The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1888-12-27
Keep Your Money and Your Enter
prise at Home.


prise at Home.
It is estimated that not less than $780,
600, and probably as much as half million
dollars have been taken out CT Augusta
county for investment in Roanoke. Bir-
mingham and Florence. This was money
made from'the labor OF our own people.
and transferred to build up other commu
mites. OF course this means that much
drawn frcm our legitimate working capi~
tal-that much taken from the circulating
medium and the. pockets of the people
of Augusta county and placed in the peck
cts of other people, who have done moth
ing in return TO beEelit the county whence
it was taken. This makes rs that much
the poorer by The action OF those who have
been recipients of our favors. This pol
icy applied to any business venture would
ruin it, whether large or small. corporate
or individual. It would be simply ro5biDg
it of that which. properly ard equitabiy
belonged TO it.
We refer TO this matter not to criticise
or personally censuie these who. seeing no
active movements here TO promote mateIi-
al development, have been iuflHenced 10y
the representations Of the business push
of other communities to invest their sur
plus. Hor to reflect upon the regard of
such persons for their own people ard at
tachment 10 their own county. 1t has
been done without a thought Of what
might be effected at home, if the same
means and energy were concentrated and
engineered for the purpose Of establishing
some industry, and locating openings for
the employment OF money and enterprise.
If $500, geo or $50. GEO, however, were dedi-
Gated to The establishment of an indus
trial plant in StauBton, the centre OF An
gusta county. CT at Waynesboro. where
there are many natural advantages, can
any one form an idea of the result, in the
near future Of such an investment, in civ
ing an impetus TO Improvement and busi-
ness that would reach to every branch OF
industry? We are sure our people do not
need more than to have their attention
directed to such suicidal policy, TO recog.
nze the folly of it. AS we have asserted
before. it can be demonstrated that there
is more natural wealth iii Augusta count,
than in any.other similar AREA of territory
between thefotomac river and the Gulf Of
Mexico we have everything to sustain
the belief thaLif the same energy and eff
fort were devoted to the development O
our natural resources. we could create
business activity, with solid. substantial
enduring basis. that would not find it
equal in the whole South, or in the y ortl
for that matter. For we are convince,
that there is nowhere more of the element
of wealth and of assured prosperity thai
right here in Augusta county. We haY
iron ore, manganese, coal, marble. kaolin
fire brick and terra Gotta elays timber O
various species that could be utilized il
the manufacture Of numerous kinds O
wooden ware. wagons. and machinery 0
different patterns. and Tor different use
without limit. Yet there is no. projec
in the county for this purpose. We hav
one OF the most prosperous farming com
munites III the whole c0untry-fertil
lands, abundant water power, cheap labor
and an intelligent population. Yet Their
is not single industry suggested by an
OF these resources. that is operated t
more than supply q local demand.
Instead of running away from them an
going where there are not near SO man
natural advantages. why not combine ei
fort aiad d ct or IA is.e thas will build u
our own community; draw capital and er
terprise from other States by demonstrat
ing that ii could be employed protitabI
here, where cur genial climate and socis
advantages are unsurpassed by any he
locality or section. Our people should dra,
/ leir thoughts from abroad and eoncer
trate their minds at home. upon home or
portunities ard attractions. and by self as
sertion and stern purpose determine npo
policy that will develop and utilize Til
marvellous resources we possess. If til
will were present it would tie an cas-
matter, by combined effort TO get tie cap
tn to institutea begjnIiag. II each OF
would do what he could. the result woul(
III short time astouish tbs skeptieal i
e magnitude Of the amount which thu
BE- formed of what that amount might b.
if the proper spirit prevailed. by the iarg
sgregate which has been taken ava
from the county within The past year b
individuals seeking investment elsewhere
Of course there will be gruD hlers AID OF
structors to every enterprise tnas may b
in contemplation. There will come to th
front with each industry, tie MOI biz
croaker, the miserlyEsiuggard, tie chror
ic fault finder, to iuterpose objections
Slch men and such methods must be rid
il N down. Walk right over or shove then
aside Ihey are curse 10 any enterpris
or community, but they are everywher
present. Don't mind the prophecies o
failure cnmingl from such fossils. The
d mt amount to row of pins in the batti
Of life. They are placed here to test ar
demonstrate the courage and the mauhoo
of the rest Of mankind, and to show b
contrast that it takes diversified elias
OF people to make up world. The live
energetic. intelligent and we'll meanjn
people ought to determine OIL the necessit
IF dong something for themselves-do
something to develop resources. Great
business and offer employment to thos
who are wiling TO work, so as to keep on
young men at home, to help by their ener
gy and push to build up the communit
and the State.
Great results can be accomplished if Til
proper spirit is manifested The countr
is throbbing and vibrating from on
extreme 10 The other under the impulse 0
hope and expectation. The Indication
all point to an era Of extraordinary busi
ness &C .iyity. We should take it at it
tide and ride upon it to development
prosperity and fortune. Let each CON
munity move fer Itself. If there is an
assurance in the locality aud surrounding
that an industry could be established, lie
them have ore there. st .rt Oh it. howeye
small tie beginning. 1t will attract at
tentiol. and bring help in time. DIN
put i. off but move at unee. and we hav
the experience Of the past and lie teach
ing o. common sense that enterprises in
auuu-at nd in tLic v-.y will nve pttaIlv aI1n