Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-09
LEyA. GAZETTE & VIRGINIA ADVERTISER.
The LOudOun Valley.
From the Loudoun Enterprise.

From the Loudoun Enterprise.
There is point, upon the road between
Hamilton and Mt. Gilead, where we had, not
long ago, the most striking view we have ever
yet obtained of the Loudoun Valley.
This valley stretches from the extreme south
crn limit of the county to the Potomac river.
1t is an immense basin, rlmmed upon the one
side by the gracefully undulating links of the
broad, billowy ripples Of the Catoctin and the
Bull Run Mountains. Viewed from the point
alluded to above, they seem to curve gently to
meeting both north and south, thus giving
the basin an oval shape as beautifully symetr-
cal as any fairy shallop that floats upon the
charmed waters of the Ganges and where
they seem to meet mountain spurs, and out
living hills are grouped together like giant
kings keeping watch and guard over this 'en-
chanted land " Away, in the distance, the blue
ouivering atmosphere seemed like incense as.
cending to Heaven from hidden altars
The bottom Of this basin, from this stand
point, is deep and rolling, and varied with field
aud forest, and We could see thousand home
steads, nesting in groves and orchards and
half concealed in the deeper dimples of the
iurrowed The sense of beauty, as we gazed
that God had never made more richly en-
dowcd country for human eye to rest upon-a
country more blessed with every advantage
that human heart could desire. With scene
ry unsurpassed for sublimity and the tender
graccs of more Subdued attracIlons-tertlle 10
soil, and lying so near the throbbing heart of
the great world, that it could feel, if its people
would choose, its every pulsation, throwing
into the attractions, which nature has given it,
the more salient attractions of refinement and
cultivation and the magic infneuces OF energy
and enterprise.
This valley extends from the Southern bouu-
dairy of Loudoun county, through Maryland, into
the heart of Pennsylvania In Maryland it be-
comes the Middletown and in Pennsylvania, we
believe, the Valley of the Cumberland.
The difference in the value of the lands in
these two divisions, of this great valley indicates
clearly the difference in the character Of the
people by whom they are inhabited The Lou
doun Valley has unquestionaby naturally the
best sofia soil with wider range Of produc-
ton. 1t Is nearer to market, 10 distance, and
its situation Is, in every respect, better than
that of either the Middletown or the Cumber-
land Valleys audye the value of its lands has
the very low range of from thirty to fifty dol
lars an acre.
In Middletown valley Frederick county Mary
land, the lands range from fifty up to one huu-
dred and twenty five dollars. These lands are
not naturally so fertile as those of the Loudoun
Valley, and are from thirty to fifty miles from
market. But they are owned by careful farm
ers, who arc up to the spirit of the times, and
who understand the value of public improve
mentS.
The valley Of the Cumberland, however, IN
Pennsylvania, goes far ahead of this Its farm
ing lands sell as high as two hundred and fifty
dollars per acre. From these facts, our read
ers will see that these lands owe their value
more to the people who own them than to any
thug that nature has done for them. When
will our people understand this truth?
Nothing but mud roads traverse this Lou,
doun Valley 1t has only one macadamlzed road
running across it. 1t has but one railroad slow
ly creeping to the foot of the Blue Ridge, and
begging we were about to say, with tears IN It's
eyes, for aid, from these people, to help it on.
1t has no manuiactories-no busy towns-no
public spirit Hence the low value of its lands.
Go abroad dear friends and learn from other
people-the people OF Maryland and Pennsyl-
vania-what you could do if you would only
try.
As we looked over this beautiful Valley on
that mild and cloudess September day, when
Heaven and earth seemed as fresh and bouyant
as if Just from their Creators hands, we could
not but wouder why it was that the people who
owned that magnificent stretch of country did
not appreciate the advantages they possessed?
Why it was that they did not wake up to the
power they possess of making it equal in value
to any in the American Republic? Why it was
that the mountains and the hills were not made
musical with the hum of hundred industries
that are now not dreamed Of? Why it was that
they would not learn to know that their grand
fathers were not the smartest people that ever
lived?
L'HoMME SQUELETrE, one of the celebrities
of the Partisan shows, is dead. He made, his
debut in 1851 at the fair annually held at Yer
sailles. Of course the feuletonist gave him
romantic history. His name was Pierre Les
couy. When entering on manhood he was OF
ordinary statue; if anything. slightly inclined
to be stout Just at this time he tell IN love
with a danseuse of the opera. She proved to
him modern Barbara Allen, and the untor-
tuuate Lescouy was seen no more for year.
When he again appeared he was. say the
French papers, almost diaphanous, six feet 10
! tho Mar,