Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-09-23
RUENA VISTA.
THE FIRE-BRICK woRKS-THE SHoP.woRKS-
SHIPPING IRON ORES, DC.
D. NICK. SMITH.

THE FRIEDRICH woRKs-THE sHoP-woRKs-
SHIPPING IRON ORES, DC.
Correspondence of the sTAuNToN SPECTATOR
BUENA VISTA, Sept. 2lst. 1891.
| The Buena Vista Fire-Brick Works is among
the largest of the many ind ustrial plants locat-
| ed here. Perhaps the majority of the stock O.
| the Company is held in Lynchburg, where the
| President. Mr.. John P. Pettyjohn. resides.
To the people accustomed to a knowledge o.
this section of country, it appeared very
strange, that the immense deposits off a soft
clay along the foot of the Mountain Georges
familiarity known from the days of the early
settlements as "Chalk," should possess the
value that it is now known to have. This de-
posit, which extends for several miles along
the base of the mountain in the Buena Vista
property. is the genuine fre-clay.
1t is not to be supposed that SO superior a
business man as Mr. PattyJohn is known to
be, would have placed a large amount of his
own capital, and induced his neighbors and
friends to the likewiee, without first ascertain-
ing what they were doing as they took hold
and reared the excellent works here, but still
many were incredulous.
The establishment commenced turning out
Its products last May. and not only the furnace
for the production of iron and other establish
ments here that require friedrich, but similar
tests In other sections all agree that the Buena
Vista brick are superior in overy respect
There has not been the least difficulty in
finding good sales for the whole products. MIR.
FL b. Richards, the manager of the blast
furnace here. which is turning out the average
OF lO9 tons Of pig-Iron every twenty-four hours,
says these fire. brick are the equal OF any
which he ever had occasion to nse or that have
come under his observation. The doubling
now see the incontestable proof of the value of
the clay, and the result as 1t is made to take a
proper place IN development.
The railroads use large quantities of fire.
brick and of special designs for special pur.
poses. The scientific and practical experts in
such mat tiers OF the Norfolk and Western
railroad have filed large orders with the
Buena Vista works.
think can begin to see gradual improve
ment, as towns like Buena Vista have to deal
with financial and trade affairs, The dem and
for lots with the view OF erecting buildings has
evidently improved.
The glass-works continue to attract much
attention, not only from the resident people
who revisit them often, but no strangers or
non.resideuts tarrying here, If only for a few
hours, fail to go to the glass works. Baltimore
is alEeduy large customer Tor the wares, and
many of the neighboring towns and country
merchants are already trading In tho Buena
Vista glass goods.
Captain N. D. Moore. of Moore & HILBERT
Staunton, is managing several OF the iron
mines along the mountains In Augusta coun.
tY adjacent to the Norfolk and Western Rail-
road. At Stuart's Draft Station branch rail-
road from the main line of the N. & W. has
been built to the iron mines about four miles
from the station. Captain Moore Is shipping
hrst-class ore from that point, some of which
Is supplied to the furnace here. MIR. F. B.
Richards, the manager of the furnace, says it
Is ore OF fine quality, high In metal and low in
phorphorns. Above Old Cotopaxi and high up
In the mountain of the Rockbridge; South
River, Captain Moore has secured another
branch road to other mines which yield the
| best of ores.
] Mr.. ]. L. Pelter. who has for a number o
years mined the "Black Rock Orss," as they
are called, at Old Cotopaxi. is also. shipping
some of his output to the Buena Vista furnace
In political affairs. everything in this re-
gion is quiet. The County Democratic com
mittee meets the Goth to provide for the pri-
maries and convention to choose candidate:
for he House of Delegates.