Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-04-01
ChariestOWn.

ChariestOWn.
CharlestowD, Jefferson county, Wes'
Virginia, occupies central position IN the
lower Valley of Virginia, which, since the
time Charles Washington founded it, has
nsver ceased to be associated with tne
history of the Old Commonwealth Ii
prosperity and in adversely Charlestowr
has cherished with affectionate devotion all
the hallowed memories of her past history
end is now periodically actuated by the
worthy and loyal aspiration Of applying the
approved methods of the day to the up
building OF her future prosperity.
At the gateway of the entrance into the
Valley Charlestown holds position OF the
first Importance. II the center OF q
splendid country, Astounding in all that
makes life pleasant and enjoying full
| share of refinement and contentment, the
people there have, with spirit, entered the
race for great material prosperity.
The chief agent TO accomplish that de-
sirable object is the "Charlestown Mining,
Manufacturing and Improvement Com
pany." The officers are R. P. Chew,
President; Joseph Trapneil, Vice-President
John Porterfeld, Treasurer; S. Lee Phil
lips, Secretary; and B. G. Washington,
| General Manager-names that are known
| in history. They are representative men
who are engaged in carrying forward the
interests of the community in manner
that reflects tie highest credit upon loyal
and progressive citizenship, and who emu
late in their day and generation the noble
deeds of their renowned ancestors.
The designs of the company in leading
industrial development encircle the Old
historic locality of Charlestown. They are
| well advanced, and schedule OF progress
recently issued by Mr.. Washington, the
General Manager, furnishes information OF
the extent and the favorable positions to
which they have reached. The enumera-
ton of enterprises secured and approaching
completion, and others arranged for, would
| make a long schedule, If specified. With
some knowledge and careful observation OF
the progress OF our new industrial towns,
| as we'll as the adoption OF new designs
around our old ones, we Can safely say that
| the enumeration exhibits care and method,
| and the completed whole will make Lew
era in the progress and development CT
that section Of the Valley-a section OF
country which, from the days that the
| young George Washington made such deep
| Impressions upon the favorite OF the
British Crown who acquired an immense
territory, remains upr;valed for the richest
natural resources.
| The old town tako5 unto itself wider and
| beautifully enlarged proportions in the az
rangement provided for in the plan OF the
Company. Since the construction OF the
Shenandoah Valley Railroad ten years ago,
which is now owned BY and Is part OF the
system of the great Norfolk and Western
lines, Charlestown has been railroad
center, as there is the junction between The
| Norfolk and Western and Valley branch OF
the Baltimore and Ohio lines. Added TO
| all this, there will be a belt line between
the two leading railroads passing through
the property Of the Company
The people of Jefferson county-and in
| this movement IS local interest for
| Charlestown--owe first to Professor Rogers,
| tie stFathsr Of American Geology" large
debt of gratitude for the revelation, and to
his accomplished and devoted friend,
Major Jed Hotchkiss, one scarcely less for
the reproduction Of his Invaluable writings
| and reports and maps. With tie trans
portaiion facilities at command at Charles
town, energy AID ssgaoity in full play can
draw from the dormant resources of JEFF
ferson county the richest gains Of wealth.
| To start the Company on the line of the
sure opportunity it possesses for gaining
an enyia5fe distinction and securing for the
locality leading position in supplying o
! much needed agency in fruitful agricnl-
ture, pages "a and 104 Of Hotchklss edition
Of Professor Rogers works should be con-
suited. Suffice it TO say that Professor Nc
Creath, who in 1884 made the survey Of the
country adjacent to the lines of the Shen-
audosh Valley and the Norfolk ard Vest
EN- Railrcads-especislly as the iron inter
est was uppermost in the objects in view
was SO impressed with the resources OF the
kind referred to that be made special notice
of them, as they existed higher up tie Val
ley. In all he said, the late Professor
Campbell Of Washington s. Lee University
oonourred, and indeed had previously and
most forcibly presented the same facts.
We hold that the new manniactufire
enterprises and the objects in building tie
| new towns, all Of which deserve the fullest
| consideration and patronage, have not, as
yet, reached the full measure of their mis-
sion in projecting schemes. A rich and
fruitful agriculture, and especially as we
bold so many stores in reserve available
| for it's promotion, should be Of equal con-
sideration with that Of production,
| that may in its special features be styled
the first. Other locations, with equal OPP
portunities, have not taken hold, as the
great teachers, Rogers, Hotchkiss, Nc
Creath ard Campbell, and others have
| strovin to impress the generation for
| whom they labored. Charlestown posses
sea the opportunity for leading the way and
| i! i is Go-0 IA atg aid = iieEher IF VII
be given the sandy soils now e!.i4ac idle or
producing only half the quantities of grass
| ri frro;, tb at thnv ahoold
| HUNTING 'PossUMs BY ELECTRIC LIGHT.
1t is asserted that at Big Stone Gap, Va,
the electric-lights are utilized in a novel
way. 1t is said the town as laid off is two
miles wide and five miles long, and that
all this space is lit up by electric-lights,
md that in the woods there the people
nunt 'possums and coons, not by the light