The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-08-02

UuC cuilOi vi lilc ouSdi l'ohi, "ii az
fluental paper devoted to aSricul
ture.
Recently Mr.. Gilmore made fly n9
visit to his native place and visitct
Roanoke and he is enthusiastic abou
it, as he is about the entire Southwest
section. Upon his return home Ii,
printed all interesting letter descfip-
tive of his trip, from which the TIMF-
this morning makes Il number OF cN
tracts.
ROANOKE,
writes Mr. Gilmore, the coming city
of Southwest Virginia, WAS formerly
an insignificant place. known as Biz
Lick. 1t took on its new growth in
1881, when the Shenandoah Valley
Railroad was built to that point.
Now it has population of about %,
900; is a beautifully laid oil place,
with grand hotels, three daily papers,
and the city is supplied with iine
spring water from the mountains. II
has three large iron furnaces. Il roll
ing mill, bridge and iron works, car
riage factory, planning mills. etc.
Roanoke is % miles from Liberty or
Bedford City. and miles from Salem,
which will no doubt soon become part
of Roanoke. The place is located
near the river of the same name. We
were happy there to meet an old
friend of ante-b ellum days, who went
to Virginia in the Confederate army,
90 years ago, remained there, married
and reared II family. He is well To-
Gated now.
AGRICULTURALLY,
the country there is most prosperous.
1t is located in the famed Valley of
Virginia, the best part OF the State.
Wheat is the principal crop, and no
tobacco is TO be seen there. as we
sped along side the beautiful stream,
with range of mountains on either
side. we saw fine orchards, with little
fruit; picturesque hillside farms.
and some away up on the mountain
tops; now we sped up an ountain val
ley, dash across the rapid running
streams with their clear water: the
winding wagon road having many
covered bridges which look like great
barns, and we regretted that we were
not behind good pair OF horses on
those good roads instead of on the
dying train.
For many miles in the mountain
region OF Southwest Virginia, the coz
stantly changing views on the Norfolk
l. Western Railroad make a grand
panorama. Big Spring station, near
the mountain top, is most approprl-
ately named, and the
CLEAR, GURGLING WATERS
from the spring were so attractive,
we rushed from the car to battle and
cool our hands therein. The hotel
there is Of attractive appearance. like
the country. Next we moved west
ward between mountain ranges which:
are close together; great limestone
rocks jut out from the hills; laughing
waters of crystal purity trickle down
each ravinc; and then on we passed,
with the Allegheny mountains Oh our
right and Inch valley on our left,
until at length we plunged into a
tunnel, emerging on the mountain
top near Christiansburg, over 1000
feet above sea level, having assembled
500 feet in the last Il miles. Near by
is spring, whose waters divide into
two rivulets. one flowing towards the
Ohio and Gulf of Mexico. and the
other eastward to the james and the
Atlantic Ocean.
MONTGOMERY WHITE SULPHUR
SPRINGS
were but three miles to our right, and
reached by a horse railway, propelled
to the station by mules, but allowed
to return to the springs from their
own gravity
A SALT POND,
with waters much like those of the
great Utah lake, lies sixteen miles 10
the southeast of ChristiansburS. 1t
is mile long by half mile wide.
Christiansburg valley, away up on
this mountain top, is an enchanting
place. The mountains at this season
are sweet and lovely from places; i'll
the general roughness of this noun
tain region but little land can be
cultivated easily, yet we noted thrifty
looking farm houses, rich grasses and
superb cattle. Still, with all the
GRANDEUR OF THE SCENERY
on both sides of the great tunnel,
which is 1856 yards long, and other
heavy cuts through great rocks are
made, we were surprised at the mum
her OF people who remained insensible
to the beauty Of the scenery, and
scarcely looked on what to us was
grand beyond description. We can
but wonder if such people really enjoy
life. Poetical sentiment is really a gift
which the possessors should and doubt
less does feel thankful for.
NEW RIVER,
another lovely mountain stream, is
followed for distance, when Rad
ford, another very pretty, booming
Young city, is reached. Here there /:
a branch railroad seventy-five miles
hong, running through the rich Goa
mines up to Pocahontas. A secont
track is being laid on this road from
LyDchburg to Radford, the end of {
division, and many curves have thu:
been Strengthened.
SHORT GLIMrSES
only could be had of the continued
beautiful scenery, as we followed vi
New river valley distance; then dowl
grade, near great stone quarries
through the town Of Dublin, into
wooded plain, where hundreds o
cords of wood had just been cut; ant
Rpassed out. into a large valley will
.fhnumerable small hills within it.
Wreck in the Yards.