Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-04-16
1tauntotl $pefiator.
Iron Development from Shenandoah to
Glasgow.

Iron Development from Shenandoah to
Glasgow.
If the descriptive reports and statistics
published in the sketches made separately
of the several mineral properties along the
western side of the Blue Ridge mountains
in Virginia were grouped in an arranged
form they would doubtless make one of the
most interesting volumes ever prepared OF
that character to the extent of territory
embraced. After the line of the Shenan-
doah Valley Railroad was completed, Mr..
f. J. Kimball, President at the time,
QSS3), of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad,
caused an examination to be made of the
mineral properties along that railroad as
we'll as on the Norfolk & Western trunk
and it's tributaries over which he still pre-
sides, by Mr.. Andrew WcCreath, Chemist
of the Geological Survey of Pennsyl-
vania, &c.
All operations, producing iron at the
ii me named, had ceased Between Mines
or Shenandoah as the locality is now
known-and Roanoke, Or operated only at
intervals at the first named place.
The systematic and connected examina-
ton made by Mr.. McCreath of the mineral
resources adjacent to the lines of these two
railroads and their tributaries, is the most
complete publication of its kind with which
the public has been furnished. Many OF
the iron-properties had long been idle and
the ore-openings fallen in and difficulty was
experienced in obtaining local information
as to starting points along the line OF the
survey. However, as remarked, Mr.. Nc,
Creath's report, which was published in
volume in 1884, was then the most com.
plete work of its kind in general as well as
special and practical information. i
largely stimulated the progress and de
velopment of iron-produotion, first in the
Southwest and latterly and now develop
ing between Shenandoah and Roanoke
Then there were no systematic or we'll
digested plans, indeed, scarcely an Ell
fort was made to restore the production
of iron between Shenandoah and Roanoke.
Six years Of time in this respect have
wrought wonderful changes, and now, il
Professor McCreath were renewing investi'
cations over the same route, he would see
practically the wonderful change which has
taken place during the six years which
have elapsed since he published the result
of his official visit. Foreign capital by the
millions, and brave, good men from our
sister States and from across the ocean,
have come with money and brains and
commenced with our people the great work
of iron and other mineral Development
Conspicuous in their outside aid, are the
direct contributions in money OF the
management of the Chesapeake & Ohiu
and the Shenandoah Valley and the Norfolk
6 Western railroads. 1t is proper AID
necessary in referring to the work OF
Professor McCreath as ne sketched the iron
resources in part of the North and James
River Valleys of Rocbb bridge to introduce
in the same connection Professor CampbelPs
Of Washington Sc Lee University, before
and afterwards, as we'll as the subsequent
reports of Professors Langdon, of Alabama,
on the Buena Vista, and Proctor, of Ken
tucky, on the Glasgow-Glenwocd proper
ties, ali concurring in their richness and
abundance.
Recurring to the time Of Professor Nc
Creath's work as the scene was presented
to him along the line Of the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad and to-day, wonderful
changes have been wrought, and great
progress stimulated, IN iron and other
mineral and forest development. To refer
to 20 other, we will glance at the single
interest of iron production within the last
twelve months. The furnace at Mines,
now Shenandoah, has been restored by MIR.
D. W. Fliekwir. manager Of the Sbenan-
doah Valley Railroad, and is now regularly
turning out it's full quota Of iron. Passing
South and before reaching Waynesboro'
and Basic City, other localities intervening
are preparing to establish furnaces. Basic
City is rising up by the side of Waynes-
boro', and at the Two places, two,. if MOI
more, furnaces are taking shape. Con-
tinuing South, and passing the historic
localities of Torrey and Cotopaxi and
Vesuvius the wonderful progress at Buena
Vista is beheld, where the fifth furnace
built upon it's resources will be in blast by
the first of September, turning out one
hundred and fifty tons of iron every twenty
four hours. Continuing South, at Glasgow
and Glenwood the old fires have only
smouldered to be lighted again with
wonderful iron production. Thus in the
distance between Waypesboro' and Glas-
gov, inclusive, less than sixty miles, there
will doubtless be five Or more splendid
ilon-furnaces, in full blast in less than two
years, which includes the Buena Vista now
approaching completion.
Coming to view the scene of our iron
interests along the lines Of the Shenandoah
Valley and the Chesapeake g. Ohio Rail-
roads in Augusta and Rockbridge counties,
the bright history of the past looms up to
guide the present and future of the new
era and the new development. Technical
and scientific knowledge and culture have
found in the practical methods of the old
iron masters Of our Valley solid structures
for the growth and enlargement of the
pursuits for which they he1oically blazed
the way. Near the Shenandoah valley
Railroad and 4 little way up the Irish
Creek Valley is yet to be observed the
canal which conducted the water TO the
works. and the hearth of the first iron
furnace erected on the west side of the
Blue Ridge mountains. The iron produced
there during the Revolutionary War was
carried in mountain boats to the Colony
Otdinarce Works above Richmond and
moulded into projectiles and used at the
siege of Yorktown. The valleys of the
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