Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-03-04

the best elements of the German, Irish, Eng-
llsh and Scotch character combined and refined
by hard experience, that made their descen-
dants what they were and are, and we feel as
| sured we do not exaggerate when we say thew
] now compare favorably with any people on
earth in all that goes to make up men-real,
earnest, God fearing hard working men, in
every sense of the word.
For true Virginia feeling and love Of State
no portion surpasses the people of this great
Valley. From the first settlers, who protected
Its borders from hostile Indians, and carried its
boundaries to the Mississippi, under Clarke,
down through her whole glorious history Vir-
glnla has had no truer or braver sons Ever
the pioneers, clearing the way for the peaceful
occupation of rich lands by the more timid
Northerner, the men of the Vaey-or their
descendants ia Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, and all
over the settled West-haye placed ''Virgin-
Ia City on every mountain top, State or terri
tory IN the Great West, as landmarks to show
the CID folks at home they still love the
grand old mother of States and of States.
men" Wherever they go their hearts still yearn
tor her, With tenderness increased bv the
miles that separate them from US, and feel
proud OF her glorious name. When the hour of
trial came, and she called those sons from every
portion OF the Continent, none responded more
readily or joined their fortune with VIRGINIA
sooner than the Valley boys. Il is born in
them and they cannot help it. It is this intense
Virginia feeling that kept the Valley, and will
ever keep 1t, from going over to W. Va, or
anywhere that leads them 20 resign the proud
right to ba called ''Virginiaus Of the Valley"
Here the Immigrant will find the same hos
pltallty that has made the Valley so noted over
the U S, and he here is needed now more than
ever. The vast mineral wealth of the Valley
is just opening up and the attention of all is
being directed to manufacturing on a large
scale. Crossed, as it is, by two grand trans
continental railroad iines-from Atlantic to
Paclie-wlth the finest soil, most wonderful wa
ter power, inezhaustible mineral resources. near
ness to great markets, mild Winters, good soci-
ety. cheap lands, schools, a liberal press, church
es OF every denomination, ard the first schools
male and female-of the South what more
can man ask God to bestow on him to make
life pleasant and plenty certain? Satisfied no
other land presents such prospects to the set
tier, We now turn to the figures, which never
lie, to bear. US out. We give crop stats
tics for 1860, as those for 1870 are not out, but
production has largely increased:
THE GREAT VALLEY OF VIRGINIA
This Valley extends through the State from
n. X to s. w, and is about 800 miles long.
varying in width from 10 to 80 miles; it is wa
tered by the Shenandoah, James, Roanoke.
New and Holston rivers and their branches.
The whole region being based upon limestone
rock, has highly fertile soil, is well watered
by bold. perennial springs, while the bills are
rounded and with gentle slopes, adapting the
whole to tillage. The forests are generally des-
titute of undergronth, snd consist usually Of
the various kinds of oak, hickory. walnut,
chestnut and yellow pine, having sound and
vigorous growth. This region lying in It's length
from the S. ". 70 the N. Z. and opening
towards the Gulf of Mexico, lis climate Is tenn
pered and softened By the prevailing winds
from that direction. while lis elevation, vary
ing from 500 to 1000 feet above the sea level.
gives it an elastic and bracing atmosphere, re-
markably free from fogs, and, at the same time
haTing drainage 60 rapid as TO furnish an un--
limited amount Of water power and free it from
maIsrious influences. The Blue Ridge protects
it on the East from the Atlantic storms, and
the mountain system on the West efrectually
shuts out the chilling winds from that direction.
There is no better agricultural region on the
continent, and no more healthy climate, or bet
ter adapted to the growth Of all the grains and
fruits Of temperate climate. The population
Of this region is noted for its intelligence, in
dustry and enterprise, and schools, churches,
mills and factories are nowhere more abundant,
in proportion to the number of heinhabtants,
This section has paratiVely few negroes, not
more than IN many Of the southern counties of
Pennsylvania, and the white population is not
more than one-fourth as great, 10 proportion to
territory, as it is In the Cumberland and Lehigh
valleys Of Pennsylvania (which are really in the
same Valley therefore there is large portion
Of the very best Of the land that is not under
cultivation, and that is nov offered at prices
merely nominal when compared with those OBJ
tanned for the same quality of lands in the cold
er climate of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and
New York in this same Valley. The Bait. 6
0. r. r., and It's Winchester branch, the Ma
nassas Gap r. R., the Chesa. & Ohio r. r.
the Lyuchburg & Tenn. r. r., and the James
River & KanaWha Canal, and it's North River
Branch, all cross or run through the Valley,
and the Valley Railroad will fill up the third
that is lacking for continuous railroad from
one end Of it 10 the other, making the most di-
rect route from New York to New Orleans.
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.
The Valley Of the Shenandoah in Virginia,
is about l20 miles long and 25 wide, embracing
toe counties Of Augusta, Rockingham, Shen-
aDdoah, Page, Warren, Frederick, Clarke. JEFF
ferson and Berkeley. The population of this
Valley in 1861 was l30, ,356, of which 1O3,76
were whites and 26 500 were blacks. The area
embraced in farms. (which was by no means ali
the section) was 2 849 square miles. or ,O0I,-
96l acres Of improved land, aud 72O, $50 acres
ue Of these farms was $45, 9S2 521, or an aver
age of $26 50 per acre. The cash value of the
farming implements and machinery iu use was
81, ,2ll, OPS The live stock embraced Sc 656
horses, 627 asses and mules, 26, 726 mich COWS,
972 wor king oxen, 55, 800 other cattle, 10000
sheep, 1862 swine, or 336, ,450 head of live
stock.
OF Wheat, Rye, Corn and Oats, it produced
6 .325 35l bushels, or more than As bushels to
each inhabitant, constituting 1-l97th of the
entire crop of the whole U. S. and Territories, of
these four great cereals.
The wheat crop of this Valley was 259 500
bushels. more than 10th of the crop of Va,
which was the 5th wheat producing State in the
Union, and 1-80th OF the whole crop Of the
United States and Territories. The average of
the crop of the Valley was H. bushels to each
inhabitant, and of the whole United States 81
bushels.
There are no statistics at hand to show the
average production per acre. but it is fair to pre-
sumo that it bears nearly the same proportion
to other regions that the gross product does-
OF this wheat, too, We may say what can be
said of no other 10 the United States, that for
series OF years, the -four made from 1t has
commanded, in the markets of Brazil, So 60
more barrel than that made in any other por-
ton OF the Union, not even excepting Bal.i-
more; this gave Richmond, before the war, al
most monopoly of the Coffee trade Of Brazil,
which was worth to the United States in 1856,
over sixteen millions Of dollars, and it must
again become the centre Of that trade for the
great Northwest, nov that the great Virginia
railroads are completed, and for climatic rea-
| sons which cannot he rpatnrjaIlv oh aprnd tLo