The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-05-09
THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON.

We take the liberty oil laying the follow
lug interesting letter, written at our request
before our readers So many persons having
asked our opinion of the future Of Hunting
ton, and We not being able to give any To-
formation on the subject, We requested Capt.
cambridge, while in company with him when
on his way to his present field of labor, to
give us his honest impressions about Hunt
layton, after he had satisfied himself. by a
b.iefsojourn there. They are embraced below:
WARES HOTEL, HUNTINGTON. w. VA.
April 9Th 1872.
MAJ S. NJ. YosT-Drar Sir: AS you re-
ques' ed. | send you my impressions, and the
facts to which my attention has been called
OF the present and future Of Huntington
Those who are unacquainted with tho natural
advantages which the location of the city
gives, and ti,e great lever = its prosperity
which the capitalists who nave the enterprise
in hand afford, have but little idea OF the
future importance OF the place
Its location for large commercial and
manufacturing town is most admirable, afford
ing most suitable ground for an almost uu-
limited extent of business streets, while the
heights which overlook the plain, are some
one and Il half miles distant from and par
allel to the river give the most eligible and
delightful sites for handsome residences The
streets, sewerage, water supply &c, of the
city, have been planned with view to the
demands Of future great and important
place, and everything in the legislation of
the CITY Council tends towards the wants and
needs of the future city. and not to those of
the present village. Nine months ago, Hunt
ington was simply landing called Maple
Grove" and the place codld only boast OF
three dwellings aud probably dozen inhab-
itants, besides the State Normal School for
instruc;ing teachers which had been estab-
lishcd here some years since, on a small scale
This institution has been added to and rebuilt
until it is now large aud handsome public
building and in the past three fourths OF
year there hare been buit some 125 houses,
business and dwelling, aud the population has
increased TO more than 1900 inhabitants
within the city limits. The corporate limits
extend, three quarters OF mile from Fast to
West. and miles from North to South, at
present. The Central Land Agency (Ches-
apeake and Ohio Railroad Company COM
posed of energetic and wealthy New York
Capitalists, purchased some = months ago,
about s, 900 acres OF land comprising, with
the exception of two or three reservations,
yearly the whoIe Of the area upon which the
city is located, with the view alone OF build
Ing up the town, frcm obvious reasons, by
Offering inducements to outside capital to To-
vest here. Their prices for lots have never
varied, and their intention is rot to vary
them for. the original sum fixed upon is
being sufficiently profitable, ana yet moderate
enough to induce capital to seek Investment,
and the only condition annexed to sale Is
that building shall be erected Tor at least
every two lots purchased. This wise and
liberal policy is rapidly building up the place,
aud as the pr,ce of fronts remains the same,
while che population aud demand increases
the finest opportunity is offered ttr lnvest-
ment Some $50 lots have been sold, and
every day brings new purchasers. Prices OF
lots vary from $50 to $1,000 according to
location, aud average about 200 80 feet IN
size. The main avenues are laid off 90 wide
I have ,cmarked the business like character
and pushing energy Of the buyers, who are
nearly all earnest in their intention to settle
and build up themselves aud the place, rather
than to speculate in real estate. The guar
antce Of the future Of Huntington is based
upon most reasonable expectation AS the
point Of Exchange of the Immense tonnage
from tie Oh,o and Mississippi Valleys seeking
the Eastern sea. board, brought by The wat.
ipe to the Chesapeake and ohio RaisYoad
at this point. (the nearest and lowest grade
rail transportation to the Easy this would
necessarily bea consideaabl. husiitess city.
ranking probably 25 per ocut. ahead Of
Wheeling or Parkersbur. in iss advantages.
But the greatest advantage that it possesses
is the inexhaustible mineraldepnsits to be de-
veloped by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
and the Southern Ohio extension. the coal
iron. aud salt from which, ii is very Certain,
will be made tributary to This point, in The
shape Of manufactures and refining furnaces
by the far-seeinc Capitalists who have the
enterprise Of making Huntington d great city,