Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-03-28
Oneida County South.

letter to the Rome IN. " .Scntine.
We copy the letter entire:
UNION MILLS, Fluvanna Co.. Va
! March 1.-The resuscita ton of thi
town is due to the enterprise of Hon
James Armstrong of New Hartford
Oneida county, n. Y, ssAs4 his sons
| George II. Armstrong and DIR. Jane
A. Armstrong of Clinton. When thes
gentlemen came to this place last fal
they found near a magnificent waite
power on the Rivanna river a large
| three-story brick cotton mill that hat
not been used for nearly 3Oyears. The
| floors had long ago rotted away, th'
| windows were gone and the building
was deserted and empty. 1t was tht
| only mill Oh the Rlvanna river ,ha
had not been burned in Sheridan:
famous raid. The high water he'd prov
identially prevented his army from
reaching it. The Messrs. Armstrong
who have long been known as success
ful manufacturers of knit goods at New
Hartford, saw business possibilities il
:he property. The results of their in
vestigations were that the mill was re.
paired throughout, fitted with modern
machinery and is to-day cumming e
with activity and enterprise. 1t has
been great boom to the people of this
locality. for all the employees are resi-
dents of the adjacent county. Samuel
Patterson. veteran superintendent,
and Mrs. Weed, an efficient f0re-wom-
an. of the New Hartford Mills. were
brought down to instrct the new hands
in the working fthe machinery. The
latter learned the details of the work
in surprising short time, and are now
manufacturing goods equal to those of
any other mill in the country. En-
ployment is given to about fifty girls
and men, and the capacity of the mill
will soon be enlarged.
DR.. Armstrong has purchased beau
tiful estate of 640 acres near the mill,
and has taken up his residence here.
The property was formerly owned by
Colonel Mostly, the famous Confederate
guerrilla leader, and is located in the
most picturesque and fruitful region of
the State. A fine old brick mansion,
built before the revolutionary war, is
on the plantation, and from the broad
balcony can be seen, as Colonel Sellers
says, 1.-The finest country on God Al
m;ghty's foot stool" From the shad-
owy mists of the Blue Ridge Noun
tairs, 80 miles distant, the Rivanna
river threads its way among the foot
itself again among the mountains. The
country is magnificently picturesque,
and presents a scene OF rare historic in
terest. Indeed there is hardly spot
in the "Old Dominion" State, 1.-THE
mother of states and of statesmen"
that does not offer rare Inducements To
the student Of history. From Cum
ber," DR.. Armstrong; estate, can be
seen the rising dome of Monticello, the
hCme of the author of the Declaration
of Independence. A short distance be-
yond is the hill over which Jefferson
was chased by Tarleton's men. There
is said to be subterranean passage
beneath the house at Monticello to en-
able its owner to escape if pursued at
close quarters.
at Charlottes three miles from
is the University of Virgin
ia, founded by Jefferson. 1t is grand
old institution and is III highly pros
porous cOnditien. ranking among the
highest graded colleges in America.
The library, "a large building surmoant-
ed 10y a large, splendid dome, contains
a life-sze marble statue Of jefferson
and humber of fine oil portraits Of
prominet southern leaders and friends
of the university. One OF the most
striking features to be observed in the
character Of the southern people is the
loyal and affectl0nate remembrance of
their leaders, though it Is difficult to
find even trace of bitterness in their
feelings toward the people of the north.
Three miles from "Cumber" is the
old Richmond pike road, surveyed by
Lafayette. Almost within sight is
Boyd's tavern, where Washington and
frequently stopped and
doubtless hobnobbed over colonial af-
fairs while cnjoying u famous Virginia
mint iulep, if that delectable drink " as
then known. LIZ the later years of the
civil war the entire state became the
seat of military operations. There is
hadly a family in this vicinity that did
not lCse father, son or brother in the
confederate army, and neighboring
fa mly lost thirteen sons in the war.
1t was bitter war for the people OF
this state, for they sacrificed every
thing. When the end came they be-
gan life over under most distressing
but they are now fast
their former prosperity.
They are the most cordial and gener-
Gus people under the sun, and gladly
welcome all who come to live among
them. They are thoroughly enterprls-
ing and alive to their own interests,
though there is lack ofcapltal to carry
on manufactures. The people of Char
lottesville, "a fine town of town OF 6,OOO
people, II miles distant from this place.
offer rare inducements to manufact-
urers who will locate in that town.
An association of business men in the
town will build a brick factory at
cost of $40, 600, furnish it with an en-
oine and boilpr exemnt if from, taxa
ton and give it free of rent for five
years to any manufacturer who Will
accept the offer. At the end of that
time they will cell it to him at cost.
Is ii possible to fi.d better evidence of
the disposition of the people to build
up the couptry2 charlottesville is To-
Gated 100 miles south Of Washington
in AIbemarle county, and is the june
ton of Chesapeake & Ohio and the
Virginia Midland Railways. The pop
ulation has doubled within five years,
and the town is in very promising
way to develop INTO fine city. The
surrounding country possesses many
advantages, and it is surprising that
the tide OF immigration has not been
turned in this direction. The soil
Yields generous returns tor all labor
that may be expended upon it. Farm
lands that solids for 500 an acre before
the way cap now be purchased for less
than one-haif that sum. The soil is the
same, though not under az high state
of cultivation as formerly. The diff
guilty is that the lar d is owned in large
parcels by men who have not sufficient
capital to work it 20 advantage.
A word about the climate, III is de-
lightfui. The last week has been the
e e- l.