Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-02-25
For the Vindicator.1

ed when our citizens should take some steps
to secure the establishment Of the Repair
Shops Of the Chesapeake & Ohio R. r. Co.,
in our town. The whole line of road will
be put under contract during next month,
and I learn it is the expectation of the Com
pany to complete it in the next two years.
The Board Of Directors have this matter Of
the location Of shops now under considera-
ton, and, if we wish to secure them, we
must make some effort, and that at once =
We have strong rivals and it behooves US to
look after our own interest. Let our citi-
zens petition the Common Council to make
a sufficient appropriation to purchase suita-
BILE grounds for the purpose. and offer them
to the Company as a gift, if they will erect
their shops here.
Situated as we are, in what is 10 be the
great Iron Centre Of thit Country gives us a
peculiar advantage for the establishment of
manufactures, and, in order to get a start in
that direction. VT must make some effort.
IF we can secure these shops, twill form
a nucleus, around which a considerable
manufacturing interest may be established.
Therefore, let US show a liberal spirit to
this Company, because it will be through
their efforts that We shall reap the benefits
Of a grand trunk line Railway from the At
lantic to the Pacific. by which the West and
Southwest is to be preached by US, and afford
us a market for our manufactures.
The South and West do not manufacture.
All their Agricultural Implements, Hard
ware, Iron, Steel, Nails, &c, g., are now fur
nished by Northern and Eastern Manufacto-
RIGS. The building of the G. 4 O. R. R.,
will bring our section within easy and cheap
communication with the Western and South
western Cities, and, if we have the enter
prise, there is no reason why we should not
open a large trade with them.
Pittsburg, the great Iron and Steel Man
ufactpring City Of this Country, sees the
importance of tapping our Railroad at the
White Sulphur, OR somewhere near the rich
Iron Mines Of this section, 50 that she may
get Iron Ores for her Blast Furnaces, at
lower rates than she now pays; so that she
may be able to hold her own as against US.
Her manufacturers see that they cannot con-
tinue Gas they now d. to buy ores at 81
per ton and compete with us, when we can
reach coal as cheap as she can, which VIC can
do when Ike Railroad reaches the coal fields.
Her capitalists are going to build q Bail
road to, reach our Mines, and at the same
time place herself nearer her customers in
the South and Southwest, it therefore seems
plain to me, (and I think must SO strike
every business man, that all that is neees-
sary to build up our town and county, by
the development Of our vast mineral resour-
ces, and the establishments Of manufactures,
is capital and enterprise. both of which can
Is secured if we but make the effort.
Let me also urge upon our citizens not to
loose sight of the Valley Railroad. We
must nave it, in order to reach the South.
The Valley R. r., built through our town
to the Virginia & Tennessee R. r., will
place us in easy and cheap communication
with all the Cotton States. That secured,
there is no reason, with our vast Mineral
resources) why we should not compete sue
~cessfplly with the Manufacturers north of US
for that rich trade. # we do not prepare at
once to secure it, and by delay loose it, We
shall have no one to blame but ourselves.
I see, by the papers this evening. that a
resolution has been offered. in the House Of
Delegates, directing the proper Committees
to enquire into the ~expediency of exempting
from taxation in this s;tate all capital and
property employed in Manufacture That
is a step in the right direction. I feel GER
tain that ifthe Legislature would pass such a
law, to run say 10 or20 years, it would
give a great impetus to Manufacturing en-
terprise, and cause a large amount of capital
to How int0 our State from the North and
Fast. It would also give cur people, who
have embarked in Manufacturing enterprise,
some advantage over their Northern compe-
titors, which they greatly need, on account
Of their want of experience and capital. In
silofs. Mr. Editor, we must leave nothing
undone 10 assist rs iR the development of
our resources, and thereby regain oaf lost
fortunes, and place us and our State, Gas
she once was,) on the high road to wealth
and material pecuniary prosperity.
AC[TIZEN.