The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-01-08
them is a damaging evidence Of weak

ness III the Guy 3 ljoSItlol.
The outcome lies with the peopIe ci
Staunton that are now refusing or ne
gecting to do their share toward secur
ing prosperity for all They have before
them two courses of action, leading
to two widely different results. One
course is to follow the suggestions in the
paragraphs below; the other is to cons
rinue in their present folly One result
is II fiourishing manufacturing city OF
| from 10000 to 10000 population, with
profitable business for every inhabitant
and with real estate values like those OF
northern and western cities. The other
result is II dead town, with no profitable
business for anybody, and with no ready
sale for real estate at any price. The
time necessary to bring about either re-
suit is not more than fifteen or twenty
years. Which result shall we have al
the citizens of the United States land
Staunton should not be free and happy
and prosperous the fault will be entire-
~ their own. "-Washington.
The assistance asked of all citizens in
the work of building up Staunton in
wolves no gratuities. For everything
done an ample reward in money is ex-
pected. Stanton has already furnished
for the management of. town building
| enterprises in Virginia five times more
men than has any other city, and prob
ably every one OF these men has made
money from his efforts to develop the
resources of the State. They have de-
voted their energies to other places than
Staunton because the people of other
places have co-operated with them most
actively and effectively in such moves
ments; and from the movements the
people have derived profit as we'll as the
promoters The cooperation desired
may be summarized as follows, address
ing each citizen individually:
1. Cheerful subscription, according to
ability, to the stock of the wealth-pro-
ducing enterprises proposed for which
the conditions are favorable and the
management competent, especially to
such as would be decidedly helpful to
the growth of the city by employing la
Dor or by rendering needed service to the
people
=. Make all the money you can for
yourself, from your regular business and
otherwise, and increase it by investing
it in Staunton-by charging your bust
ness, especially if it employs labor and
Mi io1 I.
buildings needed to promote the growth
Of the city. IL,
3. Practice and cultivate spirit of
business compromise, Willingness to re-
linquish a part of your own preferences
to accept some of the preferences of 9TH
ers, who may know as much as you do
about the matter in hand.
T. Talk aboutthe good features of a
practicable enterprise and of a reliable
business mans character, avoiding the
common narrow minded practice of mag
nifying the bad in both. is not likely
that yon will live long enough to find an
enterprise or a man that suits you ex-
actly in every particular
5. Take an active and helpful interest
in the companies of whose stock you
own shares, making payments promptly,
attending meetings, and encouraging Of
ficers in their work,
6. Attend to all your business with an
eye to the future, supporting. liberal ex-
penditure of public money that will in
sure commensurate returns and recog-
nizing that the future will be what the
present makes it,
7. Avoid IL narrow, selfish policy as you
would avoid plague. Be satisfied with
your own share, and be glad that your
prosperity helps others besides Yourself.
Recognize the dependence of men upon
one another in The modern business sys-
TEN, and be thankful that through har-
lnonions cooperation the wonderful
I blessings OF civilization are attained.
8. In all yonr purchases and business
favor Stannton whenever your own in
terest will admit.
8. Do all these things ntelligently. for
yonr own ultimate pecuniary advance
ment, making no boasts or complaints of
being called on to help Others.
10. Be simply an honest, patriotic cit
izen. All the duties here set forth are
included in the practice OF patriotism. :
The various thoughts OF this article
are offered with earnestness for cons
slderation and action by the people of
Staunton and Augusta county. Our
people mean well, and are faithful to du-
ties of whose binding force they are con-
WINGED. Through honest contemplation
they will perceive the binding force of
their duty to the philosophical as sug-
gested above. Augusta farmers also are
concerned in the growth of Staunton.-
1t is the market from which nearly all
their money comes. Ii it were double
Its present size it would require double
the quantity of produce it now con-
sumes, and would doubtless pay for it
more than double the money now paid.
Every citizen of the county and tin city
for his own good, is admonished to COM
prehend and to act according to the fol
lowing summary of the line of thought
in this article:
BY working tremendously together the
citizens of any American community. if
they will. can enjoy wealth and prosper
lty. Unless by united effort of her citi :
zens Staunton's business basis and rate
OF growth are soon changed, competing
cities will in all probability outstrip her
in progress, and leave her biighted with
insurmountable obstacles to prosperity
Her great natural resources, without the
union of personal efforts, will not give
the rate Of gr1wth and future promise
necessary to make a city permanently
prosperous. The hundreds of flourish
ing towns and cities in America have
been made so by their citizens. To avoid
decline in Staunton's relative impor-
tance, greater general activity among
her people for upbuilding the city is ne
cessary, Il closer approach to unanimity
OF favor toward her improvement enter
prises. Those who are refusing or ne
gleetlng to help forward the DEVELOPMENT
movements have it in their power to make
Staunton a fiourisling city of 10000 peo-
pie, or to let her become Il dead country
town. They are asked to help the move