USA > Virginia > Augusta County > Augusta County > History of Augusta County, Virginia > Part 31
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
TREASURER.
The Treasurer shall beelected by the Directory, and shall hold his office during its pleasure. He shall give bond, with security, in such penalty as the Directory shall, from time, require, which bond shall be payable to the Augusta County Fair, and shall be conditioned for the faithful dis- charge of his duties. No payment of any money due to the Corporators shall be valid unless made to the Treasurer, except in such cases as shall be specially provided for by the Directory. No money shall be paid out by the Treasurer except on orders drawn by the Secretary and counter- signed by the President.
SUPERINTENDENT.
The Superintendent shall be elected by the Directory, and shall hold his office during its pleasure. It shall be his duty to superintend and take care of the fair grounds under the direction of the Executive Committee.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The Executive Committee shall be elected by the Directory, except that the President shall be, ex-officio, chairman of the committee. The mem- bers shall continue in office during the pleasure of the Directory. The Executive Committee shall be charged with the duty of carrying into exe- cution all the orders of the Directory not otherwise provided for, and shall have a large discretion, subject at all times to the control of the Directory, to do, in the recess of Directory, whatever may be necessary to protect the interests and advance the purposes of the corporation. The Com- mittee was increased to five, October 16th, 1873.
MEETINGS.
The Directory shall meet regularly on the 4th Monday of each month. Special meetings may be appointed by the Directory, by the Executive Committee or by the President, and a meeting shall be called at any time by the President, on the written demand of any three Directors or any ten Corporators. A meeting of the Corporators may be called at any time by the Directory, and there shall be at least one such meeting in each year, to be held at the Annual Fair.
249
HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
The following by-law was adopted January 14th, 1871 :
ELECTIONS.
The annual election of Directors shall be held at the Secretary's office, in the fair grounds, on the 2d day of the Fair, under the superintendence of three commissioners appointed by the Board of Directors from the body of Corporators, whose duty it shall be to return a correct poll, with a certificate of the result of the election, to the Board of Directors within five days after the election.
AWARD OF PREMIUMS.
On the same day it was resolved that in future the Secretary and Treas- urer be authorized to settle the award of premiums due Corporators by giving them credit upon their bonds, their consent thereto having been received.
ADMISSION TO THE GROUNDS.
On the 27th of July, 1872: Resolved, That no ticket can be issued to or privilege granted to, or rights be exercised by, a Corporator except on the production of the Treasurer's receipt showing all dues paid.
On the 23d of November, 1872: Resolved, That hereafter six tickets be issued to each Corporator for the use of his family (not transferable) dur- ing the Fair, and that the Corporators, as exhibitors, be put on the same footing as other persons.
ADMISSION OF SCHOOLS.
And the privilege of attending the Fairs, at half price, was accorded the teachers and scholars of the ladies' colleges, in Staunton, by resolution of October 10th, 1876.
NO AUCTION OR GAMBLING ALLOWED AT THE FAIRS.
On the ist of October, 1875, it was ordered that no person shall expose any article for sale, on the Fair grounds, except previously licensed so to do by the Secretary, nor shall any gambling, pool-selling or other game of chance be permitted.
SALE OF OLD AND PURCHASE OF THE PRESENT LANDS.
Previous to the adoption of many of the foregoing rules and regulations, namely, on the 7th of April, 1873, the Fair grounds on Lewis creek were sold to the Valley Railroad Company for $25,000; and on the 17th of the succeeding month the Directory purchased 33} acres of the Spring farm estate for $10,000. This constitutes the present landed estate of the in- corporation, and here the fairs have been since held, with annually increas- ing success.
This estate, lying in a beautiful valley among the hills, to the northwest of Staunton, possesses great natural charms, and is susceptible of the highest improvement. It abounds in springs, which supply abundance of pure water, and is traversed by a brook having its source on the adjoining property, (Steephill,) and notwithstanding the recent sale of water right to the city, it is thought that the ornamental water, or Fair grounds lake, may in future be kept up to its present level. If the estate were divided into pasture and woodland, well stocked with shade trees and flowers, and every part made accessible by graveled paths and carriage roads, it would become the most attractive spot in the vicinity of the town, a favorite resort of its jaded business men, and of all seeking recreation and enjoyment.
32 ₫
250
HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
And I cannot close this report without expressing the hope that such a system of improvement may be speedily undertaken.
In accordance with the resolution of the Board, at its meeting of No- vember 8th, 1879, I have the honor to submit the foregoing report or sketch of the origin, progress and present condition of the B. A. F.
Steephill, November 10th, 1879. JOHN L. PEYTON.
DIRECTORS OF BALDWIN AUGUSTA FAIR.
I. A. M. Bowman; 2. W. L. Bumgardner ; 3. C. B. Coiner ; 4. J. D. Crowle; 5. A. W. Harman ; 6. J. Henderson ; 7. J. H. Parkins ; 8. John L. Peyton ; 9. A. A. Sproul; 10. J. H. Waters.
The manufacturing interests of the county have not been fully developed. We have few factories, and such as we have are not so flourishing as could be desired. This has been partly due to the disadvantages arising before the war from slave labor, and since 1865, from the want of capital. The prin- cipal part of our capital in Augusta has been invested in flouring mills, which are scattered over the county, in the tanning of hides, the distilling of spirits, manufacture of wagons, carriages and furniture. Since the war, there has been a greater division of labor than formerly, when the entire negro population was engaged in agriculture. We now have in the towns, and even villages, butchers, bakers, brewers, carpenters, joiners, wheel- wrights, plough, cart and wagon makers, and other mechanics, and there is a general disposition to barter and trade,-a growing spirit of enterprise. The opening of our iron and coal mines, marble quarries, the diversion of a certain part of our population to the mechanical arts, has given a limited home market to the farmer, and has caused a sensible improvement in our modes of cultivation and in the yield of our lands. Our county has, in a word, been gradually growing into a commercial community. There has been an increasing desire to live in cities and towns, to engage in trade, and the increase and riches of the towns has contributed to the improve- ment and cultivation of the lands by furnishing a ready market to the far- mer. Many orchards and vineyards* have been planted, and some wine of excellent flavor has been made ; a cloth factory is in operation on the head waters of South river, and an iron foundry and machine shop in Staunton. It cannot be said, however, that our manufactories are numerous and flour- ishing. There is a wide-spread feeling that we should foster manufactures, and with our vast supplies of iron, copper, coal, manganese, kaolin, which makes excellent earthenware, and sand from which the best of plate-glass may be manufactured, and a soil which, in addition to growing grass and all the cereals,-giving us a great wealth in horses, cattle, sheep and swine,-is admirably adapted to the growth of tobacco, hemp, flax, hops, and the vine, there is every reason to believe that factories will soon exist among
*One of the vineyards near Staunton is on La Grange, the estate of Mr. Xaupi, and the grapes are equal in size and flavor to the best the writer has eaten in France and Italy. Others in the county, of which he has no personal knowledge, are probably equal to them.
251
HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
us and pay high dividends. Our climate is particularly adapted to them, the expense of living is moderate, rents are low, and labor at hand and cheap. Let us hope, then, that many years will not have elapsed before we have factories of every kind. Manufactures of iron in all its forms, of brass, copper and lead; of linen, woollen and cotton cloths; of cordage, furni- ture, wagons, carriages and farming implements ; of paper, glass, leather, hats, silks, laces, watches, and other objects of constant and frequent de- mand. Our grapes will make raisins equal to those of Malaga, and pro- duce wine and brandy not inferior to those of France and Germany. From the sorghum and beet root, we should make our sugar and molasses. Staunton should be the seat of a factory for canning fruits and vegetables ; for the making of starch from our corn; oil from the palma christi, which grows luxuriantly in Augusta ; from the walnut and from the olive, which would doubtless flourish in our soil and climate, both of which are similar to those of Italy and the south of France. We would then enjoy all the benefits and blessings arising from order and good government ; the liberty and security of individuals ; an absence of idlers and paupers, of loafers and gamblers. In a country which has neither foreign commerce, says a great writer, nor any of the finer manufactures, a great proprietor, having nothing for which he can exchange the greater part of the produce of his lands, which is over and above the maintenance of the cultivators, con- sumes the whole in rustic hospitality at home. If this surplus produce is sufficient to maintain a hundred or a thousand men, he can make use of it in no other way than by maintaining a hundred or a thousand men. He is at all times, therefore, surrounded with a multitude of retainers and de- pendents, who having no equivalent to give in return for their mainte- nance, but being fed entirely by his bounty, must obey him, for the same reason that soldiers must obey the prince who pays them. Before the ex- istence of commerce and manufactures in Europe, the hospitality of the rich and great, from the sovereign down to the smallest baron, exceeded every thing which in the present times we can easily form a notion of. Westminster Hall was the dining-room of William Rufus, and might fre- quently not be too large for his company. It was reckoned a piece of magnificence in Thomas Becket, that he strewed the floor of his hall with clean hay in the season, in order that the knights and squires, who could not get seats, might not spoil their fine clothes when they sat down on the floor to eat their dinner. A hospitality of the same kind was exercised before the civil war in different parts of the southern states, from Maryland to Texas, and in our own county Fort Lewis, Montgomery Hall, Spring farm, Bear-Wallow, Oak Grove, Glendale, Folly, Selma, and other seats of our great proprietors, were famous for it, as will ever be all fertile agricul- tural and pastoral regions where commerce and manufactures are little known.
252
HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
Though Augusta continued to be largely composed of staid men at the opening of the nineteenth century, there was a considerable infusion of new comers, principally from Eastern Virginia. Though many of these were professional gentlemen, and distinguished for their learning, they were more cheerful and easy in mixed society than were the earlier set- tlers of Covenanter stock. Politeness and good manners could soon be traced, though in different proportions, through every rank, and society began to be more gay and vivacious. Private and public balls were in- troduced, and the fiddler's animating scrape was more frequently heard. These entertainments, if less splendid, when compared with the classical elegance of those of Richmond and New York, were none the less enjoyed. The programme at these fetes was simple enough. After dancing several hours,-and the figures were performed with a high degree of perfection, a light nymphish grace unsurpassed,-the company was conducted to the supper-room, which was decorated with taste and elegance. After par- taking of a sumptuous repast, the guests wandered through the open doors and windows to the garden, which was generally of considerable ex- tent, beautifully illuminated with colored lamps. Here, loitering under the trees and among the shrubbery, they were served with lemonade and other iced beverages. But these customs, not yet exploded, are too com- mon to be described. We have before us the list of a company which at- tanded a fete at Folly, 14th of December, 1814. It is inserted below, and will serve as a kind of directory of our fashionables at that period :
Mr. Abney, Dr. and Mrs. Boys, Miss Jane Boys, Gen., Mrs. and the Misses Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin, Mr. Bierne, Mr. J. Blakey, Mr. W. H. Brown, Mrs. and the Misses Bryan, Mr. and Miss Cocke, Miss Coalter, Mr. and Mrs. J. Cowan, Mrs. and the Misses Chambers, Dr. and Mrs. Clarke, Mr. S. Clarke, Mr. K. Chambers, Mr. and Mrs. J. Crawford, Mr. Wm. Chambers, Mr. Davis, Mr. Edrington, Mr. Edmundson, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Eskridge, Mr. Fulton, Mr., Mrs. and the Misses Fulton, Mr., Mrs. and the Misses Jones, Miss Garth, Mr., Mrs. and the. Misses Garber, Mrs. Grove, Mr. J. Garber, Mr. G. Holloway, Mr. Hartman, Mr. A. Hall, Mr. J. B. Heil, Mr. Heiskell, Dr. Hanger, Mr. McIntosh, Mr. W. Kinney, Mr. Mr. J. Kenney, Mrs. Lyle and family, Mr. and Mrs. Mathews, Mr. Wm. Mathews, Mr. and Mrs. McDowell, Miss McDowell, Mr. and Mrs. Miller, Miss McCulloch, Mr. R. C. Nicholas, Mr. and Mrs. Peyton, Mrs. and the Misses Perry, Mr. and Mrs. Peck, Mr. and Mrs. Peck, jr., Miss Porterfield, Mr. Reeves, Judge and Mrs. Stuart, Mr. T. J. Stuart, Mr. and Mrs. Strib- ling, Mr. Stringfellow, Mr. S. Smith, Miss Skelson, Mr. and Mrs. Sowers, Mr. Shomo, Mr. A. St. Clair, Mr. and Mrs. Ab. Smith, Dr., Mrs. and the Misses Telfair, Miss Tapp, Mr. Temple, Mr. Tebbs, Mr. and Mrs. Wayt, Mr. and Mrs. L. Waddell, Mr. and Mrs. A. Waddell, Miss Waddell, Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Capt., Mrs. and Miss Williamson, Mr. and Mrs. Whyte, Dr. Willson, Miss Waterman, Miss Webb.
253
HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF THE JUSTICES OF AUGUSTA, FROM 1790 TO 1860.
We have not attempted to continue the list after 1860, the recurrent elections at short periods having so greatly enlarged the number of jus- tices that space could not be conveniently found for the catalogue of names.
J. T. ANTRIM,
J.N. HUPP,
S. F. ABNEY,
M. W. D. HOGSHEAD,
W. D. ANDERSON,
ELIJAH HOGSHEAD,
W. C. BRUFFY,
D. B. HOGSHEAD,
JAMES BELL,
KENTON HARPER,
D. S. BELL,
P. A. HEISKELL,
WM. A. BELL,
SAM'L HANSBARGER,
J. WAYT BELL,
ISAAC HALL,
WM. BEARD,
WM. HARRIS,
R. G. BICKLE,
JAS. HENRY,
JAS. BERRY,
J. A. HARMAM,
SAM'L KENNERLY,
J. D. BROWN, C. BROWN,
J. KEISER,
R. P. BROWN,
D. KERR,
S. B. BROWN,
D. KUNKLE,
D. BLACKBURN,
J. M. LILLEY,
JACOB BAYLOR,
JOHN MCCUE,
J. B. BRECKINRIDGE,
J. A. McCUE,
G. A. BRUCE,
J. M. MCCUE,
B. CRAWFORD,
W. W. MONTGOMERY,
JAS. CRAWFORD,
E. G. MOORMAN,
S. D. CRAWFORD,
SAM'L MCCUNE,
G. M. COCHRAN,
ARCH. M. MOORE,
J. A. COCHRAN,
J. K. MOORE,
A. COYNER,
N. MASSIE,
J. T. CLARK,
C. G. MILLER,
JNO. CHURCHMAN,
JNO. NEWTON,
SAM'L CLINE,
J. MORRISON,
WM. CHAPMAN,
J. A. PATTERSON,
HATCH CLARK,
D. W. PATTISON,
J. T. CLARK, Jos. D. CRAIG,
J. LEWIS PEYTON,
WM. DAVIS,
J. A. DAVIDSON,
B. F. POINTS,
HY. EIDSON, JR.,
WM. RAMSEY,
J. S. ELLIS,
JNO. RIMEL,
S. B. FINLEY,
J. C. RIVERCOMB,
JNO. G. FULTON,
A. H. Ross,
ROB'T GUY,
WM. G. STERRETT,
WM. GUY,
G. B. STUART,
TH. GAMBLE,
GEO. SEAWRIGHT,
JAS. R. GROVE, J. R. GROVE,
WM. R. SMITH,
D. GRIFFITH,
J. B. SYCLE,
J. N. GENTRY,
W. M. TATE,
WM. GEORGE,
D. N. VANLEAR,
A. WADDELL,
B. F. HAILMAN,
Jos. SMITH,
JOHN H. PEYTON,
J. PORTERFIELD,
254
HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
L. WADDELL,
LEWIS WAYLAND,
JNO. WAYT,
ALEX'R WALKER,
T. P. WILSON,
LUKE WOODWARD,
WM. WILSON,
ROBERT M. WHITE,
JAMES WILSON,
WM. YOUNG.
In 1869-70 certain constitutional amendments were adopted by a pop- ular vote. Among these was one for township organization, another the substitution of a county judge for the old county court system. The first judge was J. N. Hendren. The officers of the county in 1881 were as follows;
J. M. QUARLES . Judge of County Court.
WM. A. BURNETT Clerk of County Court.
A. B. LIGHTNER . Sheriff.
JNO. G. STOVER Surveyor.
SAM'L PAUL .
Treasurer.
BEVERLY MANOR DISTRICT.
JNO. PARIS Supervisor.
J. M. KINNEY Justice.
J. M. LICKLITER
66
DAVID HENKEL
JOHN SULLIVAN , Constable.
RIVERHEADS DISTRICT.
WM. T. RUSH Supervisor.
J. H. RUSH . Justice.
WM. W. CALE
JAMES N. MITCHELL
THOS. A. BLOWNLEE Constable.
MIDDLE RIVER DISTRICT.
WM. CRAWFORD Supervisor.
K. B. KOINER Justice.
C. S. ROLLER
J. H. CRAWFORD
S. N. PATTERSON
Constable.
NORTH RIVER DISTRICT.
S. A. EAST. . . Supervisor.
J. A. HAMRICK .
· Justice.
J. A. MILLS
C. S. BYERS .
Constable.
SOUTH RIVER DISTRICT.
JNO. S. ELLIS . Supervisor.
DAVID W. COINER Justice.
JACOB COINER, JR
A. A. ARNOLD . .
JNO. M. HANGER Constable.
PASTURES DISTRICT.
H. B. SIEG . Supervisor.
B. O. FERGUSON Justice. J. S. GUY .
W. J. EURITT .
W. T. LIGHTNER
. Constable.
255
HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
CHAPTER XVI.
-
CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
As new-comers arrived in the county after the settlement of Lewis at Bellefonte, they clustered round about the fort. This soon became a source of inconvenience to the Founder, and led to his selection of the site of the present city of Staunton for a town. It was recommended by its numer- ous advantages, its central position, its many springs, and good, though limited, water-power. Before the organization of the county, Staunton was a considerable hamlet, and was named in honor of Lady Staunton, the accomplished wife of Lieut .- Gov. Gooch. Here the first court-house was built, but for many years subsequent to 1745, the clerk's office remained at Port Republic. Tradition says that the constant presence of the King's attorney, Mr. Gabriel Jones, and his professional brethren travelling to and fro on this road, led to our witty ancestors styling it the "Lawyers' Lane," That "lane," widened, improved and graded, is the present road by the Western Lunatic Asylum to the National Cemetery, and thence through New Hope to the now historical town of Port Republic. No plat of Staunton was made until 1748, when a few streets and lots were laid off. The plat was subsequently confirmed by the Legislature, was presented in court, and admitted to record 27th February, 1749. It is believed by some that Staunton was incorporated by Act of the Assembly in 1748, and Campbell distinctly so states in his History of Virginia. We have seen nothing to establish this fully, but sufficient to justify a belief in its proba- bility. There is a proclamation, of date April 8th, 1752, from Governor Dinwiddie, repealing certain acts of the Assembly, passed at the revisal in 1748. Among these acts is one entitled, "An act for establishing a town in Augusta County, and allowing fairs to be kept there." At this time, Pittsburg and the surrounding country was supposed to be and claimed as a part of Virginia, and it does not appear whether Pittsburg or Staunton, or either, was referred to in the act. It is probable, however, as Staunton was laid out into streets and lots in 1748, that it was Staunton ; and if so, she is the oldest town in the Valley.
The first act for its incorporation, which appears in Hening, was passed in November, 1761, and is in the following words :
256
HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
I. " Whereas, the erecting towns on the frontier of this colony may prove of great benefit and advantage to the inhabitants, by inducing many of them to settle together, which will enable them the better to defend them- selves on any sudden incursions of an enemy ; and whereas, it has been represented to this present General Assembly that William Beverly, Esq., deceased, did, in his lifetime, lay out a parcel of land in the County of Augusta, at the court-house of the said county, into lots and streets for a town, and did sometime afterwards give to the said county twenty-five acres of land more, adjoining the said former lots, to be added to and made part of said town, which has also been since laid off into lots and streets, most of which are now disposed of, and many families are settled there ;
* * X *
*
" Be it, therefore, enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council and Bur- gesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that the lands so laid off by the said William Bev- erly, in the County of Augusta, shall be called and known by the name of Staunton. * And whereas, it is necessary that trustees should be ap- pointed for said town hereby erected, Be it further enacted, by the author- ity aforesaid, That William Preston, Israel Christian, David Stewart, John Brown, John Page, William Lewis, William Christian, Eledge McClene- chan, Robert Breckenridge and Randal Lockhart, gentlemen, be and they are hereby nominated, constituted and appointed trustees for the said town of Staunton, in the County of Augusta.
"And the said trustees, or any three of them, respectively, shall and may and they are hereby authorized and empowered to make, from time to time, such rules, orders and directions for the regular and orderly building the houses in the said town as to them shall seem expedient, and also to settle all disputes and controversies concerning the bounds of the lots in the said town,
"And for continuing the succession of the said trustees, Be it further enacted, That in case of the death of any of the said trustees, or their refusal to act, the surviving or other trustees, or the major part of them, shall assemble, and are hereby empowered, from time to time, by instru- ment in writing under their respective hands and seals, to nominate some other person or persons in the place of him so dying or refusing ; which new trustrees so nominated and appointed, shall from thenceforth have the like power and authority in all things relating to the matters herein con- tained, as if he or they had been expressly named and appointed in and by this act. And every such instrument and nomination shall, from time to time, be inserted and registered in the books of the said trustees."
Staunton is the only city in the county in 1882, is the seat of Justice, and the commercial metropolis of the county and much adjacent territory. It is situated on both sides of Lewis creek, and on both sides of its two branches,-Peyton's creek and Gum Spring branch,-which unite in the city and make up Lewis creek, which was so called in honor of the Founder. It is about one hundred and twenty miles from Richmond, and about one hundred and eighty from Washington. Its average height above the sea level is 1,450 feet. A glance at the map shows it to be near the geo- graphical centre of the county.
257
HISTORY OF AUGUSTA COUNTY.
In May, 1779, an act was passed by the General Assembly, by which the trustees of the town were displaced and the sheriff of the county was directed to proceed to take a poll for the election of five trustees in their room. This act defines the powers of the trustees, imposes penalties for misapplication of taxes, &c. The same act prohibited swine from running at large in the town, and provided that "it shall be lawful for any person whatsoever to kill and destroy every such swine going at large." The causes which led to the removal of the trustees does not appear, nor have we been able to get the names of the old or new trustees. This act was so much opposed by the pig-growers, that the portion relating to swine was repealed by the Legislature of 1782, and pigs were allowed to range at large through the streets.
On November 6, 1787, an act was passed for enlarging the town by the addition of twenty-five acres, the property of Alexander St. Clair, which was ordered to be laid off into lots and streets, and made part of the said town. This is that portion of Staunton commonly called New Town, ex- tending from Church street south and northwest. That portion of the town lying north of Academy street is generally known as Gallowstown. It acquired its name thus : About the year 1795, a man by the name of Bullitt was charged with horse stealing, was tried, and condemned to death. He was executed at the forks of the road, the intersection of New and Augusta streets, opposite the residence of Mr. Evans, where the gallows was erected. At the time Bullitt was hung, his brother was hold- ing a court at the Warm Springs, and the family had hitherto been with- out reproach. We may add that East Main street and the surrounding district is styled Gospel Hill, from the eminent piety of the late Samson Eagan, who long occupied the present residence of D. A. Kayser. Mr. Eagan was a pillar in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.