Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-09-04
For the Spectator.
Map of Augusta County.

[ have carefully examined the beautiful map
OF old Augusta, now In course OF preparation,
by Major j. Hotchkiss, and his accomplished
assistant, Mr. Robinson. 1t is now nearly
complete and | regard it as one of the most ac-
curate maps L have ever seen. 1t is not, las
too many of our maps have been), made by
guess and by following old and incorrect draw
ings. 1t is founded on actual and minute sur
veys made by the typographical corps during
the war. 1t represents clearly and correctly all
the ranges of mountans-all the rivers and
creeks, with their meanderings all the roads;
villages, churches, mills and other places of
public interest-and also the magisterial dis
tricts
1t is the purpose of Major Hotchkiss to COM
plete this map, and have it engraved in the
highest style of art, so as to be able to furnish
every citizen who may desire it with copy
10 do this however, will cost considerable
sum Of money, and it is not to be expected that
he will encounter all the hazards of a costly
publication, without satisfactory assurance of
remunerative patronage.
l therefore respectfully urge upon our citizens
the propriety of subscribing for copies of this
map. The cost wil..not exceed ten dollars and
it will be, not only very useful but highly orna
mental to our houses. Who would begrudge
ten dollars, expended for such laudable pur-
pose?
This is a step in the right direction. Let old
Augusta lead the way, as she has done on so
many other occasions, and other counties will
follow, and thus we shall soon have a perfect
map of the whole State. Our present maps
are grossly inaccurate. That of Major Hotch-
kiss being made from actual measurements of
course and distance, is as accurate as any sur
yey of our farms.
If 500 farmers, and other citizens, will sub
scribe, the map will be engraved and published,
and we can all have an opportunity of getting
copies. But if we let the present chance slip,
there is no telling when we can have another.
The corners of the map will embrace plan
of the town of Staunton and probably other OBJ
jects Of interest. Already there is, on one cor
ner, a section showing the elevation of the
country, at all intermediate points from the
mouth of the tunnel, across the entire county,
East and West along the track of the railroad,
to the Rockbridge line The surveys now in
progress for the Valley Railroad will furnish
the means of presenting a similar view of the
elevation of the different points on a line North
and South, from the Rockingham line to that
Rockbridge.
| wish to impress on our people the convic-
ton that this map is no mere catch penny af-
fair. It is d work of solid merit and ought to
be encouraged as such.
! believe that Major Hotchkiss has obtained
| from the surveyors of the Confederate and U.
| S. Engineers, a great deal of the information
necessary to enable him to make correct maps
| of Rockingham and other counties of the Val
! ley. When the intelligent and enterprising
people Of those counties have chance of seeing
the map of Augusta completed, they will not
hesitate to initiate her example, and have maps
| of their respective counties prepared
OBSERVER.