Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-06-12
Stanton and Augusta County.

Staunt0n and Augusta C0nnty.
The sentiment exists and has unwilling
ly been too much INDUCED in by the I'M
reAecting, that there has been but little
advancement on the lines of progress in
this community. Why this is SO it is not
incumbent on US to state. Negative con-
illusions arrived at without making a.
proper examination of the facts upon which
they are predicated, is, of all the false
modes of reasoning, the most absurd.
Progress and development are not to be
counted out of their place if they should
happen not to embrace in their scope
furnaces and rolling mills. The past,
as well as the present circumstances sur
rounding our situation, have more to do
with the future, and very justly so, than
seems to be the case in the estimation OF
some minds.
Staunton and Augusta county have very
great advantages for development on every
line those which have, as well as those
which have not been availed of. If it is
not either seemingly or otherwise practi-
cable to enlist home or foreign capital in
the aid of all, we should manifest the
highest degree of satisfaction in what
should be an acknowledged fact: that the
people of both town and county mainly
supported by their own resources are ad-
vancing on the highest lines of proper
progress. We say this, because we should
not be called upon to throw away the past
in marking the line of advancement, and
to take up wholly new designs, except
with proper reference to the past, which
should not be ignored.
We are not encouraging the idea OF the
propriety of old communities withholding
their support and their concurrence in the
plans of new development, for they should
be encouraged, and receive due considera-
ton. It is the two combined in united
harmonious action that will carry forward
a proper progress and secure the largest
benefits. Strengthen and enrich the old OF
our possessions and conduct them to thelr
legitimate positions, united with new de-
signs upon which the old will reflect their
worth, for thus the new will safely reach
profitable ends, the more certain and
secure because of that association.
In enumerating some of the features OF
the progress recently made, elevating ans
profitable to both town and country, We
prefer not TO classify separately those
which manifestly had their origin in the
old nor to single cut the others springine
into existence from the inspiration of new
ideas and fresh incentives to action, but to
group them as they are and must remain
in accomplishing the best results-insepara-
bly, associated in origin and completion
It is not so much what a community If
doing on single line, as it is to realize ad-
vancement on all. The aim to master the
whole situation is the way to win the
verdict of approval. And what have we
been enlarging on during the last three OF
four years. We adhere in the enumeration
to the plan before set forth, and Of which
s3me Of the capital was wholly foreign,
some entirely home, and some both. we
answer, The Staunton Extract Works dis
burses here over enc hundred thousand
dollars annually. The new Lutheran and
United Brethren churches have been built
The splendid building of the Young Mems
Christian Association is nearly completed.
Trinity Episcopal Church has been greatly
enlarged and beautifed. A furniture
manufacturing and shoe manufacturing
company have been added to our industries,
each with capital of $25, 900. The Second
Presbyterian Church has been entirely re
lieved of Indebtedness and secured an ele
CANT manse. The First Presbyterian
Church is adding new accommodations fol
splendid organ. The Odd Fellows have
the ground and soon will have the funds to
erect superb building. A new iron es-
tabliahment and Fruit Canning Company
are in operation. The Staunton Nursery
Company has started with good prospects
OF success. The city has enlarged its
forcing power at the pump-house, and is
running an electric light plant. Allen d
Shaw's large establishment in bottling
mineral waters, and J. E. Tannehill's ice
factory are of the most recent INDUSTRIES
The Staunton Male Academy, the coming
session of which will probably have two
hundred students and more than half oil
them from other States, and the elegant
aud growing female school, Sherwood
Seminary, the fifth here Of its class, are OF
the recent advantageous enterprises set IN
motion. The city has erected two elegant
public Echool-buiidings, furnishing the
very best accommodations for all the school
population, both white and eolored, and is
reducing rapidly its bonded debt. The
City Council is maturing designs to ap-
propriate eighty-five acres of land, which ii
owns free of incumbrance, to the purposes
of park, which it needs. Stockton is
charging his iron-working establishment
and two years ago Witt & Holt equipped
for the second time their -four mill witt
the highest grade machinery for the manu-
facture OF flour. Hangers corn-mill is nj
ordinary industry, because of the wide ex
tent and distant sections of country sup
Piled from it, and it is a new industry.
Turning to the county, we see that Bow
ling, and Patterson, and the Koiners, and
Brand and perhaps others have all lately
fitted out their flour mills with the best
machinery, and, with the mill at Staunton,
secure to the wheat-growers of Augusta
county and this section of the Valley
constant and better market for them THAI
any Of the eastern markets furnish.
The exports Of hay from Augusta county
were, in 1886, about nine thousand tons; il
1888, they were fifteen thousand tons.
The Eastwood Jersey herd of cattle neal
Staunton is one of the finest in the United
States-is conducted on large scale and il
annually charging, and this is one of thu
hrnnAr Of hnrc