Valley Virginian

Every one who visits Staunton must be impressed with the idea that we have a live population. The spirit of progress is evidently abroad among them. New buildings are going up in all quarters, and many others are being projected. Our streets are crowded with vehicles of all kinds, and the side-walks obstructed by barrels of flour and other products of our fertile soil, in process of delivery to, or shipment by traders. In a word, the whole town wears an aspect of activity, thrift, and prosperity.

In contemplating this pleasing spectacle, we are naturally led to examine into the sources of this prosperity, and to enquire how it can best be extended and perpetuated.

Our improved agriculture has certainly much to do with it. The public Institutions located in our midst also contribute a good deal to it. But these, by themselves, would be insufficient to bring about such results. As proof of this, we need only refer to the fact, that these sources of prosperity have existed for many years, while the rapid improvement of which we speak, is of comparatively recent date.

Two causes, more than all the others, have, we are persuaded, stimulated the development of our town. One is the disposition of our people to give more attention to manufacturers, and the other is the intelligent appreciation by them of the necessity of fostering the admirable female schools which have been established among us.

Commerce is a very good thing, but, in an inland town like ours, it cannot be a primary interest. The field is too small to afford employment and support to a great number of persons engaged in trade, and we must look to other means of enlarging our population and business. Commerce, from its very nature, requires but few hands to carry it on. It consists merely in buying and selling, or exchanging the products of industry. The profit of the trader consists only in the difference between the price he gives and the price he receives. And even this profit is subject to large deductions for rents, taxes, clerk hire, &c. The larger part of the merchant's, receipts go abroad, to replenish his stock from jobbers or importers. Upon a final settlement of a merchant's annual business, it will be found his gains are not large, and most of the money which he has received as been sent to the Northern cities, thus leaving the county comparatively stripped of currency.

A merchant with an active capital of $20,000 gives employment to but two or three clerks, a porter &c., and in the course of the year, he sends abroad, probably $50,000.

But how is it with a manufacturer? With a similar amount of capital, he would, probably, employ in one way or another, fifty people, thereby affording support to them and their families. Take for example our two Foundries, and compare their operations with those of our largest merchants, and see how the balance will stand. The merchants employ, say, six unmarried men, as salesmen and clerks--the manufacturers employ--say 50 men, most of whom have families. The merchants send annually, say $50,000 out of the country, while the manufacturers, annually bring $50,000 into it! The office of one class is to sell and exchange, while that of the other is to combine and create. The manufacturer gives a concrete form to the labor of his employees--he incorporated that labor with the new material, and thus makes it an element of wealth. The manufacturer also affords a market to the land owner for his timber and his minerals, in his workshop and for the products of his farm, in the support of his workmen and their families, gives employment to the tailor, the shoemaker, the school teacher, the grocer, the merchant and others. And the manufacturer, when he sells his fabrics, brings the money into the country, to be disbursed in a way to vivify business in all its departments.

Other things being equal, we therefore regard manufacturers as contributing more largely than those of any other occupation, to the general prosperity of the community. And we think it is to the interest of our people to encourage and foster every enterprise of the kind, by extending liberal patronage to home industry. We think, also, that inducements should be held out to persons disposed to engage in manufactures, by exempting their machinery and capital, for a limited time, from taxation.

But we find our subject grows upon us, and we must therefore content ourselves, for the present, with these general views. In another issue, we shall take occasion to say something upon the advantages, and prospects of Staunton as a manufacturing town. And we shall also offer some suggestions as to the advantages, and feasibility of making Staunton the centre of female education in the South. We see no reason why the Baptists, the Lutherans and the Catholics, should not each have a first class female school in Staunton. Their enterprising neighbors of the Episcopal, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, have set them a good example. Let the other sects see that they are not left behind in the laudable race for knowledge and enlightenment.