The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-05
Gremimg State Snurnal.
New River-Blue Grass Region.

Il "
WYTHEvILLE, February 2, 1873.
Here we are in a central location of tn,
best part of southwestern Virginia. and il
the heart of the celebrated blue grass
region Of this state, where stock and dairy
products are plentiful and OF prime quality,
This ancient and pretty village surrounded
with good farms, occupies an elevation ir
the Allegheny mountains of over 2 900 feel
above the Underwater of James river,
As we passed westward toward this point,
we ran along up Big creek al
an easy grade, through several tunnels,
and came along side of New river, and
after several miles crossed it some eight
mile east of this place. 1t is a handsome
stream, deep, clear, ten to fifteen rods
wide, with considerable current, and will
supply an important part in the great
"water line,' now occupying SO much of
the public mind, as it joins with the eau.
ley and Greenbrier to form the Kanawha
~r.ver-thence to the Ohio.
In coming along this route, it is crafty
ing to see some orchards Of apples and
peaches, Notwithstanding the altitude but
still more important and attractive, were
the many herds of fine cattle and focks OF
large sheep, with abundance of good hay
stacks everywhere seen along the line /; in
the well-fenced fields and yards, sheltered
by ample forests.
Almost every kind of rocks abound in
the mountain sides and peaks, such as
granite, gneis, lime, magnetic quartz, plas-
ter, sand and slate, besides large quanti-
ties of coal, iron and zinc ores. Labor and
money, to the extent of millions, could be
proftably expended and applied in develop
ing these boundless mountain and valley
treasures.
Wytheville is the county seat, and is a
scriptural town, being built on a hill, and
its churches have their foundations on the
rocks; it has several schools, and is
healthy enough to secure. plenty Of children
to attend them. There are two county
papers here-The Dispatch and Enter
prise-well printed, and deserving of the
support of their party, both Democratic.
There is needed, in this region, a good, live
Republican county paper.
At The Dispatch office we saw some of
the most beautiful card and fancy job
printing to be found anywhere in our
country, not excepting Baltimore or
Washington, and we found the Office and
all its furniture in the most perfect order
and neatness. 1t is owned and managed
by d. A. st. Clair, esq. We have more
admiration for his splendid fancy printing
than for his editorial position. and work,
but as he is self-taught printer and an indus
There are here four hotels, as we'll kept
as hotels generally throughout the country,
and even better than some /; but the
"Duya!l House" at Salem, is the paragon
of all the hotels we have met west of
Richmond. though there are some good
ones all along the lines.
Upon inquiry at the postofice, | find
there are several subscribers to the
STATE JOURNAL, and the postmaster,
Mr.. Slater, is aiding me to extend the club
hereabouts. The farmers generally like it.
In a conversation with Colonel Crockett
and other prominent farmers, they all ex.
pressed the hope that the legislature
would pass IN efficient law to protect sheep
against ravages by dogs and they
thought that body ought to shave better
regard for farmers, and more courage,
than to submit to the class who are op-
posed to the dog law for the sake of their
votes" These farmers say, ''give us rea-
sonable protection and we will raise plenty
Of sheep but otherwise we cannot"
The farmers of this county have a -four
ishing society, and annually hold successful
fairs ; and the recent convention of repre-
sentatives from several counties was prin-
cipallv gotten up by the substantial farmers
who compose the Wythe county society.
This is q very old county. and this VIII
lage of Wytheville was founded soon after
the Revolutionary war, in 1892, under the
name of Evansham, which name it retained
till 1882, when it was enlarged and incor-
porated with its present name. 1t is about
289 miles west of Richmond, and 1872 from
Lynchburg, and is surrounded by valuable
mineral lands and mineral springs.
Everywhere the farmers remark that
this is an unusually severe winter. They
are all opposed to any form of repudia-
ton, and as uniformly in favor of a dog
law and a fence law, while many express
themselves in favor Of a proper general
railroad law that shall relieve them Of some
of the extortion of monopoly.
The "Boyd Hotel" a famous house,
right at the station here, kept by Colonel
Thomas H. Boyd, an early settler, is
known far and near as a first class dining
place, and a comfortable house for summer
visitors, while the Colonel is a most oblig-
ing and attentive host, and keeps an assort-
ment of newspapers for the accommodation
OF his guests; and a landlord who will not do
it, is not deserving of intelligent patronage.
On the shelves, in his office, may be seen a
large and curious collection Of mineral and
geological specimens, from the mountains
and valleys of this region, of which he will
readily give inquircrs a familiar account.