The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-10-16
Industries in Virginia.

respondent of the Baltimore San that the
Lynchburg Rolling Mills, the finest works
of the kind in the State, but closed for sew
eral years, were bought last week by a
Pennsylvania company headed by Govern.
or Hartranft, and are to be opened at once,
giving employment to large number OF
hands. Also, that new furnace is to be
erected Immediately. The same writer says
that Gov. Hartranft, Senator Withers and
others spoke at Lynchburg at PAGES Ware.
house, favoring the burial of war memories
and an earnest effort for the revival of bu-
siness interests. The sentiment was loudly
applauded.
We do not know when we have read a
more cheering announcement than is con-
tanned in the above paragraph. The indus
trial part Of it is fitting association with
the political-the one, indeed inseparable
from the other. The purchase of the roll
ing mills by Pennsylvania parties shows
the drift of the iron industries, and that
Virginia is destined to be the seat of the
iron manufactures of America. The cree
ton of furnace there is incontestible evil
dence of this view.
But, important as this industrial move
ment is, it is second in interest to Virginia,
to the statement that Senator Withers, an
extreme. Virginia Democrat, land Gov. Hart
ranft ,arepresentative Northern Republican,
hadspoken from the same stand, invoking OBJ
livion of the bitter memories and fierce pas
sions of the past, and cordial cooperation
and sympathy for the future. Here lies the
salvation of Virginia and the South, 1t is
what we have been pleading for for the
past seven years, and endeavoring to neu-
tralize, as far as in our power, the petty
spites and vicious teachings Of the De mo-
cratic press of the State. A wiser sentiment
is taking root with the people than the pol
iticians have inculcated, and the action of
Senator Withers in this instance only shows
that he is following the lead of the constit-
uent body, and not the pernicious spites
and animosities, in which he at times has so
freely INDUCED. Gov. Hartranft brings
with him his protective tariff views, and
proposes to revive great industry in Vir-
ginia that can only thrive under the nour-
ishment and encouragement of the policy
OF protection to home industry. The ar
gument of the Rolling Mill and the Fur
mace, giving employment to hundreds of
our people, and adding wealth to the COM
munity and new life and activity to all bu-
siness pursuits, will be more powerful than
Senator Withers' or Ran fuckers free trade
theory, and more persuasive and convincing
than all the rounded rhetoric either of them
can blow off. The blazing furnaces will
speak in more eloquent terms for tariff of
protection than ever Mr.. Tucker uttered in
behalf of his free trade bantling and will
be the pioneer movement, not only for the
building up of a great industrial centre,
but the revolution of the political sentiment
of the State on the tariff question.
Staunton should not regard with indiffer-
ence the fact of the purchase of the Rolling
Mill at Lynchburg by Pennsylvania capital
lists. There are advantages here which
Lynchburg does not possess. We are in
closer proximity to the coal and ores, with
equally as accessible outlets to markets.
There is not district in the world, proba-
bly,, which furnishes in more abundance,
and at as small cost, the coal and ore for
the manufacture of pig iron, as that trav-
ersed by the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
road. There is not now, nor in contem-
plation, that we know OF, a Rolling Mill
within its limits. Staunton is at the mouth
Of it, where competition in freights are en-
,ountered. We possess many other natural
and considerations to induce the
not only Of a Rolling Mill,
but nail and horse and mule shoe, and cot
,on hook factories. We have abundant wa
,er, ample accommodations for operatives,
schools, churches, and rich and affiuent
agricultural section. All that is wanting
S the enterprise and capital, and if our own
people would take hold of the matter, and
;how that they have confidence in what they
Jay, others would soon come to their assis-
ance. We depend too much upon others,
ind do not show our faith by our works.
We, however, encourage the most conf
lent belief that with the further develop
nent of the mineral wealth of this portion
# Virginia and West Virginia-the COM
,letion of the furnaces now in progress and
'thers soon to be, that the many advantages
# Staunton as manufacturing centre will
ttract attention, and that it will eventually |
,ecome the seat of active manufactures of |
enlarged proportions.
Let but the sentiment announced and |
pproved at Lynchburg, on the occasion
# the speeches of Senator Withers and |
1ov. Hartranft, representative men of |
Virginia and Pennsylvania, become the SEN
iment of the State-let it not only be pro-
laimed everywhere in the Commonwealth,
tut practically l,red mp to, and political agi- |
ators and partizan demagogues, who live |
pon the excited passions and prejudices of |
he people, be frowned into retirement, a |
lew and more liberal dispensation will
avn upon us, and brighter and more as
ured future open up before us.
The Lewisburg Record, of the 18th, COM