The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-05-05
Try at Home.


The Virginia newspapers are noting
redux Of the tide of emigration
from that State which set in after
Appomattox and ever since has rolled
on in varying volume. 1t seemed
the darkest of succession of dark
days for Virginia when Lee surrend-
cred. CA vast battle field for four
years, stripped of nearly everything
in the nature Of movable property,
her untold sacrifices were unavail-
ing, and now she was broken and
disheartened. It was natural that
her young men, and some of her
middle aged men, should be eager
for fresh start anywhere out Of
Virginia.
The West and Southwest, pointing
to their cheap and fertile lands, made
seductive bids. Here were. fortune
and adventure on the same road, and
the tide flowed that way. Hardships
was to be romance, privation a
mere variation of the monotony of
financial success. These emigrants
were willing to do anything, dare
anything, that would bring the re-
ward. Many of them have done well.
1t is doubtful whether there is one Of
them who could not have done equally
as well in his own State. Some of
them have not done so we'll as the
industrious pushing ones who re-
NAMED behind, and these are turning
their steps homeward. This is the
phenomenon to which the Virginia
newspapers are calling attention, and
on this ready text they are preaching
sermons of good advise to the young
men of their State. The Lynchburg
Adrance, taking sensible view Of
the situation, describes the hard
ships, privations and countless sac
rifices of pioneer life, and very per
tinctly adds: "Any young man in
Virginia, who will go to the rich,
cheap mountain lands of Virginia,
work and live the same way, will
save more money, and can each year
buy Virginia land, and live better,
have better health, and when he gets
little ahead, have better society, and
better chance to invest his money.
We know Of thousands of acres in
Virginia, nearer to market, nearer to
churches and school, rich, productive
in fruit, in tobacco. wheat, rye, oats
or potatoes, adjoining large mountain
ranges for hogs and cattle, but the
difficulty is our people will not go to
these places and live and work as they
do on the frontiers of Texas, Kansas
and other new States"
What our contemporary so well
says of Virginia, its rich resources
and golden opportunities, applies
with even greater force to the more
virgin State Of West Virginia. In
the natural features of this State
there is everything to attract the
settler. The farmer, the stockman,
the miner, the lumberman and the
manufacturer find here all the mater
ials and conditions for the success
full conduct of their several indus
tries. Lands are cheap, market near
at hand.
No West Virginian need go away
from his own State to find profitable
employment for his capital and his
labor. And both of the Virginias
possess advantages for which new
communities in the far West and the
Southwest must wait and toll for
many years. Let our young men
who are looking abroad for openings
cast their eyes around on this home
land Of plenty and try first its promise
and its yield. Let them go to work
here as they would in some remote
spot, and with far less sacrifice the
outcome will be at least as great
Intelligeacer.