Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-03-09
FRIDAY MORNING. MAR. 9. 1888.
AN OPPORT UNITY Fur HOLD
ERS OF VALLEY LAND.

AN OPPORT UNITY Fur HOLD
ERS OF VALLEY LAND.
Pursuing a subject commenced last
week, we give below letter from Judge
Charles Grattan which should attract tEA
attention of those who own land iil1-Au-
gusta and the Valley counties. We
need say nothing to reinforce his argu-
ments, bat we can add this: that if our
land-holders will take some practical steps
in this matter they will find in him an
active and able coadjutor and in this pa
per a very earnest one:
Editor Vindieator
Your editorial of last week was in the right
direction. It is subject that has been fire.
ouently in my mind and the reasons you give
are perfectly sound. Experience teaches us it
is vain to look for immigration from the East.
And that this is the proper time, and these
the circumstances to expect it from the West,
I am equally we'll persuaded-if we use the
proper methods. 1t is interest that takes the
bulk of our young men to the West. few
go for a life of adventure, but while this suits
only few of our more active, and restless
spirits among the men, it suits still smaller
number among the women of our country, and
1t is in their interest as well as that of the
men that am anxious the veil should be lift
ed to let men see that neither their interests
nor their pleasure calls them to leave their
fatherland.
One of the first considerations to be weighed
in this matter is that of health, and in this
particular I would appeal confidently to the
statistics to show that ours is by far healthier
country than the new lands of the West. An
other great desideratum is that of a society
that is pure in its tone and vigorous in its
morality, and for this commend me always to
a country that has been settled for a long
time by people whose population is homo
geneous, whose laws are fixed and faithfully
executed, whose religious training is the out
come of years. and whose home-circle training
presents strong barrier to the commission of
crime; as against a country comparatively
new, settled by the restless spirits of all lands,
whose laws have not hardened into conss-
tency, and where the inhabitants are not
taught and steadied by the traditions of the
past.
In schools we are equal to the very best of
our Western brethren, except perhaps in the
form and stateliness of their buildings-where
the money came from land grants-but we
have q school house in reach of every man
which is comfortable, and if not elegant is
paid for.
In church facilities we are behind no peo-
pie in the world.
In climate we live between the billiards.
and cyclones of the Northwest and the parch-
ing suns of the South, and as you well say
those disadvantages will year by year be in
tensified by the cutting down of our Western
forests which will shortly make once fertile
country a bleak expanse of frozen plain in
.ater and parched surface in summer. From
these evils we are forever protected by our
mountains, and their vast numbered surfaces,
which not only serve as barriers against the
billiards. and as cloud compelling Jupiters-
but hide in their rocky ribs mineral wealth
whose development only waits the word of
energy and means to make ours one of the
richest as we are now one of the happiest of
people.
How are these great advantages to be brought
to the attention of our Western friends?
The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad company
suaded from what I have heard and know of
the N. N. & M. V. company that they will
not be left behind in this race of develop
ment and philanthropy. The B. & o. suggest
that the citizens OF each county organize
local In migration and Industrial Improve
ment Society, requiring a nominal fee from
each individual to defray expense of prepar-
ing and issuing circulars papers or pamph-
lets, describing the resources and capabilities
of the county, opportunities for all branches
of farming, manufacturing mining, and
mercantile pursuits, market facilities, school
and church advantages, &c.
The road agrees to receive and distribute
any number of such publications among
those looking for location, free of charge.
The circular also suggests pieces in our
county papers on these subjects, and extra
copies of these papers ordered for distribu-
ton. And to facilitate these views the road
aforesaid makes very advantageous and liber-
al rates for the transportation over its lines
of parties looking for locations, their house.
hold effects and building material-one-half
current rates. free transportation over its
lines for families and domestics of the first
occupants of the dwellings SO erected; the
establishment of stations, switches, telegraph
and express offices, as soon as warranted
there are several other concessions which are
very liberal and in which I am sure the N. N.
& M. Y. will join.
Now what is there in the West to counter
balance all these advantages of ours
Heretofore their lands have been cheaper and
more productive than ours and the railroads
have by reason of unfair determinations put
them nearer market than we are. These
things are no longer SO. Their lands are no
longer cheaper than good lands may be bought
here, and the railroads, if not yet will soon
be compelled to cease their unfair discrimina
tions against us. Now all that remains Is the
question of production. For several decades
the production of wheat per acre on
the lands of the great wheat growing section
of the United States has steadily diminished
and at the same time with us has advanced.
The census of 1880 shows the average wheat
production of Augusta county per acre to be
over III bushels; of Dakota county, Mime
sofa, one of the large wheat growing counties
of that State, 10a; of Bourbon county, Kan
sas, 81; of Grurdy county, Iowa. liz.
think it is plain that these are facts and
figures that will make sensible men of the
West turn their eyes Eastward, and 1 am salts