The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-04-18
A Move in the Right Direction.

new life into our city and make more sub
ssantial its prosperity, is a fact which has
forced itself upon the mind Of every obser-
want man. There is need OF production
right here. We must adopt some measures
to utilize the resources which lie around US
In such proilsion, and realize from the raw
material the advantages to which its posses
sion entities us. Other communities with
less of natural endowment, have not been
so slow in their efforts to place before the
world the inducements they can offer, and
whilst Staunton has been content to rest
upon Its established reputation for activity
and enterprise, its sister cities are leaving
no stone unturned to build up permanen t
wealth and establish manufacturing indus
tries.
A realization of our position has aroused
to action number of our citizens, and d
move in the right direction has at length
been made, Last Tuesday Mr.. J. Fred Eff
finger, who is always active in the further
ance Of any measure which has for its OBJ
ject the good OF the community. wrote out
and circulated the following paper:
We the undersigned, citizens of Staunton,
feeling that it is OF the utmost importance
to make our city better known to strangers,
hereby agree to pay the amounts opposite
our names for the publication CT a pamphlet
descriptive of Staunton and the surrounding
country, and we hereby signify our willing
ness and request that Major Jed Hotchk iss
prepare said work. This subscription is
rio hnvu tJ1 SILT
ton, viz: that the City Council appropri-
ate 5000 for the publication of said pamph-
let
In two or three hours Mr.. Efinger secured
some thirty odd sigEers, subscribing about
$50, only two or three persons approached
declining to put their names down. He
then addressed note to Major Hotchkiss,
asking him if he would be willing to under
take the preparation of the work for the
amount subscribed and what, in his opin-
ion, should be its general characteristics.
In response, Major Hotchkiss signifed his
willingness to prepare the work, and con-
cluded his letter as follows:
s'You ask what will be the general char
acter Of the work. While am not prepared
to say exactly what should be set forth, I
would say that in my opinion it should pre-
sent briefly, but clearly, we'll substantiated
facts in regard
LIST. To the location, State, national, &c.
OF the town. Its commercial location; how
it can be reached, &c. the facts of its eli
mate, &c.
I'd. Its population, value of property, in
dustries of all kinds, schools, public institu-
tions, &c.
Sd. The extent and resources of the coun-
try tributary to it; the raw material it could
furnish, and at what prices.
4th. What industries may be proftably
conducted here, and why.
5th. The cost of production here compared
with that elsewhere, &c.
In short resume of our advantages, and
the inducements ace can offer to capital and
SKILL to locate here. The work should be ac-
companied by maps, &c.
Last Tuesday night Gen1 Echols APP
peared before the council, and after reading
the petition, and correspondence in refer
ence to it, strongly advocated the appraptia-
ton by the cou..cil. In plain, straight 70
ward and earnesd terms he pointed out the
absolute necessity of action on the tart of
our citizens to the end that capital and
skilled labor may be attracted to the re
sources which surround us. In showing the
advantages of the movement contemplated,
he cited Texas as an example of tie results
of judicious advertising. For five years past
that State has annually Issued an immense
edition of a work setting forth its induce
ments and the result has been that within
that period the population as increased L.
900, 0O0-has actually doubled itself. Kan
sas, too, is another striking instance of the
value of drawing the attention of emigrants
and capital to natural resources. All that
we need is that the attention of capital and
skill should be turned in this direction, for
no land under the sun is more blessed than
this. We must advertise our property
North and East, and offer inducements to
emigrants, for it is the working man at last
that gives real strength to a community.
Now is the very time to strike, capital can
no longer find profitable investment in the
gold rooms of Wall street, and must of nee
essity seek other fields. Let us show to the
world what we have, and hundred fold re-
turn will reward us.
At the close of Gen'l Echols' remarks, on
motion of Mr.. Burke, an appropriation of
5000 was made, provided the citizens would
subscribe an additional amount sufficient to
pay for the publication of 1O,OC0 copies of the
work.