Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1889-12-17
Development.

lions, adarge meeting assembled at
the Court-House on Friday evening
last, at z O. o'clock, to consider a prop
osition to establish here an important
manufacturing industry. Col. R. p.
Chew was called to preside, and Geo.
w. Haines was appointed Secretary.
After some explanation by the Chair
of the object of the meeting, Mr.. R.
R. Bemiss, of Chicago, submitted a
plan which, by the cooperation of
the citizens of Charlestown, capital
to the amount of $50, 900 would be
introduced to establish a plant for
the manufacture of furniture. finish
ings and yeneerings. The factory
to be equipped with sufficient and
complete wooden machinery for the
production of not less than 500, 900
of finished goods per annun, and a
capacity to employ from Is to $50
employees. 1t is proposed that the
plant shall be completed and ready
for operation within six months from
the time the conditions proposed are
performed, viz: a subscription by
our citizens of stock to the amount of
$40, 900, and site for the construc-
ton of proper buildings, not less
than so by 100 feet and two stories
high, or of a floor space equal
thereto, or if lot, already improved
with the proper buildings, can be OBJ
tanned, the company will move forth
with and have a portion of their
machinery in operation within sixty
days. The citizens subscribing to
$4,000 OF stock shalt be entitled to
two out of five or three out of seven,
as the case may be, of directors of
the comRany, who shall he chosen
from among themselves, and all
stock, except the said $4,000, shall
be Withdrawn from participation to
any dividends until all the said'SIO-
600 sEall hate drawn s per cont
The subscriptions to stock made l,y
our citizcus shall he paid for as fol-
lows: Twenty per cent. on the issue
an delivery of $40, 000of the stock OF
said company in some bank III
CharIestown. and the delivery of the
machinery in CharIestown for the
plant; twenty per cent. when the
machinery is set up ready to operate
twenty per cent. when thirty employ
ees are at work, and the balance wher
the company are turning out $500 OF
more of finished goods per day-the
right to vote the stock to follow the
first payment of twenty per cent.
A committee, consisting of the
chairman of the meeting and Messrs.
w. H. Travers, w. F. Lippitt, Johr
T. Colston. j. c. Holmes, Gusta,
Brown, S. Lee Phillips. R. A. Alex
ander, d. A. Phillips, II. H. Cooke
and Joseph Trapnell, was appointed
to. confer with Mr.. Bemiss and take
steps to secure the subscription Of
stock necessary to comply with the
proposition of the manufacturers rep.
resented by that gentleman.
The foregoing plan affords, in oul
judgment, an opportunity upon fail
and favorable terms for the introduc
ton Of an important industry, which
will not only in itself be of great ben
eft to the town and to the farmers o.
the county, who will furnish supplies
to the population which will be at
tracted, but will be the forerunner O.
other enterprises of perhaps equal il
not greater value. We trust that
hearty support will be given to thu
scheme, and that the committee ap
pointed for the purpose of securing
subscriptions to stock will have bu
little difficulty in obtaining the amour
asked for. -,
The people of other communities
with fewer resources than are at oul
command, are alert and prompt to ap
propriate such inducements as are
now offered us, and clear the way O
all obstacles to success. Our sur
roundings are full of invitations Il
embark in this and kindred indus
tries. The raw material exists in grea
abundance, the fertility of our sol
affords cheap food, and the mildnes.
of our climate aids in securing cheaE
living, while the pure air and mag
niffcent beauty of the Shenandoah
Valley prolongs life and crowns il
with unusual happiness. Facility o.
railroad transportation opens outlets
for products in all directions, anc
brings the consumer in close prox
unity to the producer. These adj
vantages should bring manufacturing
industries to us, and we should be
prepared to give them a cordial vel
come and helping hand If we dc
not, they will pass us by to carry
wealth and prosperity to others, anc
leave us, when too late, TO bemoar
our lost opportunities.