The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1892-07-07
The Glass of Industries Needed.

In our efforts to build up Clifton Forge
we have conformed to the mistaken and !
unwise policy SO common everywhere. !
viz: the disposition to spend all our Ell
ergies and efforts in trying to establish
large and powerful industries, while at
the same time we totally ignore many
valuable but less pretentious enterprises
that might be secured and that would
materially aid us. Gigantic corporations
with fabulous capital stock are not
always the most desirable or beneficial
acquisitions. We don't wish to be under
stood as opposing these, bnt simply
mean to say that they are not indispen-
sible in the establishment of a prosper
GUS and growing city. While too it is
proper that we should encourage such
it is unadulterated folly to sit down and
wait for these to come within our reach,
when by proper effort we might from
time to time, be adding to our strength
and values by securing small but legiti-
mate enterprises. Indeed there are
many reasons why it is far better that
town should have located in it twenty
different and Independent concerns con
trolling s., 900 capital each than to have
one big enterprise backed by 100000
A large industry engaging all of it's CAPT
tai and labor i'll the pursuit of one special
line of work is subject at any time to
outside interference and total obstruc
ton in its business. On account OF the
fluctuations in the price of its products,
by reason of the influences of the law of
supply and demand, owing to the com
binations of labor, or from many other
causes too numerous to mention, an in
dustry may any day have to close its
doors and suspend operations for a short
while, if not permanently. In such an
event what is the result where immense
wealth and abundant labor are combined
the conduct of the suspended enter
prise? Simply this, so much capital is
for the time being locked up and idle,
SO many persons thrown out of employs
ment and such CONSERVATION follows
that it cannot fail to produce at least a
local and temporary panic, disturb in
CQdU SecIlOu I'LL ClstSScS Vi UuSIucoS. uin
courage investment and unsettle the
faith of the people. On the other hand
let the same number of persons an the
same amount of capital be engaged in
sundry pursuits, and it will never happen
that all these will at the same time be
seriously interrupted. One may be
obliged to suspend operations, or com
pletely fail, and it causes but mo-
mentary ripple which passes away as
quickly as it came and leaves no appar-
ent damaging effects. The decline in
the success of one of these various Ell
increased prosperity in another. There
is, indeed, never a time that will be op
pressive to all, but the many and diver
sified interests tide one another over the
threatening and appalling hour and mu
tually build one another up. Aside from
being relieved OF the monotony which
comes to a town made up of people, al
of whom are plodding along the yer,
same path. When we have contact will
men of all callings and men engaged il
all kinds of business and trade we do no
feel isolated from the world, but natur
ally satisfy ourselves with the though
that Immediately around us are to b
found the representatives of all classes
We sincerely believe that if those in au
thority would exert their influence ant
efforts in securing these less pretentiou
but valuable enterprises they would b.
able in short time to make acquisition
far surprising in benefit what we hav,
conceived. AT any rate no harm coult
result from the endeavor