Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-05-01
HINTS no PEOPLE SEEKING
HOMES.

HINTS no PEOPLE SEEKING
HOMES.
A few crude suggestions roughly thrown
together as we do in ordinary speech, may
interest persons in the North who are con-
templating the South as a field for enter
prise and investment. To make begin
ming, the size and population of any given
town in productive planting region in
the South, do not convey an adequate idea
of the business, wealth and Importance OF
such town. 1t may be, and frequently
is, the business centre of large and fer
tile district, which in the North would be
occupied by half dozen towns and a score
of villages, with some large city not very
distant absorbing the bulk Of the trade
and handling the money involved. This
fact must be kept in view to properly rea-
lie the opportunities offered in the South
for the employment of capital. Competi-
ton in the North has brought all forms OF
industry, involving the large outlay OF
money to such ''fine point" that the ut
most skill, tact, care and good fortune are
necessary to avert disastrous failure. Be-
sides, nearly every opening for experiment.
al enterprise is filled. The South, since
the breaking up of all the old channels
and modes of industry is undergoing re-
creative process, a rebuilding, a re-organ-
ization. 1t teens with invitations to the
quick wit, the ready hand and the "Al-
mighty Dollar" In one of the smaller
Northern towns, a stranger would be
greatly puzzled to put, say, twenty thou
sand dollars to any active and fir notifying
use.- In one of the cities it would be too
little sum to operate with to advantage.
Now, let our hypothetical friend who is
embarrassed with this problem, and who
we will suppose has some native shrewd-
ness and energy come into such place as
Staunton. If he do not find some field for
the employment of his moderate capital it
will be because he lacks penetration in
such matters. Men who have had expert
ence in manufactures, in mechanical en-
ployments, who are familiar with the vari-
Gus trades and who are not able to go into
the gigantic operations of the large cities
should direct their attention Southwark
Here is almost a virgin field. Here are
the opportunities. All that is wanted is
skill reinforced by money. Glance around
at this country with it's rich wheat fields,
its pastures for cattle, it's fine timber, it's
exhaustless stores of marble, limestone and
ond ctrpanC furnish.
ing the requisite water power for mills, and
all blessed with healthful and life giving
climate, and tell US why Staunton' should
not have population of thirty thousand
Has Dayton, Ohio, which has population
of fifty thousand the natural advantages
of this town Nothing like them. Energy
and capital have built up Dayton into a
compact, beautiful and prosperous city.
Give us few courageous people who are
not afraid to start mills and factories and
shops here, and let the subdivision Of the
farms 90 on, so as to attract cultlyators
and stimulate careful and thrifty culture
of lands, and we will make Stanton a far
weather. place than Dayton. The ores
are here. The fertile lands are here. The
timber and limestone and marble are here.
The succulent grasses are here. Does any
one think such a country as this will not
be grandly developed 1t has the Creator
signet impressed upon it, and the time will
come-nay, it is perhaps already at hand
when the men will pour in to make it
blossom as the rose. Welcome these Cloths
who come not to destroy but to build up
and beautify. Identify them with the
country. They will learn to love it and
will soon fraternize with the old residents.
Don't bother about their political opinions.
When men get at useful work they have
little time or taste for politics. The North
ern men who go South, not to get Office but
to find home and engage in some active
industry, always contract a warm liking for
the Southern people. They can't help it.
Meet them with frankness and they will
be found to make pleasant neighbors as
well as useful citizens. The press can do
a good work in attracting this kind of
immigration. 1t need not send its seduc-
tive messages to Europe. Right at home
it can find stout hands and brave hearts to
help in the mission-not of restoring the
South to her former prosperity-but of
giving the South a more varied and solid
prosperity than she has ever enjoyed,
founded as it will be upon more equal
distribution of the substantial comforts of
life. When the good time comes, the
Shenandoah Valley will furnish picture
of wealth, health and contentment not
surpassed, if equaled in any part of this
broad republic So mote it be.