Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-03-13
For the SPECTATOR.
what a Stranger Saw i'm Ruena Vista

cities In Alabama where wealth, enterprls
and population have sprung into existence
almost as II by magic and where suburban lot
are sold by the hundred dollars per front.foot
and where there is no chance now for q poo
devil, not big capitalist to make littl
'spec'' in a short time. took hurried tril
from this city down to the new city that is Il
be al Green Forest soon.
His object was to see ''if things were a
represented" and tsize up the place generally
and finally to see If appearances we're favor
able, how he could in some way get in on thu
ground floor, SO to speak.
He was fortunate to fall in with DR.. Miller
of Elkton. who was also going down to looi
after the affairs of the enterprise, being {
director of the Buena Vista Company.
Arriving at the Green Forest station on the
richmond & Allegheny railroad, which Ii
located at the Company's property. the party
proceeded to Capt c. F. Jordan's residence
about half mile from the station. and wal
fortunate enough to find that gentleman a.
| home and glad to show us over some of thu
property, as 1t would be utterly impossible tt
cover even quarter of the land during the
| short time at our disposal.
| The Captain. having first provided us with
saddle-horses, took us up on the plateau which
is long broad hill at the head Of the fiat, leve
| valley in which the business part of the city
and the manufacturing sites will probably be
| located. THIS beautiful green valley is about 6
| mile wide and extends down the river side
about two or three miies. On the West side
1t is fronted by the clear blue North River, a
mountain stream of large volume and
purity. having unjulating uplands for a back
ground. While the left the majestic
mountain spurs rise several hundred feet
hit
posed city which is to lie at their feet. A few
hundred feet from the river the two railroads
(the Shenandoah Valley and the Richmond d
Alleghany). that run through the place, can be
seen side by side almost suggesting by their
very proximity the location of Union Depot
for the new town.
A large tannery and thirty or forty houses,
several of which are now in process of erection
is all that there is of the new town as yet.
A corps Of engineers, however, were seen
busily engaged in plotting out the city. Upon
the ridge from which these observations were
taken. 1t is proposed to build new hotel at
once-the site being indeed well selected
When built it will command the view exactly
as the Admission Inn does the f1ourishing city
of Admission, Ala. In fact the new TOWNSHIP
very much resembles with its surroundings
that msgic city OF The South, only here fine
large river goes right through on one side of
the town, which is something not in Annis-
ton.
From the hotel hillsite back towards the
North, the ground is high and rolling, where
the residence portion of the town is projected.
To the left the Captain next directed us, and
for several hours nothing but iron ore could be
seen. Almost everywhere it was seen crop
ping through the surface in masses of all sizes
and shapes A great number of cats and pits
have been made, and the enormous beds and
veins thus made visible would certainly
satisfy the most doubling investor. A shaft
had been worked some seventy feet in depth
in another part of the ground, and nothing
but solid iron ore was encountered In short
the ore is to be seen here in inexhaustable
quantities. and if that makes town as has
been the case in other sections. there is no
question but what Buena Vista will be great
city in the near future.
The quality of the ore appears to be all that
can be desired and compares most favorably
with that In Alabama.
There is an abundance of limestone mari
a sort of decomposed limestone, as well as the
solid article itself for furnace purposes
Tt surrounding Mills are covered with TIM
Der, from which charcoal can be made to
melt the ore.
In another quarter, q deposit of manganese
ore was shown of a superior quality. OF this,
a Mr.. Ramsey. one of Carnegie's experts. has
said that it is the best prospect to be seen
anywhere from Harper's Ferry to the Tennes-
see line, which is an important acknowledge
ment as this element is needed in the manu-
facture OF steel. and brings twelve to fourteen
dollars per ton just in the ore state.
The two railroads here bring the coal and
coke supply in convenient access to this point.
AS 10 the territory embraced in the com
pany's possession, it is only necessary to say
that 1t tnds some five or six miles in length
and is sufficiently large TO suit the most
avaricious boomer.
Finally, there is one of the finest water
poe ers in the United States, right in the town
limits, having capacity of about l 500 to 2OOo
horse power. almost all going to waste. The
river was formerly used as canal and the
dam is about $50 feet long and built of the
finest masonry.
Over this dam the water falls clear descent
of sixteen feet. At the end of the dam
splendid masonry (cutstopel lock admits the
water into a canal about half mile long
This canal is three or four hundred feet from
the river, giving ample room for factnries. 1t
is planned exactly like the big water power in
the North and West, and resembles very
much a big 5000 horsepower water privilege
in Birmingham, Conn.
AS the dam was built by the State of Vir-
ginia for canal purposes, Its cost cannot be as
certained, but as it stands TO-DAY it is doubt
full II 1t could be duplicated for 100000, to say
nothing of the value of the site itself. Right
alongside of the canal and dam both railroads
pass with plenty of room for sideways, &C.
A pulp mill is now using small part of the
power. the property of Messrs. Clement &
Sadler of Richmond.
If paper or pulp manufacturers, or in fact
any mann facturer needing such an abandont
power and water supply. together with excel
lent railroad facilities, no more desirable site
can be found In the United States. Wood,
straw, and other raw material can be found in
abundance for such industries as locate here.
This Will be an inducemest for the establish
ment of other than iron works here. and thus
secure for the new town diversity of in
dustries.
The whole enterprise has all the natural adj
yantages and railroad accommodations for the
successful development of a fiourishing manu-
featuring city. 1t only depends upon the
| energy, enterprise, and liberal management o.
the land company as to whether the hopes of
the promoters are realized or not.
Towns In the South were started under no
better circumstances and surroundings than
that of Buena Vista, that are to-day the
wonder of the world and attracting capital
from all points. But 1t has been largely owing
to the wise and comprehensive direction OF
live and liberal men.
| Factories were patronized and their stock
subscribed to: Immigration effected, and their
existence and location advertised, and the
rest followed.
While it is to be hoped the interests of the
new city will be ably handled ard promoted
by those at the head of affairs, and every
| reason exists that such Will be the case. yet ii
might be well for the ''besd men, to take =
trip South and see how they have done thing.
| down there, and are now doing. and profit By
| their observations and make no mistakes.
| A liberal, energetic policy is all that is
needed to make Buena Vista city to be proud
Of
TT. GAYNoR.