Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-07-08
Local
THE NEW ROUTE THROUGH THE
VALLEY.


THE NEW ROUTE THROUGH THE
VALLEY.
FROM WAYNEsBORO TO HAGERsTOWN
AND RETURN-YOUNG RAILROAD MEN
FINE COUNTRY OPENED UP-A CHAIN
OF MILLs-NOTABLE PLACES-BATTLF
FIELDs--LURAY AND ITS IMPROVE
MENTs-THE CA vERNs--CHARLEsT
HISTORICAL RIvER--oLD JOHN BROWN
AND HIS LAST WORDS.
&C., &C., sc.
rReported for the staunton V1NDIcAToR1
The distance by the Shenandoah Valley
line from Waynesboro to HagerstoWn,
Md. is l43 miles. You can leave Waynes-
boro at 80 A. NJ, make the run to Ha-
gerstown by 7 80, remain three or four
hours and get back to Waynesboro at half
past four the same day, or you can take
three DAYS for it and see something of the
beautiful ValIey-the triumphs of engin-
eering skill along this new line, the Won
ders that nature has worked here and
there and the improvements that man has
made everywhere and you will wish you
had three days more to do it in.
1t has frequently been the subject of
much remark when now and then the rap
id strides of this road from North to South
through this State have been noticed. This
energy is at once accounted for when one
sees something of the men who are push
ing the enterprise. They are
ALL YOUNG MEN
all born railroad men with the well known
energy and push of the West in them. No
road in Virginia is differed with as many
Young men as the Shenandoah Valley and
no road is better differed. The
President of the company, F. J. kimball.
isaman Of about IS. His headquarters
are at Philadelphia. Superintendent Jos.
II. Sands is young man of about thirty;
Chief Engineer W. W. Coe is about the
same age; Auditor Joseph W. Coke, is, say
thirty-ive; G. P. Hatch, General Freight
Agent, is not over forty. These officers
have their headquarters at HagetstoWn.
Mcdowell. Treas'r, aged about 40, has
his office in Philadelphia, and J. G. Copell
Train Master, can't be over twenty-seven.
These gentlemen are all alive to the inter-
est of their road, as busy as all first class
railroad men are but not too busy to be
courteous and attentive and what is of
first Importance to newspaper men to take
time to answer questions.
THE WHEAT AND MILLS ALONG THE
ROUTE.
The building of this road has opened up
the finest wheat country in the two Vir-
ginias, and the county Of Jefferson
through which it runs from one end to the
other as shown by the last report was the
largest wheat growing county in the Uni
ted States for it's size. The county con-
tains 126, 900 acres including mountains
and streams, say about 100000 acres of
arabic land. It produced 100000 bushels
BILE land.
There is a perfect chain of mills along
the road commencing with Smith & Pat
terson at Waynesboro, the largest and
best in the Valley with a capacity of 100
barrels per day. Soon after leaving Way
nesboro we pass Nick. Coyner's new mill
now rapidly going up on the site of the old
one which was burnt but few months
ago. The next day after it was burnt Mr..
Coyner began to make his arrangements
to rebuild and expects to be ready for the
present crop with capacity OF from Az to
so barrels of flour per day. Next comes
Mr.. G. K. Koiner's grist mill, then on the
same stream. South River, Harer Bros
grist and saw mills and l.. Leonard's flour
mill capacity-2O to 25 barrels per day
Henry Coiner's flour mill Is barrels per
day, J. A. Patterson 3 grist and saw mill
Joseph Hundley's saw mill, J. A. Patter-
sons flour and saw mills, all of these in
Augusta county, also Patrick g mill nearer
Waynesboro.
The road passes by Crimora the station
of the fourishing manganese mines of
that name, the fine Belvedere estate and
the famous Red Mills-the slow precinct of
Augusta county until the VINDICATOR
election express reached it-Harriston
the new post office named after John. T
Harris, along through the well known
Patterson neighborhood where for miles it
passes through fine farms all owned by
some of that numerous Augusta family.
Then we pass by Meyers Cave and the Cave
of Fountains and Mt. Vernon Furnace
and catch fine view across some splendid
country to Leroy, in Rockingham. an6
soon we are rushing across the battle felt
of Port Republic. where our travelling
companion, one armed ex confederate
from Waynesboro, points out many nota
BILE spots and beguiles the way with inter
esting "reminiscences of the memorable
valley campaign. Near Port Republic thu
road crosses into Rockingham and passe
in sight of the old homestead of Genera
Lewis and then through the plantation Of
Hon. John F. Lewis. 1t IS good farm
and the house is an unpretending old fash
toned brick of ample dimensions. Their
is a good mill also on the premises not ia
from the mansion. Other mills are pass
ed-Shaver's, J. K. Harnesberger DR.
Miller's, VIM. Marshalls & Bro g. near ant
beyond Elkton, and then, as we approach
Luray, on the Hawks Bill river, M. B. V
Kites, VIM. Groves, Reynold & Smoot 3
H. J. Shoots and Charles Carter's. ant
in the neighborhood Of the Shenando
ali Iron Works, VIM. G. Kites and Jos
M. Price,. In fact, it would seem tina
even the large crops of wheat mad
through this section would hardly be sui
fcient to keep them at work. but larg
quantities of grain finds its way to othe
markets, and much of the wheat tina
comes to the Waynesboro mills is draw