Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-08-11

cry out anything for change tor we can { De
worse off than we are" Whenever the people
get to such pitch as that goodbye to the party
that is in power-it has to pack up and travel.
Our Town-Its Prospects and its Wants.
1t must be source of pride and satisfaction
to every citizen of Staunton and Augusta Coun-
ty, to witness the rapidity with which the linn
its and the business of the town are extending.
In all directions new buildings are going up,
and old ones are being remodeled, and adapted
to new uses Our mechanics are taxed to the
utmost of their ability, and are yet not able to
meet the demands upon them. Immigration
of valuable citizens, from the North and the
South, and from Eastern Virginia, is flowing
into our town, and the demand for dwelling
and business houses, cannot be supplied
Many of these new corners are OF the most re-
fined and polished classes, who will contribute
charming additions to our social circles-others
are active, intelligent, energetic business men,
who will add largely to our material wealth.
1t is satisfactory to know, that there is nothing
fictitious in this apparent prosperity. 1t rests
on a substantial basis. The agricultural inter-
ests of the Valley, have been re-established on
firm foundation. At the close Of the war,
our people, and especially our gallant young
soldiers, who had won so much renown, under
Jackson, Jeb Stuart and Mosby, threw aside
their arms, and went to work with will. The
results of this wise and patriotic conduct are
now visible. The ravages of the war have been
repaired-barns, mills and dwellings have been
rebuilt, and the traces of rapine obliterated.-
The close of the war, found us without a cur
rency, and our country stripped of those pro-
auctions that bring money. But there was no
giving way to dependency. Males and fe-
males had, during the war, become accustomed
to privation. All submitted with good grace,
to the necessities of the times They lived fru-
galy, and practised economy in every depart
ment. In the progress of time, bountiful
crops rewarded their industry. With the pro-
ceeds the farmers bought labor saving imple-
ments and machinery, to supply the loss of the
negro, and made wise investments in concen-
1i"IOu AOAlHIASIS. 10y IHCSo mcduS3 TIC pIU-
auctions of the country have been greatly aug
mented, and we doubt if there have ever been
such bountiful crops raised in the Valley, as
have been grown during the present year. Ag-
rlculture is the true basis of the prosperity of
all interior countries When the farmers -four
ish, all other classes share their good fortunes.
Our farmers are now eminently prosperous
Their crops of wheat, rye, oats and corn, po-
tatoes and hay are abundant The pastures
are luxuriant, and everything is in profusion
except fruit This bountiful supply of the
good things of life, fills the pockets of our
farmers, and enables them to give activity to
trade and manufactures, and hence the pros
perity of our town, which is situated in the
heart Of this favored region.
Another source of the prosperity of Staun-
ton is, in it's admirable schools, males and fe-
males. There is no place in the State, in
which young men can be more thoroughly pre-
pared for the University, and our other first
class Colleges, than in the Schools of Professor
Powers, and the Staunton Academy.
Staunton is now the centre of female educa-
ton in the South. Three of the principal re
ligious denominations, the Episcopal, Presby-
terrain and Methodist, have large and flourish
ing schools here, under the management of able
principals, assisted by corps of highly educated
professors. These schools are all literally pat
ronlzed, and we hope, before long, that the
Baptists and Catholics, will follow the good ex-
amples which have been set them, and estab-
llsh first class female, schools in our community.
Besides these larger Institutions we have the
excellent family schools, of Mrs. Hartman and
Mrs. Hanson, which are already favorably
known to the public
The location of Staunton, midway between
the University and Washington College, and
the Va. Military Institute-the salubrity of its
climate-its exemption from all malarial dis
eases and the high moral and religious tone of
its society, must strongly commend it to parents
who are seeking residence, with view to the
education of their children, or who wish to send
their children to school.
Those noble and munifcent charitable In.
stitutions, the Western Asylum, and the Insti-
tuition for the Deaf Dumb and Blind, also con-
tribute in no small degree to the prosperity of
the town, not only by the market which they
afford, but by reason of the number of persons
they attract to the neighborhood.
So much for the elements of our prosperity.
But all these would not avail, without the en-