The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-03
A yirglnEan Gives His Experience in
Colorado.
co1oR,po SPRINGS. Col, Mar 81, Il

COLORADO SPRINGS. Col, Mag y, 1879.
Editors DISPATCH: desire through your
columns to. address few words TO the
young men of Virginia who contemplate
Setting HI the far W est I cane from the
"Old Dominion fully enthused with the
glowing accounts so constantly circulated
OF the vast resources and immense capabll-
ties Of this western world. came pre-
pared to Judge with an impartial eye OF the
truth OF these reports, and with thouSht
of making this my home. After diligent
INQUIRY in regard to the productive caDa-
city OF this State. and careful comparison
of its resources with thosesI know Virginia
to possess, I have arrived at adetinite con-
clusion-a conclusion which wish to COM
municatei to those who have the western
fever. To be sure my experience is only
in connection with this State; but as this
is now the objective point Of the greatest
tide OF immigration it is certainly just to
take it as sample OF the whole West
Whether we draw the contrast between
Colorado and Virginia from an agricultural,
a social 4 political, or moral standpoint,
Virginia has the advantage.
The elevation Of Colorado is such that
few grains, fruits, or vegetables attain per-
lection. Oats and barley constitute. the
main dependence OF the farmer; and vcse-
tables require constant irrigation to pro-
duce what we would consideran indifferent
crop, In few years it will be utterly i'm
possible for the Stale to supply sufficient
food for the support Ct her own popula-
ton. Already in the larger markets for
eign articles compete successfully with
home production. The whole social order
is vascillating, and will remain unsettled for
many years to come. - ,r....
Here money 'makes the man; the want
of it, the fellow" The moral and educa-
tlonal status Of an individual is entirely
subordinate to his pecuniary Standing.
Owing to The fact that mining induces an
insane desire for speculative excitement,
gamblers have sWarmcd here from ali parts
OF the country. ......s. ... ..--..
Most prices are exorbitant, and strangers
are considered fair game for gentlemen
swind!ers. The political complexion Of the
State may change at any moment, owing TO
the vast influx OF citizens from other parts.
A Young man coming from the East with
q moderate capital will find it greatly d.
minished by The mere shrinkaye Of money
value He viii find that the expense of liv-
ing is nearly doubled, and that competition
in every vocation has assumed proportions
never dreamed OF in easy-going old Virgil
MIA. He wilt be Mortified to learn that rail
road travel is ten cents per mile, and never
scaled for long distances; that only bloatcd
bondholders can afford 10 ride in stage
coaches; that the freight charges are more
than treble those OF the East; and finally,
that the taxes are about equivalent to those
which, our readjuster friends maintained
were sappiDg the life-blood OF old Virginia.
If professional man, be Will desire to
leave the country when Informed that Sc
cond.story offices ju desirable locations rent
for from seventy-iVe to one hundred and
fifty dollars per month. I do not desire TO
do this State or people an Injustice, nor
would willingly exaggeratea singei item in
this account. The climate here for persons
suffering from asthma or any pulmonary
complaint is most beneficial; the water eX-
ceIent; and the roads unusually fine. But
yet, when see the youth and sinew OF Vir-
sinia deserving her borders for land i'm
measuraby inferior; when I know that
hundreds Of them are year by year leaving
relatives and friends, going into foreign
States, and there exhibiting capacity and
industry which ii eXerted in Virginia
would have yielded far greater results,
feel that it is only through misinformation
that they leave their homes, and therefore
I have endeavored to prepare them for
what they will inevitably encounter when
they forsake their mother State.