Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1882-01-10
From the Baltimore Times.
Virginia And Her People.

Perhaps few States in the Union-Ccr-
tainly only one or two in the South
have outstripped Virginia in material
development since the close OF the war.
As the great armies Of both cOntCnding
sections made her soil their principal
battle-grounds. Virginia came out Ofthc
conflict with more disasters than any
other State, and for some years thcreaf-
ter hcl people were in Il most dcplorable
condition, and their hopes and prospects
for the future were shrouded in impcn-
etrablc gloom. The change that has
taken place in the last few years has
been wonderful, and there is no State
among all of her Northern sisters whose
knew developments have been greater or
whose prospects for the future are
brighter
Thirty-iivc years ago, when the first
railroad into thcuplands of Virginia was
projected, the following memorable SEN
timent was offered at II dinner party Civ
en- by the Hon. Jos. Scgar now dead:
"Ict us tunnel the mountains" 1t was
received with faint applause by II few,
but excited the derision and disgust of
the many old Bourbons who honestly
thought that old-iHshioncd stage coaches
at five miles an hour and country Wag-
ons, laden with the fruitful products Of
the soil, could not be safely r"constitu-
tionally' dispensed with under any cir
CumstanCes. In fact, one venerable and
much respected citizen, living and oW-
inc the lands under the very shadow of
the famous Peaks Of Otter, felt himself
so much aggricvcd and his rights so much
infringcd by the obtruSiOn of the first
railroad through his "saCrcd soil, ~ that
for two years he resisted from the lowest
to the highest courts the extension of
the great Norfolk and Western line
through his premises, and for eight
years after the shrill whistle Of the To-
conceive engine in place Of the toot of
the stage horn had been heard in his
section, continued to send his vast pro-
duets to market, forty miles distant, aud
to ride down In his coach ana four TO at
! tend to its sale and delivery, considering
! that the cheapest aud most convenient
mode Of business.
But the times have materially changed
since then and with them have changed
! the men Of the period.
| The stalwart old Bourbon at the base
| Of the Blue Ridge, with nearly all Of
his contemporaries, has passed away,
and with them have disappeared most of
their anliquatcd ideas aud foolish pref
udceS. In their places have sprung up
race with advanced views, industry
| and enterprise. Railroads now p"uC-
! tratc, or are IN rapid course Of ronstrur-
ton, IN nearly every section Of the Oid
| Dominion. The Blue Ridge andth ALLIE
ghanics have been "luunrllcd' NJ many
points by great trunk lines, extending
! through the heart orthr Slatcaud slrrlCh-
! ING hundreds of miles beyond the border
| into the great cotton and gMin-grOWiUg
belts of the South aud West; and each Of
! these great lines Is rapidly stretching out
| short arms on either side to develop Tire
! mineral resources which nature has 80
prOluscIy layiShcd upon nearly every
section Of her territory. within the sim
gle year just closed rs many aS ITO miles
OF new road have been completed, and
many more are now In course of con-
structon. No State in The South, save
! Texas, can show II more favorable
exhibit than this IN railroad progress.
One line alonc-thc Richmond and Allie
ghnny-folOwiug the course of the
James from t'dc-wa,er to williamson
23l miles IN distance, was completed In
n few days less time than year, and j.
now in splendid running ORDER and II
wonder Of the times.
But in addition to the rapid progress
Of railroad development IN he state,
the llow Of Northern capital into that
section In the Inst few years has been
wonderful and Is very encouraging
Besides the twelve or lirlccumlllions cN-
pended IN the construct. II oi new lHll-
roads, n vast amount has been ne
lively invested in mining aud nanu-
ratuliug enterprises of various kinds
aud other private pursuits, which has
given mn immense impetus toucw indust-
rirs and development, 0ud will add mill
lions to the general growth and prosper
ity Of the State, ON the whole, the
future of Virginia is far more cheering
than II has been ut any time IN her long
aud cyentful history, and IN the nest
decade she promises to outstrip the Lead
ing State of her section aud rival the
foremost ones Of the North tn growth
and development.