Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-08-07
IN the vInotNrA vaLLDY.
Riding Through "a sfeRutifuI Doul
try-The .sQueen Otty OF the She

Hiding Through BeRuItfui BOun-
try-The .sQueen Oity OF the siien-
nndOAh."
| special Correspondence Of Gazette and journal
sTAUEToN, Va, July 80. - Leaving
Charlottesville in the early morning, on
one of the trains Of the q. ~ o. railroad,
| you are struck by the beauty of tho views
that are unfolded to the eye as you speed
westward. about 40 miles west of
Charlottesville you reach the summit OF
the Blue Ridge and standing on the rear
OF the train view Of mountain and valley
scenery can be obtained that il al oncs
enchanting and grand. For miles to the
north and westward can be seen the peaks
of the Blue Ridge, standing like mighty
aentinels guarding the peRcsful valleys
below, where nestle the quiet homes of
the tillers OF the Holl. In the valleys,
partially obscured by the clouds, can be
seen the historic Shenandoah hurrying to
the sea. Twenty eight miles west OF
Charlottesville the "magic city OF Basic,
is reached. This placs few months ago
was hamlet of o few dilapiiated nuts;
to-day IL is busy town of 200 people
and on every hand are evidences o. the
great progress this town IL making and
If the present prosperity continues
another year, Basic city will be place
OF great importance.
Twelve miles ride brings you to the
city of Staunton, sometimes called ths
.Queen City of the Val cyl and its pecu-
liar situation at the head of che peerless
valley Of the Shenandoah and the enter
prise of her citizsus certainly gives it a
just right to that title. Stauuton il one
OF the most beautifully located cities Of
Virginia, whose natural advantages,
supplemented by the enterprise OF the
citizens, place it in the vau of progress
and devslopmsnt. The estimated popu.
lation OF Staunton at present is ~, 600,
but 1t does not require very strong
Imagination on the part of the stranger
to believe himself ia city of 50, coo, az
the town ia busy hivs OF actiyity.
Streets crowded with psdestri ms large
wholesale stores factories and Six miles
of street railways all 60 to give the iowa
the appearance of a metropolis. 1t
would be no easy taok to impress on tine
average man of the north who is a
skeptio on the ''new sonthn tho great
progress this place hRs made AMI is still
making. All the lands adjacent TO the
city are laid out in building lots and the
atauntou Development Company alone
have disposed OF the greater portion of
1000 acres. Portions OF tho land o this
company are given 60 manufacturing
oompauies for sites. A large number OF
New York and Chicago firms have al.
ready taken advantage OF the liberal
advances made by this company and To-
Gated various industries here.
Your correspondent yesterday had the
pleasure OF meeting W. T. Toms, cashier OF
the National Bank of Augusta, and leader
nmany OF the enterprises, having for their
oblecs the advancement OF the material
interests of the city. He is truly rep
resentatiye citizen. Speaking OF politics
he taid in substance, that the people OF
Virginia were heartily tired of party
politics, and that the spirit of indepen-
denoe was abroad among the intelligent
voters, who fully recognize the fact tina.
Ia order to attract to Virginia tho best
citiz ms, they must be- able TO give them
good government. But one thing he
particularly emphasized was that the
boon Of good government could only
come from the intelligent white voters.
To use his own words: ga government
by negroes would bs the death to all ad-
vanoement in Virginia." Speaking of
the infamous Force bill, he said ii would
do more to solid fY the party of progress
against the party composed OF reckless
white men and ignorant negroes than any
measure ever introduced in Congress.