Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-18
BLACKSBURG POINTS.
A MOVEMENT IN THE DIRECTION
OF SECURING GOOD ROADS.
Rock-Crushcr md Road-Machinc
Purcha scd-TeIcphOn Connection
Qucstion-Very Rich In Zinc-Judse
stnplcs's House. E.llitl,
nd Road-Machinc
Purchascd-TeIc

BLACKSBuRG. VA, April T-CSpe-
cial)-Judge Waller II. Staples arrived
at home this week. lie is In Christians
burg now, and will remain some time.
His object In coming TO the county Is
twofold. He wishes TO see his numer-
Gus friends here. and at the same time
TO look after the reniodelling OF the
beautiful summer home. which was re-
Gently bought by him in Christiansburg,
and which, under the direction OF Con-
tractor d. o. Matthews. has been tho
roughly repaired. The work viii be fin
ished by June 1st and Judge Staples
hopes to spend the summer there, having
with him numerous friends and relatives
as his guests.
The people Of the county have been
talking and theorizng for long time
and a great deal about good roads. But
in the hands of our supervisors the mat
ter has recently taken very practical
shape very greatly to their credit and
TO the sincere delight Of our citizens
one large rock-crusher and three road
machines of the latest and most I'M
proved pattern have been purchased. IL
has been determined also to abandon lhe
old method Of working the roads by con-
tract. and 10 put under competent men
a force OF hands sufficient 10 DO Wen
and lastingly all work that 10 done. 10y
this means, and with the help OF the
new appliances, it is hoped in the course
OF n few years to put the roads in a
good condition. Should their expecta-
tions be fulfilled, it will be not only a
lasting benefit TO the county. but the
means OF saving a great deal TO the
farmers and teamsters Vast quantities
Of coal are hauled from the northern
and northwestern portion of the county
to the station at Christiansburg, and Of
ten the roads are in such condition that
1OJO pounds Of coal is as much as two
strong horses can draw over them. Then,
again. Christiansburg depot Is the dis
tributng point for vast quantity OF
freight. not only for Montgomery, put
also for Floyd, Giles, and portions OF
Pulaski. as well, as that the amount
Of hauling done over the roads is' IN
deed. very great. much greater than one
may imagine, unless 1t were computed
TELEPHONE CONNECTION.
Even should we fail to secure the
long-distance telephone connection pre-
viously mentioned in these letters, II IS
probable that we shall have telephone
connection with the outer world. III
has been already suggested that COM
pany be formed, which shall consolidate
the private line now between here and
Cbristiansburg. and so get the benefit OF
its already-constructed line. such a
scheme is feasible, and it IS believed Will
nav we'll with the use Of the automatic
phone. 49,,
colonel William NJ. Patton, OF the
Civil Engineering Department. has been
out since Wednesday with his classes
as corps. surveying what is known as
the Lick Branch route for the railroad.
Mr. Robert Walters. OF Montgomery,
recently had Professor X. {. Price OF
the institute. TO analyze specimen or
ENCORE found on Elliotts creek. me
analysis showed it 20 be very rich IN
zinc. and as there is an abundance OF
the ore in the bed, Mr.. walters ana
others have here in lana that "ouIu
scarcely have brought 80 an acre TWO
years ago an independent fortune
Personal.
Mr.. G. r. Levi. United States Marshal
for the Western District of Virginia, ana
Deputv- Marshal J. W. Pepper were IN
Blacksburg this week; not on business
connected with their Office, however MI
Levi has q son at the lhsulule' anu was
here on a visit to him.
The new Methodist minister. Rev. j. II.
Davidson. will preach his first sermon In
the church at Blacksburg tomorrow.
Miss Sarah Smythe, Of Charleston, ;.
c.. is visiting her brother, Professor j..
A. Smythe. of the institute.
Dev. DIT. D. J. McBryde. of Lexington
Va. will commence next week a series
Of mission meetings In the Episcopal
church of Blacksburg.
Almost all the varieties or frult-trees
are now i'm bloom, and an examination
Of their blossoms reveals the gratifying
fact that they have been very little in
jured by the frost.