The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-11-01
Complimentary Notes

Mr.. Richard Burke, of the Monroe Register
gives his impression of the Baldwin Augusta
Fair, as follows:
Staunton, always live and enterprisng
city, was just at the time exceptionally live
~ owing to the great agricultural falr then
at its height. The streets were crowded and
bustling, the numerous stores like beehlyes;
and everything and everybody wore an air OF
business just as in the marts OF great city.
The fair grounds comprise tract OF 20 acres
purchased by the city, located about half
mile northwest Of the city on q bold spring
from which flows a stream OF pure water
that supplies the city reservoir. The grounds
have been improved at a heavy cost. with
several hundred substantial cattle stalls and
pens and booths; a fine mile race track, and
a rotunda building for exhibitions requiring
shelter, for celebrations, orations, and the
official business of the Augusta Agricultural
Society. The whole is surrounded by sub
stantial fence six feet high and is approached
by several avenues. The fair is named in
honor of the late John B. Baldwin, one Of
Virginia's most distinguished lawyers and
honored statesmen, citizen OF Staunton.
In company with cherished friend we visl-
ted tie fair on Thursday, the last day. Onr
time being limited, we took but hasty gen
eral view OF the exhibitions, enough however
to note many fine herds and flocks of impor-
ted stock bred and raised in Augusta, having
records OF high premiums carried IN other
states, and testifying to the enterprise and
skill of Augusta farmers. We saw at that
fair some of the finest horses, horned cattle:
sheep. and swine, which we have ever seen,
exhibited anywhere. They were, mostly
the results of Augusta industry, notably ex-
cepting the unriyallcd Kentucky thorough
bred horses exhibited by Col. Davis of
Greenbrer. The fruits, vegetables, and ar
ticies OF domestic skill and industry, rival
led in the way of merit, the display of stock,
showing how well the people OF Augusta
know how to provide the comforts OF life.
This great progress of the rural population
indicated the presence amidst them of a great
model industrial community, to stimulate a
rivalry. Our eyes meantime resting on the
manufactured products of Staunton brought
the fact of such community forcibly to the
foreground. All around, our admiration
was challenged by the array OF machinery,
furniture, and sundry manufactures produc-
ed in the city of Stanton, all comparing
we'll with the products of more pretentions
cities. Besides the numerous plows, cast
ings, and agricultural machines exhibited by
the Staunton Iron Works Company; that
company had in the rotunda an horse pow
err steam engince the neatest and smoOthest
thing of the kind we have ever seen. 1t had
the popularity of being encased in all the
parts exposed to rust. 1t occupied a space
not exceeding six or eight feet by four, and
appeared to us the me.plus-ulrasof compact
ness, finish and power. The company made
it in all its parts and the engineer informed
us it does its work smoothly and well. How
creditable to the industrial reputation Of
Staunton. We also noticed particularly,
some superb furniture and undertaker's
work made of Augusta walnut by the
Bickle Bros; and altogether we were
brought to the clear conclusion that city
possessing such men of enterprise as Staun-
ton has, must gr ow into metropolis, and
infuse wonderful life into the rural COM
munity around. Before leaving, we visited
the splendid reservoir near the Fair grounds,
constructed by the city, at cost of 800, 900.
It has capacity of five million gallons,
enough to supply city of thirty thousand
people, and it can be filled in two days by
the engines which work up the water from
the adjacent valley. We regret our limits
forbid more extended notice and COM
mcnts, for the present issue, but we must
at this point come home, and reserve the
rest for another issue.