The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-10-08
Clifton Forge and Wholesale Bust
ness

There is a factor in Clifton Forge's
future business relations which has not
been duly considered. The central loca-
ton of the place to the various indus
trial undertakings in the district OF
which it forms part, must OF necessity
attract to it business and attention,
which can be commanded by no other
point. It has Iron Gate Glen Wilton
and Bessemer on the south; Longdale'
Millboro and Goshen on the east; Low
Moor, Rich Patch, Covington, and even
Greenbrier White Sulphur and the old
Sweet and Sweet Chalybeate on the
west, and the Hot, Healing and Warm
Springs on the northwest, all natural
tributaries to Clifton Forge, when the
business here has assumed such proper
tions as to command their trade. 1t is
apparent. from the surrounding condI-
tions and the growing development OF
the material resources OF the section,
that Clifton Forge must become large
wholesale center, and that those who
have the nerve and sagacity to recognize
this fact, and act upon it, will reap a
rich reward from their investments. AS
we mentioned last week, j. G. Carpenter,
an intelligent and progressive business
man, is now erecting large three-story
brick building on Church street, west of
Smiths Creek, with view to opening
wholesale grocery establishment, as soon
as the building is completed. Moody "
Carpenter are erecting large three
story brick business house on Main
street, west of Smiths Creek, for the use
of wholesale and retail hardware store
Pendleton Bros are preparing to greatly
enlarge the scope of their hardware trade.
These gentlemen see what is coming.
They are familiar with the improve
ments that are going on in the range OF
territory we have mentioned and are
preparing to meet the natural demand
that will be made for supplies from some
central point. They know that whole
sale establishments can be built up at
Clifton Forge that will defy competition.
in supplying all the points named above,
because of the advantage in freights and
accessibility The railroad facilities are
such that no other locality can compare
with this place merchant can send
out his representative in either dIrec>
ton, touch numerous important trading
points and return the same day. Going
west on the F. F. ", the salesman can
stop off at Covington and have several
hours. and then take the 8 a. III. train
for Hinton. remain there two hours; re-
turn On the 9 p. IN. train, say to Romeo :
verte, where he would have several
hours, and return home by the Flying
,utchman train. Going east, by the
.rly train, he can stop at Millboro and
have one hour; take the f. f. V. for
staunton, where he can spend three
hours, before taking the midday train
FIR Charlottesville, where he can have
,tore than one hour, returning by No.
:, to Basic City, stop Q hours and return
to Clifton Forge the same day on the
Flying Dutchman. Goshen. Victoria
and Rockbridge Alum Springs can be
reached by lying over one night and res
farming the next morning. The same
facilities first named are offered by the
Richmond and Allegheny division, and
the beautiful and fertile valley of the
Warm Springs, with the great santa
rum to be established there, as the obiec-
tive point, can be made in the morning,
and return be effected in the evening.
This range of country covers as much
development and active industrial I'M
dertakings as four times the same terri
Of fveyis llo
Indeed, there is no other point, where
the same railroad facilities are offered,
and where the demand for supplies is as
great, and where capital and enterprise
are being so largely located, promising
indefinite development and still more
enlarged operations.
The population to be furnished in the
localities referred to is not simply that
native to the country. Six furnace
plants, two rolling mills, one or two
large machine shops, five or six extensive
mining camps, which will employ over
1000 laborers, representing three or four
thousand persons, in addition to as
many more at the other industrial es-
Establishments. These people must all be
fed and clothed. Why, then, cannot the
business men of Clifton Forge reach out
for this lucrative trade and prepare
themselves to command it? 1t will re
quire but the effort, for we are very sure
that if wholesale dealers here would ex-
ercise the same care and sagacity in
furnishing supplies, as is done in
Staunton. Lynchburg, Richmond, Balti-
more, or any other wholesale town,
there could be no successful competition
with the merchant here.
Then the railroad machine shops, To-
Gated at Clifton Forge, when completed
under the plans given out by the author
tiles of that company, and in operation,
will give employment to 1000 or 1900
men, with their dependents; the indus
tries now nearing completion on the
Clifton Forge Company's property, will
require 200 or 300 more men and their
dependents, to say nothing of the in
crease of population that must necessa-
rily follow, to avail of the advantages of
such an important condition of trade
Not only could wholesale grocery and
hardware houses be built up, but dry
goods, clothing and boot and shoe estab
lishments could be established, which,
properly managed, would not fail of sue
cess.
It should be remembered that Clifton
Forge is the end of four divisions of the
C. s. o. systematic stopping and start
ing point, east, west, south and north
west-where crews are changed; trains
made up; repairs effected, and the bulk Of
the business of the road transacted The
schedules for the great through trains
are arranged to connect New York with
Cincinnati and all intermediate points.
which give to the present arrange
ment permanency that can be depend
ed upon. and from which calculations
for trains may be safely made.
We are within fourteen hours of New
York and Philadelphia; ten of Baltimore:
six of Richmond, and twelve of Cincin-
Il. 49, r