Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-13
A Growing Town Of Which Virginiana
Are Proud.
VISIT TO CHARLOTTESVILLE.
The Many Industries ~ Alheusarie
County-Stock Raising and Grape
Culsure-Education Facilities and
Town Enterprise.
nee of THE EVENING srAn.

itself and Albemarle county, Of which Char
lottesville Is the capital. escaped the direct
ravages Of the battlefield it was the granary for
the field, the hospital for the sick and wounded
and the thoroughfare for marching soldiery,
and therefore when the civil strife ended the
entire section was left poverty-stricken, though
rich with fertile hills and valleys, having lands
that were taxable without labor to till them and
peopled with inhabitants possessed Of farms
without farming implements. with no money,yet
full Of hope and energy. How far these hopes
have been realized aud what their energies have
with q tongue Of eloquencc.
Charlottesville, like hundreds of other towns
in the state, is on "a BOOM" but not that of
the fiash-light kind-no sooner begun than done
for-so often built upon speculative theories.
The spirit OF Improvement and enterprise here
think Is founded upon substantial conditions,
and while making haste is doing so slowly. the
results of which must necessarily be perma-
nent. The moving spirits among the pushing
business men of Charlottesville appear to be
conservative while enterprising seeking after
permanent rather than immediate results, con-
sequently the newly laid ont squares with their
wide streets and avenues mean something, as
the manufacturing establishments, store
houses, dwellings and other buildings going up
in all directions attest.
ALBEMARLE COUNTY,
in which Charlottesville is located, Is the fifth
largest county In the state and lies close to it's
geographical center. It's mainly in The noted
Piedmont region, so famous for fertility, with
the James river flowing through the south
eastern portion, while the western part rises
high into the balmy Blue Ridge mountains
water, although among the ranges which
divide the Midland" and Piedmont sections
peaks arise to the height Of 800 feet
The country il largely agricultural, but ex-
tensiye deposits of iron ore, manganese, slate.
soap stone, graphite and zinc exist, which are
being rapidly developed. The celebrated Cri-
mora manganese mines are in this county, as
also are the Stony Point brown hematte iron
ore beds, to which the Virginia Midland road
runs a special branch. Specular ore, useful in
steel making, is also found in large quantities
along the James river, about Scottsvilie and
Howardsville.
STOCK RAISING IN ALBEMARLE.
Stock raising and dairying are successfully
pursued, though the latter not to such an extent
as it otherwise would be on account Of the garlic
and wild onion in the grass, and which seem
to be peculiarly indigenous to the soil of this
section. For stock raising, however, the wild
onion is considered a blessing, not merely from
medicinal qualities, but as well from the fact
that it appears early in spring and holds out
late In the fall and winter, for though it may
be killed by frost it will persist in growing
when the weather is open and warm.
This county is also noted for its fine horses,
Ellerslie, but a few miles from Charlottesville,
having sent out such famous flyers az Eole,
who while on the turf beat Long Taw, Miss
Woodford, Bushwhacker, Parole, Iroquois and
other noted runners; Eiiersiie, who brought
go, 900 when three years cid; Eou, who sold
for $4,000 when one year Of age; St. Savior, q
$12, 600 horse at three, and others.
THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE.
But it 10 Of Charlottesville and its varied in
dustries and surroundings I wish more par
ticularly to speak.
This little city, for 1t Is city, is located $50
feet above tide water on ground gently uudu-
lating, surrounded by the beautiful Blue Ridge
and it's sub-ranges of mountains, and Justly en-.
joys celebrity for its healthy climate and lovely
landscape scenery. In addition to the refine
ment and hospitality Of its people Its educa-
tional facilities place il in advance Of most
cities of its size and rank. It was chartered
under Q city governments in 1883, and has Q
population Of some 1000 to 5000, and real
estate value of 81, 100000 or upward, an in
crease Of more than ESQ, 900 over the assess
ment Of 1880. The next few years will witness
Q still greater increase, a. manufacturing en-
terprises are not only prosperous but increas-
ing In numbers and capital very rapidly. These
factories open mp an excellent field for whole
here have not been Glow to take advantage of
and push to considerable extent
NUMEROUS INDUSTRIES.
Among its list of industries may be named
the largest WOODEN mills in the state the larges,
knitting factory in the south, extensive agri-
cultural and machine works, planning mills,
with sash, door and blind factory, one of the
largest ice-making establishments in the south,
two wine cellars OF large proportions and with
national reputation. and the largest slate pen
Gil factory in the United Ststes-in fact, the
only one OF Importance now, as the Vermont
quarries are practically exhausted.
The city contains both electric and gas light
plants water works, street cars, a free delivery
system, q new opera house. good telephone
service and the prospect Of the early compile
ton OF . S40,0 900 hotel Certainly no town in
future than Charlottesville, brought about by
the energy and perseverance Of its own bust
ness men and citizens.
EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES.
In speaking Of the educational facilities Of
Charlottesville it 10 hardly worth while to men,
ton the University Of Virginia, % national and
world wide is it's reputation, yet q letter from
Charlottesville would be no letter at all with
out speaking Of it. One might as we'll write OF
Monticello and never slude to Jefferson. The
university proper is situated picturesquely on
and with its stately dome-roof building, hanked
by long rows Of dormitories, the pretty stone
chapel In Gothic style, the museum building,
the several separate edifces for chemistry,
biology, medicine, &C., the great Lick observa-
tory and the magnificent grounds comprising
hundreds Of acres, beautifully shaded and ar
ranged with walks and promenades, combine to
make Ii one Of the foremost seats of learning in
the country, one Of the most imposing and
beautiful
GRAPE CULTURE IN ALBRMARLR.
The stranger riding into Charlottesville BY
rail will observe that he il travelling through
the land Of the vine. Hillside and mountain
side dotted with vineyards attest the extent to
which the culture of the grape is pursued The
great wine cellars In and near the town are 0
revelation TO the visitor-somsthing altogether
unexpected in this section. The Albemarle
grapes arc among the first to reach Washington
In season, and Virginia claret has attained
quite Q reputation. One New York drm buys .
large amount of it annually. which they simply
rslabsl and sell sdvantage0uslY a. imported
stock to the subtraction Of purchssera
Thomas Jefferson hrst attempted the cultiva-
ton Of grapes In this section, but his efforts
were failure. Nor was II successfully con-
ductsd until after the close of the war, when
Mr.. VIM: Hotop. sn eastern man. who pur-
chased the estate OF William Writ, once Attor-
ney General Of the Unitsd States, began the
culture Of grapes, selecting native vines for
improvements rather than imported ones. -
had been previously done. He began in 1896
and, encouraged BY his success, others fol-
lowed his lines, and now there are moro than
5000 acres In vines within Albemarls county.
4 fHn wIxH uDus11y.
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