Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-05

Mr.. Alexander still resides in the VI
entity. The eye of the traveller along the
Richmond & Allegheny railroad iookipe
west as the line sweeps around grano
curve a mile below Iron Gate and JUST
below the junction of the jackson ano
Cow Pasture rivers, forming the historic
James, will be attracted by neat white
cottage on a green sward elevation, ana
uncovered in vines and evergreens. That
is the bachelor home of the elegant and
cultured gentleman contemporary and
associate at Washington College with Col
Jno. T. L. Preston, DR.. Socrates Maupip,
Dr. Francis L. Stribling, DR.. Matthew Hale
Houston, Alexander Moseley, and other
men of distinction.
IRON-GATE PROGRESS.
The attractions which have led to the
location at 1ron-Gate as a center of large
industries in working up iron for all the
various uses it supplies in this day, and
destined. in the future, to occupy In the
illimitable progress of which it is to form
the basis, will take rank WITH the most
favored, and every movement made in that
direction meets with steady and confident
support. The leading organization-the
one which has established the material
growth to eliminate into beautiful city
with every varied attractions the "1ron-
Gate Land and Improvement Company, !"
of which Hon. Jacob Yost is the Vice.
President and General Manager. The To-
cation and the description of the geological
formation and the value of its iron-ores
and other resources for producing iron,
have been fully sketcbed by those compe-
tent to the task, commencing with Profess
sor Rogers, the Father of American
Geology, and verified in the past by the
practical tests of the old, and now by the
great success of the new, iron-masters OF
that region, now attracting immense capt.
tai and the finest talent of the whole coun'
try engaged in such development.
The city is well on the way at this early
day, being successfully established upon
the basis mentioned. The "Iron Gate
Inn," a hotel of requisite dimensions ard
capacity, ornamented in architectural taste
and combination of styles, is nearly ready
for occupancy and the superior accommo-
dation of hundreds of guests. The iron
rolling mill will soon be ready to commence
work in the production of plate and bar
iron, the pig product for which, as already
mentioned, is turned out at all points
within a radius of five miles around this
future center of great industry. Planning
mills and the devises for rapid building and
erection of houses already in full progress
and activity; and stove-works and other
establishments for working up iron from
its crude state are coming in force to avail
themselves Of this favored location.
Enumeration is unnecessary. Suficit to
say, that in all this progress our young
townsman, Mr.. Yost, who is the real head
in prosecuting the well-matured plans Of
bis own ard bis associates In the design, ID
equal to the occasion, and moves in bis
work with great energy and skill and
thorough practical, as well as cultured
talent.
These reflections well up in the mind sf
the observer stands upon the railroad track
in front of the old homestead at the head
OF the wide plain below the wooded bluff
Over the plain, the seat of the lower part
of the city, store houses and others fol
mechanical industries and residences are
up and occupied for these purposes, chief
among which is another elegant house fol-
the accommodation of the public known as
the "Lithia Hotel" deriving its title from
the fine Lithia Springs at the place. Just
here it is proper to mention the fact that
the water from these fountains will take
the place of all others on the Vestibule
trains of the Chesapeake q Ohio Railroad
for the comfort of the travelling public on
it's routes North and West and to the
East, including the James River division of
its lines commencing at Clifton Forge.
THE CITY ON THE PLATEAU.
The maps and plans of the city of Iron
Gate show also the excellence Of Its loca-
ton for superior residences ON the plateau
above the bluff A broad avenue ascepds
at easy grade, commencing in front of the
Inn, to the plateau where are avenues,
eighty feet wide and others of less Width
crossed by streets of corresponding dimen-
sions cnt through the forest growth and
laid off into blocks and lots. Over all this
surface, the elevated as well as the lower
plain, cool mountain free stone water is al
ready provided for the comfort of the in.
habitants and the safety of property from
fire.
WEST IRON GATE LAND COMPANY.
It ia noticeable feature of all enter.
prises, similar to those of Iron Gate,
that outside and cooperating agencies Of
the leading purpose are quickly formed,
experimenting large amounts Of capital
and thrift in leading the way to the &C.
conplishment of the first design. Chief Of
these formed and forming at Iron Gate, is
"The West Iron Gate Land Company"
which has obtained large acreage Of the
beautiful Southern slope adjoining the
Iron Gate possessions on the North West,
and like amount at the Southern end rum
ming down and crossing the railroad track
and fronting on Jackson River just above
the confluence with it of the Cowpasture.
These lands except the portion on the
plain and river front are In forest. This is
the lsud purchased recently by Governor
] ,mes e. Campbell, of Ohio, Of Mr.. Davis
A. Keyser, and was part of the Iron
Gate estate. The SPECTATOR announced
on the Goth ultimo the formation of "The
West Iron-Gate and Land Company" and
the purchase from Governor Campbell of
this realty, in which he still holds large
interest now in the stock of the Company