Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1891-01-27
/" Nothing Venture. Nothing
Have"


Some eighteen months ago certain
parties in Chicago offered to remove
to and establish in CharIestowna fur
niture factory, which would give en-
pIoyment to from 10 to $50 hands and
produce 500, 600 worth of manufac-
tured product per annum. These
parties offered to invest $40, 000-if
our memory serves us--in the plant
and business, on condition that the
citizens of Charlestown would furnish
a site, convenient to the railroad, and
subscribe the sum of $40. 900 to the
capital stock of the enterprise, and
receive therefor preferred stock which
should be entitled to dividend of 8
per cent. out of the profits of the bus
mess, before anything was to be di-
vided to the $40. 900 of common stock.
An effort was made to interest public
sentiment in the enterprise. A town
meeting was held and the project laid
before it by the representative of the
Chicago parties. A meeting of bus
mess men, who seemed to manifest
an interest in the scheme, was held,
and committee of three gentlemen
of some influence canvassed the bus
mess part of the town for suhscrip-
tions to the fund, of $40, 900 of pre-
ferred stock, having headed the list
with their own subscriptions. Belicv-
ing that our merchants, especially,
were interested in the success of an
enterprise calculated to increase the
number of consumers and purchasers
of the articles of trade in which they
deal, this committee called on nearly,
if not every, merchant in the town,
going up one side and down the other
of the main business street, and
though the subscription was careful
ly guarded so as to insure compliance
on the part of the other party with
his contract, the result was that about
| u
81 800 only was subscribed towards
the fund of $4,000. Naturally the
effort, which promised so ill, was
abandoned and the furniture factory,
we are informed, was established in a
town whose citizens displayed more
liberality or business foresight.
The few new enterprises which have
been established in our town have
been inaugurated and sustained by a
few individuals, and oftentimes where
success has been achieved the result
has been attained through much
tribulation," caused, sometimes, by
active or secret opposition from cit
liens from whom better things were
to be expected. Some of them have
failed for want of support. A notable
exception exists in the case of our
Building Associations. These have
received, almost from the beginning,
nearly universal support. Can we
have any stronger illustration of the
advantages of cooperation. "Noth-
ing succeeds like success" The same
principle of cooperation, active and
friendly, will produce as marked re-
suits in many other Undertakings
If we would build up our town, if we
would sail on the stream of progress
now flowing through our beautiful val
ley, if we would be sin the swim, :"
let every man be ready TO launch his
bark or to assist his neighbor in man
ming and navigating his. If we risk
nothing we will gain nothing, and if
we do not take advantage of the tide
which may " lead on to fortune, !" we
can look to continue a comparatively
unimportant village until another gen
Grafton arises who are wiser or more
enterprising than ours. A few active
men may do much, but complete sue
cess in this age requires union of ac-
ton. This is the day of cooperation.
Mr.. James g Simmona Las Loap