Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-01-24
Development Through schools.

experience Of other communities
what Is best to do to build up a
town. Now and then a hamlet
grows into importance and be-
comes u large-and thriving town
through the influence Of the loea-
ton Of q railroad, others grow in
population and wealth by the i'm
auguration Of industrial enter
prises, but lately we find several
thousand citizens, numerous
houses and thriving business, de-
veloped through the influeno
Schools Education is the primary
necessity for the successful and
proper growth of almost any COM
munity, but this is the first instance
on record, where the simple loca-
ton and successful operation of
schools has succeeded in crea ting a
growing town. We refer to Staun-
ton, Virginia. At the close of the
war her people only claimed pop
ulation Of $500, and now in the
short period Of eight years they
can with just pride boast Of 1000.
This doubling process,i in so short
period Of time, has led to inquiries
as to the cause of the astonishing
increase and prosperity, and a cor
respondent Of the Charleston Couy-
Ter gives some Of the reasons, which
we ofMartinsburg, now thatschool
subjects are demanding our atten-
ton, would do well to reflectoyer,
and ifpossible, adopt.
He says Perhaps the main
channel, through which money.
has poured into this small city are
the large female schools. There
are no less than FIVE schools, and
some of them have almost ma
tional reputation and have well
sustained it for some years past.
AT three ofthese schools, there are
about six hundred young ladies
from distance; and estimating
(the estimate is far less than those
aoho haze topay would put it, each
to spend $500 in the community
we may well see how the whole
city is flooded with money. But the
fact is nearly, if not all of, half
million dollars are thus distrib.
uted among all classes yearly!"
Should we not take this lesson
home to ourselves, adopt it, inn
prove upon it, if possible, and see
if we cannot do even better We
have grown as rapidly as Staun-
ton, ana we have no doubt in the
world, but that much of our sue.
cess is attributable TO the success of
our public schools. But if
we had a large academy or
seminary Of learning, that would
accommodate three or four humid
red students from a distance, the
annual yield of progression would
have been greater, and the sum
total of eight years would show
q grander result. By combined
effort such an institution can be
built here, butifit is not to be done
now, let us at the election on the
nth of February ratify the indie
pendent School law, and then let
the Board Of education, erect q
school house that viii honor the in
telligence of our people aud be a
credit to the development and the
growth of our town.
President Grant has sent in the
name Of Morrison r. Waite, Of
Ohio, to be Chief Justice. The
nomination is admitted on all
sides to be the best made, and
there is no doubt of his prompt
confirmation by the Senate. Mr..
Waite is the son of the late Judge
Waite, Of Connecticut, and was at
one time judge of the
State Supreme Court of Ohio,
and is now President Of the
Constitutional Convention of that