The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-01-27
Home Manufactures Staunton'
Opportunity

Home ManufactureS-Sta
Opportunity
We have repeatedly urged upon our bust
ness men in these columns the importance OF
uniting their capital and energies in order to
establish one or more manufacturing establish
ment in Staun,on. 1t is the only way to in
crease rapidly our producing population. 10
enhance the value of our real state, TO dimin-
ish our taxes, to increase the individual and
general wealth Of the community and 10 stop
the drain now gong on of our monied re-
sources to luy at the North and West the
many manufactured articles we use and ought
to make at home. We revert to the subject at
this time, for we are determined that it shall
neither sleep nor slumher, tor the purpose OF
SUI gesling that on consulting practical ma
clinst, a native of Pennsylvania and long
C ,nnected with her iron manufacturing in
dIstries in Pittsburg, we are of his opinion
that machine shop and foundry combined to
manufacture all kind of shafting and puleys
and castings, from stove up to the largest
piece of machinery, may be established in the
suburbs OF Staunton, and be made to pay from
10 to 20 per cent. on the capital invested.
| This gentleman is of the opinion that plum
bers and and gas filters shop should be carried
on in the same building for the manufacture
of fittings for furnace works, &c. In such an
establishment should also be made steam en-
gnes, pit wagons, for use in our iron ore and
coal mines, and also cars for use on the rail-
roads of the State and South, both the wood
and iron parts of the cars, the axes.
wheels, &c.
| For such an establishment not more than
four acre of ground would be IT quired, and
no water power, as il has been ascertained
that steam power for such work shops is gu
perlor to any other. The buildings, which
would be principally sheds. for carrying on the
business with force of 80 men, he estimates
could be erected at cost of So 900, and all the
machinery, including an engine, boiler, tools.
forge, &c, could be purchased and erected
for farther sum of $4,000 If four acres OF
land can be bought at thousand dollars an
acre on Lewis Creek, and it is our opinion
that it can be had for much less, then the en-
tire cost of such shops would be but $21, 900.
To operate this factory only $4,000 working
capital is necessary. Thus it will be seen thai,
for $685. 900 operations may be commenced in
a direction in which we are assured that re-
turn of from Is to 20 per cent. may be con.
| fidently relied upon. The Pennsylvania
with whom we have conveIsed is so confident
of the result that he has expressed his willing
ness to subscribe at once 5000 towards thi
object Have We not enough enterprise in
our city and county to raise the other $50, 900?
We believe So 1t ought not to be hard to
pursuade people to invest their money at 20
per cent.
The reasons, in general way, which cause
us to have faith in such an enterprise in Staun-
ton are these: We have within Is miles of this
place the iron works from which we can get
our supply of metal, and railroad to br ng
that metal and the Goals required to the very
door of the work shops. The iron and coal
can be had at less price than in almost any
part of the U. S.; land is cheap and all build
ing materials, and on such site, as would be
selected for these shops, there would be an
adequate supply of water; provisions are
cheap-indeed, they are no where cheaper
than in the Valley of Virginia-rent is low,
and the hands an1 their families could live in
comfort and with great economy, and taxes
are light For ourselves we are in favor OF
exempting from taxation for ten years, at
least, all capital engaged in such factories.
Such liberality on part Of the public would
be wise economy; wise public policy it has
been proved to be by our more enterrrisine
neighbors of the North, where such a course
has long been pursued, and it has only been a
few days since we saw the authorities of Balti-
more advised by the sagacious business men
of that place to offer such an inducement to
manufacturers to locate in that great and
growing city.
| 1t will not do to point to the want Of greater
success on part of the Staunton Iron Works.
as an argument against the kind of business
we are recommending. That company has
labored under many and great disadvantages.
1t has never engaged nor would its capital mol
shops have admitted of its doing so, in the ex-
| ensive and varied kind Of manufacture VT
are here advocating. If such works wert
erected in or near Staunton, we believe thei
success In twelve months would require thu
capital of the company to be raised to $780,
| 000-before five years to million. On
capital of hundred thousand, a force of work.
men would be required If about 200 men, and
| if two-thris Of these were men Of families i
would add Immediately about 1000 to the pop
ilaton OF Staunton. run up rents, and thu.
thQ yali Of cfato Iy
toners to our groceries and mercantile, up
holsiery and furniture making establishments.
~ in word give an impetus and prosperity
% all of our existing business, and create new
sources of busin' SIS and employment, and by
livision of labor furnish work for the idle
md create better market for the products OF
our farms and gardens, tor the variety of
woods in our forests. and in fact tor every
thing our people have to sell.
If such an enterprise were inaugurated and
successfully carried on, we should soon have
~ similar shops, or mills, in operation, and
there is no better place than Staunton for tie
following, namely:
A paper MILL
A wooden cloth mandatory
hat factory.
shoe factory
A pottery for crooks, china, &C.; terra Gotta
pipes, SC.
A wOOden-ware mandatory.
A sewing machine mandatory.
An agricultural implement mandatory.
A mandatory for paints, dye-stuffs, sc.
In this connection we call attention to the
communication from Massachusetts, to be
found in another column.
Communicated.
Editors Vvginaan:
l see the newspapers concede that General
Garfield is to have representative Cabinet and
in filling the various positions it is thought |
that he will prefer to select the Secretary of
the Treasury from the great West, for reasons
which he has forcibly expressed. The natural
sympathy which the South has for the West.
makes US take an interest in the selection for
SO important an appointment, if it is 10 come
from the West, and in this connection was
glad to see the very favorable mention made |
a.. IT,, n