Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-05-06

vELoPMENT AND ENHANCING INTERESTS-A
FORMER EDITOR DIRECTING THEM.
Now is charming time of the year to visit
the most beautiful town of the Valley. Had
its colonial founders known the elegance which
wide streets give villages even. not realizing
the superior effect which the growing town and
future city would derive Jherefrom, the only
feature which detracts from the elevated and
picturesque location of Lexington, would have
been obviated. In respect to wide Streets
Wythevil' e on its handsome pl iteau, Will al
ways be the first in that adornment, but the
long lines of mountain, rolling green hills, and
winding wales, and the deeper and often sharp
ly curved valleys of the North river, display
ing a grandeur in scenery as viewed from Lex
ington and its environs, Invest, as no otner,
that growing town with the unrivalled charms
and blended glories of nature.
Standing on the University and the Military
Institute grounds looking eastward, thelensthy
plateau from Col Alto to the river bluffs is oo-
served. A few years ago it was gross fields and
lots-now there are on 1t streets and houses an
nually increasing in number. The people of
Lexington may not think SO now, but in few
years it will be realized that mistak has been
made That hill, with its undulating bord 'rs.
should be the location for park. In time. the
strikingly characterize the people Of Lexing-
ton, will not be content without park; but 1t
may be that this favored location will be other
wise appropriated before the public desire shall
be clearly manifested.
Fifty years ago, and before any other town in
the State except Lynchburg-for at that time
Richmond had not.-Lexington furnished it.
self with a good water supply equal to the ne
cessitie of many years afterwards. but not so
now. TIE town has added other springs to
former resources which come down from the
b gh western hills. and, in new and larger
reservoir, they are to be gathered. and from it
in new and enlarged sized pipes pure spring
water will be carried to all parts of the expand
ing town and to the Institutions which center
SO much attention on it. This work is now
progressing.
Though Lexington has not wide streets, It's
government long since gave its principal streets
excellent grade and superior sidewalks. The
new buildings going up with its recently com
pleted Irvine House." are of fine architectural
establishment. An innovation, however. is
gradually going on which will mar the eff CT
and when once it gets hold may remain indef
initely as it does In Staunton. where project
ing sign boards sh sdow the side walks and cut
off the view which it was intended they would
attract. There are not many projecting signs
in Lexington now and if common consent
could be secured to discard them, beautiful
streets already too narrow would not be chang
ed from their original cost.
In manu- acturing enterprises and industri
al development, Lexington was pioneer in
effort in far past time, and she Is now we'll
ahead in progressive advancement. Progress
sive ideas do not stumble along; they move
more rapidly, if perchance obstacles fall
across their pathway. AS a tobacco mart
Manchester in early times was a larger one
than Richmond. With planters and farmers
along the James river valley and no along the
North river, a large tributary to the former
the desire was manifested that batteau nsvi
CATION should have some safe means of pass
ing around the falls in the Blue Ridge noun
tains. and the'crasgy rapids above tide water
at the two cities named These two schemes
we're among the first of the internal improve
ments, which afterwards were known as
policy in the State. 1t is said Manchester
thought of roaming the legal abilities of
Patrick Henry in opposing the projection of
such scheme her side OF the James
Richmond took the other side of the question.
accepting the canal, relieving the matter of
contest. When the question came up for &C
ton at Balcony falls and the James river pass.
through the Blue Ridge mountains, Lexing-
ton furnished The leading spirit of the enter
prise. Col. John Jordan, the contractor, with
Col. Gamble to execute that work, was no
ordinary mamie was the G. r. Mason OF his
day. He executed the most difficult undertak-
ing which had been planned up to that time
for the benefit of interior transportation on
the continent More than sixty YEARS ego,
Col. Jordan laid out and prosecuted what is
now called a plant at 1.-THE Point" which In
its scope. developed much promise and in its
operations showed him to be man Of large
brain and wonderful energy. The great Val
ley thoroughfare then passed it ON the east, as
does now the united connection of the Valley
and Richmond and Allegheny railroads,
which have succeeded to the conduct of the
commerce and travel of its country, on the
west Great t ip-hammers forged steel and
iron into shapes, and foundries smelted and
moulded metals. Grain and lumber mills
turned to account the products OF farm and
forests and industries fiouri he'd under the
strong arms of skilled artizans. A building OF
large sizs for that day Was reared where he
lntendea that cotton should yield some of It's
manufactured f.brica. He became one of he
Did iron-mast RS of Virginia bringing witt
him fro j Pennsylvania an early gained know-
ledge of that great industry. Reference to
MIN in association with such enterprises OF
fifty and sixty years ago is to recount much OF
the history of iron production in Rock bridge,
Bath and Allegheny counties After his active
career had ended, the Point" works gradually
ceased to De what they were under his direc
ton.
simultaneous with the opening OF the two
railroads. company was organized of home
capital and energy for variety of new indus
tries. which brought out the "old p ant" estab-
lish ng what is known as the Lexington Man.
ufacturing Company" in which have been in
vested in actual money and resources some.
thing like seventy five thousand dollars. all
contributed by home residents and enterprise
The equipment in fixtures and machinery is
the very best, and propelled by heavy water
power. equal to any future progress which may
De desired. House-buildipg materials OF wood,
and building houses. and the manufacture of
furniture, are some of the departments prose
cuted. Wheat, corn, and plaster-milIs run
with steadiness. A large Foundry, steam en-
g1ne, and iron machinery works have been
erected, to which The classic name of Beech.
enbrook" ha been given. These last are leased
and work ed by Joliffe d Estill, who are push,
ing one of their products, q small iavorite farm
engine, all through the South. They are also
ply.
Over tEv affairs of the Company aud in the
direction Of the mills and manufacturing in
wooden fabrics and building houses, Mr.. A
Barclay is the presiding genius. We all know
how hard 1t has been in these dull times and
stagnation IN the buSjness Interests of the
country to carry successfully along such en-
terprises, especially when new and entering
the field of competition, already too full by
over-prod uctiOn. But the ear past, and since
Mr.. Barclay has been in charge profit has
be n made, though he strained his resources
in keeping his forces employed, determining
that his men, who are greatly attached to him.
should not go in and ou' of their domicils with
saddened hearts, because he could have, with
propriety, called a halt in work for them. but
would not Around 9Th Point" all through
the town, and out in the county, are many ev.
licences of the blessings diffused from these
works. finer architectural style and finish
is going out from them, as beautiful homes,
and elegant business houses rise by the skill
and handiwork of their artisans.
Mr.. Barclay is a broad-gauged man. He de-
lights in helping to make, and then he likes to
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