The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-08-14
For the VIRGINIAN.
A Northern Man in Virginia 8.

STOCK RAISING IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
EXPORTS OF BEEF AND CATTLE-sHIP-
MENTs FROM SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA.
AS the cars stopped at Dublin my CON-
panion observed some fine beef cattle in the
railroad yards awaiting shipment, and de-
scended to take closer view Of them, but
the conductor cry soon called us back and
precluded more than cursory examin-
ati3n. s.These cattle and the fine blue grass
lands along the road," he said. as we re-
sumed our seats, "speak pretty we'll for this
country as grazing region. Isnppose it Is
the chief industry here"
s'For more than century," Responded,
"Southwestern Virginia has been chiefly
stock-raislng section famous for its horses
and cattle. Less attention is now paid to
thoroughbreds than before the war, but its
cattle and sheep have largely increased in
numbers and profit, and its beef commands
the highest prices In home and foreign mar
kets. She is rapidly improving her stock,
too, and her short horns invariably take the
first prizes at the State Fair, where, in 1877,
they received deserved enco miums from so
competent Judge as DR.. Loring,o Massachu-
sets, when he visited Richmond with the Pres
ident. Thousands Of her stock cattle annu
ally 90 by rail to Fauquier and Loudoun and
thekShenandoah Valley, to Maryland aud
Pennsylvania, and many thousands more OF
beeves 90 direct to the markets OF Baltimore,
Philadelphia and New York, and many have
been shipped to Europe from those ports
Commissioner LIE Due was certainly very
far out of his reckoning when he said, in his
dispatch to the foreman OF the Chicago stock
yards, that the supply OF cattle for foreign ex.
portation was wholly derived from that source
Aside from West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and the immense area tribu-
terry to St.:Louis, would refer now partic-
ulary to Virginia, which has furnished some
of the best stock exported. And it may be
proper to state that neither pleuro-pneumo-
mia nor the Texan cattle disease has ever
been known in this region.''
slave the live stock OF Virginia increased
materially since the war?' asked the New
Yorker.
"Yes," replied. ACCORDING to the re-
ports made to the State Auditor. we had in
in 1878, 24O,714 horses and mules, 5S9,946
cattle, 4e3, BAL sheep, and sl7,740 swine, a
considerable increase over Che census returns
Of 1870. Compared with 1860, which was about
the high tide Just before the war, we have
many more cattle and about the same NUM-
Der of horses and mules, while the number
OF sheep is fitch less and swine third
Middle Virginia has less than half as many
sheep now as in 1860, though no section
needs them more, while Piedmont and Ap.
palachia are the only divisions OF the State
showing an increase. Cattle, however, have
increased everywhere, and that is hopeful
sign for the future. The nineteen counties
of Southwestern Virginia had in 1878, more
than quarter Of the cattle and sheep of the
State, and fifth of the horses and mules ;
Washington having the largest NUN Der Of
the latter, Russell having the most cattle,
Scott the most sheep, and Lee the most
swine."
"The expectation OF live stock to Eu-
rope" said my companion, s.should stimu-
late production in SO favored country as
this, and induce greater attention to breed
ing and keeping; for, Of course, it is the
highest grades.that pay best, and the higher
the average is raised, the less will it pay to
ship or to raise inferior stock. Won
derful as has been the rapid growth Of our
export trade and the comparative decrease
Of our imports, resulting In balance Of
trade In our favor of nearly two hundred
and sixty millions in ls77-'7s, no class Of
these domestic exports, which last year ex-
ceeded six hundred and eighty millions in
value, has increased so rapidly in the last
few years as those OF fresh beef and live cat.
tie.
Stew, indeed, appreciate the fact that