The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-07-29
: A Strang er's Impression.

pondent of the Cincinnati Commercial, passed
through Stauhton several weeks ago, and gives
his impressions of our city under date of July
18th. We discover mistake he has fallen III
to, from a conversation, probably, he had with
the senior editor Of this paper. The ':Valley
Railroad, proper, commences at TIarrisonburg.
and is completed to Staunton, distance of
tmenty-sic miles, at cost OF about So, 900, 600.
The correspondent Of the Commercial has CEN
founded the road running through the entire
Valley with the VALLEY Rallroal,'' whereas it
is composed Of several roads, all, however, I'M
der the management and control of the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company
The letter of Mr. Redfield, to be found in the
Commercial of the 21st, says
sTAUNToN.
If a man, accustomed to travel upon both
sides Of Mason's and Dixon's line, was blind
folded and set down in Ssaunton and the blind
removed, he would feel sure from appearances
that he was in Northern town. 1t is, for in
stance, much like Jamestown, New York
The population is, less, the wealth very much
less; hut there is an air of hustle, ana thrift,
and improvement about it very different from
the eternal repose of u majority of Southern
towns Of its size.
Staunton has a history, but it is carried around
in the heads OF its old citizens, who received
the early parts OF it from their forefathers, and
who will transmit it to their children after the
manner of the Indians. All the written hste-
~ of the place [ could find was about fourteen
lines printed in the middle of sort of q bust
ness directory, and hung in the bal.room of q
hotel. 1t is something in the nature of dis
grace that town as OLD as Staunton, SO filled
with historic memories, should not have a writ
ten history. or at least a historical society
where the traditions and material, now SO rap
idly perishing, could be preserved.
The town is among the oldest of the conti-
nent. 1t was Incorporated one hundred and
fourteen years ago, aud Was even settled befo c
then. 1t was laid off in its present shape mot
the best by VIM. Beverly, years before the
Revolutionary war. 1t did not pass through
that struggle unscathed. but had its severe eX-
perience like the other old Settlements Du-
ring the struggle it was the seat of the Virgin
ia Legislature. Tarleton, Ethe Forrest OF the
British army, having run that body of law-na-
kers out Of Richmond, then out of Charottes
VILE, theE across the Blue Ridge, the law-ma-
king carpet baggers finally brought up at this
place, without their documents. In that day
the Government of Virginia was us badly scat
tered as that Of West Virginia is now, but from
! different cause. 1t was strung along through
the wilderness from Richmond to Staunton
and, covering so much territory, was corrosron
dinghy thin at a place. Oh, what wealth Of
the romantic in history is here. 1t is well nsl
a disgrace to the descendants Of those grand ole
patriots, who took so large part in the estab
lishment of the Republic, that this historic
State is to-day without a history OF q literature
worthy of the name
1t is possible that; had West Virginia moi
| seeded Staunton would evidently have be-
come the Capital of the State. 1t was nearer
the centre than Richmond, and is higher, heal
| ther, cooler, and preferable in many respects
In the old times, before an attempted separa-
| ton Of the United States separated the State
| Staunton was the chosen point for the meeting
of conventions, and the settlement of differ
ences between the sea-coast sections and the
| mountain districts. The mountaineers having
set up for themselves, the only example of Tho
success of secession, Staunton is thrown to the
side OF the Commonwealth, instead of as be-
| fore, near the middle of it.
| The state Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb anl
| Blind is here, also the Asylum for the Insane
both of which are among the first institutions
| of the sort in the land.
| But chiefly is Staunton noted for the mum
! Der and excellence of its female schools. Stand
NC out against the western sky on q gentle
eminence is the Wesleyan Female Institute
an imposing building, and the seat of one o.
the best schools in the country. Within its
walls at the last session, seventeen States were
| represented, which is u testimonial to the
breadth of its field of labor and the usefulness
of its influence. Rev. VIM. A. Harris, broth
er of the member Of Congress from this Dis
trict, is the President.
Three other large educational institutions
grace the LOWE. namely, the Augusta Female
Seminary, Vrs mia Female Seminary, an(
Stauton Female Institute. These schools are
Al. % IL,
er can be long in the place without noticing the
fact.
The public schools are also good, and ample
for the &C commodatio1 of the children of botI
races. A colored free school, supported by the
taxpayers, is orc Of the hopeful signs fol
Staunton. 1t is a long. long step in the ,igh
direction; longer, indeed, than we could fair
ly expect so soon after the 'schanged order O
thngs.''
Dir. Sears, general agent Of the Peabody
fund. lives here. and the excellence of the free
schools of Stanton is due in no small degree
to his influence and aid from that noble funl
which he represents. The head OF the free
schools here is a Northern man, and the oppo
stion this system of education first met has
melted away, and now in all Staunton nobody
can be found who would willingly surrender
the free schools.
RAILROADS.
The Chesapeake & Okio road passes thro
Staunton, and indeed this is the most imDor
tant place on the Whole line from Richmond t(
Huntington. This road, when completed te
Staunton, was then called the Central and the
work was the property Of the State. The State
yielded her interest in consideration OF having
the work pushed through to the Ohio which
always has been darling project with Virgin
ia. 10 her efforts to get calial through the
mountains, and railroad ditto, as largely due
the burdens Of her public debt to-day. She
could complete neither to paying point, an(
both were a dead weight while she had any
thing to do with them. A State cuts poor
figure in the railroad and canal business. They
never get out with less loss than fifty pei
cent, and often the figure is nearer one hun
dred per cent.
Within two years line has been completed
down the Shenandoah Valley to this point
Eventually it is to go through to the East Ten
nessee and Virginia road at Salem. about, Il
miles. Much Of the grading is already DONE
This road will pass near, if not through, I.ox.
ington, ''the Athens of Virginia., ,, the seat Of
Washingten-Lee University So far the Athens
has never had a railroad, and perhaps this is
the chief reason why it is likened to the Athens
of old. 1t will also open up further collection
OF mineral springs for the healing of the sick
Of the Nations as have the dyspepsia and govt
and who banker after fried chicken. 1t will
also bring the Natural Bridge within easy &C.
cess, and don't know but pass over it free Of
toll. The Natural Bridge, Of late years, Is
playing out as a curiosity. Man builds them
so much higher and longer that nature must
feel like withdrawing from the business. There