The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-07-14
Letter from Philadelphia.
Especial Correspondence of the vIEeINIAS.l
PHILADELPHIA. July 0, 1881.

affairs of Virginia. This may arise from
selfish considerations, in view of the well
established fact that the immense mineral
resources of Virginia have but recently had
attention drawn to them Be this as 1t
may, the fact exists that political and indus
trial movements in your state are watched
with more than ordinary concern. and eve
nv phase of each is weighed and measured
with reference to its influence upon the fu-
ture OF your commonwealth. THIS may
be reasonably accounted for in the fact that
large pecuniary Investments have been
made by citizens of Philadelphia, and still
more extensive enterprises are in contem-
plation, to be directed 10y Northern energy
and means The Quinnimont and Eureka
iron properties. the Iron and Steel Works at
Lynchburg, and the more recent organiza-
ton of the Atlantic and Ohio Railroad
Company have representatives in the CITY
of Brotheriy Love, and OF course these have
their influence in directicg attention to
Virginia affairs. The latter company is not
vet in complete organization, but is APP
preaching that condition rapidly. and VIII
be fully equipped aid manned as soon as
some technical and essential impediments
are removed. the consummation OF which
is controlled only by the element OF time.
Those inter, sted in this company number
among them some of the most successful
and enterprising business men OF the
9,aI hair af
rected to the country which will be developed
by the construction of railroad from deep
water on the Potomac at Matthias Point,
to the Ohio River. at Point Pleasant, by the
representations of Mr.. r. N. Pool. who
has an Office in this city at All Walnut
street. Mr.. Pool seems 10 be thoroughly
familiar with the geography, geology d
mineralogy Of the section OF country to be
penetrated by the Atlantic and Ohioroad and
as his statements as to resources have been
amply sustained and verified by thorough
examinations on the part OF scientific eX-
perts sent out for that purpose, the interest
manifested by our capitalists is easily eX-
planned A region of country. rich in coal,
iron, timber. and fertile, soil, without any
approaches from the great centres OF trade,
is something rare in the Northern States.
Such wealth could not lie dead and idle any
place north of the Potomac or west OF the
Ohio. Indeed Virginia and West Virginia
are to-day newer countries for all practical
business purposes, than any OF the West
ern States, and less is known of their
vast natural af1luence than of the resources
of the territories of the Rocky Mountains
and the States of the Pacific slope. This
railroad scheme, as proposed, To which ref
erence is made, stretches fir III the Potomac
to the Ohio river. connecting in the east
with all the marts OF trade. and in the west
with the systems of internal improvements
which reach out in every dir, ction. accom-
modating the productions OF the whole
boundless West and Northwest, and open
ing up an intervening country now entirely
isolated and unknown, yet rich i'll all the
courteous bestowmerts Of nature and COM
prisiny the wealth of an empire. 1t is
strange, indeed. that a territory inferno
U1dIC DGIMct1l tIlC oCtdles ldNChSU WIN Y
nv variety of material ealth, with genial
and healthiul climate, should have remained
incoqnito. The Mother of States and of
Presidents is not unknown to political
fame. In council and field the genius Of her
sons has shown out to her honor. But the
natural productions which she possesses
that run the business of the world and di-
rect the currents OF commerce, have lain
dormant and the material power of the
Commonwealth left to dwarf ana decay be-
cause of the absence of the agencies for
their development. Had similar care and
attention been given to the utilization OF
these natural forces that have been appro-
priated to the discussion and solution of
political problems, Virginia to-day would
be one of the most powerful, wealthy and
influential Commonwealth in the sister,
hood. Her sons became masters in the
fields of diplomacy and oratory, and in the
refining distractions OF the political do
main, while her vast mountains and valleys
of riches were suffered to remain untouched
by the hand of industry and to rest in the
beds where nature had placed them.
There, however, will be an awakening
from this condition of things. The premo-
nitions are already manifest, and the near
future will witness extraordinary stir and
activity in the material development of
Virginia. There is one great draw back.
and that is the constant agitation of yOnr
debt complications. The true policy is to
face the fact that the debt is the result of
confidence reposed in the honesty and in
tegrity of the people of Virginia, and that
the good faith thus implied must be main
tanned at all hazards. 1t is anomalous to the
people of Pennsylvania, whose eXpe' fence
forty years ago was not unlike Virginia's OF
to-day, that in this age, of enterprise and
development, Virginia should plead
poverty when she has the wealth of an en-
pire, now for the first time springing into
| life under the touch of Northern capital. The
corporate industries of Pennsylvania, which
now bear the burthens of State, are the result
of the development of her mineral resources.
Forty years ago she was on the verge OF repu-
diation, but brave hearts and wise counsels
came to the rescue. The mines were ex-
| plored, coal and iron exposed, furnaces and
factories established, and to-day the lands of
the Commonwealth are relieved of the bur-
! then of taxation, while the furnaces and fac
tories, railroads, banks and insurance compa-
MES, all growing out of the industries nsti-
tuted and fostered as the result of the utlli-
cation of the mineral resources, are supplying
the public treasury with the means to meet
all demands upon it. In a few years Virginia
could show similar results if her people would
rise above the appeals of the demagogues who
! prey upon her yitals, announce their deter
minatlon to maintain State credit, respect the
rights of her creditors. and place the State in
the role of debt-paying Commonwealth. The
sentiment OF the business people of the North,
and especially of the capitalists who are now
interesting themselves in the development OF
Virginias resources, is very hostile to the pol
| icy of the Re-adjusters of your State. There
are several papers in Philadelphia which NOM
nally favor the faction Gen. Malone repre-
sents, but they do not reflect the sentiments Of
the city or State. They take a superficial and
idealistic view of the mere partizan features