Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-26
BUSY BUCHANAN.
THE vRON-oRE GATEWAY OF The
UPPER JAMES RIVER.
Tn. Magic Touch of Devclopment-A
Transformation-Ra'iro faci'
observation-disclosures sites.
Yrcu,y,s. VA, Oct. %, 1890.

he took from Lexington TO buchanan
behind horse that belonged to " Uncle
Billy" Letcher. as the father OF Gov-
ernor Letcher was affectionately called.
The horse was, owing to age, about as
dilapidated an equine specimen as could
have been picked up in o days march,
and in accordance with the strict IN
structions of "Uncle Billy" he was al
lowed to take blow ut both
the top and foot OF every hill on
the journey. My friend concluded
on reaching Buchanan that IL was
about as near its end as was the horse.
l wonder what he would say could nc DO
dropped down in the place to-day. bu-
chanan used to be considered an emil
nently respectable but sleepy town. III
is still eminently respectable. No place
with such sturdy inhabitants and charm
ing society could be otherwise, but 1t IS
now wide.awake in the most expressive
sense OF the term. The genus OF devei.
opmen, has taken possession OF 1t and
the surrounding country ; it has emerged
from the chrysalis state OF town ana
is destined not only to be city but
most beautiful and progressive city.
A RAILROAD CENTRE.
Buchanan is most charmingly situated
on the James river in one of the most
healthy portions of the Valley OF Vir-
ginia. Formerly it was very mac
cessible now it is in easy communication
with all sections of the country. Two
great trunk lines of railroad. The Nor
folk and Western shenandoah Valley
and the Chesapeake and Ohio railroads
cross here, and this condition
is but an earnest OF what II
will be as railroad centre
in the near future. The Baltimore and
Ohio road is within twenty-foar miles OF
Buchanan, and it Iis conceded that that
link will soon be supplied, and the VIZ
GINA Western, which is to connect the
Baltimore and Ohio with the Louisville
and Nashville, and the East Tennessee,
Virginia and Georgia system, has been
located aud surveyed and large pro-
portion Of the funds for its construction
cOuulbiouaily pieuBou'
CAUSE OF TRANSPORTATION.
And what has brought about this
magic transformation in the old burg
Its natural advantages as business and
manufacturing centre and delightful
place Of residence. The march OF pro-
gress could not give it the go-by.
Nature had endowed it with a lavish
hand. and man had only to accept the
invitation nature had given him.
MINERALS
Buchanan is the centre Of great
mineral area. 1t is the outlet through
which passes the abundant rich and
valuable iron ores OF the upper James
and the Craig, and even in old times was
the gateway of supply to many we'll
known furnace. 1t has no blastfurnace
of ITS own, but in the nature Of things
the building of furnaces here is but a
question of o short time. The noun
tains around it team with every
thing necessary for the manufacture
OF the best grade of pig iron, ex-
cept coal, and it is equi-distant from the
New River and Flat-Top coal deposits,
each of which is pierced by its railroad
connections. Limestone is abundant /;
it has glass sand, sand for silica brick, q
splendid water-power its neighboring
forests are full Of Taluable woods, its
drainage is fine, its church and school
advantages admirable its SITES for manu-
factories of all kinds most invitingly
located, and its people intelligent and
hospitable.
Is IT ASTONISHING
Is it astonishing, then, that the sound
OF the saw. the hammer, and the trowel
should be heard in Buchanan from morn
ing until night; that capital should be
flowing into the place, and that nearly
all safe roads of investment lead to or
have branches to it | think not. Every
day values are going up and improve
ments are being made in Buchanan, aud
it is calculated that by the 18th Of this
month, when the great sale OF lots by
the Central Land Company of Buchanan
takes place, Sl75, 600 worth Of buildings
will be under construction. The sale
will offer splendid inducements to the
investor, but more of that in my next.
ARAMINTA.