The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-03-11


teresting period of the year. It is a luxury they
have enjoyed for SO many years. that it has the
appearance of saarilege to suggest anything
like an innovation upon a usage that has
thrown around it all the sanctity of genera
tions Of approval, and which has become SO
much part of the expectation as well as real
ization of our country travellers, shat to de-
prive them Of it, might be regarded as most
too much Young America. At the risk, how
ever, of becoming impudent, we will again
call attention to what we regard an absolute
necessity feT the material prosperity of the
County. The present condition of the County
roads is a stronger argument than any WE can
adduce to convince the farmers and taxpayers
of the County, that it wonld be economy to
expend S250,000, or s300,000, in repairing
them. There is not farmer in the County
who will not admit that to travel ten miles
with his wagon and team over any portion OF
the County, except tho Valley Turnpike, in
the present mire, does not add an additional
cost that would eqnal his proportion OF the in
creased taxation that would esut from the eX-
penditure of the amount we have suggested
10 put in good, substantial order one hundred
miles Of road, at cost of three thousand dol
lars per mile, would be about one-third OF one
per cent on the real and personal property OF
the County. TO man owning $40, 900 worth of
property, it would be about three dollars addi-
tional tax. That man. in nine cases out of ten,
if farmer, runs four horses to wagon. He
cannot get along with less, as the roads now
are, and then haul but half a load. With good
roads, he could transport twice the weight of
freight with two horses. Two days work,
then, with two horses, instead Of four, would
save to him the amount of his increased taxes.
We make this plain statement so the most
careless may understand it. 1t does not re-
quiDe an elaborate argument to demonstrate
the economy connected with the improve
ments we have suggested. Apart from that,
the accessibility of oAr lands by good roads,
would make them more s;sleable, adding to
their value, at least, the amount of the tax to
each tillable acre, to say nothing of the saving
to those who own surplus timber tracts. Not
only this, but the increased facility Of getting
to market, would be the means Of utilizing
vast quantities Of farm products now, in de-
gree, wasted, and add greatly to the remuner-
alton OF the lands by stimulating enterprise,
for the certainty of gain will make the LATEST
Of us stir little. But we have not the time to
argue the various phases Of advantage to re-
suit from improved roads, nor do we deem ie
necessary. An intelligent, practical people,
such as constitute Augusta County, understand
all this. What is wanting, is to bring their
minds up to the working point to remedy the
evils they suffer. Will they do it?
THE CITIZENS MEETING initiatot y
steps taken by the citize.:s Of Staunton, last
Saturday night, to be followed up by a similar
assemblage next Saturday night, already begin
to inspire, people with the hope Of a big flu
tire of material prosperity. We anticipate
that there will be a full attendance Of all who
feel an interest in the future development and
growth of the city and county, at tthe next
meeting. 1t is patent to the plainest compre-
hension that the establishment OF mantlfac-
lures is the only sure instrumentalty TO- accom-
plish permanent results to the active enterprise
OF our people, and to place them in position
to utilize and consolidate the wealth dug from,
the ground by the tilers of the soil, the prima-
nv source of financial heathfulness of every
community. AS it is, everything that is made,
passes from our hands to enrich other corlmu-
mites engaged in manufacturing the articles OF
consumption essential to the existence OF corn
munity. In this way money has always been
and must continue to be scarce. 1t cannot be
otherwise, and the people constantly living
from hand to mouth. Let the policy once be
instituted of supplying with home products
home demands, and the demands OF others,
and we at once lay the foundation. sure and
steadfast, of affiucnce and progress, material and
intellectual.
70 our mind the Indifference Of our people
heretofore, to,tIle natural advantages they pos
sess, has amounted ALMOST to stupidity. We
have every article at easy command that enters
into the manufacture OF farm machinery, wood
en- ware, cotton and woelen fabrics, and iron,
and yet there is not an establishment in Staun-
ton that responds to these advantages. Tim
Der of every variety, exists in abundance; wool
is at our doors; cotton can be had without diff
llCttlGy, dtlu Coal dilu HOA oiCo OouAN W PASo
up IN our midsts at trifling cost, to make this
city second Pittsburg. The want we expe-
rience, is the combined effort to turn these nat
ural sources of wealth to our own benefit
There is sutaicient.salrplus capital here to make
the start, and by persistent effort in the line OF
the movement. inaugurated last Saturday, can
moi, fail in the most agpicions consN.pl nations.
In presenting the advantages OF Staunton for
manufacturing iron, we have first. heretofore,
called attention to the fact that this is point
of competition in freights, having rail connec-
ton with the coal fields Of West Virginia and
the Cumberland mines. The completion of
the Valley road into Rockbridee county, will
place us in direct connection with two mex
austible iron regions-that along the line of
the Chesapeake and Ohie road, and of Rock
bridge and upper Augusta. We will have the
command Of the coke of Pennsylvania and
West Virginia, and the limestone is piled up all
around lis. For the manufactured iron, we
have the facilities to reach every direction-cer-
tainly the most lucrative markets. The cost OF
the manufactured article, as demonstrated by
the operation of Elizabeth Furnace, is not over
sl2 per ton, while it is s27 at Pittsburg. These
we have fully elaborated in discussing the sub
ject heretofore, and hence we do not propose
rs Il yt,ot