The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-06-07


preaching commencement aud the I'm
yelling OF che Redundant Figure OF Gene
raj r. T.. Lee.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
LEXINGTON, June |, 1888.
Lexington. the county-seat OF Rockbridge
county. and the site OF Washington and
Lee University and the Virginia Military
Institute, is town Of over three thousand
inhabitants, most delightfully."- located in the
Valley OF Virginia, within days ride by
rail- OF the cities OF Richmond, Washington,
Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York.
Until within very short period Lexington
was regarded as one OF the most, II not the
most, inaccessible point i'm the State, hav-
inc then rs her only outlet OF communica-
ton with the outside world broken-down
and bankrupt canal plying three times q
week between This place and Lynchburg,
and line Of Stagc-cOachcs 10 Goshen, on
the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. subject
10 frequent Interruptions by ice and snow
In the winter and swollen streams in the
summer.
a wear or two ago the Richmond and
Allegheny Railroad Company was organ
lied, with such men rs James G. Blaine,
Hugh McCulloch, and Francis 0. French
in It's directory, TO construct a railroad
from Richmond ola Lyuchburg TO point
on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad west
OF Staunton, with power to make certain
extensions and build certain branches, thus
virtually superSeding and taking the place
OF the canal. Under its charter a branch
road OF standard gauge was built from
Lexington TO Balcony Falls, tapping the
main line OF the road at that point and the
great Shenandoah-Yalley system at Loeb
Laird. nine miles east OF this point, thus
placing the town in communication by rail
with all parts Of the country. The Balti-
more and Ohio Company are now en-
gagged ia the construction Of the Valley
branch of the road 10 Lexington
from Staunton. and will soon be finished.
A corps OF engineers are already in the
field making preliminary surveys for road
TO connect the James-River Valley with the
busy, busting, smoky city Of Pittsburgh,
and its early completion is assured. Tenn
pord naUtdnter ct nos mutdRUr in Ills.
Within the short space of a few years Lex
ington finds herself suddenly emerged from
her isolation and Seclusion and occupying
the position of a great railroad centre.
TIE PROPHETIC EYE OF WASHINGTON
saw through the dim vista OF the inter-
vening years the grand destiny which lay
I'm future foKthe then little obscure village
hamlet Of few hundred Struggling souls,
and through his unparalleled generosity
there was laid the foundation Of IN institu-
ton OF learning which should turn out
from its portals men distinguished in all
the walks of life-eminent soldiers, civil
ilnS, and statesmen, who were destined to
high positions Of honor, profit, and emolu-
., hi. 80
selves, and to their Alma Mater. The his
tory Of this institution is history OF our
whole country, the one is so inseparably
interviewer with the other
The history OF Washington and Lee
University is closely identified with the
early settlement of this beautiful and far
famed Valley OF Virginia. This historic
section OF the Old Dominion was peopled
by a brave, hardy, and adventurous race,
conspicuous for their devotion TO civil and
religious liberty. In the dark days of the
Revolution General Washington expressed
his confidence in their courage and patriot
ism, saying that il all other resources
should fail he might retire with a single
standard TO Augusta, the county from
which Rockbridge was formed, and rally
band OF patriots who would meet the en-
emv on the line OF the Blue Ridge, and
there establish the boundary OF free en-
pire in the West. The only college in Nir-
ginia at this early period was the
College OF William and Mary at Will
Harrisburg, then the capital OF Virginia.
IL was located in the lower portion
of the State, but from its great distance and
inaccessibility conferred only a few adj
yantages on the youth of this section. To
meet the growing demand for education
the Augusta Academy was established,
which was afterwards known as Mount
Pleasant Academy, and during the great
struggle OF the Revolution Is Liberty Hall.
This school, after occupying other neigh
boring localities. was finally established on
a safe basis at Lexington, Va, under the
name OF
LIDERTY-HALL ACADEMY,
with William Graham, its virtual founder,
as its rector.
William Graham, whose memory is dear
to every Virginian heart, was the son OF
PENNSYLVANIA farmer He was educated ut
Princeton College, where he was the class
mate and bosom companion OF General
Henry Lee, Familiarity known as "Light-
Horse Harry" the confidential friend OF
Washington, and father Of General Robert
Edward Lee, the late president Of Wash
ington and Lee University.
Through the active and untiring efforts
OF Mr.. Graham liberal subscriptions were
made for the SUPPORT and maintenance OF
Liberty-Hall Academy, and nowhere were
his applications for aid more generously
responded 10 than in the North. Among
the eally records of this time-honored
academy the fact is noted that this yenera-
BILE man, on a tour as far North as Boston,
collected G17G and lSs.
In January, 1896. the rector called
meeting of the trustees Ito take into con-
sideration some information that he had
received that the Legislature OF Virginia
had resolved that there should be semi
nary in the upper part OF the State, and
that the President OF the United States was
about to beStow his 100 shares in the james
River Company to aid in endowing the
same"
Early in 1884 the General Assembly OF
Virginia chartered the James River Com
pany, a company organized for the I'M
proyemcnt Of navigation OF James river.
Not long afterwards an act was passed all-
thorizing the State Treasurer to subscribe
one hundred additional shares in the COM
pany, "the said shares 10 be vested in
George Washington, his heirs and assigns,
forever The General Assembly did not
intend this rs trust fund, but, as was eX-
pressed in the preamble to the act, "out OF
the desire OF the representatives OF this
Conmon wealth tn embrace every suitable