The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-04-23
Manufactures our only Hope.

Manufactures our only Hope.
Manufactures are the srrest and most sub
tantial basis OF wealth to any community
qhey are dstfi,sve in their benefits and enliyen-
ing in their effects. They bring into friendly
reunion and cooperation, labor. and capital,
and establish relation of homogeneity be-
tween all classes, which is promotive of the So
cial, spolitical and material good of the people
1tssT6lIAbe difficult to find a manufacturing
community where there does not exist the
broadcast liberation for individual opinion, tihe
most catholic feeling In all the walks Of life,
and high sense OF self-relance in the constit-
uent elements. Manufactures bring the far
mer, the mechanic, the capitalist and the mer-
chant into direct communication with each
other, inspire feeling of mutual dependence,
andcontribute to the prosperity of all.
Notwithstanding we have, time after time,
urged upon our people the necessity Of estab-
fishing manufactures in Btaunton, without
any tangible result being observable, as yet,
even at the expense of what we may say
being smonotonous, if not reiterative, we
again introduce the subject. We do SO
ut this time, for the reason that a change
has been ordered in the commercial value Of
money in Virginia-legal Interest has been re-
duced from eight to six per cent per annum,
and capital heretofore employed in loans will
likely be withdrawn, and some other more re-
1nunerative investment made. While doubling
the wisdom of such frequent changes in the
laws regulating money, il. the recent modifica-
ton shall result in inducing capital to enter in
to manufacturing enterprises, We shall regard
the change as fortunate. ,1t-is to the interest
of every citizen, and especially is this the case
with every one of property, to have the laws OBJ
served. 1t is the highest evidence of good citi-
zenship to conform to the, statutes, both State
and Federal, OF the country, whether they
are in consonance with our immediate interests
or not. It is not wise nor is it conducive to
the moral elevation OF people to be constantly
seeking to evade the laws, in order to accom-
plish gain of a few dollars. If the law says
that it is usury to take over six per cent. for
money loaned, then there follows a moral OBJ
legation no less binding than the legal iniunc-
ton to conform to the statute. 1t is not good
citizenship to directly or indirectly violate
it. There are other legitimate methods
for the use of money, that will make it remu-
nerative, andat the same time confer benefcent
benefits upon community. at, large. Judicious-
ly managed manufactures most always pay a
handsome dividend, and it is to this channel OF
business enterprise that we hope to see some of
the capital of Our citizens directed, which has
heretofore been utilized in loans. "
We notice that in the town OF Winchester,
Va, the public spirited citizens are forming
joint stock companies for manufacturing pur-
poses. They havs in successful operation
large shoe factory, and also a paper mill, be-
sides other industrial enterprises. In Georgia
we see it stated that manufactures of various
kinds are being established in almost every
part Of the State, on the joint stock company
principle Why cannot a similar spirit be vi
talized and utilized in Staunton? With rail-
road communication to all parts Of the country,
surrounded by all the natural advantages that
would enter into such enterprises, there is
but one drawback, and that u.s.. the dis-
position of our men of means to invest
The strongest reasons can be assigned why
Blast Furnace would be remunerative at this
point. We have so recently urged them, that they
must be fresh in the minds of our readers
Coal. iron ore, coke, limestone, and everything
else that constitute :: the constituents of such
undertakings, are in abundance and in easy
reach with rail connections. Experienced OPP
orators in this line, have expressed their opin-
ion that Stanton is one of the most favorable
localities in the South for the successful work
e n,,o Dlnc&
inaugurated would open the way for others,
which would be followed byrolling mills, and
nail factories. "A gentleman from Southern
State has been seriously considering the advan-
sages of this place for Cotton Factory, and,
we understand, would be willing to form one
of a joint stock company to commence one
His experience is practical, and it iustifes
him in the conclusion to which he arrived, that
it could be made to pay handsome per cent.
There is no doubt that a Paper Mill would
yield a handsome revenue. All that is wanting
is the effort. We believe if some energetic
man would undertake it in earnest, he could
speedily induce others to join him.
There is one thing certain, and that is, Vir
ginia will never be better off than she is, until
the people do turn their attention to Manufac.
lures. We have nothing to keep the money
here that is dug out of the ground. We are
all intermediate State, and as fast as the pro-.
ducts OF the farm are converted into money, it
is drawn from us to purchase the manufactures
of other sections, which,becofne prosperous, by
uniting mechanical industry and agriculture
while we are kept withour faces to the grind
stone the year round. The sarne view is ap-
plicable to Staunton that is addressed to the
State. The growth of Stanton is circumscrib-
ed by natural causes, without manufactures
There is nothing in the geography. topography
or geology of the locality to make anything
more than a respectable county seat apart
from manufactures. With them, aft the ad-
vantages in reach of us may be utilized, and
the dimensions and wealth of the place indefi-
nitely increased.
Virginia for Virginians'' we thought had
been abandoned, and that Virginia was for
everybody who would come here and help us to
develop and build up Virginia. The Wing is,
however, still welded to its Chinese policy, and
opposing the change Of the gauge of road
somewhere in eastern Virginia that has no con-
nection with the gauge OF any other road. Vir-
ginia has been almost ruined by the character
of 1,or insr,nyop,aptc Larn+ofo,.