Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-10
AN INVITING FIELD.
NEW TERRITORIES OPENING FOR THE
TRADE OF RICHMOND.
craig aud the Railroad "a New Castis--A
County reemiog with Riches
Warm-springs Valley.

cry 7.-Three years ago there was hardly
more inaccessible place IN the State of
Virginia than this mountain-enyironcd
town, aud dare say there were few places
IN the State about which the average Vir-
ginian had more confused or more falss
impression. confess that my ideas of the
whole of Craig county were entirely err
foneoua Why. do not know. but l al
ways associated its name with the old
Keltic word descriptive OF topography
rather than with the surname of the man
for whom II was named. aud while the as
sociation CT ideas Is IN measure jusiifia-
BILE. my picture OF ITS mountainous condi-
ton was exaggerated IN the extreme
And now / am going TO say that three
years hence-ipdeed within much less time
than that--New Castle and Craig City, for
the latter In an annex of the old town, and
ali Of Craig county. will be a. well known
es any other section OF the Commonwealth.
This. the county seat, Is no longer almost
days journey from railroad station over
rough mountain roads in numbering yehi-
cles or on horseback. IL Is railroad sta
tion-And for the present q term;nus-lt-
self. reached after ride of twenty seven
miles from Bessemer City on the Rich
mond md Allegheny division of the Ches.-
apeake and Ohio over well-ballasted
try everv mile of which is revelation IN
the way OF beautiful scenery, fertile val
leys. smilpg landscapes, and inexhausti-
BILE mineral deposits.
sPLENpID srgogF.
In prosecuting its policy OF development
of the territory tributary to IL the great
Chesapeake and Ohio system mace sglen-
did stroke when 1t built tins line along
the valley of Crasg's creek; IL was no trivial
L.F of al
Chesapeake and ONO does ~ done on a
large scale II does not commence the
work OF lateral development a1d open
ing up territory until 1t l. ready,
and thon it does the work thorough
". The territory traversed by this braach
line is in the heart Of the richest mineral
horizon in Nirginla-e horizon inexhausti-
BILE in its deposits of red and brown hema-
tites. manganese, and other ores. Inc
especial richness of the CTalg-Crock Valley
and its tributaries is IN ever-reliable limo
mites Of the oriskany group. AT places
the Craig. Creek branch OF the Chesa-
peake and Ohio runs through cuts
Of these ores which are exceedingly
rich in metallic iron and low in phosphorus
and silica, while in juxtaposlt.on are linli =
less beds of limestone for fiuxing, ana
abundance of water for ore-washing can
be found az almost any point. These ore
formations are such as to literally blanaeo
the mountain sides, and what, with the
ease OF mining and the other con<dera-
tions mentioned, iron OF high grade can
be produced here at the minimum cost.
These ores are not experimental ores,
dependent for reputation upon analyses n
reports of geologists, although some ol
the most cautious geolo2istS nave heeh
most enthusiastic over them: | ut AL q soy
large quantities Of them are being SIN. ped
10 furnaces along the line of the Chesa-
peake and OHIO main stems. and have
stood thoroughly the practical test That
only the experienced ironmaster can give
them. II is no exaggeratiOn TO sag that
one cannot walk n mile over the Cralg-
Creek Valley or the surrounding country
without passing over untold mineral
wealth.
RICHLY TIMBERED.
But minerals do not constitute all of the
wealth Of this section. Over the great
beds OF iron, limestone. and manganese are
great reaches of the most magnificent tim
Der. embracing hickory, oak. poplar. pine,
ash, and walnut. and beautiful stretches OF
as fine blue grass as are found anywhere
else IN the State. There Is wealth here
under ground. over ground, and on the
ground. There are fortunes here III TIM
Der. in the valleys are rich agriculture!
districts. and Us grazing section Craig Is
unsurpassed.
People will come in here, | predict. to |
make money, 70 enjoy the scenery and the |
delightful and beautiful climate. and en- |
cage in manufacturing and mining opera |
tions, aud last. but not least, TO build up |
the mercantile trade of the cities. Anent |
tho latter suggestion. let me whisper TO |
the Richmond merchants that their |
Iynchbure and Roanoke brethren are
already in the field. There is here. If pro
perry worked, q big and remunerative trade
for Richmond, and what is more. 1t mnst
continue TO increase. Richmond capital
Is now largely interested III New Castle
and Craig CITY, and Richmond merchants
cannot do better than press the advantage
that this will give them IN competing for
a market o. this county. These valleys
are far from being the thiniv-settled noun
tian gorges most persons imagine, and the
thrifty, consuming population being
brought in here by the present and pro-
jected enterprises and by the railroad is
steadily on the increase.
NEW CASTLE ITSELF.
New Castle has never been booming
town in the accepted sense of thai word,
but il has been a steadily progressing one
ever since the railroad was started. IL
has beautiful new hotel, good trade,
and when il makes a step forward 1t stays.
The same may be said OF Craig CITY, its
annex Craig CITY Is just across Johns
creek from New Castle. and with Its motel,
enterprises presents transformation
scene az compared with few years ago.
Aside from other considerations, these
twins are destined to become favorite
summer resorts. They have everything to
make them such-pure air, delightful ell
mate, unsurpassed scenery, and easy and
convenient access TO the outer world. All
who visit them are charmed.
As one travels over the road between here
and Bessemer City. the Junction OF the
branch with the Allegheny division, he
needs no argument 10 prove to him that the
Chesapeake and Ohio are fulfilling their
promise not only to develop the material re-
sources Of their tributary. territory. but to
open up new ana profitable fields Tor the
business of the cities ON their line. He has
ocular demonstrations Of the facts. There
il not wholesale house in Richmond for
which this section does not offer tempt
ing inducements TO establish foothoid.
The road is q gateway to an area ont OF
which has commenced to pour stream
OF wealth which must rapidly augment in
volume, and into which must run CON-
pensating volume of trade and traffic in the
shape of everything our iobbing houses can
furnish. | know OF no two lines calcu-
lated to 90 Richmond and the territory
through which they run more substantial
good than this Craig Greek branch OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio, and the Warm
OpIluEb Witty ID VI Wv
ington 10 the Hot Springs. Each brings 10
the doors OF Richmond new domain that
invites the enterprise OF her merchants
and capitalists VITA the assurance that such
enterprise will pay. and pay well. Many
OF those most deeply interested IN the
Chesapeake and Ohio railway are in
tereS.ea IN these sections. and the road.
as IL demonstrated by the OUTLAY it has
made IN reaching them. must do all IN ITS
power possible 10 upbuild such territorial
accession That these branches were
built bv The Chesapeake aud Ohio for the
purpose OF making money for the road
goes without saving, but II Is
none the less patent To any one who
Will examine u map OF them that the way
this money Is gong 20 % made l. b. de-
welcoming the resources aud inducing by
that development ltside trade and traffic.
Neither Is a mere competing line but an
artery through which that which gives life
AID yigor to the country pulsates IN both
directions. Let me emphasize that the
Craic-Creek Valley and the warm-Springs