Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1872-04-05
THE IRON AGE.

tn ey fail to be respondent !? To some it look
ed as if the only surcease of sorrow was to
be found in emigating, while others, looking
only at the surface, and despairing, seemed
satisfied to make only the exertion necessary
to simply exist,
While there was much conspiring to cause
this, yet there were those who, looking be-
meath the surface, saw much of hope and
light in store for our dear Old Mother, Vir-
ginia-saw "a silver lining" to the cloud of
our troubles, cares and wants, destined ulti
mately to break forth in the glad sunshine
Of safe and hea'thful prosperity, which
would make the old Stat, first and foremos
on this Continent in material progress. This
is every day approximating fruition, as can
be seen even by the casual observer in the
recuperation of our resources, the building
up OF our waste places and the remarkable
increase of the confidence Of our people in
themselves, and their owa aeiU to work out
success. 1t can also be seen 10 the intro
duction of general education and more espe-
cially, in the substitution Of the practical,
wherever possible, for the theoretical, and in
the largely increased circulation of the
Press-secu!ar and religious To this may
be added the almost entire absence of idle
hands in the community. the increased res.
pect for labor, as honorable above..all things,
the increase in manufactures and the ap-
preaching construction and completion of
our great Railroad lines, which will bring
our coal and iron together and wonderfully
aid in the development OF oar rich and iu-
exaustible mineral deposits.
These signs we see around us daily and
we can but feel that, quietly but surely, a
revolution is going on III the Valley and
State, which will, in d few years, change
the whole face of affairs aud make this IA
vored land literally land of Goshen-fow-
Ing with the milk ana honey of prosperity
and plenty. 1t is all Iron Age and our peo-
pie are bracing themselves to keep abreast
ofit, with the energy thas SO signally marked
their heroic endeavors during the years of a
long and bloody war The fight is on an
other ground, but vastly more important are
the results to be achieved iE this peaceful
struggle for supremacy III the fields of Ag-
riculture, Science an TIE Mechanic arts. -
We daily see and hear OF large purchases of
west Of us, by Northern aud European
capitalists, in anticipation of the compile
ton Of the important haes of communication
destined to traverse this ssction-a sure
fore-runner of a tide Of Immigration, which,
with the aid Of our OWL energetic business
men, will SO change the condition of affairs
for the better, that we will wonder at former
despondency-those staiwart sons who have
left US, for seemingly more favored. lands,
will return and those growing up will never
depart the household.
ln this connection We may mention that
Iron has advanced Sl6 per ton since Janua-
ry.. LIST and our Iron deposits are greater
than those which made the wealth of Eng.
land, and their development will soon place
US above the troubles Of the present and on
the road to permanent peace, plenty and
prosperity.
AS pertinent to this forecast of our hopes,
we notice with pleasure the great change
the few years since the war have wrought in
our City. Manufacturing establishments
that started under difficulties, after weather.
ing many adverse storms, are firmly estab.
lished and growing in strength and useful
ness every day. As the first, as well as a
specimen, We notice the Staunton Iron
| Works, late Burke's which y as established
in the dark days Of 1866, with 3 hands and
small equipment. lis energetic founder,
W. A. Burke, has steadily and 10 spite Of
all obstacles, scarcity Of money &c., pushed
on the work, until it ranks among the first
Of its kind in the State, and has immensely
| increased its facilities for the manufacture
Of the famous Premium Livingston Pillow
as we'll as for all other work. 1t works q
large number Of hands, and with the in
creased capital added by Maj. Mcmahon and
Capt. Menefee, the new pa rtners, it is pro
posed to further enlarge the works and
commence the manufacture of R. R. Cars
and all kinds Of R. R. Machinery and sup
plies. To look at the extensive buildings
to hear the steady whir Of the Engines and
roar of the Foundry and see the quantities
Of useful and needed articles produced, and
think of the small beginning, surely shows
what energy and pluck. when directed by
clear heads and willing hands can and will
do, and yet this is only small item of The
great revolution silently going on.
As further exemp' ifeation of this sub.
ject, we will take occasion, and it will AFFORD
us pleasure, in future Issues to notice, seriu
tim, the other Manufactures of our City
and their rise and progress.
--< >-
sit is said that there is scheme on foot
among Our passive friends to run Jubal
Early against Phil. Sheridan for the Presi-
| dency, provided the Republicans will run
Phil. They say old ,yubal out-ran Sheri
dan in the Shenandoah Valley, and SO they
think it would be good idea to try it on
| the Presidential course - Exchange.