Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-11-26
WOODSTOCK VIRGINIA.
Thursday Horni,g. November IS. 1874


have long been known, but its isfhabi
tants have been satisfied with the pos
session of tins undeseloped wealth. A
change, however, is now about to be
made. Oar people seem to have intas>
ed into their veins new energy. The
E. cause of the change it is not necessary
to investigate. That it has been made
is undisputed. A short time ago, the
best of timber was sold at tire cost OF
cutting and harling. Almost every ar
ticie used upon the farm or in the fami
ly was purchased from abroad. CAPT
tai was invested only in lands and a,et'
chandize Our lands were tertilized with
fertilizers manufactured in other States.
The abundance of limestone was consid
cred only as an incnmbrance upon real
estate. We boosted of cur fine water
power Which was only used TO turn a
few grist or saw mills. Steam engines
were seldom seen, Bat, at last, the scales
have fallen from the eyes Of our pc Jple,
and manufacturing establishments OF
different kinds have been pu; in opera
ton Instead of burning our timber,
il will in short time be shipped to 9TH
Ell States, in the shape of slaves, shin
giles, axe and pick handles, felloes hubs,
spokes, pumps, agricultural implements
and other articles Stave factories ems
ploying large numbers OF hands, in va
rious sections of the county have been
started aud others are making arrange
ments to begin. A large qnantity OF
slaves have been shipped North, while
barrels have been made for home con
sumption. Enterprise will soon dem
onstrate the fact that a much larger
proportion of the slaves can be manu-
featured into barrels at home and
shipped at profit. Empty barrels are
bulky, but railroad companies will soon
learn that it is much better to carry
empty barrels at price which will JUS
tify their manufacture than not to carry
them at all This will demand an in
creased number of workmen and will
bring additional capital into the couns
ty. Furniture, which a short time ago
was brought from abroad is now to a
considerable extent manufactured at
5 home. Brooms superior to any which
have been sold by our merchants are
now manufactured in the county Com
mercial fertilizers OF excellent quality is
made at home manufactuly. " ool
en- goods superior to the shod(ly articles
imported from other states is made and
sent abroad from our factories.
Plows and agricultural implements Of
every kind were sold to our people by
agents from abroad. A few years az
the manufacture of ploRs was began,
the demand increased to such an ex
tent that increased facilities We're de-
manded, and the labor that was &C
complished only by wear and tear of
human muscle, is now done more rap'
idly by improved machinery. Instead
of shipping rough lumber to be returned
to us ia the shape of blinds, sash, frames,
&c. these articles are now manu featured
at home and shipped TO other counties.
Not only is there change in reference
to manu- tactures, bat the same spirit OF
advancement is at work among the
farming community. Instead OF tol
lowing the "old ruts, orr farmers have
been experimenting. They have be-
come convinced that we have fertil
izer, in inexhaustlble quantity, at home,
superior to that which is imported from
abroad. A number af lime kilns viii
be built and the utility of lime as a
fertilizer will be fully demonstrated. In
Pennsylvania and Maryland its use is
general Increased crops and i'm.
proved condition of the farms has
attended its use Those who have
tried the experiment in this section
have been fully convinced, and for a
few years the demand will probably he
In excess Of the supply. &~7
a More attention is now paid to raising
stock OF improved breeds The culluit
Of sheep ha5 been almost entirel,
abandoned on account of the depre
dations of dogs; but Notwithstanding
this great objection the farmers see
that it is profitable and that if not now
it will not be long, until they will have
full protection. One farmer who pur-
chased about one hundred ewes in
forms us that in less than one year he
realized one hundred per cent upon his
investment. Others have been equally
successful. We have thousands OF
acres of land adapted TO this business.
The idea that the culture of sheep i'm.
poverishes land is Il great error, Elk
periment has fully demonstrated the
fact that the opposite theory Is correct
and that flock Of sheep will be OF
great assistance in retaining and i'm
proving worn ont lands. The profit
which can be derived from sheep eul.