Virginia is extremely rich in minerals. In the Upper Atlantic Slope, gold, iron, black-lead, copper, and limestone are found. Gold is found in a wido tract south of Fredericksburg, and extending parallel to the Blue Ridge, into North Carolina and Georgia : a con siderable quantity has been obtained. Bituminous coal is found and extensively worked in the neighbourhood of Richmond, along the James and Appomattox rivers, at Wheeling on the Ohio, on the Kanawha, on the borders of Peunsylvauia, and at several other places. Anthracite is obtained in the valley of the Potomac and elsewhere. In all there have been traced five tiers of coal-seams, with an average thickness of from 30 to 35 feet; and beds not directly con nected with these occur elsewhere. Iron-ore is abundant along the base of the Blue Ridge, and in the mountain region iron-ore of very good quality occurs. Lead-mines are worked in the Iron Mountains. This region abounds also in limestone, sandstone, slate, gypsum, and other useful minerals. The country west of the Alleghauy Mountains is richer iu minerals than the other parts of the state. Besides abundance of bituminous coal and iron-ore, beds of limestone aro extensively distributed, and the caverns, which are of frequent occur rence in the limestone rocks, furnish large quantities of nitre. The region west of the Blue Ridge contains several hot-springs and other medicinal springs, which are resorted to by invalids, and the iuhahit ants of the lower countries on the Atlantic, during the summer beats. Salt-springs are very numerous, and salt is made in sufficieut quan tities to furnish with this article most of the countries west of the Appalachian Mountains.
The climate, soil, aud agricultural productions have been already noticed in describing the several geographical regions of the state. It will be enough to say here, by way of summary, that Virginia is one of the largest wheat-growing states of the Union ; raising very large quantities of maize, oats, barley, and rye, and a consider able quantity of buckwheat. Very large crops of common and of sweet potatoes are also grown. Of tobacco, a larger quantity is grown than iu any other state, though Kentucky has nearly reached to a level with it. The quantity grown iu Virginia in 1850 was 56,803,227 lbs. Cotton is grown pretty largely in those parts which are suited to its culture. A little rice is raised. Of hemp a larger quantity was returned in 1850 thau in any other state, but the returns of hemp are known to have been very inaccurate. Of flax, the only state which grows a larger quantity is Kentucky. A considerable quantity of maple-sugar is made. The forests, rind the kinds of trees which grow in them, have been already noticed. The timber is of excellent quality in the mountain regions and in great abundance, but the cost of carriage interferes with its extensive export. A largo quantity of lumber is however sent down the rivers annually.
Virginia ranks among the principal grazing states of the Union. It possesses a very large number of horses, horned-cattle, sheep, and swine. Increased attention has been paid of late years to the breeds, aud the stock has been greatly improved. A large amount of wool of good quality is annually clipped. Butter is made to a great extent, also a good deal of cheese.
Wild animals are now rare on the east side of the mountains, but they are not uncommon in the western districts. The most common are bears, wolves, deer, the racoon, squirrel, and opossum. The largest of the wild birds is the wild turkey, which is still met with in the western districts and in the Blue Ridge. There are also several kinds of water-fowl, among which are the canvass-back duck of the Potomac, and the sore, or American ortolan. Other remarkable birds are the turkey-buzzard, the mocking-bird, the red-bird, and the humming-bird. Partridges and quails, as they are called, are common.
All the rivers abound in fish in the lower part of their course; in the rivers which fall into the Ohio are several kinds which are not found in Europe, as the black perch, the grennel, the blue cat, the buffalo, and the salmon-pike. There is also the soft-shell turtle, which sur passes in flavour the fine green-fat turtle. Oysters, lobsters, and other shell-fish are abundant on the coast. Bees are reared to a considerable extent.
anufactures, Commerce, &c.—Virginia has considerable manu factures. In 1850 nearly 30,000 persona were employed in manu factures, mining, and mechanic arts, without including slaves, who are extensively employed in the tobacco manufactories, &a The cotton manufacture employed about 3000 persons; the iron manu facture upwards of 3000 ; the woollen nearly 700; the salt 1300; and there are very important tobacco manufactories, extensive flour-mills, numerous tanneries, breweries, distilleries, machine shops, manu factories of hardware and cutlery, carriages, harness, &e.
In its foreign commerce Virginia has declined, and now ranks among the less important commercial states ; a large proportion of its products is now exported through one or other of the northern ports, and foreign merchandise is received by the same channel; but it carries on a very large coasting trade. In the year ending June 30, 1853, the exports amounted to 3,306,791 dollars; the imports to 399,004 dollars, of which 255,363 dollars were carried in American vessels. There were in the same year 40 vessels built in the state of the aggregate burden of 6599 tons. The total shipping owned by the state in 1350 was 74,071 toos.
Divisions, Towns, dc—Virginia is divided into 137 counties, 69 in Eastern and 63 in Western Virginia Richmond is the political capital, and the largest town in the state. This and some of the other more important towns are noticed below ; the population is that of 18.50 :— Richmond, the capital, is beautifully situated on the ascending elope of the left bank of James River, 130 miles from the entrance of Chesapeake Bay, and 122 miles S.S.W. from Washington, in 37* 32' N. lat., 77* 27' W. long.: population 27,570. The ground on which the city is built is broken into several hilla of different heights. The plan of the city is regular, the principal streets running parallel to the river, which are called A Street, B Street, fee., and creased at right angles by others, which are called First Street, Second Street, &c. The chief public building is the State-Rouse, or Capitol, a copy of the Maison Carr& of Nimes, which is finely situated on the brow of a bill which overlooks the city. It contains a statue of General Washington by liondon. The city-hall is a handsome edifice ; there are besides a governor's house, court-house, and other state and civic buildings, including a state penitentiary, a poorhouse, and a female orphan asylum. There are 25 churches, some of them costly and handsome structures; 3 colleges; numerous schools; a philosophical institution, &c. The river flows over a channel of granite, of which material there are inexhaustible quarries in the vicinity of the city. Within a few miles of the city are large beds of coal, and the falls of the river, which extend from opposite the city for nearly six miles, afford water-power to any extent. There are several flour-mille, two of them among the 'argent in the world, and four cotton-mills ; about 40 tobacco factories, employing over 2500 blacks; iron rolling-mille; cannon foundries ; nail-works ; machine shops ; paper-mills, &c. The commerce consists chiefly in the exportation of tobacco and flour. Four railways unite here. There are seven daily and several weekly newspapers.