Valley Virginian

Our news, local, and other columns, give our readers a very good idea of the "situation," generally, in this mundane sphere. It is improving, and our people may well be cheerful over the reports of the President's progress through the North and the great West. Next week we will publish the gist of his great speeches, and it is only necessary to say now, that he fully maintains his great constitutional position, and more forcibly than ever, reiterates his determination to stand by the platform of the Philadelphia Convention. It is cheering to notice the dismay of the Radicals at the enthusiastic reception he meets with from the people. It gives us more hope for the future and the right than we have entertained for many a day.

From Europe we have news of permanent peace, and that encourages us to believe the reports of the companies that have undertaken to build the Virginia and Kanawha canal and the Covington and Ohio Railroad. They report that with peace in Europe, they can raise the funds to complete these great works, and we believe them. By peace, millions of capital will be thrown into our glorious old State; and with that, willing hands and stout hearts, our future need not be despaired of. A little time, patience and hard work, and we will yet be a free, prosperous, and independent people.

But what has all this to do with the great Valley Railroad. Everything, for "now is the accepted time" for our people to strike a blow that will secure to us and our children the untold blessings to be derived from the completion of this great work. How to do it is the question? Some of our people have subscribed liberally, but the great desideratum is the county subscriptions. Looking at the taxes we have to pay, some are scared at the idea of a $200,000 subscription, and they never look at what we are worth as a people. Now for a few facts--and we have always found this the only way to convince a people like ours about anything requiring money.

The grand total of the value of real and personal estate in Augusta, including solvent bonds not taxed, and Staunton, is $13,883,868. The assessed value of land for this year is $9,573,883; of personal property, is $1,554,247; value of solvent bonds, not taxed, $1,628,475; value of real and personal property in Staunton, $1,127,263. Now, taking the value of land alone in the county--which we take from the assessor's books--at $9,573,883, the tax to be paid to meet the subscription of $200,000 to the Valley Railroad, (two per cent to be paid on call--$4,000; and 13 per cent. in three years--$26,000; total $30,000;) is $30,000, which is one-third of one per cent for three years, and one-ninth (1-9) of one per cent, or one mill and one-ninth on the dollar for each year.

Look at the facts and figures, people of Augusta, and say whether you can pay one mill and one-ninth, each year, on the dollar, for this great road. And by this you realize at least 50 per cent. on the increase of your property in value; you invest in good stock; you raise your county to wealth and independence; you benefit all classes and conditions among you, and your glorious Valley will become, in fact and in truth, the garden spot of the world.

Below we give the list of the killed during the war of this gallant company, as furnished us by one of its members. It is suggested that the surviving members have them removed to the Soldiers' Cemetery, and that a monument be erected to their memory, giving the name of each, where and how wounded, &c. This is an admirable suggestion, and we hope action will be taken in the matter at once:

Pat. O'Donnell, W. E. Woodward, Joeb Seiley, Manassas, July 21, 1861; Samuel Roberts, Winchester, May 25, 1862; Jno. Donce, Port Republic, June 9, 1862; Jas. Peters, Cold Harbor, 1862; Chas. Swoope, Manassas, Aug. 30 '62; Jas. Reynolds, Sharpsburg, Sept. 17, '62; W. T. Martin, Chancellorsville, May 3, '63; Albert Ramsey; Payne's Farm, Nov. 27, '63; Jas. M. Dorm, H. A. Hague, and James W. Barnes, Wilderness, May 5, '64; T. P. Baskins and R. F. Bucher, Spotsylvania May 5, '64; J. F. J. Tinsley, Lynchburg, J. H. Bryan, Monocacy, July 4, '64; J. W. Bare, Winchester, Sept. 19, '64.