Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-06
RoCKBRIDGE COUNTY.
ITS CROPS AND IT'S WEALTH.

Rstiread Faciiiues- Merchants aud Ma"u'
ne,ur.-A D,seevery of interest PSli'
,ies- The Democratic state Ticket.
Especial correspondence OF the pispetch.l
LEXINGTON, August 4, 1885.
Rockbridge county is now one OF the
foremost counties in the Valley, rs well
as one Of the largest grain-growiug
counties. Up TO few years ago It was
isolated and comparatively unknown,
but now il is penetrated by four rail-
roads--the Richmond and Allegheny,
Chesapeake and Ohio, Baltimore and
Ohio, and the Shenandoah Valley rail-
roads, which have added much to the
wealth Of the people by putting them
into communication with large COM
mercial cities. The lands arc rich, are
easily cultivated, always in demand,
and readily sell at $50 and sI5 per
acre indeed, in some portions Of the
county land cannot DO had at any price.
The county is also rich in minerals.
There is located near Goshen, on
the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road, one Of the largest iron fur
naces in the State, the Victoria, which,
when in blast, employs several hundred
hands. Along Irish creek tin-ore is to
be found, which is said to contain about
GO per cent. Of pure tin.
THE CROPS.
The principal products are wheat
corn. &c. The crops in the county are
excellent this season, with the exception
Of the wheat crop. The yield in this
staple is only moderate, but many OF
the s!:.rmers tell me that although the
outcome is not as good as it ought to
be. vet il is much better than they cx-
pected six weeks before harvest. Quite
number of farmers made the usual
amount, while a larger number only
realized about half, and some few only
enough for -four for family purposes
and seed. The corn and hay crops
were never better than now in fact,
the corn crop, from present indications,
il is said, was never surpassed III the
history Of the county. and the yield
will be about double that Of last year.
Rockbridgc county boasts OF its
mercantile interests. In different sec
tions Of the county are to be seen
number Of fouriShing grist-mlllS, as
well as a number Of stores that do
general merchandise business. In
passing through the county you fire.
ouently meet the commercial drum
mer. The larger portion of the goods
sold in the county are bought from
Lynchburg and Baltimore houses.
Although Richmond is convenient to
this market you seldom meet with any
of its drummeIs, and | am told that
comparatively few goods find their way
here from that market.
LEXINGTON's BUSINESS.
Lexington, the county-seat, is one Of
the most prosperous and growing towns
of the State. 1t has a number Of most
excellent business houses. The mer-
chants are live, energetic, and wide
awake, and carry good stocks of goods,
and many of them are very prosperous.
The Lexington Manufacturing Compa-
nv, an enterprise started about two
years ago, is doing a splendid and pro-
fitable business. At this time they
have several houses under contract and
arc working constantly full force.
Besides the home work which they are
carrying on they are filing orders from
a distance. The location Of the cOmpa-
ny's works, on North river. just
mile from Lexington, is all that could
be desired, and its stockholders seem
very confident that in less than five
years they will get dividends from
their investments equivalent to 10 per
cent. per annum on the capital employ
ed in their business.
A CAVE.
A cave has recently been discovered
in this town. near the Virginia fish
Matching house, and the people are
much exercised about it. Some claim
that when it is fully explored it will
equal the wonderful caverns Of Luray,
but as yet no one has yeutured far
enough into it to tell its size. You can
hear some wonderful stories about 1t.
A colored man last Sunday night, in
his enthusiasm over it, was heard to
say that he was /" gwyne to took his
eatens and stay down dar and see what
was what, 'causin he knowed robbers
had been thar and hid piles Of money
The question was asked him what
made him think so, and his answer was,
why, sir, l dreampt it last night, and
lam gwyne and see." The cave will
be explored soon, and the public will
be duly apprised of the results through
the columns Of the Dispatch.
Lexington will soon have new reSer-
voir. 1t is being built just across the
road from the old one, will be completed
about the first Of October, and will hold
2,500,00 gallons. Captain ii. Davine
is the contractor. The reservoir is to
be supplied from springs in Brushy
hill. II is also proposed to pump water
from Whites spring. The town will
be supplied by an eight-inch main.
POLITICAL.
The Democratic Executive Commit
tee of the county held meeting yes
terday and elected J. X. Edmondson
chairman, and John Carmichael secre-
tary. The following are the members
of the committee: j. X. Edmondson
Scott Moore, Lexington district; g. W
Eflinger, j. 7. Dunlap, Natural Bridge
james ii. Harper, Hugh Adams, Kerr
Creek 7. II. Huffman, j. NJ. Johnston
Buffalo; William NJ. Buchanan, JOSEPH
Bell, Walker Greek; Samuel W. Will
son, W. +. Templeton, South River.
There will be primary meetings Au
gust 18th in the different precincts o
the county for the purpose Of electinl
delegates to convention that is to b,
held at Lexington on September 5th t
nominate candidates for the House G
Delegates.
The Senatorial Convention, composiu
the counties Of Rockbridge, Botetourt
Allegheny, Bath. and Highland, wi
meet at Millboro' depot on August 26t
to selest q candidate to represent tn
district in the State Senate. Senate
. Glasgow, it is thought, will not hsy
opposition if he desires reelection, a
Al a r