The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-17
Al IGNORANT CORRESPONDENT.

Whatever may be said as T. the motives
which led the President to speak in the man.
ner he did in passing through Southwest Viz
eina or as to the inconsistency between the
sentiments Of his remarks at Roanoke and
Bristol for instance and the whole tenor Of his
conduct towards the South since his Undue
ton into Office no one familiar with the in-
dustrial progress which has been made be-
tween Lynchburg and the Tennessee line will
dispute the accuracy Of the language which
he used in referring 10 the growth Of that sec
ton of country, or will consider the antici-
pations which he expressed as to its future
development in the slightest degree exagger-
atel
1t is with surprise. therefore. that we OBJ
serve hat the Washington correspondent Of
the New York World in commenting on
Thursday upon the journey Of the President
through Southwest Virginia. seeks to dis
credit him by ridiculing the prospects Of the
country through which he was travelling and
which he very tmthfully and properly exalted.
At Bristol " remarks the correspondent re-
fcrred TO- tho President paid touch
iug tribute 10 the wealth Of Mr. FL
Ains' speculative possessions and II may
be assumed that his words will be emblazoned
in gold by the enterprising real estate boom
crs of the East. who have thus far met with
little else than encouragement in their de.
termined efforts to make people believe that
the big hills OF the Blue Ridge are. In the
language Of the President. now being rapidly
transformed into busy manufacturing and
commercial centres"
This is the first time that we have been in
formed that Mr. Elkins had any speculative
possessions" i'm southwest Virginia. or that he
was sufficiently interested III properties there
20 give his holdings such prominence as 10
have the whole section Identified with his
name. The Washington correspondent of
the World is evidently laboring under the
impression that Harrison was travelling at
the time that his Roanoke and Bristol
speeches were delivered. not over the Norfolk
and Western railway, but over the Baltimore
and Ohio. along the line of which road in
West Virginia Elkins is well known 10 own
enormous and very valuable tracts of coal
land. and where he has spent large sums Of
money with a view of improving his property.
A similar degree Of ignorance is exhibited
in the statement that the real estate agents
# the East. who have been interested in in
Producing Northern capital into Southwest
Virginia. have met with little else than dis
couragement' The numerous towns through
which the Presidential party passed in their
Journey, towns which a few years ago were,
In most instances. struggling villages OF open
fields are a standing refutation Of the asser-
ton of the World correspondent. The aston
lshing growth Of Southwest Virginia cannot
be SO easily dscredted, for It is a fact that
has only to be actually inquired into 20 admit
of the fullest demonstration 1t il with sur
prise and regret that we find that the World
has permitted statement To the contrary to
find prominent place in It's columns.
If the managers Of that journal are disposed
To sustain their correspondent in the ground
less assertions in which he has INDUCED. THE
Times would recommend that they send
special correspondent to Southwest Virginia
To make personal examination Of the busy
manufacturing and commercial centres.
upon which It's Washington correspondent in
his ignorance has cast a good deal Of cheap
ridicule.