The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-03-13

| tread along the old, beaten path in an easy,
| quiet way, and has noC developed her agri-
cultural and other resources as have other
States. Her capital being employed in agri
culture there has been little left to devote to
manufactures, mining, and extending her
railroad lines to the wealthy cities and re-
gions of the great and dominant Tor is to be-
west. Then Virginia has, for many years
past, been the maker of presidents (as War
wick was the maker of kings, and has been
content to devote her energies and time
(Which is money to politics and theories OF
government, and to presidential SUGGESTIONS.
"During the existence of slavery the State
was almost wholly an agricultural one, and
all the capital OF the people was invested in
ands and negroes. The necessity of man
ufacturing is perceived now with great force,
to convert our ores into metals, particularly
the immense deposits OF iron; these metals,
| in conjunction with our extensive, valuable
timbers, into machinery; our yarns and cot
ton, so near our border, as well as that rails
ed within the State, into clothing; TO utilize
our large supplies of the best oak bark in
the establishment OF extensive tanneries to
convert our iron into steel, and that into
cutlery of all kinds, and to utilize our re-
sources in every available way. Each man.
ufactory gives employment to much labor
that would be idle, and converts consumers
into producers, and affords the best markets
for the farmers supplies.
Manufacturing is not greatly advanced
in the State-is almost in its infancy, in
| deed, in comparison with what it should be !;
| but, before the financial troubles, had been
developing in very satisfactory manner.
| Even before the war, in the time Of slavery,
! there was more manufacturing than gener-
ally supposed. The census of 1860 gives the
annual value of products of manufactures
in Virginia at s50,652,l24
'The census for 1870 gives the products Of
manufacture for Virginia at $3S, 1864 1922, the
statistics Of mining, quarrying, and fishing
industry being excluded from these tables,
while they are included in that of 1860,
| which would make difference of probably
eight or nine millions. The manufactures
embrace great variety of products, but the
principal ones are those Of flour and tobac-
co, iron, cotton, lumber (sawed), agricultural
implements, and machinery.
AUGUSTA COUNTY.
The following facts and statistics of this
county, will prove interesting: "Augusta
is one Of the counties of the famous s'Valley
of r;,,io -
mountainous on its east and west bounda-
ries, which are the Blue Ridge and Appa-
lachian chain. The valleys betw cen these
mountains are extensive and very fertile,
embracing the head waters of the Shenan-
doah river and the ''Valley of Virginia" at
its greatest width. 1t is about So miles long
and 30 wide, with an undulating surface
Astounding in hills, fertile and we'll watered
valleys, with water-power. 1t abounds in
variety of soils, producing wheat, corn, oats,
rye, barley, buckwheat, potatoes, turnps,
beets, &c.; also the various grasses for hay
and pasturage. This county is noted for its
fine horses, fine cattle, hogs and sheep, tn
latter having been greatly increased and in
proved since the enactment of ''dog law
for their protection. This county is notable
for the number and excellence Of its flour
ng mills, propelled by the finest water
power. 1t has CTS, 707 acres of land, assess
ed at $3.50, 140. The population in 1870
was 49, 1853; now, including city of Staun-
ton, is about $4,000. The number OF farm
animals horses, mules, &C.. in 1878, S, 643;
cattle, 1865; swine, %, l43; sheep, II, 2S7.
There are many mineral springs of excel
lent water of their kinds, among them the
Stribling springs, and many minerals
found in this county, such as iron ore,
(brown hematite and specular). manganese
in large Quantities, marble, kaolin, with
large factory awaiting capital to operate ir,
and coal Of a anthracite character. There
are six or more iron furnaces, besides a con-
siderable number of FORCES, which have been
operated in this county on the vast deposits
of iron ores. The various fruits thrive in
this county. Timber: hickory, chestnut,
walnut, poplar, maple, beech, dog-wood,
white-ash, locust, pine. cedar, &c. Tanners
bark may be had in large quantities, and
slaves, hoop poles, sc. The healthiuness
OF this region is noted. TIE Chesapeake &
OHIO railroad passes through it, and is in
tersected at Stanton by the Valley railroad,
connecting it with Baltimore in nine hours,
the macadamlzed VALLEY pike, - an excel
lent road, giving ready communication to
various markets east, west and north. |
Stanton, flourishing and beautifully stu
ated town of 400 inhabitants, is the coun-
ty seat; here are the western Lunatc |
Asylum" the Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb
and Blind,' four female eollegessunder the |
Presbyterian, Episcopal, Methodist and |
Lutheran denominations, but not sectarian), |
the Augusta Female Seminary, the Virginia
Female Institute, the Wesleyan Female
institute and the Staunton Female Semi
nary. Staunton is destined to be large
town, possessing great advantages. The
people of Augusta are intelligent, industri-
Gus and homogeneous. Through the coun-
ty stretches band of magnetism limestone.
and it is found near Wier's cave, west of
Waynesboro', northwest of Staunton, near
the base of Little North mountain, and nu-
merous other places. Its hydraulic charac-
ter has been we'll tested. This limestone,
from which hydraulic cement is made by |
burning, constitutes an important part of |
the formation Of the valley, both from its
extent and economical value. It's usually |
of BLUSH grey, sometimes blended with yell |
low or brown, and sometimes dark blue, but
the best guide to its recognition is the dull.
ness of the surface even when freshly brok-
en-, and the absence Of fine grain of most
limestones.
ga New York firm has recently leased |
the Craigvllle marble quarry in this county,
and expect to work it largely. The marble
is represented as being very superior, finish
ing up in beautiful style, being more dura-
BILE and smoother than the Tennessee mar
BILE, and equal to much OF the Italian mar
Bile which is used on the finest furniture
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.-Sun day night |
last, Rev. Father McKeefry, of the Catholic