The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1875-04-12
WEST VIRGINIA.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Times.
WINFIELD, w. Va, April 9.


In your number II, the gentleman
writing from Dana, Illinois, asked me
few questions in regard to West Vir-
ginia, and | shall be glad to be permitted
TO answer him through your columns.
Speaking of the far West We iairly un.
derstand that we do not mean Ohio and
Illinois, but sections such as, for instance,
Kansas, Colorado, Utah, etc. Yet this
is merely geographical perception, and
in substance has nothing to do with any
answers. Although it looks somewhat
like bold assertion for man TO say
that he knows by heart, the condition OF
fifty and sixty counties of II State, | will
admit that there are very few counties
in our State noted for their mountainous
and nOtvery productive peculiarlties, yet
these counties excel rs blue grass
region, and, after all, would stand fair
comparison Nth lands out. West, glori-
fled as the paradise OF men, and l en-
phatically deny the charge, that cattle die
there for want of food. The fertility of
our soil is well established, and moreover,
offers to the farmer such facilities TO
make what is termed "a living that it is
to certain extent, derogative TO the in
tercsts of our agriculture, and in the
meantime accounts for the
comparatively few pauperS in
our State. Our industrious
farmer has not only always Il plenty, but
is making money. He need not Use his
corn for fuel, and give away one bushe!
of wheat to have another bushel carried
to market, by no means. Our farmers,
AS well as those out West, have, of
course, no fixed contract with our Heav-
enly Father to secure, always, superb
bundant crops, but our climate and
soil are so well adapted to raise
variety OF cereals, and if one
or two kinds should prove
even perfect failure, he will not
be deprived of the necesSaries of life-a
case which frequently happens out west.
But now let a few figures talk. One
acre of land in our county yields on an
average 33 bushels of corn, Is bushels of
wheat, 1870 bushels of potatoes, 800
pounds of tobacco. Corn sells now for
G5c per bushel; wheat Sl.l0 per bushel;
tobacco, from 3 to II per pound.
The gentleman of Illinois will please
compare these figures with his quoted
prices. add to it our pleasant, mild climate,
our shipping facilities, our conveniences
in securing lumber and coal, and 'then
let him talk of West Virginia being II
blank desert True, there is plenty of
hard labor here, but to show how such
labor is here rewarded | will quote few
instances. VIM. Alexander, of Frasier's
Bottom, sowcd 80 bushels OF wheat on 80
acres of land, and realized | 800 bushels
of wheat. 7. +. Hogg, now of Win
field, raised 4O2 bushels Of pota-
toes on two acres Of land, and 8j bushels
of corn to the acre on forty acre field.
Webb harvested 40 tons of hay on 10
acres. These figures need no comments.
Finally | would say that | am neither
land speculator nor land owner; that
| am neither an office holder nor an Of
flee seeker and neither am | u lawyer
nor professional quill-driver, but that
am most humble mortal; engaged in
merchandising, and that it is true and
sincere philanthrOphy which causes me
to call the attention of the West-going
people To the advantages of our own
State And now. r"rJ,m sap.
NERITAs.