The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1879-05-15
a Run Over the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway-Business Indications The
Lumber. Iron and Coal Interests-A
Promising Future.

AhOiHaiSootoAoOA-lC fivItlS UuslucSs dllus q
new lease to enterprise, which are apparent
-along the line OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad, from Staunton to the Ohio River,
are very encouraging. At almost every
railroad station evidences Of improvement
and thrift meet the eve, demonstrating the
activity and confidence which are taking
hold Of the people, and giving assurance
of renewed life and progress in industrial
endeayors. At Elizabeth or Ferrol Furnace,
is encountered the first important in.
dustry, Where the Messrs. Green are
largely engaged in mining and shipping
hematite ores, and where the vast deposit
Of this metal is destined to command more
enlarged operations. not only in securing the
ores, but in converting them into iron. At
Craigsville the lessee of Augusta Marble
Works, is quarrying huge blocks of marble
and sending them west as specimens, to be
examined by dealers, with the expectation
of large orders to follow. In the meantime
those who are now operating this quarry are
making preparations for finishing the marble
on the grounds, and expec. to employ a
large number of workmen for that purpose.
A short distance from Goshen another mar
BILE quarry-a continuation of the same vein
has been opened by Messrs. Gooch G. Co.,
and large derrick is now being constructed at
the Staunten Iron Works for use at that
place. Already contingent orders from the
West have been received by these parties,
and if the specimens sent to Cincinnati
prove to be, on critical inspection, what it is
believed they are, thriving trade will be
opened up in this article. At Goshen and
Mlborc, and especially the latter place, the
| evidences Of thrift and enterprise are no.
ticeable in the new buildings erected, and
the improvements which meet the eye
around the premises. The new hotel al
Milboro, recently completed by he propri-
etor, Mr.. Warren, is a neat and attractive
building. and its very appearance will en-
tice the health and pleasure seeker to give
it trial at least. At Williamson's, brisk
little town is springing into existence, the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company
having contracted for the erection of doz-
en- comfortable houses for railroad employ
ees, Messrs. Shomo & Irving doing the wood
work, Bishop d Stafford the painting, and
other Staunton mechanics having hand in
the construction. At Lowmoor, new
seventy ton furnace is in process OF cree
ton, which will cost at least $125 1000, and
handsome three.story residence is being
erected by Mr.. Wicks, superintendent OF
Lowmoor, on which several Stanton me
chanics are engaged. On through the iron
district, stretching nearly a hundred miles,
and the lumber section, and the coal region,
Improvements are going forward, indepen-
dent of these important Industries, but Incl
dent to them. At Ronceverte, the centre OF
the lumber trade, is collection of tidy
dwellings, occupied mostly by those engaged
in this employment, and at Anderson a
thriving town has been built up, with good
promise of rapid increase in population and
business. Fort Spring, intervening, is
where large limestone quarry for fuxing
uses is being operated; and just beyond Al
derson is where Messrs. Mohler & Son are
running saw mill, getting out lumber to
fill large French order for Mr.. w. L..
Rawson. Another saw mill is about to go
into operation near this point, and another
lumber company has been organized, which
proposes to reduce the timber to all sizes
and descriptions of marketable lumber
Passing to Hinton, the thriving county seat
Of Summers county,i is found busy town of
1,200 or 1,50O population and rapidly grow
ing. It is here where the little steam boat
is seen that plows New River for a few
miles. and aids in spending few thous-
ands of government money, for a purpose
entirely foreign to national objects. Quin-
nemont is the beginning Of the New River
Coal region, where near half million OF
dollars have been expended in extensive
coking ovens and an iron furnace. Just
beyond McKendree station derrick is set
and oil boring IN operation with excellent
prospects for successful issue. Fire Creek
presents another coking seat, and then Sc
we'll and Nuttlasburg with several other
coking industries, leaving which we speed
on to the Hawks Nest, through the pictu-
rescue, awe-inspiring New River Gorge, to
the end of the New River Coal region. Here
nestled under the over hanging cliffs and
apparently suspended above the bed of New
River, is cozy little hotel, kept by Mr..
Foreman, where all creature comforts may
be had and a delightful repose.
We have thus hurriedly glanced at the
presentations offered in rapid ride from
Staunton to Hawks Nest, on the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railway, now rapidly sup
plying its track with steel rails, land thus con-
tributing to the comfort and safety of its
passengers. We now return to the primary
purpose of this article, and that is cursory
glance at the Lumber, Iron and Coal Inter
ests which exist and the prospective devel-
opments, which are to make the line of this
road one continued scene of busy and prof
liable industry at no distant day.
The Lumber Region, now being operated
on is embraced in Greenbrier and Pocahon-.
tas counties, and the trade resulting from it
constitutes an important item in the freight
age of the railroad-at this time probably
the most important. The huge timbers, en-
bracing pine, walnut, cherry, white and
black oak, ash and other kinds, are felled
forty miles from Ronceverte, in Pocahontas
and Greenbrier counties, and foated down
the Greenbrier River, two or three compa-
MES being now in active operations, and do
ing heavy business. At Ronceverte and
vicinity, there are three or four steam saw
mills turning this timber into lumber, much
of which is shipped east, while large guam
titles of the timber in bulk takes the same
direction. This trade is yet In its infancy,
with timber sufficient not only in this local
ity, but all along the line of the railroad, to
supply all demands for generation to come.
And when the forests adjacent to the road
have been thinned out. the back country
now inaccessible, except by the streams,
but which some day will be traversed by
narrow guage roads, now projected or in
contemplation, will furnish still more abun-
dant supplies, and pour in a stream Of
wealth which will add greatly to the afflu-