Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-03-27
Communicated.

>. Mfr. Editor: Visitors to$on town
are loud in their praise of it. sin
what its attractiyeness consists they
can best say. know it is dsar4t to;
me and all its interests are mine, and
any praise of it is sweet music to my
ears. But let us, MIR. Editor, cast
our mental eyes back twenty years
and view our town as it then appeared,
and compare its appearance with the
present As we advance through the
years We see gradual improvement
the corn fields turned into town lots,
with substantial, and in some cases
elegant dwellings, upon them; old
houses made new by repairs, or re-
placed by new ones, and the question
presents itself, from whence came
the 2oney to make those improve
The answer is from our sue
cessful Building Associations. Surely
they have been useful institu-
tions to thepeople of this community,
but like everything else they have had
their day and will soon be things of
the past. But, Mr.. Editor, shall we
let the lesson they have taught pass
for nothing, shall we have no more of
that community of interest engen-
dered by them? or shall we, profiting
from the lessons of the past, press on
to higher plane of progress, wealth,
industry and Development As have
said, Building Associations have had
their day; the time is passing away
when the poor mans dollar will rub
against the rich mans, and he can
feel that he is doing something to
build up his community as well as his
more fortunate neighbor. Itappears
to me that it will be misfortune to
lose this cohesive element from our
community. Let US then cast around
and find something upon which we can
unite and. give our old town shove
forward on the road to prosperity
Cooperation and combination is the
order of the day in all progressive
communities Let US combine and
cooperate, and instead of sending
all our money away devise method
whereby we can honestly bring other
peoples money here. Can't we form
a cooperative manufacturing COM
pany, upon the plan of Building
Association. Let the shares of stock
be placed at s104, payable in weekly
installments of so cents, running for
the period of four years, and secured
by the notes of the holders. 1t APP
pears to me there should be no diff
ficulty in securing at least 1000
shares, then 1000 shares at s1O4
makes S104 900 as basis upon which
to issue the bonds of the company for
say 100000, payable in four years
and bearing per cent interest. Then
as 1000 shares will give weekly
payment or income of stock of $500.
and a yearly income of SIG, 900; the
association will then have a cash basis
of SIG, 900 to operate with during the
first year; exclusive of any profits that
may arise from the sale of the man
ufactured article, pretty snug sum.
L should say, to commence on, par
ticularly for Charlestown, and $751;
600 yet to-fe paid in during the next
three years. which will pay off the
$50. 900 worth of bonds with their in
terest, and leave a balance of $40, 800
to be put into the business. Now
then, can anything be manufactured
that Will pay anything like reason
able dividend. How about steam
cotton or WOODEN mills?
Let us hear from some of our pro-
gress:ve men upon this subject, and
that soon, before the accepted time
be past. w.