The Washington herald., 1912-05-23
By N. F. LEWIS.
staa corespondeut.
Clifton Forge n

Clifton Forge possessing many natura
advantages TO become. a city OF size and
n thNving commercial center. having
, within a small radius eight iron furnaces
and a large number Of iron ore mines
Acknowledges as the. principal factor in
fits upbuilding the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway, being at the terminus Of the
eastern. western and James River divi-
sions OF the road A former president OF
the road went on record as saying that
Clifton Forge is destined TO become the
Little Altoona of the South"
In short. Clifton Forge Is a typical
railroad town" every bit Of commercial
activity beginning and ending with the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
Following the established custom at
such points, the railroad company main
9ains a hospital with a corps Of trained
and emcient physicians and surgeons, as
well as the hotel. The division Offices
and machine shops are located there. and
st is the home and headquarters of a ma
3or1ty Of the employees.
The common thing In most points Of
this character Is that the citizens are
forever complaining with reference TO
the shortcomings OF the road that made
the town possible. but here We find the
uncommon citizen. who is forever telling
Of the great benefits derived from the
road, its liberal treatment of employees
and deep interest manifested in the town
and its general welfare.
The compay maintains at this point
next TO the largest yards on its system,
containing thirty-four miles OF tracl1age.
as well as a belt line around the city
for the purpose Of handling manifest
freight and expediting cars The daily
average Of cars handled in and out Of
Clifton Forge numbers ], ,6el-
The population in the main is composed
OF citizens in whom civic pride and loyal
ty to their town is evident. The local
branch Of the Young Mems Christian
Association is looked upon with pride, it
being fully adequate to the needs of the
little town An excellent schooling sys-
TEN is maintained and every essential
to the general welfare of the community
IS promoted, there being no dissenting
voice when discussing any move that
would tend TO upbuiId their town or
morally uplift fits citizens. The present
population is about 6O00. and two news
papers are published there. A new post
otfice was recently erected at cost OF
$500, and there are a number of pros
porous business enterprises. A number
Of beautiful churches and hundreds Of
splendid homes grace the town, while
the streets are macadamized and the
sidewalks are Of concrete. The various
professions are well represented there.
In Clifton Forge there Is room for a
large number of industries. such as a
furniture factory, chair factory, overall
factory, broom factory, and numerous
others. There is also an opening here
for a wholesale boot and shoe house.
wholesale dry goods. notions, &C. By a
large number of men this city is re-
garded as an ideal place to locate a
steel plant, where the raw material is
close at hand in great abundance
Clifton Forge is lighted by electricity
with day and night current and the cor
poration owning the electric light plants
Cthere are two OF them) has a thirty-year
franchise, and is now planning to develop
its water-power on Cowpasture River, a
few miles distant. for the purpose Of
increasing it's output. This undertaking
VIII require an expenditure Of a large
sum Of money, but it will mean cheaper
lights and cheaper power for Clifton
Forge. It is estimated that this plant
VIII have not less than 1000 horse
power, which will be sufficient to oper-
ate street car system, furnish light
70 the city and its citizens, supply
other nearby towns with current and
take care OF whatever power may be
needed by present and prospective indus
tries at the lowest possible cost With
cheap coal, the larger industries may
use steam If deemed advisable, but this
may be saved and a cleaner and safer
It completes its plans, will furnish all
the power that may be needed, in the |
Chesapeake and Ohio shops and save the |
railway money. At the same time it |
means an increase in the capacity of the !
shops. Special inducements will be Of |
fered new enterprises by the Clifton |
Forge Public Service Corporation: the |
owners Of the power plant
The City Public schools.
A higher compliment could not be paid
Clifton Forge than to make public the
fact that, with only 5000 inhabitants, It
has 1000 white children attending the
public schools. There are two public /
school buildings, the larger containing |
seventeen rooms and costing $4,000. the /
other, erected this last year, being some
what smaller, containing nine rooms
and costing $4,000. Prof. j. Grier Press
", formerly an instructor at the New
York University, is the principal and /
three are twenty-three teachers under his
supervision. Besides a regular course.
students are allowed to take business
course during their last two years in
the high school. and consequently a
great many pupils who have otherwise
business, remain, thus giving Clifton
Forge a reputation for the number Of
graduates for the size Of the school
Mayor John A. BOwIes.
Mr.. Bowles. a native Of Allegheny
County. was born on farm on which
the city Of Clifton Forge now stands He
hrst entered public life six years ago,
when he was appointed TO fill the un-
expired term Of Mayor ]. w Eapoppe,
who died. Mayor Bowies served two