Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-04-18
Stamnto,l Spectator.
WEDNESDAY. APRIL Is, 1888.
The Virginia Exposition.

The virginia EXp0SlIl0n.
No apology is necessary for recurring to
the subject again, after having so recently
commended the proposed Virginia Expo
sition to the fostering care of our people,
We have previously adverted to the con-
siderations, and will now present some
new facts which should call into co-opera'
ton not only our own, but every section OF
the State in this grand movement for de-
velopment.
The noble illustration which Richmond
has furnished in this effort for the material
and progressive development of the State,
is of itself enough to arouse every energy
of the country, and, in cooperation with
our capital city and chief center of com
mercial and industrial interests, to declare
that the Old Commonwealth shall move
forward on all the lines leading to aug
mented wealth, power, and influence in
the sisterhood of States.
At this very time our own Valley country
is making special efforts to commend its
natural and improved advantages and op-
portunities to, the attention of citizens of
other States, who, it is said, are looking
for new homes within our borders. In
forcibly presenting them, how can we, to
better advantage, at small cost, accomplish
that purpose than by the means at our dis
posal through the Exposition, which is not
for this year only. but continuous, thus af-
fording the annual opportunity of making
additions as our progress moves forward.
We have heretofore published the sug-
gestions made by Mr.. Starks, President of
the Exposition, inviting the cooperation
of each county government for the especial
benefit of its own people by furnishing a
typographical map and the evidences of the
resources and advantages Of the county for
progressive development. The Exposition
will be visited by thousands Of strangers
and hundreds of them will be actually in
search of locations in the section of the
Valley in which Augusta county forms SO
important part. Suppose that these sug
gestions should be adopted, which can be
done at little cost, the result would be a
splendid array of information illustrating
the county as it never was before, and upon
a field full of attractions and with a multi
pliclty of advantages. Apart from the
present and prospective benefits as means
of information to strangers seeking oppor-
tunities for investment and engaging in
profitable employment, our own people
would take fresh courage in beholding and
studying their own advantages and individ-
ual opportunities as they never did in the
past. Thus preparing the way, we would
be in better shape for asking strangers to
come and abide with us, for they could
thus see that we would allure them to no
uncertain land of promise.
Presenting that other counties will act as
we hope Augusta will do, not only for local
effect, but to add to the combined display
all will make for the State, let us glance at
what Augusta can do in this way, and
then we may have an idea of what would
be the result Of associated effort, if the
Within the walls of the great mountain
ranges forming the Valley and occupying
the eastern exposure of its central water
shed, Augusta county presents the most
inviting area as 6 whole of any between the
Potomac and the Southwest for the profita-
BILE culture of several staples of agriculture,
growing livestock, fruit, &c. The springs
coming down from the watershed and
mountain sides rapidly from the smaller,
which soon swell into larger streams and
rivers, which in their meanderings form as
a whole more than one thousand miles of
lineal distance, and irrigate beautiful valleys
and furnish in various locations a great
amount Of fall suitable for propelling ma
chinery. The low-grounds in the valleys
formed by some of the lvers are fruitful in
the highest degree and can be appropriate
~ classed in richness with deltas. The
area of the county is about one thousand
square miles, and has, in large and small,
bout two thousand, five hundred farms
The lands on many of the plateaus partake
Of the qualities which render the low
grounds especially valuable, and a correct
Typographical map of the county to ac-
company the evidences of mineral, forest,
and crop reproduction resources, would be of
incalculable benefit to Augusta as it would
be displayed along with other counties at
the Exposition.
in taking up the statistical feature,
which should also accompany the display
the county would make at the Exposition,
our home people, unless exercising pains
taking research, would be astonished at
the figures which the actual production
and the trade and commerce of the county
will show The yield of wheat at the next
harvest will probably reach one million
bushels, and there will be, according to
present indications, sixty thousand tons of
cured hay, with similar increase in corn,
oats, grass-seeds, &c. It is also noticea-
BILE fact, as the annual exhibits at our
Fairs have demonstrated, that the next
census will show a most remarkable de-
velopment in numbers and improved grades
and thoroughbred horses, cattle, sheep,
and hogs, and consequently increased in
comes from these sources of our mixed in
dustries.
Three railroads forming at their inter-
sections two centers in transportation IA
cilities, afford the largest means for con-
Quoting our outward and inward trade and
travel. About five hundred Thousand
bushels of wheat and wheat-four, twenty
thousand tons of hay, with our surplus of
the farms, including annually increasing
quotas of livestock, are exported from the
county. Add to all this, the yields of the
mines, forests, orchards, &C., and we begin
to see that the feature of statistics will be
of great value in estimating the extent and
the income from our varied productions
Nor are these all the departments that
should be considered in arriving at the
wealth of the county. An exporting COM
munity is generally an importing one also.
Herein our consumption of the articles we
do not produce is ascertained, and the well
sustained mercantile and trade-supplying