The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-16
VIRGINIA AFFAIRS.

The Reign Of Apathy and Wretched.
ness-Lands Going for a Song-R abroad
Monopolics-Thc Fight for the Gov
ernorship.
HAMILTON, Loudon County, Va, July 0, 1873.
There Is in the animation of nature here
strange contrast with the drOwsy apathy OF the
people. The cool atmosphere OF the mountains
comes laden with life health and vgor to the body
while the soul OF society seems to be wrapped in
an impervious mantle OF melancholy and indiffer-
ence The negro who, free or slave, once titled
the soil with assiduity and success, now
lounges about working day or two in week,
sufficient to provide for contemplated festivities,
and the white man, used only in former years to
oversee and direct the farm movement, performs
the labors Of the field with sad heart and weary
hands, apparently caring little as to the results Of
his efforts beyond providing for the immediate
wants OF his family. There is perpetual pail rest
ing upon the people Of Virginia which, perhaps,
will not be lifted until the old stock are gone and
the new generation forgets the tale OF sorrow
and suffering whose repetition holds the
sympathies sloof from things OF to-day and arrests
all progress and true peace The legitimate issue
is that the great body Of land is uncultivsted or
but half attended TO- the crops poor and the In
habitants impoverished. Having nothing but
their lands left them at the close Of the war, they
do but half possess them, and 60 about
CLAD IN THE LIVERY OF wRETCHEDNEss.
This description apples to the great mass OF the
people. There are Of course, noteworthy excep
tons, and in these instances the wants OF the
community seem to minister TO individual
prosperity. whether 1t is by cruel design and
studied craft or by that natural law by which the
stronger In all the kingdoms Of life extract the sub
stance and sap the being Of the weaker, or both.
need not be affirmed. 1t is not unfrequently the
case that the nourishing citizen is an "lnteropng
Yankee" who has come in with his savings and
grown magnificent upon his shavings And where
this Is the case even the YANKEE at home will
readily understand and appreciate the true cause
But still there does not appear to be any feeling
towards these formerly offensive characters,
although there Is full knowledge of all the facts.
on the contrary, the old residents ADMIT when in
their better moods that the real want OF the state
Is this very element, and express the nope that 1t
will increase and multiply within their borders.
One hundred live Yankees, with few thousands
each, to each county Of the State, would, In q
face of the country. Nor is there lack Of induce.
ment or never were such bargains possible be-
lore as now offer.
LAND EVERYWHERE rs CHEAP.
and in some localities absolutely nominal in
price. The writer saw few days ago, on
acres ss mSds of r0s Which was m under ae
provement, and which il rented for fifteen years at
SO per a1u% and IT. not encumeered BY the
What was the OF this scale OF values did not
transpire further than that II was said
the land had not been as carefully cult
waited a. IL might have been for few
years past, and the owner WAS disguised with
things generally and would net remain in the To-
cality. But the 6rst OF the reasons assigned was
not sustained for vast field OF corn which the
lucky tenant has coming into his granaries was
growing In luxuriant green, and presented no
sickly yellow spots common to fields in even the
best districts. And what more highly recommends
this very locality than anything else IN that IL Ii
one Of the heaIthest points In the state high table
land, overlooking the country about Tor miles. This
IL but a sample Of lands In almost every county
stances within the knowledge OF the writer
One great drawback to the interests Of this sec
ton Ia that they are ut the mercy OF railroad mo-
nopoy-or rather permit themselves to be SO, tor
q community Of entevprising farmers would soon
destroy IL. The Washington and Ohio Rail-
road Company, which, however does not ex-
tend at present beyond this place, forty.four
petty despotism on wheels, ahd seeks to
dependent upon 1t for railroad communication
with the world beyond. 1t lie said that the cor.
porstion purchases the greater portion Of the pro-
duce raised along Its line and ABOUT its interior
terminus. at prices nxed BY its of1cers and trans
porting 1t to the markets, realizes fabulous pronts
and that II any farmer has the courage TO refuse
their offer and sell elsewhere, he cannot get his
ington dealers, spos on the way, and there are
none brave enough to make the road account for
It, This is simply repetition OF the general dec
laration Of the people here. The road could not he
prevailed upon to connect with the Washington
and Alexandra road now belonging to Colonel
Tom Scott, far as to run car back and forth to
Washington hy that road. until tue Yankee resi-