Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va) 1886-1890, 1889-12-18
WHERE LEE RODE
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY'S LIVE
TOWN.
BUENA VISTA, BEAUTIFUL VIEW.
Its Progress, ITS Furnace ana Minis:
FITS Water Power and Railroad fa-
ci.ities: Its Ilotel-New Build
ings. Iron Ore. Etc. Etc.

before the close of his life, he fire.
quently rode out to the Buena Vista
estate, few miles from Lexington,
and, resting his horse upon the sum-
nit of one of its many peaks, drank
in the inspiration of the surrounding
view
Account says that the ride was Il
particularly favorite one of his, and
that he never grew tired of taking it..
If he was alive today, and could
take the same ride again, he would
see not only the same natural beau
ties of mountain, valley and river,
but he would overlook an uprs-
inc town, which, in short time, will
become city fifty typical of the re-
vivified South.
Buena Vista beautiful view is Il
Young town. 1t is not year Old yet,
and will get Its charter from the pres
ent legislature. Its activity, however
is inversely in proportion to its age,
and enough new enterprises have been
started and are assured to make IT Il
good sized city.
The town is beautifully located at
the junction of tie Shenandoah Val
lev and Richmond and Allegheny
now the Chesapeake and Ohio rail
roads. BY it runs the North river,
which possesses an immense water
power, and is branch OF the James
river. Eight miles distant. over the
Richmond and Allegheny, is LeXinS-
ton, famous for its schools, and the
southern terminus of the valley
branch of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad.
The Buena Vista company, which
was organized last spring, owns the
greater part of the town and several
thousand acres of adjacent ore lands,
the original tracts containing $4,000
acres.
The town proper lies in an exceed
iugly pretty valley which was once 4
nart OF the estate of Rev. b. G. Moo
NAV. and upon which his residence,
an aged white pillared brick mansion,
still stands.
The signs of new life and enterprise
are visible, however, ut every hand.
Upon high plateau overlooking the
business part OF the town, the com,
pany has erected IL handsome hotel
building. 1t is an exact model OF the
Bluetield inn, IFS exterior Is brightly
painted and the interior is finished in
natural wood. 1t was opened about
the first OF last August, and not being
sufficiently large TO provide for the
wants OF the town, will be increased
by the addition of a wing. Is is well
kept in the spring and would be a
credit TO u town Of ten thousand peo-
pie.
Looking ont from the hotel, work
men are seen erecting numerous
buildings. a very pretty building for
the Methodists has Just been com
pleted, and a house of worship for
the Presbyterians is also in course OF
construction. All of the different de
nominations, including the Catholics
have already secured sites, and each
will have church OF its own.
A school house was one OF the llrst
buildings erected in the town, pro
visions for education and religion
being the first things made.
The streets of the town have been
laid off on a broad, liberal scale. and
range from sixty to eighty feet wide.
Magnolia avenue, which will be one
of the principal business streets, Is
eighty feet wide, and several buildings
are already in course of construction
upon it. Among the buildings are a
number also of brick, rather unusual
| thing for towns just starting.
At the corner of Magnolia avenue
and Twenty first street the Buena
Vista Building, Water and Light
company are putting up three-story
brick building, 25x125 feet in size,
1t will be used principally for
Office purposes. Just opposite, on
the same street, Mr.. b. &. Moomaw Is
erecting bank building. 1t is also
of brick and will be two stories. a
block nearer the Shenandoah Valley
railroad, the Buena Vista Building
company is building brick hotel.
1t is 50 by 1875 feet in size, 1T Will be
three stories in height and will contain
stores on the lower floor.
Within less than a stones throw
from the last spot the foundation is
being laid for a Union depot for the
two railroads. which run parallel to
each other for a distance Of two miles
through the company's property.
The depot, in addition to the con-
venience it will afford, will be the
finest and most elaborate between
Roanoke and Hagerstown.
There are about fifty houses, IN ALL
in course of erection in Buena Vista
and several hundred men are engaged
at work there in different capacities.
but what is there about the town
to cause the building?" is asked.
The new industries that are being
started. On the west of the railroad
tracks several score of men are at
work on the furnace. Mr.. Graves
Sims of this city has fifty men and
twenty teams at work grading, and
the foundation for the furnace has al
ready been put in. According to con-
tract the furnace is to be ready to 60
into blast by the 18th of August. The
capacity of the furnace will be
from 100 to 1875 tons, and to-
gether with the working OF the
mines, will give employment to sew.
eral hundred men. The grounds OF
the furnace company were laid of TIC
provide in time for four furnaces, and
it is expected that another furnace
will be begun at an early date.
Further down along the line OF the
Richmond and Allegheny road, where
the North river with a velocity o.
several hundred-horse power, runs
through the interstices of dam, by
the aid of derricks huge rocks are
ta:u.,. ,1oood into ,,ooifioD for thf