Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1871-06-17
TRTEF PRFISS-yTTIE OLD FA MILY JOUR-
.IrNr u 1871

MEssRs. EDIToRs: Having recently taken
a trip through Southwestern Virginia for the
purpose of examining grazing lands, perhaps a
short account Of our waDderings may not be
uninteresting to your readers. We first visit
ed Christiansburg, the county-seat Of Mont
gomery, and found it quite pretty place of
some seven hundred inhabitants, adorned by
several handsome residences and a beautiful
female academy. The country surrounding is
rolling, but abounds in grass of the finest quail
ity. We visited farm about two miles from
the place and found herd of some twenty
pure Durhams, not surpassed by any we have
seen. In an adjoining field were l0l head Of
stock cattle, whose owner assured US were not
quite three years old, that had been weighed
few days before and averaged 800 pounds
apiece These cattle usually bring in the Fall
about 500 per head The farm where they
were grazing is for sale, and contains some
1900 acres, Of which nearly all is well adapted
to grain and grass, and can be bought for $50
per acre 1t is well improved with handsome
frame house and good out-buildings, and can
easily be divided to suit purchasers. This is
| but fair sample Of the best land in South
western Virginia From ChristanSburg we
went to Central Depot in Pulaski County
/ Here we strike New River, in our opinion the
most beautiful stream in Virginia. The town
is growing rapidly, being the most important
! Station Oh the Va. and Tenn. r. Il. The sur
rounding country is magnificent. The lands
along the river are equal to any in the world
but the owners know their value and many
farms cannot be bV1ght at any price From
/ Central Depot We went to Dublin, and for a
] al ,o1 b,I 1aplol in
Jefferson County-the country reminded Us so
much Of that around Charlestowp. Mean this
point is the celebrated farm ST Mr. Mathews
where we literally saw cattle upon thous-
and hills From the growth Of timber and
the grass we soon perceived that the farther
we went up the L. T. the better the country
became, and when we passed along by Max
Meadow Depot, aud thence to Wytheyille, we
agreed with a recent correspondent Of the
Richmond DiSDdtch-t that we were approach
ing the garden spot of Virginia" Wyihe-
vile is a beautiful town of some 200 lnhabl-
tants, with clean streets and handsome brick
houses. The country surrounding is not 70 be
surpassed in beauty Of scenery by any in Viz
GINA; we saw some as fine crops of grain as
we find in the Valley. When we reached this
point we concluded we had never seen cattle
aud timber before. The latter principally
white aud black oak, walnut hickory, poplar,
and few large chestnut. Tie trees are all
large, generally from two to four and half
feet in diameter and frequently from 80 to so
feet to the first limb. Nature seems to have
done everything in her power for this section.
Kentucky Blue Grass springs up everywhere,
/ and Randall, Orchard, Herd Grasses and Tim
al ub.la (fl,.tor IL a1rfol
to any in the best parts Of jefferson. The
country is full Of streams and springs and it is
not uncommon to find farm with q Spring in
every field. While many Of these fine farms
cannot be bought at any price, having been in
the possession of the same families for nearly a
century, yet there are many iu the market that
can be purchased at fair rates. The country
differs greatly from any other we ever visited.
! Nature has reversed her laws, somewhat. Tie
| limestone lodges ran East and West, and gen.
orally are no: to be found above the surface as
in the case of the Valley. Another remarka-
/ ble fact is that the best lands are on the north
sides Of the mountains and hills. There is tim
Der enough in Wythe county to buy the whole
/ of it twice over. We consider it the country
for persons to 90 to who desire to purchase
| grain and grass lands. Prices vary greatly
from $40 to $500 per acre-but many excel
lent farms can be bought for from $50 to $40
per acre, We advise all interested in grazing
| lands to Gallon Messrs Edward Shelley &c Co.
Land Agents, WytheyilIc, before purchasing.
These gentlemen have nearly every farm in
SO. W. Va. that is for sale in their hands, and
can give the most reliable and accurate infvr-
nation. The country abounds in fruit of eve
ry variety to be found in other parts of Virgin
ia, and the true "Old Virginia hospitality Of
tho people and the beauty of the couutry-its
delightful climate and its abundant mineral
springs will fully repay any one for visiting
this wonderfully endowed part Of our State.
y.