Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-10-26


4th VIM r. MCKINNEY. of Petersburg,
5th HERBERT G. PETERS. OF Henry.
6th ". W. BERRY of 3dford.
9TH MlCAJAH WOODS. of Albemlrle.
sth. 4. f. MEREDITH, of Prince William.
9Th. JAMES W MARSHALL. of Craig.
18th. R. B. POORE. OF AppomattoA.
STA UNIONS INDUSTRIES OF
1850 6O-WHERE ARE THEY?
Our cotemporary, the VALLEY Virginian,'
holds that under the present War Tariff
the manufacturing industries Of the coun-
try have thriven and multiplied, and has
given the tariff as the cause. The VIM
DICTATOR denied this proposition and gave
list OF t,oenty-on industries that existed
in Stanton in the low tariff years be-
tween 1850 and 1860, which do not exist
here now, and have not existed here since
the days of Low Tariff. It also stated
that every industry existing here now, ex-
cept three. existed here between the years
named under low, tariff That was an
argument of grave weight, an uaaus wer-
able one in favor of low tariff if the
statements were also facts, and one which
has attracted much attention among the
workingmen Of Staunton. 1t has been
nearly two months since it was printed,
and it has been often repeated. but it was
not until last Thursday that our neighbor
could make up it's mind to take it by the
horns. It says:
''We give them the twenty-one] as stated
in the VINDIoAroR:
Wooden factory. Tobacco factory
Shoe factory Churn ia tory,
Tannery, Paper mill,
Leather currying, Fdhing mill.
FL ,rSe collars, Rbpa-wak,
Hat factory, Plow factory,
Saddle-5rce factory, WhAat-fan factory,
Last fac DRY, Riff factory.
Stove foundry. Chdirand Spinning Wheel
Tnreshing Machine factory,
factory, Pottery.
Brewery.
'It adds. Where are they now?' We state
upon the authority of citizen born and
raised in the City of Staunton and who is
famili lr with its history IN these things, that
II or u of the atove list did not have an ex-
istence in Stanton between 1850 and 1860.
''rhere was no tobacco factory, no churn
factory no paper mill. no fulling mill, no
rope walk, no pillow factory, no wheat fan
factory, no rife factory, no horse collar fac
tory, 10 saddIe-tree factory, no pottery, no
threshing machine factory The brewery
started in 1859 just before the war, and out
side the wooden mill and shoe factory which
started in 1859, there were not 81 mechanics
employed. AS illustration of the fairness
with which the VINDIcAToR urges its free
trade fallaeies, we need only refer to the
Rope Walk as one of the industries between
1850 aud 1860, given in its list. The memory
of very few of the citizens of our city, runs
back to the time when Dickie Williams twist
ed two or taree ropes in a twelve month, on q
part Of what is now known as the CAREER lot,
owned by Augustus CARRIER, Esq. Dickie
died in 1SiG or NJ, and it is certain he did
not die of over work, for he had only himself
to manage, and made two or three ropes a
year. With the exception CT the wooden mill,
shoe factory $3.50, tannery, stove foundry.
and brewery GS59), the list published By
the VNDIcAToR, never had an existence more
than i'll name, and The whole of them did not
pay out $50 week in cash. OF the best CT
them named iu the list, the wages were paid
in store orders. Paying in money was an ex-
ception, and not the rule.
This is quite broad denial. How much
it is worth the reader can best know after
perusing the list of the manu- factures,
their loo tons and the names Of their
proprietors. 1t may be proper to say that
we get it from a gentleman who in this
city, from his age, his lo1g life as work
man, and his rem lrkabe mem)ry and
clear head is regarded as authority.
Our informant is Mr.. George W.
ton, who came hare in 1910, and with the
exception of brief residence ia Rich
mond from 1919 to 1923 has been here ever
since. La the low tariff years from 1916
to 1860 he WAS man over forty years of
age, workman, aud al cbservant citi-
zen. OF his reliability We suppose nobody
in Stanton will need an assurance. Of
all men in Staunton, he is regarded
as the best authority on matters of the
past. We have asked Mr.. Fuller to go
over the list again and either confirm its
correctness CT strike out those which are
incorrect. The list as he has revised it
we repeat here:
The Wooden factory stood where Witt 4
Hollis mill now stands. It was started by
party of gentlemen including Berj Craw-
ford, W. W. Donaghe and A. H. H. Stu
art. 1t gave employment to from Is to 20
hands.
One shoe factory was located just
back of DIVERS present stand. 1t was
run by Mat. Trust, WHO worked about 20
hands. A large part of his work was sent
to what is West Virginia now. Another
shoe factory, one that worked machinery
was started in what was the old N atonal
Hotel and was then moved to the Heudry
bulldog. 1t worked about 20 hands.
The TaDnery was first run by Lease &
Kennedy, who were succeeded by Mr.
Slower. 1t worked a good number OF
hands, the exact number Mr.. Fuller does
not remember.
The Leather currying was done by a
Frenchman, whoee name Mr.. Fuller can.
not recall. In a shop near s. M. Wilkes
present stand Mr.. Fuiler'5 brother who
worked number Of hands at shoemakiog
got his leather from HIM.
The Hat factory was run by Mr.. Ruff,
and was located at Dr.. Arthur's present
site. It worked about II hands. Anoth-
or mandatory of hats was run by VIM.
McComb.
The Saddle Tree factory waa run by
Cornelius Brown.
The Last factory stood where the ne "