Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-06
cold Vir9lnia.''

The population of Virginia is about that Of
New York city, but the State is capable OF ac
commodating five million men, women an
children without overcrowdng. and to decrease
as far as may be, the difference between Its
acIu,l and possible population strenuous et-
forts are being made by many leading Virgin
ians. Among the number is United States
Senator r. L. Withers, who arrived 10 this
CITY Yesterday aod will remain few days t.
prosecute the work which he has undertaken
The Senator is accompanied by Judge Crltcher
and AIR. A. Borst, who are engaged In tho
same work-an effort to restore Virginia to her
original placs in the front rank OF the States.
Senator Withers was yesterday called upon by
reporter oil the Herald to whom he gave
general statement OF tue nature OF his visit to
the North, the details being furnished by Mr.
Borst, secretary OF the Virginia Immigration
Society.
Shortly after the war, it seems, the govern
ment Of Virginia saw the necessity OF an effort
to restore her wasted energies and re'establsh
her ruined Industries by means OF external aid,
and to encourage the settlement OF her lm
mense raols of waste land Board OF EnlRra
lion was organized, its members being State
officials Of tho highest grade, including ;1 Lieut.
Govoeuvr Withers, the Speaker OF the house
of Delegates, the Stale Treasurer and the
Secretary of the Commonwealth. But little
was dono by this Board, owing to the preocou.
patton of lis members, and at the last session
of tho Legislature the law under which 1t had
been Incorporated was repealed.
1t was. thought that 40 association of promi
nent men-politicians, merchants, agriculturlsts
and capitalists gcneray-whose names would
ba O guarantee OF good faith and responsibility.
could carry the work forward with far more
energy and suoctsj. Accordingly, about year
ago the Virginia immigration Society was
formed, with the following named othoers -
President, John w. JohDston, United States
Senator; Secretary, Addison Bors; Vice fres-
dents, ". W. Corcoran, General Fltzhugh lIoe
and Colonel William Lamb; General Ageut,
Peter Wise, of Ale 8,ndris. Some months later
the President and Secretary visited York, Hsr-
risburg and other places in Pennsylvania, meet
ing with considerable SUCCESS 10 their efforts to
direct attention TO the natural facilities OF the
"Od Dominion" This canvassing Of tue States
is q chief part of the self imposed task OF the
members of the Immigration Society, and the
all of members OF Congress and other dlstin'
guished men from all parts of Virginia has been
secured for the purpose of writing and speak
ing 10 public 10 advancement of the cause: Two
or three delegates will be sent to Europe curing
the summer aud fall and the work will be CAR
rled 90 simultaneously in this country. Among
those who will make an effort to enlist the sym
pathics of thcir Eogllsh brethren Senator John
stou will probably be tho first. -,
The Object of The society is to turn the TIDE
of emigration from its westward course and d.
rec. it 10 the mountains and valleys Of "Old
10 do th0nnht
nc cessary only that the superior advantages oil
the State should be mado known aud assurance
given that emgranls should be protected iu
their dealings with tho owners Of the ground.
The desire is not 10 food the country With
tramps and lszy laboreIs, but to attract CAPT.
lalis,s. whether great or small, who will devote
their time and money to development ct the
great resources of the State. The iron mines.
in particular, are not half worked, though tho
metal, it is claimed, is Of quality unsurpassed
| in tho United States. The mineral products
in general arc not sufficiently utllized and there
| is great waste of fertile land. Along the
northern neck, for instance, IN the counties OF
Northumberland, Westmoreland, Lanoaster,
Ess,1, MiddIesex, Richmond and klng
| George. the land when fertilizsd soon yields
| abundant crops. And then the cost is only trom
Isis to $25 an acre, while in Penney lvanla
and New York it is $l25 to $l75 for similar
ground. The tax is fifty cents on $lCO for her
| State purposos but said Mr. Borst, this is oased
| mon an assessment of lands averaging from Blu
10 $50 an acre. which yields as much as NORTH
ern lands at ton times that price. The chlet III,
| duatrv of the State is corn, the next Wneat anu
sftar that prszing, which is carried on mostly IN
lthe Valley. Piedmont and the south west. AaDor,
Uen.eiuhti of which is colored. costs from 81
to sin ner month, said Mr.. Borst, and ID equAl
to that of whito in the North, if we'll ted, caro-
fully overseen and promptly paid. since tne
ldenreesion which followed the war there naa
been considerable improvement IN the conoltloI
oe e Ihe revions living about the chief business
centres Of Virgins aud there seems TO be
| growing disposition in other quarters 70 regaiu
What was lost fifteen yosrs ago. Noflolk 10 'I'
. eacond cotton shipping port in the country
baa diIect comm unication with New ORE
hv stespner and line Of steamships 70 LAYER
nool is probable at no very distant dayi ~,
These are in brief, said Senator Wltners a"n on,
Mr. Borst, some of the thousa9o siu Socia
tanoes TO which the Virginia lmmigal'oe SEG'o 81 %
Is desirous of calling the atlentlo.; OF -, ~,
tdnstrious men who propose leaving III or as nU :,
| in the Esst and North to seek tneir l'fsD'''' -
other parts Of the Union. ,a.t;no will b
II il possibla that no pubic nto." a. -. shr.toI
hald this week, the FouriL o. ouy on the M
heat and PTsviou92 2eudssng such slept
a OF ,,eia ,eia',.c,icsble. It is Chief desire OF IN
q tha oss uoptiemen now staying at the new ta CO.
I9lee son'e ,n meet the holders of Virginia qua.
hSa for the purpose Of enlistlng theiI sy
othv snd active corporation, as pe'ns 80
Interested in the prosperity ot tnolf oe2 'oto'
NJ T. Herald.
It "TN1vS INSECT POWDER. for the
III struction of Reaches and lneects. Also
INSECT G[JNS received and l