Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-05-16
VIRGINIA..
| From the New York Times, y


has so favorable position al once for eli
mate and commercial connections a Nir-
ginia Tue conditions of climate and soil,
especially in the upland country, favor the
growth Of the most Yigorousl looking men
in any part Of the Union. In the upper val
ley region and the mountains there is prob
ably not Il more healthy tract Of country in
the civilized world. 1t is equally favorable
10 the growth Of animal as OF man, and the
finest stock Of the United States may be
seen in the valleys Of Southwestern Virgin
ia. whose beef is now held 10 be the best sent
to Northern markets. The State is wonder
fully favored III It's connections with the sea
through Tie various rivers emptying into
The Cncsaveake Bay, and in the railroads
which now bind the co!tou-growing coun-
try OF the South and Southwest with the
excellent harbor a. the mouth Of the
James.
Ii is hardly known to Northern readers
what prodigous development is going on
in this State. Northern and European cap.
ital is pouring into various portions of the
country to develop he unknown and Won
derfu resources which have laid concealed
for more than two centuries. The tldeWa-
ter region near Norfolk and the James riv-
er has become the garden for the early
vegetables and fruits for the Northern
cities. The country about Hampton is
winter sanitarium for great numbers
Of people who feel the severe cold OF
The North, but cannot bear the enervat-
inc Influences Of the extreme South.
Richmond has become, with its wonderful
water power, one of the most promising
manufacturing towns of the United States,
and the railroad lines through that city and
Norfolk make the shortest connections any
where existing between the cotton country
of Tennessee, Alabama and Mlsslsslppa and
the Atlantic harbors bound by commerce
with Liverpool. In fact, new commercial
harbor has already been built up by the
energy Of ~ Northern citizen, at Newport
News, Oh the James. This is probably des-
tined hereafter TO be one O.! the great en-
trepots Of the cotton trade. Factories are
being started at FaYmvi!ie, Lynchi:urg and
in many other towns of The State, and
new manufacturing town. already number
ing thousands Of inhabitants, has been built
in the lust two years al Roanoke, the juno
iion Of the Shenandoah Valley and Norfolk
and Western roads. Farming has not fallen
behind manufacture in rapid development,
and the traveller may see lii the Rarldan
and Shenandoah Valleys farms equal to
some OF the best in Pennsylvania. But The
greatest development oI the Stale may be
found III the Southwestern counties, WhIch
iorGi by far the most attractive portion ol
Virginia for immigrants. This is q coun-
t.v of beautiful natura! features, with park
like "o;,k openings" rolling hills and some
fine mountains. the valleys having pastures
as rich and green as the hest English pas
turo land with cattle grazing in them OF
the best stock.
Great efforts havc been made TO improve
the breeds. and the SouthweStcrr Virginia
beef now commands The highest prices III
Baltimore aud New York. These pictn:-
esoue valleys are bof,ier2d by mountains
filed with mineral wealth. and it is evident
that in the future this portion Of Virginia IS
to be one Of the richest mineral-proGucing
regions on the Northern Continent. The
immense advantage Of Virginia iron-lnlning
will be that the coal and lime lie immedi-
ately adjoining the iron, so that pg-lron
MAY be produced i'll Virginia mine for 81
per tor which would cost from Sl5 TO SIT in
PENNSYLVANIA This fact alone ought 10
make the State favorable 10 low tariffs, as
her mining is entirely independent of pro
lection but III all countries tue beginning
Of manufacturing production is accompanied
by a demand for governmental protection,
and the Virginia manufacturing is no eX-
ccpt;o The manufacturers do not see
what lha Massachusetts manufacturers so
clearly behold-that u higt protective taritl
will in the long run cripple their own pro-
duciicn.