The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-03-04
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Forks FARM,
Rockbridge county,

FORK 5 FARM,
Rockbridse county, Va.
This beautiful Forks Valley" is situated
in the forks OF the North aud James Rivers,
Rockbridge county. 1t is surrounded on all
sides By mountains. except where the two riv-
ers join or enter it. Fourteen miles from
Lexington, from the Natural Bridge, 20
from Lyucnburg and 20 trom Buchanan. con-
nected with all by Canal. Here the North
enters the James and joined, seem toplough
through the Blue Ridge, as il disdaining to
be trammelled by earthly barriers in their
course to the Ocean. The scenery is grand
beyoud description; far surprising Harper's
Ferry. Clifton Forge or any spot in the State
10 stand upon an eminence aud look around
it, seems as if Nature designed to wall in her
most beautiful garden and hide it from the
eyes OF the outside world Until after the
surrender no yankee foot ever trod its soil,
except as prisoner and even after it, they
rarely vcntuled among us. 1t has often struck
nae as singular that some Of our native artists
have not visited this place to see Nature in
All her grandeur and glory. Our enterpris-
ing photographists could makea fortune off
Of the views they could take, and an Artist
| make more iii reputation and money, than
they will ever make copying old stables and
bald faced cows from the French" But
enough Of the Valleys beauties. You may
think | am prejudiced and maybe am, for
did some courting up here in war times,
which can never regret or forget.
just below the mouth of North River, on
the James is the James River & Kanawha
Cement works, the only works of the kind in
the South. The quality OF the Cement makes
it stand first in the S Major Charles H
Locker, genial Charley, the energetic, the
rough business man, is proprietor. His friends.
aud they are legion, will be rejoiced to learn
that he has recovered his health and never
looked better. He is enc Of those who s'never
say die" and has been benefactsr to this
people. Soon after the war he started the
works on e25, and has since then discussed
e1s5 600 He had some rock on hand and
SO pushed along. He is busily engaged get
ting out rock, and preparing for vigorous
cosnpaign as soon as the weather breaks.
One mile above the Cement Works, or
+, Point Dabell," on North River Canal, com
npones the ore banks on Capt. Echol's place
Taey form part Of the immense Iron vein that
stretches from Pennsylvania to Tennessee
Some Is months ago, Fitzhugh & Hughes,
from N Y, looking for Iron property, found
Silica Oh the tract. Capt. Echols sold it,
$50 acres, and a tax title to 5000 acres, for
$4,000. The Silica proved deficient in
quantity if not in quality and the worksstopp
ed after shipping a large quantity North
But the purchase was a good one as the ore
banks worked during the war, are very valua-
BILE. BENZ. J Jordan, Superintendent for the
Westham Iron Work Company, above Rich
mond hasa contract with Fitzhugh & Hughes
for 100 ,0GO tons of ore at IS cents per ton
aud is opening new tunnels He informed
me that the veins were inexhaustable and the
ore. Brown Hermatite. of the finest quality.
He is working 80 hands aud the force will be
increased; Seven miles below, OIL the James
is the Amherst Furnace. erected just before
the close Of the war. by Sam'l Jordan l. Sons.
It did big business last year and will do
more this. 1t is said that some men are born
editors orators, poets, doctors, &c In fact
men are born for everything, but certain
sure the Jordans were born Iron men Who
ever heard oil a Jordan that didn't grow up
shooting iron marbles, or of one who would
roli wooden hoop? Nobody and nohly have
they proved their title CLEAR" to their birth.
right 1t has grown so common up here to
ooDGect jordan's and Iron together. that if a
jordans hog is seen roofing on the mountain
side the darkies say Iron Oar sure !" Long
live the Iron Jordan's! We need thousand
like them to deyelope the cid State.
-Four miles above the Cement Works, on
"ho S"nse' ~ eiiG a i'oii . '@i'eJ' AK eAe !
Glenwood Works owned by Frank Anderson,
Esq 2hey are now worked by Jacob Dakin,
of n Y. He has spent s27 600 and made
40 tens of Iron. These works will be push
ed to their utmost capacity when the weather
breaks. The ore is furnished by Fitzhugh &
Gall at So per ton on the Canal, and has then
to be transported miles by boat.
From the above hearty sketch you will see
that this fertiIe-Valleyis surrounded by every
Fhira ~ mike Y r,o~oa-ts+s. e r'~s-s