Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-11-06
A .STEADF,A.ST IMPROVEMENT

large number OF new people have made their
home here. A builder who does large
business himself, estimates that, taking the
wolk of all the contractors together, there
will have been put up here bet ween the 18th
of last November and that date this month,
the handsome total of S250,000 worth
of buildings, of which the large bulk con-
sists Of new homes. And in that estimate
he does not include the gigantic Bodley
wagon factory, OIL the brass works of the
KroderS.
An intelligent gentleman who has CLOSELY
observed the growth Of Staunton and who
has invested no small amount in that
growth, gave us the other day sort of re-
view of her history since the panic Of 1873.
That panic, with the stringency OF money
accompanying the resumption of specie
payment, hit Staunton hard, and whereas
during the year previous she had erected
nearly a quarter of a million dollars worth
Of new buildings, employmentfo for the work
men dwindled to nothing. Her Xorkmeh
after remaining here with their families
until starvation threatened them, commenc-
ed leaving. They emigrated to other towns.
They built up Florence, Ala. A large
per centage of the workmen Of the new
town of Roanoke was coloniZed there from
Staunton, and the towns of West Virginia
had their share. They were valuable mel
and their departure gave our streets a
dull look. For years things were very
quiet here. 1t is true trading went Oh, aid
some business houses were built but
there was no building of homes, those little
hives that show that workmen, the life of
a city, are inhabiting it. At last the de
velopment activity began in this section
and business men profted by it. Stanton
furnished the promoters, and managers for
nearly every new enterprise in this Valley
and for many in other sections Of the State.
But while there WAS profit in this, it brought
no Workmen here and was rather an indi-
vidual than general prosperity. At last
the Staunton Development Company was
formed and Staunton was towed into the
channel Of the stream. The change was
marked, and for the first time workmen be-
gan to come. Many at a distance returned
ones came. Great improvements were IN
dertaken by the company requiring the eX-
penditure of many thousands of dollars and
the employment of many men. Great in
dustries were attracted here, one of them
requiring a factory covering under roof as
much ground as one of Staunton's city
squares. There was employment for work.
men on every hand. With the appearance
Ct woGkmen, property all over the city be-
gan to rise in price, houses for Workmen
commenced appearing on every street. Men
who had little faith in ''booms'' were not
slow to test the reality by selling their real
estate at prices which they had never ex-
pected to get. Men of large means engag-
ed in development in this section moved
here, and made this the central point of
their operations. The activity of Staun-
ton became permanent and steadfast, and
to-day this city is abusy, growing, improv-
ing one. The great revival of its prosperi-
ty is due to the development activity of the
last two years applied directly to it by the
Staunton Development Company, and what
ever misfortunes baye overtaken other To-
calities, Staullton has nothing to complain
Of. The net gain to her people has been
great. A man here and there has made a
great deal Of money; a man here and there
has lost good deal, but The net outcome of
the whole thing to Staunton is an increase
of her industries, an increase of her popu-
lation OF Workmen. an increase Of the lux.
uries of life, and an increase Of employment
and wages and profit for all classes of he1
people. She is enjoying a prosperity that,
had she listened to one class of her people
who believe in nothing like enterprise OF
progress. she would have had to wait fifty
years for, and it is II easure Of prosperity
that should promotes feeliI of gratitude to
those who have been instrumental in bring
ing it about, and determination that what
ever enterprise they may be in is the con-
Germ Of the Whole city and deserves ou1
general sympathy and support.