The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-07-06


IvANHOE, WYTHE Co., VA, July 3.-The
representative of THE HERALD who has been
knocking about in the southwestern section of
Virginia for some days taking notes of the won
derful development which is going on here has
almost settled down to the conviction that he
is not in staid Old Virginia at all but in one of
the new booming, hustling States of the far
West, where cities spring up in a night and the
population doubles at least twice year. The
air in this region is full of the ozone of enter
prise and progress. Every one tells of the
good times coming, of the new cities that are
being built up rapidly, but on a substantial basis
that has none of the elements of the West
ern ''boom'' about it, of the steady influx of
Northern and Eastern capital to open up
mines, start furnaces, cotton, woollen, and saw
mills, and in thousand other ways aid the ad-
vent of that era of greatness and prosperity for
the new South which will swallow up and be
greater than the old.
And no one who has eyes to see can fail to
perceive that this talk and the hopes that beget
it are amply justified by what has already been
done. The men who are aiding the develop
ment of this section of Virginia bear names that
are accepted in business circles the country over
as synonyms for the utmost financial safety and
solidity. They have practically unlimited capi-
tai at their command, and their operations here
can hardly be classed speculative, for there is
in plain sight ample proof for even an unprac-
tioed eye that the returns are as certain as any
future event can be.
Take this beautiful little city of Ivanhoe and
the surrounding region as type. Looking at
1t merely as place of residence it Is hard to
find one with greater attractions Two thou
sand feet above sea level, the air is pure, brac-
ing, and absolutely free from the taint of ma
laria. The mere breathing of it is Joy, and
while the rest of the country, East, North and
West has been ,gasping in torrid wave,
we here among the forests and mountains
have been basking in a sun that warns
without suggestion of oppression, while at
night we sleep in uninterrupted comfort under
light blankets. The landscape all about here
along new River and Cripple Creek is wonder
fully beautiful, with its swift-rushing waters,
its green valleys, and the wooded mountains in
the distance.
But while these external beauties invite the
eye and stir the pulse, they are after all but
minor considerations to those in search of new
homes and who seek to found new fortunes.
1t is the almost unlimited and undeveloped
wealth of natural resources of the famous
Cripple Creek Valley and the region about that
will turn the tide of emigration this way, and
NIL with busy, prosperous populations what is
now comparatively unsettled country. The
enterprslng gentlemen who are building up
lvanboe have made a splendid start They
haye laid out plan of improvements of real
magnliicence OF scope, and already have begun
to realize it, New furnaces. factories, hotels,
churches, schools, and dwellings have been
planned, and are in course of construction, that
insure for this town future as grand as it is
assured. New enterprises are seeking to locate
here almost every day, and they are given every
inducement by the company which is devoting
itself to the development of Ivanhoe.
The Ivanhoe improvement Company has
fund of $4,000, which it is expending as rap
idly as is judicious in laying out Streets build
ing water works. and in many other ways neces-
sary for the development Of the city. Among
the gentlemen who are especially active in de-
VeIoplng the resources OF this fine region none
have done more than Mr.. Charles g. Eddy the
genial and indefatigable vice president of the
Norfolk and Western Railroad, of Roanoke, Va.
Mr.. w. Z. Van Doren, president of the Ivanhoe
Company is also tireless worker, but always
finds time to show consideration to the traveller
and seeker after information. Mr.. S. NJ.
Seeley, secretary and treasurer of the company
is another gentleman whose enthusiastic belief
in the future of this region will certainly not
fall short of realization through any failure of
his to work with might and main for it.
AS manufacturing site the advantages of
the city of Ivanhoe are even greater than those
she offers to the home-seeker Situated on
New River, thirty-two miles from Pulaski Va,
at the entrance of the Cripple Creek Valley,
right at the junction of two large railroads, the
Cripple Creek extension of the Norfolk and
Western Railroad and the North Carolina ex-
tension, now under construction to the State
line, where connection will be made with the
Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railroad this
city possesses facilities of transportation and
commerce with all the centres of industry
which would be difficult to equal. The Cripple
Creek Valley is famed for the abundance va
riety, and richness Its iron, "copper" lead zinc
manganese, and other ores; for its almost mex
haustible supplies of COAL and for its vast eX-
panse of land, covered with forests of oak,
chestnut, ash, hickory, and pine At the late
exposition held in Richmond this county took
the first prizes for both minerals and woods
The level plateau bordering New River for an
extent OF one and one-half miles has been set
apart for manufacturing purposes, and this i'm
mense water power, of almost incalculable
strength, contributes to the other natural ad-
vantages OF the city as a manufacturing centre
The company offers its willing co0peration
in all manufacturing enterprises, and une-
qualed opportunities are offered for safe and
profitable investments. Furnace No ! of the
New River Mineral Company is already in sue
cesstul operation, while the Iyanhoe Iron
Company, under the presidency of Jordan L.
Mott, of the famous New York firm of iron
manufacturers, has been organized for the pur-
pose OF erecting another large furnace. The
lyanhoe Zinc Company has purchased immense
deposits of zinc ores, which they are now de-
yeloping, and will shortly erect several fur
naces of large capacity. The proximity of the
city to the rich deposits of coal, and to the
southern States, the sources of cheap labor, to
which they are brought into connection by
means Of its railroad facilities, of exceptional
excellence, make the manufacture of these
metals splendid chance of investment for
capitalists.
Iyanhoe's connection with the most profitable
markets is likewise assured by its position and
by its railroads. The Norfolk and Western
with its numerous branches, brings it into close
and rapid connection with leading markets in
every section of the country, while by its CON
nectiOn with the Louisville and Nashville sys-
TEN the markets Of the great West are opened
up % IL. The North and East are reached