The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-31

credited with having worked with might
and main toward the advancement of
the C. & O.
So far as we can learn, the officials OF
the road, generally, are men well adapt
ed to discharge the duties that devolve
upon them. Their subordinates, as a
rule, are men who hold the public es-
TEEN, and so far as regards the Compa
ny's agent at this point is concerned we
can speak in terms of praise for his ur-
banity and his evident desire to pro-
mote the interests of both the road and
its patrons. % re
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Owing to its magnificent water sup
ply (the reservoir SYSTEM Staunton feels
a wonderful degree of security against
ravages by fire. The fire department
is we'll organized body, comprising two
hose companies and one hook and lad
der company. The chief engineer is
| Capt. T. ]. Crowder. The Ist COM
mander of Augusta Fire Co." is ]. c..
Schefer; of "Newtown Hose" c. E.
Gregory; of "Staunton Hook and Lad
der Co.," M. Hardy. The total avail
able force is 100 men. The augusta"
has very handsome quarters; the oh. &
L." also is provided with neat rooms,
and the "Newtown' is now fitting up
suitable apartments.
MILITIA ORGANIZATIONS.
The West Augusta Guard, reorgan-
lied under the State militia law, now has
a roster Of 80 men. The company is
well drilled and disciplined, but it sadly
needs new armory, Its officers are:
T. ]. Crowder, Captain; H. St. George
Tucker, Ist Lieutenant, A. c. Gordan,
I'd Lieutenant, S Wilson, sd Lieutenant.
We have mislaid items concerning the
Staunton Artillery, but its commanding
officer is Capt. John T. Long. This
company also needs an armory.
There are also two colored companies
organized, but they are not armed, the
State law not having yet been complied
with.
EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES.
The educational advantages of Staunton
are of superior characterize graded pub
| lie schools offering complete facilities for
a common or high school education or for
preparation for entering college, are free
to all between the ages of and21 its four
UNCONVENTIONAL but not sectarian female
colleges, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episco-
pei and Lutheran, are among the most
| thorough and prosperous in the country, as
| is evidenced by the hundreds of young la
| dies in attendance upon their classes from
more than half the States of the Union.
| The public schools of StauntOn were Or
gained in 1870, cOtempOraneOuSly with
their organization in Virginia. At that
time there was joint Superintendent for
the pnblic schools of the county and city.
In 1873 the free public schools of the city
were recognized with 4 grades of schools
for the whites and grades for the blacks.
and all put in charge of City Snperinten- |
dent of schools,-the city having been most |
efficiently aided in this work from the Pea
body Educational F und and by the late DR. |
BarnaS Sears, a citizen of Staunton, the |
General Agent of that fund. Separate and |
wholly distinct schools are, by law, provi- |
ded for whites and blacks, but equal facil- |
tiles are furnished to each race.
During the past ten years the school sys-
tenn has. been wonderfully improved, the
attendance has increased, and all the facil
tiles have been enlarged.
THE CHURCHES OF STAUNTON
have fully participated in the growth of
the city. and they furnish ample accommo
dations for even a larger population than
the present. Their prosperity is one of
the best indications of the general pros
perity of the people.
There are, all told, ten churches in
Staunton. as follows: two Presbyterian,
Protestant Episcopal. Baptist, Methodist
Episcopal, Lutheran and Roman Catholic.
The colored are African Methodist Epis-
cOpal, Methodist Episcopal, and Baptist
The most cordial rn1afionc oyict botxuoor, |
the different denominations, and they Of
ten unite their efforts in Christian labor.
Sunday schools are diligently maintained
by all for the religious instruction of the
young, and the best talent in the churches
is enlisted in their work.
THE WESTERN LUNATIC ASYLUM
OF Virginia. one of the State s great chart
ties, Is located in the eastern suburbs of
Staunton. Since its establishment in 1928
Virginia has spent large sums in making
this one Of 4he oldest, one of the very best
hospitals of its kind in the country, giving
it an annual appropriation of thousands of
dollars, and adding often to its capacity,
until now it can properly accommodate 800
patients.
1t has been remarkably successful in
treating those diseased in mind. and it's
reputation, noble buildings, and ample and
improved grounds are worthy objects of
local pride.
THE DEAF. DUMB AND BLIND INSTITUTE.
The Virginia Institution for the educa-
tion of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind
is located in the eastern suburbs of the
City of Staunton, on an elevated knoll that
commands a widespread and delightful
view of great part Of the town and the
surrounding country. The buildings are
handsome and extensive. situated in
Ornundc hoaut fiod both Inv orr opd pot,,ro |
This noble Institution that his accom-
plished so much for the unfortunate classes
for which it is designed was established
during the administration of Geo. Camp ,
bell in the year 1889, largely, we learn,
through the active exertiOnS of the cele-
brated divine and philanthropist, the Rev. +
DIR. Plummer of the City of Richmond.
1t commenced its work under. dual man j
agement, the Rev. J. D. Tyler, being in !,
charge of the department for deaf-mutes,
and DR.. j. G. ,Merrillot in that for the :
blind. This arrangement continued until +
the year 1851, when upon the death Of Mr.. :
Tyler, the two departments were CONSOLE
dated and placed under the control of a :
single principal; and this method of man. !
agement has been continued by it's Direc- r
tory to the present time.
Since it's foundation there have been ed )
ucated within it's walls $50 deaf-mutes and +
166 Dllnd children, and while our limited / +
space forbids our adverting at any length J
to the good that has been accomplished, !
and the blessings that have been dispensed !
through the instrumentality of this great
charity, we would nevertheless remark in !,
passing that in none of her benefactionsl :
mas the State reaped richer reward than :
in thus affording the benefits and enjoy 3
ments of a liberal education to these 800 e
If her children who have so genuine a .
claim upon her sympathy and fostering
care.
The Institution has at present faculty !;
If sixteen professors. giving instruction =
nah the branches included in the curricu- !
TIM of liberal English education. Draw :
ng and painting are taught by an accom- :
)lished instructor, and in these branches :
some of the pupils are remarkably pro- /,
icient.
Music is leading feature in the educa- =
lion of of the blind, and at no other Insti- :,
tuition of learning in the State can the :
visitor be so entertained, both by the ex-
,ellence and variety of the instrumental :,
music as that afforded by the pupils of this +
school. =
The roll Of the present session numbers /
ABOUT l20 pupils in both departments E
nearly two-thirds being deaf-mutes. The .
VISITOR not 1,tb o q