Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1877-09-11
Correspondence.
September 7th, 1877.
CAPT WIN. L. BALTHIs, Mayor, &C., Of staun-

September It'll, 1877
CAPT. WIN. L. BALTHIs, Mayor, &C., of Staun-
Dear Str take the liberty to address you
this letter in view OF your official position and
as such the representative of our city popula-
ton, and through you the people of the county
whose cooperation in the matter of securing
the object desired is ardently wished.
You will agree with me. doubt not, that it
is much to be regretted that we have not had
and have not now in our town a repository or
museum where things that have relation to
literature, art, science or natural history might
be preserved. Were q suitable building or
apartments in an existing building secured, the
industry of the antiquarian, the arborist the
geologist and mineralogist would soon fill its
a museum where one might not only crafty an
antiquarian taste, but see displayed the pro-
ducts Of the SOIL fruits grains timber, ores, &C.,
would become one of the most attractive re-
sorts in our community: where might be stud
led from specimens every branch of science re-
lating to organic and Inorganic nature. The
science of geology has within the memory of
the present generation made immense progress
Aided not only by the higher branches of phys
les, but by recent discoveries in mineralogy and
chemistry, in botony, zoology and comparative
anatomy, it has extracted from the archives OF
the interior of the earth, records of former con-
ditions of our planet, and deciphered docu-
ments which were a sealed book to our ances-
tors. 1t has, indeed, extended it's researches
into regions more vast and remote than come
EXCEPT YET our mdsa 6aTe
no collection of the evidences of the formation
of the earth, of native or extraneous fossils,
such as minerals, earths, Salts combustibles,
metals, or bodies Of vegetable or animal origin,
such as plants, shells, bones and other speci-
mens-many of which are petrified and have
been buried in the earth accidentally.
Virginia abOunds in these interesting speci-
mens-Our forest alone produce several hundred
different kinds Of wood, mostly of excellent
quality: Who amongst us has seen them all
brought together or could name or classify
them If they were? Our soil is rich in miner
als, Goals, iron, salt. copper gold. and gypsum.
these to be seen and studied?
When a boy remember to have seen in the
county many relics of the red men such as stone
form of adze. which the barbarians no doubt
used to fell timber and scoop out their canoes.
What an interest cabinet of these curiOsities
would now possess! trust it is not now too
be successful no time should be lost. see with
surprise no mementos of the late civil war, but
a few rusty blades and now and again delapi-
dated scabbard or broken gun barrel Let us
collect these mementOs also of that period in
our history
when civil discord first grew high,
And men fell out they knew not why.''
My interest in the subject Is doubtless the
greater from the fact that have visited many
celebrated museums in Europe, particularly in
of the three ages into which antlquarians divide
the primeval or pagan ages, namely, first, the
stone; secondly, the bronze; and thirdly, the
iron; each betokening different degree Of adj
also of all succeeding ages with the natural pro-
auctions, &C., of every country.
With the hope that such q want may be sup
piled in our prosperous and growing city, I adj
your valuable cooperation.
am, Mr.. Mayor,
Very truly, yours,
JNo. LEWIS PEYToN.