The Washington herald., 1912-05-16
BY M. F. LEWIS,

The county seat OF Rockingham, stu
ated in the heart of the famous Shenan-
doah Valley noted for its productive
ness, healthfuiness. and beautiful scenery,
leading the State in agriculture, live
stock, poultry. and poultry products, and
ranking fifth in the United States from
an AGRICULTURAL standpoint, Harrison
burg's boosters may well be proud OF
their beautiful, thriving little city and
its many advantages as a wealth-produc-
ing center.
Harrisonburg. 700 feet above the sea
level, lies 40 miles southwest OF Wash
ington and about the same distance
northwest Of Richmond. and has three
railroads-the Southern. Baltimore ana
Onio, and the Chesapeake Western. The
climate is, with rare exceptions, not sub
iect TO extremes OF heat and cold, and
in point Of healthfulness is unsurpassed
in Virginia. The town has for many
years been a refuge in summer for resi-
dents Of the Tidewater section and the
Eastern cities by reason of its complete
immunity from malaria; and, with It's
bracing mountain air and pure freestone
water it has for a series Of years been
exempt from fevers and endemic dis
eases Several well-known summer re-
sorts and medicinal springs are not far
from the town. The public water supply
is brought by pipe line from mountain
streams thirteen miles distant. No purer
water can be found anywhere.
Hiarrisonburg has. a municipal electric
hight ana power plant ana pupnc sew
erage system: free delivery OF mail, an
11p-to-date telephone system. ana every
modern Improvement and advantage com
mon 10 a town or city many times larg-
er. Three daily newspapers are pub
ltshed there. all OF which are enjoying
a large cIrcuIauon. harrlsonDurg also
has fourteen cnurcnes, SIX or tnem pullT
recently, while three have just been re-
modeIed.
The educational advantages Tor the
young ones are apparent when taken
into consideration tnat the town mas
three graded SCHOOLS ana nlgn scnooi
that provides four years business course
or four years course preparatory Tor
college, graduates ADMITTED TO Ieaoing
colleges ana universities without exam
inatlon. Accredited by New York state
Board of Regents
The school buildings are constructed
on scientific methods, equipped with
every modern Improvement, drinking
fountains. not and cold water, automatic
clocks and bells. libraries, &C. kIgId
medical and sanitary Inspection Is main
tained
Harrisonburg is also the seat Of the
State Normal and Industrial School for
Women. which was opened in September.
1909 Students are enrolled there from
eighty-four of the one hundred counties
ofs Virginia. over $4,000 has already
been spent on grounds and buildings.
HarTisonburg has many beautiful homes
and splendid public buildings. 1t has
population that is homogeneous, progress
sive, and almost wholly native born. To
q considerable extent they own their
own homes, and under the stimulus of
3, high standard of public utilities. with
excellent schools and low tax rate, as
sessable values have more than doubled
within the last ten years. The present
population is slightly over 5000, and
rapidly increasing The tax rate is So
cents Thus you see Harrisonburg is the
home Of a healthy, happy, progressive,
Godfearing people; a people Of culture
and intellectually in whom the spirit of
eommercialism has not driven out civic
pride: living in a locality ideally situated
for the rearing of robust. rosy checked
lads and lassies; country teeming with
commercial and agricultural advantages,
It is indeed a fortunate being who has
cast his lot in this glorious community.
State Normal School.
Among the institutions of which Har-
risonburg is justly proud none ranks
higher than the State Normal School,
now in its third year. and having a
yearly enrolment of over 800. This new
State institution for the higher educa-
tion Of young women has had a remark
able growth, the number Of students
having doubled in the three years since
the opening of the first term.
The buildings. now three in number,
are handsomely constructed of stone with
tile roofs, and the interior is attractively
finished, with every care fer the COM
fort and safety of the students. The
equipment is new and modern through
out. The school grounds comprise about
fifty acres Of highly elevated ground
Immediately adjoining the residential
section; and the site commands a mag
ntfcent view of the surrounding valley in
every direction from the Blue Ridge to
the Shenandoah Mountains. An unsur-
passed water supply is brought by pipe
line direct from mountain springs thir-
teen miles away; and this. together with
the excellent sanitary arrangements
makes the school ideal from the stand
point of health conditions. Almost no
sickness of any consequence has existed
In the school since its establishment.
The boarding department of the school
Is accommodated in modern dormitories,
with comfortably furnishes rooms, steam
heat electric lights, numerous baths with
hot and cold water, large dining-room.