The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-09-23
[Communicated.l
What NextP

From the published proceedings of the
SUauntOn Chamber OF Commerce it is
| learned that whereas some man from some
where else has proposed to come to Staun-
| ton and establish b foundry, machine and
! repair shop, provided the people of Staun-
| ton will furnish him with the necessary
capital, and whereas this is most gener-
GUS and fattering propositioA.. chance
which should by no means be allowed to
| slip from us, therefore, resolved that a
committee is hereby appointed to at once
, urge the Importance of the matter and
solicit subscriptions from our citizens to
the end that this liberal stranger be forth
with brought into our midst and solidly
established in business.
| Now all this looks and sounds very
queer and suggests the thought that our
/ hamber had better resolve itself into its
| original elements il this is the best game
| it can start.
In the light Of the past, and the present,
too, this little splutter, made in the name
of enterprise and progress, over this small
but sharp proposal sounds ridiculous and
smacks somewhat Of the hypocritical.
| Let it be inquired how many different
individuals and firms have at different
times within the past fifteen or twenty
years invested capital and given their me-
chanical and business skill in the endeavor
| to establish in this town just such enter
prises as the one now proposed. Then let
| it be further inquired how much the fail
ure of every one of these endeayors was
due to the want of sympathy, encourage
ment and patronage, from, and on the part
OF, some of the very parties who now
make such lamentati0n over our lack and
need of something of tie kind.
1t is a fact that we have already in our
town small foundry and machine and re-
pair shop. owned and run by two practical
workingmen OF no mean skill as mechanics
and machinists. A few years ago they
made a start with little or no capital, yet
by persevering application and industry
they have earned Il living, and in addition
equipped their shops with several thou
sand dollars worth of tools and machinery.
thus preparing themselves to meet with
pronptness and efficiency the demands and
wants of the public in their line. This
they are doing in large measures and giy-9
ing employment to a number of other
vol men. These are facts and with
others which might be stated go to prove
that these men are worthy and useful Giti-
zpns. king faithfully in the right direc
tion, and therefore deserving of consider
alton and encouragement. They are help
Ing themselves and all they ask is a fair
field with such patronage and other
encouragement us their merits entitle
them to- They have not asked nor are
they asking that money be raised to estab
lish them in business.
However. in the opinion of one entirely
disconnected with this little enterprise
alrra " here-it is the one for which aid
should be solicited in the way Of additional
capital if such il thing is to be done, while
it would be poor policy, not to say rank
Injustice, on the part of our citizens, or
any portion of them. to contribute the
capital to import and establish stranger
in the very line of business that these men,
long citizens of our town, have been and
are now struggling manfully and success
fully to build up.
1t is not wise to overlook and ignore the
few Industrial establishments. artisans and
workmen already with us, nor to dispiSe
the day of small things. From just such
small beginnings as the little CONCERN
above mentioned have grown hundreds of
the mammoth workshops and mannfac-
turing establishments of our land.
Therefore, let us foster the few small
industries we have. encourage them by the
bestowal of our patronage and aid them by
granting the use of any capital we may
have to invest or loan in that direction.
AT the same time let every indncement
and advantage we have to offer be con-
stantly held out to bring men with capital
OF capital without the men into our midst,
hut not men without capital, for GOD
knows we have enough of that kind.
COMMON. SENSE.