The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-05-19
STAUNTON. VA.
Some Practical Suggestions.

StauQtOn and the absolute HeCeSslUy VI oui
people comprehending the situation and
acting upon it, should seem monotonous
to our readers, we wish them only to bear
in mind that we feel an interest in the
growth and prosperity of our mountain
city. For this reason we desire to impress
upon the citizens of Staunton the vital i'm
portance tosthem, as property holders and
business men, of some steps looking to the
establishment Of manufactures, as the only
means we can conceive which will enable
them to hold their present standing as a
community and have the assurance of fu-
ture progress. 1t is more serious matter
than the most Of us regard it. A glance at
our past history will evidence that
the results of the industry of the me-
chanic and laboring man have only been
sufficient in the spring and summer
for the consumptions OF the winter,
each recurring season finding them no
further advanced in accumulations, while
they are getting older and the cost of main
tanning their families increasing. In the
activity of the spring and summer months,
we lose sight of the stagnation of the win
ter season, for we have no manufactures
worth mentioning, which give employ
mentto labor during this latter term. We
construct few houses, when the weather
is such as to admit of outdoor work, the
gardens and the farms, and repairs to
streets and roads give employment to la
borers, by which they exc out scanty liv-
ing. When winter sets in this is all over
and then the meagre savings have to be ap-
propriated to keeping the wolf from the door.
with no way to earn enough for current eX-
penses. We all know this to be the fact, yet
our capitalists content themselves with their
per cents, meyer thinking of the obligations
they owe to their fellow men. and the excel
lent uses their surplus money could be APP
piled to by investing in some kind of
industries that would give employment
the year round and thus add wealth and
comfort to the community at large, We
find, during the winter, willing, intelli-
gent labor, anxious for employment, but
none to be gotten. They are men of
families, with little homes, in many
instances, and they cannot pick them
selves up and remove to more enter
prising localities. They have to remain
here, and year in and and year out the
same experience is repeated, consuming
in the winter the substance of their labo +
during the busy season.
Stanton has gotten to that point where it
has to 60 forward or backward. Its popu-
lation now is as large as the business trans
acted here will justify. 1t is dependent
solely upon the agricultural products of the
surrounding country, supplemented by our
educational and public institutions. We
have no manufacturing industries common
surate with the demands, and We must be
brought to recognize that we are on a turn
ing point either for better or worse. Look
ing to the east Of us, We find the Shenan-
doah Valley Railroad, reaching to Waynes-
boro, and carrying off much of the trade of
the region it traverses, which found mar
ket here. That improvement is now being
rapidly constructed south of its present
terminus. This will cut off from Staunton
all of the trade of the upper county, and
the lower part of Rockbridge which has
heretofore centered here. The narrow
gauge road from Harrisonburg, passing
through the northeastern portion of the
county, and penetrating Highland and Po-
cahontas, is, we see it stated, soon to be re-
sumed. We can see no good reason Why it
should not, for knowing its management
and the energy and sagacty which have
heretofore controlled and directed all their
private enterprises, we are pretty confident
that it is not merely an idle rumor which as
sures lis that this important improvement
is to be pushed forward. That will take
from Staunton the trade of Northwest Au
gusta, Highla md, Pocahontas and Pendle-
ton, much of which has up to this time
reached this point. There is no assurance
that the Valley Railroad will be constructed
further South. The indications now are that
Staunton will be its southern terminus, and
that all the trade which has in the past
been given us from the upper portion of the
county. and that which is to be created, in
various ways, by the construction of the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad, will seek
other outlets, through a more convenient
and economical channel than the farm
wagon. 1t looks very much like we are to
be hedged in, and that if something is not
done to diversity employment, create trade.
and give practical use to capital, our boasted
enterprise and activity will be a thing of the
past.
Staunton is admirably situated for iron
and mechanical industries. We have said
this before. Strangers stopping here have
remarked it, and expressed surprise that a
town of the natural and artificial advan-
toges we possess, should have no wealth
creating industries. 1t cannot be pleaded
that we have not the surplus capital. The
deposit line of our banks, and the reserve
fund of these institutions, contradict this.
1t is true that the business energies of our
people have been somewhat crippled by the
exorbitant and oppressive interest charges
which have been imposed, and by which the
banks have grown rich. But the time has
come to stop this. The banks must be made
to conform to their charters and the citi-
zens who have been drawing the substance
out of the people through their bank stock,
ought to feel that they owe something to
the community, and seek to discharge the
obligation by aiding in the establishment
of some kind of manufactures that will not
only benefit the masses. but themselves at
the same time. We have half dozen iron
furnaces, within short distance, and four
or five more to be constructed all, pretty
much, the result of foreign capital and en-
terprise. New mineral wealth is being ex-
posed almost every day in Augusta and
counties tributary to Staunton, yet our PEG
pie seem to be insensble or Indifferent to
the facts as they stand, and the condition as
it exists.
We repeat that this state of things must
change, or contract will soon be required
to fence in Staunton and label it fin
ished.' With railroad prospectively cutting
around in every direction. and other locali-
ties offering inducements for the establish
ment of factories and mechanical indus
tries. our people will have to stir them