The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-13
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
xrsoURcEs or yIRGINTA, SOUTH
txROITyS 1ND ARKANSAS.
EXTRACTS Prom tho Papers which Are the
Outcome of the Convention OF the
Governors of The south.

within few weeks the pamphlet on
the resources Of the Southern states VIII
Ia ready for distribution at the World $
Fair. The pamphlet Will be published an
der the auspices OF the Convention OF
Southern Governors. held in Richmond in
Aprn last A committee had been APP
pointed TO specially supervise the work.
oonsisting OF Governor Mckinney Of Viz
ginia; Governor F.shback, Of Arkansas.
and Colonel John Bell Bigger.
1t was the desire Of the Governors as
sembied here IN convention to have de-
scrintive papers OF the resources OF each
ono ~ The Southern States embraced IN
,bo napnblot. but for some reason this
srotec, dld not meet with general APP
.roval The book viii. therefore, only
rontafn articles representing the states
Of virginia. Alabama, Arkansas, NoT'h
Carolira. south Carolina and LOUISIANA
Tho paper on the. resources Of Virginia,
which has been prepared al the dlrecuon
and under the special supervision OF
Governor Mckinnty gives ciear anu
concise idea OF the many advantages
,.nicb tho old Dominion offers 10 immi-
Grafton. Inc ldlfl f'fN"f 49,
sfatements. the following interesting III
formation: ..,.ort-
an soil. climate. productions. convent
ences for transportation, educational ana
,eligtous advantages. Virginia has no SUI
,er,or among all the States in the Union
tuessed with the finest climate, apso-
iutely free from extremes OF heat ana
cold. visited by neither cyclones nor "'~-
Sards and famine and pestilence pells
unknown. Virginia offers SAFE pace loi
a home. where expectations OF coniors
and PROSPEROUS continuance can De Iel'u
on. The average temperature OF tnS
state is $50. and the average iali'idn
42l2. for ten years, and does not vary
materially In any section. -.
"The land Of the state Is cheap hUm
fhe splendid blue grass region Oh w
yauev of the Shenandoah and the Son'n-
,yeet through the magnificent orchafus
and yellow tobacco fields Of Piedmont 10
the cotton and peanut plains OF the
eoutbern border and the oyster peas anu
dshing shores of Tide~iier'
eric mines Of valuable ores are richer
IA minerals are cheaper. and wood ana
timber can be bought for less than else
where. while in quality ana ln'rihslc
value they are fully equal 10 the pest III
ntber States. During the past Few years
there has been great increase III ny
amount Of capital invested ana sIe"uS
Increased activity in the mining OF uh'
gold. mica. clay, salt pyrites' ETC. lhose
minerals are i'm many cases IN close I'oN-
t,,,t,, which lesseys the expense OF m"nn-
s,c,nring when more than one kind OF
,,,tnaral Is needed. For instance. coklns
cal iron. lime and manganese for cheap
iron and steel: salt, coal, manganese ana
i,,,a for soda ash and bleach; high car
honate marls and fine aluminous clay Tot
cement. fire clay for furnaces, etc; aka
tine clay for vtrifed brick; pyrite, coal
and lime for sulphuric acid'
grhe surface of the State rises by I'VE
stems from the ocean shore 10 an altitude
of nearly 5000 feet. Under these steps are
oil the richest minerals. The first area
includes the phosphate marls OF IldeWater
and the gold and more recent coal lorna
ton and sulphuret belt OF Middle VIZ
einia; then come the magnetic lron leau'
zinc and manganese deposits OF fleunloH''
the Blue Ridge and the valley ana next
the vast deposits Of salt, COAL IRON anu
gypsum in Appalachia.
"The number of furnaces for smelling
.he various ores is phenomenal, and as
much as fifty millions OF dollars has been
INVESTED. mainly brought i'm from outside
of the State. Railroads are being pro-
iected and built into sections where the
richness and proximity OF different ores
and an abundance Of fuel promise the
cheapest product and double the amount
already invested can and VIII
be invested I'm these mines works
FOR the manufacture Of metals are begin
ming TO follow in the track OF these iur-
naces. and towns like Roanoke, Buena
Vista. pulaski City. Radford and others
al. sltrqIr toe a
ufactures by their extraordinary life and
Growth. The remarkable activity in the
gold belt leads to the belief that Nir-
einla will soon be famous for gold as IT
now is for its mines Of coal and iron.
give years ago Pennsylvania ana
MARYLAND had a monopoly Of the fire brick
trade OF Virginia. and buff brick and
Vttrifed brick came from the Northwest.
Now Chesterfield and Rockbrldge supply
much of the former. and Smyth and Pow
hatan are prepared 10 compete Tor the
latter.
"a valuable tin field was discovered In
Rockbridge county some years ago hut
for want Of capital failed TO he fully
developed. Within the past TWO years
the fact is assured that Virginia has
developed tin mine, large in quantity ana
exceedingly rich as TO quality. Many
IONS have been mined and some mas been
concentrated and subjected to furnace
tests and assayed. Capital alone4is want
"a 10 add tin TO the natural products ot
Virginia and tin plating to her manu-
features" ,,,-,-,..u
The Governor then mentions virginia
mineral springs. her valuable forests the
rivers and waterways, and the game oil
ali kinds 10 be found in the various
counties Of the state. Continuing ne
says: ,-,,.,..
10 State has better industrial facilities
than Virginia All persons between hNe
and twenty-one years of age VINO are
residents Of the State. have right 10
attend our schools, free OF tuition Inc
number OF pupils enrolled In our pubic
schools for the present year was S4Z' ~;
the number OF teachers was Ai5o' Inc
number Of school-houses in use was
Gb95; the value of school property ~
s2.763. 637; the cost OF the school system
for the year was N.GS6,sS2
The public debt OF the state Is now
settled TO the entire satisfaction or our
creditors. and meets with the approval
Of our people. With the present low as
sessment on our property. we can pay
the interest and support the Government
and keep up our schools. The TAX
amounts 10 forty cents on 800 value OF
property, which is as low as that I'M
posed in most OF the States.
Virginia, like most OF the old slave
holding states. languishes under bur
den growing out OF the ownership OF
large tracts Of land by persons who have
neither labor nor capital snfficient 10
cultivate them. All over the state