Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-01-07
] Jefferson County Industrial Society.

is most needed to advance the general inter-
est of the County, immigrants to manufacture
or immigrants to cultivate the soil2D
The debate was opened upon the side of
manufactures by W. l.. Wilson, Esq, in his
usual eloquent and forcble manner, an alb
stract only of his clear and comprehensive
views we arc enabled TO- give as follows 80.
"The question very properly assumes that
Jefferson county needs a large addition to the
numbers of her people engaged in the creative,
industries. With her favorable geographical
position and all her natural and acquired adj
vantages she has to-day population, men,
women and children, of about one to every,
ten acres. OF the two classes of Immigrants
decided, farmers and manufacturers, the latter
are more desirable for several reasons
list. Our agricultural resources are tolera-
bly, we'll developed; our manufacturing re-
sources not at all. Our great water power is
not used. =
2. The building up of large manufacture
ing interest would of itself develope and build
up Agriculture, and increase the profits of its
pursuit by giving US q home market. The
capital from abroad paid Cor our manufactures
would then replace two home capitals instead
of one as at present. go,
3. Manufactures are more profitable Our
''aHN2
Western farmers where lands are cheap and
markets are becoming accessible. The capi>
tai devoted in agriculture turned over but once
a year, that in manufactures may be dozen
times. The great power of steam and the new
inventions in machinery have done com para
lively little for Agriculture, while in Manu-
features they have made one man equal to "a
hundred. Que hundred aud fifty thousand
men now engaged in England in Cotton Man
ufactures do the work of forty millions with
the old machinery.
4. Advantage to any community of diver
sity of pursuits"
Mr.. Wilson was replied to by Joseph Trap
nell, Esq, urging With singular force and
clearness that the question is not which class
should be encouraged to the exclusion of the
other, but which is most needed nc,c-whichS
will tend to most rapidly dcvelope the natural
resources the county? which should precede
the other? He would answer Immigrants to
cultivate the soil. Whatever section or com.
munity is possessed OF principal resource,
which is susceptible Of more easy and speedy
development than any one Of other resources
possessed by it, the true interest Of such sec
ton or community will be most rapidly ad-
vanced by turning its attention first to the
complete development of sucf: resource.
Jefferson County, he said possesses such
principal resource in its wide extent of fertile
aud productive farming lands. Therefore.
the interest of Jefferson County will be most
rapidly advanced by turning our attention
first to the development Of our agricultural
resources. Jefferson County has an area of
200 square miles aud contains 1874 400 acres
OF land than which there ia none more fertile
upon the face of the whole earth and will
prove as productive as any in the Union
The POPULATION only $4,000 or 14.OOO-
about 80 TO the square mile. Dcdnctng pop
ulation of towns, only about AZ to the square
mile, leaves ten acres of land to each inhabi-
tant. Manufactures must be supported pri.
marily by home demand. Capital required,
much Of which must come from abroad, eau
not be attracted without assurance of prompt
returns. Increase your population. deveiope
your agricultural resources, and others will
follow as matters of course. &c.
On general debate ". T. Trundie. ESQ,
snokc upon the side Of Manufactures His
eloquent remarks we coudcnse as follows:
LIST. Our actual present need Of farm labor-
ers will he in proportion t" the amount of our
land lying idle for want Of labor to- cultivate
it. But we have no such lands idle, on the
contrary many of the farmers are clearing ND
new lands
ID. If you introduce foreign rhjtc labor
here what will he done with the negroes p
Destitute of mechanical ingenuity. they can't
be utilized in the way of manufacturers
3D.. Foreign white labor would neccssitate
the Inauguration Of tho tenant system. the re-
snlt Of which would be the depreciation of our
land
K. Manufactures arc the actual need of the
people as they would bring money into the
county and make money cheap There is
demand for agricultural machinery, which
cnntd be produced cheaper at home than
abroad
5. The system OF farming here ought to be
changed, as we can't compete with the West
IN raising wheat and corn. but farmers in
debt can't suspend their present operations
long enough to make the change, owing to
the accumulation of interest. Manufactures.
by bringing money into the country, would
tend to lower the rate Of interest A good
home market would also be made for many
Things winch farmers, at present, cannot sell
at all.
S. We will never be an independent people
until VIC develope our manifold facilities for
supplying our every want in the line of manu-
features.
Mr. j. TT. Noland followed in a few merits
ncnt remarks upon the same side-stating the
amount of money paid by this county for
trclghts alone upon foreign machinery, reach-
ed some three thousand dollars.
BuRGLARY.-Abouth half past six o'clock
Sunday evening, Dir. G.. William Shaffer had
occasion to go to his srore-rpom on King
Street. On entering the room, he at once
discovered that the lamp which he kept on
the counter near the door had been removed.
lie went to his desk at the rear end of the
room and took out his revolver, and then
struck light. when two men, who had been
concealed behind the counter, jumped out
and made for the door. Mr.. Shafer fred
three shots after them, but does not know
with what effect, although one of them cried
that he was shot. One of them left his hat
behind in his haste to get out 1t is sup