Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-08-12
A Suggestion.


the long chapter was ended.
Suggestion.
MEssRs. EDIToRs:-There seems to be a
general conviction in the minds of the peO-
pie of Staunton that it is necessary for its
citizens to do something to maintain it's
present business prosperity. The idea
seems to be that if we do not advance we
must fall backward.
Many suggestions have been made of en-
terprses having this end in view, but none
have, so far, been satisfactory. Some have
been deemed impracticable and beyond our
means; others as not likely to accomplish
the desired object. Thus they have all fall
en- to the ground.
We now venture to offer our contribution
to the common stock of projects for what it
may be worth. 1t possibly contains the
germ of something which properly digested
may be of value.
1t is notorious to everybody that large
portion of the citizens of Baltimore, Wash
ington, Richmond, Petersburg and Norfolk,
and indeed of large portions of the tidewa-
ter districts of Virginia, are obliged from
considerations of health and comfort to send
their families to some healthful summer re-
?,
August and September. A failure to do so
is almost invariably attended by great NOR
tality, especially among children.
Formerly watering places, where mineral
waters were to be found, were the only re-
sorts of these fugitives from malaria and
the discomforts of sweltering heat and ever
busy mosquitoes, but of late years change
has come over tie spirit of these people. 1t
has been found that the indiscriminate and
ipiudicious use of mineral waters often
proves harmful The great objects now
sought by persons leaving the cities are, list.
An elevated retreat, where the climate is
healthful and perfectly free from malaria,
where the nights are cool and free from
annoying visitations of mosquitoes and
gnats. %. A place convenient of access by
railroads, telegraph and mails, and suffi-
GENTLY near to the cities above-named to be
reached in few hours, in case of sickness
OF accident. Sd. A situation where the Wis
itors can have the advantage of regular at
tendance on churches of their respective de-
nominations and the services of skillful ply
sicians when they may be needed. 18th. A
place which possesses picturesque scenery.
with numerous and beautiful drives over
good roads, which will afford means of ex-
ercise to invalids, and of pleasant recrea-
ton to those who are in health. 9Th. A re-
sort which presents the advantages OF re-
fined and cultivated society in the neigh
torhood, and reasonable social enjoyment
to persons of all ages, especially the young.
ANY point which presents combination
of all or most of these advantages can read
lily be made an attractive summer resort
Ali that is necessary is to provide suitable
means of accommodation at fairly remuner-
alive prices.
If any one questions the practicability of
making a popular summer resort without
the adjunct of mineral water, we have only
to refer him to the success of the Natural
Bridge, Marlborough, Alton and Green
wood, in our neighborhood. Wytheville
has for years been crowded by summer Wis
itors, and it was stated few days ago by
correspondent of the Dispatch that there
are now 100 persons registered for the sum-
mer in Fincastle, and that
citizens OF that town were engaged in
building spacious hotel to accommodate
the large number of applicants who could
not now be provided for.
Looking at these facts the enquiry has
presented itself to cur mind. why could not
Staunton be made great place of summer
resort? 1t certainly possesses advantages of
a marked character over any one of the
places named. 1t is nearer and more ac-
cessible by railroads to tho cities named
than either of them but Greenwood and At
ton. 1t is 1900 or 1 300 feet above the sea;
it's climate is proverbialy salubrious; its at
mosphere is as pure as that of any of the
mountain resorts, without their fogs and
dampness; it is free from malaria and its
associate, the mosquito it is centrally stu
ated and accessible by railroads from the
o.,,fc 0F %bo md
eight principal highways radiate from the
town, affording, with their various branch
es, succession of drives of unsurpassed
beauty; and it is surrounded by natural OBJ
.iects of great interest, such as Elliot's Knob,
the Natural Bridge, Weyer's Cave, Cyclic
pean Towers, Humpback mountain sum-
nit, and the Cascade Falls, near the Rock
bridge line. Picnic parties could be formed
to visit most of them and return in day,
and those most remote in two days.
The question then presents itself, what is
necessary to be done to make our town an
attractive summer resort? 4
A good and spacious hotel in the central
and thickly-settled part of the town will not
answer the purpose. People from the cit
les will not be satisfied with being transfer
red from one city to another, although the
climate may be less oppressive than that
they left behind them. They want some
thing new-something novel; they want
space and light and air; they want not mere
ly well-ventilated and we'll Lighted apart
ments, but exemption from the noises,
smells and hustle of a densely populated
grounds, with graded walks for free exerciee
and clumps and groves of trees and grass
and flowers.
To make Staunton an inviting summer
resort these reasonable wants of visitors
must be supplied. 1t may safely be assum-
ed, therefore, that no hotel situated on a
town lot, however extensive, in the dense
ly-populated city, will prove satisfactory
Some location must be selected for the ho-
tel near the limits of the city, which is easy
of access, near enough to the town to be |
visited by pedestrians without fatigue, and
which possesses the necessary Typographical
To make the enterprise sue
cess not less than thirty or forty acres of
land should be secured, so as to afford am
Pile room for ornamental grounds, handsome |
graded walks for adults, croquet lawns for
the young and play grounds for children. If
such location were secured and properly
improved, in the first place by spacious
hotel, hing on the order of the Apple
ioor Hotel, at the Natural Bridge, with |
,he necessary adjuncts, who can doubt that
{ would be filled during the summer
months by visitors from distance?
Every condition necessary to insure the
success of such an enterprise will be found
% exist here in full measure. Nor would
he patronage of such an establishment be
United to the summer and autumnal
months. We have near four hundred young
aides at school here. Many of these are
ho don Of 1a1 |
lEder care of aunts and other female rela-
ives, who would delight to obtain pleasant
near their children or wards
While they are receiving their education.
In many cases parents from Southern !
states would greatly prefer not to take {