The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-07
TH1 r1Mrs-proHMoND VA, SATURDAY. JUNE Z, 1890

N any town In the South. Then. too, there
ia n vast area Of hardwood timber IN this
immediate vicinity.
Thus we have not only location famous
for IL health and beauty but resources To
sustain large population, and better than
Loth A strong company TO utilize every adj 4
xant,ge. The outcome will be many i'm
dustrial plants. There IL gap In The
mountain for y direct airline railroad TO
washington. which, IL il alleged, the Nor !
folk and Western people will utilize so as
10 escape paving tribute L. other lines on /
their Washington business. In this con-
nection IL must be borne in mind that the
Norfolk and Western il now virtually owner
of the Shenandoah Valley, which II Will
use from Roanoke 10 Luray fOr.it Wash |
ington traffic. At present Luray has only
the Shenandoah VALLEY Road, but that road
is being managed 50 as to give the place ex-
ceptional advantages rs compared with
other towns having only n single line OF
rail. The fact is. the Norfolk and Western
j. the most active town building railroad
company in America. Another new road
from Jliray that will surely DE built Is west
ward 10 the coal fields. AS | happen TO
know that such line will pay, ! feel safe
in saving il will surely be built, especially
since this Valley Land and Improvement
Company is ready to promote the scheme:
This company was organized under one
of those extraordinarily liberal charters
which were granted by the last Virginia
LEGISLATURE. and the incorpOrators are men
entitled 20 public confidence. They VIII
look carefully 10 the interests OF stockhOld-
ers. who will be owners of one Of the most
valuable properties in the South. In fact,
have heard conservative men express the
opinion that good, honest dividends VIII ne
made for the holders Of the first million dol
lars proposed to be issued from the
profits of the cavern and the inn alone.
The town lots cannot fail to bring hand
some prices. so that IL may be that the
company will have no occasion 10 issue the
second million of stock authorized by lis
charter. However. | shall not attempt TO
predict what may be wisest in that respect.
With half the Industries that the company
ought to secure with million OF stock sold
and a half million worth Of lots. Luray
should have a population Of 10000 rs fast
rs the houses can be constructed. Ten
years ago the census gave the place popu-
latiOn Of Gll souls. one big tannery has
been mainly Instrumental in increasing the
population TO more than 1000.
While there are a hundred things that
might be said in all truth IN Luray's praise.
there are only half a dozen which cain now
incorporate into this article without max
ing il SO long As 10 cause the average read
or to shrink from its perusal. One Of the
most important points about the place r
that the topography OF the c0mpany's lands
makes it possible to build hundreds of fac
tories out of sight of the select residence
section. and with ground close at hand for
the operatives. These factory sites lie 10
nOrthward. and the prevailing south
orn winds Will carry their smoke
away from the residences, south of
the inn. The correctness Of this posi-
ticn is proved by the fact tina, no smoke or
odor from the tannery has ever been pcrcep-
tble at the inn. which is only half a mile
away. Another practical advantage OF the
same kind arises from the direction Of the
large. swift-nowng stream that runs across
Luray. Thus the charm Of the land above
me inn, even from the standpoint Of the
most fastidious and aesthetic Of hOme-scek-
ers. will not in the least be marred 10y the
construction of furnaces and factories along
the railroad on the other side of the present
town. which VIII always be q dividing line
between the industrial district aud taat 10
be occupied by arisiocratic homes.
The work Of laying of the property into
streets and avenues, b0uleyards and other
highways is just being inauguratCd under
the direction OF Alex. !. Lee. OF Pitts
burg. who may well be called an artist
engineer. II all the new towns mad cUl-
ployed such man for this kind Of work.
some one who could make his lines con-
form to natures, who knew how to make
art enhance the beauty Of the situation
instead of marring il. great many dollars
in the long run would thereby have been
saved; for il is the worst possible economy
for butcher to De employed TO lay OIL "a
tOwn-unless. Of course, if it is never ill.,
tended by the owners to build upon it "A
town.
The water for the new town will come |
from great free-stOne spring in the noun |
tain that fanks the eastern edge Of the |
valley. aud il is stated that this spring iu |
size and gush j. almost as much OF a cur |
osity, as compared with other springs -
the Luray Cayerns are as compared with |
other caves.
But all aluring as is my theme. tempted |
rs | am to endeayOr 10 convey 10 the read !
cr's mind faint conception OF the glorious |
panorama TO be seen from the tower Of the |
Luray Inn. and prompted as | am by the |
nOsp.table treatment / have here received |
90 say word about honest Tom McCOrkle |
and the brOad-minded and clcan-hamded ID.
+. kagey. who is president Of the valley |
Land and improvement Company. and OF
half dozen others who cOnsplre TO make
all visitors 10 Iuray feel ut home. must,
nevertheless. bring this letter to close. ]
only hope that | have made clear to my
readers what really constitutes a scientific
town site.