The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-01-31
staunton,s Future.

poIIdilce stlu Lilc Olie eSSelllldi lining IOl
the growth and prosperity of the city. We
have so frequently written on the subject
that we almost despair Of any more favor
able result in what we now present thar
has heretofore attended our efforts. We
however, will do our duty, and if those
equally, if not more interested in thu
matter. than we are. do not see it in the
same light. then the blame of the conse
quences must rest with them.
1t is possible for Staunton to continue {
slow growth from natural causes and sur
roundings, but it is not probable that the
same proportionate prosperity will he at
tanned in the future that has marked oul
history in the past. The completion OF
the Valley Railroad to Lexington and the
construction of the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad through the entire limits of the
county, running north and south. give ia
cilities for direct shipment for large guam
tity of produce to the eastern markets
which sought this place before these i'm
provements were made. All of the trade
of the South River Valley, much of
which found sale in Staunton, is now &C
commodated with direct rail communica-
tion with Baltimore and Philadelphia, by
the Shenandoah Valley Railroad The
products of the upper middle portion of
Augusta county and the lower part of
Rockbridge, which were wagoned to Staun.
ton before the extension of the Valley
Railroad, can now be shipped direct to
Baltimore. These railroad constructions
have thus cut off from this place a large
and lucrative country trade, which cannot
be supplied from any other source. The
whole central Valley and eastern section of
the county. which formerly traded in
Staunton, is now placed in immediate
communication with the eastern markets,
and many of the farmers are availIng
themselves of the facilities to deal directly
with the centres of trade. The Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railroad passes through
the centre of the county east and west and
brings that portion Of the county in direct
communication with Richmond. We are
therefore left, as naturally tributary to
Staunton trade, the Southwest. by the
Middlebrook road, and the Northwest by
the Parkersburg turnpike and Mt. Scion
road. The prospect of the consummation
of the purchase of the franchises and
rights of the Washington City, Cincin-
natl and ST. Louis charter by the Shenan-
doah Valley road and the construction of
a road from either Elkton or Port Repub-
lie to Harrisonburg. and thence through
North River Gap to Monterey and on
to the Ohio river would deprive Staunton
of the greater part of the trade of
the northwest of the county, and the
whole of Highland-a trade that is large
and profitable. From what we can learn
this is an early probability. With this
road completed as far as Monterey, Staun-
ton would be hemmed in on all sides. with
railroad facilities to carry off to the east
ern cities the great bulk of the trade that
from time immemorial has found market
in this place, and been reshipped to other
marts. after the exchange has left much
of the original purchase money among our
merchants and other business men.
1t is very plain from this condition of
things that there must be other sources to
build up market here than the advan-
tages now afford. There must be wealth
creating industries, enlarging the number
of consumers, and offering values for ex-
change, in order to attract trade, stimulate
increase population. enhance
real estate and give activity to all branches
of business. There is no place in the
South the natural and artificial relations
of which offer greater inducements as a
centre for manufactures. With railways
reaching in all directions, north, SOUTH
east and west, with timber of every va
riety, furnaces turning out every quality
of pig metal, the most fattering invitation
is presented for capital to venture in the
of wagons and all farm ma
chinery. slaves, axe-helves, nails. horse
and mule shoes. and other articles which
would find an immediate market in this
and adjacent States. Not only would such
industries be feasible, but profitable in
two-fold sense-to the capitalists who.
would embark in them and the community
in general among whom would be diffused
the benefits of the operations.
1t requires no labored argument to make
the fact that Staunton must
Jake new departure in the direction we
have mentioned, if growth, progress and
are to be realized, or must sui
emily face fate of decay, sloth and pow
erty. We cannot stand still. We must
either go forward, under the impulse of
useful industries to employ labor and Gre
tie values, or we must invite business
Eetrogression and condition
If inertness that will affect every cham
lel of business and paralyze every energy
low and hereafter.
Not only is Staunton dependent for it's
uture growth ON manufacturing enter
'rises, but Augusta county must share in
he good Or evil that will attend the de-
of our people. Agricultural
PRODUCTS are intimately associated with
in the march of improve
nent. Without home market for the
PRODUCTS Of the farm and garden a |
Healthy degree of development and
cannot be vouchsafed. We
lave the histories of Pennsylvania and
Virginia and the contrast they present to |
Illustrate the marvellous effect manufac-
uring enterprises have upon the farming
community. Virginia has sought wealth
n the soil, without the diversified Industries
which stimulate its cultivation and give
market for its products. AS result the
verage value of her farm lands is $1O.84
er ere, while those of Pennsylvania
ommand $49.3O. The ordinary farm
7orkerin Virginia produces crops annually
Torth $3.50, while the Pennsylvania farm
sborer gets $43l, according to the census
1880. This arises from the fact that
ne-half OF the population of Virginia is
ngaged in farming, as is stated by the
sme authority, instead of diversified in
ustries. while in Pennsylvania, only one
fth of the population is engaged in agri-
lltural pursuits, finding consumers for
leir products in the other four-fifths. 9th
wise employed.
The people of Staunton and Augusta