The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-11-12
A Live Spirit of Public Enterprise.

agile property on Main street, for SIC, 900. for
the purpose of erecting large brick building
to be used for business rooms on the first floor,
and the city Hall on the second, and rooms APP
propriate for the accommodation OF the Gran
gers in rear building. 1t has not been deter
mined whether the edifce will be two or three
stories. Architects are preparing plans and
specifications to be submitted to the building
| committee Friday the 18th, comprehending two
propositions-first, a three story, with two or
three rooms on the first floor, and two story,
with the same accommodations Ola the first
floor. If three rooms shall be determined on,
it is suggested that one of them be arranged for
banking house, another for a mercantile es-
tablisllment, and a third for the Post Office.
At meeting of the subscribers to the stock
of the new building, on Saturday list, the fol-
lowing officers were elected:
President, NJ. G. Harman.
Secretary and Treasurer, r. G. Mayo. =
Directors-M. G.. Hartman, R. G. Mayo, Ed.
Mcmahon, w. Greene, r. G. Bickle, H. J.
Lushbaugh, A. F. Alderman, b. #. Bagby, w.
Jordan, ID. G. McGufin, DR.. A. B. Arthur, r.
II. Trout, 7. K. Menifce, Samuel A. East, F.
J.. Fultz, G. A. Hanger.
These gentlemen comprise some of our lar
gest capitalists and most energetic and public-
spirited business men, and have taken hold of
the enterprise Tor the purpose of making a
quick and sure success.
1t is estimated that the building will cost
about $4,000, and that with the price paid for
the lot, will make an aggregate of $4,000.
The building committee is composed of W.
Greene, Ed. Mcmahon, N. G.. Hartman, r. K.
Menifec and r. G.. Bckle.
| 1t is the intention to proceed at once to the
construction of the building, and have it COM
plctcd as soon as possible. When completed it
will be left optional with the Augusta County
Grange to take the entire property. It they do
So the gentlemen who have subscribed to the
stock of the company, propose to transfer that
amount to the establishment of a spoke and
shaft factory, and to follow this up with other
manufacturing enterprises, with view to in
surfing the continued prosperity ofStaunton and
Augusta County.
Our business men of the city and county have
wisely concluded that the best investment they
can make of their surplus means is to put them
in manufacturing enterprises. 1t is apparent
| thst without them the growth Of the city. and
the consequent benefit to the county, are natu-
rally crcumscribcd, and that it will require eff
forts of this kind to develope and utilize the
natural advantages we possess. It is a policy
we have urged with unremitting persstcncy
for the past two years. We are convinced that
our people must put their own shoulders to the
wheel, and apply their own indomitable and
splendid energies to the building up of money
creating and money retaining indslstrjcs-fllr-
! nisIing a home market for the farmer and in
| return meeting his demands, in order to make
Staunton and our grand old county what they
ought to be, and what the mnnificcncc of ma
| ture intended they shoultl be. The spirit,now
| manifested gives assurance that the beginning Of
an ERA OF industrial prospcrity.s about to dawn
| upon US, and the rich fruition of we'll applied
capacities realized. What is it that the combs
ned energies and facilities of Stanton and Au-
g,lsta cannot accomplish, which has for its OBJ
irct their reciprocal benefits, if they are but
stimulated by all active, determined purpose to
work together for mutual good? Augusta couil-
~ has rich and fruitful soil, mineral resources.
wafer power and timber, which brought under
| the electric power Of capital and muscle, would
make her a little empire in herself. Manufac-
turing enterprises will stimulate individual ef-
fort, and this becoming contagious, will vital
ize the idle labor that is sapping the life of COM
munity wherever it exists. Were every able
bodied man in Augusta county a worker; if
every waste acre of ground were titled, and
the dissipated energies and intellccts Of the
county directed in some useful channel, what
all aggregate of af1luence would be showered up
| on us
The first and most essential step to this end
is the establishment of useful industries-the
cooperation of city and county in the institu-
ton of manufactures, which will work benefits
to all Immediately concerned, and diffilsc gen.
eral prosperity. ~
Let such enterprises be once fairly started,
and we will have no more winnings about hard
times. When we produce something to sell we
! will have no difficulty in finding purchasers,
] and it is only in this way that we will get more
| than we have. 1t is not tile scarcity of money
! in the country, but the absence of industry
| that is causing hard times. Let the idle labor
and the undeveloped resources of the County
and State be utilized, and corresponding wealth
will flow in upon us, in spite OF adverse lesiss-
| ton.