The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-10-03
The Success of New Virginia Town

manufacturers record.
few months ago the Manufacturers Record
announced the organization of a company to
build a town at Iron Gate, Va. Up to last week,
the work of laying out the town and securing
industries had made such progress that at pub
lie SALE lasting three hours 21S lots sold for $42
1926 without any wild speculation to run prices
up. The result of this sale is such as to inspire
confidence in the future of all the new indus
trial towns that may be started in Virginia on
the same broad basis as Iron Gate One lot
| brought $770, and the purchaser refused $500
| cash for it the same day Among the buyers
were number of men of note, such Mr.. Jos.
E. Tropp, owner of the Everitt furnace of Penn
sylvania; A. r. Courtney of Richmond; E. c.
Best, superintendent st. Lawrence Boom &
Manufacturing Co., concern which handles
ten to thirty millions feet of lumber; Mr.. R. L..
Parrish, the general counsel for the Chesapeake
Ohio Railroad, who is also large stakeholder
in the company, and others.
Iron Gate is fortunately located as regards
furnaces. The Longdale, the Lowmoor and the
Glen Wilton furnaces, which produce largely
over 100000 tons of iron year, are within a
radius of miles, while the Callie furnace, now
out of blast, is within the same circle, and ar
rangements will probably be made for starting
up again OF moving to Iron Gate. Victoria fur
mace is but 20 miles distant, and Roaring Run, 10
miles, Within 10 or IL miles down the river the
Craig's Creek Railroad, now under construction,
strikes the James River Division of the Chesa-
peake & Ohio Railroad, bringing fine iron dis
trict hitherto undeveloped within easy reach of
Iron Gate. The grade from Iron Gate to tide
water is down-hill all the way and engines are
able to haul As loaded cars.
Added to these advantages were a good site
and good transportation facilities. Moreover,
Mr.. Jacob Yost, the general manager, wisely
sought first to secure the location of industries
before selling lots. There are so carloads of
machinery now Oh the ground for the rolling
mill, which will have capacity of between IS
and 100 tons day. The Hanging Rock Stove
Co., of Ironton, Ohio, have closed a contract for
moving their entire plant to Iron Gate. A COM
pany is in course of organization for building a
basic steel plant, and $4,000 of the stock OF the
company has been taken by the c. g. o. r. r. Co.,
while Mr.. NJ. e. Ingalls,, the president of the
c. & O., individually subscribed for consider
able amornt A fine hotel is now under con
stlTction. Some time ago the Manufacturers
Record commended Senator Daniel and Cover
nor Lee for wisely turning their attention for
the future to the Industrial interests of their
State rather than to politics. and in Mr.. Yost we
have another illustration of how rapidly this
change of sentiment is going on. Although a
very young man, he has represented his district
| in Congress, but now has turned his talents to
the development of the manufacturing interests
of his State. Under his management Iron Gate
doubtless has brilliant future before it.
The Opening of Roanoke College.
The friends of Roanoke College will be glad to
learn that the thirty seventh session opened on
Wednesday, the 18th instant, with large at
tendance of students from many States Among
the students enrolled are seven from the Choctaw
Nation in the Indian Territory, two Japanese,
and one Mexican. The boys from Japan-Hidei
Fukuoka and Toyojiro Terashima-sons of dis
tlnguished officers of the japanese Empire, were
at Roanoke last session, and were SO well pleas
ed that they have returned. We learn that the
Faculty are very favorably impressed by the
new students and that many of these are enter
present Senior class is one Of the largest and
best the College has had for many years.
The students are all much pleased with the
extensive improvements made on the interior
of the Main Buildings and everything about the
College wears neat and busness-like appear
ance. The classes were organized promptly
and the students already at regular work
1t is gratifying to have our town enlivened by
the presence of so many aspiring young men,
and in the name OF our people we bid them a
very cordial welcome to Salem.-Times- Register,
(Sdlem, Va, September 10th, 1889.