The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-04-02
THE ALTOONA or The south.
The Present and Future of
Clifton Forge.
Gen. Ingalls, and Col. Axtell give
their Opinions.
THE CLIFTON FORGE COMPANY And
Its CONDITION.
A GREAT DISTRICT WITH GREAT
POSSIBILITIES.

A GREAT DISTRICT WITH GREAT
POSSIBILITIES.
Especial Correspondence OF the VIRGINIAN.l
CLIFTON FORGE, VA, March 80, 1891
The recent comprehensive and very
interesting interview with Gen. M. T..
Ingalls,, President of the Chesapeake
and Ohio railway, published in the Bal
timore Manufacturers Record of 2Sth,
is attracting a great deal of attention
and directing tie public mind to proml-
nent localities ON flat line of railroad
The wonderful achievements of the
road since it passed under its present
management, and the still more wonder
full possibilities OF the country through
which this great continental artery
passes, appear almost like a fairy tale to
those who are not acquainted with the
marvellous natural wealth which
abounds for two hundred miles of the
territory of the two Virginias ana &C
commodated by Mr.. Ingalls, road. The
coal, iron ore, and the timber, practi-
cally in an almost virgin condition., con
tain values enough, when developed, 10
create an empire in wealth. There is no
similar area of land on the continent
that holds such vast natural treasures.
so approachable and SO essential to the
progress of conInerce: and the growth
and the prosperity of the nation. They
enter into the ocean and land traffic OF
the world and must increase in I'M
portance and value as the growth of the
nation and the enlargement OF its con-
merce demand the iron and the timber
to furnish the factors which go into the
machinery through which this traffic,
inter State and foreign, is conducted.
Every stride of the nation in growth,
development and wealth. adds TO tine
demand and consequently the value OF
the agencies comprised of iron, coal,
wood and water, which drive the ma
chinery that brings closer together, by
producer. And where these essential
factor exist in the natural state, there
is to be the greater augmentation Of
wealth, and there the capital and enter
prise of the country will concentrate fol
use and profit From Clifton Forge te
the Ohio river there is concentrated prob
ably the most abundant iron and Goa
and timber wealth in the world, acreage
considered. 1t is practically inexhausti
| BILE, for generations to come I'll !sast, ant
| 90 o ndo Fad Inv n.
main stem of the Chesapeake and Ohio
with the short lateral roads which are
being and will be constructed as feeders
This general reference to the i'm
portant statements of Mr. ingalls, as tx
the policy and purpose Of his road, Il
supplemented by most interesting
interview with Vice President Axtell. O
the same corporation, with Il representa-
tive of the Lynchburg Jirginian. Mr.
! Axtell is said to be a very conservative
cautious AS we'll as Intelligent and con
scientious public nan. He is careful, a.
l learn, about what he says, and gene
rally means what he asserts. And WheI
| he says that it is the aim of the manage
ment of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail
way Company ito make of Clifton
Forge what the Norfolk and Western
has made of Roanoke" there is q vol
ume of meaning of it. Already has tn.
eotupany erected splendid hotel OF 16i
rooms on isa property at Clifton Forge
completed vast wcrkghops, which will
employ from 900 to ZOO men. and pre-
pared the plans for depot TO cost ffoH
$4,000 to $4,000. These are merel.
some of the injtia! improvements, i'll linz
with the future that is predicted of thi
favored locality.
But it is not alone to the Chesapeak.
and Ohio railway that the future growth
of Clifton Forge will be due. Private
and corporate enterprises are assisting
in the great work, for business men re-
eognize that Mr.. ingalls, and Mr.. Axtel
haye pot overdrawn the picture that vii
ip the near future be filled out and com
pleted. Of course the primary force il
the improvement of Clifton Forge must
necessarily be the railroad management
while other influences subsidiary to il
will assist in the work of making Cliff
ton Forge what Mr.. Ingalls, has said il
would be, "the Altoona of tiass South
An important factor in the means TO,
realizing the predictions OF the railroad
authorities is The Clifton Forge Compa
ny, of WHICH Hon. w. III. Mccormick, OF
Chicago, is President Your correspon>
dent had occasion to be lsi Clifton Forge
to day, and having seen much IN print
and heard iauell from talk, both fayora
BILE and unfay osa.,le. as to the manage
ment, conduct and pro,aise Of the Clifton
Forge Company, he avaiied himself Of
| the occasion to look into its affairs, ans
dot down for the information Of the
public several facts he CHANGED to gath
er He found the General Manager OF
the Company, Capt i. Hartman, ready
and axioRs to answer all questions, give
unrestricted access to the books Of the
company, and to furnish in detail, il
wanted, every item Of expense, every
dollar of ece'pts, ard to expose the
| plays and purposes of the company. l
found that already has a large brick
structure beea erected and the machin-
cry on hand for 3 Woaien mill, which
will be placed in operation al afn early
day, under the direction Ct Me- Tyler,
an experienced workman in that line,
The foundation for large foundry and
yange factory, capital 100000, is being
laid under the superintendent of Major
Brown, recently the General Manager of
Goshen Furnace. This industry, when
completed, will employ from 100 to $50
bands, and will turn out goods of genes
raj utility and general demand. These
plants are located on Smiths creek, and
from them short bsanch railroad will
be constructed to the main STEM of the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway. Negs-
tiations are pending with a New Eng
land firm, with every assurance except
signing the papers, that wire and nail
works will be removed to the property
of the Clifton Forge Company and 10
Gated on what is known as the Kincaid
lands This industry will give employ
ment to from 100 to 200 wGrkmen, and
it's products will be readily taken up as
fast as they are offered.
A dummy line is under construction
to conneet The I,rODertieS of the COM