The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-21


This is most creditable to the fair town
Of staunton, whose future, with the great
improvement finished, is, in solid acquisi-
tions, as bright as her own graceful hills
when gilded by the morning sun.
In May, the county Of Augusta-that au-
gust subdivision Of Virginia, whose share
Of the fame and wealthof the State is more
than equal to her territorial area--is to
elect whether she will assist by o subscrip-
ton Of $250,0G0 in the building of the
highway from the Atlantic tide to the Ohio.
That highway passes centrally through her
lands-perhaps by the longest direct line OF
her area. 1t will add immensely to her
resources, and give ON impulse to manu-
featuring enterprise which her citizens little
dream Of. Her bright streams, as they de-
scend rapidly toward the rivers that convey
them to the sea, are but partially employed
in the movement of machinery. The OPEN
ing and working of the mineral wealth
within Augusta county will bring al hef
water-power into demand and dot the water
courses with thrifty manufactures. her
rich lands will grow in value, and her agri-
culture be intensified until she viii become
one of the busiest and richest spots Of rural
country in the Union. Nor is this scene
long to be postponed. If Augusta throws
her influence ON the side of this improve
ment, she does much to secure its early COM
pletion, and the grand results we speak of
will soon follow us o consequence. Able
marie will be sure to follow her noble ex-
ample, and then we shall be out of the woods.
The little that remains to finish the job We
doubt not will be done by the counties of
West Virginia. 80
These two great counties Of Albemarle
and Augusta have the deepest interest in
the enterprise. Albemarle has, besides her
solid interests in physical development,
(not second to Augusta's,) her noble Univer-
sity, which, by having direct communica-
ton with the West, will become the fayorite
Of the Mississippi Valley, and receive
thence support even greater than that
from the South. She cannot bear that rela-
ton to the West until she enjoys q direct
line of intercourse with that part of the
world. People do not now 60 round
about ways for anything. 1t is an'age of
dispatch. There is no liberation for delays
nor for circumlocution in the business and
intercommunication between sections and
the University will never be felt, never be
sustained in the most powerful and teeming
part of this Union, until this direct way
through the grand Virginia mountain
scenery to the Ohio river is established.
This she may rely upon as certain. But
with it we cannot see how we can well,
upon ordinary principles of calculation, set
bounds to the growth Of the University. 1t
is the greatest school in the nation, as we
believe-its location is the most favorable
for the exercise of national influence, as
we'll for its climate as for its central posi-
ton, and it only wants to be in communion
ton by straight lines, and the most rapid
known modes of conveyance with all Sec
tions, to elevate it at once to position that
will overshadow all competitors and give It
an undisputed sway in the world Of know
ledge and learning.