The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-07-06
birth OF BASIC CITY.
ONE OF THE LEADING NEW TOWNS
OF VIRGINIA.

Basic CITY was born Oh the 9th Of May
less than two months ago. Since that time
che has grown rapidly, and now, although
still an infant, she is walking about the
Valley and threatening 10 outgrow all her
sisters.
No new town in the South can show
as fine a list of manufacturing and CONNER
cial enterprises secured in the very blush Of
its existence as Basic City. No new town
in the State starts out under such promis-
ing auspices, and no new town in Virginia
can offer more healthful, prosperous and
delightfully."- situated home. With all this,
il is scarcely wonderful after all that Basic
City is growing so rapidly.
WHAT BASIC Il NOT.
Basic City is not what YOU would term a
booming town IN the sense that the term
is so frequently used nowadays in its appll-
cation TO the mushroom growth OF locali-
ties that have nothing 10 recommend them
more than the statements Of unprincipled
agents. II is not situated on the vertical
side of a mountain so steep that ii is neces-
sary 10 hold your hat on while you look up
at ii. Ii is not destined 10 stop short OF a
large and prosperous city, and 1t is not
being advertised and talked about with any
other end i'm view than the prosperity and
good health Of its inhabitants, and the ulti-
mate and round remuneration OF those VINO
invest in IT.
WHAT BASIC Is.
Basic City has been laid off in spacious
avenues and streets, crossing ut right an
giles. and is ON the narrow road 10 de-
4 - att "A
" .loping valley which has a fall Of from
- 10 30 feet TO the South river. IL is in
Augusta county-one of the richest in the
state. IL is 300 feet above the sea level
Ii has perfect and natural drainage. II
is surrounded 10y towering mountains, preg'
nant with the richest ores 10 be found, es-
pecially an iuexhaustible supply of brown
hematite. II is close TO the ocean, to the
West, Northwest and Northern markets. II
is near the centre Of the State, and it is the
garden spot Of Virginia to live in.
WHERE IT IS.
Basic CITY is Immediately AT the junction
of the Chesapeake and Ohio and the sben-
andoah Valley railroads. The station was
formerly known as Waynesboro junction.
IL Is about l2j miles northwest OF Rich
mOnd and fourteen miles east Of stauntOn
just above Basic City on the Shenandoah
Valley road can be found immense quaint
ties Of fine glass sand, porcelain clay,
Ochre in abundance, and a splendid showing
of manganese.
MATERIAL SCARCE.
The towns only trouble has been in OBJ
tanning building material. Hundreds OF
houses are under contract, but very small
proportion of the bricks needed can be Sc
cured. For some time she waited. Then
she determined not 90 be deferred longer
from building, so she set about putting NJ
some of her houses in wood, and at the same
time started a couple Of brick kilns in the
town, which are now in successful opera
ton and turning out thousands Of bricks
one Of them, Bloker Il Co., formerly Of
Hampton, turn out 10000 bricks day.
THE ARCH.
The main thOr0ughfare of the town i
Augusta avenue, 90 feet wide, and in order
that it may cut through, an arch Is 10 be
put under the Chesapeake and Ohio road at
the point where il passes. The railway Is
on an embankment some fifteen feet nigh
and when the archway has been made, the
street car line. for which n franchise has
been granted, will run through, strike the
old WaynesbOrO road and pass into Naynes
borO.
LIrHIA WATER.
Basic is abundantly supplied with water
and Of the best quality. At the southern
end of Augusta avenue is beautiful lIthia
spring. This body Of water, fifty feet wide,
al present is surrounded by a rich growth
Of foliage. which Is reflected on the surface
Of the spring. The water is as clear as
CRYSTAL and bubbles up like a glass Of soda
The bottom can be clearly seen, and engi'
neers say the supply is sufficient for popu-
lation of 10000 or 10000. 1t is intended n
supply this water through pipes to the peo-
pie. 1t contains magnesia, iron and iithia
and will be walled in and surrounded 10y q
pretty drive.
CLIMATIC ADVANTAGES.
The climate Is known through the South
for its healthfulness. With gentle, but
perfect drainage into a swiftly flowing
stream that acts ag a natural sewerage
and being free from sudden changes, Basic
City is especially adapted to those Of weak
lungs or feeble constitution. No extreme
heat or cold is felt. The two lofty mountain
ranges on either side provide a shelter from
severe storm, and in summer furnish the
cool, refreshing breezes that make the
nights so delightfully."- pleasant and recupe'
ratiye. AS summer resort, Basic Clty
offers every advantage obtained elsewhere
raj country in the world, and the farmers
are notably happy and prosperous.
NORMAL COLLEGE.
The town is sufficiently highly regarded by
the authorities Of the Normal school az Har-
risOnburg TO induce them 10 move the in
stitutiOn TO Basic. The new college Is
now being erected in pretty grove near
the Shenandoah Valley road. IL will be
ready for occupancy by September. and
will readily accommodate 300 students. The
building is 10 be entirely Of brick, and three
stories nigh.
TIE HOTEL.
The foundation of what the plans show
will be Il dainty piece OF architecture, has
been laid for the new hotel. The structure
will be Of the Queen Anne style, with a
frontage Of 80 feet. 1t will contain eighty
five rooms and all modern Improvements.
Its management will be truly metropolitan.
and travellers can expect and receive the
same accommodations that they would
be given i'm frst-class hOstelry in
a large city. The site selected
for this building commands as grand view
as can be obtained anywhere in the noun
tains, and oyerlOOks the city. The hotel
will stand on one OF the spurs Of the Blue
Ridge mountains, and by broad avenues be
easily accessible from the | mon uepOt OF
any part Of the town. Mr.. W. VI. POindeX-
ter, the well-knOwn architect Of Washing
ton. who modelled ex-President Cleyeland's
country residence, near Washington, drew
the plans, which include a colonade the
entire length Of the building, with massive
towers at either end.
THE ADVANCE.
Already Basic supports a bright, newsy,
seyen-cOlumn, fOur-page paper. MIR. j. III.
Lindsay. formerly Of the North Carolina
Press Association, is the editor and proprie
tor The offices, which are IN the only
brick building in Basic, are elegantly fitted
with all conyeniences necessary for the con-
duet of modern journal. The presses are
run by steam, all the material is new, and
as all the printers are deaf and dumb, the
room is usually As still as a
mouse. Mr. Lindsay issues very readable
paper. and uses no plate or other patent
usually found in the country.
CAR WORKS.
The Basic City Car Works Company is
erecting one Of the largest plants for the
Of freight ears and machinery
of all sorts, TO be found in the South. To
give an idea Of its immensely, the following
dimensions are given: The stone fOunda-
ton, the blacksmith and machine shops and
foundry ara .nx Inn feat each HiapInO mill