The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-05-21
Clifton Forge-Present and Future.

the extraordinary winter, WHICH Ny
its protracted severity, stagnated all bus
mess and arrested all improvement, has
been followed by an earnest awakening
and a degree of business activity which
augur auspiciously for the summer and
fall Clifton Forge, responding to the |
inspiring influences of spring time, is
keeping step with the spirit OF progress |
that is pervading the Commonwealth.
and is coming to the front as the future
city of western Virginia-the ALTOONA
of the South,n in the apt and pregnant
language of Gen. Ingalls,, of the G. q 0.
Railway Company. improvements are
going on in every direction. The exten-
sive wooden mills building on the Clifton
Forge Company's property, is completed,
and the machinery, all first class, is being
placed rapidly, and will soon be ready
for active operations. The spacious
buildings of the Stove and Steel Range
factory are going up as fast as material
can be gotten, and as soon as practicable
this important industry will be one of the
fixed institutions of Clifton Forge, en-
ploying its hundred or more OF skilled
workmen and sending out its thousands
of dollars worth of finished products.
A commodious hotel is being erected
by Maj. B. t. Bagby near the Stove
Factory and Wooden Mills and will soon
be under roof. When completed 1t will
supply a much needed want, and will
prove good investment.
Tie planning mills of A. j. Accord and
Bartlett & johnson are bnsy filling Or
ders and supplying the material, etc, for
the numerous buildings being erected.
Work is progressing well on the Flee
trio Light Plant, the building for which
will be OF brick, and the machinery for
which has been ordered.
The Clifton Forge Lumber and Build
ing Association proposes to operate on
large scale Their plant will be located
on the Clifton Forge Company's proper
ty, Immediately west of Smiths Creek.
They will establish extensive lumber and
coal yards, Sash, Blind and Door Facto
ry and erect a large building for hard
ware store.
The Clifton Forge Building and Con-
struction Company, of which G. F. King
is general manager, and John l.. Duncan
secretary and treasurer, have completed
and contracted for twenty to twenty-five
residence buildings, and are pushing
their line with energy and the promise
of success.
Numerous other improvements are GO
ing on all over the city, and others are
being arranged for, among them $1,000
brick residence of James A. Frazer and
a $4,000 frame residence for Col. s. Brown
Allen, both on the plateau near Col.
Harmans house. The indications are
suspicious for very busy and prosper>
Gus year.
The railroad extension from the C. &
o. trunk to accommodate the industrial
plants on Smiths Greek, on the Clifton
Forge Company's land, is being pushed
forward The dummy line, to connect
pany and give easy access to the more
elevated localities, is to be built. Ar
engagements are being made for ample
supply OF water for this portion of the
town.
We have the assurance from tho
thorities of the G. q o. Railway Compa-
ny that ample freight and passenger ac>
commodations will be given to Clifton
Forge and SO located as to assure conve-
nient access. Mr.. Stevens the intelligent
and progressive official, who has this
department in charge, has given this as
Not only this, but such notifications
will be made in the entrance of the pas
senger trains to Clifton Forge as to OBJ
viate the inconvenience and delay of
the present arrangement and existing
track lines. Further, we have the pos
tive authority of President Ingalls, for
the statement that all passenger trains,
except the F. f. v, will stop at Clifton
Forge after the new depot, located
short distance up the river, has been
completed The arrangements prom
ised will assure ample accommodations
and remove all apprehensions of an un>
favorable change in railroad facilities
for the town. However, we have never en-
tertained any fear on this score, but there
are those who have, and it is satisfac-
tion to US to be able to give them this
positive and authoritative statement re-
lating to these matters.
In West Clifton Forge, improvements
are progressing with gratifying activity.
The splendid hotel of the G. T. o. Rail
way Company, on an eminence, on the
banks of Jackson river, overlooking
the lovely valley which stretches out in
picturesque beauty as far as the eye can
reach, is nearing completion. When the
finishing touches have been given, there
will be no public house in the State, or
out of it, that will surpass it in all the
equipments and attractions, both nat
ural and artistic, that delight and
command the admiration of the travel
ing public. in this utilitarian day. 1t
will be charming resort, as well as
delightful place for the accommodation
of the moving population availing of the
Chesapeake & Ohio railway as great
continental thoroughfare.
The Mammoth workshops of the rail-
way company will soon be ready for oc>
cupancy, where hundreds of skilled arti
Fans and mechanics will earn their bread
by the sweat of the brow, and whose
earnings will be dispersed throughout
the community to increase the volume
of trade, and diffuse prosperity through |
every avenue of enterprise.
Numerous handsome residences have |
lately been built upon the c. & o. D.Com
pany's property, and numerous Others /
will be placed under contract. as occasion
demands. Negotiations are pending for /
industries, other than those of the rail- /
way company, and in all respects the
outlook is cheering and encouraging.
West Clifton Forge is naturally part |
of Clifton Forge, and goes to make up
the center which will receive the tribute
of the surrounding country, as develop