The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-01-17
Encouraging indications

Since the purchase OF the Elizabeth Fur
mace property by the Messrs. Green, OF
Ohio, and the active operations they hase !,
instituted for its development. numerous
INQUIRIES have been made as to the irsu liz
terests Of this portion OF Virginia. A north
ern gentleman recently visited this part Of
the State to examine for the best locality to
erect al iron furnace. Others have had
theirattcntion drawn here, by rea.on of the
favorable reports Of the iron deposits which
have been sent out by gentlemen prospect
ing along the line Of the Chesapea Re T. Ohio
Railroad, and territory con tisnons to 1t.
Not only have the iron fields been the object
Of Inquiry, hut the ceal and lumber interests
are being locked into. and the prospect is
natterins that in the early spripg capital
and enterprise will now into Virginia to
seek Investment and employment.
OF course it is natural for rs to be partial
to this section OF the State. and not to uu-
ler-estimats the advantages we possess.
But the most extravagant calculations of our
most sanguine citizens have scarcely ap-
preached the enthusiasm Of experts from a
distance who have recently had their attea.
r ten drawn here. An experienced iron man.
whose life has been spent in developing iron
interests in the west, after examining the
Elizabeth property, said it was ''sinpls
wonderful" A gentleman, who repre- seDts
several publications devoted exclusively to
the iron interests, expressed his astonish.
ment at the extent and variety OF the min.
eral wealth Of this sectien--sarpassils anJ.
iAing of the kind he had ever seen. Sacil,
iRdesd, is the testimony OF all who have vie.
tied Virginia for the purpose of informing
themselves OF her mineral resources.
The prospective sale of the Chesapeake d
Ohio Railroad. and tae speedy completion
of its western connections. will have rhe Ct
feet to stimulate interest ns.the iron bust
ness, for it will bring the entire Ohio Valley
into direct connection with this part of yir
Sinia, and furnish rsmunerative market
for the ores. New furnaces will he cstab.
lished. the coal Interests will be more full,
developed. and then manufactures ANS
follow.
1t is source of qualification and eDcOur
agement that scarcely one of tue gentlemen
who visited this section in connection will
the coal and iron interests. who has no
been attracted by the position of Stauntol
for = manufacturing, t@wn. The genera
Judgment is that, with the iron and coal in
rerests developed, manufactures inciacn
thereto will be located here. As the psnt @
competition in ireights, aHd it's unrivalls
school and church advantages. There is IA
point where more facilities could be fun
nis4ed for all that is demanded bv such es
Establishments. and these would be largel,
augmented by the formation and couple
ten of the Valley railroad, giving = 1irec
Southern outlet.
The iron men of the North and West ar
locking to tile section where iron can 4
Made cheapest. They here lind tlrE ores, til
zeal and lumber, in close proximity DO
l., cheap, climate favorable, and the means O
reaching the points Of aepand equal to til
natural advantages. They estimate tina
iron can be manufactured in this part @
Virginia With more remunerative return
than any point in the Juiou eseTythin,
considered. In AIabxma it can be made q
cheap, but we have the advantage Of loca
ton as to the points Of consumption, by s
81 u in the to. Of pig. which OF itself is
good profit. Indeed, the opinion has bee
expressed by experienced pen, that ther
is no region which ceul} compete with Vir
yipia, in this respect.
We make these. general rensrks, to stiinu
late the confidence and the hopes Of tn
people. and to give them the assurance tina
the. evidences point to future OF actis
busipessand unprecedented prosperity. "
have faith in the prospects, and are firm i
the belief that this portion of Virginia
destined to be the theatre Of a business err
terpnse, never dreamed of ty the past gen
sration and many of the present.
Z D q