Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-02-08
For tha Snectatn~


Mr.. EDITOR Our Valley r. R. extension
hangs Ere What is the matter? Our people
should not become discouraged at the hesitan-
cy of Baltimore on the one hand, or the sin
guar attitude ckbridge presents on the 9TH
er. As some fear the withdrawal of her sub
scription and its application to the Clifton
Forge straight line to Lynchburg, let us say
word as to her situation Her antics of late
would remind you of the rearing and charging
and prancing and curveting of a blooded-steed
long time shut out from the green meadows
and bright sunshine land-locked, cribbed, cab
ined and confined as Lexington has been, (for
days when Old Liberty Hall Academy was
moved from Timber Ridge to the site Of its
successor, the College, it cannot contain itself
nooo, at the prospect of Rail Road. 1t has
been from the time when the memory of man
runneth not to the contrary, proud town.
The place being almost inaccessible during
the war, escaped entirely, except the rayages
committed by that Visi-Gcth, Dave Hunter
Just think of it, she has within her corporate
limits, live Ex-Governor and Washington
College revlvifed and watched over by that
'Uncle Robert" and the virginia Military In
stute, immortalized by ''Stonewalf' jackson S
connection with it. All these serve to swell
her over-weening pride, which would have
been more observed by the world outside, but
| for her pent-up condition. A consciousness OF
| this, causes her proud feathers to collapse, as
| suddenly as the strutting peacock at sight OF
his foot. Let us HE to the Point On some
sombre drizzly morning, to watch the regular
packet leave for Richmond. To shield our
selves from the chilling east wind, we will creep
under tie projection of one of the walls OF the
mill whicR Dave Hunter burned. See there
/ tha& fba tuto nd
emily Brig. Gen'l F. H. Smith jumps down
and asssts@ bevy of bright-eyed, rosy-cheeked
damsels, to dismount. How daintily he tip
toes it through the mud, and hands them up
on the deck of the packet Having awaited
the disposition Of the baggage, he takes leave
of his friends, and with subdued, was about
to say, mortified air. he doubles himself in a
| jack-knite shape and creeps thro' the small
aperture into the cabin. Picture to yourself
how he chafes under the humping and thump-
ing thro' the locks, and, specs-on- nose, peers
second day, after an extraordinary run of four
miles an hour, and when he thinks of the El-
| dorado of his hopes away down in Mississippi,
| the Cockee-ndoWment plantation.
This is no over-wrought picture Of the dis
comforts these proud burghers are subjected to
in getting out from their pent-up- Utica, into
the world 6eyant The traveller from Lexing-
ton, by stage, either to Staunton or Bonsack 5,
the only two other mediums of exit, by public
convey ance, will appreciate Gen'l Smiths sit
uation as one of intense enjoyment Is it then
a matter of surprise that Gen'lS. Med. Moore,
JAS Davidson and Judge Brockenbrough, with
other young men of the town, should grow
wild with excitement at the prospect of raj
road, and appear impatient of the prospect Of
the Valley r. Il. being brought to them?
10 return to my text, it may be asked, what
is proposed to be done? | reply that meet
ing should be convened very soon, at some con-
venient point, of all those who are interested
in the route Of this road on the North side oil
the Valley. To do what? First, to petition
the Bait & O. R. r. Company to have a sur
vey OF this route, as was done on the South
side, which will result in its being found the
most direct of easiest grades the cheapest o.
construction, and which will attract to itself q
greater amount of trade and travel, and devel
ope large scope of country now cut off from
market
Second, it will satisfy the Bait. & @. r. R.
Co and the city Of Baltimore, that a liberia
spirit Of the people on the North side, will in
duce them to relinquish damages, and sub
scribe to the stock of the company. Last, i
will re-assure the people Of Rockbridge and
the counties above that they will get the road
70 this end it is proposed that meeting b.
held at Moscow, a central point, on Saturday
the 18th inst, at Ii A. NJ, to carry out these
suggestions, where it is earnestly desired all O
of those in Rockingham. Augusta, Pendleton
| Highland and Bath, who sympathize in The
movement will attend. MoUNTAINEER