The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-02-27
communicated
Starntnn-S Possibilities.

sangnine predictions of the VIRGINIAN
as to the undeveIoped wealth of this sec
ton is now seen in the undertaking and
development of plants to bring out the
untold hidden wealth of this portion of
the State-the hidden wealth of the
mountains bordering the Valley. But
there is also here vast visible undevelop-
ed wealth embodied in our forests of
timber and fertile lands and wealth of
pure health-giving water and unexceiled
climate.
The chief movements of enterprise
thus far lately begun are based on the
development of the hidden weaith-that
of iron-which is indeed Almost substan
tial basis. But it would be a great mis-
take for any of the newly formed cen
tres of enterprise to rely exclusively on
this basis for their growth. But with
this basis of unparalleled mineral wealth
of iron, the whole section of country
should reach quickly a higher state Of
development than could be reached with
out this basis We say-should reach
higher stage of Improvement. Whether
the highest stage will be attained or not
depends largely on the attention and
capital and energy that in connection
and simultaneous with the mineral de-
veiopment shall be directed to the de-
velopment of the visible undeveloped
wealth of this body of country. What
is the visible wealth of pure water and
of our climate, and how is it to be de-
veloped? 1t is health, and health is
happiness, and health and happiness is
wealth; and this undeveloped wealth is
to be utilized by populating this valley
with as many people as it can supply
with heathful air and water, AMI by
converting this-the Valley of Virgin
ia-into the busiest hive of industry in
all the land. People cannot live alone
on even healthful air and water; no, nor
they cannot enjoy good health long with
out either. But how is the grand Val
ley of Virginia to be so densely popula
ted? 1t is to be. or at least can be done,
by making this the greatest manufactur
ing belt of country in the world; and
Iihood by converting our raw material
of iron and of timber into finished man
ufactured articles. But how are so
many factories to be established, and so
many people induced to come? First,
by concentrating the attention. and the
capital, and the energy of our own people
in the establishing of manufacturing
enterprises, both large and small, of
most needful and pract zeal and profitable
products of every legitimate nature that
can be formed of iron or of wood, and
for which a market can be found or
created. And second, by inducing for
eigu capital to come and assist in the
development OF our vast natural re-
sources. But it is certain that he larger
stock our own people take in these en-
terprises from the beginning the larger
will be their ratio of the profits. ami the
more faith we show III the future vi. our
section tne more fully wifi our faith in
that future be realized by the assistance
Of larger foreign capital inspired to our
aid. And as the lhGINIAN suggested
last week under the caption OF why
Not" why not make Staunton the chief
centre-tne centre of centres OF these
industries. In all the Valley Staunton
now has this position, and She has all
the necessary advantages Tor maintain
ing her position-of Keeping ahead in
business, and proportionately as far
ahead as she now is in population and |
this she can maintain if she will, even
though there should be within another
decade within a radius of fifty miles of
Staunton twenty cities built, each with
II flAtt tAn tn MI
thousand people, and the greater the
nunber.of towns and cities built within
this body of country the more easily can
Staunton hold her relative position, and
the better she maintains her position OF
centre OF centres OF these industries, the
more surrounding centres OF industries |
will be provided, and the more surely I
will all the surrounding centres prosper
in the growth and development of their |
industries; and so in the wealth, con
tentment and happiness OF their People
And as the VIRGINIAN has said. no one
centre of industry. or town or city, need
be Jealous of the prosperity of any other |
for the prosperity OF one and OF each |
will help the development of the others.
for there is room and material for the
most surprising development OF all
Manufacturing material for Stanton as
compared With many large lnanufactur-
ing towns, Is right at her gates; and
many cities. as for instance Atlanta, Ga,
where has been established within Il few
months more than one hundred new
business enterprises, and Columbus, o.,
have become manufacturing centres.aid
yet are not walled around with NOUN
tains ct iron as Staunton is. True,
Staunton is not the capital of a State |
but she is the capital of the Valley, than
which within the same area, in the most
useful minerals, fine forests, ineXhausti /
bic quantity of limestone. productive
and eXllaustiess limestone soil, volume |
and healthfulness of limestone and free
stone water and healthfulness OF climate
IL richer belt of country c.tn not be found
on the face OF the earth Situated as
Staunton is-n the heart of tile Valley, /
midway between the irOn-laden North |
mountain range and the Blue Ridge,
with it's eXhaustless mines of the very
best of minerals, now with a population
of more than 10000, and located at the
crossing of the roads of the two great
railways, the b. Il O. and G. 20, if the
capital and energy she now possesseswere
concentrated and put to work with the
purpose of improving and building up
Staunton to he fullest possible extent, |
her population in less than one decade
of years will number so, 00O people, and
Staunton will remain the capital of the
Valley and centre of surrounding centres
Of industry, thrift and happiness.
All this can be fully realized il Staun
ton will concentrate her wealth and ener
gy ON the object of her own development,
and doing what her concentrated efforts
can do towards her part in securing for
this Valley a teeming, industrious and
happy population. This can be realized
if the work of concentration and action
is begun without delay and the work
prosecuted without faltering. Begin by
inducing and assisting to establish here
a new manufacturing enterprise OF what
ever legitimate and BENEFICIAL and profit
able nature. Begin and found one and
then another and another and then 9th
ers of varied products, until fifty or one
hundred new manufactures lift their
smoke stacks up into our pure atmos-
phere and by the voices of their ham
mers and spindIes and saws and their
whistles constitute chorus OF industrial
music, the notes of which shall echo
from mountain to mountain. and pro-
claim the Queen and Capital City OF the
Valley is not dead, but is imbued and
thrills with new life. SUBSCRIBER.
The bill to incorporate the Waynes-
boro and Basic City Street Railway
Company will not become a law. as its
10. hac Iafi r,ii al f.