Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1889-04-12
The Boom in virsinia.

Col. TnOS. WnlCeneau, the Ctdte
Commissioners of Agriculture for Vir-
ginia, in recent talk with the CORE
spondent of the Baltimore Sun ex-
pressed the opinion that more immi-
grants will settle in Virginia this year
than any year in the last quarter OF a
century. Discussing this subject,
Commissioner Whitehead said:
During the prese mt year am sure
that more than thousand Virginia
farms have been sold to persons out
side of the State. The most of these
purchasers were from Michigan, Min
nesota, Iowa and other Western and
Northwestern States, and some few
from the Middle States. Most of the
immigrants settle i'm the Piedmont and
Valley counties, and some few in the
southside, but not many. Although
land can be bought in that portion OF
the State for a few dollars an acre,
equally as good in many respects as
that sold for fifty or sixty dollars in
Piedmont, the settlers from the West
and North show a decided preference
for the latter section. The explana-
ton of this is that these white men do
not desire to locate in the counties
where the negroes predominant. Ma
nv of the Western men tell me frank
ly that they will not settle in section
where it is possible for colored super
visors to have the control Of the finan-
ces of the county. | find that allpros'
pective settlers, no matter from what
section of the Union they may hail,
pretty generally understand and ap-
preciate the Importance OF locating In
a country where the whites are sure
to dominate.
Most of the inquiries for the lands
of the Southwest come from Pennsyl-
vania. You see that portion of our
State abounds in coal and iron. which
attracts the attention of capitalists OF
the keystone State. We frequently
receive queries, though, for many 9TH
er minerals found in the counties OF
the Southwest. Why, it was not
very long ago that the president OF a
large glass mandatory North wrote
Inc about plaster He said his estab-
lishment annually used thousands of
tons, and wanted to know where he
could find gypsum in large quantities
in our State. In reply inform ed this
gentleman that there was an mex
supply in the counties of
and Wythe.
"There isn't day that some stran-
ger does not drop in either to ask
about lands minerals, timber or to in
Qure the best point locate some man
ufacturing plant. These callers EN-
brace men from nearly every State in
the Union. You see we are sending
printed matter all over the country
calling attention to our climate, pro-
ducts and great industrial resources.
We cordially invite and will welcome
all honest settlers, it matters not from
what portion of the country they may
come.
Il will tell YOU" said Col White
head, lit will not be long, | believe,
before we will have fifty or hundred
thousand white settlers located in
this State. When that is accom-
plished you can readily see what it
will mean. Besides increasing our
taxable values immensely, it will have
another important effect. With this
large addition to the white popula-
ton of Virginia, the race problem
so far as this State is concerned-ls
solved in jiffy. In our State they
will find genial climate and soil
adapted to nearly all farming pur
poses. We draw the line only on
political and religious fanatics. l
don't think this class of people will
make desirable settlers. To all hon
est classes, it matters not what may
be their politics, creed or opini ons,
we will give hearty welcome.
"As a shrewd, grizzly-bearded old
Western farmer remarked to me the
other day, what you want in this
State are good, hard working men,
who bring with them their wives and
children to buy homes and settle in
our midst"
THE most of those who have thus
far bought are young and middle-aged
farmers of moderate means. The
list includes, though, capitalists and
men OF large means, as well as me-
chanics.
Among those who called a few
days ago was tall, handsome old
gentleman from Massachusetts.
While carefully examining the min
erals and other specimens in the cab
inets here, the stranger, who had
travelled extensively all over the coun-
trv, remarked: 1T will not be long
before your folks down here will beat
PENNSYLVANIA in making iron. l
have, carefully examined the advan-
tages you have and l ain thoroughly
convinced the time is not very dis
tant when Pennsylvania will not be
able to successfully compete with you
and other Southern States in iron"
Tho REGJSTER Of.