The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-03-27
BUENA VISTA.
a Great Work Accomplished in
A Short Time.

pduy nave paSSou mo Juo 'uuuSIrlal
history OF Virginia and the South as a
great success and justly so. A great
work has been accomplished here in a
short time. The Buena Vista Com
pany was organized at Lexington, on
January 10, 1889, but it was not until in
July OF that year that it opened an
Office in a dilapidated frame building
here. Where now stands the busy,
prosperous city of Buena Vista, with a
population of 5000, and numerous in
dnstries in successful operation, was
then the Rev. b. G. Moomaws farm.
A. L. Barclay, of Lexington, was
made president of the company, aud
with the aid of Rev. Moomaw, he began
work. Barclay is big man in averdu-
pois and brain power. and years ago
eliminated the word "Fail" from his vo-
cabulary. He thoroughly understands
the art OF advertising and appreciates
at Its true value the power of the press.
Ono OF the first things he did was to see
that paper, well equipped for the work
1T was expected to do, was established
here. 1t was called tho Advocate, be-
cause it was to advocate the interests
of Buena Vista. Tho veteran journal
lSt w. III. Bailie, was placed in charge,
and with the aid of Rev. Moomaw, who
recently purchased n half interest in tho
plant, he has made it power for good.
t required work, but Baltic was equal
to tho task, and has grown fat and gray
in it's performance.
Tho first industry established at
Bnena Vista was a saddle and harness
factory. Tho company subscribed to
the capital stock and has continued this
policy. Since then industries have
multiplied rapidly. Tho wood pulp and
paper mill, steam tannery, red brick
works, several planning mills, furniture
and chair factory, wire fence factory,
egg crate factory, Advocate newspaper
and job printing plant, the Buena Vista
Iron Company's furnace, Wise wagon
works, arc and incandescent light plant,
the First National Bank of Bucna
Vista, Bucna Vista Loan and Trust
Company and the Buena Vista Banking
and Investment Company have been
established and are at work with q capt.
tai aggregating 1891 900. In addition
to this enumeration there are, not in
Guiding the Buena Vista Company, six
teen investment and land companies
with total capital OF $3.50, 900.
"A company to build steel plant has
been organized with capital OF $780,
600, and work will begin on it in few
weeks. The buildings OF the casse-
mere and wooden mills were completed
several weeks ago, and the machinery
is now being placed in position, the
whole costing $4,000; the Rarig Com
panys boiler and machine works, with
two exceptions (the Roanoke Machine
Works and the Tredegar Works at
Richmond) tho largest industry in
Virginia. has just been finished at
cost of 100000. The fire clay and
terra Gotta works are we'll under way
and will cost 100000. The second as
sessment on the Glass Company's capt.
tai stock of $3.50, 600 has been called for,
and large force of laborers will be
put to work erecting the buildings on
April 1.
There are several small industrial
plants omitted from the list given in
the two preceding paragraphs. Those
In successful operation, and those I'M
der contract, have an actual capital of
S2,7s0,000, and employ hundreds of
skilled and unskillod laborers. The
most conservative estimates agree shat
the industries now in operation, and
those in course of erection, insure
Buena Vista population of 5000 or
5000 by the end of the present year.
Hotel Buena Vista, now being erected
on the site of the old one, which was de-
stroyed by fire several months ago, will
be the handsomest in Virginia when
completed. John p. Pettyjohn, of
Lynchburg, is uperintcnding its con-
struction. Exclusive of the furnishing
it will cost about s9O,OOO
The water supply is all that could be
desired. 1t is brought from the adjacent
mountains in pipes and the pressure is
sufficient 20 throw q stream over the
tallest house in the town. Sewer pipes
are being laid in every direction and
nothing is left undone that will con-
tribute to the health and comfort of
residents or visitors. a handsome brick
graded school building and excellent
teachers have been provided to instruct
the young idea how to Shoot
Several churches and able and pious
pastors are aiding the people to lay up
treasures whore moth nor rust do not
corrupt, etc. If, on the other hand
there arc people who will not obey
secular laws, their is Il strong iron build
ing In tho extreme northern limits Of
the city where they can mediate in
+, silence and seclnsion on the WAYS of
the transgressor. Buena Vista's Gala
boose " is no doubt comfortable place
in the winter, judging solely from the
outside view, but brief sojourn there
in summer will temper the wicked for
an indifnite stay in that region where
they never shovel snow.
To sum up, Buena Vista is thriving
industrial city, with a future bright
enough to satisfy any reasonable man or
people. Surrounded by inexhaustable
qualities of mineral, clays, timber and
stone, with two great trunk lines of
railway to bring in coke and coal and
carry out the products of her factories,
the town will continue TO grow, in spite
of little reverses which would check