Search the Newspapers Browse Newspapers by Date Articles Indexed by Topic About the Newspapers Valley of the Shadow Home

Staunton Vindicator: January 21, 1870 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper endorses a plan for opening a savings bank in Staunton.

Full Text of Article:

It may not be known to many in this locality that a charter is in existence for a Savings Bank in this place with a capital of $100,000, the shares in which are only $20 each. The establishment of this Bank at this time is very much to be desired. Numbers have expressed themselves favorable to it and their willingness to subscribe liberally for the stock. The idea is to loan on good paper at a low rate of interest, and, while making a fair profit to stockholders, give the greatest possible advantage and stimulous to the business interests of community. It seems to us that the mere mention of an institution which could afford a large accommodation to our people at a fair interest would induce all to take stock in it. Such an institution would be of great benefit to our merchants, mechanics and laboring men. They could, all, on the plan proposed, take stock and pay it in almost without feeling it. Then the advantage from the deposites of many who do not now deposit with either bank, but who would deposit with such an institution, would be immense to one and all in this community. From the fact that their money would be safer on deposit than in their own pockets, and that it would not be used as a means of extortion would induce our farmers generally to deposit in such a bank. All of them have some surplus which could be increased by taking stock in it and many farmers would take stock in preference to loaning their money themselves and by this they would derive a larger profit than they could possibly get themselves. This much merely to call attention to what would be a great desideratum to this entire community, and to advise those who feel an interest in the matter (and who does not?) to push it and establish the Staunton Savings Bank. More banking capital and facilities are needed here. Let us take it in hand and secure them.

Admission of Virginia
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports that the House passed a bill for the unconditional admission of Virginia. The Senate should vote on it soon.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The paper reports that C. P. Huntington, president of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, appears prepared to complete construction to the Ohio River. "It is a good augury for Virginia and especially this section. At no very distant day the coal fields will be reached and the smoke of Rolling Mills and Nail factories and all the works of iron and steel will greet the rising sun in this locality. The steam whistle will shortly be heard throughout the length of our fertile Valley, and will herald the advent of a large and valuable increase to our population."

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: The paper prints a letter from "A Citizen" arguing that the completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad will spur industry in the area. He urges the town of Staunton to take steps to become a manufacturing center.

Full Text of Article:

We have received the following communication from a very practical gentleman in this place and deem it of sufficient importance to give it a place in our editorial columns. We shall be pleased to hear from him further on this subject--and one, we beg leave to say, which is of the greatest importance to our people.

SHALL STAUNTON BE A MANUFACTURING TOWN?

The early completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad is now a fixed fact. I think it safe to say that by the 1st of July 1871 the road will be completed to the coal fields, when the development of the inexhaustible mines of Iron in this county will commence. Blast furnaces will spring up all through our county, from the Blue Ridge to Goshen, along the line of the Railroad. Millions of tons of the now hidden treasure will be taken from the bowels of the earth and reduced to marketable products. The manufacture of pig-iron is only the beginning of what we should have. After the Blast Furnace comes Rolling Mills, Steel Factories, Foundrys, Machine Shops, and Establishments for the manufacture of Agricultural Implements, to say nothing of the manufacture of small wares, such as files, saws, cutlery and all kinds of hardware.

The Blast Furnaces will be located near the mines, but the factories mentioned will go up in or near the towns, or if property and taxes are too high in the towns in existence, will build up towns at suitable places along the road. A good suggestion has been made in one of your contemporaries, which I hope our citizens who have building lots for sale will heed--viz: to be satisfied with fair prices for their property and not drive capital away by asking enormous prices. I would also suggest to those who have property to rent to be content with a fair per cent on their investments, or they may build up rivals in our neighboring towns along the road.

There is much to be done to make Staunton what it can be made, a large manufacturing town. The first thing to be done is to secure a good town council, who have the ability to manage its affairs properly. They should follow the example of St. Louis, Mo., Bloomington, Ill; and others; by passing ordinances exempting from taxation for 10 or 20 years, all property and capital employed in manufactories, on condition that parties begin operations in say 2 years, which I think would insure investment here of capital in manufacturing enterprises at once, so as to commence operations by the time coal is reached. Can we afford to do this? Let us see. Suppose a company builds a Rolling Mill, with a capacity sufficient to employ 500 hands, which will add to our population at least 2500 persons, who will spend with our Merchants, Shoemakers, Doctors, Lawyers and others $100 per head, per annum, (a low estimate) or in the aggregate $250,000. Would not that item alone enable our Merchants and others to pay the Rolling Mill Company's taxes. Now that is only one establishment. The Rolling Mill will bring others. So it is plain that it would pay to adopt such a policy.

It is suggested that we might induce the new management of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad Co., to establish their workshops here. I, as a tax-payer, would be willing for our town authorities to buy the land they may need and make them a present and then exempt them from taxes forever if that would secure them. Their shops established here will form a nucleus around which we could build up a considerable manufacturing interest, as they would be large consumers of Bar Iron, and Steel, and all kinds of hardware and lumber.

Let us follow the example of Bloomington, Ill; which, I think, has taken the proper steps to build herself up. She has appointed a committee to correspond with capitalists, who have means and manufacturing experience, showing the advantages of their town. They have also a travelling committee who have visited places where manufacturing is carried on and, at a meeting of the citizens, on the 3rd of Nov. last, reports from the Committee were read showing that manufactures, especially of Agricultural Implements, greatly increased the commerce and substantial permanent prosperity of the towns where they exist.

I have written more than I intended, but this subject is of such vast importance I feel that something should be done to make our people take that interest in it which they should. Some of the most prosperous manufactories are in small towns in the midst of raw material and the consumer of their goods there is thus saved a large amount in the transportation fees of raw material to distant places for manufacture and another large amount in paying return freight on manufactured articles. Besides employment is thus given to thousands who would otherwise be idle and a burden on community.

The establishment of Manufactories throughout the country in towns and villages is a sure road to a healthy material prosperity, and is a safeguard against the absorption by powerful monopolies in any one manufacturing interest.
A CITIZEN

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: James W. Beard replaces Miss Atkinson as Postmaster at Mint Spring, Augusta County.
(Names in announcement: James W. Beard, Miss Atkinson)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Gen. Canby removed George W. Britt as Flour Inspector for Augusta County.
(Names in announcement: George W. Britt)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The ladies of Augusta are raising funds for a circulating library. The paper encourages citizens to support them.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: Gen. Canby has appointed the following justices for Augusta: David C. McGuffin replaces H. H. Peck in the 1st district and Robert G. Bickle replaces E. M. Cushing in the 2nd district.
(Names in announcement: David C. McGuffin, H. H. Peck, Robert G. Bickle, E. M. Cushing)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: The Rev. George Kramer has been presiding over a protracted meeting at Staunton's Methodist Church. A number of new members have joined the congregation.
(Names in announcement: Rev. George Kramer)

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: La Rue's Minstrels, made up of Billy Reeve, Joe Mack, Talbot, Stevie Rogers, Hugh and Arthur Hamall, and Ricardo, gave two performances in Staunton to crowded houses. "Ricardo has a most wonderful voice for a man, a pure soprano, of wonderful compass and sweetness."

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: J. M. Strasburg of Indiana and formerly of Augusta and Miss Ellen L. Walker of Missouri were married in Missouri on December 28th by the Rev. George P. Comings.
(Names in announcement: J. M. Strasburg, Ellen L. Walker, Rev. George P. Comings)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: Thomas E. Gilkeson and Miss Sallie J. Altaffer, both of Augusta, were married near Parnassus on January 11th by the Rev. J. J. Engle.
(Names in announcement: Thomas E. Gilkeson, Sallie J. Altaffer, Rev. J. J. Engle)

Married
(Column 02)

Summary: C. A. Richardson and Miss Josie Brooks, both of Staunton, were married on January 12 at the Eutaw House in Baltimore by the Rev. Dr. Bullock.
(Names in announcement: C. A. Richardson, Josie Brooks, Rev. Bullock)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: Mrs. Caroline Bryan, wife of Reuben Bryan, died at her residence in Sangersville, Augusta County, on January 6th. She was 52 years old.
(Names in announcement: Caroline Bryan, Reuben Bryan)

Died
(Column 02)

Summary: Jacob Beard died at the Augusta residence of his daughter, Mrs. Baylor, on December 30th. He was 85 years old.
(Names in announcement: Jacob Beard, Mrs. Baylor)

Obituary
(Column 02)

Summary: G. B. Tapscott, a resident of Richmond, died in Staunton at the Virginia Hotel on January 15th. He was 48 years old. "Too much praise cannot be awarded to the good Proprietors of the Virginia Hotel for the unremitting attention and kindness shown him." They attended to him day and night during his illness.
(Names in announcement: G. B. Tapscott)