Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-01-04
For the Spectator.
Valley Rail Road
RESOURCES OF THE NORTH SIDE


We propose to consider the resources of the
North side, in contrast with those of the South
side, in all that will tend to bring passengers or
freight to the road. La doing so, we will first
treat OF those of the paraelogram before de-
scrlbed, and then Of the products of the coun-
ties OF RendIeton, Highland and Bath, which
will be tributary to this road, If it is made thro
the North side
Take the mineral waters which are numer-
Gus and susceptible Of improvement, and will
attract to the road great amount of travel
We will commence with Rawley, chalybeate
spring, now known as the best perhaps in Vir-
glnla Of that description. 1t is in the hands
OF company that designs extensive improve
ments. It is about 10 miles Northwest from
Harrisonburg, and will be somewhat nearer to
this road when extended. When improved as
designed, market will be created for the pro-
ducts OF the vieinage, that does not now exist,
population will increase and the road reap the
fruits Next is the "Uniou'' spring, a fine
chalybeate, six or more miles West of Rawley.
1t now has local reputation and used to have
crowd Of visitors that boarded themselves
Under the influence OF this road it will assume
importance. Eight or ten miles West of Un-
ion In North River Gap. are two chalybeate
springs-the Yellow and Woodel? The lat
ter-is on the North Fork Of North River, five
miles North of Mt. Solon 1t is in no respect
inferior to Rawey as curative agent, and has
very high local reputation The Yellow is
little more than mile West of WoodelI, is
chalybeate impregnated with alum, which en-
crusts the frowning cliff Of freestone, that
shades it from the morning sun. Both of
these springs are close by the Dora Coal veins,
and when in the course Of time, these noun
tains will be filed up: as we hope to see them,
with hardy miners and their families, and the
iron horse will carry the loads Of 'black dia-
monds' out OF this romantic gorge Of the
mountain, to travel over the main road down
Messy Greek Or the Long Glade, to smelt the
iron at the many furnaces we expect to see
spring up all along the line of this road, these
Springs will assume the importance the char
acter OF their waters justify.
Next In order Is StribEng Springs, in Au-
gusta, five miles West of North River Gan. so
we'll known that only brief mention is neces-
sary. There are four springs, alum sulphur.
chalybeate and healing. When this Rail Road
is finished thro the country we expect, there
will be a necessity to SO enlarge the establish
ment that instead of three hundred guests,
several times that many can be accommodated.
The alum water will form no inconsderable
item Of freight, over this road. Then there is
the Lebanon White Sui lphur, some eight miles
West Of Stribling, already improved to some
extent, that will have its patronage. Besides
there are q greater or lesser number of other
springs which will be stimulated into mpor-
tance and be mproved, aud all along this road
will be seen, by the traveller beautiful and at
tractlve summer resorts, with their teeming
pleasure seekers or invalids from Baltimore and
other cities, seeking enjoyment as disciples of
old Isaac Walton or in the chase, all inhalng
the pure air and drinking the sparkling waters
Under the developments Of the coal, iron
limestone, marble, potters-clay, hydrauic-lime
building stone, and the working up Of the im-
mense supplies Of timber all along the line of
this road Oh the North SIDE as we intend to
delIneate we expect to see continuous town or
series Of villages, as have sprung I'D on the
| New York Central The writer remembers in
| 1887, to have travelled over that road where
| there we're but few towns and villages, where
now are cities and towns.
! COAL, IRON, MARBLE, LIMESTONE, sc.
On Messy Greek there is one of the Oldest
iron establishments in Virginia, certainly in the
Valley, known for nearly century as Miller
| Iron Works, now belonging to the heirs OF
Dan'l Forrer, dec d. Some years ago the fur
mace was destroyed accidentally by FIRE. The
ore veins lying deep and supply of wood for
coal getting scarce, 1t WaS not rebuilt. Yet
those eompetenb to judge are satisfied that an
inexhaustible supply Of the finest hematite
/ ores yet exist IN all or nearly all OF the many
places, both 10 Augusta and Rockingham,
whence both Mr. Henry Miller, and at a later
day his son Samuel were used to draw their
supplies. 80 adopt the plan of drifting or
tunneling on the strike of the seam, as is
adopted by intelligent miners in England,
Pennsylvania, &C.. an abundance Of the finest
ores viii get be found, and to uae the coal Of
the Dora veas OF charcoal, or when the Ches
apeake & Ohio Road has penetrated the Goa
veins OF kanawha, we will see not only thi, old
furnace rise phenix-like from her ashes, but a
large number of others along the line of this
Road. There are rich indications of fine hem
attic ore all thro' both counties included in the
paraleogram Of the North side, and in the
North Mountain hard bye, and near to the
veins CT spthgaeile coal, are rich indications o1
ora When this road is built, on this route. as
it must and ought to be, If any regard is haC
to all this wealth to be developed, then he who
lives to see it viii stand amazed at the numbe,
Of iron furnaces that will light up its track.
We should hare considered the coal interest
to have followed the order indicated in ou
heading FROM the mouth of Brock Gap, ir
Rockingham to Pond Gap In Augusta, dis