The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-10-16
StauntOn.

feel the impulse OF the active business
spirit that is pervading the State. Real
estate, the barometer of all substantial
Is advancing in price, and
when good property is placed on the
market it is speedily purchased at fair
prices. A healthy and confident tone
inspires the people. They move more
briskly and talk more rapidly and bust
ness-like, as though they had not time
to idle away moments in conversation,
and are. on the move with mind and
body in the direction of enlarged and
diversified business engagements.
The various improvement companies,
however,. are not as pushing and pro-
gressive as some of the new projects
that have been inaugurated and re-
suited in success. Yet there is reason
for this, well founded or not. Old towns
have set ways to do things and they
move byrule and are inspired by ira
ditions; and until they are shaken up
by an earthquake they rarely are suffi-
GENTLY awaked to realize what the world
is doing outside. Crystalized customs
and crystalized notions are hard to
break. Several large-sized tilt-ham-
mers, with several horse power force,
are necessary for the work. But when
they are broken the new light that
floods in reveals latent powers and re-
wives what there was but little prom
Use of before. 1t is only then that the
croakers and grumblers begin to move
to one side. AS long as their solemn
talks and dolorous refrains find will
ing listeners on the street corners and
on store boxes. they will gyrate and
calculate. prophesying all.sorts of dire
full things to follow the "Crazy Booms. !"
What is the country coming to ;" I'VE
will have a terrible crash before six
months - THE country will be ruined"
and all sorts of evils fall upon the
people, they say, because there is some
thing out of the old order of things
going on But when the young men
come to the front and with scarcely
anything but their grit and snap, de-
termine that they are going to take
their stand with the new order of things;
intend to break the idols of old fogy-
ism. and attempt to inaugurate a new
dispensation-to worship at the shrine
of progress and proclaim that Virgin
ians must arouse to the wonderful
natural advantages they possess and
dead wealth they own, there will be
something done not put down in the
musty records of the good old times"
Staunton is about approaching that
condition. The improvement compa
MES, it is true, are moving on very con
sentative lines, but they are moving
nevertheless. They are laying their
foundations for healthy bound for
ward. and it will not be long before the
old dry bones will begin to rattle; a fresh
dawn will beam upon them, and Pro-
gress will be marked upon every door
Intel and every sign-board.
The Staunton Development Com
pany is just getting out its maps, after
a long siege and a great deal of patient
waiting. They will give an intelligent
idea of the splendid location it has
selected for its operations and the at
tractive grounds it has to improve.
Propositions are coming in almost
daily for plants to be located here. One
thing the company will not do. 1t will
not give the price of a plant to get it
here. There will be careful scrutiny of
every project presented, and only such
as will be adapted to this locality and
section and that can come backed by
the proper amount OF capital and
skilled knowledge will be encouraged.
There will be no, plants started to boom
things. 1t is proposed to have every
movement and every enterprise that is
adapted to contribute to the substantial
and healthy growth of the town, and
lot sales or creating a sensation about
phenomenal prices. Staunton has the
solid conditions upon which to build,
and built up it will be.
We have every advantage that town
could ask. We have railroad facilities
of the best order, reaching to every
section of the country. We have all
modern improvements for the comfort
and convenience of the people, such as
street railway. electric lights, water
works, paid fire department, the best
schools in the country, churches, &c.
Wei have sites for manufactures. con-
veniently related to two trunk lines of
railroads, and every essential to en-
courage and support industrial plants at
the gateway to the South the most
inviting market in the Union.
Why should not Staunton. then, go
forward Why should not the Staunton
Development Company speedily COM
plete its plans, place it's stock and go on
with contemplated improvements 1t
can be done, and at once, if the people
will lay their shoulders to the wheel and
push the project forward. thought to be
done. 1t is to everybody's interest that
it should be, and all that is wanting, is
cooperation, energy and well defined
work, and the whole scheme will be
crowned with success.
Staunton deserves better fate than
to finger in the background. 1t is one
of the most intelligent, refined and pro-
gressive towns in the South. That is the
verdict of every stranger who comes
here and remains long enough to become
acquainted with our surroundings.
Then let the watchword be Action, and
action to seize the opportunity and the
advantages we possess, to make Stann-
ton the Queen City of the South, into
whose lap the wealth of the surrounding
boom towns will gravitate and crystalize
into force to consummate the end. We
all desire, and should labor for.
The cipital of Oklahoma Territory has
been located at Oklahoma City.
We regret to learn of the death Of
Mrs. Watts, wife of John G. Watts. ESQ.,.
u. s. Marshal for the Western District
of Virginia, and daughter OF the late
Hon. Kees r. Bowen, and sister of Hon.
Henry Bowen, of TazewelI county. Col.
Watts has our unaffected sympathy in
his bereavement.
A mass convention of Democrats as
sembled at Columbia, s. c., on the 9Th,
and nominated full ticket for State
"a Hao la1 for