Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-01-15
Staumtotl Speftator.
!. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY Is. 1890.
Governor Lee and his Work.

Governor Lee and his Work.
Called by the people of Virginia to serve
his State in the high Office of Governor,
General Fitzhugh Lee obeyed the sum-
mons, and his administration has passed
into history. There never was on any
previous occasion, when retiring Execu-
tive returned the trust committed to his
keeping, that the approving voice of the
people was more manifest, than that which
has just been witnessed. AS his qualifica.
tions were canvassed to preside over the
affairs of the first of American Common
wealths, and the first to uphold civil and
religious liberty, as well as when filling
that station, he was appreciated for all the
qualities of strong, vigorous thought and
action, and well-poised and sound judy
ment, and for displaying the characteristics
of manly and elevated popular leadership.
1t was no more to be expected that such a
man should retire upon, or be content with
the achievement of political distinction, than
that the hearts of followers and comrades
with him, where they served their country
on the fields of many conflicts should cease
to beat in unison with his own.
Before his term of service expired, a
large association of his fellow-citizens,
representing vast resources of material
wealth situated in the heart of the Old
Virginia as it was, informed him that when
that term ended, his active work was de-
sired on another line-in the fields of de-
veloping progress and industrial growth
and that it was already mapped out, and
that there his future labors and efforts
would find opportunities to become equally
appreciated with the distinctions of tie
past.
In entering upon the discharge of the
great responsibilities entrusted to him as
the President of the Rockbridge Company,
and the Virginia and Pittsburg Railroad
Company, only about the time occupied in
travel was taken as he retired from the
performance of the chief executive duties
of the State to assume those named located
at the coming city of Glasgow, the central
point in the sixty thousand or more acres
of land Astounding in immense iron and
other mineral resources, lumber forests,
and agricultural wealth. These corpora
tons are separate, but rest on sure founda.
tions of ultimate triumph. They are as
ISOLATED in grand schemes of development
and will become powerful patrons in the
field of effort in opening up our natural ad.
vantages along with the channels of COM
merce and blending all in the rich endow-
ment in store for our people.
Of the Rockbridge Company, whose
plans are well matured, we have before
made frequent reference. Another and
important juncture in its affairs having &C.
CURED, by which General Lee, with full
staff of assistants, will press on those plans
to contamination, renders it proper to ad.
vert to that fact, and, as Journalists, ex
press something of the public interest
which halls with so much satisfaction his
advent, practically, into the fields of the
great and growing industries of Virgins
and the people he has so acoeptably served
We can but watch with solicitude tbs
progress as it will move on along the two
great streams of the upper valley of Vir
gi-ia stretching from the Buena Vista
possessions on the north, taking in "Glen.
wood' and other valuable properties OF
the line to the south and up to where the
old fires OF Arcadia died out. On the
opposite shores of the James and North
Rivers commencing at the point of land
formed by their junction, and rolling far
back under Salling's mountain and through
which two great leading lines of railroad
pass, are the elegant farms and old home
stead upon which the Rockbridge Com
pany has founded the coming city Of Glas-
gov. 1t will be city holding in its wide
area many industrial enterprises, and will
add to such scenes, those of marvellous
natural grandeur and picturesque beauty.
Skilled and experienced engineers n
making plans for cities, are now on the
ground maturing those for Glasgow
Naturil formations of elevations Sid de-
preesions, of curves and irregular bounda-
ries, will De made to harmonize ibeir ad-
vantages for beauty as well as utility in,
stead of straight lines of streets and
avenues as usually made against the
protest of Nature herself, who has or
dained, as all artists know, that beauty
shall consist of curved and not of strai gbt
lines.
Recurring again to the manufacturing
advantages possessed at Glasgow, we may
mention some CT the prospective enter
prizes that may begin to find Judgment
there at an earlier day than has been
generally anticipated. Cobe furnaces,
hydraulic cement, wood-pulp, paper, terra
Gotta, tanneries, iron-foundries, and ma
chine shops, rolling mill, and for building
and all products in which lumber is con-
stituent part, the great possessions of the
"Glenwood" estate, particularly on the
Mt. Maury portion, is especially valuable
along with its large resources in iron-ores,
aud as an old IRON making property.
The innumerable springs which Cow
down through the winding wales on the
western slopes of Mt. Maury converge and
form a large-sized stream of it's kind,
eek Rum" of freestone water, and in the
greatest abundance by natural draught for
city of hundred thousand inhabitants.
This is wonderful blessing in itself in
founding city, two sides Of. which are
washed by large rivers and over an area
affording good drainage into them.
Governor Lee has placed himself in the
line, and strikes hands with the men OF
progress whether native or from other
States or foreign lands who are here, and
interested in bringing into full play The
values which Virginia possesses. Of all
our opportunities to swell the tide of de-
velopment and enlarge our interior coast.