Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-23
PIEDMONT'S QUEEN.
CHARLOTTESVILLE AND IT'S HISTORY
AND IT'S GROWTH.
Edscstions, and Social Advantage
Grspe Observation-Disclosures INTER-
priscs ana Development

Gre Of the State OF Virginia amid scenery
Of varied and enchanting beauty. From
Monticello. which stands near by, Tho eye
follows the Blue Ridge for more than a
hundred miles, sweeping over tho fertile
fields and undulating groves Of the famous
Piedmont section, the gayden-spot Of the
State. Its climate winter and summer is
superb, and its healthfalness has caused Il
20 be recommended by Government ex-
perts a. place for q national sanitarium.
Virginia, rich in minerals, Astounding in
timber and highly favored in soil and eli
mato, is destined 10 become great manu-.
featuring State. and her towns and cities
are growing rapidly. In none of the latter
has the development been more steady and
hcalthfui than in Charlottesville, whose in.
crease during the Lass decade is. according
90 the census, over i07 per cent. IL is situ-
ated on the Richmond and Danyille and
Chesapeake and Ohio railroads. the trunk
lines north, south, east, and west. beng
the end Of division on each road, and has
sixteen daily passenger trains. IL is one
days travel from Chicago, three hours
from Washington. and three hours from
Richmond. The y. y. v. train runs through
without change from Charlottesville TO
New York. IL is thus in touch with the
great centres OF trade.
IT has everything to recommend IL as q
place Of business and as home. It's peo-
pie, though conservative, are progressive,
and accord TO the stranger within their
gates . cordial welcome. 1t has long been
known as the seat OF learning of the
South, and from any hilltop near the city
the visitor looks upon the homes Of JEFF
ferson, Monroe, and many other places of
historic interest. A short drive from
Charlottesville is Castle Hill, the home
of Amelie Rives. CHAMBER. In addi-
tion 10 most admirable FREQ schools,
there are the Jones Classical School, filed
with students from home and abroad !;
pantops Academy, within walking dis
lance, attended by young men from sew
enteen States in the Union and three fe-
male schools. well equipped and patron
Szed--the Piedmont Institute, Albemarle
Female Institute, and the Charlottesville
Seminary. The GROWING. glory of her
schools is the University of Virginia. long
recognized as the great University of the
South, which stands at the head Of the
free-school system of the State. It's build
ings, constructed under the supervision of
Thomas jefferson, with other property,
aggregate over two millions dollars, and
friends Of its Young Mems Christian Asso-
cistion in New York have recently added
funds for Q $4,000 gymnasium. Every
Virginia student is taught in all the
institution expends in the community
about S250, 900 annually.
THE MILLER SCHOOL
The Miller Manual Labor School. with
an endowment OF 81, 500, 900, is limited TO
orphans and dependent white children of
Charlottesville and Albemarle. The me-
chanie who should be unfortunate in Char
lottesville has the satisfaction of knowing
that at thie noble institution his child will
be clothed, fed, and taught free of cost.
and II DESTROYS OF the highest education education
Of Virginia. Thus it IS seen that from an
educational point Of view no city in
America SURPRISES Charlottesville.
Charlottesville aud its suburbs have now
about 8, 900 inhabitants, having more than
doubled in population and area in five
years. A reservoir holding about 200, 000,-
900 gallons of pure, soft water is situated
five miles in the mountains, go feet above
the city, and sends through the gravity
system an abundant supply, with power
enough to run motors. This notable i'm
provement was the work of Mr.. T.. w.
Bowditch, of Boston. II Is the property
of the city, as is also the gas-plant, the ca
pacity of which has recently been dou-
bled, and both return handsome reve-
nue..
Its industries are well established and
the South has been located here for many
years. There are also two large knitting
mills, three planing-mills, sash, door, and
two wagon-factorIes, three
clgar-factories, foundry and agricultural
works. two round-houses, refractory,
street-car company, three brick-factories,
two banks. telephone exchange. three
building and loan associa-
tions. and fourteen churches, representing
roff 10 ha c5f
q fine iron spring, whore large and hand
some hotel, Jefferson Inn, is now beng
erected and beautiful grounds are being
laid off, connected With the city by O
dummy line.
AS BUSINESS CENTRE.
Charlottesville is the business centre not |
only of Albemarle. one of the largest and |
counties in Virginia. but also of
the Piedmont section. especially of the |
thrifty counties of Green, Fluvanna, Mel |
son, and Orange. Lands here are cheap, |
labor is abundant, and the country is |
rapidly being filled with citizens from !
the North and West. The soil is fertile and |
famous for the production of corn, wheat, |
pats, tobacco. and hay. In the hands Of |
some of the best farmers an average yield |
Of thirty bushels of wheat and fifty bushels |
Of oats is made 10 the acre. IL is noted for |
It's adaptability to stock raising, some of |
the finest horses and heaviest cattle pro-
duced in this country being raised IN Abe |
marie. II abounds in fine timber-oak, |
hickory, chestnut, walnut. pine, locust, |
maple, cherry, and poplar. The Able narle |
pippin, of worldwide reputation, sells for |
"a SO per barrel on the tree, most of them |
being exported TO England, where by |
special act of Parliament they are admit. ID |
free of duty, and where they bring from |
SIS TO $40 per barrel. Small fruits are very |
profitable, and are largely shipped TO |
northern markets.
The lands of Albemarle ore famed for |
their fertility. and can be bought in small |
Dr. large tracts for reasonable prices.
TIE GRAPE INTEREST.
The grapes for which Albemarle is |
noted are brought TO the Monticello Wine |
Company and Hotopp's Cellars, and the |
annual output is over 100000 gallons Of |
pure wine: In the vicinity are large -four
ng-mills, the largest slate-pencl factor
n the United States, slate quaIries for |
roofing and for mgntels, and soap-stone of |
he finest quality. The latter will become |
v hen known the great building stone in |
Al cities; II has the crushing strength of |
yranite and - absolutely fre-proof; heat |
hat will split granite to splinters simply |
lardens this stone. There are also other !
minerals IN the neighboring hills, among |
which has never been developed; an abun- |
lance of oak, chestnut. walnut, locust, |
hickory, pine. maple, poplar, cherry, and |
'ther woods to be found IN the neighbor-
lood Of the city.
PosT-oFFICR REcEIPTs.
For the last six months Charlottesville |
,as had free mail delivery. The business
lone at the post-oftice for 1890 exceeded |
he receipts of 1885 by Sl7,O34.72.
The freight and express BUSINESS has
more than doubled in that time. |
The Charlottesville Woollen Mills in
$50 made $2s, 900 net; in 1890, $685.
)00S and this when most northern |
mills found 1t difficult ito make buckle
md tongue meet" The laborers of |
this mill lall laborers in mills and factories
IRE white get one-third less than the New
England operatives and yet they have
never had a strike; they own their own
houses, gardens. and COWS. and enjoy life
IN way unknown to the factory hand |
elsewhere. The secret is cheap living as
well rs cheap labor. What would mean
bare competenee elsewhere secures the
Injuries Of life here.
As another instance Of success in Char.
lottesyille the streetcar line. which was
started three years ago, is returning "a ner
cent net on the investment. Stocks in
Charlottesville are not Waferad Al - |