The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-08
the Educational Center Of Southside Virginia
B[ACkST0NE'S MANY
BUSINESS HOUSES.
GENERAL VALUABLE PRODUC-
TIvENEss OF THIS SECTION
REFLECTED HERE.
BY ASHLEY b. LAND.

BY ASHbY b. LAND.
It would be an impossible matter
to attribute the growth OF Blackstone
to any one or few causes. or its pro-
gressiveness to any one man or set
Of men, but to the general productive
ness of this section of the State and
to the industry Of the people In gen.
eral this is mainly due. Blackstone
has at present q population OF about
1880 within it's corporation limits and
drawing q circle around Blackstone
taking In all of those who live with
in a mile of the town. Wa would have
q popu.ation Of about 1000.
With better educational advantages
than any town In the State Of its size,
having q girls school with an enroll
ment OF 476: boys' school with about
seventy boarders and with q high
school provided with the latest equip
ment for the pursuance OF courses in
science, and q largo corps of capable
teachers, places Blackstone in front Of
Virginia towns in its educational ad-
vantages.
Tho two banks at Blackstone, the
Citizens bank, of which Joseph NJ
Hurt, president State Bankers as
ISOLATION, Is cashier. and the First Ma
tional Bank of Blackstone. have a
combined capital and surplus exceed
ing $500, 10000. and combined assets
OF about a 100000 and these two
banks stand out as the largest banks
between Lynchburg and Petersburg
thus providing ample banking facil-
tiles to this section OF the State.
With four large tobacco warehouses
and with three redriers with a ca
pacity of $4,000 per day. the
tobacco market at Blackstone stands
out in from. with other large tobacco
markets OF the State and provides
ample facilities for the sale Of leaf
tobacco.
Since 1884 Blackstone has been
noted for it's guano. the Blackstone
Guano company having been establish
ed at that time, selling Its brands of
Blackstone made guano all through
that section of the State and parts of
North Carolina. Much success attend
ed this enterprise and a few years
back the Farmers Cooperative Guano
company. another independent con-
Germ. was organized with their main
office and factory at Blackstone, and
with branches In both Kenbride and
Richmond. thus they were abe to
take care OF their ever increasing
business throughout the State. The
Blackstone Guano company, the old
est of the two concerns, is now con-
templating opening a branch in South
Boston. Va. which will place them in
a better position TO take care Of their
business in that section of the State.
These two companies, both with
their main office and factory at Black
stone. are among the largest sin
dependent concerns in tie State.
There are several wholesale and re-
tail lumber concerns in Blackstone
shipping each day several car loads of
lumber. The Norfolk and Western
have branch line running out from
Blackstone to the plant of the Motto
way River Lumber company, seven
miles out from town, to better handle
the shipping of their large output
Blackstone has two IT the largest
hardware concerns In the State, one
of which is doing both wholesale and
retail business. Each one OF these
concerns practically covers the. block
in which they are located and have
ample floor space to take care OF
their large business
In the clothing line there are sew
eral large stores including the New
York Clothing and Shoe. the Peoples
Clothing company. Lavenstein Broth
ers and Seay- Bagley Co. All Of these
are large. commodious stores, carry
/ ing a large stock OF goods of the latest
styles.
The dry goods and ladies' furnish
ings line are well handled by Laven-
hkciA b1otHcES anu tao 0Sdy -od6ics
| Co.
The real estate business in Black
stone has been very profitable tor
| those engaged In this line of business,
because OF the desirahility of Black
/ stone property and the surrounding
| country R H. Fredericksen & Co.
and the Realty Company OF Virginia
are two OF the concerns engaged in
| this line or business In Blackstone
! and they have both been very success
| full having sold many farms In the
| country surrounding Blackstone.
| In the wholesale business the Bar
| row Grocery company has built up a
very large trade with the retail mer-
! chants of that section. selling their
goods to the country merchants and
others in the smaller towns around
| Blackstone.
| Blackstone has numerous grocery
stores. three large drug stores and a
number OF stores carrying a general
/ line OF merchandise.
/ Among the newer concerns Is the
/ Blackstone Auto company, agents for
! the Ford, Hupmobiie and Maxwell.
This concern has sold many cars in
and around Blackstone. and main
tains an up-to-date garage. carrying
a full line OF auto supplies.
With good sand-clay roads, built
| by the States convict force. leading In
every direction. with good shipping
facilities and with ample banking ac-
/ commodities. Blackstone extends
| an invitation to new manufacturing
| concerns which desire such . loca-
/ ton.