The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-05-14
A Tour of Inspection.

a Tour Of Tnspe otion.
Gen. ingalls,, president Of the G. &. O.
Railway Company, accompanied by vice
president Aztell, Mr.. Stevens, superins
tendent, Henry Wickham, attorney for
the Company, and several of the direc-
tors, including Mr.. Costa, of the finan-
cial department, made tour of inspec-
ton last week.
They arrived at Covington on Thurs
day, and took in the extensive and i'm
portant improvements OF that locality,
stopped at Clifton Forge Thursday night
and surveyed the premises here; then
proceeded to Buena istit, Glasgow, Lex
ington, and reached Staunton Saturday
morning about ten O'Clock. The party
were met at the depot by appointment
of Gen. Ingalls,, and arrangements were
made by NJ. Erskine Miller, president of
the Staunton Development Company,
to drive TO prominent points in the city.
Several Staunton gentlemen, besides Mr..
Miller, who had been telegraphed by
Mr.. Ingalls,, were of the party, including
Capt. r. H. Catlett, Maj. Jed Hotchkiss,
Mai. H. M. Bell, Mason Miller, Thos. P.
Grasty, Of the Baltimore Manufacturers
Record, and others.
This was the first visit that Gen. In
gals had ever made to Staunton, and
what he saw of the city and its surround
ings was q revelation to him. He was
not aware of the many attractions which
met his eye; of the vast improvements
that are going on and the splendid pros
meets which lie Immediately before the
place. He expressed the belief that
Staunton would be commanding city,
metropolitan in it's relations to the beau
tiful Valley of Virginia, and gave assur-
ance of the interest he felt in its growth
and prosperity by subscribing 5000
towards the erection of the Hotel Alte>
monte, that is to be built on the land of
the Staunton Development Company,
in the eastern suburbs OF the city. He
also stated that hundreds of people from
the east and west would attend the lot
sales of the Development Company on
the I'd and Sd of June.
1t was at Staunton that Capt, Lewis
Hartman, General Manager of the Clifton
Forge Company, met Gen. ingalls,, Mr.. Ak
tell and Mr.. Stevens, and introduced the
interests of Clifton Forge. They were
all familiar with the situation and the
needs of the place and gave ready ear to
the statements Of Captain Hartman.
AS result, the assurance was given by
Mr.. Stevens, superintendent, who has
charge of such matters, that the freight
depot would be located west of Smith S
Creek and north of the railroad in the fiat,
that ample passenger accommoda tions
would be given and that all trains, ex-
cepting the F. F. ", would stop at that
point 1t was ON this occasion that
vice>president Axtell stated that the
railroad company would subscribe IS per
cent. to the capital stock of the stove
plant on the grounds of the Clifton Forge
Company and a like proportion to any
industry in wood or iron that might be
established, to be taken out in freight,
| the subscription to commence on the
! first shipment of material that would
GO into the plant. Assurance was also
given of favorable freight rates for all
industries and their products along the
line of the railroad.
The officials of the G. & O. Company,
from president down, seem to be very
! sn1 To- i,
is mentioned they speak earnestly and
confidently of the big future that awaits
it, and the population and wealth that
must soon be a part of its history. With
the wonderful natural resources SUR
rounding the place, supplemented by
the favor and practical assistance of the
great corporation Mr.. ingalls, represents,
there is nothing more certain in the fu-
| ture than that his prediction will be YER
flied. The aid, in his representative ca
pacity, he will give and the friendship
and concern expressed will stimulate pri-
vate enterprise and individual effort
and largely contribute to the advance
ment, expansion, and prosperity of our
mountain city.
Railroad arrangements have it in their
power to do much good or much harm
for a locality. There always exists doubt,
suspense, and sometimes suspicion as to
the future of town located ON a rail-
road, until the policy of it's management
is outlined and made known. If it is
friendly private enterprise is strengths
ened and encouraged, private capital
made to feel confident and confidence
begets endeavor and courage. With
the earnest and tangible sympathy of
Gen. ingalls, and his road, as it has been
frequently and consistently made known
to the public, there is not a citizen of
Clifton Forge, OF any one interested in
its prosperity, who will not feel that his
holdings are on safe footing, that will
grow in value, and that the future of
the town is assured.
| Certainly the FIRGINIAN feels graft
fed that in it's first issue at Clifton Forge
it is enabled to make the authoritative
statement it has today as to the policy
and purpose of the railway management,
as it relates to Clifton Forge and this
| entire section. To have the assurance
that has been given that Clifton Forge
is to receive the unstinted, intelligent
and powerful assistance of the G. & O.
Railway Company, is tower of strength
in itself. 1t will inspire fresh hope, slim
ulate energy and loosen purse strings as
no other influence could. We hail these
friendly assurances as bright promise
to the city and locality, and believe the
foundation of a prosperous and progress
sive city will be laid deep and broad,
upon which will be builded great indus
trial center.
In a brief talk few days ago with
Hon. Henry Wickham, State Senator
from the Henrico district, he said he
hoped the state debt was in fair way
for settlement. 1t was Mr.. Wickham who
off fba Init ~,