The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-11-19
The Industrial Condition.

citizen of Augusta county few days
ago, he asked, "How Is Clifton Forge
getting along?n We replied PRO,
crossing satisfactorily "Well," said
the gentleman, ~ have confidence in
Clifton Forge, and believe you will GER
tainly have great town of it in the
near future. When the boom struck
Virginia, felt satisfied that many town
projects would fail, where there were no
exceptional natural advantages to sus-
tain them, and that a few towns would
go ahead, after recovering from the
reaction that was certain would come
from the excess ia lot speculation
Clifton is one of these and the most
prominent. If an industrial town is not
built up at that point, it is no use trying
it anywhere eise.n
Similar expressions come to US every
day from persons coming to Clifton, by
others we meet on the cars, and Others
we meet ia different localities. There is
Il concurrence of opinion that Clifton
Forge is to be an important industrial
whose natural advantages are so assur
ing, and where the attractions arc SO
great for the profitable Investment Of
money A glance at whatais going on
at this time, notwithstanding the strin-
gency in money matters and the en-
barrasslnents which confront a great
many people in Virginia, not excepting
this section, will cony ince any impartial
mind that the foundation is being made
for rapid and substantial growth. 1n>
dividuaI effort is being supplemented by
corporate authority to push the town
along The character of the improve
lnents being made testify to the confi>
dence that is felt. The large outlay of
the railway company in its shops, de-
pots. &C., indicate that the company is
building for the future as well as for the
present, and then when its plans fully
materialize, they vii. be represented by
ing large number of skilled workmen,
whose earnings will be expended to slim
ulate and assist private enterprise. The
announcement last week by President
Ingalls, that the contract for double
tracking the road from Low Moor to
Covington will soon be let, means more
than building a few miles of railroad.
A continuation of it to Covington is a
necessity occasioned by the development
of the resources of the intervening ter
ritory. The various iron. mines being
worked, to which lateral roads extend;
the contemplated road up Potts creek,
to accommodate a very rich mineral sec
ton; the construction of the Warm
Springs branch, and its probable extern
sion into the coal and timber portions
of West Virginia, explain the necessity
for enlarged facilities for moving the
enlarged traffic that must, as a natural
consequence, be created.
And these are merely the initial
movements. They portend far more ex
tensive Improvements and enlarged de-
velopments. They open the way for a
! broader foundation; for plans and en-
| terprises commensurate with the unsur-
passed mineral wealth that lies buried
all around awaiting the pick and shovel,
and give the assurance of future progress
and prosperity. 1t was never intended
| that all this natural wealth should re-
main useless. 1t was designed by the
! great force that formed it for the use Of
man and civilization, and now that it,
! utilization has fairly commenced, We
! may reasonably assume that it will grow
| in population, las its extent and nature be
come known to capital and enterprise.
| We are glad to know, too, that the eff
| forts of the VIRGINIAN in spreading this
| knowledge are being. ia a measure, APP
preciated. Scarcely day passes that we
do not receive assurance of this. Some
as to whether we are stating facts. 9th
ers express their surprise that the fact.
have not been published before, and
business plans and projects inaugurated
to comport with them. AS to this, al
| things must have astarting point, and it il
| this point we have reached. The growth
and expansion must come afterwards
and these will surely come, for inquiry
will be followed by knowledge, and
knowledge by investment and practical,
earnest effort.
Clifton Forge and this entire district
will feel the effects. They are on the
line Of Improvement. They are grow
ing and will continue to grow until the
rich mineral districts of PENNSYLVANIA
and Ohio will find here a successful rival
To Civllize the Gorilla.