Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-07-11
A "TRIP TO sHEPHERDsTowN.

On the morning Of the Fourth parry %
twenty gentlemen, embracing some OF our ieau-
inr CAPITALISTS and business men. started on a
trip 10 Shephetlstown 10 visitthe cement NILS
at that place. The following-named com
posed tie party: Messrs. Fitzhugh C"yie'
ieonidas Coyle, Jas. L. Barbour, George n.
Plant VIM. H. Ciagett, Vim. W. Metcali,
Adam Gaddis. IT,, f. \. Gray, Geo. +. Noyes'
n r Sweeuy. J. J. Sullivan, VIM. K. Snow,
Tbos \. Adams, I. A. Stevens, +. Filling, Il.
7 Klopie!. George T. Dearing, DR.. Vim. IL
/ Grunuell, S T. c. Morsell, and representa-
I tive Of the Evening Express. Most OF these
gentlemen are stockholders in the Potomac
Mills Mining and Manufacturing Company
company chartered by the Legislature OF "es'
Virginia, and who are working the ShePhelGs-
town Cement Mills. The party started on Tue
carly train and reached kearneySVlHe ABOUT
twoU'clock. The splendid fields Of wheataiohS
the road the historic scenes OF events uuiliiS
the late conflict; the romantic scenery around
Harper's Ferry: the almost perpendicular eiiuS
called Maryland Heights, rising to an eleVat on
of 500 feet the old engine-house where John
Brown and his misguided followers fortified
them elves; and the occasional appearance at
the various stations Of some Of Maryland's far
daughters. served 10 engage the attention or
elicit the admiration Of the visitors.
on reaching Kearneysvile delegation Of
the Councils Of Shepherdstown appeared, and,
in behalf Of themselves and the citizens, well
coined the party and extended the Inequalities
Of the town By means of stages the visitors
were conveyed to Shepherdstown, passing
through a region which has been deeply fur
rowed by the desolating plouGhshare Of war
Many Of the trees in the woods where hotly-
contested fights had taken place still bear the
marks of shot and shell. The bare walls of the
once handsome residence of Hon. Alexander
r. Boteler, were passed. This gentleman was
a member OF Congress from Virginia until her
secession, and during the early part of the war
his residence, containing vauablelibrary and
historic relies, was burned by order Of General
Hunter.
Upon arriving in Shephcr1stown the party
repaired to their quarters in Enters Hotel
Here they were welcomed by Col. Boteer and
others; they were then escorted 70 the Court
/ hOuse-QUite a fine struCture-and were ad-
dressed by G. NJ Beltzhooyer, Esq. young
lawyer of the town. He referred 10 the situa-
ton Of the State, and said the development Of
her resources was the real reconstruction need
: ed They would welcome all corners having
that end in view. lie concluded by inviting
, them 20 partake Of dinner prepared for them
10 the hotel by the corporation authorities.
I Ftzhugh Coyle, Esq, gracefully responded,
returning thanks on behalf of the visitors for
the Inequalities shown them, and expressing
tie hope that their success in their enterprise
would be Of great and lasting benefit to the
I people Of that vicinity. The party then re-
turned to'the hotel and enjoyed the very excel
lent dinner provided. Afterwards they repair
, cd 20 the cement mills, which are situated about
a mile fgom tie town, and the new machinery
was putin operation and worked the satSfac-
ton Of those present
The stone from which the cement is made is
- . species Of limestone, and is commonly known
as cement stone. Il is found here above the
b surface in seemingly inexhaustibte quantities.
, The deposit Is in two layers, one Of which fur
nishcs a quick the other a slow-Setting cement.
: The discovery Of these deposits was made in
% 1927 by Judge Wright, of New York, the
- chief engineer of the Erie canal Charles Fen
ton Mercer, first president Of the Baltimore and
Z Ohio Canal-the leading spirit in that enter
= priSe-aud DIR. Henry Boteler, who erected
mills there. Reynolds & Butler were the origi-
= nal firm. Bulldogs were erected for grist
( mill, and in 1881 preparations were made to
\ utilize the discovery Of cemeut-st0ne. Colonel
e Alexander r. Botclortinally inherited the prop
- erty being member Of Congress his time
D was much occupied, and he afterwards rented
q il 70 Mr.. Grove, OF Maryland who managed it
- till the outbreak Of the rebellion. Early in
{ 1861 the Federal forces destroyed the works.
[. They remained in q very dilapidatcd condition
p until the present company purchased them and
S about thirteen acres of land from Colonel Bote-
f Ter, in December 1866. They commenced
Y work early in tie spring of 1867, and have re-
r built the cement mill, and erected cooper and
e blacksmith shops, Office building and stable
The kinS. which were in very bad order, have
b been repaired, and three are now in working
q order. The main building is about so by 100
I feet four stories high, and the cement mill is
, SO by 40, three stories high Buruhams tur-
> biue wheel is used, and the machinery, which
is Of simple and substantial construction, was
made by MeSsrs Gray & Noyes.
J The water-pOwor is unlimited, but the dam
across the Potomac, which backs the water up
the river for eight miles, needs, and will short
" receive, repairs The mills viii then be of
the capacity to supply 400 barrels daily and
employ so hands
The cement made at this place is considered
! to be superior 70 all other kinds, and leading
architects and builders so certify. Nearly
every lock en- the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal,
tie Georgetown Aqueduct, the Pensacola and
Gosport dry docks, and the foundations Of the
: Capitol and other public buildings are laid with
s it. The demand for i; exceeds the supply, and
Z is steady, not only here, but abroad In a
brief time its manufacture will no doubt be-
come an important interest Mr.. John Collins
is tie C0mpauys superintendent. He was IN
firing in his attentions 70 the Visitors, eudeavUr-
. ing to supply them with information Fitz-
hugh Coyle, Esq, is President Of the Compa-
p ny; James J.. Barbour, yico-President; VIM.
; II. tagct,, Treasurer; T. NJ Hanson, Secreta-
~. Directors: Mcssrs. +. Coyie, Barbour,
Netca!f, Morssl, Kennedy, Collins, and Sulli-
van.
The visitors called upon Col Boteler, and
were Hospitality entertained by him and his ac-
compjsbed wife aud daughter Their atten-
tons viii ever be gratefully remembered by
their visitors. At CJl. B0teler'S his guests were
shown a dressing-gown formerly belonging to
General Washington. The interesting relic
contains one or two patches. supposed to have
been tie haudiwork Of Mrs. Washington.
The visitor 10 Shepherdstown cannot fail to
be struck with the amount Of available water
power. Half dozen factories in a very short
/ distance can be run by the same stream. Two
or three manufacturing establishments are in
. Cperaticn running bV this power.