Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1915-08-13
LOOKING TO
THE FUTURE.
!, IN VIRGINIA

An Address at the Annual Reunion OF
Confederate Veterans at Fishers
Hill, Virginia, August 7, 1918, by
Fairfax Harrison, President South
ern Railway Company.
Fishers Hill, Va.-Speaking at the
Annual Reunion of Confederate Vet
Grams here on Saturday, August Z, 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.
pitality, have been welcomed to this
happy valley, it is fitting that, while
paying tribute to those who fought va.
iiantly for the Southern cause. we
should now look forward to the future
---Ne---are- proud of the Virginia OF
sons have made In peace and in war,
and we are confident of her future;
but We may be permitted to hope that
her achievements hereafter shall be
more in peace than in war. Virginians
will be ever ready to uphold the honor
Of the State and of the United States
on the field of battle, when that is
necessary, but, with the horrors OF
the war In Europe to refresh our mem.
ories Of the campaigns Of the veterans
here assembled. we may we'll pray for
such progress in the civilization of the
world and for such wisdom and
strength In our government that our
people may never again hear the call
to arms
Duty to Industry.
In any event, thank God we are
now at peace and it is therefore our
present duty as people so to guide
the progress of the State along the
paths Of peace that the history of our
day may be, without neglect of spir
Qualities, one Of material progress,
advancing the happiness and prosper
ity of our descendants. Leaving TO
others, for the moment, the appeal
for progress In Virginia on the spir
itual. the educational, and the
aesthetic ideas Of our civilization,
venture to say word OF stimulus in
behalf Of our present duty 10 industry
In any review of the progress OF
Virginia we should never forget the
condition in which she was left at the
close Of the war between the States
when her fields had been a battle
ground for four years. when thousands
Of her sons had fallen. when many Of
those who survived were manned or
shattered in health, when property
had been destroyed. when large part
of her territory had been cut off and
when public and private credit and
most of all, her moral efficiency had
been seriously impaired. In the face
Of such handicaps the record of actual
progress since 1865 is splendid
tribute to the men and women who,
after Appomattox, set about the task
OF rebuilding with indomitable perser
verance and splendid self-sacrifce
They have laid broad foundation
for US in our turn to build upon and
in the same spirit which animated
them we should press forward to new
achievements.
Principles Of Progress
In this great undertaking it will be
well always to keep before us the prin
ciples Of true progress which are: that
enduring success is the product Of .
| restless willingness to do new things,
if they shall seem good in the expert
ence Of others; to be Disconnected
with anything but the best, and to
endure any sacrifice that may be re-
CURED.
Dissatisfaction with existing condi
tons has ever been one of the most
potent motives of human progress. 1t
is fitting, therefore, to see in what
! respects we may have reason to be
dissatisfied with material things as
they are In Virginia.
Without neglect Of manufactures we
are still eminently an agricultural PEG
pie, as Thomas Jefferson hoped we
might ever be. Climate and soil con.
ditions throughout the state are fav.
orable to diversified 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
$247, 47e,536, in 1880, to $685., o65. 1888,
/ in 1910. On its face, an increase Of
153 per cent In thirty years does not
look bad. but should W b aa11a1As