Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-04-10
Letter From Virginia.
CLovBRDALB, Va,
March 30th, 1891.


a sketch OF this section of Southwest
Virginia and my impressions touching
its future. Cloverdale is in the south
ern part of Botetourt county, and is
small village. Its scenery is much
more picturesque and beautiful than
any spot l have seen in the beautiful
Valley OF Virginia The two ranges,
the Blue Ridge and the Alleghanies,
which wall up the Valley Of Virginia
for $50 miles, with varying width Of
from 10 to 25 miles, are at this point
contracted to funnel not more than
q or 3 miles wide. This has been done
BY the upheaval of both ranges. Thus,
a branch or stem mot peak OF the
Alleghanies, ten miles long, has been
cast around from northeast by south
west, the general direction OF both
ranges, and itiies in massive grandeur
obiquely half across the valley in the
direction OF northwest by southeast.
This mountain is called Tinker" and
ends at Cloverdale. 1t was pro-
nounced by a distinguished minister
of Virginia, more beautiful than any
mountain he saw in Europe. The
contraction on the Blue Ridge side Of
the valley is made not by branch or
range from the Blue Ridge, but by Sc
ries of knobs or peaks Of sugar-loaf
shape heaved up and ont into the
eastern side Of the great Virginia Val
ley. These beautiful peaks stand
around us like silent giant sentinels.
They inclose us on every side. What
a splendid place for homes. Ashe-
vile, n c., is regarded as the place
for homes, and | do regard Cloverdale
as very much like Asheyille in regard
to its elevation, its scenery and its en-
vironments. With "Full-heart" noun
tain on the north, "Ronsacks" noun
tain on the east, Mills" mountain on
the south, and old Thinker" noun
tain on the west, we are encompassed
on every side like Jerusalem as de-
scribed by David. The foot hills at
the base of these mountains are gen
tly rolling, and the bold streams burst
ing from their sides and base furnish
abundance OF the best water.
The dream that this locality must
be the site of future city must be re-
allied. Let me tell you why think
so.
1. This was the site of the earliest
iron industry in this section OF Nir-
GINA. Perhaps more than 100 years
ago there stood in this vortex of the
valley 1.-The old Cloverdale Furnace"
the excellence of whose iron induced
dealers TO haul it hundreds of miles
over these mountains for distribution
and use. Then the process was by
melting by heat from charcoal. You
know there were in the good olden
times scores of those old-fashioned
furnaces, but the new processes and
the push of the Pennsylvania iron
masters put out the old charcoal fires
in all these furnaces. But the iron
ores are still here, the best in the
world, in rich abundance and easily
mined. Three OF the four mountains
above named are just full of ores OF
different metals, and they are ready
for the pick and shovel, and the fur
mace, &c. | walked 400 yards yester-
day to the lime works of Mes.rs. Hoo
yer & Jones, and bought excellent
lime at moderate price. These gen
tlemen are from Buckeystown, Md.
2 There is coal in the mountains of
Botetourt county within from 10 to 80
miles Of the deposits Of iron and lime.
Here are all the materials
3. Botetourt county has ineXhausti-
BILE stores OF the finest marble on this
continent or in the known world.
have seen and handled various speci-
mems of it. exceeding anything of the
kind / ever saw. The. ships Of this
country could not move this marble
to the worlds market in century.
Now, this marble is worth $3.50 per
cubic foot, and it would pay those
who get it out and ship it 100 per
cent, even if they had to haul it Z
miles in wagons and ship by rail.
This (and other enterprises calls for
a new railroad which is to connect
Fincastle and n. & w. Road. When
this road is determined on, then comes
the connection with Roanoke and
Southern road in the south, and SAILS
bury on the G. & 0. in the north Of
Botetourt county. | was to have gone
yesterday with the men to survey the
road from this point to Fincastle.
4. Cloverdale cannot miss the ad-
vantage of any railroad to be built.
They cannot skip us. For these noun
tains which have described force the
route to pass through this funnel.
5. / could tell you something about
the boom and the negotiations with
important industries to be located
here, but this perhaps would be pre-
mature.
With all the data above given you
can see there Is solid basis for future
growth and prosperity in this part OF
the booming valley Of dear old Viz
ginia. Yours, Truly,
JNo. A. SCOTT.
Mrs. Millions Ride.
When Mrs. Million goes to ride she