The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-08
SENIOR JOHNsTON's MISSION.
The scheme for Hepopuinting virainis and
for Developing her Mines.

United States Senator John W. Johnston
OF Virginia President Of the Virginia Immi-
grafton Society. and Mr.. Addison Borst. tho
Secretary are ut the New York Hotel.
and Con. Fiizhugh Lee. one Of the Vice.
Presidents Of tho society have been doputcd to
deliver addresses In the North and East point
ing gu, the advantages to be derived from emf
grafton TO Virginia" the Senator said 70 4 re-
porter for THE SrS. Last fail spoke in
several places. including Harrisburg and York
Pa. with good results. Our society IL about q
year old. aud already an Unexpectedly large
number Of immigrants have come 10 our State
This year shall speak in Reading. Philadcl-
pha Carlisle. Potistown. md other parts
Of Pennsylvania. but not in New York. We
are. Of course glad to receive rs immi-
grants any kind Of good citizens. but
the obioct Of our society is TO procure chiefly
experienced aericulturisis. We want them to
buy our lands. and thus not only insure tho
Improvement u our State from a farming point
Of view. but procure capital 10 develop our
great mining resources. Virginia Is very rich
ia minerals. We have gold. iron IN in"Nhaustille
quantities, copper. bead. 2n', mar. harita. salt,
minOus and anthra 'it" Tho immigrants. u
large number OF whom are Englishm have
for the most part. confined themselves to agri-
cultural pursuits - far. Not many Of them
have turned their attention To- mining. exc, IT
Tor sat and gypsum. and a. some extent for
gold. Nearly all Of them are well contented
with their iuyc sim mis-.
" II may be- asked. - the Senator continued
why Virginia which was once among the
richest States in the Union now ranks not
higher than the thirteenth. The reason l. that
before the war thu eastern part OF the state was
largely slayehoding. aud the northwestern part
had only tcw slaves The east therefore OH
jected TO the expenditures OF money for rail-
roads or other public improvements. because.
having themselves easy river nccoss to the
great market centres. they did not desire that
their numerous slaves should be taxed. a. they
would have been. to provide them with what
they did not want The result was that Nir-
ginia had no railroads connecting her seaports
with the interior uf the country. and Baltimore.
Ncw York. and PHILADELPHIA gut the traic that
could not come to her. But she no longer lahors
under this evil. She IL abundantly supplied with
railroads to the South. West. and Northwest.
and this sreat advantage IS rapidly telling upon
Norfolk 10 be- the second cotton port in tho
United Slaics-bcing surpassed only by New
Orleans. With r"sp"rt. too 10 our railroad COM
munications with the freight producing coun-
tries IA" VI lssissirpi Valley. and the north west
and southern parts If Virginia. we are So we'll
provided that We may reasonably expect 10 get
fair amount of trade.
We have. ~ is known throughout the
world. immense tobacco producing facilities.
and n large portion Of the State grows blue
grass-a heritage so nutritious that sheep and
cattle fed upon IL make the finest mutton and
beef in the world. Already We are shipping
large numbers Of cattle from Norfolk TO Eng
land, where the meat is highly commended. IL
"" can get a fair flow 81 immigration 10 our
state ~ th"r" j. very Prospect ~ our DONG.
W. s,hall soon raise Virginia 10 her old place in
the | uitu.