The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-11-25
BUILDINGS GOING UP
AND BUSINESS GOOD
Banking and Other Institutions
Reflect the Prosperity of the
People-Country Round
about Abounds in
Great Natural
Wealth.
BY Walter Edward Harris.

CftRlSIiANSBURG. MONTGOMERY
COUNTY VA. November 24.-Christians-
burg is going to wake with a start SONS,
day and find that she is ign "a position Id
do very many times THE business she il
doing at present Many citizens Of the
town with whom ] have talked. admit
that the place is not doing what She
should do. and all predict that the time
is coming when she will undertake bust
ness on larger scale than was ever
dreamed of until within the past few
years.
The county Of Montgomery is ono OF
the richest naturally I'm Virginia The
soil IS Of unsurpassed fertility in some
sections. and one encounters in Mont
gomery for Che first time as he journeys
westward from Richmond that peculiar
red soil adapted to the growth OF blue
grass. Real Presbyterian limestone" as
] once heard the late Major Jed Hotch-
kiss term the blue limestone OF the
Valley and the Southwest. begins TO out
crop in Montgomery. after disappearing
for "a time as one leaves the Valley and
travels for time over the connecting
counties OF Botctourt and Roanoke
There is plenty OF stone in these counties,
but IL is not OF the bluest blue so char
acteristic OF tho stone I'm the Valley and
the bluegrass farms Of the Southwest.
Edge of the Southwest.
Montgomery is the most easterIy county
Of Southwest Virginia. Richmond people
ANA residents OF Eastern Virginia gener-
ally are wont TO speak OF Roanoke and
even Lynchhurg, fifty miles further east
as being In Southwest Virginia One
leaves Richmond at O'Clock and rides
until the middle OF the afternoon. when
Lynchburg is reached. and still the South
west IS all ahead OF him. Fifty miles
further on. and comes Roanoke and still
tile Southwest IS in the future When
the shades OF night are falling II the
train should meet with tho accident OF
being on time, IL stops at the little town
OF Ihristansburg. and the great South
west is reached at last The actual en-
trance into Southwest Virginia is made
about hundrad wards east Of the station
at Christiausburg. At that point. the wa
ter begins 70 run westward into New
River which unites with the Gaulcy and
forms the Kanawha. which flows into
the Ohio at Point Pleasant thence into
the Mississippi and Gulf Of Mexico.
Railroad a Mile Away.
The town OF Christansburg is a mile
from the railway station. One Of two
things viii be done-the railroad will be
taken TO the town OF the town to the
railroad. There are indications that the
latter will eventually be decided upon IL
the preferable alternative. There is con-
siderable building in progress in Chris
tainsburg proper, but il appeared that
more new structures We're 10 be seen
IN the neighborhooG Of the depot than
further over IN the town proper.
The glad news was broken TO me by
several people that there are nno pros
poets of q new hotel for Christiansburg.
The people of the town seemed 10 rejoice
in the prospect Their joy is as nothing
compared TO that with which the news
VIII be received by tho travelling public
But the landlord Is hospitable. and II the
guest is not comfortable IL is not because
his host does not care
Christiansburg f. beautiful from many
points OF view. II is beautiful a close
range. with its quiet streets. some %
them with good sidewalks. and nearly all
OF them are covered with good macadarn.
which. 10 my mind. has some points ~
superiority over asphalt. and many over
cobblestOnes- There are many pretty
homes I'm the town, and the attention paid
To the vines and flowers indicates the
bent Of the people towards beauty iu
everyday surroundings. The town is
pretty viewed from the surrounding hills
as it nestles hidden in trees. tucked away
in a manner quito suggestive OF a long
sleep.
In a Rich Section.
Tho town does not sleep. There ars
some hustiing business men IN Chris
tausbure. who are making the most Of
their opportunities. ana. IL reports be
true are growing rich. The country
roundabout IS rich Fine cattle Craze IN
the blue grass hills. and the farms pro-
duce grain aburdautiy. These 90 not
make millionaires. but they give tie
sturdy farmers the whcrcwithal to meet
their obligations. and Christiansburg ner-
chants have cause 90 rejoice thnraat.
Roanoke is rather too close at hand Tor
the comfort and prosperity ot tla Chris
uansburg merchants A great deal =
shopping is done in Roanoke hy Chris
uausburg people. to tLe bcnedt az the
Roanoke merchants. and fo tae l4rt ~
merchants of Christians burg.
''I have In stock nearly everything 20
be had ln 90 dry pods and notion store
in Roanoke said merchant OF Chris
tiansburg. with whom 7 talked II know
also that my prices are as low and in
some cases lower than they are in Roa-
uoke for 7 have made the comparison
MYSELF can scu more cheapiv for ma
expenses arc not nearly So great as are
And know the quality Of my goods is
Roanoke. But the people from here are
very fond ~ dealing in Roanoke for
some reason. and the tendency is hu-f-
lae our trade"
The merchant a hard-headed man wens
ora 60 say that inc had argued with his
ncighbors and tried 20 induce them ~
patronize home enterprise. bat they could
not be- moved as q rule.
Die said. however. that some Of The
most prominent people ~ the town pur-
chased an their supplies in Christians
burg
When thex spend their mo=sT IN RAJ