The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-03-24
LEE'CouNTY.


JOrEsyiLLE, VA, March II, 1881.
Editors Of the Dispatch: You people
surrounded by your uxi,ries OF trade ana
travel, your railroads, canals, and navI-
gable streams, must not think that your
less fortunate kinsmen In the mountains OF
the Southwest are without Interest 10 all
that affects the hopes, welfare. and future
prosperity OF the good old State. We are
part Of the web-one OF the cxtrcmitics, II
Is true-and we feel every touch that Vi
brates the web. And we have many OF the
resources that will eventually make the
State rich and prosperous. She has always
been great and glorious, but these resources
are undevcIoped for want OF capital and eX-
perenced and skilled labor to develop them,
and for want Of easy means OF Iransporta-
ton 10 market. But all these things will
come, and come soon, when IL Is once
known bow much wealth is really lying idle
here in our mountains. These sources Of
wealth are coal, in inexhaustible quantities,
easy OF access, and OF the very finest quail.
ty; iron ore as fine in quality, as rich in
quantity, as man would have made il II he
bad been the architect that designed IL:
timber Of all kinds-tbe stately poplar, the
sturdy oak. the valuable walnut, the beauti-
full beech, the sweet maple, the ash, The
elm-in fact, all the kinds or varieties OF
good marketable value are here in abund-
ance. Add 10 this fertile soil, adapted TO
grazing. farming, fruit-growing. DC. What
more does the emlgrant or the capitalist
seeking a home or investment for his money
desire! Our county last fall sold and sent
TO market 100000 worth OF cattle. hogs.
and horses, and has shipped during the
winter $4,000 worth OF grain. This is out
side OF sheep, fruits (dry and green). lum-
Der, and logs. So we are not without
money as it Is. but we want more; beuce
our anxiety TO see our rich mines OF coal
and iron fully developed. This desire is
not a selfish one. We are willDG-yea, anX
ious-to see men from abroad with capital
and skill come among us and share with Us
the bountiful provisions Nature has given
Us.
We are interested. too, in politics, the
State debt, &c. This intermnaDle agitation
OF the State debt has been and still i, "A great
injury TO the State. Every corner. every
industry. every individual, is affected By il,
and injuiiOusIy affected. Neither capital
nor emigration will seek investment or hunt
home in a State whose financial policy Is
unsettled. This is general proposition.
but it is given tcDfold force when repudla-
ton. either direct or indirect, Is squinied at.
or where the sacrednesS OF contract, are
held in light esteem. Unfortunately our
State is in this situation. For the love of
honor, for the love OF our state, for >elf'in-
terest, VI nothing else will mOye us. let liz
settle the debt, and settle it on an honorable
basis. | am going to suggest no pl1us 10y
which it NAV he done; but hold, and have
always held, that II the people could rid
themselves Of such place hunters IS Malone
and his followers, whose only bartle-cry is
"To the victor ,he spoil>."
&c :, that soon, very soon, the debt would be
settled on terms honorable to the State and
satisfactory TO the people. HARLAN.