The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-02-13
A Word From Virginia.

VIENNA, VA, reUy o, loo0'
Editor Of ENTERPRISE:
In the two pleasant visits l have made
to Lurain county | learned Of many that
contemplated ST eking home Ia the South,
and as have neither ak to grind or lands
to sell write This with the hope thai it
may aid someone at least in the selection
of II location fora home and perhaps 10
prevent some mislak SO many are liable
10 make 10 removing 10 a new aud untriet
country The tide Of immigration flow ing
S0uthward since The war; aud especially
10 Virginia, has bul the one attraction, ihr
mild and even temperature oi its china e.
Situated between The extreme parallels o
heat aud cold it is free from the storns
and Dllzzards of the Norlh as well MS tie
levers and burning heat ut the exreme
South. While most of the c''uBtIy IS hul
gently rolling or undulatinr In lis surface
between The ocean aud the mountains long
level valleys lie stretched oui between the
two ranges Of mountains and west of them
to the Onio Riv,r the county is NOR,
rough aud brokru than the eastern part Of
the State. From almost every hillside II d
ravine Dever.failing spring runs out 10
form the source OF innumeraIle little rlv-
erets that when Joined together make
historic Potomac or some one Ot the hun
dred rivers flowing oceanward. If the
soil was ever Ms rich In the elements Of
plant TO as that of Ohio when fiist
turned b, the plow then years OF slave
farming and the evaporation and drainage
of open winters has male II necessity u
use some kind,of commercial fertilizer
in restoring the land toa pay Ing produc-
tiveness There is Tor all practical pul.
poses but tw o kinds or characters Of our
snil and NO chemical analysis IS needed 10
determine its nature, for the eye can see
at glance in the color aud composition
its needs or capabilities. II the soil be
dark in color, apparently free from sand
and gravel, 1t will he easy titled, easy i'm
proved, and as lasting IN production as
any Ohio farm lands. The most sterile or
barren land is Of lighter shade or color,
mostly Of coarse sand and gravel, with a
modicum Of yellowsh clay, and while IT
is worthless and never can be made pro-
duclive for agricultural purposes il Is par.
excellence for the fruit culturlst, FOR il |
colors and natures his fruit in greater |
beauty and perfection than can ever be |
grown on the dark red l0am. Because ol
cheap lands many man has bought and
settled In an isolated location away from
society or It's schOOls and churchrs. and In |
a few years went back IN the place Of his |
coming. WAS Union sailor 10 The war |
and some Of my best friends and klndest |
urighbors are ex.c0niedcrale soldiers, yet |
for all that make the assertion without |
any fear of a successful contradiction that
Southern bitterness towards the North and
Its people was not surrendered at Apo
nstox, and no Northern family can ever
feel that they are welcomed among them,
and no home life can ever be made pleas.
ant unless In colonies of their own people.
1t might be sail without exception that
where there is passable road a new
church or a school house il Is the handi-
work Of our Northern settlers, and where
one had the means to pay for lands and
10 improve them located among the peo.
pie Of his own birth or creed they are
happy and contented. No climate or sec
lion was ever blessed with health mole
than ours Generous treatment 0i tie
land brings generous returns and many
happy home now stands where once was
mass desolation.
w. b. LEWIS.