The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-03-22
The Future Of the South.

The following article taken from the
Baltimore Mangfacturer's Record, states
known facts, almost every one Of which ap-
plies to Virginia. The possibilities before
the Old Commonwealth are beyond colpn-.
tation. With our, local questions, which
have 50 long disturbed and distracted logr
people and drawn their minds away from,
their material, Interests, permanently dis,
posed OF. the future presents an inviting,
and propitions promise. Inquiry has never,
beer, SO frequent and earnest as to the min.
eral properties Of Virginia, Almost every,
day brings capitalists into the, State, look;
Ing Tor Investments, and no one, OF them
that is not more than pleased with the mar
yelous undeyeloped wealth which is pre-
seLted. II along the Shenandoah, Valley
railroad, the irou districts are receiving at
tention, AMI the superior qualify Of the ore
practically attested. giving assurance that,
the time is near for Virginia TO be known
Tor what she IS intrinsicaly worth. The
article below will be. read with interest by
all who. feel pride in Virginia and the
South, and are hopefnl, Of The future:
When we sit down 70 consider the future OF
the Southern States, it Is scarcely possible 10
begin to comprehend what viii liz the bril-
lianceof the Jay that isbut just dawning upon
that section. 1he mind 10 oyerM helmed with
an attempt 70 grasp the mighty possibilities
That are rapidly becoming Realities iii the States
that stretch from the southern limits OF Penn
sylyania 10 Mexico Within that compass the
,t,Io 10, =
wv 700 acres more than III the ten Western
States. As yet however, culnpa aliYely small
part OF thls ~ uprVYett iand, -shere Icing mil
lions VI acres Of virgin soil that have never been
tucked with the pow" Ii We look only III
the agricultural resources oIlnt South, We can
not but wonder a. their marvellous extent and
value. II IL only Of lHte years thai 1le world
Is realizing that Tor agriculture the South offers
advantages not surpassed by any other part Of
the country. Even under the system OF itarm-
ing which has been carried on ~ long in the
South, but IS now giving way 10 the march OF
improvement, me agricultural productions OF
The fourteen Southern Stales aggregate In
value about $8U0, wv, 000 year.. II this is the
result OF the present farming operations upon |
only very small part of the total area OF the |
South, one may Wen wonder what will be the !
show ing when these operalf0asAre doubled in |
extent ami more Than doubled ln the aggregate
productions. through improved Methods OF
cultivation now being introduced. In variety |
and value the agricultural products OF the |
South Will, ere many years have passed, sur. !
pass even the great West. For stock raising, |
probably no other section offers advantage |
that can compare with those Ot tile southern |
States, where there Is atundsncs OF grazing, |
and where the winters are so mid ~ " make !
the cost of keeping stock during that period |
far lighter than in the West or North.
1t is, however, when we turn from the agrl-
cultural to The manufacturing and mining re-
sources OF The South that we are more than baf-
tied in an attempt to picture the future Of
land upon which nature has SO lavishly be-
slowed her blessings. Coal, iron, gold, SILVER,
and almost all other minerals, are found in vast
abundance, and some of them in such limitless
quantities as to defy exhaustion in a thousand
years. They are so situated, 100, rs TO reduce
the cost OF mining and working them to the !
minimum. y,gaS 4sffsE 4s-q f., vns.,4-,-
Iron and coal are found in such close proxi-
nifty and SO easily worked as TO make il a Ger
tainty that in the not very distant future the
South will be the iron manufacturing centre OF
the country, and following this Will rapidly |
come the many manufacturing industries that I
must be located where iron is the cheapest.
The beginning of this is already seen, and the ,
world is fast realizing the rapid
change in that direction ii0@ iii progress.
In the manufacture of cotton the South is I
making giant strides that are rapidly telling /
not only upon the welfare OF thai section, but l.
are exerting vast influence upon all other I
parts Of the United States as y, ii M tpOn the
cotton manufacturing centres OF the old world i
Millions and even ten milliCns OF dollars have l
been invested in Southern cotton mills within |
the last wv years, and yet liiere is room for /
millions more The wealth OF Timber in the i