Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-07-29
Letter from Goshen.

Letter from Goshen.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.l
GOSHEN, Va, July 27.-The mile
post in front of our little pearl-type and
photo gallery and studio says it is 252
miles to Fortress Monroe, bat doesn't
say how far from yirginia's boom town
of '92. From what often think on be-
ing told of the old town by passer by
over the c. * O. it is about ten times
as far
Goshen is q village about the size OF
Occoquan, and like it in location it is
in beautiful region with a refreshing
health-giving atmosphere and good
people
The village is connected by road and
town lots, on paper, with boom town
which begins far up on the other side OF
the run and extends for a mile or so
down past the furnace.
This meadow and plain is dotted here
and there by dwellings and great build
ings for manufactures, which apparent
" sprang up in a single night, almost.
The first YOU see is the home of the
Biade. 1t has q sign nearly as big as
itself, and the sign tells that job print
ing is done there-two men Gncluding
the editor, they say, doing it,, and then
come the great car works, etc, some
completed but empty, others just above
their foundations with milldeWed scant-
ling still about their chimneys.
Up along the hillsides are hotels and
stores both uninhabited and bare, and
il is only when you get down about the
comfortable negro huts below the fur
mace that you see any sign OF animate
life.
The furnace is great plant, how
ever, and the machine works, run by
an old Scotchman, is a good-sized es-
tab,ishment, doing we'll The furnace
employs about 400 hands, and is con-
stantly turning out on the average
$40 tons ofpig metal per day.
This place is well worth a visit, and
the scenery from the top is worth the
sllittish journey up by swift elevator.
The night scenes there are grand
The rolling mill hear has been sold
for $4,000 cash, and is to be in opera
tion within sixty days. 1t is also said
that the car works are being negotiated
for and will doubtless be taken by an
other northern syndicate.
1t was q northern syndicate that took
up the unfinished hotel and carried it
into completion at cost of about S10,-
900 extra
We are in the springs region, there
being a dozen pleasure and health re-
sorts within as many miles of us, and
number to seek them than for long
time past, so they tell me. The even
ing trains are now drawn by two loco
motives
Goshen is besides the stopping place
for those going to the Cold Sulphur,
Bath, Warm and Hot, and to the Rock
Alum, Springs, which is nine or ten
miles distant.
Goshen isa quiet town, with a mayor
and council, all of whom are legalize6
policemen. Among these latter is my
friend, who has been totally deaf since
early childhood and is generally con
sidered deaf mute.
The mayor is apparently one like
Mayor Strauss. He doesn't have much
foolishness with those brought before
him, but fines them according tc
their resources and the town treasury
needs.
The Baptists have little chapel
here, SO have the Presbyterians, who
are ministered unto by Rev. Milf. B
Lambdin, formerly of Alexandria. His
congregation is the largest in the place
Mr.. L. generally goes for any new
movement or old vice with gloves off
To him local option was due. 1t was
q severe fight, but while on his vacation
a license was granted and bar opened
and SS7 taken in the first day. 1t is
also said that the carpenters and paint.
ers. l40 in number, worked in the hotel
the Sunday Mr.. i. was away.
His preaching has greatly improved
during the past ten years and he is un
doubtedly doing a great work here
He is, however, growing old and the
Goshen preacher is very different from
the Alexandria boy.
Here the stores sell almost every.
thing-only the milk shake and candy
and fruit stores and barber shop keeE
to their own channel; then too they
must invariably close at dinner hour.
The signs of these reads "Palac(
Saloon and Shoe Store"
The real estate signs are for the mos
part now over vacated buildings, yet
| think every one who owns 81 piece o
property or house here is very much
like real estate shark. A little honst
that would rent in Alexandria for SlOt
year. will stand vacant here if the
owner cannot get S25 per month for it
Board is rather high--yet those who
will go about it the right way can live
as cheaply and rs well here as any
where.
The c. & o, is to erect new passcn,
ger station here, the present one being
like those at Alexandria, and does not
please either the townspeople or the
officers Of that road. No road is giving
better service hereabouts than the c. &
O., vet there is an increasing demand
for lower rates for short distances and
especially to those whose efforts the
corporation profiteth some. There is
undoubtedly indiscrimination practiced
You can always get lower excursion
rate from Staunton to Washington than
f-n,, N Sto1ntnD onC