The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-09-04
staunton-Its Manufacturing Advantages

and foundry and stove factory in Stanton:
From present indications, 1t will not be
many months before we will have four or
| five large furnaces in operation within con-
venient distance OF Staunton, which will
turn out from three hundred to four hundred
tons OF pig-iron daily-''L ongdale," with a
! capacity of 60 or 70 tons, is now in operation
| -"Eiizabeth,' with an equal capacity, is
| rapidly undergoing repairs, and will soon
be in operation. Report says, and hope
truly, that the proprietors OF s'Elizabeth,"
contemplate buying or leasing the large fur
| naces at Buffalo Gap, which are now idle. 4
In addition to these furnaces, the proprle-
| tors of ''Lowmoor,'' are now erecting in
close proximity to the ailroad a few miles
east of Covington, very large furnace,
which it is estimated will make from 20 to.
100 IONS daily-other furnaces are in con-
temptation, not remote from Goshen. ~
These various furnaces will yield an im-'
mense amount Of crude iron, probably, as
above stated, from 800 to 400 tons daily. il
| The question then arises, what is to be
done with this large amount OF metal? Shall
it be sent abroad to be manufactured, or
| shall it be worked up nearer home into the
form OF rails, bars, nail rods, tires, plates,
sheets and other forms, in which it is needed
| fer use? r-a- ''+. 's
| This is an important question to the peo-
pie OF Staunton as we'll as to the whole
country. .1,.'..'.'
Considerations of economy would seem to
recommend that the process OF manufacture
should be conducted at some point which
would be convenient to the place Of prodac-
ton Of the crude iron, and at the same time
near the supply Of fuel, and where the prop
er facilities are offered for distributing the
manufactured articles to the best markets.
Assuming these to be controlling consider
| ations, doubt il any point can be selected,
which presents so many advantages as
Staunton. tits at the point ofIntersection of
the Valley r. r. with the Chesapeake & OHIO
X. Il. 1t is true that the construction Of
! the Valley r. r. south Of Staunton, has in
consequence of the depression of business
which begun in 1878, been suspended. But
it can hardly be doubted, that with the gen.
eral revival OF productive industry which has
already commenced, the work of continuing
the railroad to its intersection with the
| James River Canal, and the Atlantic, Mis-.
| sissippi q Ohio r. r. cannot be much longer
| delayed.
When this road is finished, we will have
| four competing lines of railroad, diverging
north, east, south and west from Staunton.
thus aifording guarantee against extortion
treignts and am pie means OF convenient
| distribution of the products of the factories,
to the best markets in all parts Of the
country. The supply of coal and coke me-.
cessary for the operations of manufactures
above indicated, can also be conveniently
and cheaply obtained. ss@a- :t.s
Staunton has many other advantages for
| the successful prosecution Of such enterprises.
| The town is proverbal for its healthfulness
and exemption from all kinds of malarial
disease. The mountains, east and west,
shelter it from the storms which elsewhere
prove so disastrous; and its elevation, near
1000 feet above the level of the sea, tempers
the excessive heats Of summer. Sit has an
abundant supply Of water, and it issitua-
tedin the heart of one OF the most produc.
tive regions Of the continent. Every neces-
sary of life, indeed every luxury is more
easily obtained here than in any other por-
ton OF the country, the surrounding lands
being adapted to the growth of all the grasses,
cereals, vegetables and fruits of the temper
ate zone; beef, pork, mutton, poultry and
butter can be had, of the best quality and |
on moderate terms. Our proximity to deep
| water enables us to procure by the night
| train from Richmond, the fish and oysters
OF the Chesapeake and its tributaries every |
morning in time for breakfast, while the !
western trains bring to our markets in prop
er season abundant supplies of yenison and
other game from the mountains.
Such manufactures asI speak OF would
give employment to large number ofoper-
atlVe. Ii the attempt were made to estab- |
fish them in place of less size and capacity
for accommodation, it would involve large
outlay for the erection Of buildings to accom-
mOdate them. The sum expended for this |
purpose would be dead capital land would rem
der much larger outlay of money necessary
to put the works into successful operation. |
By establishing them here, the only eXpendi- /
ture necessary would be in the building and
machinery required directly in the prosecu-
ton of the business. The operatives could
be accommodated in the city ,either in houses
already in existence, or in others which would |
be erected by citizens for their use. !
The operatives generally are intelligent |
men who require something more than food |
and shelter and clothing. They prefer to
settle and obtain employment where they
can have the advantages OF society and of RAJ
tonal amusements,o of religious privileges, Of
access to schools for their children, of conven-
fence to well assorted stores, and we'll stock
ed groceries, of mail facilities and OF the means
of keeping pace with the progress of events as
heraded through enterprising newspapers.
What city In the State can present greater
advantages in all these particulars, than
Staunton? ...t -f-i H.. 81
Where can any working man have greater
enjoyment Of life Or rear family under
more suspicious influences than in our own
little city OF the mountains? Churches of
all denominations, free and we'll conducted
schools, abundant supplies of meats and
butter and poultry and vegetables, pure and
fresh water, gas for the illumination of his
| home, teeming orchards furnishing all kinds
OF fruits, large and varied assortments of
| dry goods and supplies Of groceries of the
most tempting character, are all ready to his
hand. -~s~- 81
Equal advantages present themselves to
| the manufacturer. The various railroads
| offer constant market for rails and other
materials necessary to keep them in repair,
and the continual opening up Of new mines
\ of coal and ores along the trunk lines create
a growing necessity for lateral roads to bring
their products to the leading arteries of COM
merce. -
| The Increasing wealth of the country, w.
ing along or within reach OF the various
railroads, creates an active demand for
stoves. CRATES, kitchen wares, as we'll as for
| plOughs, wagons, carts and all kinds of farm.
ing implements. and machinery. 1t is a
source of constant modification to our citizens,
to see that although our city is situated in
one OF the finest iron and timber regions on
the continent, almost every article made of
iron and timber is brought hither from
abroad to be sold to our people. THUS wag-
ons are brought from Indiana, Wisconsin,
aud Michigan for. sale to our farmers IAg-s
ricultural implements are imported from
Baltimore, Richmond, AMI even remoter
cities. A large portion OF the CRATES for our
fire-paces and furniture for our houses is
supplied by Cincinnati Why should our
iron and timber be sent abroad to be manu-
featured and brought back for consumption,
in tie form of flashed wares It must be
evident to every rejecting mind that the
consumer pays, as part OF the price, the
cost Of transportation of the crude iron and
timber to the place of manufacture, and
thence back again to the point of consump-
ton. Why should we be saddled with this
tax of double freight? 1t is obviously because
we do not manufacture these articles at
home.
Our citizens are beginning to seeand feel
this grievance, and to endeavor to protect
themselves against it. Already the wagon
factory of w. w. Gibbs, and the furniture
factory OF Messrs. Lushbaugh supply us with
the means Of freeing ourselves from depend
ence on foreign cities for articles in their
respective lines of business. But we need