The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-07-03
M. e. Ingalls, and the Master Me.
chanics

1t was rather notable speech, and we
regret that we have not the space to
give it in full. We can only find room
for such portions as are of present and
practical utility. His grouping Of his
tory, associated with that portion of the
State where the Convention met. and
his discussion of the negro question.
were practical and we'll timed. We give
below, however, such portions Of the
speech as refer to the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railway and the PROCESS of Vir-
ginia:
1t Is hardly worth your time for me to discuss
the particular matters which you will consider
at your meetings. know but little about en-
gines wheels axleS or cars, while you are full OF
Information. l am delighted to see so many
here, and representing such large interests in
this country as you do. Probably your associa-
tions, with their ramifications, including supply
men and employees, represent more of a popu-
lation than the whole United States contained
In 1881. when the first railroad was inaugurated
Itcan but be of benefit to you and to the rail-
reads, that you meet together and discusss mat
tiers of interest. Another reason in favor of
such meetings, and equally good is the fact that
it gives you few days rest FROM hard work
enables you to something outside of the
shop and to get few bright moments in life,
where pleasure and not work, Is the rule Of
the hour. We are indebted to you for having
selected this place, and certainly no fairer one
could have been found for your meeting. As
far as the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Is
concerned, am authorized to say that its doors
swing wide open in hospitality to you and
whatever you want, from the salt sea waves at
40 and fof nfap,r -
you can have We hape that either in coming
or going, or while here, you will take ride over
it and look at it. We are proud Of it, few
years ago its name was byword and reproach
among railroads. To-day it can compete with
any, in track, equipment and business. and In
the esprit de c0fps OF itA men 1t will not yield to
any All this has been accomplished in q short
time, and we would be glad to have you view it
critically. Not long since it's stocks and bonds
were selling for almost nothing and financial
people hesitated to adult that they were the
owners OF the same. but to-day Its securities
are current in the financial markets Of the world
as among the best, and we hope to make them
still better. We can only do SO by having such
men as yourselves visit us, ride over the prop
erty and see 1t.
would be glad to have you visit Richmond
and the other cities in Virginia along our line, SO
that:you can see for yourselves how these people
have repaired the wastes Of war in the twenty
Aye years that have passed since peace was pro-
claimed, AT that time thare prahablY, never
vas q eaAiatFy more aesolate than Virginia In
some places, as was said by one Of our distin-
guished Generals, .even a crow could not fly
over 1t Without taking Fations," Farm houses
were destroyed, stock had been driven off. felds
had gone to waste there was no money Moth
ing left to begin with. In the cities the banks
were broken, credit was gone and there was
no capital everybody was poor. They had only
their houses to start with, and in many locations
not even that, for the business portions of many
of the cities had been destroyed by fire, shot
and shell; and yet to- day you will find the city
OF Richmond, with its one hundred thousand |
people, as prosperous as any NoTtherA eiIF at Its
slse yau viii ana LIS banking institutions as
solid and stable; almost as Ii by magic have
they built up their ruined homes and broken in
dustries; and a stranger from another land
who should come here to day, knowing nothing |
of its history, would never for an instant be-
lteve that this had been the headquarters of hat
ties for four years, aud that twenty ave years
age 1t was aes9latisa lfself.
FheFe have been some things that have ina
peded its rapid growth. In the first place, there
was prejudice against Northern men, and there |
was dislike on the part of Northern men to !
come South until they were sure the government |
was stable. We have had great many people |
in the North who believed that if the Demo-
cratic party should come into power the country |
would be ruined; but the Republicans went OUT
Cleveland came H. ruled far his FnHE years, ana
peace ana prosperity continued as befurs
Again, the people OF the South thought that If
the Republican Administration should return
to power it would be an i'll day for them and |
yet the change was made quietly and peaceably
The present Administration has been in power |
for two years. and the wheat and corn grow the |
same ON the hillsides Of Yirginia "a Ynsy aid be-
fore, ana pfaspefify sfil1 continues. All this has
given c2nHdence to people and invited capital |
from other countries, and the result is to day
this whole State Of Virginia is On what is called
q sh9om,P ana IT seems q legitimate one. The |
lana which Has lain ReFe aacuttivated for hun
dred years, gathering richness from It's idle
ness, is ready to day to respond to the demands
OF the farmer i'll good crops with good tillage
the mountains are full OF iron; the coal is in i'm
mediate proximity, and, in addition to all, the /
most charming climate in the States is to bs |
found here Yon viii tind In this Stare ore in
apHnqanee, next to it limestone and within a |
hundred miles the finest coking coal for the
manufacture of iron yet known. With these !
elements in close proximity, it may be anesz
tian in the next few 5eaFs whether Pittsburg
birmingham or Virginia shall be the center of |
the ir1u ana steel manufactures OF this coun-
try. The result is that army almost as
large as that which in k6, landed here and |
pressed up the peninsula in its march on Rich
mond Is to day advancing upon Virginia, their
knapsacks filed with the savings of years in
stead of gunpOwder and bullets; villages are |
springing up everywhere, furnaces are being |
built, rolling mills erected, ana this gFaaa old
Sfate Dlas FAIR IN tbs Aext ten years TO wake up |
from its lathargy and again come to the front |
nf no hrlOx and rneP11I tntn coPfI
Union.
These are two things which have seriously re-
tarded her prosperity the non-payment OF her |
debt and the difficulty over the cOlOred VOTE |
The people here In Virginia claim that they are |
interviewer and one depends upon the other |
that the debt was in fair way Of settlement
until the struggle for the control of the colored
vote disturbed and prevented it. There is no
doubt but that it has been a great injury to the
development of the State, and her better ctti-
zens feel keenly the disgrace Of the situation.
It seeing to me clearly case for compromise
The State was DIVIDED by the National Goyern-
ment, and large part Of her damaln erected
into another commonwealth under the name OF |
West Firginia and yet she was relieved OF no |
equivalent portion OF the debt. This ought to |
be taken into consideration. States are not diff
terent from individuals, and the better way with
the individual in financial trouble is for his cred
itOrs to adjust the matter speedily, put him On |
his feet and get him to earning money, SO that
in the future he can pay the debt. What ought
to be done here In Virginia is for a commission
to meet a committee Of the bondholders, decide |
how much of the principal the State can pay, at
what rate Of interest it can be paid, and then
fund the debt in long bonds, with sinking fund.
50 that it shall be distributed over many years
that its payment will not be oppressive. In
talking with her leading citizens flnd them ali