Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-10-01
THROUGH THE STATE.
GRAfSON COUNTY.
The Halss-A War Reminiseencs-'"'"e-
Raising-Fine prina-Iron-Poiincat

The Halss-A War Reminiseencs-'a'"e-
Raising-Fine Spring ns-Iron-Poiincn'.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispa'ch.i
SEPTEMBER 20. 1884.
This county 4. the home OF one OF the
"Big Four" towards whom tnc peoppe oi
the whole State will ever entertain the deep
est gratitude. allude TO Mr.. Hale. Mr..
Hale lives on beautiful farm IN this county,
his farm being part Of most fertile valley
that "A friend travelling with me says had
been long the admiration Of men OF other
sections who have fine taste and judgment
i'm rcspcct 10 mountain farms. This county
OF Grayson sent q company OF volunteers
into the service of the state OF some pecu-
ljsrity. John < Hale was captain. and they
were called The "GraysOn Dare-Deyils."
The company had thirty-th members
named Hale. IL would appear the Smiths
have had 10 knock under 10 the Hales, al
least in this county. The company were
uniformed in red-ilannel shirts, aud they
promptly marched TO Wytheyille, some
thirty miles oil. 10 take the train there for
some point OF active service. On ar
riving at Wytheyile Il message came
from the Governor that they were mol
wanted, but they refused 10 disband and
return home, and resolved TO remain in
camp tn wanted. In short time they
were called 20 duty and left their camp al
Wyihcvlle for the field OF battle, after
having supported themselves in camp for
some time. They were attached 10 jack
sons first regiment, the centre OF which
was the Wythe Grays, with the Dare-Devils
nd the Smythe Blues on either side.
Their career in the field was glorious, but a
number OF them fell in the first battle OF
Manassas. These companies were in jack
sons campaign to the Moorefield Valley in
the winter OF lSGl-a march that resem-
bled, in severity Of weather and suffering
Of The troops, that Of Napoloon's last march
to Moscow. so much for the martial spirit
Of the IIales and other citizens OF the
GraysOn OF that day.
Now one finds here hardy race OF ag-
ricuturalists end cattle-raiSers. Their
lands are adapted TO grazing. and three
fourths oi il is kept IN grass. On
many hilsides and meadows below the
fattening herds were grazing. Among the
most beautiful aud splendid Of herds we
Jaw were those Of Captain s. VI. Fulton,
whowa several years ago a member OF the
state Legislature. His herds were mainly
of the short-hOrnod Durham breed. We
were treated 10 an inspection OF 4 COW, u
ou-,ear-old, that took all the premiums
OF her class at the late Roanoke Fair. She
weighs 1,G20 pounds. and was from the cell
ebrated Bentley herd Of Pulaski. Captain
Fulton also exhibited TO Us n bull ycarling
OF the same stock that weighs $40 pounds.
such cattle are deserving Of a place in the
Dispatch.
One more matter worth mention
ing is a spring, also Captain FultOn's.
The water Is fTeeStone, and has house
over it about 40 by -. with first or base
ment story OF stone. the outer walls eigh-
teen inches thick, with inner walls encOm-
passing the spring OF equal thickness.
Immediately below the spring is a store
room. or large rock vault, with a llrge cis-
tern OF flowing water. in which butter and
mix are kept. and on shelves around are
kept fresh meats. Large stone steps and
tagging. IS if Of hewn stone, formed a
large doorway entrance 10 the spring.
When large glass pitcher was filed and
set on a stone platform contiguous the
light gave it the appearance oi section OF
great icicle. such a spring and il, ar
rangemcnts, costing over thousand dol
lars. are good enough for a king.
And now j beg 10 tell YOU about Iron
Mountain which have twice crossed. The
fact is these mountains are a tangle and
These tortuous uphosyes, in myriad
shapes, with seams and pocket Of mineral
treasures, salts and springs and beds Of
coal and iron hidden in them. seem to
have been separate creation from mother
earth. or why can't we dig down and lind
the same treasures about Richmond! II
similar treasures are in or under the earth
in the level lands the expense Of boring for
them would he more than cOunterbalanced
bv the uneyenness OF surface here and cost
OF transportation over mountains after they
have been developed. But enough OF idie
speculation. Iron seems 10 be the great
mineral OF this section. In the different
gorges OF Iron MOuntan-that portion Of
il that lies in Wythe-therc are seventeen
iron furnaces, each producing daily an ay-
CTagc OF five 10 six tons OF charcoal iron.
Several make a. much o. ten tons per day.
! am told that these ores require only
one ( urth o. ton Of limestone to yiela
a ton OF iron, while at most Pennsylvania
furnaces IT takes two tons Of limestone -
1uX ore to make one ton OF iron. and the
charcoal iron made here will sell for from
IS TO S12 a ton more than Pennsylvania
iron. learn from good authority the MAJ
nctIc ore here. Of which the supply is in
eXhaustiblc, contains titY-seyen per cent.
OF metallic iron.
Thus you see We have the magnetic iron
with which 10 make the Government guns.
and as we have also abundance Of coal il Is
apparent that il would be 10 the interest Of
the Government for these reasons aud many
others that have already been stated to To-
cate the United states gun foundry on
James river.
You Will want to know something about
the political aspect Of the country. | am
assured that the counties OF Wythc, Gray
son. and Carroll Will give Democratic ma
ioritios.
Wytbe and Grayson have been hoily-con-
tested fields; but good judges say Grayson
viii give IL large Democratic gain and
quite handsome majority. and thd Wythe
Will give Il good majority. Carroll has all
along been true. I.