Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-03
LOCAL..

IRON CAT {: .
AN ENTERPRISE WHICH HAS MANY
STAUNTON STOCKHOLDERS
A TOWN SITE OF UNRIvALED BEAUTY
A ROLLING MILL THE FIRST PLANT ES-
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE ENTER
DISAPPOINTMENT MEN THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY INTERESTED IN IT-IRON
MEN, RAILROAD MEN, COAL MEN AND
LUMBER MEN, ALL INTERESTED IN IT.
&C., &C, &C.
Reported for the Staunton vINDIcAToR.I
IRON GATE, April 29.-Where I stood
this morning admiring the most beautiful
scene in these mountains, there will stand
tomorrow morning two men on far more
important errand-a rolling mill owner
selecting site and an engineer marking
off the bounds for a rolling mill; for the
transportation OF the machinery of which
fifty cars have already been contracted for.
Where [ strolled this morning along level
plain some two miles long, there will insiX-
ty days be laid off streets for business hous-
es, while on the table land back of it, avenues
will be laid out for residences. The great
body of water which see wasting itself
over the dam in a glittering sheet of silver
will soon be set to work for man, giving
town its water supply and what is more
it's electric light supply. Across the river
the gentle rising ascent whose lawn is now
frightened by the white blossoms of the
dogwood will be crowned by a fine hotel
have commenced turning the leaves red, will
not know the place of to-day.
THE seen g AT IRON GATE.
Before that time shall come, let me de-
scribe the scene at Iron Gate. do not say
scenery but rather scene, for I have never
visited place at which with one glance
you could take in the view, and which is so
like picture framed for study. The pas
OCuSCI vi tlIC SI1CDttpGCthG OlllO IQlIIOtU
just before entering the little railroad town
of Clifton Forge, sees on his left a high and
narrow gorge in the mountain through
which runs Jackson River. The upheaval
of years ago is clearly defined in lodges of
rocks along the facing cliffs, running the
length of the gorgein the shape of rainbows.
These cliffs, a thousand feet high, are of
fOssiGzed iron, limestone and sandstone,
and so steep that it would seem incredible
for man to have climbed them, yet he has
not only climbed but mined them and run
tram-roads along their faces, the trestles of
which can still be seen. AT the bottom of
those cliffs is the dam at the old forge, the
Clifton IS Forge from which the little town
around the corner of the cliffs takes it's
name. Standing here and looking South
towards Iron Gate, the scenery is perfect
After running a short distance, the stern
cliffs diminish into gentle hills and the
river makes a bend around q level plain
some two miles long. On this plain is Iron
Gate. South of it the scenery is lovely
mountain after mountain rising on the
vieW-the nearest being Andy's Knob,
pasture river running into the Jackson, and
the two forming the James. The James
washes the foot of North Mountain at
Eagle Rock, which was made famous by
Cleveland S fishing excursion, and four miles
away from there is Gala Water, the point
at which the Virginia Western Railroad
will come through the mountain, if it
makes a junction with the Valley Railroad
at Buchanan. The picture from Iron Gate
itself is better than if viewed from the great
dam; for from there the spectator sees the
water fall, the winding river, the mountains
and the plain.
THE TOWN SITE.
The site of Iron Gate was the old Kayser
farm, and on it still stands the old family
mansion which many traveller knew when
that was the old stage route from LeXing
ton to the White Sulphur Springs. 1t ex-
tends from where the iron cliffs break off,
two miles over level plain, and at the back
of this plain on the West side is gentle
rise mounting to a table land, which runs
back to the rear Of the town of Clifton
Forge. The property purchased is 5o1
acres, of which 800 acres lies in the plain.
On the other side of the river, the East
side, the company has purchased 80 acres
of land on which will be erected a hotel,
which is to be reached by an iron bridge
e. A
ghany railroad runs through the centre of
the town, and the strip between the railway
and the river, some So acres, is set apart to
he devoted to manufactures. That portion
living on the other side is to be devoted to
business houses, and the streets will be
laid out 60 feet wide. Still West of that,
on the eminence is the table land devoted
to residences. In two respects the town
will have exceptional advantages. Its water
supply will be brought through a 24-inch
pipe from the dam about five hundred yards
off, and the same dam will supply the power
for lighting the city with electricity and
furnishing electric power for manufactor-
ies-iust as the water of South River now
furnishes the electric light power for the
Grottoes of the Shenandoah in Augusta
county. The site is 1,100 feet above the
level of the sea, and about the healthiesl-
region in Virginia, for, as was remarked by
man who had lived there all his life, 1.-The
air here is born and raised in the noun
tains. There will be no lots disposed Of
except in the way Of manufacturing plants
until about the first of June. Then the
business and residence portion Of the town
will be sold at auction in alternate lots.
Maj. Bagby of Stamton, has arranged to
establish brick yard Just South of the