Soapstone, serpentine, chrome and iron are found in Orleans county. In Orange, are copper mines, which have been worked to some extent. A slate quarry has recently been opened in West Randolph. In Northfield, Washington county, granite and slate are largely manufactured for building purposes. Marble quarries are worked to advantage in Grand Isle and Rutland. Products in 1866. Corn, 1,490,975 bushels, value, $2,102,275; wheat, 614,692 bushels, value, $1,641,228; rye, 154,783 bushels, value, $233,722; oats, 4,846,015 bushels, value, $3,052,989; barley, 104,390 bushels, value, $128,400; buckwheat, 225,252 bushels, value, $225,252; potatoes, 5,305,045 bushels, value, $2,281,169; hay, 862,878 tons, value, $13,469,525. Banks. The number of National Banks, September 30, 1868, was 40, with a paid in capital of $6,560,012.50. 35. VIRGINIA. Capital, Richmond. Area, 38,352 square miles. Population, (1860*), 1,596,318. Virginia was settled at Jamestown in 1607 by the English. It was one of the original thirteen States, framed a State constitution July 5, 1776, and ratified the United States Constitution June 25, 1788. An ordinance of secession was passed April 17, 1861, and delegates were appointed to the congress of the southern confederacy. A convention assembled at Wheeling in May, 1861, and organized a loyal government, and the new State of West Virginia was formed. Virginia.) (See West Governor Pierpont, who had been elected in 1862, instituted a loyal State government at Alexandria in 1863. A Legislature and other officers were also elected. The Legislature called a Convention, which met February 13, 1864, and abolished slavery. Jurisdiction was exercised by this government in only a few counties. A provisional governor was appointed by the President after the close of the war, or May 9, 1865. By the act of Congress assuming the government of the ten southern States, Virginia constituted the 1st Military District, to which General J. M. Schofield was assigned. He provided for an election which was held October 22, 1868, and resulted in a majority for a convention, which met in Richmond, December 3, and adjourned on the 20th to January 2, 1868. This convention adopted a constitution April 7, but it was not submitted to the people, and the State has not yet (Jan. 1, 1869) been admitted to representation in Congress. Henry H. Wells was appointed Provisional Governor April 4. By the former constitution, the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General were elected by the people for four years. The Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, Second Auditor, Register of the Land Office, and Superintendent of the Penitentiary were elected by joint vote of the General Assembly for two years. All are obliged to reside at Richmond during their term of service. The following oath is required of persons applying to register, after which if they are twenty-one years of age, and have resided in the State twelve months and in the county three months, they will be entitled to vote: I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I am not disqualified from exercising the right of suffrage by the Constitution framed by the Convention which assembled in the city of Richmond on the 3d day of December, 1867. and that I will support and defend the same to the best of my ability. JUDICIARY. The Court of Appeals consists of three Judges, and has jurisdiction, except in certain specified cases, when the matter in controversy is not less than $500 in value. The District Court has no original jurisdiction except in cases of habeas corpus, mandamus, and prohibition. Its appellate jurisdiction only extends to cases where the amount in controversy is $100 or more, exclusive of costs, except in certain specified cases. The Circuit Courts have chancery and criminal jurisdiction, and civil jurisdiction in all cases where the amount involved is fifty dollars and upward, exclusive of costs. They have also concurrent jurisdiction with the County Courts, and causes are taken from the latter by appeal. The State is divided into sixteen circuits. Two Circuit Courts are held annually in each county by each Judge. The Governor (with the consent of the Legislature) appoints the Judges of the Court of Appeals and Circuit Courts. UNITED STATES COURTS. Circuit Judge, Salmon P. Chase. District Judge, John C. Underwood. District Attorney, Lucius H. Chandler. Marshal, John Underwood. Clerk of District Court, W. H. Barry. COURT OF APPEALS. Justices. Richard C. L. Moncure, President, Falmouth; William T. Joynes, Petersburg. Alexander Rivers, Charlottesville. Salary $3,000 cach. CIRCUIT COURTS. 1st Circuit, Richard H. Baker, Norfolk; 2d Circuit, Edward R. Chambers, Mecklenburg; 3d Circuit, H. H. Marshall, Charlotte C. H.; 4th Circuit, George A. Wingfield, Liberty; 5th Circuit, Edward P. Pitts, Accomac C. H.; 6th Circuit, Joseph Christian, Middlesex C. H.; 7th Circuit, John A. Meredith, Richmond; 8th Circuit, John Critcher, Westmoreland C. H.; 9th Circuit, Henry W. Thomas, Fairfax C. H.; 10th Circuit, Egbert R. Watson, Charlottesville; 11th Circuit, Hugh W. Sheffey, Staunton; 12th Circuit, John T. Harris, Harrisonburg; 13th Circuit, Richard Parker, Winchester; 14th Circuit, Robert M. Hudson, Fincastle; 15th Circuit, James Tipton, Carroll C. H.; 16th Circuit, John A. Campbell, Abingdon. Salary of Judge in 5th District $1,500, of all others $2,000. FINANCES. The State Treasurer represents the debt of the State on November 1, 1868, as follows: OLD REGISTERED DEBT. .$22,004,298.88 83,980.00 Registered debt October 1, 1868, as per report.. Total.. 500.00 $22,104,657.88 $24,839.98 Deductions since Oct. 1, 1866: Purchased from sale of the Dismal Swamp Canal 60,500.00 Transferred to Commonwealth by W. and P. R. R. Co., (5 per cent.) and canceled. 45,000.00 Total Balance.... The sinking fund was. Literary fund was.. Outstanding.. OLD COUPON DEBT. 16,969.00 $147,308.98 .$21,957,348.90 $1,729,315.46 248,000.00-1,977,315.46 $19,980,033.44 $1,865,000.00 .$11,108,000.00 145,000.00-10,963,000.00 .$12,828,000.00 .$32,808,033.44 Five per cent. sterling, payable in London, £373,000, estimated at $5 per £... Total coupon debt.. Total old registered and coupon debt... Dated January 1, 1866: Coupons.. INTEREST FUNDED NOVEMBER 1, 1868. $1,301,500.00 Registered debt to be funded.. In 1860, by the census report, there were in the State 23 colleges, with 2,824 students and $246,940 income. These institutions were mostly closed during the war, a part of the buildings were burned and others were used for hospital purposes or for barracks. The "College of William and Mary" was chartered by the crown in 1693, and contributions for buildings and the endowment were made by William and Mary. The buildings have been several times burned and rebuilt. It was occupied in 1861, first as a barrack, and next as a hospital. The principal building was destroyed in 1862, with the furniture and apparatus; and later in the war all the remaining buildings were burned or greatly injured. The college was re-opened in the autumn of 1865. Washington College had its origin in a Classical School established before the Revolutionary War, by the early settlers of the Valley of Virginia. In honor of the benefaction of General Washington, the name was, in 1798, changed to Washington Academy, and afterwards to Washington College. Since the late war, the College has been re-opened under favorable auspices, and with wider aims and largely extended facilities. The course of study is elective, each student being allowed to pursue such studies as his parent or guardian may select, if found prepared. The University of Virginia was in a flourishing condition, and had over 600 students in 1860. This number was diminished to less than 50 in 1863, but since the close of the war, has again increased to nearly 500. Provision has been made by the Legislature for the admission of one student from each Senatorial District of the State, without payment of matriculation and tuition fees and rents. By way of remuneration to the State for the aid afforded these students, they are required, on admission, to sign an engagement to teach in some public or private school in Virginia, for two years after leaving the University; the emoluments of such service enuring, of course, to their own benefit. No general free school system has been established. POPULATION, WEALTH AND INDUSTRY. No census has been taken of the State since its division, but the population as given by the United States Census, including West Virginia, was as follows: The white population of Virginia is mainly of British origin. There were in 1860, 10,500 persons natives of Germany, and a few from France and other foreign countries. This State has a great variety in surface and climate. The system of farming practiced before the war tended to an exhaustion of the soil, and there are large tracts of worn out lands, but in many of the valleys the soil is still very fertile. Land is valued about 25 per cent. less than before the war. Much of it is excellent for grazing. The principal cultivated products are corn, wheat, oats, and tobacco. Fruit is raised in Eastern Virginia and sent to northern markets. A large portion of the State is still covered with wood and timber, which are valuable for ship building, and manufacturing purposes. The useful minerals as iron, lead, coal and salt are abundant, and gold has been worked in Stafford and some other counties with profit. The State possesses, in her minerals and abundant water power, great natural advantages for manufacturing; but this branch of industry has not received as much attention as agriculture. Products in 1866. Corn, 24,369,908 bushels; value, $17,790,033; wheat, 4,331,364 bushels; value, $12,344,387; rye, 698,453 bushels; value, $740,360; oats, 10,245,156 bushels; value, $4,610,320; buckwheat, 162.686 bushels; value, $138,278; potatoes, 1,592,166 bushels; value, $1,050,830; tobacco, 114,480,516 pounds; value, $15,683,830; hay, 203,698 tons; value, $2,908,807. Banks. Number of National Banks, Sept. 30, 1868-organized, 20; closed or closing, 2; in operation, 18, with a capital paid in of $2,500,000. 36. WEST VIRGINIA. Capital, Wheeling. Area, 23,000 square miles. Population, (1860), 376,688. This state formed part of Virginia until the latter seceded from the Union. Delegates from forty counties assembled at Wheeling, June 11, 1861, protested against the act of secession, and organized a provisional government. A convention met at the same place on the 26th of November, 1861, and framed a constitution for a new state, which was ratified by vote of the people, May 3, 1862. An act passed by Congress, admitting the state on condition of the adoption of certain amendments to the constitution, was approved by the President on the 31st of December, 1862. The changes having been made, and ratified by a large majority of the people, the President issued a proclamation April 20, 1863, declaring that the act should take effect and be in force after June 20, at which time the new state government was inaugurated. The Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Auditor, and Attorney General are chosen by the electors of the state, on the 4th Thursday of October, biennially, and hold office for two years. The legislative power of the state is vested in a Senate and House of Delegates, the former consisting of 22 Senators, elected for two years, and the latter of 57 Delegates, elected for one year. The Legislature is required to meet once a year, the regular sessions to begin on the third Tuesday of January. Sessions are limited to forty-five days, unless otherwise ordered by |
