Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-26
CITY.

BASIC CITY.
OPENING THE WAY FOR DEvELoPMENT-AL LONG
RIVER AND RAILROAD gRCNT-sTUDYING THE
PLAN wELL-THE CENTRE OF OPERATIONS ON
FIXED PIvoT-THE BRANCH LINES ENCoM-
PASS HILL AND DALE-THE RIVER HEIGHTS
STUDDED WITH FOREST GRowTH-ARCHED
WAYS AND BROAD STREETS UNDER ELEVA-
TED RAILRoA Ds-ANTEDILUvIAN LAND
SLIDES BECOME MODERN SITES FOR ARTISTIC
DISPLAY.
| Correspondence of the SPECTATOR
BASIC CITY, VA, March "a, lSsO.
The Post Office Department of the Govern
ment has accepted the suggestion OF the
promoters of progress, and by ohclai en-
dorsement established post-office nam
ed "Basic City" where, in well-known
railroad nomenclature. was "Waynesboro
Junction" Then, too, the old sign OF the
"Mont View" has been struck that more i'm
posing insignia inviting through wider por-
tails and broader space to the "Basic City
HOTEL" which is enlarging on the old site.
Railroad travellers and those accustomed to
| the place as 1t was in the past, now see the
commencing industries in the near and dis
| tant views Iof the contre and surroundings Of
| the junction, the fore.runner of progress,
which large capital is pledged to establish, on
| the highway to success. The extent Of terrific
| ry embraced in the design is something like
| three miles long, and on both sides of the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad from North to
| South, and a mile wide at some places. and
| crossed by the Chesapeake & Ohio Railroad
from East to West, the company holding most
of the near and distant surroundings Of the
| the junction Of the two great transportation
| lines. The river front on the eastern side of
| the South river is something like two miles,
and on the opposite, or western side. more
| than half mile wide. There wooded blur
rises for some distance and from 1t recedes
westwardly handsome stretch Of table-land.
On the eastern side of the river, and on both
| sides Of the Chesapeake q Ohio Railroad,
stretching across the Shenandoah Valley Rail-
road. commence on the river wide PLANES
followed by higher land. which is merged in
the foot hills leading up to the mountains.
PREPARING FOR BUSINESS.
MIR. Samuel Forrer President of the Compa-
ny. says that the typographical map and ex-
planstions of the designs which have been
nearly completed under the charge of Prof. D.
Q. Humphreys, of Washington & Lee Univers-
lty. assisted by Messrs. A. G. Walker and Jno.
Carmichael, and q full complement of attend
ants, will have their feature Of the progress
ready in a short while. At this time much of
territory embraced in the survey. shows the
lines of streets and blocks of lots.
THE STREETS.
The longest and the widest streets are parallel
with the Shenandoah Valley Railroad, and the
cross streets, as a matter of course are on
parallels with the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail.
road On the South side of the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad, about 100 yards from the Shen-
andoah Valley road and west of 1t. Is a high
moraine which is about 100 yards in length
and half that in width Major Hotchkiss says
it was caused by slide from the mountains
side of Rockf1sh Gap. 1t arrests attention at
all times by the singularity and perfectness of
its rounded lines and surface and regret must
be expressed that 1t was ever denuded of its
forest growth. This elevated surface is on the
line Of Broadway, 80 feet wide, which runs the
entire length of the property and when strik-
Ing the moraine encircles 1t. This picturesque
attraction which is, as remarked, south Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, and is to be-
come the gem location for artistic display, will
not be without another special object of inter
est, which will be the broad arch or colonnade
that will support the railroad. and through
which the broad street will pass. The streets
running North and South all strike the high
embarkment of the chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
road between the junction and the river, but
In all probability, this will be the only one in
that space which will pass under that great
highway with Its continuous conn ectlons from
the Atlantic to the Pacific
ANEW AND STYLISH HOTEL.
On the plateau on the foothills of the noun
tain north OF Rockfish Gap is the location
chosen for the new and modern style hotel.
Our new experience in laying out and shaping
towns for manufacturing and commercial
growth as well as for pleasure and sanitary re-
sorts calls for first-class hotels having every
modern improvement. The worthy Presi lent
of the Company says the one soon to be erected
on the handsome site named above shall Nil
every requisite of taste and comfort.
This Valley elevation to be occupied by the
hotel is about the center of great curve bend
ing eastward, between the peaked mountain"
to the north and the ''Russell Rock'' or 'Valley
Salient" to the south, distance of about forty
miles, From the Russell Rock is the prOlonga.
ton of the summit OF the central watershed
of the Valley. and around the end of the Peak |
ed':or Massanuttan mountain the valleys con-
verge with their volumes of water flowing off
In the Southern branch of the Shenandoah
river. Blended with charming scenery with
great curved mountain for its eastward back
ground, stretching up and down the Valley
the distance of forty miles, looms up the
view across the plateau fields and forests of
Augusta county till closed in by the towering
"Elliott's Knob" or mount Rogers'' as 1t as
been named in the maps OF the county of late
years.
STREAMS.
The river fronts on both its sides have been
referred to in the typographical sketch. 1t
need not be stated that along the eastern bank
particularly, as also along the railroad fronts,
will be large reservations for manufacturing
purposes, with belt line from the Shenandoah
Valley Railroad northeast of the Chesapeake
and Ohio. Pretty mountain streams at several
points flow across all the territory. on several
lines over the whole of it from east to west.
The reader can understand that in this day for
the necessity of water and the various purposes
to which it is appropriated, ,the Basic people
have store of wealth, and particularly in tn at
unceasing flow which makes its way to the
river across the property acquired of Mr.. ] acob
Koiner north of the junction. In this connec-
ZION reference may be made to the bubbling
spring near the moraine on the Southwest,
capable ofsupplying water for hygienic needs
for several thousand people. 1t is believed
that the analysis will show this water to pos
sess lithia.
MINERAL LANDS
The mineral lands of the property are along
the Shenandoah Valley Railroad at several
points southwark and belong to the belt of such
| resources for which the western base OF the
Blue Ridge mountain is noted. AS the prog
| ress Of the company shall be its best demon-
strative power in the race of enterprise that
race is entered In this feature with entire con-
hdence. SOUTH RIVER.
Progress at Iron Gate.
The LUSTER MANUFACTURING COMPANY,
| for the manufacture OF curry combs and con-
| Quoting general tin business, was organized
at Iron Gate on the oath Instant ]. o. Luster.
President and Genr Manager; W.. T. McCue,
Vice President; N. j. Harkins, Secretary and
IraaGurar- Hiraof0rr L Xnrf q III n