Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-11-14

gfticla report OF Mr.. +. WILKINSON. super
intendent OF the West Point Compress and
Warehouse Co. The amount of cotton han
died by his company alone has increased
from $500 bales in 1SS1-2 to So ,402 bales in
1SS7-s. The average increase each year be-
ling about 600 bales. You can hardly
believe it, but the little town of West Point
is to-day the fifth cotton port OF the Una
ted States-a fact that is better known in
Europe than it is in Virginia. So little do
we know Of the advantages OF our State.
1t is not surprising then, as l have said,
with this astounding growth of business
done here, thata company should be formed
to develope the natural Industrial POSSIBLE
ties which accompany it. Nor after read
ing what have written about the fulfill
ment OF Commodore Maury's predictions
about the town, will you be surprised that
indulge in the prophecy that this develop
ment enterprise having foundation tried
| by time and experience and proven good,
will take rank among the most successful
and profitable to those who may engage i'll
| it that has yet been undertaken in Virgin
! ia.
THE NUCLEUS OF THE ENTERPRISE.
West Point proper, in which the Termi-
nal Development Company owns 1000 lots,
as well as the $500 acres that it has secured
outside of the town, is one of the prettiest
spots in Virginia. 1t is situated on IL
plateau which descends gently to the point
at which the Pamunky and Mattaponi
rivers join and form the York. The favor
able formation may be judged when l say
that its highest point is 25 feet above the
level of the water. AT the eastern point is
the Terminal Hotel, a handsome four story
building with verandahs, towers, electric
lights, and a fountain playing on the lawn
from an artesian well. The salt water
laps over the smooth beach just at the edge
Of the lower verandah. The view from the
point is beautiful, the great exIanse OF
water, four miles across, narrowing short
distance below into water way, the York
: river, two miles wide. On this broad ex-
panse are seen foreign ocean steamships
flying the flags of all nations, and coastine
: ships and sailing crafts of all dimensions.
AS the sun came up over the water this
morning thought had never seen pref
tier sight.
The town itself is a pretty one, fresh
lively, and with a thrifty appearance about
it. The houses are attractive, and you see
new ones going up. The churches are at
tractive buildings and the public school
buildings are worthy Of a place ten times
its size. 1t is not stand still place
Twelve years ago its real and personal es-
tate was worth $4,000; to-day it is assess
ed at 81 100000. 1t has about $500 popu.
lation, an increase of 1850 in ten years
about go per cent. of whom are whites. 1t
has electric lights in its streets and will il
due course of time have street cars TO.
which the broad streets are well suited
There are four white churches of different
denominations Methodist, Baptist, Epis
copal and Disciples and one colored church
in the toWn-one Of the churches, the Meth
Odlst, being as handsome a building as YOU
Will see anywhere. And it's white public
school building just finished at a cost OF
So, GOO, will accommodate 400 children, and
!, is a brick edifce which would attract YOU
attention anywhere.
+ A REMARKABLE FEATURE.
, One of the most remarkable things to
me- to be seen here, is the ATtesian well sys-
TEN. There are about three hundred of these
wells in the town. You can order one to
be dug on your premises at o'clock in the
morning and at oclock that evening it
will be finished, and a fountain Of sparkling
water throwing up to height of six feet,
F drawn from the earth It's feet deep will be
playing in your yard, and will play there
forever unless you cut it off. This water
is simply delicious and will be feature in
making the town. ! have seen an analysis
OF it and, to state it roughly, III one U. S.
gallon there are over nine grains Of sodium
carbonate, over nine grains of magnesia
over one gram of potassium, over twenty
four grains of sodium, over one grain of
Silicic acid and little less than grain
each of chloride, bromide, ammonia. cal
cium carbonate, and over grains of carbon
di-oXide combined with nono-c carbonate to
form bi-carbonates. It is as clear as a
crystal and as light as lithia water. One
spends $50 to have the well made in twelve
hours, and he has free water On his property
for life. The first Of these wells was made
| by Mayor E. Wilkinson about six years ago
1t Will be invaluable to the factories which
the Terminal Improvement Company will
bring here, and in my opinion will be no
| II ID1nO1t1nT in IN,
dustTies.
THE ENVIRONMENT COMPANY S HOLDINGS
| AND PURPOSES.
The Terminal Improvement Company,
the promoters of which represent over
$4,000, 600 of capital, have undertaken the
!, easy work OF making of this manufac-
turing town as well as a commercial one.
l say easy because with town Of its rapid
growth and improvement the work ought
to be easy. Nothing has prevented it
heretofore except that like the rest of
Virginia its advantages were never herald.
Ell to the world, and for that other reason
that it being SO easy to live here, thespur OF
, necessity has not been felt With oyster
beds III front, rivers full of every fish, and
with wild duck and deer to be had for a few
cents worth ofpowder and shot, mankind
; between these two rivers we're disposed to
!, let well enough alone. But it has not been
wholly overlooked, indeed it could not be-
with its rapid coming to the front as a
, port for European and American shipments.
) and | am informed that one of those who
have taken the tide in time by investing
, here Is Mai. James T. Doolay. a wealthy