The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-03-10

DEAD LOSS to the State by preferrng Gen.
Malone to nine other VIsaINIANs.........$272,7 76
In each branch of this statement we consider
State bonds as cash, when paid or delivered to
the State herself.
But it should be remembered, also, that upon
the acceptance of the offer of the Virginians,
the people will be relieved at once and forever
of 1874 ,704 of annual taxation-that sum being
the interest on $57S, 400, amount of bonds sur-
rendered and paid.
Will not the Taxpayers in Halifax and Bed
ford inquire anxiously:
"How is THAT FOR HIGH? 2"
The Enquirer has for its leader this
morning an excellent article, entitled ga
Common Sense View" We heartily COM
mend the tone and matter, and reprint
most of it:
A COMMON SENSE VIEW.
While narrow-headed people down here are
groaning over the charter granted to the
Washington and Richmond railroad company,
wiser persons recognize in the fact that the
great Central Pennsylvania corporation has
entered Virginia, one Of the best Advertisements
of Virginia lands and Virginia property that
could have been devised. The very struggle
that was made here directed the attention of
the whole North to Virginia, and the fact that
q company like the Central Pennsylvania was
willing and anxious to invest its capital here,
is strong encouragement to business men and
emigrants to come here.
The rejection of that bill would have had
precisely the opposite effect. 1t is seen and
read of all men now that corporations like the
Pennsylvania Central, the Chesapeake and
Ohio, and the Baltimore and Ohio, are seeking
to run their lines into and through Virginia.
The business sagacity of these companies is so
universally recognized, that their action has
done for us the work of board of immigra-
ton. Nor is this ALL When the shrewd men
connected with these companies have been
drawn here by their railroad business, they
will get acquainted with our people, will in-
sensibly take an interest in our affairs, will
perceive the opportunities for investing capital
here, and will gradually embark in other en-
terprises. They will send Others, and draw
Others after them. The large interest already
invested here will of itself stimulate them to
improve the condition of the State generally.
The direct and obvious interest of railroad
company is to open up and develop the region
through which their road passes. They do
not care to pass through a desert but must
strive to increase and encourage produc-
tion-to give an impulse to agriculture, to de-
'yelope the mines, to utilize the water-power.
They, or their friends, will buy lands and real
estate in our cities We do not think any
scheme could have been better devised to
insure the influx of capital and labor into the
South. For they will not stop at Virginia /;
but their activities will extend and ramify
throughout the whole Southern country. It IS
the pioneer movement-just as the Pacific rail-
road was the signal for opening up and settling
the great Western territories.
In bringing these people here, we are bring
ing amongst US, and interesting in our busi
ness, the ablest minds and the strongest capi
talsts of the North If we were able TO dc
ourselves the work that is needed TO be done
there would be some reason in the camor o.
Virginia for the Virginians-but it is better to
be rich and prosperous farmer without
Leraldic blazonry than the +" lord of a barren
heritage"
The Wing has received letter from q
farmer, which says:
"As class we are in extreme jeopardy. and ii il
only by a very general and vigorous cooperation
that we can emerge from present most ierorr
and portentous condition
We do not know to what particular griev
ances our correspondent refers, but we favor
his suggestion, believing that "mueh good
would result from an annual convocation o
representative Virginia farmers, intent upor
the sole object of advocating the agricultural
interests OF the State. Experience has provet
that the "Farmers' Assembly," which meet
annually in Richmond, during "Fair week