The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-15
RADFoRD.
AN Energetic Town Enterprise
and Virginia cneyx. ~

RADFoRp, March 14.-TSpecial]- Rad
ford, like every other Southwern vir-
ginia city, has surplus of mud just
5 now. But it must not be supposed that
the hustling men who are pushing this
growing, thriving town along in the in
dustrial procession are lacking in we'll
directed energy on this OF any other
account. They are on the lookout for
every stranger who leayes the train and
welcome him with Skfarming smile and
n cordial grasp qsfs<5de hand that makes
him feel at home and among kindred
spirits. To tAg cordiality of the bust
ness men a9S$feal estate agents is due
in no sm2T measure the rapid and
f bs pSgre pop of Fa aaS in
porous MANUFACTURING center. These
fhemsekes, but a pNrt of every
.'boomSr," of making a<stranger feel
!. that it is good to be amon& them, and
6t xill profit him to prolonS his stay
-FOUR correspondent heard ION every
Ind complimentary remarkS about
3HE TIMES. Everybody agreed that it
WAS by odds the leading daily} journal
5Ssbf Southwest Virginia and was doing
#splendid work in attracting fhe at
Jtention of outside capitalists Ito the
incompatible advantages of this sec
ton. He modestly acquainted them with
its plans for still greater service in this
particular, and urged with effect the
Importance of sustaining such an ex-
ponent of Virginia's material interests.
Here one hears talk about ''East
Radford" and ssWest Radford." 1t
must not be inferred from this, however,
that there are two towns. EAST Rad
ford" proper is the old town, and West
Radford a part of the new. In moving
around in the rain and under an UNI
brella, for the rain was falling in tor
rents, your correspondent did not OBJ
serve anything old. Young America is
to the front here and everybody is NOV
ing in obedience to the command, "For-
ward march," Houses are springing
upon every hand, Notwithstanding the
continuous bad weather, and there
seems to be fixed purpose not to put
off till tomorrow any work that can be
performed to-day.
Your correspondent visited tho gen.
eral offices of the Radford Development
Company, and there met two of Vir-
ginia's honored and public spirited citi-
zens, Lieutenant Governor j. Hoge
Tyler, the president of the company, and
Captain S. Heth. A card with 1.-THE
to most cordial welcome and an in
5tructive talk about tho future of Rad
ford, in which every section of the city
received equal praise. The governor is
giving the finishing touches to hand
some new brick residence, situate on
hill, which commands a most enhancing
view; and near the Norfolk and Western
railroad his company is building very
handsome hotel. Many new residences
have been erected and others let to con-
tract In addition to these improve
ments tho governor is negotiating for
architectural iron works and will no
doubt secure them in tho early future
In room of the Radford Development
Companys building DIR. Apperson. gen
oral manager of the Virginia Agricul-
tural Development Company, has on ex-
hibition three specimens of onyx, taken
from cave near Marion. Smythe
county, this State This stone, like the
photographic discovered near Fincastlc,
Botetourt county, is rare and valuable,
and has hitherto had no place in the
catalogue of Virginia's resources. The
doctor has large slab of onyx on exhi-
bition in New York cathedral. This
cost 500 to polish, and is said to excel
in beauty those shown here, which is
saying great deal. ,-,. -..s..-.t..r.
In his next letter from this place your
correspondent will endeavor 10 give the
readers of THE TIMES some idea of the
splendid progress of "Nest Radford,"
and the rest and comfort to be found at
that famous hostelry, the Radford Inn.