Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-07-04
VIRGINIA FREE PRESS.
[. i. &E E.R GlLLlEEl. EDITORS
Charlestown, Jefferson Co., W. va.
OFFICE IL "JEFFERsoN BUILDIl
Saturday, July L, 1874.
Views in the valley of virginia.


hteHiqeacer, the following interesting letter
descriptive Of our fertile and beautiful county
II is from the pen Of Hon. II. G. Smith, Of
Penusylya from whom we had the honor
of visit TO our Office a few days ago:
CHARLEsrowa, jefferson Co..
West Virginia, June 10. 1874.
The beauty aud the fertility of the Cumber-
land Valley. which lies so fair TO the sun in
southern Pennsylvania, has been the theme OF
many nciIe pen. Writers stf fine descriptive
talent. have exhausted all the vocabulary Of
laudatory adjectives in attempting to convey
to the minds Of their readers a correct concep-
ton Of its many and varied charms. l. is
familiar to the people of the whole North, and
is Justly regarded as one Of the most favored
agricultural sections Of the United States
Yet there are thousands Of well-informed per-
sous still ignorant Of tic fact that the southern
slope Of this great Valley, lying below the
Pot mac, aud stretching southwark to The
northern boundaries Of Alabama and Georgia
is the fairest aud most fertile part Of it. That
this is literally and truly so, every man must
coplcss who looks upon it, as | have done
during the last week
Having travelled directly through Lancaster
county aud the Cumberland Valley on my
way south, was prepared to judge from the
crops upon the ground as to the productive
re.s Of the Valley Of Virginia. when compared
with the must favored sections of Penusyl.
vauia: and am willing 20 risk all my repu-
tation Tor tru,hluncss upon the declaration
that the growing crops Of wheat, corn anC
grasses, in the lower portion Of Virginia, sur
passes that Of any portion Of Pennsylvania
wish could have had thousand Of the bes
and most intelligent farmers Of the Old Key
stone State with me during the past week.
would ike to have heard the unfeigned au'
enforced eucomiums which they would hav
been constrained to pass upon the wonderful.
productive lands that here lie So fair to
4 kiudlier sun. How they would have admire'
the long deep waves that swept across wild
Gclds Of wheat, presenting 20 the eye tha
peculiar yelyet-lke appearance which th
practical farmer recognizes as the sweet bar
binser Of heavy yield. Rich as is the bloom
/ Of the clover fields in the most favored section
of Penusylyauia it is surpassed by tho uxuri
ant growth o. the Shenandoah Valley, through
which the COWS wander lazly, with thei
udders hidden among the purple blossoms
I To plain terms Of sober truthfuIness, an
forced % declare that have been surprizel t
end decidedly better crops. both Of wheat au'
grass, in the Shenandoah Valley, than the ver,
best sections Of Pennsylvania can boast.
OF the beauty of this land, as seen with al
the eloues Of the coming harvest crowning it
could write much more than you would hav
room or inclination TO publish. Each revolu
ton of the car wheel brings before the ey
some new feature in a panorama Of ever chang
ing loveliness. Far off on either hand, ris
magnificent mountain ranges while stretching
out between them lies what has been repeat
edly styled ''the most beautiful Valley on th
Continent" Such IS the opiuion Of those VIII
have had every opportunity for observation
and can readily give their declaration no
questioning credit after having looked uPor
scme portions Of it in the most attractive gsrb
do not expect to do justice to this magni
fcent agricultural section Of our great coun
try, but will, according to promise, SEN
you an occasional descriptive letter an
will begin with