Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-12-03
Businesses Interests-The Spectator

St0uSllb lSouSs
BUSINESS Intepests-The Spectator"
Sour merchants, we are gratified to
learn, are patronizing the wholesale dealers
of your city, who are duplicating Balti-
more rates, and if they make a liberal and
iudicious use of printers ink, theil success
is sure"
Ia THE above is taken from the Parnassus
correspondence of the SPECTATOR in the
last issue. The paragraph is in few words,
but it suggests much for action in the con-
duct Of business. A few weeks since, we
had ali article on our wholesale trade. Its
local as well as general Importance admits
Of, if it does not require, frequent refer
ence The enterprising merchants who
have embarked IN it, have demonstrated
that the growing Importance Of this city is
gaining by degrees q just recognition in
this department Of commercial progress
We say just, because there is interior trib-
ntary country sufficient to base on It's val
ues d stinetive branches in trade, and to
attract local merchants engaged in miscel-
laneous retail dealing throughout its ex-
tent. The fact that the Staunton whole
sale merchants can duplicate Baltimore
prices should not appear strange or unrea-
sonable. The sources of supply and the
avenues Of transportation are as open and
as free, end as liberal in charges to this, as
they are TO f5aitsgrre or any other city.
Many articles in oar aggregated wholesale
trade are of western productions, and it
may be that Stanton has advantages in
view OF the location in certain lines supe-
| ripE to othes aIe mere distant trade centres
from the source Of supply.
The past and current newspaper iiterd-
| ture which records history as it illustrates
the value of advertising is prolific in in
stances wherein merchants, manufacturers,
and enterprising men attribute their snc-
cess, not to judicious management alone,
but place their obligations for great pros
perity more to the enlarged means at their
command in that way. This reference
brings US to notice another extract from
the same correspondence, as follows:
''Irhe full aud excellent monetary and
commercial reports published in the SPEC
TAToR are highly appreciated, and the rap
| idly increasing circulation OF this old es-
| tablished and favorite newspaper evidences
the fact that it's value is duly appreciated
by an intelligent and discerning public"
The writer hits the naii right on the
| head To have the SPECTATOR 'duly ap-
preciated by an intelligent and discerning
public, is exactly what we are laboring
for. That is the place it has held in the
long, eventful past, which, with the pro
gressive present and the grand future, will
stimulate every effort consecrated to its mis-
sion. Whilst modesty forbids personal refer
enee to the long years we have endeavored
| faithfully to stand at the helm, it does not
deny US the privilege of recurring to the
able and noble men who laid the founda-l
tons and enlarged the usefulness of the
SPECTATOR in a community which has al
ways nurtured it as an essential part of its
history for more than sixty years. All the
interests Of this city, agriculture and its
kindred pursuits, cur diver sified industries
in tina surrounding country, to plead with
our young men TO remain at their homes
and stand by them and the Old Common.
wealth in adversely as we'll as prosperity,
are sufficient to challenge the best efforts
and highest aims Of our calling. To be.
recognized as g representative journal in
such a field, warns the life blood in its
course, and nerves every effort for an abun
dant prosperity to all.
We want to draw near to our business
men, to know their views, to catch some
thing Of their go-a-head spirit and dash in
enterprise They may not think how val
liable q word or two of counsel from them
would be as the telling editor is drawing
on his brain for thought ia their interest
which has not already been exhausted.
We had in this city during the recent po-
litical canvass a Workingmen's Club. Fol
its purposes it was the centre of attraction
and information. Why can we not have
Workingmen's Clubs in promoting our
commercial and manufacturing interests?
There are other names and titles for organ
izations, but the principle of action is the
same. Do cur merchants and mechanics
and tradesmen OF all KINDS realize how
valuable such organizations would be, not
only in advancing in that way their solid
interests in organized efforts, but the OPP
portunities it would furnish the journalist |
in his department. OF cooperative progress?
And then the farmers, the country mer- |
chants, manufacturers, and miscellaneous
producers, retiring in their ways, and mod |
estly relying on others to lead, when they |
should be in 6hs fr9nt, are representative |
men from whom much information can be |
obtained. They do not realize the truth !,
that to whom much is given, from them
much will be required" An editor is al |
ways sratifed to see them and to hear
them converse, snd often they could fur
nish valuable infasnaa5iQn if their spare
hours were so dedicated.
We thank our Parnassus correspondent
for his letter, which answered more ends