The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-12-18
Virginia s Future.

4 |
factions-the discussion of delicate ques-
ton. that of public credit, which ought
never to have been debated, because it i'm
piled suspicon-have so engaged public
attention, that other matters of primary
and practical Importance have been lost
sight of. We think if a more general
knowledge were diffused among the people
OF the illmitable sources of wealth that lie
dormant, and whose development would
speedily solve the question OF the public
debt, there would be more cheerful esti-
mate of the future of Virginia. We are
prone to dwell upon the losses of the
war-the desolation which swept over
the State, and to calculate our ability to
meet obligations from our unfortunate con-
dition few years ago, rather than from the
possibilities OF the future. The debt is a
consideration which really belongs to the |
time to come, and if ever people possessed |
thenatural resources to meet the demands of |
hereafter, those of Virginia do. We have
the wealth OF an empire, and if, instead OF |
mourning over the past, gloomily nursing |
thC nilS1oliullSc Which, nave OftltdhcI US,
we would courageously address ourselves
to the present and its assurances, we could |
look into the future with bright faces and |
smiling hopes. That we are progressing
rapidly in material development and i'm
proving in all the agencies which go to
make up prosperous people and a proud
and progressive State, we have only to re-
eur to the condition in which we found
ourselves in 1865. Instead of the devasta-
tions of war obstructing every vision as
then, we have the evidences all around us
of thrift and prosperity. The energy and
industry of our people have builded up the
waste places, wiped out individual debts,
cleaned up the court dockets. and laid the
foundations OF progress and prosperity
rarely vouchsafed to any country. Step by
step our condition has been improving,
through all the business depression which has
been experienced, until to-day the condition
OF the valley. OF Virginia, especially,is better
thaa it has ever been in its history. The
sod has responded generously to the labor
OF the husbandman the sagacity of our
business men, in commercial pursuits, has
guided them safely through the breakers
which surrounded them, until now every
industry and every department of enter
prise is in healthy and encouraging con-
dition.
Such are the fruitions which greet us after
passing through period of business stag
nation, and general prostration of enter
prise.
We are now about to enter upon an au-
spicious epoch and to witness industrial ac-
tivity to which we have not been accus-
toned, and to realize benefits, growing out
OF enlarged enterprises, which have not
heretofore added to our prosperity or
formed part of our economic system or
usages.
While we have been lamenting our fate,
depreciating our capacities, and ignoring
the rich resources we possess, other people |
have had their wonder excited because of
the marvellous elements of wealth which lie |
all around us, and only wanting skilled en-
terprise and capital to utilize them. Day
after day surprise is expressed by enter
prlsing gentlemen from more advanced and |
energetic communities, that Virginia is not
the richest State in the Union. They see |
here banks and mountains of iron ore, in |
close proximity to the finest Goals on the |
continent, which far surpass the most eX-
travagant realizations in other States which |
have grown wealthy by iron industries
Eighteen miles west of us, Northern enter
prise has taken hold of vast mountain of
iS nj;
ment with active energy and ample capt.
tai, to be aided by several blast furnaces in
the near future. In the adjoining county
OF Alleghany, on the same line, other
mountains of ores are being developed by
enterprise from the same section, and at
Lowmoor large furnace is being erected,
while at Longdale, the one now i'll opera
ton is TO be supplemented by another of
equal, if not greater capacity. South of us,
about eighteen miles, and within the bounda-
ries OF our county-immediately on the line
OF the Valley Railroad-a vast iron belt is
attracting the attention OF northern enter
prise,and exciting the establishment of men
accustomed to mineral properties, that
banks Of ore of sixty feet depth should
never have been utilized. East OF us about
fifteen miles, development is going on,
through northern capital and enter
prise, OF one OF the finest banks of specular
ore in the country, combined with red and
brown hematites in close proximity. And
remarkable to say, these last properties |
are being examined and developed to add
to the industries of Northern States in |
feeding their furnaces, instead of contrib |
uting to the wealth of Virginiaby the es-
Enlistment of iron industries here.
The truth is, the outside world had no |
knowledge until recently of the rich min |
eral wealth of this portion of Virginia, and |
now the information is confined to a linn |
tied circle. The time is not far distant, |
however, when the industries which have |
lifted Pennsylvania from poverty to wealth,
will revOlutionize Virginia, and send cur
rent of life and vigorous activity through
her decrepid old frame, that will transform
her from a state of lassitude and mac
ton to a condition of enterprise and pros
perity.
These mineral interests. are attract
ing attention from every section, and
it is with reference to their development
and utilization that fresh activity is being
showed in railroad enterprises. The Shen-
andoah Valley Road is slowly making its
way along rich mineral belt, to the inter-
section of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
road. The Valley Railroad authorities are
anxious to resume work on the extension
south OF Staunton, so as to accommodate
the iron interests near Midway, and further
South. The Clifton Forge and Buchanan
Road is gradually progressing to compile
ton for the purpose OF bringing the fuel of
est Virginia in contact with the ores Of
3amss River. 4 new road is in progress
from Hinton, ~ Va. down New River to
the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, to
develop the 9eSae IL Of Southwest Virginia.
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