The great falls of the Potomac,
where Washington constructed the largest locks of the continent, has a
water power unsurpassed, and is but twelve miles from tide water, at
Washington. This point is a most healthy and beautiful location,
surrounded by lands whose natural fertility was very great, and, in the
absence of slavery, must have been a vast manufacturing city. This water
power could move more spindles than are now worked on all this
continent.
AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURES.--The natural fertility of the
soil of Virginia far exceeded that of New York, with a more genial sun,
and much more favorable seasons for agricultural products, as well as
for stock. The number of acres of land in Virginia susceptible of
profitable culture, is nearly double that of New York, but much of it
has been impoverished by slave labor, scratching and exhausting the
soil, without manure or rotation of crops. The Census shows that
Virginia has all the products of New York, and cotton in addition.
Virginia produced, in 1860, 12,727 bales of cotton (Table 36), worth, at
present prices, nearly $3,000,000. She also adjoins the States of North
Carolina and Tennessee, producing, in 1850, 372,964 bales, worth, at
present prices, nearly $90,000,000. Virginia is also much nearer than
New York to all the other cotton States.
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