The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-11-22
A Run over tho VALLEY Extension.

On Friday last, q number of gentlemen
accepted the invitation of President Spen
Ger to accompany him over the extension
of the Valley Railroad from Staunton te
Lexington.
On the day previous the members OF the
Town Council of Lexington, and Super
yisors of Roekbridge county, made triE
to Staunton with view to being present
at the stockholders meeting. They ar
rived too late to participate in its proceed
ings. So modest and unassuming was the
body of officials that our city authorities
were not made aware Of its arrival, and
therefore no opportunity was afforded fol-
extending hospitality, exhibiting the ele'
plant and so on. We promise them better
treatment next time.
On Friday morning, as we stated, the
excursion to Lexington started out. The
excursionists occupied an elegant palace
Car and Mr.. Spencer's private car ssDela-
ware. Staunton was represented by Robt.
W. Burke, Jno. Burns. Dr.. n. Wayt, j.
w. Abby. F. b. Berkeley, and J. d. CroWle.
of the City Council, Col. Bolivar Christian
and others Shenandoah by Gen. Meem,
and Frederick by Mr. John Miller. Balti-
more's delegation embraced Messrs. Du-
vail Ways, Robbs, Townsend and Slaughter,
Col. VIM. Allen ind President Spencer.
Rockbridge's quota consisted of the Su-
pervisors and Couhcilmen aforesaid, Judge
Patton and Col. VIM. A. Anderson, and
perhaps others. Supervisor of trains, Prince,
was also on board Along the line various
gentlemen joined the party.
The run was made in good time and
without a jar. The road is unusually firm
considering the lfief time in which it has
been in operation. 1t penetrates a coun-
try rich in pastpSal beauty and affording
views that an artist might envy. From
the summit at Fairfield looking to the east
the eye ranges over y wide panorama of
fertile fields, bounded by mountains whose
jagged peaks stand out like grim sentinels
watching with ceaseless vigil the lovely
valleys that shelter beneath their shadows.
These mountains so bare and forbidding
now are vast treasure houses Of nature.
From their hidden recesses will one day
be gathered a mass of mineral wealth that
will lift the old StaGe into fortune, and
well repay the enterprise of those who
have invaded the region with the iron
horse.
AT Lexington the party was met by car
riages supplied by the hospitable citizens
of that ancient town. and under the con-
duct of Messrs. Barclay Anderson, Patton,
Nelson and other co-residents, the guests
were driven to Jackson's grave, the Lee
Mausoleum, Washington & Lee University,
and various other points Of interest. After
the ride, substantial dinner was served
at the National Hotel, and the Valley rail
road extension christened with appropriate
ceremonies. IN. d. Those who have par
taken Of Lexington hospitality will under
stand what appropriate ceremonies"
mean.
AT four 0 clock, with many handshakings
and cordial thanks, the eXcursionists re-
turned to the cars and started homeward.
All along the route they were reminded
that their question: had not ceased with
their exit from Lexington, for President
Spencer S servants were constantly passing
through the aisles and depositing mystic
rious glasses with unknown contents at
nearly every occupied seat. The train
reached Staunton at clock, and those
who stepped off here returned to their
homes with the memory of q day most de-
spent, and with grateful sense
of obligation to President Spencer and the
Lexington hosts.
It used to be that our neighboring town
was principally noted as the resting-place
of Virginia's great dead. Around the
tombs of Lee and Jackson clustered Lex
ington's fame. She cherishes yet her sa-
cred guardianship, but at length appears
to have awakened to the demands Of the
living present. There is not much, however,
iranrAunmant Ia DO not al along the Main
street within the past ten years the houses
seem pretty much the same, only a little
more weather. beaten, and the business es-
Establishments havn't much to brag on in
the way of improved personal appearance.
The sidewalks assume that they are called
upon to remind the visitors that Licking
ton is not of mushroom growth, and they
point to themselves with pride as evidence
of the ancient and eminently respectable
character of the town s'befo de war" If
we mistake not, we recognized several Of
the dear, old bricks that we stumped our
toe against years ago. They were just as
impudent and obtrusive as ever, and altho
half hidden under the accumulated dust
of decades, were still holding the fort with
Scotch-Irish pertinacity and froWning
with disdain OH the so-called progress of
the age, which would uproot the land
marks to make smooth the way for the
vulgar parvenus OF 1883.
But with all this, Lexington has set an
example which her more pretentious neigh
bors would do well to follow. Her men Of
means have not expended their surplus
capital in building fine dwellings and bust
ness establishments. They are laying the
foundation to create the business first.
They are preparing to produce something
from the raw material that so abundantly
surrounds every Virginia town. They are
sending their capital out in the way Of
manufactured products and having it re-
turned with fair profit and foreign interest
added. They are bringing money into the
town, instead of sinking it in houses, the
rents of which will hardly pay the taxes
and insurance. They are developing plans
which, in the near future, will insure an
income from outside sources. The Lex
ington Manufacturing Co. has already
proven that Il Virginia community is not
wholly dependent upon northern capital to
start it ON the..road to material prosperity.
That company has within short time es-
tablished various productive industries,
and is operating now with every prospect
of AN enviable future. Among other
things, it has a large planning, sash and
door factory, machine shops, Touring mills,
&c. 1t is giving constant employment to
As mechanics, and turns out all kinds of
furniture, wheat fans, house trimmings,
iron in various manufactured shapes, and
in fact little Of everything. Up on Main