The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1871-02-23
THE va TO BUILD UP A CITY.

lhS -own OF Lagrange, Missouri, number
lag from 3. 200 to 900 inhabitants, is about
% erect rolling mill, which will employ
between 400 aud 0 workmen. the enter
prise to be backed by capital of about
100000. TIe citizens of Lagrange have
voted 100000 to an eastern company with
this object in view.
It IN this way that cities are rapidly
built up throughout the country, where the
natural advantages justify the establishment
of Improvements of this kind We have
range Of mountains cunning from few
miles west of Stauntsa TO GOWN ton. in which
the hematite ores predominant in abundance
We have the water power, the lime, the coal,
the wood, and everything necessary to ote-
rate, on a |argescale, just such mills as the
citizens Of f4asrangeare about to establish.
What we want is st0rt-the construction
of one good rolling m;ll--and then there is
no substasssia reason 10 doubt that there will
follow a succession of similar enterprises
from Sta@nton to Covington. One mill,
giving employment to 500 operatives would
increase our population at least 500, allowing
ave members, on an average, to every head
of family. These would all be consumers.
The annual outlay of an establishment whose
capacity would require the number of opera
tives above indicated, would reach at least
100000 This amount of money thrown
into the business of the city and county
would give new Life and energy to all depart
mcnts of trade Gould our men of capital
direct their means to more praiseworthy and lu-
crative investment? The history of every
manufacturing city in the country. establishes
the fact, beyond pcradveuture, that proper
" managed rolling mills are the best Of pay
: ing investments The rapid increase Of pop
ulation would bring into market Cor building
purposes vacant lands within a mile of the
outside limits of the city. Carpenters, brick
layers and mechanics of all trades, would
rapidly multiply uudef the stimulus thus
given, and Stanton itself rapidly grow in
wealth, population and Importance.
It is estimated that 1t required. in 1870,
over one million Of tons of iron to supply
the demand for railroad purposes in the
United States. Three-6fths of this was man
ufactured in Pennsylvania. We have the
evidence of the most eminent biologists
and engineers, as we'll as practical operators,
that the deposits of the ores in Virginia far
excclin quality aud quantity those Of Penn
sylvania. All we want TO develop them is
capital and enterprise. Nature has done her
part-aaw let men, who are to reap the ben
cf:s, do their part.
The attention of the whole country is d.
rected to this splendid and unequaled VAL
ley, and to Virginia, as the great channel
through which the trade of the United
States must pass. The main lines Of COM
aq scas2an Tsashng FROM border to border
leading North and South. Southwest and
West. must and will have feeders. As con-
sequence Railroads will, in the course Of
tIEic, tAdfCiSe CFCiy HCCtulH VI tHo EtdtS
With this home demand even. all invest
mentsin the iron business, of whatever branch,
must necessarily secure rich return. Not
only will the demand from Virginia be great,
but the same spirit of public enterprise which
now seems to be diffusing itself throughout
Virginia, is moving the people of the South
ern States. Instead Of ordering from Eu-
ropo and Pennsylvania, Virginia will furnish
the demands Of course to realize, what we
think We see in the future, will take time,
energy and push, but the commencement
should be made ata once, and why not in
Staunton and Augusta county? Will not
some of our capitalists and philosophical
men inaugurate nucleus 2 Once begun,
capital will come from distance, for where
ever the field is promising, monied men are
not long in finding it out Let the work be
commenced.
The Baltimore Gazette, in concluding an