Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-18
COMING TO VIRGINIA.

We print from The Churchwoman, OF
Lendon, the following letter, evidently
written by an Eoglishman living in Vir-
ginia, for the benefit of frieads iu E lg-
land who are thinking of emigratirg:
To the editor of The Churchwoman:
Sir-As subscriber TO The Church
woman, | should like permission to sny
that many years residence in America
has convinced me that the majority of
my countrymen who emigrate to that
country DO not real re the importance
of getting full and dependable informa-
tion concerning the particular district
in which they intend to make their fu-
ure home. Neither do they sufficient
~ estimate the wide variations of
climate and natural advantages of the
different States and sections. Of Vir-
sinia, for instance. which, in my opinion,
is the State best suited to an English
man. there seems to be vague impress
sion that the whole is semi-tropical
region where cold weather is unknown,
whereas there is as wide variety of
Climate as could possibly be found in q
country of such vast area, and where
every elevation from sea level to seven
,aousand feet above is found.
Perhaps few remarks may be OF in
terest to some of your readers, espec-
laily to any contemplating emil
grafton. Virginia is one of the
Middle Atlantic States. 1t covers
an area greater than England,
Scotland and Wales, with population
less than that of London. The average
en perature, as taken from official re-
ports for the past ten years, is 59.6 de-
grees, and the average rainfall AZ II
inches. The soil of Virginia.is as varied
As the colors OF crazy quilt. Parts Of
it produce wheat equal to Dakota, corD
(maize) equal to Illinois, potatoes equal
New York State, cotton equal to
Georgia, and tobacco surprising them
all. "Truck" farming, in some sections,
is exceedingly profitable. Fruit and
vegetables of all kinds Except those
of the tropics) in fact, everything cul:i
waited in the northern States Of France
and England can be grown equally
seal here. There is an abundance OF
,ood timber for building and all pur-
poses.
LABOR is cheap and abundant. Farm
hands can be had for about e1 los. per
month. Domestic servants from Ss to
lbs. Co'ored labor, when properly
perintended, is good, and the best
suited to the country and nature of
work.
Taxes average one per cent, which
includes everythiDg-State, county,
road. school, &c. The educational ia
ciities of Virginia are not surpassed by
those of any other State. There are
over six thousand, five hundred public
schools, where all persons be-
tween the ages of five and twenty
one years can obtain free tut
ton, besides many direct chart-
able institutions. The school money is
distributed amongst the counties and
cities on the basis of the school popula-
ton.
Virginia was the first State to declare
for religious liberty. Nowhere in
America is there better regard for re-
ligious observances or more generally
church going people.
Land is cheap-from the splendid
blue grass region of the Piedmont to
the cotton and peanut plains of the
southern border. The society is good,
and there are lots of amusement of a
healthy kind.
1t must not be imagined that all the
State is equally desirable, as there is n
great variety of climate, so there is q
wide diversity of natural advantages;
but generally in varied and fertile soils,
in length of growing seasons, in health
fulness, and in delightful climate it is
unsurpassed by any other part of Amer
lea, and is especially suited to the in
valid and to those who seek place