The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1869-11-11
Tie WAY to build mp orr Town.


IDENTIFY abroad among thom New buildings
are going up in all quarters and many others
are projected Our streets. are crowded With
vehicles Of all kinds, and the sidewalks OBJ
structed by barrels of -four and other pro-
duets Of our fertile SOL in process of delivery
to, or shipment by traders. In word, the
whole town wears m aspect of activity,
thrift, and prosperity
In contemplating this pleasing spectacle,
we are naturally led to examine into the
sources of this prosperity, and to enquire
how it can best be extended and perpctuated
Our improved agriculture has certainly
much 10 do with It, The public Institutions
located in our midst also contribute good
deal to It. But these, by themselves, would
be insufficient to bring about such results.
As proof Of this; we need only refer to the
fact, thatthese sources of prosperity have ex-
listed for many years, while the rapid improve
ment Of. which We speak, is Of comparative:
ly recent date. s.. s..... -. .s-..~-.
Two causes, more than. all others, have, we
are persuaded stimulated the development of
our town. One is the disposition Of our
people to give more attention to manufactures
and the other Is the intelligent appreciation
by them of the necessity of fostering the ad-
mirable female schools which have been es.
published among US.
Commerce is very good thing, but, in an
inland town like ours, it cannot be primary
interest. The field is too small to afford en-
ployment and support to a great number Of
persons engaged in trade, and we must look
to other means. Of charging our population
and business. Commerce, from its very ma
ture, requires but few hands to carry it on
Itcousists merely in buying ard selling, or
exchanging tho products Of industry. The
profit of the trader consists only in the differ
ence between the price he gives and the
price he receives; And even this profit is
subject to large deductions for rents, taxes,
clerk hire, &c. The larger part of tho mer-
chants, receipts 60 abroad, to replenish his
stock from jobbers or importers. Upon a
final settlement Of merchants annual bust
ness, it will be found his gains are not large,
and most of the money which he has receiv-
cd has been sent to the Northern cities, thus
leaving the county comparatively stripped Of
currency.
A merchant with an. active capital OF
100000 gives employment to but two or three
clerks, a porter &C., and in the course Of the
year, he sends abroad, probably $4,000.
But how is it with manufacturer With
similar amount of capital he would, prob
ably, employ in one way or another, fifty
people, thereby affording support to them and
their families. Take for example our two
Foundrias, and compare their operations with
those Of our largest merchants, and see how
the balance will stand. The merchants en,-
ploy, say, six unmarried men, as statesmen
and clerks-the manufacturers employ-say
80 men, most of whom have families. The
merchants send annually, say $50, out OF
the country, while the manufacturers, annu-
ally bring $4,000 into it, The office of one
class is to sell and exchange, while that of
the other is to combine and, create. The
manufacturer gives concrete form TO the la.
Dor Of his employces-he incorporates that
labor with the raw material, and thus makes
it an element of wealth. The manufacturer
also affords market to the land owner for
his timber and his minerals in his workshop.
and for the products Of his farm, in the sup.
port Of his workmen and their families The
manufacturer also, indirectly, through his
employees, and their families, gives employ.
ment to the tailor, the shoemaker the school
teacher, the grocer, the merchant and others
And the manufacturer, when he sells his fab
rics, brings the money into the country, to
be disbursed in way to witty business in
all its departments.
Other things being equal we therefore re-
gard manufacturers as contributing mere
largely than those of any other occupation,
TO the general prosperity of the community.
And we think it is to the interest Of our
people to encourage and foster every enter.
trize Of the kind, by extending liberal pat
rouage to home industry. We think, also.
that inducements should be held out to per-
sons disposed to engage in manufactures, by
excmpting their machinery and capital, for a
limited time, from taxation
But we find our subject grows upon US, and
we must therefore content ourselves, for the
present, With these general. views. In anoth.
er issue, we shall take occasion to say some
thing upon ting advantages, and prospects Of
Stauntou as a manufacturing town. And
we shall also offer some suggestions as to the
advantages, an feasibility of making Staun.
ton the centre of female education in tie
South. We see no reason why the Baptists,
the Lutherans and the Catholics, should not
each have first class female school in Staun.
ton. Their enterprizing neighbors OF the
E. iscop Ptesby terrain and Methodist church.
O., have set them good example. Let the
other sects see that they are not left behind
in the landablc race for knowledge and en-
lishteument