The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-06-15
Augusta Memorial Association.

LIE annual meeting OF the Augusta picioi
al Association was held at the Clerks Office OF
last Friday. The following members wer
present: j. II. Skinner, Pres; C. S. Arnall
Secretary J. E. Rollins, Treasurer j. II
Waters, S. r. Phillips, T. 3. Berkeley, 4. d
Ransom, Jno. N. Opie and Gen. Jno. Echols
The President submitted his annual repor
which was as follows:
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT OF TIL
AUGUSTA MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION FOR
THE CONFEDERATE DEAD.
In pursuance of The requirements OF our BY
laws. submit this report OF the condition
wants, and prospect OF the work with whicl
the Association is charged"
YOU, .lrV. referred to the report of the Treas
lirer for the expenditures OF the Association
since the date OF his former report. You will
learn that since that time the sum OF S24o.2l
has been expended. OF which $3.50 has been
paid to Michael O'Keefe, in part of his contract
for stone bases. The sum of S4S. 10 has been
spent for 1nanures to enrich the CeInerery,and
aid in securinga good sward. in which. am
gratified to say, we have at last succeeded IN a
promising degree the remaining S42.l has
been for sundry necessary OUTLAWS, as will APP
pear from tie vouchers accompanying the re-
port, which indicate all the items OF expense.
You will further perceive that there was on
the LIST inst, in the hands of the Treasurer,
SlS1 AS in cash, $2,6S1.99 in individual notes,
making an aggregate of W, S63.47, as the pres
ent means of the Association.
In the month of March last. your Executive
Committee, being very DESTROYS OF completing
tle work entrusted to them. invited proposals
forsiion posts. chains and tags, with which to
mark the soldiers grave@ from several quar-
tiers. to wit :Staunton, Richmond, Baltimore.
and Philadelphia !; and after having carefully
considered the proposals made. they tlnanl-
mously, OIL the Och Of March, gave the con-
tract to Asa Snyder & Co., Of Richmond city,
their bid being the lowest presented, and their
character for superior workmanship being I'M
surpassed This firm undertook to furnish ac-
cortling to prescribed specifications, 430 iron
posts, $500 feet of galvanized iron chain and
1850 bronzed tae s. for the sum of 81, 9l450.-
By their contract, the posts, &c, were to be
delivered on the cars in Ricllmon at or before
the expiration OF five weeks from said 9th OF
March; they therefore should have been re-
ceived by us during the first week in May,
which would have given us ample time for the
completion of the whole work by this day,
(Ju-e 9tll) and We could have had the Memorial
celebration, which we, and we are sure the pub
lie also, ardently desire to have. Several weeks
ago, however. we learned from TING contractors
that they would not be able to furnish the
work by the time contracted for. They repre-
sented that they had begun in due season, but
had been unfortunate beyond any previous eN-
perience with their castings and you'd not be
able to send us more than 3OO posts by this
date. The Executive Cocmitte, after CONSUL
tatjon. thought it best not to receive any of che
posts until all were ready to be delivered, and
so ANNOUNCED to the contractors, together with
an expression of their great disappointment n
the fl ustration of their plans. Had tile Com
mittee supposed for an Instant that anything
was likely to prevent the completion OF tl!e
work in time for Memorial Day, they would uil-
doubtedly have postponed it for another year,
and allowed their funds to accumulate at inter-
est. Matters being, however, as they are, they
would recommend to you to orderl Memorial
celebration at some time between the middle
and the latter part of Sept next, or il it shall
be thought expedient on the 81 day OF oct.
next, which will be the opening day OF the
County Fair. Short exercises ON the morning
OF that day will not interfere with attendance
on the Fair, especially as the Cemetery is but
a short distance from the road leading to the
Fair Grounds.
The Committee contracted with NJ. O'Keefe
for 42O stone bases for the support of the iron
posts. at so cents per base; they have been fur
nisl,ed and set. in accordance with contract,
and Uile contractor has. aforesaid. been paid
$3.50 in part OF his dues.
We Congratulate you that the work which we
have been so long laborng to accomplish is so
near completion, and greatly regret that it is
not actually finished on this day, us we had ev
cry reason TO suppose it would be. We esti-
mate that after the graves shall have been
and permanently marked, and ev-
ery thing done and paid for which we deem
necessary to be done at this time, there will
remain in our hands Surplus Of about $780, |
We regard it indispensable chat this shall be
increased TO the sum of $l5O, and that this
amount shall be invested, at per cent. inter-
est which can readily be done.
The yearly income Of $l20 thus realized, will
suffice we think, il prudently Administered, to
keep the Cemetery in beco ming order, aud we |
appeal to the patriotism and county pride of
our people t. contribute the remaining $3.50 |
essential to our plans. 1t will be in vain to
put the Cemetery in handsome condition, un- |
less it shall De permanently kept so. and to ill.,
sure this the money we ask for is absolutely |
needed. viii not the daughters of Augusta,
in their several neigllborhootls, devise some
means by which they can raise for us say $50
or 500. in and around each village. Staunton
has time and again contributed-and in even
more than her proportion-to this cause she
will undoubtedly DO her part now towards the
end we have in view.
When call to mind how on yesterday and
to-day fourteen years agO-Iwo bright June
like this-the sons of Augusta, in her
9TH and SD Regiments barred their 5osoms to
the storm of battle, on the fields of Cross Keys
ard Port Republic, and gave their lives by
scores hi defence of their homes and loved ones,
| will never doubt that more can he necessary,
on each recurring anniversary, than to touch
the chords of grateful memory, in order to inn
pei each true and loving heart to render all
proper tribute to the hundreds of Confederate
dead-tIe brethren by u baptism OF fire Of your
sons and brethren-who came from distant
homes, and Dled and died at your doors. and
whose dust, now mingling with the clods OF
this Valley, makes douby halloxed your natal
soil.
Very respectfully submitted.
JAMES IL. SKINNER,
President Aug. Mem. Assn.
The report was received and recommended
to be published. after which the Treasurer
made a statement of the financial condition of
the Association.
The old officers Of the Association were re-
elected.
ENCOURAGING HOME ENTERPRIsE.- The
blatant denagogues who stirred up the strife
about the municipal election, made for all ar
gument to Justify them, the pretense that the
election of r. G.. Bickle, a Republican, to the
Mayoralty would injure Staunton. They knew
it was false when they gave currency to the
expression. They cared nothing about the