The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-13
nlR1nSY|LIE IS
TOWN THAT owns
own UTILITIES
Located in Foothills Of the Blue
Ridge. Offers Health and
Opportunity
TOBACCO MARKET
! IS ONE BIG FEATURE
Soil Also Adapted to Grain
and Mercantile Trade Of
\ County Is Large and
High Class
By WALTER HARPER.

Sitting eleven hundred feet above sea
level on the rolling foothills OF the
Blue Ridge mountains, Martinsville
pffers health, contentment and whole
some opportunity to the man of en-
srEy and ability.
Il 1t Ia n town Of varied Industries
and almost limitless resources. Sur
rounded by one Of the finest agricul-
tural sections Of the State of Virginia,
Eit ID reasonably safe from all financial
repression. Its manufacturing inter-
efts are varied. substantial and pro-
giressive. ~
| Martinsville liz a very important to-
hacco market as well as one Of the
most important tobacco manufactur-
Ing centers in the country. The far
merS sch IN this market about 4.000,-
zoe pounds of tobacco annually. The
average price paid last year was about
$40 per hundred pounds. This mar
ket handles great deal Of dark to-
SaccO types grown in this section.
which pulls down the general average
for the crop. The farmers who grow
the better types receive prices rang
ing from SIS TO 325 per hundred.
The tobacco is handled through two
large warehouses Manufacturing
piants located here also buy large
quantities of tobacco through these
warehouses and from other markets
here than is bought In the market.
III Next in Importance to tobacco from
an agricultural and manufacturing
standpoint comes the growing of
wheat and corn. The soils and cli-
mate of Henry county are specially
adapted to the growing of small grain
and the quality Is of superior grade.
This mercantile trade Of Martins
Vile is very large and Of q high class.
All lines Of the mercantile trade are
we'll represented by progressive mer-
chants and high class establishments
Y II Owns Al Rubalc UHlfttes.
II viii interest many readers OF The
Nifginian to know that Martinsyille
owns and operates every public utili-
" plant. including the telephone sys-
tenn. IT Is perhaps the only town In
the United States that owns and OPP
crates municipal street lighting wa
ter and telephone systems and dis
pensary. And every one of these pub
lie utilities Is paying the city a hand
!. some dividend The telephone. water
and electric light charges are much
lower than in most cities and yet all
are paying the city we'll under the
careful management of the various
boards of supervision and the per-
sonai direction of J. r. Gregory. engi-
sneer and superintendent. Mr.. Gregory
has had charge of these plants OF the
city In one capacity and another since
1888. which In evidence sufhcient OF
his efficiency and safe conduct Of the
city's public affairs.
The telephone system is operated
night and day. The electric plant has
Just been improved At the cost of
about So, 600. and the water plant Is
kept up to date. Though the water
is taken from y clear. pure stream. 1t
Ii carefully filtered before being trans
United to the city mains. The press-
ure is such that Il goes easily over the
highest points In the city and fre
hazard Ii reduced to a minimum.
City Ohlc1als.
The present oficials OF the city are:
g. q. Rurch, mayor: J. d. sparrow,
president Of council: r. l. Turner.
sergeant: j. r. Gregory, engineer ana
superintendent: A. s. Gravely. clerk
and auditor. H. I. TugEle. commits
sioner Of revenue.
Mr.. Burch In serving his first term
N mayor and Ia making a record for
wholesome progressiveness. He 10 an
active and patriotic citizens and a
man OF extensive business interests
He has been live factor In the ad-
vancement OF every beneficial move
menf for tho public good. Like every
other live citizen OF the town, Mr.
Burch has great ATTN ~ tne 1asnre
Besides it, manufacturing and other
business interests, Martnsville 10 dis
tinguishabie for it, good schools
rood churches and beautiful homea
Soma OF the finest residences In the
State 0k Virginia are to be. seen nest
ling among its groves and on its
broad. well-paved streets and avenues.
Pubic Schools
" The public and nigh school Of Mar
n - sNVAA ~ 6A hxsxt