The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-12-13
TO Build up g Town.

TO Build up Town.
It's not an unfrequent remark TO hear.
20, Stanton is finished. There is moth
ing in it. and il [ could / would get away
to some place where there is life" II such
were the case. who have finished it? VINO
have deprived the town Of animation and
life? 1t is rot the fact, but not because
such men would not make it SO. There
is nothing in the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
il the actual condition Of things 10 cause
q spirit of distrust and dependency, but
everything TO inspire confidence ana
evoke effort.
We have expended ID Stanton Il ON the
two State Institutions and the hVe VI slA
educational sennaries and academies III
lass than half million dollars annually
We have one of the most thrifty ana IN
telligent agricultural communities III the
whole country. Our farms are well tiileo
and return good results for the lapof oi
the husbanaman. We have live, saga
cious corps of business men TO handle The
crops and merchants and tradesmeh 10
supply all wants. If the people OF the
town generally would contribute lheir
share of enterprise and unseiiish devotion
TO public interests, there would be no rea-
son for complaint. The success OF city
is dependent upon the cooperation OF lis
people-the mutual assistance they give 10
each other: and the purpose TO make eye
~ movement and enterprise have LOT IT'S
object the general welfare, III which each
and all might share.
To Illustrate the point we are after, we
will take one branch of induStry-that OF
cigar making. We have five or SIX fac'o-
ries. each one conducted and operated Dy
nractIcal workmen who live in our midst
and spend what they make III this com-
m ,nity. Not one Of them is more than
m liking a living. Why? Because OFT
dealers do not encourage them. Although
they make as good cigar as can be gottt n
anywhere for the money. three fourths OF
the goods in this line sold to our people
are manufactured in other towns ard
cities. Suppose every dealer were TO
make it point to purchase his supplies
from our home factories and offer them
to their trade, upon the same terms tnat
they sell the foreign made article. Inc
home trade thus created would give EN-
pioyment to not less than fifty Wofkmeh'
understandings would be expended IN the
CITY and county to supply themselves
with the necessaries and comforts OF NE
IT woul,i furnish the factories with capita
to enlarge their business, and extend theli
trade to the surrounding: country and &c
other States. We thus would have
thriving industry giving employment tx
from fifty to one hundred hands, whose
wages would be diffused throughout The
channels of trade aid add to the wealth
of the community. All classes OF busl
ness would share in the results.
1t is by such beginnings that prosperlt,
and business activity are brought about
If we send abroad the earnings OF oul
people to build up Industries IN othel
places, we simply draw on our labor Tel
the benefit of some other town. Can any
terest or the public spirit is that will jus
tify such policy 1t is suicidal,and one OF
the causes why Staunton is not as progress
siye as she should be.
instead of eroaking and whining anf
bemoaning the WANT of enterprise III lht
town, our people should determine thai
they will improve every advantage they
possess; encourage every legitimate enter
prise that is projected, and ny united en-
deavor work for the material welfare Of
all. When little surplus saccumulated d.
not hurry it Off to other placessto bnild NJ
othec towns, out invest. it. in some useful
enterpi Use, and thus let ii. through the
channels Of trade. return TO the labor that
created il, and assist in giving bread anf
meat to those who are willing to.work foI
it. That is the way to build up town
to create demand for labor and give ar
impulse to industry and business.
1t is in such communities that outside
capital seeks investment. Where the PEG.
pie are helping themselves and showing b,
their own efforts that they have confidence
in their own locality, it will attract and
command the enterprise and confidence OF
others. Capital never seeks commu
nifty. where one-half of the people are
grumbling and complaining about hard
times. predicting decay and ruin to Their
own homes, and pointing to other sections
as the place to enter upon the activities 0!
life. Industry ard for. like charity
ought to begin at home. Let The wages
of labor be made to do the right thing, b,
investing them in something else
giving life and activity to some branch OF
trade or business, and in their rounds, in
crease values, multiply opportunities
and diversity the avenues for them to
return to those who created them.
Our own people AUST believe in them
selves. They must appreciate the excep-
tional advantage s they possess and by con,
centrated effort and united purpose, lend
their energies to bringing about a boom
that will have solid and enduring foun
dation. When they have anything to do.
that can be done by our own mechanics,
have it done at home. It night probably
cost few cents more /; there might
not possibly be exactly the sane
S. le and finish; or some within might
not pe gratilied. but 1t would be
helping to build up the business OF
the town: adding capital to the work
men to enable them to improve their IA
eilities, and eventually result in hav-
ing the right kind of machinery and
implements to meet the most exactlng de
mands. When money is sent off for that
which can, be done at homa, it is that
much lost TO community-that much ia
ken from the working capital of the town
and that much towards keeping back its
industrial progress.
Stand by your own people; stand by your
own town aud county: stop fault-fndiDg
and complaining; keep a stiff upper lip
and CHEEKY heart: determine that the in
terests of our own people must be cared
for first determine that We must succeed
and succ .ss will come as sure as the night
follows the day.
We have great county aud great sec
tion. We have unlimited dead wealth ly-
ing all around US. Not one in fifty of our