The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-10
O. b. stacy & son.


| Show me the man that creates riey
industry and will show you one in te
thousand. Soloman was wise and Samso
strong, but neither of them ever did wha
the man achieves who creates the larges
possible value where there is the leas
intrinsic worth, in the material upon whicl
his industry operates. The man who aite
moro than thirty centuries, showed tina
Samson smashed wine-press in tn
vineyards of Timnath, but rent no younl
lion there, was one in several thousant
million, but the man who came to Rich
mond in 1850, and touched Virgini'
'shucks" Ia product almost entirely worth
less,) with his magic wand of industry
making them the most valuable part O
our corn crop, is certainly one in ter
thousand, if not in as many million ant
that man resides in Richmond to-day, ant
is energetcallv prosecuting his industry in
the hope of accumulating competence
if not an honorable fortune. We refer, ol
course, to Mr.. G. B. Stacy, of the firm Of
Messrs. G. B. Stacy & Son, general
furniture and, mattress dealers and manu-.
facturers, No. 1910 Main street.
When Mr.. Stacy, senior, first came to
Virginia he found, what everybody recog-
nized as true. that mot to be worth
shucks, was to reach the lowest possible
condition of manhood, if not the supreme
depth of human poverty. But his relig-
! ious faith inspired him with firm convic-
ton that "nothing was created in vain, "
while bis political faith taught him that
Everything possible sprung up in the
West.v With this double conviction rest
ing upon him, it was not unnatural that
he should turn his attention to "shGcks'
the thing of all others possessing the
least intrinsic value. This he did, and
the result was, that, in 1856, he set up
and operated shuck machine, of his own
invention, which has made this ample
product one of the most valuable staples
Of Virginia. We do not know what it is
worth ton to-day, after passing through
the hands of Messrs. G.. b. Stacy d Son,
Tor rather through the machine invented
by the senior partner Of that firn) but it
I is safe to say that it has a commercial
value of from thirty-fiye to seventy-fiye
dollars ton, according to the demand in
the market.
n Like Mr.. Whitney's celebrated cotton
gin, this shuck machine of MIR. Stacy,
senior, was too valuable not to be ptrated.
He has suffered the fate Of all great inven.
tors in having his patentable rights wrested,
in a greater or less degree, from him.
For all other machines doing the same
work, were manifestly suggested by that
which he first put in operation here in
1856, and consequently infringe nents upon
it. But Messrs. Stacy & Son find it more
profitable, we hope, to keep industriously
on in the even tenor of their way, than to
be fighting ''pirates'' on SO illimitable an
ocean as that of corn-shucks in America.
We recently visited their great bedding
warehouse, at No. 1910 Main street, and
their manufacturing establishment on the
Manchester side of the river, and were
particularly struck with the principle ol
economy which runs through their entire
business. IF $ shucks" were once value
less in Virginia, Mr.. Stacy, senior, has
economical every particle of them, and
made the acaste of shucks almost as valua-
BILE as the hay-crop in the Valley. Forthis
waste is baled by the firm, and sold at two
thirds the price of hay. especially for the use
of milch cows, who eat it even more closely
than hay itself. They have two large
shuck machines now running in Manches-
ter, besides factory for the manufacture
of shuck and hair mattresses. The manu-.
facture of these mattresses may be consld'
cred as the specially in their business
although they deal largely in furniture,
feathers, and a general bedding business
Their business house is one Of high stand.
ing and unimpeachable integrity, aud there
is no description Of furniture that may MOI
be had at their establishment, and at rates
as cheap as can be procured in northern
cities. The Religious Herald of this city
in recently noticing this enterprising firm
said:
aThey opened the first furniture hous
| in our city after the war closed, and wer'
| instrumental in supplying great want t
our community at the time when other
feared the risk. They have ever beer
broad and liberal in their transactions, ant
our city can boast no more accommoda
| ting and obliging men. They buy thei
stock for cash, and sell on the smalles
living profits.
Z" We are proud TO speak Of them a
| among the most liberal foundation sup
porters of our manufacturing industry
They have given value to the shuck GRO
of Virginia, which exceeds that of the cor
itself at the present time; and they are to
| uoJ P"yAhS AlBucI pLlSSol iOi siio pSot an
brightest shucks than is paid for the bes
northern hay on our wharf at Rockets
When the shuck crop has been abundan
their operations, directly and indirectly
have given employment to at least two hun
dred hands all through the winter season
and have thereby rendered the old Virgini
adage mot worth shucks' obsolete.
| "lf you have any shucks to spare sen
them directly to G. b. Stacy q Son, an
| you may rely upon getting the highe'
market price and prompt returns. AZ
| off you want furniture or bedding, 70
will find in their house q complete suppl
of parlor, chamber, dining-room kitchel
office, and all other furniture, bought f
cash and sold at the smallest living profit
| In bedding they take the lead for exec
lence in the entire south, and are prepare
to execute the largest wholesale orders
supply the consumer with promptitude,
prices unsurpassed IN the country. "
Il