The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-11-07
RESOURCES OF VIRGINIA.

~ tSoN~ RhS'Oh Wv
possessed within the borders Of old Vir-
ginia, and can nowhere else be more
largely enjoyed in any State than here. by
either native or adopted citizens.
The character and condition of the agri-
culture Of a State may generally and safely
be taken as the measure Of prosperity and
progress oftbe people, since successful agri-
culture is the real and sure foundation Of
the success of the other great industries
manufacturing, mining, and m
Agriculture alone creates a demand for
these, furnishing the real business for them
all, and feeding and paying all /; so that
agriculture is truly the basis of all other
industries. The farmer produces the staples
for the manufacturer to fabricate. and for
commerce to transport and in the absence
of his abundant products neither of the
others would flourish beyond the sickliest
effort to keep up a show of prosperity.
But in the natural elements for employ
ing and rewarding all these three great in
dustries-agriculture, manufactures, com-
merce-Virginia is surprisingly rich and
abundant, as she has them all in convenient
position and close proximity, as well as in
most numerous localities.
For agriculture she possesses a mild cli-
mate, long growing seasons. short winters,
diversified soil, timber and surface, with
rare facilities of pure water and most
healthful atmosphere !; added to all, supe-
rior facilities for markets in which to sell
products of grain, stock, fruit and dairy,
all of which can be raised in profitable
abundance within her borders. And this is
no more than o fair statement of her agri-
cultural facilities, as every observer may
see.
She is no less favored in Manufacturing
resources--as unlimited w~ater-powers, ex-
haustless coal and other minerals, with
mountains of stone quarries, boundless for
ests of various kinds of best timber for
all purposes of buildings and smaller struc-
lures, spreading over hill and valley in
every part of the State and every conve.
nience for using steam.power as well as
water at smallest expense. Such are
some Of the manufacturing advantages of
the Old Dominion.
And the Commercial advantages of Vir-
GINA fully equal her other resources, such
as a long extent Of sea-coast, with ample
harbor and anchorage for all shipping, and
numerous bays and rivers penetrating the
country at different points connecting with
the sea, and ~navigable for heavy vessels,
with everywhere convenient landings, and
mostly being in a temperature above hard
freezing, little difficulty is ever encountered
from the frost (; altogether rendering her
one Of the most favorable shipping States
in the Union; and, as above shown, her rich
agricultural products, and ample manufac.
turing facilities furnish endless commodities
for commerce.
Such are some of the natural and SUBJ
%stantial elements of Virginia for employ
ing and rewarding the three great industries
which occupy man and furnish scope for
his capital and enterprise; and they are all
sufficient to engage and pay the best minds
and reward the most skilful hands-to fur
nish a field for the most ambitious enter
prises of all her own citizens, either native
or adopted, and still afford most inviting
and lucrative opportunities for investments
and industrial operations to intelligent and
e%nterprising immigrants from ether States
and countries, whether rich or poor, hum
BILE or ambitious. The field is wide and
varied, affording pleasant and plentiful
opportunity for all who are industrious.
energetic and orderly. Live men, with
brave hearts and active hands, are most
wanted and plenty of money to reward
the muscle will not be out of place, nor
rejected by those who are invited and come
into the State to possess and enjoy.
Let the advantages, the facilities, the
natural resources of the S~tate--all its
transcendant attractions generally-be well
and widely known abroad and fully appre-
ciated by our wi people. and we shall
not long need labor, capital and population
among us.
And the surest and best mode of bring
ing all these to the notice of the inquiring
public is through those newspapers favora-
BILE to the largest prosperity of the State.
Let the owners of mines, water-powers,
large tracts of land, etc., advertise them
literally, with fair representations, in such
of our State and county papers as write up
and exhibit a real and lively interest for
our general welfare /; then literally buy
or subscribe for such papers to be sent
into Northern and Eastern States and
cities, where there is excess of capital and
population that seek or desire change, that
they may be informed and induced to come
and see for themselves; and from seeing
and examining, many will appreciate the
field and settle with us. Encourage your
home newspapers of this kind, by sending
them abroad among such as you most de-
sire should come here, and our resources
will become known abroad, while our own
people will become more alive, with better