Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-02-11
Greenv,l,e-RIverheads District.

| Greenville is lively town and does not intend
| to abide in stand-still policy. Under the old
order of things it had about attained to the size
the surrounding country and Valley travel
would support, but with the opening of the
Valley Railroad to Lexington new spirit has
| been az akened, and well-consldered enter
| prise seems to be uppermost in the purposes OF
many ofits citizens. The advantages of commu
| nication secured by railroads never fail to i'm
part substantial benefits which are strikingly
/ illustrated in increasing values in many ways.
The opportunities OF Greenyille are promising
L. has on all sides Immediately adjacent rich
agricultural and pastoral country, and is now
the most convenient railroad station to Mid
dlebrook and Newport. two other towns, the
upper Walkers creek. Hsys's, Moffetts's, and
| Harris's creeks, the Dutch Hollow, and other
| valleys noted for their producing resources,
and the sterling character of their inhabi-
tants In this elevated country of the Valley
central plateau, topography, physical struc-
ture, and soil are similar to the fine wheat
producing sections of Maryland. which it is
fast aspiring to in its yields of that cereal.
Many farmers in that region still adhere to
their time honored methods, and as all have
| good teams, wagoning TO Staunton is still one
| of them but not few avail themselves of tn
railroad at its most practicable point, the effect
| of which is that Greenville has very large
share OF trade, and from sections which pre-
viously could not be largely estimated for the
value OF traffic at that town.
In the hills northwest of the town are the
head-springs of the South River, which, &C.
cumulating as the stream reaches and passes
through, has furnished tolerably fair water
power. A large merchant mill is the only
ted manufacturing enterprise Immediately al
Al
notably large wagon fuctory. Between the
Valley Railroad depot and the town as it was
are beautiful building sites. which are being
occupied by new houses; conspicuously so is
the new Baptist church, which arrests the eye
of every passer-by, and is really an ornament
to the liberality and taste of the community.
The town is well supplied with mercantile
and mechanical establishments, and has its
hotel, and though last, by no means the least
of its enterprises, is the bright waving Banner
weekly newspaper which is steadily growing
as representative of the progress which is
going forward at and around this old Valley
town. In commercial features, Greenville is
especially an advancing trade center. Wheat
and other grain, and ali kinds of farm pro
duets. are brou sht there in bulk, not upon the
barter methods only, but upon cash terms; SO
that the place is Ii ely produce exchange, the
dealers conducting trade as such, and are pre-
pared to handle their business on liberal
scale in ware. house and storage accommoda-
tions. Farmers supplies are obtained there in
any quantities. One feature of the trade may
be specially referred to. The sales OF fertili-
zers by local agents and dealers have reached
in one year the large amount of six hundred
tons, which, when added to the sales by Staun-
ton and other dealers supplying that locality.
will furnish some idea of the progressive char
acter the cultivation OF wheat and the grasses
is assuming.
Greenville is the center of large section of
country elegantly supplied with varied manu-
featuring resources. The main stream and its
tri hutaries winding through the descending
valleys furnish many, though not heavy water
heads, but which in their fall in this practi-
cal day of utilizing power by turbine wheels
would be ample to drive sufficieucy of ma
chinery to turn out thousands of dollars an
nually in valuable productions. thereby in
creasing population and adding untold wealth
to the community.
Taking Greenvile as trade-center reference
has been made to adjoining sections, which
have increased the prosperity of that town in
consequence of its location and the advantages
the railroads give it. All that country oR the
ing in the villages of Middlebrook and New
port, than which there is not to be found bet
ter watered portion of Augusta comfy, and in
industry and the thrift of its Inhabitants wor-
thy of the highest favors feels somewhat out
in the cold. Often is the enquiry, when shall
we be favored liz other communities, seeing
that we are as deserving and have resources
worthy of attention ?" The best plan is not to
delay action so as to ascertain first what Or
ganlzation and effort will accomplish, with
any amount of Encouragement tn own in}o
the consideration, but put those essential
agencies to work. not knowing how soon the
right movement will take proper shape and
lead to desired results. If this appears ques-
tionable. it will not be so when thought is ex-
ercised and conference one with another is
had. There are instances in Virginia, and
they are occurrences of late years too, wherein
sections not so bountifuly blessed with natu-
raj wealth as the western portion of River
heads district in association with that broad
part of Rockbridge county adjoining, have act
ed in close alliance for furthering their own in
teresis and succeeded in every feature. It
would be no credit to the intelligence and
ability of the community In question to say
that its citizens cannot accomplish what 9TH
ers have done with fewer advantages than
they possess.