The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-02
The Valley Virginian.

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1891
G. & Q Railway.
The Richmond Dispatch of the 23rt
filled nearly two pages of its issue will
an interesting statement OF the condi
ton, progress and prospects of the G. {
@. Railway and its dependent connec
tions. 1t shows it's progress, under iii
present management, to be phenomenal
and that its future promises to place il
among the most successful and protita
BILE railway enterprises Of the world
Since the system passed to the control OF
its present management, the improve
ments which have been effected and the
developments which have been nale
are very marked. The freight and pas
senger traffic has largely increased, and
some of the finest trains known in the
country now traverse its lines There is
a vast merit In its policy, and the ad-
mirable and able corps of assistants the
President has brought to his aid, seem
equal in every respect to the broad and
progressive policy that controls in the
management.
Industrial and local enterprise, too,
inspired by the energy and sagacity of
the railway management, is placing it,
self in line with the policy of the rail-
way, and a.! along the route develop
ment is going on at rapid pace, giving
assurance Of still larger traffic and still
more substantial and progressive condi-
tions. A great future is before the road
and the immediate country it accommo-
dates and especially this district, where
nature has been SO lavish in her favors
and where such immense wealth in min
erals abounds, to invite capital and en>
terprises.
We quote a few paragraphs from the
statement of the Dispatch, more especi-
ally relating to this locality, regrettng
that we cannot lay the whole produc-
ton before our readers, to give them an
idea of the wonderful resources of this
section, and the marvellous advancement
in industrial lines that is being made:
THE QUEEN OF THE VALLEY.
Staunton, the queen of that great granary, the
Valley, is 1856 miles from Richmond and the juno
ton of the Chesapeake and Ohio with the Valley
Branch Of the Baltimore and Ohio. Staunton is
The seat Of the Western Insane As llim, of the
Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute, -. several of
the largest female Summaries in u South. and
its industries consist of brass GODS factory
wagon-works Touring mills, fu..,.ture-factory
factory, fannie acid work.. sash, blind and
door-factory, planning mills, feed-mills, iron
works, Zoe factory, and variety of smaller en-
terprises A magnificent new hotel is IN course
of construction, and numerous handsome pri-
vate residences and stores have been recently
erected. The city drains rich back-country
and enjoys fine and increasing wholesale and
retail trade.
Goshen is the depot of q large iron furnace
lthe victora) and is rapidly building up Here
real estate has also made rapid advances.
THE ALTOONA OF TnE SOUTH,
AS President ingalls,, of the Chesapeake and
Ohio has aptly remarked. ''Clifton Forge is the
Altoona of the South" 1t is place that throbs
with vigor and life day in and day out. If any
one has an idea that the Chesapeake and Ohio
is not great system conducting an enormous
traffic he has only to visit Clifton Forge to have
that idea dissipated. AT all hours of the day and
night the miles of track in the company's yards
are occupied by heavy trains awaiting the sig
nal to move east or west over the main line or
or down the James River division, and as fast
as one train leaves another rolls in to take it's
place. Clifton Forge is the end of the James
River division of the main stem and the begin
ming of the Huntington division, and is the seat
OF the new mammoth work shops of the com
pany, which are practically completed, and
which will give employment to hundreds of
skilled mechanics in addition to those already
in the service of the company. This plant Gov
ers acres and represents value of about half a
million dollars, and its pay roll, added to those
of the Richmond, Huntington, ana CovingGon
(Ky) Shops will distribute 81 000,G G0 annually. At
West Clifton Forge, which is an extension of old
Clifton Forge, the railroad company is building
a beautiful modern hotel overlooking Jackson
river, and in every direction i'll bo5h sections tbs
greatest activity in building prevails In the
list of enterprises exclusive of thos e
b ing to the company are large
wooden mills completely, stove and steel range
factory (erecting), a commodious hotel (erecting)
i'll operation, electric-light plant
railroad company are building spurs to open up
adjacent property, new depot is under CON
struction, and negotiations are pending for a
number of plants
Low MOOR.
Low Moor is equi- distant between Clifton
Forge and Covington, and is one OF the founda
ations OF the revival of the pig-iron interests
after the war. Its furnaces and coke ovens con-
stitute an industrial centre in themselves and
are recognized by shrewd businessmen and
capitalists the nucleus of large town. The
of other industries at Low Moor has
given solid value to real estate there
COvINGTON.
Covington, the junction of the main trunk and
the Warm Springs Valley road and which, as
has been heretofore shown, is in the heart of
one OF the richest mineral fields in Virginia, is
adding to long established trade telling line
of industries. Among those now located and
under construction are i25-ton blast furnace,
al foundry and machine-shop, a large brick
plant, steam laundry. rolling mill, q Touring
mill, and lumberan planning mill. Covington
has a national bank with a line of individual
pleted model modern hotel. From Covington
the Camden line will be extended to the Potts
Creek ore section Covington, Miilboro', and
various intermediate points are importanb cat
tie shipping depots.
IRON GATE.
Iron Gate, a mile and a half east of Clifton
Forge, and just around the bend of Jackson
river from that place. is not Only an ideal indus
trial location, but an ideal location for resi-
dences Here are already established spike and
rolling mills of the Richmond Standard Spike
and Iron Company, which are being greatly
enlarged; the Farmers Alliance Cooperative
Manufacturing Company's plant, with capac-
ity of 5000 plOws and $50 wagons annually, a
bank, several brick plants, and planing-mill.
A double furnace with capacity of l60 tons ia
in process of erection. about forty houses for
employees of the several industries are under
construction, and various other improvements
are in progress The ore and limestone for the
furnace are within 200 yards OF the plant and
the coke haul is comparatively SO short as
of Iron Gate is between 1000 and 100, but with
the completion of the improvements now &C
tually in progress will be more than doubled
The Iron Gate Inn, m odel of convenience
comfort and beauty, is already a favorite stop
ping place with travellers seeking recreation
and rest. but the general attractions Of the
place WILL it is safe to predict render the erec-
ton OF another modern hotel an absolute neces-
sity in the immediate future. At Iron Gate is
one Of the finest lithia springs in the State.
In these what may be termed hurried runs
over the Chesapeake and Ohio railway many
lttf to