Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-05-22
Forward. Augusta.

Forward, Augusta.
The systematic and judicious progress OF
the Augusta County Government in guard
ing and forwarding the important interests
in their keeping is well illustrated by an
incident which occurred at the first battle
of Manassas. Governor Letcher was man
gifted with the best judgment, and in his
appointments of field officers to the com
mand of troops, his tact and discernment OF
merit were as faultless as the discharge OF
that important duty would have been' nao
any other of the statesmen of the old Con-
monwealth been on duty at the heim OF
Government. He recognized aged citizens
whose devotion to the State was as ardent
as the more youthful, and as worthy of
command. With Kenton Harper and
others of that class, patriotism thrilling
every nerve of energy and heart, was that
old Roman of Montgomery county, Robert
T. Preston, who was appointed Colonel OF
the Twenty-eighth Infantry.
The first great and fercely contested
battle was the first Manassas. The
Twenty-eighth Regiment was moving by
flank to the position where it was to come
into line.of- battle with the good old gray
haired Colonel leading the way, when a
voice was heard to utter ''Halt." Not
knowing from whence it came. Colonel
Preston looked around and exclaimed,
"Who says halt" and without waiting for
an answer, repeated his command,
''forward, the Twenty-eighth," and then
without the least faltering, the Regiment
moved to its place in the conflict OF that
sanguinary day.
Our County Government, like the
Twenty-eighth Regiment at Manassas,
moves squarely along in preparations for
improving the roads, which are among the
most approved agencies for the advance
ment of the public good as they are the
chief means of the people for placing them
and their resources upon a plane of prog
ress worthy of the location and the values
of Augusta county. The County Govern
ment guided, by sound discretion and due
consideration, and rejecting the unmis-
taxable will of the people, are in their as
ISOLATED and harmonious cooperation OF
every department moving forward to the
completion of the highest and most benefl-
cent designs, which can claim their atten-
ton.
The much-needed bridge over Middle
river at Mt. Meridian, will be the next
erected, making five in all of elegant iron
superstructure, built during three years of
time. In preparing for that work, the
Board of Supervisors were informed that
the opportunity existed at this time by
which the county could, on most favorable
terms, and near the location, obtain the
necessary timbers, which if not now en-
braced, they might not be so readily and
SO economically provided hereafter. Ac-
cordingly the necessary lumber is now
being secured. That is the right step
forward in the important work.
Mr.. Carter Fl. Harrison, the Engineer in
the service of the county under the di.
1ection of the Board of Road Commission
ers, Messrs. H. B. Sieg, David Beard,
Michael McAleer, J. Frank Clemmer, and
W. H. Gambell, will commence about the
first of June to prepare the report of the
Board, under the order of Court of last
September, as by that time the necessary
information for the purpose will be in hand.
The people are looking forward with a
good deal of solicitude for this report-the
Board having thoroughly examined the
subject.
The building of the bridges, the partial
operations in making good road-beds, and
the introduction, though limited, of the
stone-crusher, together with the prepare
tory work CT special Road Commission
by the Augusta county authorities, have
attracted much attention in other parts of
the State and even beyond its limits 1t is
universally conceded that superior roads
and safe crossings of all the streams, at all
times, are among the first requisites of
progressive communities. The introduction
of new capital and population for any pur
and enterprises, as well as those which per-
tain to the agricultural interests, will soor-
er seek the communities in which such adj
vantages exist than they will be disposed
to locate where they do not. But above all
this, we claim that the benefits secured to
home people in such progress are not to be
estimated for a moment as unworthy OF
improbable did they cost four-fold more
than they will.
The people of Augusta are not thinking
ofdenying to themselves an elegant system
Of road-improvement, securing the very
highest class of public and individual bene.
fits, nor will they be disposed to disap-
point the public expectation in other parts
of the State, which the proceedings here
thus far have awakened for general good
Year after year bears testimony to the in
creasing surplus in the staple products and
mixed industries of the farms. We wish
every desire for increasing interest il
other developments could be gratifed as il
the case in other parts of the State, but i
can be placed to our credit that in whea
and hay and corn and in the highest grade
of livestock producing, Augusta county il
leading the way, with the most highly
favored communities of the Old Common
wealth. Our people are entitled to mor'
credit than they always receive. Because
we are not building furnaces and rolling
mills does not follow that all our natura
resources are not productive. The milling
industry is one of the highest in aim anG
enterprise, and should be classed greater
than it is for the distribution of Benefits