The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-12-02
South River Items.

Why cross the American continent in search
of scenery when by taking seat in one OF the
flying palaces i'll daily use on the $. V. R. r.
you can between Roanoke and Hagerstown
feast your very soul scenery as sublime, as
stupendous, as magnificent, as that found in
the far off West.
From one end of this route to the other the
hotel accommodations simply all that can
be wished for and not mnrmur has ever been
heard against the cuisine since the company
took charge of the hotels on the line. So many
descriptions having been given of the style OF
architecture adopted in the building of these
'lnns,'' l shall say nothing furthur on that
head-for to give description that would do
justice would require the possession of more
architectural skill than can boast.
The Southern terminus of this road is at what
used to be the village fif 1t even rose to that
high a dignity Of Big Lick. but what Is now
known the world over as Roanoke city,
When this road reached Big Lick its touch
was the touch OF magic and the little waysde
station of the Norfolk & Western sprang into
city of nearly ten Thousand inhabitants. and
the drowsy sound OF the idle stream that flowed
| through Its limits and the empty signing of the
winds were turned into the roar and hum of
| industry. For the old mill that stood as lone
| representation OF all the manufactures, there
l
| factories OF a dozen kind, and all busy.
The few modest farm houses that lay snugiy
teusconced amidst the Virginia Creepers have
| given place to stately mansions and business
| houses OF granite, brick and iron, and where
one must needs carefully select walk way
/ along some narrow path winding out and in
! among the bushes ard across swamps, there
1 are wide streets and avenues running in con-
| yenient directions and paved as handsomely
/ and substantially as any to be found anywhere.
| They who afore time went jolting over the
rutty, stony roads in their vehicles, now glide
along over the smoothest drives. But we must
not linger in Roanoke, although we would fain
do SO and have talk with that old farmer who
has but just driven into the city with a load OF
produce. We simply make comparison of
prices before the road reached there and noW,
4 and find that the agricultural part of that sec
tion has been benefited more than 200 pei
cent, and have home market.
There are many things to Interest us between
4 Roanoke and where we leave the main line for
q look at the Natural Bridge; but space forbids
mentioning them now.
:! We must take walk through Buchanan
however. for we have "reminiscences of this viii
lage 1t is old, old burgh -the houses speal
for its age. Away back when your CORES
rondent was but boy, Buchanan was al i'm
p0ftant place by virtue of It's location on TIT
Icanal and its foundry. And a great deal o bus
mess WAS done AID produce to a great amount
shipped. but the war put quietns on Buchan
an. and not until the s. V. Il. r. found it
, way there did it wake into anything like life
The old originals at Buchanan were coted 70
| their love of good fellowship and many de
lightful meeting was held by the jolly old fl
lows In its hotel Buchanan can't spread gu
+ much for it Is too closely cramped by the rve
banks, but there is room for great deal of i'm
provement
1t was here chat after the command TO wbic
> had the honor to belong during the war; ha
crossed the bridge on it's retreas before Hnntel
!. set fire to and burned it in order to check til
Yanks.-and just bere ley me correct mistak
n | made by Mr.. Ernest lngersolI in his "Chron
: | ces of a Leisurely Journey, &C., &c., when h
says-speaking 81 ihe burning of this bridge
! SIS =, but Mcpausland (the same who Sc
fire to Chambersburg and several Maryland III
lagos, &c.") McCausland set fire to 70 villag
house, barn. mill 9r any other building in Til
state of Maryland-and l speak whereof
know, when make the declaration for We
with that General on every march he mad
outside Virginia, and the command never ha
occasion to set fire to any village in Marylan
or anywhere else but Chambersburg.
Natural Bridge station Is nearly two mile
from the bridge. so having reached that poll
and seated ourselves for comfortable hac