The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-04-18
Staunton and It's Future.

md indicated that no reasonable man could
complain of burdens that were not coupen-
,ated BY benefits. With a population of be-
;ween 1000 and 5000, we have many, if not
all of the improvements AMI eonvcniences
which attach to much larger cities. and more
than some of double our population. We
have supply of pure water, sufficient for
three times the number OF the present in
habitants, the surplus of which could be ap-
2ropriated to manufacturing purposes, if
the demand existed. We have our main
streets we'll graveled and graded our
sidewalks substantially paved; excellent
gas works, owned, it is true, by private
citizens, but subscribing public uses; a
complete and thorough system of Public
Free Schools, attended by near 800 pupils
four splendid Seminaries for young ladies,
with near 400 scholars, from different
States of the Union; superior high-school
for boys who have completed tine curriculum
of the Public Schools, and others who prefer
the private to the public schools; and pa
rochial school under the control of the Catho-
Ole church. We have here. also, two State
neutrality-suspicious. Asylum and Deaf and
Dumb and Blind Institution-which cause
to be expended annually about 100000 in.
this community.
We have two railroads, one passing east
and west, connecting the seaboard with the
Ohio and Mississippi valleys, and the other
running north, and to be completed South.
but operating only to this point. as yet, but
must, at no distant day, be constructed to
the terminal point OF the charter at Salem,
connecting with the entire networkof South
ern railroads.
Stanton, too, is situated in the centre OF
q populous and rich agricultural and mine
raj section, the county of Augusta contain
ing about 10000 people, in
telligent and thrifty. Not only is this large
population tributary to our prosperity, but
adjacent counties seek this as their market,
by reason of the superior advantages offered
by our business men for profitable barter.
We venture the assertion that there is no
town OF equal population in the entire Union
which can boast of such a corps of business
men. Public spirited, liberal and sagacious.
they draw the trade not only from Augusta,
blu: bordering counties, and handle all de-
scriptions of produce, to the advantage of
the citizens of the city generally and of the
county. Indeed, there is never an occasion
for our farmers, except in the article of live
tation of doing better.
These are some of the present advantages
of Staunton. What its future will be, no
ore can tell. The development OF the rich
mineral deposits on every side of us, which
cannot be long delayed, must necessarily
centre large business at this place, as it is
the point of competition in freights. AS
the iron and coal deposits are approached
with capital and enterprise. manufactures
and furnaces must follow, and with the adj
vantages here of transportation, and
schools and churches, we may safely calcu-
late on degree of business activity and
growth rarely promised to a community.
The signs all point to renewal of bus.-
ness throughout the entire country. The
prostrati0n which has so long hung over the
industries of the nation, must soon pass off.
There is nothing rational in it. When we
consider the rapid improvement in national
credit-the extraordinary reduction in the
national debt, and in the interest on our
charlottesville lsveling of gold to its
normal condition as medium of exchange,
and not as speculative commodity-its
equal relations with silver and greenbacks-
the conclusion cannot be resisted that
general confidence is being restored and
the country about to enter upon career of
unparalleled prosperity.
This section must be among the first to
feel this reviving influence. Notwithstanding
the disastrous State administration under
which we have suffered for the past eight
years, the people. have not lost heart. In
fact they have only begun to realize that
their destiny is in their own hands, and that
the first step to elnancipate themselves from
the environments which hedge about them is
to crush the power of the trading, tricking
politicians, assert their own rights and pow
er, and take in hand the management of
their own affairs, in defiance of the clamor
OF demagogues at home and selfish stock
jobbers elsewhere. The profigacy in State
legislation and administration has taught
them lessons of economy and care, and not
withstandihg the results of their sweat and
toll have been squandered by those they
have heretofore entrusted. with authority,
they are prepared to face the promise of the
future with courage and hope. Private
debts have been discharged farm: have
been fitted up, improved and stocked, and
as the enterprise Of the country becom es
stimulated by the confident hope of "better
times,' our own beautiful Valley will he
the first to spring forward under the we'll
directed industry of her intelligent and en-
ergetic people. There is no substantial
to discourage prosperous
future. The people have fully determined
to settle the complications of the State their
own way; the Funding bill monstrosity
must be disposed of, either by the consent of |
Ill parties or without it, There is no power
On earth which can prevent this, and while |
t may take little time to consummate it,
he final consummation must come, and that
N the very way the People desire it. They |
have settled upon this, and they cannot be
haken ficm it by the clamor of those
Who have been instrumental in fastening
he wrongs upon them, which they now have
esolved to throw off. Stock jobbers, parti-
an courts, nor political frauds, mouthing
honor" and CONTRACTS when they TIL elm
elves have trampled upon laws and consti-
utions, both State and national, cannot
ivert and frighten the People from the high
uty to themselves they are called upon to
erform.
With this inspiring and propitious out
Dok. we have everything to encourage the
ope Of a revival of enterprise and Staun-
IN, from her central position and the many
dvantages which surround her, must feel
ne first vibrations of this returning pros
Gritty. II is not our habit to deal in
Tangible fancies, or indulge in wild specu-