The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1890-06-26
Industries at Iron Gate,
Special correspondent of the yIRdfhIAs.

"A beautiful, DfignJ DAY mas cneereu TIC
managers of Iron Gate and West Iron
Gate, and given good results in their sale
of lots.
The heavy rain of Yesterday gives a
lovely tint of green to the forest trees,
and as the visitors walked out on the
streets of Iron Gate this morning,
beautiful panorama of grand mountain
scenery met the eye, smiling in the fresh
ness of it's baptism of Sunshine. The
scenery around and about Iron Gate has
been SO often described, that it would be
useless to repeat it. Suffice it to say that
the American continent nowhere pre-
sents grand er or more lovely picture.
Each train has brought its load OF par
ties interested, or seeking investments.
The register of Iron Gate Inn shows
strangers present from Pennsylvania,
New York, West Virginia, Maryland,
North Carolina, and Virginia-Danville,
Richmond, Lynchburg, Staunton, and
other Virginia cities are largely repre-
sented. Stauntonians feel at home at
once, recognizing in the polite morning
clerk, Johnnie Young, of Staunton.
Mr.. Boyer, of West Virginia, is the night
clerk, and Mr.. Fred Colburn, tho suffer
ing from wounded foot, sits behind the
counter to greet his customers with
F.. pleasant smile.
Strangers are amazed at the complete
ness of the Inn, and the thOrOughness
and comfort of its management. Its
cuisine, furnishing, and accommodations
throughout are equal to the best city
/ hotels. 1t is a marvel of neatness and
completeness. The hotel is supplied
with lithia water in all its departments,
and your correspondent can bear per-
sonal testimony to the splendid baths OF
lithia to be had in the Inn building
Besides the lithia water, there is line
chalybeate spring within minutes walk
of the hotel.
Iron Gate proper occupies the level
plain through which passes the K. y A.
Division of the c. & o. r. r. 1t is a
beautiful location, and around it are the
majestic hills This morning your cor
respondent, in company with some
friends, walked up the heights In rear of
the Inn, to visit the residence portion OF
West Iron Gate 1t is beautiful plateau,
and the lots located here are splendidly
situated for residences 1t is all nice,
smooth ground, overlooking the valley
below, and affording a magnificent view
of the hills in the distant.
1t is not the purpose of this cores
pondence to speak of the mineral RICH
ness of this sectioa,-it is well known
but an
| HOUR IN VIRGINIA ROLLING MILL,
located in the heart of this great iron
district, is an occasion that fills with
bounding Joy the heart of one who loves
the dear old State, and halls with delight
the unfolding of her future prosperity
and greatness The mill is not running
at it's full capacity for the want of hands.
Last night five furnaces were being
worked, and as many ovens were cook
ing" the pig iron, preparing it for the
rollers. The pig is literally boiled. and
worked by skiliful and def hands into
balls of from $50 to 200 pounds 1t was
deeply interesting scene to witness
this work The great balls of red-hot
iron are taken to the s'sQaeezer," where
it is put into shape. and then taken to
the rollers where it is rolled into bars q
inches wide. The iron, now being made,
is ''muek" bar, and the demand is such
that it is shipped as fast as it is made.
The mill is prepared to make the finish.
ed iron, but the demand for muck
taxes it's present working capacity
Furnaces within radius of a few miles,
supply the pig. AS the furnace fires
LIGHTED up the surrounding hills and
valleys, and the whirl of machinery
rolled out the long, red-hOt bars, it Was
in the mouth of every one present to
say; "Here is the work that will revoln-
tionize conditions in old Virginia and lift
her up to her just position ia the great
sisterhoOd of States"
Next to the rolling MILL the Farmers
| Alliance have erected two large build
ings, and are husily engaged on THE
foundation of their main building. AT
the sale of lots to day their purchases
indicate that they have come to stay.
and mean business all the way through.
There are number of other industries
already at work. Two planning mills, a
large brick yard, curry comb factory.
site has been selected for tannery.
and all the indications point to the rapid
growth of this mountain town.
When We remember that what we see
today has been the work OF q few
months, we can in some degree measure
the courage and abilities of the promo
| tiers of this enterprise.
There was good attendance at the
lot sale to-day. The sale was confined
to residence lots, and the prices ranged
above the prices fixed by the companies.
1t is regarded as a very satisfactory sale,
and all present are delighted With the
outlook of Iron Gate. K.
| A Big Tunnel Contract.
Maj. D. Shanahan, the well known rail
road contractor, his two sons, G. NJ and
! D. A. Shanahan, and Mr.. Gill have been
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