The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-09
NOTES BY THE WAY SIDE.

i
prevail in Virginia, as respects material
progress a flying journey from Clifton
Forge to Washington city over the well
equipped road and i'll the luxurious cars
of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway,
ought to satisfy him. Substantial i'm
provements meet the eye at almost every
stopping ace-improyementsw which are
in response to the demands of increasing
population and business, and represent
ing the development that is going on in the
material resources of the Commonwealth.
At Goshen numerous buildings are going
up or have been completed, for resi-
dence and industrial purposes. besides
an imposing hotel, which will be equal
to any hosiery in the South The plants
that are being provided for at this point
indicate diversity of enterprise on
a comprehensive scale and the employ
ment of large numbers of workmen and
gratifying pay rolis-the forerunners of
other business lines, to accommodate the
varied demands of an Industrious and
wage earning people.
At Staunton all is life and activity.
The several industries, which have been
secured by the Staunton Development
Company, are well under way and are
ready for the machinery. One essential
thing that is lacking-a defect noticeable
in nearly all the newly projected towns
is residence buildings to supply the in
fiux of population that must come, to
make the industries prosperous and sues
cessful. The Bodley Wagon works, the
Kroder Brass works. the Mantel factory,
the Sweeny Machine Shops, are all OF the
first order of manufacturing plants,
under the control and direction of men
of character, business experience and
ample means There has been good
Judgment and business sagacity shown
in procuring each one of these industries,
both as to the gentlemen who have them
in charge, the products of the several
industries, and the effect they will have
upon the growth and progress OF the
town. Better selections could not have
been made, nor could a more substantial
nucleus for manufacturing center
been chosen. We can see nothing to dis
courage the hopes or derange the plans
of the Development Company. for
it has buided wisely and well. 1t is true
that there has been no boom at Staun
ton in the ordinary meaning of the term.
There have been 10 fictitious values ere
ated in town lots. no eXtravagant calcu-
1oti 70 ,,t arf pf Cf Inn
ness: but conservative plans and consev-
atiye methods have ruled throughout.
The result is that everything seems to be
we'll and safely founded, with a reasons
sonable assurance that substantial i'm
provement will go on population and
: business will increase. and the lovely city
of the hills will take front rank among
the now progressive and prosperous cities
of the South.
Apropos the Bodley Wagon Works:
For the past week the Rev. Sam p. Jones
has been holding a series of meetings,
preaching three sermons each day to very
large audiences, composed of people from
adjacent towns and districts throughout
the Vallay. AT first his sermons were
offensive to the sensbiities of many.
His illustrations were not always pleas
ing to 'sears polite but it seems that
there were method and purpose in this.
1t drew class OF people who rarely enter
a church door and held them as inter
rested hearers to much more that was
good than harm. Towards the close Of
his preaching there was noticeable a
marked change in public opinion. In
stead of unsparing denuncation. as at
first. earnest and thoughtful praise is
heard Mr.. jones wonderful versatility
of talent; his incisive way of putting his
arguments: his masterful knowledge of
human nature and the Springs of human
action; his remarkable power of express
ing his thoughts and riveting in the mind
golden rules and moral and religious
truths, have struck deep into popular
consciousness, and with scarcely an ex-
ception, the general judgment is that
he has accomplished good. A prominent
gentleman, intellectually and every
other way, remarked to us that Sam
Jones was a great man-great in his in>
tellectual power, his moral courage. and
his understanding of man and the infiu
ences that sway him. Another epito-
mized his views pretty much in the same
way, adding that he thought that Mr.
Jones was doing more to convert pro-
4 ,i,
He saw an awakened interest in the
Christian members of all classes, and if
no others were stirred and aroused, it
would be good thing to get the Chris
tians to working for religion and the
reformation of men who are not of the
church The ladies were very much in
earnest: thousands of them heard him
every day: domestic duties were either
neglected or arrangements had been per-
fected to be absent from their homes
during the day, for they attended each
service some Of them taking their ra-
tions to the grounds, about A mile from
the city proper reached by railroad, and
remaining there during the intermissions
in the sermons. An immense throng
gathered at the Wagon Works on Sun
day last. coming from all parts of An
gusta and adjoining counties.to hear this
remarkable man, who seems to be works
ing in his way for the good of fallen hu-
manity.
Mr.. Jones has an attractive face, di>
rect way of stating his case, sometimes
SO bluntly as to offend, and again so
pathetic and tender as to draw tears
from ewes unused to the melting mood.
There is a magnetism about him, incon-
prehensible and inexplicable, which
draws and holds the ignorant and learned
alike, and brings all under the spell of
his power 1t is to be hoped that his
sermons will do lasting good. He closed
these services on Sunday night and left
on Monday morning. While in Staunton
several of the churches suspended ser>
vices, on Sabbath as the attractions of
Mr. Jones meetings were too great to be