The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-03-02
9epptea to the gnterests Of the Great Galley.
A LETTER AND THE ANSWER TO IT.

A LETTER AND THE ANSWER TO IT.
Since we assumed the control of the VIR
G1N1AN, we have received a number of let
ters from various portions of the Northern
States, making inquiries similar IN import t.
those contained in the following communica
ton. We have endeavored, by private cor
respondcncc, to give all the information dc
sired. Believing that there other person
throu5 hout tho North who would like to b.
informed on the points suggested in the cor
respoudence below, we have concluded to pub
lish the letter of Mr. Raymond, and answe
it through the columns of the VIRGINIAN
WINDHAn CENTRE, New YoRK,
| February 18th, 1891.
s. NJ. Tosr, ESQ,
! Dear Sir Your article in the "Virg inian' O.
the End inst, IA copy Of which you had the kind
ness to send me) under the title, 1.-THE Other
Side, proved quite interesting to me, and excit
| ed q curiosity on my part for fuller details ant
| information concerning the principal character
! stics and features of the Shenandoah Valley
Believing from the spirit that peryades your ar
| ticle that you are thoroughly enlisted in the
| your section, have no hesitation in soliciting
your answers to the following inquiries:
LIST. What place may be properly called the
head'' of the Valley, and to what place, or how
| far does it extend?
| 3D. Is the surface level or rolling!
| 3D. What towns and villages between Winches-
ter and Staunton are the most thrifty enterpris-
| ing and prosperous?
4th. What are the distances between Harrison
burg and Staunton and Staunton and Lexington,
and is there any other mode of conveyance be-
| tween these places than by stage?
9Th. In what respects do you claim the Valley
to be superior to Eastern or Middle Virginia, as
place of residence, or for business purposes
9Th Did not the recent flood in Virginia in
fict permanent injury by carrying away and
tearing up the soil Of your best farming lands
in the Valley?
18th. Are lands reasonable in price, and can de-
srable town property be purchased at reasona-
BILE rates in Stauuon?
8th If the soil is as fertile and climate as
healthful in Virginia claimed, why is it that
so much land is offered for sale, and why are so
many residents of Virginia seeking homes else
where? The latter part of my question is bag
ed upon statements that have seen at different
times in the publications of the day, to the eff
feet that large numbers of the Southern people
were looking for homes and fortunes in the Hest
have frequently wondered at it, but presume
You can give a satisfactory explanation.
9th. Can you recommend Staunnton as a
pleasant, healthy and desirable place to live and
how will it compare in this respect with other
large towns in the Valley?
10Th. How large place is Staunton-how stu
ted and laid out !? What are its prospects fer the
future?
11th, Is the climate ofthe Valley as well adapted
to consanaphves rs other parts of Virginia What
are your prevailing diseases?
18th, Is there at the present time, in your
opinion, good s'openings'' in your State for an
active enterprisng young man, with some capt.
tai |! One who wishes to locate there and make
it his home-not carpet 6agger!
Trusting that you may possess the requisite
time and inclination to answer the foregoing in
terrogatories and hoping to hear from you soon,
I remain
Very Respectfully Yours,
E. RAYMOND.
1st The Valley Of Virginia extends from
the Potomac lsiver, at Harper's Ferry, to the
Tennessee line, distance Of about ESQ miles.
The Shenandoah Valley extends from the
Potomac to the Southern limit of Augusta
county It is about 1870 miles long and 80
wide, embracing the counties of Augusta,
Rockingham, Shenandoah, Page, Warren,
Frederick, Clarke, Jefferson and Berkeley
the last two being in what is called West
Virginia. The population of this Valley, in
1860, was 100 356, Of which 1037G0 were
whites and 1886 blacks. The area en5ra-
ced IN farms, (Which is by no means all the
section) was 2,849 square miles, or 1901
96l acres unim proved, or farm woodland :
The cash value of these farms was SIS ,932,-
521, or an average of 5000 per acre.
The cash value of the farming implements
end machinery in use was $l,2l1 ,025. The
live stock embraced 36, 656 horses. 627 asses
and mules, rs, 726 mich cows, 972 working
oxen, $500 other cattle, 10000 sheep,
145 662 swine. or an aggregate OF 1916, 450
head Of live stock.
OF Wheat, Rye, Corn aud Oats, it produc:-
ed 6 ,323, 351 bushels, or more than 49 BUSH
els to each lnhabtant constituting 1-l91th
of the entire crop Of the United States and
Territories, OF these four great cereals.
The wheat crop of this Valley was. 1885,
896 bushels, more than 18th Of the crop of
Virginia, which was the 9Th wheat producing
State in the Union and 1-80th of the whole
crop of the United States and Territories;
it was 1,176,793 bushels more than the whole
crop of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Massachusetts,, Connecticut, Rhode Island,
Delaware, Kapsas, Florida, Louisiana and
the District of Columbia, and exceeded the
crop OF either of Is States that could be
named. The average Of the cropof the Val
ley was 1873 bushels to each inhabltant,
while that Of the New England States was
liz quarts; of the Middle States % bushels;
of the Western States 10 bushels; of the
whole United States 81 bushels. .es
The Valley obtained from 10000 sheep
259, o63 lbs. Of wool, an average Of 3 Z lbs
to the sheep. It's crop was about l-1oth Of
that of the State and 1-2395hs Of that Of
the United States It was 9 lbs. to each
inhabitant, the yield of the Middle States be-
ing l. 8 The: yield to each sheep in the ~.
F.. States was 3 6 lbs in the Middle States
3.3, in the Western States s, in the Pacific
States IT, and the average of the United
States ~. Figures which show that there
is no portion Of the Union that can compete
with this Valley in sheep husbandry.
The number of Swine in the Valley, in
1860, was 145 ,662, or 1-208th Of the whole
number in the United States and Territories,
almost double the number in any Of the New
England States, and about half as many as III
all Of them, and more than in several of the
Western States. Tt was about 1-10th of the
whole number in Virginia a5s 8