The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-10-23
A Much Needed Enterprise.


A meeting of subscribers to the stock
of the proposed daily paper company in
Staunton was held recently. The editor
of the VIRGINIAN was not present, but
learns that finding that there was not
enough capital promised for the project
a committee was appointed to solicit adj
ditional subscriptions. 1t is strange
that there should be any hesitancy OF
difficulty in securing enough subscrip
lions to make the enterprise fixed fact
A daily paper, with Geographic fran
chises, would be worth more to Staunton
and vicinity than q half-dOzen coveted
industries, which our improvement com
panies and citizens are continually talk
ing about. 1t would be an industry tina,
would pay a handsome dividend on every
dollar invested in it. There has been
enough advertising by the several i'm
provement companies organized here, in
papers and periodicals at distance, to
stock a paper company and run it for a
year. But when it is proposed to estab
fish as a perInanency a live daily paper
which would continually keep before the
country the advantages of this section
and keep it SO in manner and in terms
which would carry conviction to all who
would read, there is a timidity, a want OF
confidence, an absence of interest that
ought to be, and really are, most inter
ested are those who manifest the least
concern in the suggestion. A good daily
would not only pay those taking the
stock, but it would pay every interest
of the county and locality. 1t would
be constant advertisement of the re-
sources of the whole Valley, and would
give Staunton a prominence and import.
ance that nothing else could. Next to
our churches and schools, there is moth
ing which we stand more in need Of
There is not an industry that could be
suggested which would add SO much .tc
the progress of the city, or have more
potential influence in inviting enterprise
and capital. The improvement compa
MES themselves could afford to take all
the stock, and run the paper at loss Of
thousands of dollars and then make
! money by it. But it would be paying
investment from the start. 1t would re-
turn liberal remuneration for every dol
lar put in it, far more SO than any indus
try now in operation or that may be put
| in operation for the next five years
This would be assured from the general
1 profits that would be reaped by the com
| munity.
A daily paper ought to be started in
Staunton at once. With telegraphie
franchises, it could anticipate the news
| we get in the Richmond and Baltimore
papers from twelve to fifteen hours
Strangers coming to the city would have
a mirror of our business life before them
| every day, and every branch of enterprise
would be constantly before the people
to enlighten, enliven, and stimulate.
A city that can support street rail
way, electric light and fire alarm sys
TENS, paid fire department, and afford
water works that cost 100000, ought
surely to support live, wide-awake
daily paper If not, why not? There
is enough money paid for dailies pub
| lished at distance, which have no Local
news for us of much interest, to literally
sustain a daily here. Then we have a
field to operate i'll, embracing an area
| OF 80 miles square, where we could defy
successful competition. Why not oc
cupy it, and thus draw to us, by daily
intercourse through the paper, the trade
| that would be open for bids?
Our business men should take hold Of
this matter, and assist in making it ar
assured fact. The improvement compa
MES ought to have sagacity enough tt
see in it great benefit to them, and ever,
interest of the city and adjoining coun
try ought to recognize the Importance Of
such an enterprise. They ought not te
leave it to few young men to work uI
and carry forward, without such aid in
the beginning as the project requires tc
make it a commanding success. The
stock would be at premium in less thar
six months, and grow as we would in
crease in population and wealth, as a re
suit OF a we'll conducted and public spir
tied daily.
The daily paper scheme ought to be
made settled fact. Start it, and it will
take care of itself and yield liberal re.
turns to every one who may show tangi
BILE confidence in it.