Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1875-03-12

\ cotton has been tending Southwark daily
weekly, yearly (applause), and why should
we not take advantage of the change in
the tide?
This meeting, assembled on the briefest
notice, shows the deep interest our people
feel in the matter of a new departure in
the way Of enterprise.
MAI. II. NJ. BELL
said the subject for the consideration OF
| the meeting was practical matter affect
| ing the interest of every man in the COM
munity. Judge Sheffey had said truly that
the means existing in our city for its de-
| veiopment had been used to their fullest
extent, and we must now look to some
thing else. It is very true that town meet
ings do not generally influence men in
placing their capital, but they do greatly
aid in setting forth the advantages of a
section, which do not pass unnoticed by
capitalists. The works at Elizabeth Fur
mace had been alluded to, and the great
advantages attending the manufacture Of
iron there, but
THE ADVANTAGES OF STANTON
over that location are very great. For
iron works here, reliable labor could be
obtained, and the employers could get
first class men-men with families, and
men who have families to support are al
ways more reliable. You can't get ex-
actly that class of men in the country
where there are no schools and no churches,
while here we have the best schools,
churches for every denomination, and
comfortable dwellings. So this city offers
advantages to secure reliable labor, which
IS a good deal.
THE ADVANTAGES OF COMPETITION.
If an iron capitalist locates on the e. &
O. r. R., he puts his business at the mercy
of the company, who will tax it to the last
point it will bear, as any other company of
capitalists would do; but if he locates in
Stanton he has the advantage of the
cofnpeti ion of the &. &. o. R. R. with the
Valley R. R. This competition extends
to the Cumberland coal fields and the
West Virginia coal fields and to the iron
deposits along the G. & o. and Valley rail-
roads. This competition centres right
here, and will reduce the rates of both
iron and coal.
The speaker went on to favor the ex-
emption of manufacturing capital by the
city and State, and showed that in the adj
vantages following it our people would be
far more than compensated for the loss of
the tax. There should be and is will
lngness among our people to help any who
wish to come here. II man wants to
start manufacture here. you first ask
what he wants to put in it. If he says
nothing, you say nothing, too; fer the
world doesn't help man who hasn't con-
fidence enough in his scheme to put some
thing in it. But if he comes with $4,000
and wants to make it 100000, then you
see some reason in his request.
COL. JAMES H. SKINNER
agreed with Maj Bell in the propriety of
exempting man ufacturers from taxation,
and offered the following resolution, which
was adopted:
Resolved. That it is manifestly the pc.
Icy of the State of Virginia to invite by
all means in her power the investment Of
capital in manufacturing enterprises with
in her borders. and to exempt such capital
from taxation for a limited number of
years, and therefore we earnestly desire
an amendment of the Constitution of the
State by which the General Assembly and
the several municipalities thereof shall be
empowered to grant such exemption.
BOARD OF TRADE.
On mot on of Mr.. W. j. Nelson a COM
mittee of three was appointed to report at
an adjourned meeting on the expediency
of organizing a Board of Trade, and the
chairman appointed Messrs. w. J. Nelson
VIM. Frazier and H. J. Lushbaugh.
The meeting then adjourned till uext
Saturday evening at y O'Clock, to hear the