Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-05-22
NATURAL RESOURCES OF EIRGINIA.-We
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NATURAL RESOURCES OF EIRGINIA.-Wc
find an article in the Richmond Whig. signed
Il. upon this subject The writer recommends
official surveys of the State, and the publica'
ton ofrcports as has been done by other States
snd proceeds as follows:
Now, what Of this kind has been done for
the State of Virginia? Almost nothing. The
world knows in a loose and indefinite way, that
Virginia in her climate, soil, vegetable, animal,
and mineral productions, claims to be unsurpas-
sed by any other country bnt she gives no Of.
fetal guarantee of the truth Of such claims.
What little has been published about her re-
sources is lost in scattered and detached pa
pers When one wishes to know something
about the resources Of the State, he must come
and travel over the country, losing time and
spending money. Need We say that the capt.
talist cannot afford to DO this?
Now, the question is what must he done to
remedy this?
About the year 1880 the Legislature appoint.
ed corps of persons to make
A Geological .SurreyV the Statr.-At the
head of this stood Professor William b. Rod
gers a gentleman Of the highest scientific at
tainments. Notwithstanding the fact that
these men had to work in entirely uncXpored
ground, and were crampcd by the smallness of
the sum appropriated, and by the Indifference
of the people, much work was done, and even
iu that limited time discoveries, valuable to the
agricultural interests>of the country were made
Reports were published in detached form, but
never afterwards collected into book form. The
result was that the work ceased from want Of
support, and there now exists nowhere. in 4
combined form, any record of what was done
Hence Virginia, the oldest Of the States in the
Union, is at this day compelled, with shame
to admit that less is known Of her natural pro-
ductions than of those OF the youngest territory
of them all.
1t was the purpose Of Prof r., on complet,
ing his Investigations, to establish in Rich
mond State collection, in which would be
embraced specimens of the minerals, soils. veg
etabe and animal productions of the State,
which being open to the public. and being ac-
companied by maps and the printed matter Of
the reports, would furnish
\ complete physical history OF the State.
Here one could 60, ard at Il glance acc before
him specimens OF every thing Of interest or
technical value to be found in the State. 1t was
his desire also to establish II laboratory, where
could be examined the mars. lmestoncs Nc.
in which the State abounds. and in whose dc
yelopment agricultural interests have so much
ut stake.
Such an establishment would form It nucleus
Tor farther collections, such as OF specimens 'ot
manufactured articles, models OF machinery,
&C., where the mechanic and artisan could re.
pair, and study to improve his productions
Such establishments are to be found IN all the
principal cities Of Europe. and are valued
highly as means of improving the tastes and
skill Of the working classes.
Now, cannot We at least make Il commence.
ment of such All establishment? The cost would
be far less than might be supposed and we are
sure that the people stand ready heartily to CO.
operate.
The COLUMN EENDoME.-For nearly two
hundred years the site Of this beautiful column
has been famous. 1t was as long ago as 1853
that Louis Quatorzc founded the square, and
although his designs were not completed, acolos-
sal equestrian statue stood uatli ls2 IN lts cen
tre to remind the Parisians OF the .glorles OF
the reign of the magnificent monarch. 10 re-
place this statue, which had then been destroy,
ed, Napoleon, in 1906. ordered trlumphal
column. by which his victories should ever he
remembered as were Trajans by his pillar in
Rome, upon the model of which that OF Pars
The shaft was formed OF two hundred and
seventy six plates of metal, cast from twelve;
hundred guns taken from the Austrlans, and
Prussians From height OF one hundred ano
forty feet the efigy in bronze OF the great
modern conqueror looked down upon the city at
its feet and from base to capital were tw1ned II
alto reliero representations of the trlumphs and
achievements Of the campaign of 1905 and
Austerlitz. In the reaction OF the first Bour
bon return, in lSl4 this statue OF the conquer
or was removed, and one of Henri of Navarro
substituted, but when Louis Philippe, the cltl
zen king reigned, another statue OF Napoleon,
cast from the cannon of Algiers, taken Ill 1880
dressed with the historical! great coat and cock
ed hat, was again elevated, and the old hero Of
Navarro removed to one of the bridges over the
Seine 1t is this. the bronze record OF former
victories over their late conquerors---lt Is this
cast from the guns Of Algeria, now eseaWns
from her grasp, which Paris has destroyed
WAR Losses OF THE SOUTH.-Thc Census
returns now coming in reveal some OF tn!