Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-06-18
STANTON.
FACTORIES WILL PAY.

The Nanuf dcturer's Record contains an
other admirable letter sketching the advan-
tages and opportunities of Staunton for
large growth in profitable industries, from
the pen of Mr.. Thomas P .Grasty. Its title
is "Where Factories Pay" 1t opens with
practical suggestions about the necessary
labor and finds the status of that class al
ready planted upon the proper foundations
in Staunton, and then continues as fol-
lows
''Show me town with good start in the
way of Industries, with craftsmen OF various
degrees already comfortably domiciled, with an
established social system Of their own, and 1
Will show you town possessing tremendous
machine for the acceleration of Its industrial
progress. With the other factors of success
equal, such q town will easily outstrip Its COM
petitors, provided always it be not hampered
by lack of organization; for in these days OF al
most feverish competition to make the most OF
the movement ofindustries from the North to
the South. every edge must be made to cut.
The consideration of the labor question from
this point of view was suggested by cursory
examination Of some Of the factories now in
operation at Staunton. in this great, rich. pros.
porous Valley of Virginia, where are found
such enormous wealth-producing elements
that Investigation forces the conclusion that
/ Industrial development here has barely reach
ed Its crysalis. 1t will grow and grow for half
a century perhaps before Its wings are fully
unfolded.
At Staunton there are a dozen establishments
each employing from 10 to 200 hands. mainly
white. Moreover. there are no fewer than $50
white skilled workers In a score of minor in
dustries from bakeries to cigar factories. Care
full Investigation discloses the fact that every
industry in Staunton. big and little, is prosper
ing. There is o shoe factory, great fannie acid
plant, two furniture factories, canning fac.
tory. wagon factory, q couple of carriage fac-
tories, five brick-yards.a foundry and machine
shop, Touring mill, four establishments for
making sash. doors, blinds and the like, and
other smaller concerns too numerous to mems
ton, every one of which is running at full cap
acity, and in most cases with orders ahead for
the output of many months.
Such satisfactory state of things would be
impossible at a town where labor was discon-
tented. But far from being discontinued. the
skilled workman at Staunton has everything
he wants. and the members. of his family have
everything they want that may be had any
where in the Union. With few more indus
tries or even by increasing the capacity of
those already in operation. there would gladly
come to Staunton working people OF a class
whom no pecuniary proposal, no matter how
tempting, could induce to locate in the midst
of isolation. For here are to be found all those
social and other requirements that workmen
demand for themselves and for their families;
and here are found, likewise, places for girls
and boys to earn their share of the fund nee.
essary to make the home comfortable and
cheerful"
The letter concludes with the result of
his personal observations of the character
of the industries to locate here, and the
stimulant which ''The Staunton Develop.
ment Company" can bring to Lesr on that
line, and winds up with good suggestion
for utilizing the two hundred thousand
pounds of wool that find sale here from the
hands of producers in making factory
goods.