Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-09-26


lied road, that runs through South
Western Virginia. 1t has been turned
over to the counties through which it
passes. They manage to keep it in
about half such repairs as the Valley
Turnpike, but as compensation charge
double tolls. Finely cultivated farms,
elegant mansions and big barns impress
one that the people Of Botertourt are
thrifty and prosperous. The crops Of
corn and tobacco promise their usual
yield. They haven't suffered as much
by drought, as in the counties north or
south Of it.
We came TO the Roanoke line not far
from the Hollins Institute, at Botertourt
Springs, long established and success
full school, for young ladies. There is
very much needed, an institute that will
somehow educate into the young ladies
a proud independence Of feeling and
JUNCTION. Until such an one is found
women will continue helpless and
hopeless victims to fashion and folly.
Roanoke lands enjoy a high reputation
for fertility in this part Of the Valley.
There is. however, no little back bone,
to compensate for the rich meadows of
the Roanoke river.
See this little church by the roadside.
The white wall, the green blinds, the
pretty shade trees, the neat fence give
it an appearance Of comfort that
impresses one quite pleasantly. The
name of the denomination to which it
belongs sounds more ridiculous than
religious-''The Single Headed Dunk
ers."
Big Lick which we leave some distance
to the left is a hourishing village, and
trades extensively in tobacco and
groceries with the surrounding counties.
Salem, the county seat, is the most
stirring and lively village we have seen
in the whole length Of the Valley.
1t has become quite place Of resort
for wealthy people and invalids from
the Southern States.
Roanoke College is Lutheran school.
1t has been certainly well managed.
for it is the only college in the state
which has increased the number of It's
matriculates Notwithstanding the pres
sure Of hard times.
Here we begin to ascend toward
Blacksburg. Ten miles from Salem,
we leave the McAdam. road and go,
by the village Of Lafayette, up the
North Fork of the Roanoke. 1t is hard
to tell, in many places, which is the
toughest the road bed or the bed Of the
creek. We have sixteen miles from
Lafayette to Blacksburg. The road,
for half the distance, winds along the
side Of beautiful, fertile but narrow
valley between steep high ridges. The
clouds, standing up from behind these
ridges, look like the heads Of great
giants peeping over at the passer by.
They mean mischief too, as you will
find, if you have not your water proofs
with you. Now the ascent begins in
earnest. There is one reflection which
was quite soothing to our vanity ifnot to
some other sore places, in travelling
over this steep, rough road we Were
getting up in the world.
We passed a church, by dam thai
turns the waters of the creek upon the
wheel of a little mill. 1t goes by the
name of Dam Church. If the epithe'
had been applied to the road, we coult
have felt the fitness of the thing.
Some body has invented for it the
more euphonious title of of Falling
waters. That man must have been {
descendant Of Pocahontas. or some 9th
er romantic Ingin.
At last we have reached the top 0
the Alleghanies. The waters on ont
side flow into the Atlantic on the othe
into the Ohio.
Here is an extensive plateau of ricl
blue grass country, and on this plateau
is Blacksburg. A place more extern
sively laid out, but not quite as thickl,
inhabited as Woodstock.
This rich plateau has abundance 0
water power, and is surrounded b.
mountains rich in coal and iron. Wha
place for manufactures Nothin:
has been done in this direction, excep
an attempt to manufacture farmers, b
the establishment of an Agriculture
College. There is an evident lack O
discipline in the school. There are man
boys here who had better be at som
good graded school, like that at Wood
stock in the winter. and on their father
farms In the summer. 1t is strang
that parents are so foolish as to sen
half prepared sons to- college, to b
ruined by unwholesome associations.
This college, contrary to the usua
customs, gives its vacation in the winter
If some one of our state schools woul
give seven months course, and fiy
months vacation, it would ft exactl
Into the operations Of our free. schot