The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-10-09
How virgiass Appears 70 an ENG ' llsl
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How yirgfn1H Appe94S 70 an A'a's - 80
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80 FROM the Tondoa Standard, August 29'l
Ea,us1TroN TO ytaaisIA
10 he Editor of The Standard: sir,-Ass
there are many of the middle and upper
classes In England who are thinking OF emil
grating to virgins, which Is supposed 20 De
one OF the best fields for emigration we tnHR
our experience there may be useful to them,
especiaily rs we know that there. are many
land agents, both at home and out here, VINO,
+ by circulating pamphlets and: in other ways,
induce many to come out and settle Wno,iH
they knew b the real facts, would hes!-
tate long before doing 30. The reason LOT
This IS obvious. The more Immigrants tue
more dollars accrue to the agents, 50. lnat
naturally It is TO their interest to paint Viz
eiuia in too bright colors. First OF al, they
saw that land is very cheap out here Rlthiall
the advantages of house accommodatfon,
road. rail, and water communication. Land
iscertainIy very cheap compared with Eng
Iish farms, but there all agreement between
us ceases--in general tits worn out by over
cropping with tobacco and other exhaust
ing crops, and before you can hope for any
return from it!you must fertll!ze 1t heavily !;
and we must say, in passing, that the ma;
nures ia be bought here are enormously dear,
and usually adulterated to the extent Of at
least 80 per cent. 1t seems to be the general
opinion among ,Englishmen out here that
one acre Of land at home, if treated in >ex..
actly. The same way, willproduce fully six or
eight times the amount that an acre of good
land will here-especiaily oats and other ce-
reals. The result is that the relative cheap
ness is cut down to very small proportions.
Then, as to the communication roads
are execTable-woTse than any roads to be
found in the widest parts of Europe they
generally consist of series OF mud-holes and
rocks, almost impossible in winter and bad
enough in summer. This disadvantage tells
heavily on any farmer at distance from
town or rail. Also, the freiShts by rail are
enormous, and the careiessness OF the rail-
way employees indescribable, while the much
boasted climate is variable in the extreme
40 much so that we feel it must be injurious
TO any but strong constitutions. Diseases OF
the chest we believe to be especially pfeYa.
lent In February last the thermometer fell
in forty.eight hours from 70 degrees to IL
degrees above zero, and in June it fell one
day % degrees in, less than half an hour:
These facts we can vouch for, as they fell
under ourown observation. They are not
extreme cases, but what is constantly recur-
ring. Besides, the heat in summer ID eX-
IRENE, varying from 95 degrees to 100 de-
grees in the shade; and the cold IN winter Is
often intense.
Again, very much is made of the hospi-
tality and English manners OF the virgin.
ians. This character may have been true OF
the old planters, but the general experience
of English coonists tells quite another story.
We find that they are only ready to take ad-
vantage of you in every possible way with
few eXceptions), and we consider them
almost the worst element in the country.
They will cheat and rob every settler they
can lay their hands on, and are rather worse
than the Yankees, if that is possible. me
whole present character of the country IS
an,agonistic to English feeling and taste.
This is a serious consideration to gentlemen
with families to bringup. Living is decidedly
not cheap. The price of meat is low,
but everything ese-clothes and groceries
especially-is extremely dear, and adultera-
ted 10 the last degree. The colored race,
again, are an immense drawbacks. NO White
labor eau be obtained. AS house.seryapts
they are detestable-an idle, drunken, THEY
ing lot-and as laborcrs not much better. lie
is very difficult to extract any work out OF
them for the comparatively high wages they
receive, and unless you see 1t done yourseli
the chances are that not quarter OF 1t Will
be done at all, and that quarter very badly.
They are favored in every way possible oy
the laws, which seem to be expressly made
against Enelishmen and in favor of rogues
and negroes often synonymous terms. We
refer especially to- the homestead and bank
ruptcy ac,S.
For these reasons, and many others which
we omit from want of space, English people
would do well before they purchase land to
reside at least a twelvemonth here If they
come at all. Most of the settlers are only
waiting for favorable opportunity to dis.
pose of their farms and leave the country.
The only profits to be made seem to be from
fruit and vine cultivation, and possibly from
sheep, after laying down large extent OF per-
mancnt grass but neither OF these Will Drlhg
in anything for the first ten years. These re-
marks apply more particularly TO that portion
of Virginia called Piedmont, generally consi-
dercd the most healthy and best fitted for colo.
niZ. ton. In conclusion we would say that EDs.
lish laborers and small farmers might do
well here, but that gentlemen, professional
men. Indian officers, &c, the class that gene
rslly come out here, will find it very difficult
lO yet Ou, auu VIII, IuOuSu LILY Ah"I S@AiS',
not make any money.in Virginia.
Trusting that you may find space to insert
this letter, which has grown far beyond the
limits it was Intended TO occupy. we remain
your obedient servants, n. anu l..
AuguSt 6.
Well, well. We hardly know ourselves
or our State as presented above. The, spite
full assertion that Vireinians are " worse than
the Yankees, il that be possible" is amusing.
We might deny almost every statement con-
tanned in the above article. But it is not
necessary and it won't hurt US any to know
what can he said against US by disappointed
immigrants.
Refreshing Compliments. No paper is
sounder of wind, limb, &C., than the En-
quirer." -Richmoad Dispatch.
"We are gratified to be able to return the
compliment to the Dispatch, except as to the