Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1890-09-30
State Development.
What Old cAarlestoson as Doing Il
Locate Mameyactures-Fin Iroh
Ore Deposits.

Wv AOClDCoGCOs
[Fromthe Wheeling Inteliigenccr of Saturday
Last night an IntelZigencer reporter
had chat with Col. b. G. Washing
ton, of Charlestown, Jefferson coun-
ty, on the influence of the State de-
Velopment movement in his part of
the State. Col. Washington was
among the first to appreciate the i'm
portance of attracting attention to
West Virginia's resources, took a
deep interest in the convention held
in the Opera House, in this city, and
was made a Vice President of the
State immigration and Development
Association. Since the organization
of the Association he has done good
work and is particularly well in
formed on its progress in his own
section.
Nothing" said Colonel Washing
ton, "could have been more oppor-
tune, and in no other way could as
much have been done with so small
an amount of money. That move
ment not only attracted the attention
of outsiders to West Virginia but il
stirred up the people of the State
My own section, which seemed con-
tent to 60 ON in tire same old way,
has been bestirring itself and taking
stock of its resources. When we be-
gan to look around and to compare
what we have with the natural en-
dowments of cornfelds that have
been suddenly converted into -four
ishing manufacturing towns, we were
astonished ourselves. When we asked
some experts to look in on US and
heard them express themselves, we
saw that we had been losing valuable
time. We got together, talked the
matter over in concert, and the reshlt
was the organization of the Charles
town Mining. misunderstanding sls-la, 7siIl-
provement Company. Col. r. Pres
ton Chew, one of our solid and expe-
rienced business men, is our Presi-
dcut. Col. Chew has been interested
in some of the most successful town
projects in the Valley of Virginia,
and his connection with this home en-
terprise has brought to our aid some
of the most careful investors in the
East. The Baltimore & Ohio and
Norfolk and Western, which run
through Charlestown, are deeply in
terested and each of them is repre-
sented in our directory.
1--WE start with a town Of 6, 1000 in.
habitants. gas, water, churches,
schools and two trunk lines. We are
within three hours ride of Baltimore.
We are within easy reach of the coke
ovens of Connellsville, West Virginia
and Virginia. We have $50 acres of
land for town lots and manufacturing
sites. We have fire clay, potters'
clay and ochre. Best of all, and
this assures the solidity of our pro-
ject, we have 5000 acres of iron ore
and all the limestone we shall need to
work it. We have manganese, thought
to be in paying quantities. Our ores
are brown and hematite, 81 combina-
ton which is very largely sought by
furnace-men. With these advantages.
fine location and a delightful eli
mate, we believe we have only to Law
the matter before the right people to
put CharIestown ahead rapidly and
on an enduring foundation. We
want to build for permanency. lam
meeting with some of the business
men here and hope to have an early
opportunity to submit to a number
OF them the details of our plan. 1
desire particularly that your iron men
shall understand the value and extent
of our ore deposits. They have to
buy their ores, and if they can secure
them in their own State we think they
would be glad of that.
''No, am not here to offer lots for
sale, l want to confer with gentlemen
with view to interesting them sufIi-
GENTLY to investigate for themselves
on the spot, that they may determine
whether Charlestown does or does
not offer them a good opportunity for
good business investment. By the
way, here is telegram just forward
ed to me from home. 1t is from Mr..
Richards, Land and Immigration
Agent of the Baltimore & Ohio, who
asks whether l can come to Baltimore
TO meet parties who desire to locate a
WOODEN factory. Here is another
from Judge Beckwith, of Charles
town, who telegraphs from Lancas-
ter, Pa, that parties there who re-
Gently visited US are subscribing TO
our stock. Since we started in ear
nest we find disposition to take
hold with US and share the benefits
OF what we believe to be a good
thing. I ought to add that man1fac-
turers of all sorts are communicating
with us with regard to locations
Some of these are not desirable. We
want only substantial concerns, and
to these we shall be liberal.