Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-07-02
Home Manufactures.

There were many years ago several trades
carried on in Staunton, that have entirely ceased
to exist There were two or three manufactu-
rers of hats; saddle-tree maker, one or two
fulling mills; and paper mill Coopering was
carried on much more extensively, than at pres
ent; so also we believe was the cabinet making
business-that is, the manufacturing of furni-
ture wagonmakers too, had much more to
do than now. A pottery used to be regularly
carried on here, but for many years past there
has been none
Now, why is it, that so many of these trades,
have ceased to exist, and why have others
greatly fallen off in the amount of work done
by them, and this too, when the population of
the town has increased fourfold? Some per-
sons tell us, that all these articles manufactured
by the trades mentioned above, are now brought
from the North; and sold much cheaper than
they can be manufactured here
Should this be SO Have we not all the ma
terial here for carrying on the various manu-
features; in as great plenty, and of as good
quality, as they have anywhere in the North |?
We can also raise here in the Valley of Virginia,
this garden spot of the State everything in
the greatest profusion, to feed both man and
beast In this we certainly have great ad-
vantage over New England, and in point of eli
mate, we have still greater advantage. In
New England and in many other portions of
the North, the winters are at least twice aslong
as here, and very much colder. Besides all this,
we have untold treasures In the earth, In min
erals; and we have too, fine water power; and
the best of timber, in abundance. Our wag-
ons, carriages, ploughs, wooden ware, and in
fact every thing that we use, made of either
iron or wood, or, Of the two, combined, should
be made out and out, and entirely at home
Why should we send abroad for hats, when we
might have them manufactured at home, just
as good and as cheap. OF many other things
we might say the same.
We are told, that, it will be long while be-
fore there will be much manufacturing carried
on in this part of the country; that we have no
money here to start factories with We admit
the fact, that money is scarce in this communi-
ty, and our people generally poor but still we
believe, from the quantity of fashionable tfne,y
gion of the country, that there must be much
more money here than is generally supposed.
Now suppose each family in the counties of
Rockbridge, Augusta and Rockingham who
are what are called good Hue,s were to cur
tail their expenses in the purchase of wearing
apparel one-tenth, which we doubt not they
could very conveniently do, and invest it in
manufacturing establishments, we think it would
probably be sufficient to start several such en-
terprises. We hear the remark often made.
that ''our people are too extravaganza, that thew
dress finer now than they did before the war. y
This we fear is too true with regard to a great
many persons, not only in the towns, but
throughout the country generally. During the
war most of our people could get SO little fnery
to wear, that we suppose now, they are some
what like persons, that have been nearly starved
for want of food being suddenly placed where
they could get plenty to eat, not knowing when
TO stop eating so our Southern people don't
know when to stop buying.