The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-17
PROSPECT VILLAGE.
Where the Beautiful Green Stone is
Found.

al lCLtcc nanUcu us DN INC secretary Oh
the Virginia Green Building Stone Com
pany. The correspondent is writing
of Prospect, the town adjacent To which
the beautiful green stone of the COM
pany is embedded. After speaking of
the fertility OF the lands and tho sur
rounding country. nc says:
The central location of Prospect is also
worthy OF consideration. 1T is 30 miles
from Roanoke. so each from Richmond
and Petersburg. - from Lynchburg and
liz from Norfolk. BurEvllc is rs miles
distant, and Farmville, the county seat
of Prince Edward. is but II miles away
ampton-Sydncy college is distant
only five miles in an airline, and it's
glistcning roof is plainly visible. In
Stitutions of learning of Il high order
have always flourishcd in the south side
and the people are, as Il class remarlla-
bly, polished and cultivated. forming a
society into which any one might be
pleased and proud to enter, and the
names of Randolph and hosts of others
of its distinguished sons are familiar
everywhere.
Two Presbyterian and two Episcopal
churches are situated within short dis
tancc Of the place, and we think we
have written enough to convince all, if
such conviction were needed, that in
mental and moral. social and religious
as we'll as material advantages the point
which VIC have fcebly essayed to describe
is worthy the attention of all in search
OF hcalth and wealth, Il delightful loca-
ton and good society.
MINERAL TREASURES.
Such are some of the treasures of the
upper soil, an account Of which might
he compiled into pages were it necessary
or had we the space, but Prospect would
not be entitled to Il place in Virginia
were il not underlaid by mineral wealth
scarcely if at all less valuable.
There is iron close by. immediately
to the north, opening just beneath the
surface, discovers great abundance OF
fine red hematite iron; il shows upon
the hillsidcs miles away running into
the mountains, and there is little doubt
that any thing like systematic explora-
ton would develop this metal in very
considerable quantities.
The entire soil is permcatcd with
mica; i t glittcrs on the surface and forms
part " every rock. 1t is found in small
sheets large enough for many purposes,
and is IS almost certain that it exists in
large bodies in the immediate vicinity
Asbestos, too, is worked proiitably at
no great distance from the village, and
fine bitnminouS coal has been discovered
only a milo ortwo to the northward.
Brick clay of the finest kind is abundant,
and soapstone quarrics arc found in the
neigh boorhood.
BUILDING STONE.
Three beautiful varities, however, of
granite stone which exists here in i'm
mensc quantities open up great and
profitable field for investment. There is
:. fine gray stone which looks as though
III were studded with garnets, "A dark
rock sparkling with mica, and Il beauti-
full green stone also set with mica,
whose silvery sparkle adds wonderfully
to it's beauty.
All OF these exist in ineXhaustible
quantities in close proximity to the de-
pot, but it is of the last named-the
ripidolite we propose to speak. Not
more than quarter of a mile from the
railroad, or threc-quarters of Il mile
from the depot, it OutcropS on the sur
face and fills the hills.
Layer on layer of dark green stone,
sufficient TO build all the cities of the
great Southwest, fill the earth and crop
out everywhere, easily quarried, easily
shipped, comparatively soft when dug
and readily cut to any shape desired, it
hardcns on exposure to tho air, resist
ing IL pressure heavier than will be
borne by granite, and withstanding OK
posture 10 tho elements indefinitely.
AS an evidence Of its atmospheric en-
DURANGO, we may remark that in the
pretty village graveyard much of this
stone is used, and at the head of one
grave wc note this inscription "a d.
Walker, died February IL, ls27,'' For
Sixty-throc years this simple stone has
marked this grave, vet it shows 10
traces OF disintegrat ton. and the inscrip-
ton Is as clear and distinct as on the
day when it was cut.
1t is susceptible Of beautiful polish
and is one of the most desirable orna-
mental building stones imaginable. used
either as an entirety or for trimming
purposes.
This rich. sparkling. seemingly dia-
mond-studdcd stone combines therefore
every desired requisite for popularity in
its beauty. durability and chcapness
There is little doubt that the enterprise
and libcrality manifested by the Norfolk
and Western in aiding the development
'of every deserving industry will assure
the binding of Il side track over Il very
easy grade TO the quarrics, which will
'cna be this valuable stone to he put
upon Shc market even cheaper than
many other varieties for its superior
beauty, strength and durability. the cost
OF the transportation being estimated at
onl.y seven cents per hundred pounds.
What beautiful residence structures,
~erhatcommcrcial palaces, can he erected
from this stone by wealthy citizens. the
entcrprising merchants OF Roanoke and
other Virginia cities.
1T is more valuable, more lasting
moro beautiful than marble, and can
hardly fail to become the universal
4