Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-04-24
AN INVITATION TO THE

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tioneer had finished expatiating on the
beauties Of farm he was offering for sale,
the owner of the place who had failed ut
terly to recognize it, exclaimed, CHOW, old
fellow put up my property" 1t must be
with somewhat similar feelings that many
a man beguiled into Kansas, Iowa, Ne
braska or Minnesota by the ''Homes for
Settlers" pamphlets that are periodically
issued from the press, surveys with dlsen-
chanted eye the region to which he has
been enticed Bitterly cold winters, scar
city of timber OF water, remoteness from
market, isolation from schools and social
enjoyments, enforce with cruel logic the
fact that mere cheapness of land is not the
only, nor indeed the principal factor in de-
terrnining wisely the choice OF home. Ii
there be however section of the country
which unites fertility Of soil, fine climate
and contiguity to market it should rapid
ly people. Such a combination is rare and
American shrewdness will not fail to dis
Germ and appreciate it. The great Valley
of Virginia, in the heart Of which Staun-
ton sits like young Queen with the scep-
tire in her hand, is such section. This is
not real estate advertisement. Take up
at random any of the school biographies
and you will find the beauty and fertility
of the Shenandoah Valley noted with en-
phasis. Why then are districts mC-.> linn
tied in extent, not superior in point OF
productiveness and decidedly inferior in
point of climate in the States of New York
and Pennsylvania much more densely pop
ulated, weather. and more prosperous than
this garden spot of Virginia! The chief
reason was the system of labor formerly
prevailing and that obstruction having
vanished, the future Of this fair and fer
tile region is as assured as anything can
be. The scourge of war fell upon mills
and fences and granaries; it did not touch
the soil, the streams, the air, the minerals
and the geographical relation OF this love-
ly country to the markets of the world
The native grasses are still here, the lime
stone and timber are here, the mountains
which shield us from ocean and western
winds are still here, the minerals on either
side still await development. This is no
rose colored picture. 1t is not mere idle
rhetoric. The writer has seen much of the
West and Southwest, and he would say to
those who are seeking homes "Come into
this Valley and see for yourselves p In
Augusta county, lands are thought to be
held at too high figures to attract purcha-
sers. That may be. We neither affirm
nor deny. What we do say is that prices
do not begin to touch the figures held for
the best farming lands in Pennsylvania,
New York and Kentucky. Live stock re-
ouires very little feeding here in the win
ter. That is a consideration Of prime i'm
portance. Now, in the valleys OF Penn
sylvania, and in the blue grass region OF
Kentucky, lands are rated at from $780,
90 to $4,000 per acre. Certainly an ener-
eetic and skillful farmer could do better
by buying land here at $40 or $50 an acre.
This region too is not only adapted to
stock raising it is singularly adapted to
fruit culture the apple is already great
success, and the grape must follow. East
of the Blue Ridge, lands are cheaper, but
the native grasses which steadily enrich
the soil are not there; constant culture is
necessary to keep the land from fatal i'm
poverishment. Here, neglected farms are
all the while getting richer. AS mere
investment for speculation, we should say
besy IN the Valley. The performance of
the white population in this section is a
feature Of signal weight which ought to
govern the problem of immigration and
will have its bearing upon prices. We
might enlarge too upon the fact that such
a city as Staunton is in the centre of this
region. With SeminarieS Of national re-
pute and a society polite and liberal with
out being arrogant such capital of a
county ought to give value to the sur
rounding lands and turn the scale in favor
of this section. We have chiefly spoken
here of matters concerning those who con-
template the purchase Of farms. There is
another class of settlers which seeks a
place of business and residence. This lit
tie city offers inducements to such class
The cost Of living is not great, relatively
speaking, the educational advantages are
Of the first order-the summer evenings
are cool and pleasant-the scenery near
the place is strikingly beautiful 1t is not
out of the world. You can start from
here at 104 A. M, and take early tea in
Washington, and late tea in Baltimore,
and breakfast on the following morning
in New York city. There are now two
railroads penetrating the place and others
are in process Of construction. With each
succeeding year the comforts and refine
ments of Staunton must increase. Libra
ries, reading rooms and other literary and
social adjuncts Of an enlightened commu-
nifty will enhance the present attractions
of this growing and delightful town. 1t
and the charming region which encom-
passes it with a zone of mountains and
valley. have bright future ahead, which
will justify the glowing visions INDUCED
by Rev. Andrew Burnaby more than a
hundred years ago, Faith and work will
achieve in this country something COM
mensurate with the wealth of natural adj
yantages which it so abundantly enjoys.
The above article is from the pen of w
A. Collins, ESD, of this city, late of Pitts
burg, Pa, and we give it editorial promi-
nence, not alone for the excellence of it's
views and the graceful ability with which
they are presented; but also from the fact
that it has the advantage of having more
weight with our countrymeno Of other States,
being the views of an educated gentleman
of position and refined tastes. who, through
his faith in what he has seen, has been in
duced to make his home among us. We
hope to give more from the same pen on
the same subject.