42 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



WEST VIRGINIA. 



BY J. R. DODGE, DEPARTMENT OF AORICnLTURB. 



The " Old Dominion " of our fathers, eldest in the family of States, and 

 fairest in all that constitutes the highest natural attractions of the sisterhood, 

 has committed the hari kari, or "happy despatch," under the influence of the 

 demon of secession — is disembowelled and rent in twain. But she is immortal, 

 and while East Virginia yet writhes in penitential agony, West Virginia not 

 only lives, but is beginning to put forth a hitherto unknown vigor, and promises 

 a career of glory and benefaction, a full maturity of beauty and pride, and a 

 name of honor among the most illustrious of States in all coming time. 



The new State has had her birth in the era of revolution, and has been bap- 

 tised in blood, in the name of law and liberty; yet her most ardent aspiration 

 is for a peace unsullied by cowardice or injustice — for an honorable diversion 

 from the "war-path" to the path of progress in the arts of industry — for a 

 higher and purer life, that shall animate and elevate every human being within 

 her borders, and bless, with prosperity, education, refinement, and religion, 

 myriads of happy homes. 



Other States may boast of broad savannahs that bask in placid beauty, and 

 Boils of interminable depth and richness. West Virginia acknowledges a 

 rough exterior, but claims for her hills the adornment of majestic and comely 

 forest growths ; for her vales a permeable and fruitful soil ; for her rivers a 

 wealth of water power ; for her mines a heritage illimitable, and for her broad 

 domain the insignia of strength, enduring vitality, and sturdy independence — 

 the proud characteristics of her people. 



LOCATION. 



A more central and accessible location could scarcely be pointed out npon 

 the map of the United States ; not central in a continental sense, but eminently 

 so as regards the Atlantic seaboard and the area almost encircled by the lakes, 

 the upper Mississippi and Ohio rivers ; central as regards the populous cities, 

 the markets of the country. Harper's Ferry, on the extreme east, is but 81 

 miles from Baltimore, 112 from Washington, 179 from Philadelphia, and 286 

 from New York. Wheeling, on the northwestern border, is but 137 miles from 

 Cleveland, and 491 from Chicago. Parkersburg, the terminus on the northwestern 

 Virginia branch of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, is 383 miles from Baltimore, 

 568 from New York, 522 from St. Louis, 544 from Nashville, and 200 from Cin- 

 cinnati. It is connected with the tide-water of the Atlantic coast by railroad, 81 

 miles distant. The water communication by the bays and rivers of Maiyland and 

 Virginia is neither appreciated nor improved as it will be in the future, having 

 some of the deepest and largest harbors on the continent. The shore-line of 

 Virginia alone is made 1,571 miles by the Coast Survey. The western border 

 of West Virginia lies 300 miles on the Ohio river, and is in immediate com- 

 munication by water with the whole Mississippi Valley, permitting the exchange 

 of products with the Louisiana planter at his doors ; admitting of trafl3c along 

 the banks of the Missouri in the wilds of Dakota, and allowing side-wheel 

 steamers from the Kanawha to vex the waters of the far-off tributaries of the 

 upper Mississippi. 



