Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1873-06-24
Letters from the PEOPLE
Visit to Virginia via Hagerstown, Md.
NUMBER 2.

EdttOr Spectator
[ remarked in my published
letter of March 10th, that, Providence permit
ting, would visit Staunton in May, and did,
On Tuesday. Goth ultimo. left home, and after
tarrying by the way at Carlisle, Pa, my native
place, for few days. the subsequent Saturday
arrived in Hagerstown Sabbath eve visited
the bones CT the Confederate dead were being
removed from Antietsm battle ground and here
re-interyed. Already some seventeen hundred
have been removed-funds having been ex-
hausted, the remainder that can be found will
be taken up as seon as liberal donations are re-
ceived from the Southern people. | feel ex-
ceedingly glad that, at last, due honor has been
paid to these heroic men by having their bones
deposited in burial ground, and are nc longer
inhumanly left, after lapse of over ten years,
In woods, amidst rocks, in fields, gardens fence
corners and on the South Mountain. neglected
aud uncared for. as they have recently, in part,
been taken Up from Gettysburg battle ground
and kindly placed in Hollywood Cemetery, Rich
mond.
On the subsequent Monday | started for
Staunton and arrived there at o. o'clock same
evening. On entering the Shenandoah Valley
from Harper's Ferry and emerging into the
open country, was, for the first time, impressed
with its extent, especially as the swift-runniDg
cars took me many miles from my starting
point [ had conjectured this Valley was mar
row, similar to our Cumberland Valley. yours
being continuation of it, where the mountains
extend nearly parallel aud only some twelve
miles apart, but | was mistaken. In many
places the Allegheny mountains are scarcely
visible. while the Blue Ridge, I learned, was
some fifteen miles distant at certain points,
Your Valley also, in length. surprised me, and
yet the end was not reached. What, thought
[, keep these northern farmers away2 Why
not purchase. in msnv parts. these waste lands,
mostly limestone? Even if unfruitful. such
immense quantities of limestone at hand and
wood so abundant to burn lime. and stock large
ly kept to produce manure, soon could these
waste places be recuperated and the husband
man would amply be repaid for the toll and
expense and be made happy and prosperous.
Efforts should be made to induce immigra-
tion from Pennsylvania, as very many have
already gone and located. These lands, and all
others for sale should be advertised in our
northern papers and circulars largely distrbu-
ted. Above all. the exorbitaut charges for
railroad fare and board should be lessened, that
persons visiting this highly favored Valley may
be invited to 20 without being feeced by hotel
keepers and railroad officials Runners for pri-
vate boarding houses should be at the cars at
every station. Such houses would be patron
lied in preference to hotels, if established,
aud strangers were conducted to where they
could be found A sharp young gentleman in
the cars from Harper's Ferry to Winchester
was very solicitous to know where would stop.
took from my pocket card of the Taylor
House" said he. there is nothing to eat,
other. 'What is the charge ?" II don't
know" but he did, for taking his advice, stop
ped at another hotel, where | found he was a
runner, looking very shy and by this scheme I
was subjected to ST. so for supper Another
traveller was told at the same house, the
cars left every second morning at five. This
was done to detain him day longer, but he
found out the trick in time. Such bare faced
tricks are characteristic Of = Yaakeedom," but
should not be practiced By Virginians.
THE STAGE AND STAGE TRAVELLING.
The Valley Railroad from Harrisonburg
to Staunton not yet completed, the ''sIow
coach" had to be taken for twenty-five miles
fare ST. so. | do think four-horse coach, o1
some modern finish, would be more suitable to
the taste and accord with the improvement Of
the times, instead of the unsightly stage in
which We four. two whites and two blacks in
side and two of the latter outside, rode this
distance on hard, unelastic seats. Besides, at
stopping place another old, empty stage was
chained or strapped to ours, when other horses
should have been provided to pull this heavy
vehicle. Fortunately. we arrived alter night,
when [ stepped cut ere We arrived at a hotel
A day light trip up the business part of your
town would have been grand old sight, train
of two old stages, whose antiquated appearance
would remind one of fantastic show. | would
suggest, when no longer needed, they be care
fully preserved as nementoes of how trave
was on the Harrisonburg turnpike In the year
of our Lord 1873
STAUNTON AND THE PEOPLE.
| need not repeat what has been already
published In the American Volunteer" OF
Carlisle, Pa, my native place, and copied by
you this week in the Spectator" bat would
add that entering your town after night, and
remaining but short time, | bad no opportu-
nity to see the adjacent country, except what
lies along the G. Il 0. K. r., in the direction
of Charlottesville, which will be noticed 1t is
probable town of the size and population of
yours, iu an agricultural region mainly, would
grow and be so prosperous 10 business, 10 a
poor country, and must have contiguous terrific.
ry in part, equal 10 other parts of the Valley
on the line of my travel. | am no fulsome
fatterer, ,Suo magni6er Of men, places and things,
but credit should be and is given where credii
is due. The people want to read no highly en-
beliished laudations, no fictitious representa-
tions, and will not, Ia homely expression COM
mon with us, be Aumbugged. | gave the truth,
II - Il L. l.