Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-12

WHO Will produce the nthe anu q oioooA"6 w
agriculture. Then who will be the leader
to enter the field which is not only along
the South River of Rockbridge, but in
other sections of that county and Augusta
also, which have transportation facilities
through the Chesapeake and Ohio by the
main, as well as the James River division,
and by the Valley branch of the Baltimore
& Ohio and the Shenandoah Valley Rail-
roads,
A country dependent on its agriculture
should go forw ard in lis progress and de-
velopment of that interest. Not to do 80,
is to 20 back. There are several ways, too,
of taking the back track. We have
abundant proof that excessive expansion
does not always bring prosperity, and that
the commencement of decay and loss OF
vitality often arises from neglect. These
certain destroying elements are often, as in
agricultural interests, concealed by what
may appear prosperity. If the agriculture
of Virginia was prosperous, neither the
public debt nor any other embarrassment
of which we have more than our share
would cause Encouragement or despond l.
ency. Congress taxes the importation OF
sugar to protect the soil-producing interests
of Louisiana. We don't ask it, and will
never enjoy such a benefit, but where is the
difference in principle, if Congress should
aid the Virginia farmer, whose lands need
nourisbment, to render the value of its
producing capacity equal to that OF the
Louisiana planter with his protected staple,
granting the Virginian similar favor by a
bounty on his industry in the product OF
maritime, and that too for the additional
reason that it is the cheapest for it's bene-
fits of all methods that approach Unlimited
availability.
We cannot suppose that the learned men
whose pleasure it was seemingly to pass
out of their way to speak of the value OF
the marls of Rockbridge and Augusta for
soil-improvipg purposes to be mistaken IN
the slightest degree-and, as remarked, it
is only of recent years, because there was
no transportation previously near these
resources which. rendered them divide and
extended consideration as there is now
The interest now assumes different phase.
and it is worthy of practical tests.- Risks
are often taken with nothing like the as
aurance that there invites test of enter
prise. Stock companies are formed upon
foundations Of future profit less inviting
and test of this interest would not cost
much to demonstrate the reality of profit
or loss. 1t cannot be loss, for we all know
the value of lime upon three fourtbs of the
agricultural lanes in Virginia. The yield
of this mari, which has been tested by
Professor McCrea!h, as given in his report
of the analysis made of an immense deposit
on the Buena Vista property on South
River, in almost a stones throw Of the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad, gives a
fraction over 95 per cent of pure lime. He
closes his report with these words =
stIt is surprising that an article SO pure
as this is, and one which can be so easily
and cheaply mined, has not been more ex-
tensively used by burning it for agricultural
purposes or for such other purposes as lime
may be used. There are other deposits of
this ''marl' along the line of the Shenan.
| doah Valley Railroad; and it would well
repay the farmers to make an occasional
use of it, especially on the bottom lands
The benefits derived from judicious use
Of lime on land are too we'll known to need
mention here"
With all the facts presented, and with
such An array of information to meet enter
prise with handsome returns well assured,
we may anticipate an early response from
many who are willing to be leaders in the
development. Along that Valley from its
commencement on the watershed the new
industries in iron-production arise to salute
the first of the kind west of the mountains
that there, more than one hundred years
ago, began to tell the story of such re-
sources. Railroad transportation is &C.
complishing great benefits for US. and IS
the old industry in the South River Valley
has, through such means, come into new
life, may we not hope that the dormant re-
sources, which can accomplish SO much for
agriculture and the diffusion of such en-
larged blessings over all the country, will
come forth to add increased impetus to our
rapidly advancing progress.