Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1890-05-09
THE IRON KING.
Great Activity in Real Estate at lockwood,
Tennessee.
H. the Editor % the Interior Journal.
ROCGWo0D. TENN. Nav 4. $40.

Being Il temporary soiOurner in this
wide awake and booming little city,
thought | would drop you few lines
and give my impressions about it. /
have seen most of the boom towns that
have been attracting the attention ofthe
public. bnt this handsome little city of
lockwood is, in my opinion, the best
one have seen yet.
First as To location. II is situated in
Walden's Valley, 20 miles north OF Chat
tanooga. Walden's Ridge, vast repos-
4 itory OF coal iron, limestone and sand
stone, runs along the west side OF the
valley, reaching from Emory Gap to
Chattanooga, from whence it extends
further south as Lookout Mountain and
Red Mountain, being called 10y the lat
ter name at Birmingham. This remark
able upheavel OF iron, coal and limestone
rerching from Emory Gap To Brming-
ham. has changed the conditions Of iron
manufacture in the nited states. The
first extended public attention called to
IT was by Birmingham. But long before
birmingham began to boom-away back
in lS,iN--Cien. J. T. Miller and Capt H.
:. chamberlain. who had noticed the
rich outcropping at this point while
campaigning in Walden's Valley. came
here and after securing a large amount
of property, including IL miles OF. the
Ridge built lockwood Furnace. At
that time il was the first coke furnace
south OF the Ohio aud Potomac. all 9TH
ers being operated with charcoal.
They erected coke ovens now mum
bering 300 and in 1874 built another fur
mace. These furnaces have run con-
stantly ever since, because they produc-
Ell iron cheaper than it could be made
elsewhere in the world. The Roane
Iron Company therefore made a large
sum OF money and are still doing it right
along What was To prevent them
when they had coal veins from : to 100
feet thick, limestone in the same hill and
a great mine OF fine fossillierous iron
running along the foot OF the mountains.
No such arrangement OF the raw materi-
al is found anywhere else in the world
. II is fact that lockwood makes iron
cheaper than any place in the world
Three miles from lockwood flows
the broad Tennessee, which is reach
ed 10y short railroad from Rock
! wood. The coal, iron and coke OF Rock.
d wood furnaces are sent TO Pittsburg.
Chattanooga, Cincinnati. ~. Louis. Lou
, isvlle and even Canada, 10y water \
. great deal OF il is also sent away 10y the
, Queen 4 Crescent road
Besides the water OF the Tennessee,
, there is the finest drinking water here
} ever saw. Ii comes down from the sand
/ stone rocks Of the mountain in crystal
= streams which are alive with game fish
/ | have seen bass caught here which were
two feet long. old Ike Walton ought TO
have seen this place before he died.
The climate i magnificent, not too
b cold nor too warm. Medium tempera-
ture Gl and an atmosphere that makes
one feel like he has been drinking cham
paigne. There is no malaria or prevail
ing diseases. As sanitarium this love
w valley has no equal.
The Roane Iron Company is going to
erect another big furnace at once and 800
more houses
It has determined 10 push lockwood
ahead, and has millions 20 DO il with. II
has graded the streets and is building a
dummy line. An electric light plant is
in operation and new manufactures in
Guiding glass factory. bridge factory
rolling mill. shoe factory, ice factory.
planning mill, &c. will soon Ice built. The
! new hotel, lockwood Inn, will Ice a
magnificent structure. Taxes are low
and the city now numbers $500 people
There are good schools, churches and So
ciety. The basis Tor a big town already
exists. lockwood is no experiment but
a grand success.
Here is the place to make money and
the Kentucky boys are making it fast
\ good many are here operating in real
estate and getting rich. | met John Hill
dreth one day and asked him how he
was getting along. lie replied; "TOler-
able. have not caught on well vet, but
made $500 yesterday" II. NJ. Carpen-
ter is boring with big auger and piling
up money. George Myers is with him.
Then there is Col. Joe Shawhan and son,
OF Cynthiana, j. l.. Shawhan, McClin-
took d Mcintyre, of Millersburg, and
and various others from Kentucky.
1, While ! write an eager crowd is get
, ting off the train. Things will boom
from now on. The great sale commenc-
cs May 18th and continues four days
There will be a big rush for lots. An
2 immence crowd will be here including
# Gov. Taylor and staff. Ample arrange
=, ments will be made for the accommoda