Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-16
UARRISONBURG.
ANEW DEPARTURE FOR THIS SOLID
AND PROGRESSIVE OLD TOWN.
r.. situation and Industries-Tho Mineral
Wealth that Surrounds it--its fres-
ent and Its Future.
U,RR1soSBURo, Nov. II, 1890.


ent and Its Future.
UARp1soNBURG, Nov. IL, 1890.
I'donbt very much whether until re-
cent wears any one ever thought serious
" Of associating the prosperity of this
progressive and substantial old town with
GREAT mineral development, or predica-
led 70 anv great extent its future growth
unon industries dependent upon what
might be dug out Of the ground. Har-
risonburg is the centre of ono OF the
richest aqriculturalsectionso OF Virginia
q section for which the Goddess Ceres al
WAYS had a most benignant smile. Be
tore The war the farms of this section,
and particularly OF this county, BIOS
soroed like a rose. During the earlier
part of the civil war tins valley was the
scene OF some of Stonewall jackson
most brilliant exploits, and later on 1t was
rayisbed by fire and sword. After the
war the association of the country round
about Harrisonburg with agricultural
development chiefly was intensified by
the rapidity with which 1t recuperated
and with which luxuriant crops oblitera-
ted from its fields the scars OF the strug-
gle.
WOULD COMBINE.
Rrt mineral wealth lay hidden in the
earth ali around Harrisonburg, and 1t
was ordained that il should be developed
md combine with the agricultural wealth
of Rockingham in rapidly pushing the
town 10 the front as seat OF numerous
industries.
SITUATION.
Harrisonburg is the county-seat OF
Rockingham county and is situated IN
one of the most charming parts OF the
Shenandoah Valley-charming as well
for its healthfulness as for its scenery,
and is accessible from all points by what
is known as the Valley branch OF the
baltimore and Ohio railroad and It's
connections. u has a population OF
4. 200 of as sturdy and substantial cltl-
zens as can be found anywhere in the
State; has churches OF all the leading
denominations is amply provided with
public and private schools, ana
enjoys O large retail trade with
the farmers of the neighborhood.
Hero also are number Of hand
some private residences. Very near 1t
ore Rawley Springs, Massanutta Springs
Oceola Lithis Springs, Bear Lithia
Springs, Tnlray Caverns, Weyer's Cave,
the Cave Of the Fountains, the New
market Endless Cayerns, and several OF
the most noted battle-felds IN Virginia.
In and around the town Arteslan con-
ditions exist, furnishing it with copious
and pure water supply, and during the
heated term it is fayorite summer resi-
dence.
INDUSTRIES.
A number of industries arc already
established here and many others are
being negotiated for. Among those es-
tablished are steam tannery, employing
800 hands and having q capital Of 500,
coo shoe-factory, with $50, 600 capital,
employing 100 hands steam Touring
mill, with capital of S35, 600 steam
pottery, manufacturing high-grade
goods, employing 80 hands, and having
a capital Of 925, 0O0;a foundry and ma
chine-shops, working % hands and
having a capital of $4,000; an overall
factory, 100 hands, with capital Of
$40, 900; four cigar-factories, employing
sixty hands and having $40, 600 capital ;
an ice-factory, with twenty-five hands
and capital Of $40, 900; three newspa-
pers, employing thirty hands and having
SIS. 900 capital a crockery, with TWEEN
ty-fve hands and a capital OF SO, 600, and
two calriage-factories and two brick
wards, the former working thirty and the
latter twenty hands, and each having q
capital Of $4,000. In addition to this,
large capital is invested in banks, de-
velopment companies, &c. Recent bank
statements showed the deposits at two
banks to be 100000 The industries
being negotiated for are of various
kinds.
A SPLENDID SHOWING.
This in itself is o splendid showing,
but constitutes merely an earnest of the
lines OF progress that are opening up be-
fore Harrisonburg and all the environing
country tributary TO it. The upbuilding
and expansion of the town by the estab-
lishment of the collateral industries OF
mineral development have just begun.
Within q radius of few miles OF Hat
risonburg abound lead, iron, coal, man
penese, and umbers, ochres, and siennas
of the finest quality, while in Harrison
burg such positive indications OF oil have
developed that two oil-wells are being
bored.
SOME DETAILS.
The iron ores consist of both red and
brown hematites, which upon analyst:
show to be up to high standard in work
able values, and exist in large and easily
developed deposits. The manganese is
of superior quality and there seems tC
be little question that the deposits art
also very extensive, while the lead ore
Analyses 80 per cent. of pure galena
The mineral paints, lumber, ochre, anC
sienna have been fully developed anC
passed upon by experts as Of most supe
rior quality, and the marbles are of The
highest grade and susceptible OF tht
nestpolish.
COAL.
As to the coal developments, thest
have not been thorough, but the leads
leave no doubt that the deposits arr
large, while the specimens show high
grades. The Goals are bituminous, semi
bituminous. and anthracite. Some o
the bituminous Goals closely resemble
cannei coal,
IRON-FURNACES.
These conditions mean furnaces
in and around Harrisonburg and iron
furnaces mean the extension of the
towns industrial enterprises, its increase
in population, and its territorial expan
sion. This is the view capital has takeI
of the situation, and it has practically il
Illustrated the fact. 1t reasoned with the
unerring instinct OF capital that q tow
with Hsrrisonburg's railroad connec
tions--it is to be connected with the She
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