Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-11-05
Stanntofl Syeftafer,
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER s. 1890.


WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER 5. 1890.
Augusta County.
The people of Augusta county feel 8
just pride in the progress of their public
interests, and deserve all the excellent
Communications which strangers and others,
observing the advanced degrees to which
their agriculture and other Industrial de.
veiopmepts have reached, are wont to be-
stow upon them. olive to learn" is q
maxim which the best of communities
can afford to follow in practice and are
much the better off for it. To be wise
above the advantages of observation and
experience is hindrance if not real oh.
struction to effort. The people of Augusta
are not of that class. It. sometimes hap
pens that in the discussion of measures OF
public policy, and when the action of the
popular mind is seemingly too slow in the
estimation of those who are quicker to ar
rive at conclusions, that harm results from
ono uioPooieiou " d"oAu III SASN'o "AS
there is much, which investigation will
prove to be due the popular feeling.
AS we live, there are two processes of
learning practical advantages-observa
and experience. By both it can be we'll
maintained that Augusta agriculture, in
its principal, as we'll as auxiliary features
and progress, has wisely applied the
maxim quoted above. This being true in
respect to so much that forms the basis of
the general prosperity, it is reasonable to
conclude that such community will
neither be slothful .nor neglectful in con-
sidering all that pertains to the general as
we'll as industrial progress, because the
two may be said to be indissolubly united
for the general appearance and thrift of a
community in its az gregated relations de-
notes its individual characteristics.
The very best system of improved roads
practically attainable, with substantial
bridges where needed, belongs to all the
public as we'll as individual interests, and
f there are degrees of interest the most
deeply of all concerned are those of the
farmers from any stand point or relation
they may sustain to the same. Roads and
bridges are the same in general interest
and complete the roadway. If one of these
features, in wise progress of the public
economy, should be deferred, for proper
reasons, for the advancement of the other,
it will only be question of time when the
entire system in completeness rounds up
the excellence of such facilities to the COM
munity-
There is not country in Virginia, and,
for that matter, we doubt if in any other
State, in which the county government and
the people are to be more highly COM
mended for a clear conception of what
they can do, and have done. considering the
means available, for promoting the public
economy in respect to safe crossings ovel
the streams. This feature of public re-
sponsibility has been wisely provided for
till the fifth superior stone and iron bridge
approaches completion. With two more
at farthest, so far as the public necessity
now exists, and the county of Augusta will
have enduring memorials of wise fore
thought and timely execution in these
leading interests to attest in the future the
excellence OF her progress and the charac-
teristics of her people.
The value of the experience which is
hr,1
mental in teaching, will be greatly en-
HANGED, as the other feature in completing
system of highways Is taken mp If there
are those of our people. who, having the
advantages ofsome OF our highways as both
railroads and the best class of county roads
contribute to them, should be disposed to
look no iurther than their own individual
interest, ignoring the equal claims of other
communities and other men, the sooner
SUCH narrow spirit is abandoned the better
it will be for every interest, including their
own, even if viewed in Its more restricted
relations.
Augusta county must go forward in the
line of development. The people every
where must possess themselves of the spirit
which has awakened localities to the work
of the times. Mining, manufacturing, and
building towns establish the people on the
great highway of proper destiny. These
interests reach out and assist and stimu-
late in the right direction, but the great
body of the people and every farmer and
Landowner must encourage and ask for
the associated progress in its full vitality,
which does not stop short of the best Of
county roads. Experience is the best Of
teachers, and where is to be found any
superior in every valuable characteristic tc
that furnished by the bridges in adding te
the advantages of the agricultural inter
ests. If that long stretch of Augusts
county, second to none in Its agricultural
resources, asking for the extension Of the
Cumberland Valley Railroad through iti
length, would present the strongest argu
ment in support of the measure, they viii
find it in well-improved country roads,
They are the strongest incentives in secur
ing, as they are afterwards in maintaining
the best of railroad facilities.
The work of the bridges will soon bt
ended. The completion Of one leading inn
provement to place the people on the way
to desired success, necessarily leads imme'
diately to the espousal of others. Other.
wise the maxim we have quoted as essen.
TALLY sound in every particular is delu
sion, and the people do not profit by ex'
perience. We admit neither of the propo
sitions, but maintain that they have learned
and wisely understand the valuable lessont
of observation and experience, and will ac'
In an eniinhtarad manner and with VionI