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Valley Virginian: September 1, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Salutatory
(Column 01)

Summary: This article announces the change in ownership of the paper, and outlines the aims of the paper for the future. The new owners explain their determination to increase profits through subscription and advertising. Most important are the principles and political position of the paper. The new owners vow that this will remain unchanged; they will "steadily adhere to the line of the 'Conservative' policy." Further, the paper will continue to support the development of internal improvement such as rail lines and new roads. This, say the authors, will promote the "prosperity and welfare of Staunton."
(Names in announcement: Burdett, Anderson, C. D. Stoneburner, J. B. Pemberton)

Full Text of Article:

With this issue of our paper the connection of Messrs. Burdett and Anderson as part owners terminates. The subscribers having purchased the interests of Messrs. Burdett and Anderson, will, henceforth, be exclusive proprietors and Editors of the paper.

In assuming the new and responsible relation to the public, the undersigned deem it proper to say a few words, to their readers, in explanation of what will be the ends and aims of the paper in the future.

In the first place, they beg leave to tender to their patrons, their profound acknowledgment for the generous support which their paper has heretofore received. When the late proprietors assumed the direction of the VIRGINIAN, its list of responsible subscribers, was small, and its advertising patronage limited. Under the direction of its late owners, the number of subscribers has swelled to 1400, with a proportionate increase of job and advertising business.

It will be the aim of the subscribers, by diligent attention to the affairs of their office, to merit a continuation of the liberal support which they have hitherto enjoyed.--They are conscious of their own deficiencies. They are young men, who have enjoyed, but to a limited extent, the blessings of education. They have been obliged to work their own way, and have encountered many difficulties. But they have never suffered themselves to be appalled by them. No feeling of dependency has ever caused them to relax their exertions. Familiar with work from boyhood, they have not been afraid of it, and with increased duties and responsibilities, they will work the more diligently to merit public confidence and favor, men can but do their best, and the undersigned confidently promise their patrons, that they will spare no pains to secure the approval and good will of their readers.

The political position of the paper will remain unchanged. When what was called the "new movement" which has happily resulted in the rescue of Virginia from military thralldom, and all the fearful dangers by which she was surrounded, this paper was one of the first to give cordial support to the undertaking. We shall steadily adhere to the line of "Conservative" policy which was then inaugurated. We shall also give a hearty support to the "Conservative" party through whose agency these beneficial results were accomplished. We like the name "Conservative," and for the present at least, we shall firmly oppose the adoption of any other.--We see no reason for calling on the "Conservative" party to abandon either its name or its organization. What the future may require, we cannot foresee, but with the lights now before us, we can see no just cause for a change. On the contrary, we would like to see the principles, and policy, and organization of the "Virginia Conservatives" extended throughout the Southern States. We believe, that if this were done, and the Southern States would cut loose from both the great northern parties, and have nothing to do with their platforms or nominations, and stand together as an independent organization, they could secure the position of a "balance of power party" which would enable them to give shape and direction to national policy.

Be this as it may, we are ready to praise the bridge that passed Virginia safely over the Gulf of 1869. We must be very certain that a better is provided, before we can consent to abandon that which has answered so well.

We believe, if this "Conservative" policy is persevered in, the day is not far distant, when Virginia will again exercise a commanding influence in the councils of the nation. In regard to domestic matters, we shall continue to give an earnest support to every measure looking to the development of the moral and material resources of Virginia--Rail-roads, good county roads, schools, manufacturing establishments, and mining interests will find in us, earnest and faithful advocates.

As soon as our new county system is thoroughly adjusted, we shall use our best endeavors to secure the adoption of a good system of county roads, and more especially of four or five McAdam roads, beginning in, and radiating from Staunton, to the remotest borders of the county, so as to afford to the people of all sections, convenient access to market, and to their county seat.

We respectfully invite contributions on those subjects to our columns from the pens of the many able gentlemen who are to be found in Staunton and its vicinage.

Last, but not least, we shall devote our best efforts to advance the interests of our beautiful and thriving "Mountain City." Our attachments, our interests and our hopes are centered here, and it would be strange indeed if we failed to exert ourselves to the utmost, to promote the prosperity and welfare of Staunton.
C.D. Stoneburner,
J.B. Pemberton.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: General Robert E. Lee has been unanimously elected President of the Valley Railroad and is currently in Staunton.

The Siberton Company
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Summary: The paper defends the Siberton Company from critics. It argues that work may be going slowly, but it is getting done steadily. The article attests to the large size of the deposits of iron ore the company is mining.

Full Text of Article:

From time immemorial it has been a settled fact, that there never was, never can be and never will be started an enterprise, no matter what its character, nor how bright its prospects, but that some may be found to declare it a forgone conclusion that it can never prove a success. Such persons generally have wonderful optical powers. They can stand off fifty miles and tell you what's at the end of that distance, without ever having been there, with a nicer precision and a better understanding of the character and extent of the thing than whose knowledge is based upon personal observation! (We suppose this is one of the much spoken of instances in which "distance lends enchantment to the view!") This brings us to what we proposed to say in the first place. We have been to the iron ore banks of the Siberton Company. We have never heard any one say as much, but it is quite probable it has been at least thought that these banks are slightly mythical--that they exist in somebody's imagination, but not in any of the spurs of North Mountain! "If there is such a superabundance of ore there," they reason, "why is the furnace not kept in operation?" Well, Rome was not built in a day, nor are huge mountains removed in that time! and if any one desires to post himself as to the amount of work that has been accomplished at the Siberton Works, or the extent of the iron deposits in the neighboring mountains, if he will make a trip up there, Mr. Sibert will take great pleasure in showing him around, and in explaining what he may not be able to understand. We have seen eight or ten of the ore banks (tram roads run by or to each of them), and, though we do not profess to be profoundly versed in minerals, we think there is ample there to run the Furnace for an indefinite time. So far as the quality is concerned, if weight be any indication, we should think it very good. Mr. S. is of the opinion that it contains sixty or seventy per cent of iron. "All's well that ends well."

Valley Railroad Meeting
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Summary: The stockholders and board of directors of the Valley Railroad met in Staunton on August 30th. They outlined responsibilities for the board of directors and entertained a proposal from Botetourt County aimed at making Fincastle a major point on the road.
(Names in announcement: Col. B. Christian, Col. J. T. Anderson, Col. M. G. Hotchkiss, Col. M. G. Harman, Col. J. B. Baldwin, Maj. J. B. Dorman, W. H. Tams, M. H. Effinger, George E. Price, Judge T. D. Houston, William Allan, Edmond Pendleton, Judge H. W. Sheffey, Gen. Echols, Col. William T. Poague, James E. A. Gibbs, J. T. Patton, Capt. W. A. Burke, Maj. Shumate, Jed Hotchkiss)