The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-24
A MYSTERIOUS PLANT
ON THE UPPER JAMES
Nobody Knows What Is Being Manufactured at
the Factory.
GREAT INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY.
Many Factories and Furnaces Are Running Or
Are Being Constructed.

is every reason to believe that the next
two decades will see even a greater
change than in the twenty years which
have passed since the building Of the
Richmond and Allegheny Road from
Richmond to Clifton Forge
The railroad penetrated virgin terri
tory from Lynchburg west TO Clifton
Forge. a distance of 50 odd miles. When
the whistle of the locomotive for the
first time resounded among the noun
tains that run down almost to the banks
of the James the entire distance. it
aroused from slumber one of the richest
sections OF the South. II has never slept
since. Indeed, it got rather too wide
awake about ten years ago, during the
boom days when cornfields became
cities with Understanding names, and lots
on imaginary streets sold for much
as good farm would have brought be-
fore, or will bring to-day. Glasgow, Bue-
ma Vista and Buchanan. all had their
boors. They are not booming to-day,
of course. But they are better off. may
be- than if the boom had never been y
dozen years ago there were fine farms
where the city of Buena Vista, and the
town of Glasgow now stand.
PAPER AND PULPS MILLS.
Going west from Lynchburs the travel
err cannot fail to be impressed with the
evidences of prosperity he sees. suppos-
ing. OF course, that the establishment OF
industrial enterprises indicates the pros
perity OF the country in which they are
located.
After passing the mysterious nanufac-
tory at HolcoEnbs Rock it is a run
of but a few miles to Big Island, in
Bedford county, where is located the big
paper mill of the Big Island Paper Com
pany. owned chiefly by Richmond peo-
pie. It is running large Number Of
hands and turning out tons of raper
every day.
\ mile and a half further west is the
property of the Amherst Pulp AIanufac-
turing Company. This property lies on
the opposite of the river from the rail-
road The company is composed almost
entirely Of Richmond capitalists. and
owns a tract of 5000 acres. the greater
portion of it covered with magnificent
timber. The tract was once owned by
the Jordans, a family OF iron manufac-
turers famous III the valley and noun
tains of Virginia and West Virginia. An
old charcoal furnace was for years oper-
ated on the property. and the Confederate
Government made thousands OF tons of
iron there. The magnificent roads
through the mountains on the property
were built by the Confederacy.
a large mill for the manufacture of
paper pulp is being erected on the site
of the Old furnace. A dam of great
length has been thrown across the river.
at immense cost. to furnish the power for
the factory The pulp will be rlanufac-
tnred from. pine wood cut on the proper
ty The mill will be in operation in a
Few months
In addition to the pulp mill. negotia-
lions are now pending with a Pennsiyva-
MIA company for the location of 4 shut
tie factory on the property. They are
expected to prove successful
THE SLATE QUARRIES.
A few miles above the site OF the pro-
posed pulp-rill is Snowden. the shipping
point for the company mining immense
quantities OF slate few miles back
in the mountains. A short distance fur
Their on. through the mountains, Is the
town of Glasgow. not much of q town
now, to be sure, but with possibilities. A
tobacco factory has recently been put in
operation and is making MONEY for the
owners. On the opposite side of the riv-
er are the celebrated Guarries and kiins
| of the James River Cement Company. an
extensive enterprise. the product of which
has almost national reputation for eS-
2celience.
Glasgow. assuredly one OF the most
beautiful towns in Virginia in point OF
location, is in the triangle between James
and North rivers. the two uniting here.
Fourteen miles up the North riv.r is BIe-
ma Vista. and here is located another M
smense paper Fnlll,SWhleh has bean in n
Grafton for years one OF Tie largest
tanneries in the world. aud quite recently
| there has been located there a large fac
tory for the manufacture of tanners ';-a
DRYERS extracts from chestnut wood
Coming back tor the James, there gre
, the recently enlarged plant of the Tan,.s
! River Lime Company at Indian Rpca. Mt.
lFtc,n Ger twen.y miles above Ss1asso.. OK.
stensive lime skilns at Eagle Moua.uiu.
| twenty miles further on tho Princess
| Furnace at Glen Wilton. which has been