The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-04-24
Staunton's Opportunity.

StalfnJOnS Possibilities, "Industries
for Staunton," aud ssStaunton's Advan-
tages, have been lately suggested
through the columns OF the VIRGINIAN.
The object of suggestions given under
the above captions has been to direct
the attention of our home people to the
possibilities and advantages enumera-
ted, in the hope that seeing the advan-
tages of Staunton's location, attain
nents and surroundings, our own peo-
pie might be encouraged to concentrate
their purposes and grasp the situation,
and make ourselves the leading benefi-
Charles of these advantages providentiaI-
ly bestowed upon this favored body of
country in which is our fortunate abode.
instead of waiting until others should
recognize and swoop down upon and
grasp and monopolze principally to
their own benefit our neglected adyan-
tages and leave our people only second,
or third, or fifth, or tenth rate beneficial
ries of these advantages which, taken
as whole. are not presented to the in
habitants of any other equal area of
country upon the face of all the earth.
But advantages are next to useless unless
improved. To attain the possibilities of
great and grand advantages they must
be seized upon and developed In this
grand to be accomplished work which is
now intensely occupying the minds of our
people, and the contemplation of which
is rejuvenating and electrifying their en-
ergies, the Staunton Development Com
pany has assumed to lead and it is q
most betitting matter for mutual con
graduation among the people of Staun-
ton and of all the Valley and of all Vir-
ginia, that the chief organization for the
happy contamination of that for which
the VIRGINIAN has long and persistently
labOred is led by and is largely composed
of our own people.
For reasons before enumerated this is
as it should be. Every one in the org.ani-
cation will, let every one outside oil the
organization also work for the develop
ment of Staunton and the surrounding
body of country, and as was suggested
in the broad and solid editorial OF the
VIRGINIAN's last issue, Staunton will
take her natural and rightful position in
contributing to the commerce OF the
world The only reason why Staunton
dOCo hOt to-ddbN lluf1iDtI OU,OUO DGODiC Is
that her people have been content with
her natural advantages instead of con-
centrating and directing their energies
to the development of those advantages
Ii such effort as has been made within
the last ten years for the upbuilding of
other places not nearly so advantageous
ly located as StauntOn had been con-
centrated Oh the upbuiltiing of Staun-
ton, she to-day would have $4,000 peo-
pie. Why may she not have $4,000 peo-
pie before another ten years go around
Whether she shall have or not depends
on the will of our people and their will
cannot be ascertained by their asserting
that ''we are willing for Staunton to be-
come a large city" True, their so as
selting would be consenting to it, but
will means power-contributing power,
and there are no other such power to
the accomplishment of any purpose as
will power, and the will of our people in
this matter should be known by their
eiforts-by their works-the individual
and the concentrated purpose of which
shall be to make of Staunton the most
prosperous and solid manufacturing
town of the New South. Why should
any doubt the possibility of this? How
many towns are there now in the Union
each of which number from 10000 to
Minneapolis, Duluth, Birmingham,
Knoxville and New Manchester, neither
OF which ten years ago numbered scarce
ly half their present population, and
some of which ten years ago had scarce
ly beginning. And who can name a
single town of such wondrous and magic
growth that has such a grand combina-
ton of natural advantages as Staunton
has And just now when such an era
OF prosperity is dawning upon the coun-
try as was never before seen, does any
one suppose there is to be no more
cities of wondrous growth. Read of the
marvellous growth of Manchester away
i'll the bleak northeast, closely adjacent
to many other competing towns, all
throughout the adjacent body of coun-
try and adjacent States, only a few miles
intervening between continuously ada
cent towns and cities, and then contem-
plate Staunton's advantages and seize
upon aud develop her possibilities. But
what should be Staunton's main reli-
ance What is her chief opportunity
1t IS the opportunity offered her through
her advantages of location, healthful-
ness. transportation. agriculture, con
venlence to the surrounding unrivaled
mineral and forest wealth, and vet con
venient removal from the Inconvenience
OF hemlneG-in mountain locations tt is
the opportunity offered her, through her
advantages of becoming clean manu-
sacturing city. By this is meant manu-
features not SO much for handling the
crude products of mine and forest, but
chiefly for the working of these products
from their rough secondary forms into
finished articles for use. The manufae- |
ture of every kind OF finished, useful |
goods that can be manufactured of iron
or wood-the forming of manufactures
OF whatever legitimate and profitable |
and beneficial nature, on this line-con-
stitntes Staunton's opportunity And |
if this opportunity is seized upon, and
by the united action of our people is de- |
veloped to the greatest possible extent,
Staaunton will be Recognized by the in
dlistrial world not only as the Queen
City of the Valley, but as the Queen
Manufacturing City of the New South. |
SUBSCRIBER.