The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-03-07
DEFERRED MATTER
Winchester.

Battle SCARED Winchester is showing more
practical sense than any town in the state.
Her fortitude and powers of endurance du-
ring war, when she was perpetual camp
for either Con fedetates or Federals, and the
prey of both, were not more conspicuous
than the quiet, undemonstrative purpose
which now controls her cisizents in schemes
to build up her fortunes upon solid toun-
dation. One of our practical, pushing busl-
ness men has recently returned from visit
to that historic town, and he is aglow with
enthusiasm at what he saw in the way OF
enterprise and the success in manufactures.
He visited the various manufacturing lnGus-
tries established since the war. and informs
us that there are at least five hundred hands
employed in the different enterprises. LIE
spoke in high terms of the splendid steam
Touring mill of Mr.. Baker, with capacity for
$50 barrels per day, of the very best quality,
as it is the aim of the proprietor to establish
superior brand. lie mentioned the paper
mill in active operation four glove facto-
ries, their trade reaching out into distant
NO~A
dries; three cigar factories, doing large
business and enjoying wide trade; the
shoe factory, working sixty han DIS and short
ly to be enlarged to accommodate one nun
dred hands several carriage factories doing
well, and four wooden factories and one
planning mill. The town has recently pur-
chased site for rolling mill and present.
ed it to the company. and the machinery has
been ordered for the erection of that lmpor-
tant industry. These facts give evidence OF
the right kind of public spirit and ju dgment.
They are the result OF combined effoit.
Merchants, lawyers, bankers and ira desmen
all Join their pockets and their heads In
building up these industries. There is not
a paper shaver in the place. The lawyers
and bankers are foremost on the stock sub
scription list, and enter eagerly into the
spirit OF these important industries. The
merchants also lend active aid, besides keep
ing up fine line of goods, and exhibiting
great taste in their display. Our Informant
was particularly impressed with the absence
OF loafing and lounging on street corners
and store boxes. He said he saw very few
idle persons, either white or colored, and he
concluded that all had something to- do, and
were doing it for living.
The public spirit shown by the people OF
Winchester IN the Industries menti oned, is
worthy of imitation. We in Staunto n. have
far better natural advantages, and are, better
graphically located; but we are ce rtainly
behind our lower valley neighbors in the line
OF manufactures, and ahead of Il lem in
paper shavers and the per cent. in bank
loans, as the banks there do not ask over
six per cent
@ We, are pleased to note these evide uces OF
the substantial thrift and progress of VIM
chester. There are many who kindly re-
member the cultivation. courtesy, and re-
fihement of the people of that place, as
shown under the the most trying and en-
lbarrassing circumstances, who have little
acquaintance with the present citizenship.
The hospitality OF Winchester during the
war was proverbial, and the Roman virtues
of her men and women will some day form
an attractive chapter in the history of the
conflict between the States when it is written
out by an impartial pen.
| In this connection we will state that seve.
raj gentlemen of practical experience have it
In contemplation to erect WOODEN factory
on the site OF the planning mill, recently
burned. Maj. B. r. Bag ;by. the owner Of
the property, and Mr.. C. O'Rork. an expe-
rienced and practical wool en- mill operative,
have determined that if our citizens will
unite with them, to at ono erect the neces-
sary buildings and secure the essential ma
chinery. Let our citizens follow the exam
pie of the people of Wine. hester, and COM
bine their capital and energ in furthering
so important an industry. ISL