Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-03-06
&C., &C., &C.
SALTvILLE, VA, Feb. %. 18e

SALTvILLE, VA. Feb. %. 1885.
had heard much about Palmer & Bow
mans famous SaltviIle Herd of Short
Horns, but did not know until reached
here last week that this was the largest
herd of registered cattle in America or
even in the world, nor did know that at
Saltville I could see the finest animal OF
the cattle kind in the world. But I find
that these assertions are true and con-
ceeded by the best authorities on short
horns in the country.
THE SALTvILLE FARM
is princely domain of about 10 900 acres.
embracing the Saltville valley, one of the
prettiest valleys in Southwest Virginia,
which is laid off in extensive level grass
fields, neatly fenced and hedged, well
drained and watered, and intersected by
broad, smooth, we'll graded roads, and
thousands of acres of rolling blue grass
pasture lands, dotted over with thousands
of cattle, horses, sheep and swine; for this
model farm is the home of 400 registered
shorthorn cattle of the purest blood; about
$50 fine graded animals and Jerseys 10
horses, colts and mules, some of them six
or eight years old, fine animals who have
never had saddle on their backs; 1900
100 Berkshire and Poland China hogs. Six
large barns for the cattle, and numerous
stables and sheds, for the horses, sheep
and swine are placed here and there at con-
veniens distances over the large farm.
THE VILLAGE OF sALTvILLE,
situated near the head of the pretty valley,
contains the neat and commodious depot,
the large brick store and Offices Of the
Holston Salt and Plaster Company, the
large Saltville Hotel, handsome church
and High School building, four Ion
smoking salt furnaces and scores of neat
cottages, the homes of the employees OF
the salt works and the farm; while upon
the slopes, overlooking the valley, are the
pretty residences of Messrs. Geo. W. Pal
mer and his only son. Charles F. Palmer.
A. M. Bowman, Mr.. Aker, the farm man.
ager, the last named being he former re-
sidence of w. A. Stuart, Esq Altogether
1t is busy; orderly, church going COM
munity;.everybody with something to do,
no drones, no bar-rooms, no billiard
saloons, work all the week but at mid
night Saturday, unlike most large public
works. the fires IN the engine house and
at the furnaces are extinguished, the
great pump which for six days and nights
has been going up and down with its un-
ceasing thud, as it drew up its briny
wealth from the subterranean salt caverns.
nearly 200 feet below. ceases to move; the
hundreds of great salt kettles stop their
boiling. everything is locked up snugly,
for Sabbath of rest, and quiet reigns in
the busy valley. Sunday morning comes
and the children of the village and the
valley gather by scores to the Sunday
Palmer some years ago. The millionaire
proprietor himself is the superintendent,
the clerks and their wives and daughters,
the teachers. and after the school there is
preaching. by ministers of the several de-
nominations ia turn. methodist, Episco-
palian, Presbyterian, and Lutheran in
the morning and at night; quiet. restful
Sabbath; no rattling railroad trains. no
shrieking engines, no sleigh bells, or
whooping, whistling boys to disturb its
peace; quiet and rest till the stroke of the
clock at midnight sounds the signal for
another week g work.
THE SALTvILLE HERD.
All! but those short horns, had for the
time almost forgotten them; though if you
see them once you will not altogether for
get them. To see them Understandings,
you must drive around, as did. with Mr..
Bowman, who is the best posted man on
the Herd book, in Virginia, or probably liz
the country:
Our first visit was to the stable of the
"Head of the herd" the Second Duke of
Kent, pure "Bates" bull, bought by Pal
mer & Bowman last fall at J. G. Hamil-
ton g sale in Kentucky, and for the price
of good farm. He cost all of Sc 100.-
He is just three and one-half years old, a
really perfect animal, given up to be the
finest bull in America, and Mr.. B. +. Van
Meter, of Ky. distinguished breeder,
whose good judgment is universally con-
ceded, (havlng on G recent trip to England
visited nearly all the noted Shorthorn
herds in that country. so noted for pure
bloods,) says he saw no bull to equal him
| So am safe in saying have justseen the