The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-11-05
a wno!eaaIe

a Wholesale Center.
sevegGl weeks ago We called attention
to the advantages of Clifton Forge for a
wholesale business. We mentioned the
facilities we have for reaching as for as
Charlottesville, east, and Hinton, west,
and returning the same day after having
a few hours al all the prominent points
on the line. We enumerated the locali
ties, within q radius of % miles, where
a large jobbing trade could be estab-
tabiished, and pointed out the advan-
tages generally of Clifton for wholesale
| business in groceries, produce, dry goods,
clothing, and in fact every other line
carrying goods OF common use. The
large and attractive building of Moody
| & Carpenter, now going up on West
| Main street, will be appropriated to a
wholesale and retail hardware store.
The extensive Improvement, for which
the foundation is being laid ON West
Church street, viii! be utilized by J. c..
| Carpenter as wholesale grocery.
Messrs Taylor s. Nuckols would at once
convert their retail dry goods and notion
they the ready means. Others. recog-
nizing the advantages Clifton offers for
this line of business. would also embark
in the wholesale trade but for want of
day from the Valley, negotiating for
lots on which to build as an investment,
remarked that he would like to move
his hardware store here, if he had such
q building as Moody & Carpenter are
erecting for thai purpose. No better
opportunity was ever offered TO capital
to locate proftably than is furnished at
this time in Clifton. The trade which
already exists, and could be commanded
by energetic effort, is ample to justify
the venture. With the development
going on in every portion of the coun-
try from Goshen to Hinton, especially
in the Rich Patch district, at Bessemer,
Glen Wilton, Iron Gate, Clifton Forge,
Low Moor, Rich Patch mines, the Dolly
Ann, Stack and Iron Mountain mines,
the Keyser mines, at Covington, and
the prospective development of the
Potts Greek region, will furnish a trade
that would justify the establishment Of
half dozen wholesale houses at Clifton,
as this place is the natural trade centre
of all the scope of country we have
mentioned. 1t is the terminus of three
divisions of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad; is the starting and stopping
for all crews; the central location for all
the business of the railroad from the
three divisions; and the place to which
all the trade and traffic of the surround
ing country naturally gravitates. 1t is
here where populous city will grow up;
where business. viii center; where wealth
will concentrate and fortunes be made.
Millions and millions in value are held in
the bondage of nature, which must soon
be loosened by the pick and shovel. The
Craig's Creek branch Of the Chesapeake
and Ohio railway; the Rich Patch rail
road; the Warm Springs railroad, which
will form link in a great through line
to Pittsburg, and the Potts Greek road,
when completed, will penetrate and ex>
pose for development the richest iron,
coal and timber regions on the globe.
Thousands and thousands of men will
be employed in this work, within the
next five years. The coal and iron and
coke will be brought together, in this
1na - i ,+,.,o 4l,o
Der will be utilized in the vicinity where
it is grown, and a wealth of enterprise
and business will be created that will
demand accommodation in wholesale
establishments of ample capital and
large dimensions.
Do our people appreciate the relation
they hold to all the natural wealth with
which this district has been endowed.
and the certainty that it will be devel-
oped in the near future? Do they COM
prehend the advantage that Clifton
Forge possesses, in being the natural
center and depot for the trade that
this development will create? If they
do, they should show some signs of it,
and manifest a spirit that will comport
with the grand opportunity that is Of
fered. There is no place in the South
or in the whole country which present so
many demonstrated attractions for busi>
ness. There is no district that can com,
pare with this in natural resources.
There is no locality which has the prom
Use of such a business future as this;
and yet we fear these facts are not APP
preeiated and their full import is not
measured by those directly interested.
From this on let every business man
in Clifton avail of every opportunity
and means to send abroad the facts as
they are. Let him spend few dollars
occasionally, to advance his own bust
ness and his own town and section, and
it will not be six months before he will
see the results in capital and population
coming here to avail of the advantages
that open to the benefit of every one.
Struck by a Train.
O. III