New-York tribune., 1873-03-15
TIE ATTRACTIONS OF VIRGINIA.
TIE SOIL AND CLIMATE OF THE nILLs-SPECI'
PLEADING.

THE SOIL AND CLIMATE OF THE HILLs-SPECIAL
PLEADING.
TO Tie EdftOr Of the TribUne.
SIR: Give dog bad name and kill him"
Never does this pIoverb apply exactly than among
the lovely hills of Virginia and West Virginia. The
country mas bad name; and il is-we 1t just breathes
II is curious thing this prejudice OF the average human
mind against settling among the mountains. Probably
II has preconceiyed notion that because great noun
tans are usually steep and barren that life among the
mountains viii not pay anywhere. This Is great mis-
take but il is one bad name against the Virginia hills
IT is an important matter that 50 fair field, and one so
well placed between the markets Of the OHIO Valley and
those Of the Eastern seaboard should be- If possible,
tenantless no longer. Among the objections, first, we
that the people no count" In the worst dis
trcts true that considerable part of the population
is Of quite low grade but even in those parts an IN
conner Will ind good men and good neghbors; while IN
The best arts there IS tone and refinement not easily
70 he surpassed Good labor is not easy 10 obtain
and skilled workmen are rarer STILL The country Is, in
decd 50 years behind Pennsylvania If it were not So
IL ra estate would be puTchasable at ten times its
present price, The people lack the passion OF the South
as well as the energy of the North They are as shrewd
they Ignorant and are generally very hospitaOie
and courteous.
Secondly il is said that Northern men would have
bad time there" Ii would be their fault ii they
did The KuKlux and the carpet dagger do not exist
aud any man who brings energy or capital to bear upon
the Of the state need only bring with hlm the
tact and consderateness for his neghbors which new
eomers all over the world find needful to exhibit
Many Northern man has already found IN Old Virginia,
that his neghbOrs are quite civil himself Then
Is asserted that there are public schools" Indeed
there are public schools and the public sentiment is Tor
making them as good possible. The subject formed
an important part the last by the Governor
and the Legislature has 1t in consideration,
Fourth The titles are so bad" Many are very I'm
Hrf pl
good and simple moreover there are excellent title
lawyers in the state and IL is purchasers own fault
he buys upon bad title. This talk OF bad titles the
truth be known proceeds very much from people who
having bought West Virginia land very cheaply and
wishing 10 get more at the same price, have IN
oustrOusy blinded the eyes Of nqurers with this title
sur ANY person who deals with the right class OF man.
and due precauon may buy the best lands with
perfect utle Fifth. There no roads" But there
many il is true that since the war they have been
Out Of repair but they exist ana lhe nateIal loL re-
pairing then ls always close at hand Let new pOOu
come IN, and see how quickly they Wl be made gooI
again. Sixth II is so hot and dsagreea0e down SOuih
lhere That IS the funniest aneRati0n OF 1iI IIoD"py
AZ the most temperate and delicious climate IN tne
United States Bayard Taylor has pronounced the MT
region OF Virginia and Kentucky to be. in his opnion
the most desirable climate In the world Moreover At
two OF the springs, during the whole hot summer OF 1877
the thermometer above s6o and at night was
nearly always from COZ TO CSC. common experience
their lives. While subjects Of pulmonary weakness
heart disease and malaria there and are wonderfully
and wholesome cookery are commonly established 10 DC
known everywhere Offering for nervous disorders
such the bad names that ignorant aud interested
people throw upon the hill region OF the Vrginas; and
lust much and foundation OF truth is there in
what they say The SOIL for instance, after has
passed the Allegheny watershed is nearly always good
upon the steepest hills and 1t Is often very reh
All the crops the Middle States may be grown there
with luxnriance. Men who have examined the region
ay that It's advantages for stock and sheepcnture
very marked The springs aud streams legion there
pasture under all the forestcoyerings ana for sheep
OsIen living throughout the entire Winter In the
teced valleys. While the Summers mid, the Win
are moderate also The mineral wealth scarcely
be Oyerstated. The Kanawha is the richest coal
held yet discovered in the country, aud has
seGms Of the finest cOal-bituminous, spiint.
and oannel-up 10 ii feet IN thickness, and with a
workable aggregate OF sometimes 90 ieet on one hgh
hillside lying free from faults and dipping steadily II
feet In the mile 70 the northwest The IRON ores are
equally rich and very varied; brown hemaues ioSsil
ferrous, magnetic, oxides, aud others giving al the
necessary mixtures for making admiraDe Ton' ana
existing often In enormous masses - .
The Kanawha salt claims 70 be equal TO the Iurks
Island and superior Iany other brand In the market
IheEe thne and wellpaeed strata OF limestone Tor
nuxihg, and equally good hydraulic limestone There 10
undoubtedly good show OF gold just 70 the cas-
OF the mountains TGere ka0n and otbsI cays, and