The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-12-18
Street Corner N otes.


completion of the hall. by refusing to allow
the freScoing to be done and thus finish up
the job at once; but if we are not mis-
taken the citizens of the town will take
different view Of it. They have gone
too far now to be getting weakened.
To leave the Opera House incomplete at
this stage of the game, and postpone for an
indefinite period the ornamentation, is
species of false economy against which the
people have right to protest, and they
should protest. They have been promised
a handsome and creditable public hall, are
willing to spend the money to make it.,
and will be satisfied with nothing less.
Why not revive the old Lyceum These
long winter evenings afford abundant OPP
portunity for the interchange Of views on
current and historic questions, and it were
better to employ them in pleasant, if not
profitable entertainment than to let them
slip idly by or drag their slow length along
unlmproved. Has Stanton grown less
literary in the past three years, or is 1t
merely Incidence? The time seems ripe
for revival Of those contests which but Il
short time ago drew goodly audiences to
the hall, and sharpened the wits OF the
polemic combatants. Smile at the old
I.yceum as provincial il you will, but the
ing school for many of the younger mem
bers, and melted to investigation and
study when other incentives failed. Not
only this, but it relaxed the social lines and
furnished entertainment which not q few
OF the girls thought was a vast improve
ment on the not always brilliant tete-a-
tetes The changed political conditions
and the new questions which will shortly
press for solution, would furnish abundant
material for subjects of debate, and afford
ample scope for the exercise OF talent that
may otherwise remain unused for many
months. The younger people must make
the start and by-And-hy the seniors will he
glad to come III. Al least that's the way
it used To be-.
Speaking of entertainments, reminds us
that there has been Il drought of anlnst-
ments in Staunton this season. with no
prospect for improvement until after the
Opera House has been completed. Ii a
suitable room could be engaged. and it
could easily he done, this would be just the
time for that most eNhiarating Of " inter
sports-roller-ska Not long ago the
rink was one OF the most popular and fash
lonable of evening resorts, and Staunton s
younger generation nightly assembled
there. 1t is one of those sports which re-
quires enthusiasm, especially in beginners.
and the enthusiasm grows as the intrica-
cies of the science are mastered and the
initiatory bruises gradually disappear. In
all the larger cities the sport seems TO be
particularly popular this season and Stauu-
ton should put in for her share of the fun.
The completion OF the handsome bust
ness block on South Augusta. reviyes the
old talk of 80 much money going into
houses and so little effort being made
toward the inauguration of industrial en-
terprises, to add to our population and put
In circulation more money There seems
to be no lack Of renters for commodious
and attractive storerooms, and this has
slim ulated capitalists tonew expenditures
for brick and mortar. But the fact re-
mains too apparent to he disregarded that
these new tenants have but transferred
their stocks from other houses, and that
the rooms vacated remain vacant still.
! \ CIV street, once the scene OF a thriving
business and the centre of the liveliest
competition, presents succession of closed
| shutters now that extends almost half the
| square, and advertises its departed trade
with gloomy impressiveness. And GER
tainly it is time our people were waking
up to the necessity of branching out into
manufacturing ventures,-e producing
something in our midst that will convert
raw material into marketable shape and
bring in money from the outside world,
We are but trading On the profits of the
country produce that finds its point of
shipment here. We are holding out no
substantial inducement to capital or enter
prise. We are doing nothing towards the
peopling of our town with an active, busy
mechanical class-the class that makes
money and spends it, and sends q healthy
current through all the channels of trade.
There seems to be plenty of money for in
vestment in banks, insurance companies
| md fine h1iIIiprS hnf bn -, AZ 1,
appears willing to lay the foundation stone
for Staunton's growth and prosperity. II
Is matter in which large property owners
are more deeply interested than any other
class. In few years railroads will have
cut off the trade of the back counties that
now finds its outlet here. Already every
section of Augusta, except the north west
is sending it's surplus by convenient lines
to the larger cities and transferring its
commissions thither. Stanton 8 resources
are being curtailed with every season, and
unless something is done to counterfeit the
drain, the signs of ITO Rent" will become
still more numerous in empty windows
The theme is not pleasant one, but it i!
| p1CooILS lloCiA uloIc tllu llOIe upon INT
attention of the. thouhgtful.
1t seems to be impossible for the Cit,
Council to attempt to amend the water or
dinance without making it worse than il
was before. The amendment adopted last
Tuesday night is unjust and indquitable
and will lead to a number of complications
and no little vexation. 1t provides that {
building or room shall ka subject 10 waite,
rent, whether city water is used or not
even if there is no city water on the prem
ises. The theory is that the tax should BIZ
laid for protection from fire. To certain
extent this is all right. Property should be
subjected to this tax. But it is manifest
ly unjust to require one citizen to pay az
much for protection from fire alone, as bis
neighbor pays for both fire protection and
water. And again, who is to pay the tax
Suppose the property is rented and the cit,
water not used, and so inaccessible that il
cannot he used. The water ticket is made
out against and presented to the tenant
He refuses to pay it on the ground that hi
doasn r. 1850 the cjty 1yafar apd tbo ,,,o..a