Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-23
Development In Rockbridge.i,


THE IRON INDUSTRY OF THE PAST
PROSPECTS OF THE FUTURE-PRAcTIcAL
PROGRESS.
There were introduced, through the
construction of the Shenandoah Valley
railroad and the purchase of the Norfolk q
Western by the parties interested in the
1rst-named line, the men and the unlimited
means which have done so much for the in
creased development Of Southwest Vir-
ginia. We say increased. because that
section at that time had more iron furnaces
then at work than there were in all the
balance of the State. 1t had, also, the
lead works, zinc works, salt and plaster
production, wooden mills, agricultural i'm
plement factories, mills, &c., presenting
an advanced occupancy of that wonderful
territory of natural wealth.
The capitalists and the men of energy
and nerve coming from the North found
the people of the Southwest, as repre-
sented by the Grahams, McGavocks, Robin
sons, Palmers, Stuarts, Looks, Lincolns,
Rapers, Hulls, &C., actively engaged with
fair amount Of money and unbendipg
energies in working out the first Install
ment of great destiny which will assured
ly be recorded of that portion of the Old
Commonwealth as it piles high its achieve
ments in progress.
This reference to our enterprising South
western brethren is made for a purpose,
and that is to encourage and stimulate to
quick action men of like feelings and SINH
lar purposes in Rock bridge county who
have decided to embark large share OF
their resources and energies in presenting
to the world the opportunities that are
there not inferior in some respects to the
munifcence of wealth in the Southwest.
To say to them that perseverance in the
course already mapped out, will attract, as
it did in the South West, capital, brains,
and energies equal to the grand opportu-
nifty they will be instrumental in present
ing for acceptance as they are found to-day
in the South River Valley and a section OF
the North River Valley in Rockbridge, on
lno 0Oubu-1AdbIoAu cluC VI t1O
CENTRAL WATERSHED OF THE VALLEY OF
VIRGINIA.
The head springs of the South River IN
Rockbridge are high up on the Southern
side of the watershed. They are associ-
ated in history with one of the grandest
achievements in modern times as genius
has come forward to improve agriculture
aud display its progress in tightening the
burdens and the labors of field-toiling men
wherever grain stalks wave in the breeze
or the green hay swath is gathered into thv
garner the world over. Under the OLD
walnuts, where the irst-named fountain
bursts out of its rocky source, is the work
shop. and shaded by their foliage is the old
mansion-home Of Mccormick, which, to
the honor of his defendants be it said, and
its broad fields surrounding, are cherished
with fine culture, decorations, beauty and
plain elegance. A few miles over to the
East and under the shadows of the noun
tain, are the other head sources OF the
South River On that branch of the river,
few miles above the junction of the two,
he erected his Cotopaxi furnace. At these
two points he perfected the grain-reaper
which, at its subsequent trial before an as
semblage of Augusta farmers on the farm
of Joseph Smith, near Staunton, was pro
nouncsd perfect success.
THE SOUTH RIVER VALLEY.
The Valley of the South River is almost
in a straight line Southwark. The Blue
Ridge Mountain is on the East and high
straight ridge on the Wesf, through which
the gathering spring branches form brooks
descending at intervals along its entire
length in cascades and cataracts mostly
through forest evergreens of cedar ano
CYPRESS and old oaks. From the mountain
sides, also, the main stream gathers volume
in its rapid flow of eighteen miles, falling
seven hundred feet, to its junction with the
North River, four miles below Lexington.
The North River, coming down from the
Northwest, breaks through the west-side
ridge of the South River Valley assuming
superiority of direction by its sudden
course at the confluence to take up the
line relinquished by its weaker sister OF
the mountain streams. 1t thus becomes a
tributary of the North branch of the Old
Colonial Powhatan, named for the Indian
monarch of the forest. and that title should
have been retained; but civilization de-
mauded the association of English royalty
with its future designation.
FIRST AND AFTER DEVELOPMENT IN THE
SOUTH RIVER VALLEY.
The first iron made in the colony west OF
the Blue Ridge Mountains was near the
mouth of Irish Creek, tributary of the
South River. The furnace was erected
Just before the Revolutionary War, and
some of the product boated down the
streams to the ordinance works of the colo
ny above Richmond, where 1t contributed
in making projectiles used by the besiegine
batteries of Washington against the en-
trenchments of CORVALLIS at Yorktown
The site of the furnace is still visible.
The next was a furnace just above the
later Vesuvius, at the head Of the Valley,
propelled by the collection OF waters Oh
which McCormick's Spring is the head
After that, the progress in iron-making
was transferred to the lower end of the
Valley upon the property which subse-
quently became the famed Buena Vista -
There, near the mouth of the river, a
furnace and forge we're erected upon the
property now owned by the estate Of the
late Mr.. John Davidson, and, few years
thereafter, another furnace was planted q
mile higher up the stream,-ihe after site
of the Buena Vista. In 1928, Mayberry
built the Vesuvius works. After that came
Mccormick with Cotopaxi, and in 1847,
Samuel F., and B. J. Jordan erected Buena
Vista-the latter commencing the enter
,or;ra ON his ou0 account hia senior brother