The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-11-11
An Important Manufacturing Enter
prise.

On Monday last, Judge Mclaughlin OF the
Circuit Court. granted charter to "The Vir-
ginia Iron Roofing and Paint Company
capital stock not less than $4,000, in shares of
800 each, and the company to hold real estate
to the State assessment value of $4,000. The
officers who for the first year will conduct the
business are as follows:
G. W. May, President and Director; T. IL
Trout, Secretary, Treasurer and Director; Y.
Sagendorph. j. N. Ryan, G. L. Cooke and q. =
Walker, Directors.
The company is formed for the purpose of
manufacturing selling and putting on roofing
lightning rods, tin work, painting &C., and to
conduct general manufacturing business In
this and other States.
On the day the charter was granted, the
company commenced operations Tin the Stuart
block opposite the c. s. o. Ry. depot with ten
, hands, and they expect to largely increase the
force to meet the orders which are already
pouring in. They are putting up the most
| improved machinery for manufacturing iron
and tin roofing, and the Munson Copper light
ming rods, and for mixing paint. This COM
pany controls the patent for iron roofing In
| the United States. The most practical men
| pronounce it the best roof ever used, and con-
tracts have already been closed for putting it
on several of the largest iron works in Ohio
and Virginia. The "Old Iron Side Paint
which is now controlled by this company, has
been In use here for several years and has
given universal satisfaction. The Copper
| Lightning rods will be the first ever manufac-
| tured in the South The company expects to
combine other manufacturing enterprises, and
do general manufacturing business as soon as
| suitable buildings can be erected.
| We regard this as one of the most important
steps for the benefit of our little city that has
been taken for many day. The high personal
character and we'll known enterprise of the
gentlemen who have secured the charter, guar
antee that no stone will be left unturned to
make the enterprise success, and the orders
already received and demands made upon their
resources insure hearty response to their ef-
| forts and large and lucrative business. The
corporators do not lack means to increase
their facilities, should the requirements OF
trade render such action necessary, as will no
doubt be the case. They intend 10 push things
with vim, and whilst making the investment
paying one to themselves, will aid materially
| in adding to the business attractions and pros
perity OF Staunton.
| 1t is hy manufactures and manufactures
alone that we may expect to build up our city
and section. We have depended too long upon
the short profits arising from buying and
selling of the agricultural products of the ad-
iacent country. Even this source is failing,
for our farmers cannot longer compete in the
markets of the world with the great fertile
| West We must turn our attention to produc-
| tion-to utilization of the vast mineral and
timber resources that surround us-to the
manufacture of the thousand and one articles
that enter INTO daily use, and which we now
purchase from the North. The raw material
abounds in almost limitless quantities and all
that is needed to convert it into active value is
| the magic touch of enterprise and capital.
With our limited supply of capital we cannot
expect to inaugurate any great manufacturing
industry, but there ought to be sufficient funds
! in and about Staunton to start some half dozen
| or more establishments such as a shoe factory,
broom factory, paper mill, spoke and hub fac
tory, wooden mill and similar enterprises.
| By this means not only would the town be
| built up, but the Duntry surrounding would
feel the benefcent effects as the farmers would
then have home market for all of their pro-
ducts, and would thus be enabled to diversity
their crops and secure good prices fol all they
| raise
| Let other of our citizens who are able, imi-
tate the example set by the corporators of the
Virginia Iron Roofing Co." and it will not
be long before new life and prosperity will
drive from our lips the cry of hard times.