any portion OF the great stream OF imrni
ration be diverted and turned toward the far more
enlel and inviting shores of Virginia.
A. you arr aware, in pursuance OF the objects o ts
incorporation, the International Land Company has
s'ady entered into contract with the Norfolk and
sftat Western Railroad Company for the purchase and