Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1881-05-03
PRO BONO PUBLIoo.

To The Editor Spirit of Jefferson
Will you allow me, through the medium
OF your paper, TO call the attention of the
oltizens of Gharlestown to the faot that ut
this time there are opportunities presented
for increasing the wealth, business pepula.
ton and importance of eur town which, If not
improved, may pass us by never to return.
An era of prosperity has succeeded the
late depression in financial affairs, and mill
lions of dollars arc seeking investment in
new fields, looking mostly to the South as
Offering the greatest advantages, and the peo>
pie of the South are not slew to avail them>
selves of the offered improvement in their
affairs, but are everywhere holding out i'm
ducements for the Investment Of capital from
other sections. Let me mention. the estab.
ilshment of the large tannery 10 Luray, the
canning establishment in Hsgerstewn, the
effort being made in Staunton to establish a
rolling mill, nail factory, machine. shop aud
oar>wheel factory, the chartering of now
railroads in our own State, that are destined
to bring into market her hidden wealth, these
are only q few instances of what can be and
IS being done. A wealthy Englishman has
recently invested along the line of tho Rich.
mond and Allegheny r. R., $500, 600.
another one has invested $500, 600 in the
same way. and $50. 900 in the Valley of Wiz
ginia. Yet with all this evidence Of ~incroas-
ing prosperity our people are content to fold
their hands together, only asking that they
may enjoy a little more sleep and a little
more s!umber,- forgetting that drowsiuess
shall clothe a man with rags.
Ex-S Senator Whyte, to whom the Balti>.
more American, though politically opposed,
paid a handsome compliment when it said,
"He has always been able, by force of his
high talents. his consummate address and
his skill as a speaker and psrlimeptariap. to
put his knowledge to the best service of his
feilow:elt'zens. said ut a banquet given him
in Baltimore on the 21st ult.:
we have net kept pace with the march of
progress which has borne along our neigh-
bovs. Everywhere around us new enters
prises are springing into being, and the
genius OF our people is devisiDg new avenues
to fortune. Work is the doorway to every
temple of substantial wealth. In this Young
republic no man can be idle. Labor is the
instinct, the passion of the people. Idleness
with us, is little short of crime, in all tile
branches of labor, down to the lowest. there
is this unresting, unsatisied vitality. This
is the life that has made us the great and
powerful nation Of to-day. So, in our State
and city, it is this vitality which must aud
can, If we only try. make US rival the most
prosperous 81 our sister states. Turn our
eyes towards the Gulf of Mexico and wa be-
hold that the new South has laid aside the
weeds of the widowed mother, has ceased to
stir tho ashes of the dead past, and is up and
doing, inviting capital to her borders. and
establishing manufactures wherever water
can turn a wheel aud confidence find q lodg>
meHt."
Every word of what 1 have quoted can
and does apply to Gharlestown with smuoh
force as it does to Baltimore. Situated at
the junction of two great railroads, having
now ample railroad communication with the
North, the South. the East and the West.
and with q climate unrivaled for health, why
should we not share in the general prosperity
that is sweeping over our country like a huge
wave. But capital will not com unlimited.
nor will fortune favor those who do not seek
her. Let US then be up and doing, and if
we fail, we will know that it was not because
We did not try. It may be asked, what can
we do7 | will not attempt to answer the
question, but will simply suggest the hold>
ing OF a public meeting to consider the SUBJ
jscs, and doubtless something will be sug-
gested which will lead to the contamination
SO much to be desired. w