Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-11-27
The WOodIa VIII Settlement in Fairfax
County, Va.

| ~ me EttuOTV the htCHWOHO tStHe COuIWN {.
About the year lS45, myself and others resi-
ding in New Jersey having knowledge of
the fact, that large tracts of land on aud near
the Potomac, in Virginia, Of excellent natural
for want of population to cultivate it, opened
correspondence with some individuals III the
State, to ascertain if sufficient amount Of
land could be had in one body to form settle
nient of individuals alike in habits and senti-
mcuts. The first communication was to the
then editor of the Richmond Wing, whose
name was Peasants This letter was publish
ed in his paper, which resulted in answers by
the dozen offering land in every part Of the
State and volunteering aid and inducements
to emigratc thither, (>ome Of the late poiti
clans seem to learn slowly, and to grow wise
backward since that day.. We also wrote to
Doctor Archer, with regard to the health OF
the country. and to others upon matters Of III
terest, to all of which we received satisfactory
answers. In the latter part OF the winter
! Of lS45-6 we dispatched two persons as ex-
plorers, with letters of introduction to several
Of our correspondents, who examined pretty
minu,ely the country below Alexandria as far
south us Fredericksburg, but decided upon
|
the original Mount Vernon, and then owned
by Lorenzo Lewis, grand nephew Of George
| Washington. There we've 1000 acres in the
tract. and uo one white inhabitant living upon
it, only Il few >laYcs who were chiefly main
tanned. it wls said. from an estate in Clarke
county \ white ovcr>err would occasionally
visit them from Il ncighburing farm, with his
gun. and t. see what was going On.
In the latter part of March same year lSih.
[ made my first visit t. this place. accoml'alI-
ed hv one person; We were 80 uch pleased
with the property. it, location. timber, water
power, and other capabilities Tor i permanent
settlement aud only about seven miles from
Alexandria to It's nearest point, that We enter
ed into immediate negotiations for the pur
chase If the estate. but did not succeed at that
time. Lewis then informed us that the pro
pertv would be offered al public sale III the city
of Alexandria about the middle Of May ensu
ing. (which sale we itlcnlpd) and not one bid
was made for it, although il had been cxt"n-
sivrly advertised North and South: il was then
offered to us at SI2j per acre but dc'llncd.
tn the November following we again visited
the property, and made the purchase at SIP 30
per acre. amounting to S2i.nOO.
The NEXT summer (nf lS41J, which was only
a few months aiicrwarl, We also pnrchn.ed
the mill property ri the mouth Of Arcntink
run at IN additional cost of $1,000. We bull;
new saw mill there 1T an expense oi $lo,WU
more. fitted up the old -four mill. which we
found there at il cost of 5000, which tngeth
er with teams for hauling logs. farm teams
and implements, building houses for workmcn,
store houses, smith shop, wheelwright shop,
&c.. amounted in the aggregate to SGo,nIi hy
the time We were fully in operation. At that
time and within sight OF the capital ut Wash,
ingtnn. deer and wild turkeys inhabited the
premises have seen them feeding IN the
day time upon our winter grain. have al
ready said that ut the time Of the purchase Of
this property not one white person lived upon
it. Now there are between thirty and forty
families Of white people, besides the c"l"rcd
ones, which exceed what were there when We
bought it.
But the most important thing to thcStnte NJ
VIRGINIA, in connection with this matter, he
side the scattering Of this sixty thousand dol
lars IN it, and he annual expenditure OF from
seven to ten thousand dollars beside, Is the III
CREASED amount paid in taxes. Oar frst Tux
bill for the whole property, including the Ac'
cotink mills, was thiriy-six dollars; it has been
gradually increasing every year since and the
present year it has arrived to the handsome
sum of between twelve and thirteen hundred
of w uodlawn and Accotink, there has been
added, in solid body, by others, at least ten
thousand acres more, all Of whom pay addl-
tonal tax ia proportion to the be above. All
this IS is exclusive Of the thousands Of acres
and hundreds of houses built and in possession
of the same class of people around Falls
Church, Vienna, Clifton, Herndon, and other
places in the same county-al taxpayers too
And most, if not all of these have inmigrated
here since the purchase Of Woodawu and Ac-
cotink in 1857,
Some of the Woodawn property has since
been sold for 500 per acre, without any build,
ings or other improvements, except fences and
good cultivation. The same price per acre has
been offered and refused, for other portions i'll
considerable quantity, also without improve
ments, land not as town lots). Around Acco-
tink land has sold at much higher rate for
building purposes Such grand results as
above described can only be achieved by H.
dustry, economy and enterprise. And | ap-
peal to the good sense of the rational think
ing. intelligent citizens of Virginia, who have
the welfare and best interest Of the State at
heart, if such immigration is not emineptly dc.
sirable at this time and TO be encouraged by all
possible means.
Our experience shows what emigrant colo
nies will accomplish for Virginia, if composed
of Northern men with capital and enterprise.
By mutual support and ncig hborly cooperation,
we were enabled to maintain our footing, IN
crease in numbers and substance. Thousands
of settlers who came in with equal advantages
| in all other respects, but who settled promls-
cuously over the State have become discouras;;
ed and left long since or are trying to sell and
get away at sacrifice.
The plan OF emigration which you advocate
is the only one that Can ever be largely success
full here. and | trust you will DC able to secure
its adoption by all who purpose to make llr
GINA their home. Surely, there is everything
here to make people prosperous and happy.
We need only good men and women IN organic,
ed masses to come. and share the bountles Of
our fine climate and help us make Virginia
equal to the best State in the Union.
| C.. GlLLINGHAM.
Uood La,cn, Accotink. w.,
Letter from LOudoun Go.