The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-30
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 30. 1895.
THE OTHER SIDE.

The Staunton Daily News, in re-
eponse to requests from citizens Of that
splendid city, has replied at length ana
in detail TO the calamity article when
she Spectator published some time ago.
and which has done Staunton such an
injustice.
The News comedies that in some cases
rents have fallen. but wei says that that
Is a public blessing rather than a public
misfortune 1t says that there are some
vacant storehouses. but that there are
more occupied store-houses now than
there were in the days of the boom. That
On the past few years a great many
handsome stores have been built, and
that with one exception these are all oc-
rupied. That business has removed from
certain portions of the city to other
localities. leaving in its wake vacant
stores. This We know to be true Of Rich
rnond and other cities. While one of the
pld-sstablished hotels is vacant, it goes
pn a number OF new hotels have been
built, and they are oftener full OF guests
chan otherwise.
As for residences. II says that number
OF modern first-class houses have been
built. and that these are naturally given
hhe preference. All such houses are in
demand, it adds. and those which are
Vacant are those which are out of date,
out there are really very few dwellings
of any kind in Staunton for rent al
slough there has been q great deal Of
new buildings within the past eight
years.
AS for the business Of stanton, the
News has interviewed number of lead
eng merchants, all of whom agree that
business is as good as usual. If not bet
aer. And as a further indication of bet
ser times, the News cites the fact that
there is less distress among the poor,
fewer cases calling for relief from the
charitable organizations of the city than
for a long time past. But the surest test
OF the volume Of business in the city. st
adds. is the amount Of freight received
over the railroads. and IL ascertains upon
Investigation the railroads have shipped
more goods to and from stanton during
the past year than in any previous year.
In one sense this IS local matter that
tloes not concern the newspapers Of
another city. and II may appear TO some
that we have given the Spectators arti-
rle too much attention. We think other
wise. Staunton is a Virginia city. ana
Uhe Times. as Virginia newspaper, feels
an interest in the concerns OF every city
md town in the State We felt from the
start that the Spectator had done its
own community a gross injustice, and
I'VE were willing 20 do our part towards
correcting the evil influence Of such
publication. Apart from all that we have
employed this occasion TO show 10 what
extremes some Of the free silver advo-
Gates will go in order to bolster up their
waning cause. Suppose all the Demo-
rratic newspapers Of Virginia should
Follow the course pursued by the Spec
tator and advertise that the commune
ties which they represent were on the
Verge OF bankruptcy. There would In
evitably be a panic in this State and no
one from the outside would think Of
making investments here.
The Spectator in its last issue even
goes so far as TO say that IL The Times
were to be as candid as the Spectator
has been, we would show a similar state
Of affairs in Richmond We protest. on
the contrary. there has been a decided
Improvement in the business conditions
Of Richmond and the reports for the
gear will show a gratifying increase in
she jobbing and manufacturing business.
Moreover there are several large new
enterprises in process OF construction
md in contemplation. and we believe that
the coming year will show a greater
Increase over the business OF 1888 than
the business OF 1895 shows over that Of
1887. The Spectator can get no calamity
comfort from this source.