The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-01
GoRooNsylLLE.
Progress Of 1.-THE City Of the
Horseshoe" e

cial l-"This old Virginia town in on a
boom!"
This expression is partly true and
partly false. The boom Is here, but
there is nothing.very old about Gordons-
vile, if we except half dozen old
fogies, and as many croakers who would
be old and odd if youth was per-
petnal. There is nothing strange about
the boom having struck this place with
force and effect. Tho location of the
town and its surroundings are strongly
in, its favor, and the wonder is that it
escaped the attention of capitalists and
town builders SO long
The Chesapeake and Ohio and Rich
mond and Danville railroads run
through Gordonsville, forming horse
shoe that won for it the appellation,
1.-The City Of the Horseshoe" The Or
ange and Keysville road is now under
construction, and will lessen the dis
lance from Washington city to Florida
100 miles. Two other lines are under
charter, one of which will provide a
deep-w water terminus at Quantico, only
60 miles distant. 1t is only rs miles
from Richmond on trunk line East
and West, and05 from Washington, on
direct line North and South. 1t will
be seen that in the all important and
essential matter of transportation facil-
tiles Gordonsville is we'll equipped for
successful manufacturing.
Parties prospecting for a location for
industrial plants always desire to know,
after ascertaining that the markets of
the country are accessible by rail, II
q supply OF the raw materials can be
obtained near at hand. In this parti-
cular Gordonsville is also fortunate, as
it is surrounded by rich mineral lands,
and is sufficiently near fuel to enable
the manufacturer to compete with other
industrial centers in the production and
marketing of his wares. The Gordons-
vie Land Company, the promoter of
the boom here, has 1000 acres of land
Astounding in lead and zinc ores of high
grade and believed to be comparatively
lneXhaustible in quantity. These veins
extend about four miles on this pro-
perty, and were operated during the
war by the Confederate Government
Irlor to 1860 these ores were shipped to
Norfolk, and showed 40 per cent. of
lead, and from 10 to 81 per cent. of
silver per ton. ..
Gordonsville possesses Other essentials
to permanent growth. 1t is prettiiy
located, the climate equable, the
water cool and pure, the scenery pic
turesque and the health of the people
good Having briefly summed up the
strong points in favor of the place it is
In order 10 show by what means the
outside world has been made acquainted
with them and to what purpose.
Some months apO tho (,ordOp Tord
Company was organized with capital
Oh $75O,00O. 1t controls by purchase or
option about 5000 acres of land, about
lou acres on mountain spur and the
remainder smooth. but gently rolling
prairie traversed by three streams Of
water, which provide admirable drain
age. Two hundred acres were reserved
Tor manufacturing sites, twelve acres
LOT public park, and the rest laid out
In business and residence sites, circles,
immature parks boulevards and streets.
Inc entire property is from 500 to 1000
feet above the level of the sea and
affords numerous views of the grandest
scenery in the South a large and
slngularly symmetrical hill, christened
Hordon heights, was reserved for a very
handsome hotel, which will be erected
In the near future and when completed
and the grounds adorned and beautified
no prettier spot can be found anywhere.
Tho most satisfactory progress has
been made in securing enterprises. as
the following list will attest:
House building material factory.
Steam brick works.
Travellers Head Rest Company's
plant.
Paper box factory
Iaylor's Specially Company's works.
Sash. door nd blind Factions,
Bolton cotton mills.
Sewing machine motor factor.
roller Touring mills, capacity, $50
barrels daily.
Central banking Company.
Newspaper and job Office plant.
The Sun-Hearld made its first an
pearaRce last week under the editorial
management of Mr.. A. S. Johnston. late
OF Union. Monroe county, West Vir-
glnia, and may be depended upon to
cooperate with the company and all
other citizens in the work of transform
ing Gordonsville, sleepy town with
i'eoc people, with no apparent ambition,
into hustling manufac turing city with
10000 or 10000 inhabitants. The in
dustries enumerated are all in course of
construction and will be fastened to
completion. In the meantime. w. r,
Walters, Jr., the genial manager of the
Gordon Land Company, will look after
and secure Others
The system of water works in opera
ton hero would do credit to much
larger place. There is female college
well patronized, good graded schools for
white and colored children, eight
chuiches, two newspapers, and two
banks, an arc electric light and street
railway system will be supplied in due
time.
We have noted the progress of Cor
louisville. AS to its future we prefer to
let one who in q measure controls II
speak. Col. NJ. Z. Ingalls, is president