Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-07-26
The New Era in Virginia.

Virginia seems to be at last entering
upon the career of prosperity for which
she is so eminently qualified by the ex-
tent and variety of her resources, the
diversity of her productions and the
salubrity of her climate. A small but
steady flow of immigration has set in
for that State, which must exercise an
important influence on her future des-
TIMES. The new corners are more dis
tinguished for intelligence and vigor
than for numbers. They belong to the
very best and more desirable classes.
From nearly all parts of the State we
hear of small companies of persons from
England, Scotland, Germany, France,
and other European countries purchas-
ing lands and settling down to the cul-
tivation of the soil. And, perhaps bet
ter still for Virginia, persons from other
States are making their home in the
Old Dominion. Only few days ago
land was purchased in the vicinity of
Manassas for twenty-five families from
Michigan, part of whom have already
arrived. Nor is this an isolated case.
In all parts of the State are to be found
newly settled Northern families who ap-
pear to be we'll satisfied with their con-
dition and prospects, and whose rela-
tions with the people of the State are of
the most cordial character. The new
corners, for the most part, possess capi-
tai and resources which enable them to
occupy an important position in their
new homes. W. . a".
Nor is this all. A large amount of
outside capital is being invested in the
State. Some of the most enterprising
and wealthy citizens Of New York have
invested largely in mineral lands IN
Virginia. Investments from other
sources have also come to our knowl-
edge, and the aggregate of northern
capital represented in that State must
be quite large. 1t is also known that
the attention of foreign capitalists has
been attracted to Virginia. A gentle
man who recently arrived in Richmond
to negotiate on the part of the British
holders of Virginia securities was also
intrusted to investigate the mineral and
manufacturing capabilities of the State.
There can scarcely be doubt as to the
nature of his report. The mineral wealth
of all other countries appears as power
ty in comparison with the wonderful
resources of Virginia. 1t is scarcely
an exaggeration to assert that her mere
surface deposits of coal and iron ore
would suffice for the consumption OF all
the generations of mankind for centu-
ries to come.
With these incompatible advantages
and with the additional benefit of con-
tiguity to the Atlantic sea-board, the
prosperity of Virginia is only ques-
ton of time. AS yet her mineral re-
sources have been almost untouched.
In the Kanawha Valley the deposits of
splint coal are especially valuable and
extensive. The coal derives it's name
from the character of the fragments or
pieces into which it separates. Its free
dom from sulphur and other impurities
renders it especially valuable in smell
ting ores and in the manufacture of iron
and steel, and in this respect is a valu-
able substitute for charcoal. 1t is equal
in quality to the very best English can
mel coal, and the Cannelton Company,
consisting chiefly of New York capital
lists, mines this coal, ships it to New
York, and sell it at profit of from $S
to $12 per ton, against 500 for English
camel. This coal is by no means limit
ed to the Kanawha, but is found in all
the adjacent valleys and in the entire
region. This coal is virtually imbedded
in strata of iron ore, the whole char
acter of the mineral formations estab-
fishing the conclusion that nature her
self has destined the two States of Vir-
ginia and West Virginia as the centre
of the iron industry not only of the
United States, but also of the entire
continent. t..