The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-25
Gre.itlg State 5onrmaL.
Observation-Disclosures Letter.
from our Special Correspondent
LIBERTY, BEDFORD COUNTY, VA,
February 81, 1873.

From our Special Correspondent
LIBERTY, BEDFORD COUNTY, VA,
February 81, 1873. I
On nay return here to-day, as on m,
previous visit, | find the place deep il
mud-then, with the melting snow
now, with drenchlng rains yet, bushes
is active new tobacco houses and othe
buildings are going up. The toi scco fac
tories and plaster mills are lively; ant
this latter article will yet, and speedily i
is hoped, do much to build up the farming
interest and increase the crops and profits
of the farmers |; all they need to secur,
this desirable result, is to spread it liber
ally on the wheat crops and meadows, il
the spring, as soon as the ground gets to
be considerably dry; and it will also pay
to put it on the hills of corn and potatoes,
soon as they are well up-so as to see the
rows plainly.
A great want hereabouts is more nurse.
ries and orchards; at Salem, Major Greene
one OF the proprietors of the "Duvall
House," is doing something in raising the
choicest pears and peaches in his large and
handsome garden. A plenty of fruit will
DO as much for the health as the profits OF
the farmers, and be luxury in the family.
+ Here, as in most other towns, the peo-
pie express earnest satisfaction at the
homestead exemption, but the sentiment
IS pretty distinctly divided in regard to the
proposition to have the general government
assume the state debts. The letter of
Hon. K. w. Hughes on that subject is
much liked here.
L send you another club of subscribers for
the STATE JOURNAL from this place. Mr..
q. V. Case is active IN efforts to extend the
circulation of the paper. A large share of
the subscribers which get are liberal Re.
publlcans and Democrats they say they
ike THE JOURNAL because it is so alive to
the prosperity and material interests of Vir-
glnla, and making known her vast re.
sources and mineral wealth.
AT many places along this line of rail-
road the company are building handsome
depot buildings; there is fine one here.
and at Christiansburg, and other points.
Gentlemen of experience inform me that
recently they have discovered most valu-
able iron ores at Blacksburg and Newport.
in Montgomery; that in toughness and
purity it equals the Lake Superior and
Iron mountain ores. And extensive opera
tons have been commenced to deyelope
and manufacture it into iron for car wheels
and boiler iron, which require the very
best quality of iron.
During the winter there has been several
barns burnt. caused by incendiaries. and
Jealous efforts are being put forth to detect
and bring to justice the miscreants who |
could be guilty of such outrages, At |
Salem the magistrate was holding an exami-
nation in the case of one Little, who is |
charged with having set fire to the barn of !
MIR. Miller, ct the time of my visit, but it !
:: IS not completed. 1t is to be hoped that
the guilty party, whoever it be, may be
brought to speedy punishment.
ALI last night we had rain-to-day we
have sunshine, with fierce wind, which to-
sether are fast drying off mud and water,
In many portions of these counties, the
winter wheat has been considerably in
ured, by being shove outv by the fire.
luent freezing and thawing; but recent
aims have done something toward repair.
ng or preventing damages BY setting the
cots of the plants back into the soil before
III were killed-as would have been done.
The free schools are fourishing here,
'ery creditably; and the colored people
axe proud and lively interest in their
Schools, and are improving by them. Mr..
jase IS earnest and active in promoting the
chools here.
Let there be sufficient industry and in
diligence expended in developing the vast !
nd many treasures of the soil and noun.
ains-the mineral and agricultural-and
DON Virginia will not be one whit behind
ny other state in wealth, production and
d. s. G,