Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-01-03
LOCAL.
The New Basic C!ty !!
A RAPID LEAP INTO PUBLIC FAVOR.

FIRST THREE DAYs-DESCRIPTION OF
x.E SITE OF THE NEW CITY-ITs AID
vANTAGES AS AN IRON MANUFACTURE
ING CENTRE-COKE, LIMESTONE, MAN
GANEsE AND IRON ORE ALL AT HAND
PROXIMITY BY RAIL TO THE SEABOARI
AND THE GREAT BUSINESS CENTRES
PRETTY LOCATION HEALTHFULNEss,
&C., &C, go.
The fact that $500 shares of the Basic
City stock have beenNSaken in the first three
days it was put on the market, and the
extraordinary occurrence Of six hundred
shares being sold in Staunton in single
evening, have drawn general attention to the
new city which is to be built on the plain
adjoining Waynesboro. A representative
of the VINDICATOR visited the site on Sat
urday and went over the ground.
THE NAME.
The name of the new site, Basic City, is
significant of what may be looked for in its
history. About six years ago, Mr.. Jacob
Reese of Pittsburg, who is well known in
connection with the Basic process for
making steel, went all over the State OF
Virginia looking for site for works. He
finally came to Waynesboro Junction
(which now lies within the limit of the new
city, and was so much impressed with its
advantages for the location of a steel plant
that he took an option on sufficient land
owned by Mr.. D. A. Kayser, for the pur-
pose of establishing one. Complications
growing out of a law suit over the right to
the Basic process, prevented his carrying
out his original intention, but he is still of
the same mind with regard to the value of
the location, and but few months ago
published an article favoring it as an eligi-
BILE point. 1t was from the circumstance
Of MI. Reese S visit that the name of Basic
City was chosen for the new site.
THE SITE OF THE CITY.
Standing half way up one of the foot hills
of the Blue Ridge, the location chosen by the
company for its new hotel, the whole site
of the new town can be taken in. For it
lies on level plain for the most part and
there is nothing to obstruct the view. In
fact there is plain Of 966 acres. About
the centre of this plain. the Chesapeake &
Ohio Ry. and the Shenandoah Valley Ry.
cross each other, and the latter traverses
the site of the city for it's whole length.
This plain is where the business houses are
to be built. Looking West to the other
side Of South River, which runs through
tie level bottom Of the site, there rises a
beautiful slope of land suitable for dwell
ings. This high land surrounds the level
so that Oh all sides of the new city there
may be built dwellings. The lateral streets
are to run from n orth to South, and the
cross streets from East to West. The Shen-
andoah Valley Ry. which goes through the
centre Of the town will run through a broad
avenue on which business houses and facto-
ries will be located. The river which runs
throughout the site Of the town is about
twenty yards wide and rapid, and
will make the drainage for the sew
erage easy and perfect. As a place
for residences the location is simply
beautiful. On the East rise the foot hills
Blue Ridge. North and South runs
Tue level valley giving an uninterrupted view
for miles. In the location bounds and
foams the active little river and to the
West, the residence slope covers "a gentle
ascent. 1t seems to have combined within
it's limits every recommendation for home,
store and workshop. Located in the noun
tain it's healthfuness is unsurpassed.
MATERIAL FOR STREETS.
One of the most valuable recommended
tons to the site is the material ready to
make streets. 1t is a sort of gravelly marie
and when pressed down gives smooth
surface, much resembling an asphalt side
walk. The railroads have used it for pack
ing their road beds, and the result is that
they give walks as smooth as city pave
ment. A pr0spector from Boston was 60
ing over the town site and after getting
through and expressing his admiration of
the location, exclaimed "But where are
you going to get your streets ?" Upon be-
ing shown the soil in question, and taken
to points where it had been used to make
paths, he said it was the best he had ever
seen in any part of the country for the pulr-
pose.
FOR BUILDING.
Another acknowledgement all these advan-
tages for streets and building mean a say
ing of moneys the material for building.
Dotted over the plain may now be seen
several brick yards, which have been used
for getting out brick for the neighborhood.
The clay is proved by use to be very fine,
and its existence will make building pro-
portionately cheap, saving the transporta-
tion Of the bricks.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
On the company7s land is located great
spring of water which is sufficient to sup
ply a town for many years to come. But
looking to the future growth Of Basic city,
the projectors have located point where
the river can be damned and an amply sup
ply furnished a large city. All this water
is free stone mot lime stone) wafer, and is
greatly to be preferred in operating steam
machinery.
IT'S ADVANTAGES AS AN IRON MANU-
FEATURING POINT.
Basic city is located at the crossing of
two railroad lines which are ready to carry
its products to every section of the Union.
The Chesapeake & Ohio will take them to
the seaboard in a night and to the Ohio
river in day. 1t opens the ocean and the
great Northwest to it. The Shenandoah
Valley Ry. gives it an outlet to the great
Southwest and to the Eastern manufacture
ing cities. Loaded in Basic City, freight
may go to any point in the United States
without breaking bulk. 1t is. SO to speak.
in touch of the World in the matter of
transportation of its products.