The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-07-11
Bright Prospects.

oTlRuC ETOSpOcCS.
The most important transaction which
has taken place in this county for years
was the sale of Ferrol Iron Property to
foreign syndicate, by Prof. r. N. Pool
sale to parties who have the means
and practical knowledge to work and
fully developit. Ferrol has remained for
years as ''black eye" to this whole sec
ton. 1t was looked upon as a failure by
the casual observer, and the more its
condition was explained by those who
knew it was not the fault of the proper
ty, the more suspicious the way -farer be-
came. Those thoroughly familiar with
the immense value of the tract. did not
have their faith shaken, but felt salts
fed that as soon as men who could APP
preciate the property and had the money
to purchase and work it, could be in
idle Luckily the right kind of men
have taken hold of it, and are now at
work with the proper agencies to expose
all that is in it. We do not think we
best investment ever made in Virginia,
and will not only be largely remunera-
tive to the operators, but will be the
means of drawing attention to Virginia
and its wonderful mineral wealth, which
exists in equal abundance in other local
tiles, and under almost similarly adverse
conditions in which FerrOll was found.
Augusta county is one of the richest
mineral sections in the whole country,
and we have hope now that our often
repeated opinion to this effect will be
amply verified.
Projects and plans are now maturing
which we hope and believe will open up
a rich and inviting future for our people.
They are based upon substantial condi-
tiOns, and all that is wanting is the neces-
sary capital to apply to them. Follow
ing his success in negotiating sale of
FerrOl, under extraordinary difficulties,
Prof. Pool is in the East working upon
schemes of greater magnitude, relating
to other mineral properties in Augusta
county. His untiring energy and sug
gestive mind seem equal to almost any
emergency and capable of overcoming
every obstacle. There have been OBJ
structions at almost every. stage of his
negotiations, coming sometimes from I'M
expected sources, but the promise is
encouraging that he will emerge from
all the environments, with an equal
success to that which attended Ferrol
The omens are propitious. Our peo-
pie are beginning to catch the spirit of
enterprise. 1t is time, when they see
such property as Ferrol, right under
their eyes, with every opportunity to
become acquainted with it's value and
resources, passing to the hands of those
who have not known it for six weeks,
but with whom seeing was believing, for
them to be bestirring themselves We
have told them dozen times that if
they would not avail themselves of the
offers which were showed in their faces
to invest their means and be assured of
lucrative returns, others would come
here and do SO. 1t looks now that that
would be the case in number of our
most valuable mineral properties. But
there are other channels in which to di-
vert their enterprise and means. We
need manufactures. Staunton ought to
be the centre of great industrial activ-
ity. We ought to have a wagon factory,
a rolling mill, nail factory, horseshoe
factory, and other related industries for
the products of which the market is
right around us. There could be large
profits worked out OF every one of these
suggested enterprises And If our peo-
pie would only take hold of them in
earnest, it would be an easy matter to
command the assistance of others of the
necessary technical knowledge and CAPT
tai to assure success. We will get to
that point after awhile possibly. If we
do not we take it as a fact the field will
be occupied, for there is no place in the
entire South where SO many natural ad-
vantages converge for manufacturing
centre.
Weawait the development of the plans
now under consideration with some de-
gree of anxiety, for we know if success
attends the efforts now being put forth,
the future of this section is assured-a
future of unparalleled activity and mar
velous development.