The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1915-08-18
LOOKING TO
THE FUTURE
IN VIRGINIA

Confederate Veterans at Fishers
hin, Virginia. August ?, 1915. by
Fairfax Harrison. President South
en- Railway Company.
Fishers Hlll. Va Speaking at tho
Annual Reunion Of Confederate Vet
Grams here on Saturday. August 2. Mr..
Fairfax Harrison. President Southern
Railway Company. said:
At this historic reunion OF survivors
OF the armies OF the South. Of their
descendants. and OF those from other
sections who with true Virginia hos
pitaiity have been welcomed 10 this
happy valley it is fitting that. while
paying tribute to those who fought va.
lisntly for the Southern cause, we
should now look forward to the future
We are proud OF the Virginia OF
the pest and Of the rooord which her
sons have made In peace and In war,
and we are confident OF her future:
but We may bee permitted 10 hope that
her achievements hereafter shall be
more In peace than IN war Virginians
will be ever ready TO uphold Tile honor
~ tho State and Of the United States
on tho field OF battle. when that IS
necessary. but. with the horrors OF
the var I'm Eearopc 10 refresh our MON
cries of the campaigns N the veterans
here assembled We may VOL prsy FOR
Fueh progress ia the civilization of the
world and Tor such wisdom and
strength In our government uat our
people may never again hear the call
to arms
Duty to Industry
IN any event thank God we ara
now at peace and 1t is therefore our
present duty as q people 40 20 guide
the progress of the State along The
paths Of peace Chat TIE history ~ our
day may Do without neglect of splr
Qualities oee Of material progress.
advancing die Happiness and prosper
fly of our descendants Leaving 70
others ior the moment The appeal
for progress 90 Virginia on tho snir
Itusl tho educational and INC
aesthetic ideas Of our civilization
venture 20 say q word OF stimulus 10
behalf of our present duty TO industry
In any review of the nroeroas OF
Virginia we should never forget the
condition 20 which ahe was left az the
close OF the war between tho states
when her fields had been a battle
ground for four years when thousands
ot her sons had fallen when many OF
those who survived were maimed or
shattered IN health when property
had been destroyed WHEN large part
OF her territory had been out on and
when public AND private credit and
most OF an, her moral efficiency bad
been seriously impaired In the face
OF such handicaps the record OF actual
progress since 1865 IL d splendid
tribute to the men and women who,
after AppcmattoX SET about the task
OF rebuilding with indomitahio perser
yeNnce and splendid seltsacrnce
They have laid broad foundation
for us 10 our turn To build upon and
10 the same spirit which animated
them we should press forward 10 nav
achievements
Principles OF Progress
In this great undertaking 10 will be
well alWays 10 keep before MS tho prin.
ciples OF true progress which are. that
enduring success is the product OF
rcstless willingness 10 do new things.
d they shall seem good 90 the expert
ence OF others, 10 be Disseminated
with anything but the best and 70
endure amy sacrdce that may be re
CURED
Dissatisfaction with existing condl
tons has ever been one OF the most
potent motives OF human progress II
ia Httfug tharafcra o, $40 fr ,yh.t
respects We may nave reason 10 be
dissatisfied with material things al
they ATE 10 Virginia
Without neglect OF manufactures We
are stlll eminently sn agricultural peo
pie as Thomas Jefferson hoped we
misht ever be Climate aud soil con
diuons throughout the state are fav-
orable 60 disersihed and profitable
agriculture The statistics show that
we have availed OF these conditions
by largely Increasing our farm values
Increased Farm Values.
The United States Census Bureau
tells us that the value OF all farm
property in Virginia increased from
S2i7 476.5S6, in 1850. 20 S695. 65.ss3.
tn 1919 On its face. an increase II
i52 per cent In thirty years does not
look bad but should We be satisfied
when We compare It with an increase
Of 227 per cent IN the noighborlnr
State Of North Carolina and when we
appreciate that It Is much less than It
would have been II farm production
mad been brought up more nearly 10
what our natural ADVANTAGES rive 49,.