The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-25
SPRING TIME
DOWN IN CRAIG.
Everything Cheered Up, From the
Small Boy to the Boomer
BIG DEAL IN ORE LAND ON HAND
The I.ongdalc Company Figuring on
Five 1h'uSand Acres on the {,
4 O. KOad-Thc Mineral
Prospect Very Good.

NEWCASTLE. VA. April special
Since the warmth Of spring has come
end the peach trees are booming. the
rellow- hammers busy IN the budding
woods and the small boy fishing for pike
On the chilly waters Of Johns creek
people seem 10 have chcered IN wonder
fully and begin TO feel Ike the world
Is not all winter
The present writer knows nothing what
ever Of the game laws OF virginia, but
we do know the game laws OF Craig are
In the hands Of the hunter. Let him,
who Is fond Of gun. fishing reel. and
q spotted hound come up TO the noun
,nins when the larvice flowers and the
dogwood stars begin 10 twinkle among
the red buds and Wild azalia blossoms
now lust budding-and he can have the
ruby-spotted trout. the ereen-bellied pike,
the white-fnned bass all for the silent.
skillful taking Wild ducks also OF
ions-neked. slender-hacked kind. and
ph,asants we are told are very plentiful.
Now I am under the impression that
this is the mating season Of the pleas
ant. and that he should not be hunted.
eince he becomes very tame IN this season
and leaves his cover when man intruoos
upon his messy walks Indeed. he often
comes quite near the houses Of men and
feems enxlous for near acquaintance
But the young man who Is particularly
lucky with his rifle has been known To
furnish his table with brace OF pleas
ants every week in the spring when the
Brains of America (New England can
have only salt pork ana FISH, One young
hunter was lately seen with a string or
wild ducks-seventeen IN number. and he
was not hunting long either.
Many trout have been caught In Bar
hers creek by sportsmen from Clifton
Forge. Lynchburg. etc.
BIG LAND DEAL
This week marks an incident which
may prove Of vast financial interest 10
the community. For some months the
l.ongdale Company Of iron manufactlr
ers have been Interested in the ore lands
in this vicinity with view 10 purcnas-
ing the same.
Tho scene Of their prospective prop
rrty. embracing I'VE thousand acres on
ore lands. lies about seven miles below
here on tho craig Valley branch OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, and the
station Is called at present Barber
creek II Is said III this purchase is &C
tualy made there will probably be
furnace erected az time not far away.
This is most excellent situation for
furnace. being located in part Of the
Rich Patch Iron ore leads. and near 10
every thing needed 10 run "a furnace
limestone. dev0nian shaies. bog ore, fire
brick and excellent lump ore. with easy
facilities FOR washing etc. Everything
s. here except coal. and that is only
twenty-five miles away. or rather kind
az stone coal. some thing Ike an antntt-
cite twenty-five miles away I'm the noun
tains with only wagon roads 10 10 M
present This mine. ID is said. could be
frr % the Cd Z
ming furnaces
These facts arc taken from the Geolo-
gists Reports who visited and ''read mp
from the written pages Of nature the
mineral resources Of this section several
yoars ago-profossors Langdon, jed
Hot hkiss and Others.
NOTED TRIO.
This week Newcastle, as the county
seat and the keeper OF the records was
visited by quite an interesting trio Of
yentlemen-Col. Anderson, OF Lexington,
Mr. Parish. attorney. of Covineton. and
others-whose business IL was understood
was 20 look up the legal points OF tn
deal and as your correspondent was in-
formed. they found the way clear the
titles good and the Commonwealth VIII
ling. the purchase will probably be made.
Naturally this news IS received with
more or less delight in an sections of
The county. With less delight by those
greedy and grasping bondholders who
have been nabbing mp an the old scrub
pine lands and soapstone hills stranded
on the ebh tide Of tho boom and lately
Tor delinquent taxes back payments in
default. etc-who are mad because they
are not selling their lands. and. OF course.
the more delight from those fortunate
ones like plain old Farmer carver who
gets three thousand dollars for his stony
fields, which scarce gave him bread BE-
fore Then too. the philosophical kind
there are who say the whirligig Of time"
will bring my turn. sure. NOW, on the
heels OF this prosperity comes the fren-
zled cry Of the boomer. and he claims
for Newcastle In the immediate future.
"A creamery a tan yard a soap factory,
glue factory. a paper mill pottery.
and ! did not catch all the improve
ments ne saw in his special kodak, TO-
cussed by himself
A REALITY.
Rut while this may be only n dream
II Is a fact that we have the blue blue
mountains here the cool brcezes and tho
creeks. the old moss-covered mill-whecls
under the willows. the italian skies. the
Alpine ralnhows. the south Of France sun
shine and the North Dakotah winds buf-
feting us the whole wear round
II If also fact fhat the hotels VIII
BE opened here this summer with TO
newed efforts FOR a successful season
with the summer folk FOR two Richmond
ladies' 81 well-known hotel trumphs-i .
Mrs Boykin and Mrs Robinson-Nin
zen, .he hotel a. Newcastle Mr. y r.
spessard. one % The owners. told your
correspondent that the business had
been arranged and the ladies' above name ]
would certainly take charge a. the usual
opening season
The other hotels will also be ready FOR