Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1900-03-30
A RAPID GROWTH.
Clifton Forge Breaks All Records
In its Change
FROM HAMLET 10 TOWN.
The C. & O. Railway Madethe Town
Great and is Now Making it
6reater---Facts as Gathered by
a Spectator Scribe.

a Spectator Scribe.
(Staff Correspondence of The SPECTATOR
Clifton Forge, March 29-The en-
terprise and unbounded energy of this
place among the mountains is so wide.
ly known that to recount them is but
the reiteration of a thrice told tale.
Still there are new phases of industri-
al development already accomplished
and in prospective that make review
of the field both interesting and prof
liable. Staunton and Augusta has
always had friendly interest in her
sister town, and now that hundreds of
her best people have become citizens
here. that interest is accentuated.
For several years I have had occa-
sion to visit this place, but never a
time that the hustling community did
not present some new evidence of
thrift.
Today as the train glided by the
water gap just east OF the town. l
noticed the first evidences of another
big work. Here the G. & o. proposes
to bring its heavy trains from the James
River division straight across Jackson
river to the main line, instead of haul
ing them up the opposite bank as at
present. Already the rails have been
laid up to the stone abutments on
either bank and row of double piers
are completed across the stream, on
which will soon rest the steel bridge.
From this point on into Clifton the
railroad yards are being greatly ex-
tended on both sides of the main line
to make room for the ever growing
business of the company.
In West Clifton the work of yard ex
tension is also going on, and on good
authority 1 am informed that addi-
tional track space is to be made just
across the river from the shops and
from that point belt line of single
track is to run down the right bank of
the river over an old r. & A. right of
way. But this is not all that the
company propose doing in the near
future. AS soon as the necessary ar
rangem ents can be made work will be-
gin on the new machine shops, and
the carpenter repair shops are to be
greatly enlarged SO as to embrace the
manufacture of freight cars complete.
The capacity of these shops is esti-
mated at about ten ca.s per week, be-
sides keeping up the general repair
work of the road. This will all add
many scores more to the army of wage
earners already here. What would
our readers think of a $40 900 pay roll,
more than enough to capitalize a ma
tional bank, yet that is about the
amount paid out here by the company
every month, in the operation of its
varied interests. It is difficult to esti-
mate the number of men that draw
and spend their money here. 1t is the
terminus of three railroad divisions,
with its scores Of engine men and
train crews. Then there's the line
men, the track force. the yard force,
depot men, Office force. hundreds in
the round house, machine shops and
carpenter repair shops. 1t is q small
army on good pay. An engineer fire.
quently draws 5000 per month; fire.
man over $1O0; a conductor about
$3.50, and first class machinist $75.
These are figures which few of our
banking institutions pay their highest
officials. They are figures that enable
the men to live well, and they do. For
example I stepped into grocery store
today near the bridge and stood around
watching the trade and inspecting the
goods. do not think it is exaggera-
tion to say the stock was the finest and
most varied l have seen outside the
big cities. There was everything and
the best, and most expensive of every
thing in season that choice market
could afford. And the people buy it,
the trade demands it.
| In most communities money, as a
circulating medium, is scarce, not so
here. for the men spend their earnings
freely. The town is full of money
every 80 days and Iiquidations are
easy. 1t is surprising to note the very
small number of paupers on the town
every ablebodied man or boy who will
work has it for the asking and the
town will not tolerate a lazy tramp
| Another boon to the community thai
the railroad has established and main
tains is it's Y. M. G. A. building, il
every way modern, with gaming rooms
Gymnasium, reading rooms, library
etc. 1t is open night and day, ant
within its comfortable walls hundred
OF employees spend their leisure hours
Outside of railroad circles the tow
itself is experiencing healthy, stead
growth. 1t has an energetic and aler
board of trade, of which Mr.. Johl
Donovan, former Stauntol man, i
president, and Judge Geo. K. Ander
son, secre tary. This board looks afte
the material welfare of the town in ;
dozen ways and there are few prope
objects for attention that escape it
watchful eye. Just now there is grea
need of planning mill, or mills. Th'
one already here is totally inadequate
to supply the demand for builders ma
terial. and there appears a fine OPENING