The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-10-17

The Great Railway-West Virginia.
We published yesterday letter from
Mr.. NoRDHoPF to the New York Tribune
about the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
and West Virginia. We give place this
morning to another. which should be read
bv our people, because It's statements and
speculalions have such an intimate relation
10 their vital commercial interests.
Mr.. NoRDHoFF Is IN observant and intel
li9cnt gentleman. He fully appreciates the
grand relation of this magnificent railway
10 the social and commercial welfare OF the
middle States of the Union.
incidentally. however, he makes s'lne
severe comments upon the inhabltants oil
West Virginia That do not show much
pb;ln>ophc reelection on his own part, aud
are unjust TO those people. II should hc !
remembered that the population OF West
Virginia, save upon tho immediate line OF
tho b Gilmore and Ohio railroad and on tho
hanks OF the Ohio, is exceedingly sparse. !
The business Of grazing is their main pur-
suit. Shut ont from tho markets OF the
country for grain and general produce,
they have no way of carrying the result OF
their hllsbandry to where it could be
changed into money save hy driving their
animals, horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep
long way to the cities. They have no spare
labor, and their education is not in the line
of railroad making. Therefore wheh MT.
NoRDuoFF states that there were none or
very few Of them working on the thesa-
penkc and Ohio railroad, he states fact ut
which no one should be surprised; but
when he disparages the people on account
of the fact he does them wrong ana stni'
titles his own good sense.
So. too. when MIR. NoRDHorF speaks of
the failure of those western people to sup
NV the Chesapeake and Ohio Company
with railway stills, he censures them for not
d.tnc what under the circumstances could
not have been expected OF them. The
farmers being mainly grazlers, have but
little force, and could not do much in the
way Of getting out stills, and their high
ways being very rough. the means for
transporting stills for even short distances
are very indifferent; and thus the difficult.
ties In their way deprived the sill business
OF nearly all iuuucement to embark In 1t.
I hcso facts should have saved the indus
liuus, hardy, and honest farmers Of the
West from The sharp satire Of Mr.. NoRpHoFF.
They aTe just such people rs one should
look Tor situated as they area plain, sin.
rere, economical, lowly-thriving, cautious
frank, and hospitable yeomanry. They hay,
no surplus to speak Of save their lands
They have plenty, and what they have |!
good AS Is always tho case with u commu
nifty living 10 a erass.growing country
aud they are ever ready TO share what they
have with the stranger.
The injustice done to these people in THU
ease Is OF u piece with the disparagemen
TO which travelling writer's from the NORTH
are too much given when speaking of TIT
southern citizens. How much In this tont
has been written Of the people of Virginia
their industry and their products and We
how completely such speculations and til,
many comparisons drawn to our disadvan
tage have been refuted by the national sta
tstics aud by the actual experience in Thu
country since the war. To feel surprised
that sparse grazing population, In q coun
Try without roads trayersable With heavy
bur,hens, should not furnish laborers or
railroads and make stills, ETC.. shows either
ignorance OF facts, or utter disregard Of
them.
Yet we mean not to quarrel with Mr.
NoRDHoFr. He has done public service
TO Virginia and West Virginia In his letters
about this great railway and the important
part it will perform in developing the almost
unlimited resources of both States. When he
revistts the !" States" however, he should
freeing his mind of ali prejudice-look
into both the social character Of the people
and the circumstances In which they are
placed. He would ind the study Instruc-
tive and profitable.
TIE STATE JOURNAL ON REpuDIATI0N.-