The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-01
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY
HAS MANY ADVANTAGES
Agricultural and Mineral Conditions Attracting Much Attention
Abroad, While Transportation Facilities
Are Unsurpassed.

Harold T. Goyne, a pupil of the
Chester Agricultural High school, was
last night awarded the first prize. CON
sisting Of $500. offered by the Bust
ness Mems league, of Chester, for the
best essay on the subject of the "Ad-
vantages of Chester and Chesterfield
County" Great interest has been taken
In this competition and many we'll
written essays were submitted by the
pupils of the school.
The committee. which unanimously
awarded the first prize to Mr. Goyne
consisted Of Professor Arthur Kyle
Davis. president Of the Southern Fee
male college: Professor Il. Randolph
Jones. superintendent of Petersburgs
public schools, and Mr. william NJ
Martin. secretary of the chamber of
commerce. Here is the essay
Advantages of County.
Chesterfield county. one of the old
est OF the State. was established in
i74S. The county. with its many ad-
vantages, is long and narrow pen
insula between the James and APP
ppmattox rivers. II is twenty eight
miles long and eighteen miles wide.
having an area of 4S4 square miles,
The county is one having many adj
vantages and opportunities and can
be made into the banner county OF
the State If mankind will only make
the most Of its possibilities.
First. Its Agricultural advantages
are without a doubt of the first order.
The soil being one that varies greatly
and mostly tiliabe. enables one 30
grow a numerous assortment OF crops:
this having been proved in the ex-
nibit at the State fair from the Bell
wood farm. which took sweepstakes
over all other competitors.
Corn u taharnn
peanuts and hay in large quantities
are grown. Hay, especially. alfalfa.
is grown in larger quantities with each
ensuing year with great success, es-
pecially on the lowlands. On the up
lands. tobacco is raised with great
success. Our farming interests are
rapidly undergoing change for the
best with the advent Of Northern and
Western settlers who are turning their
attention to the production of butter
and milk berrie of various kinds.
grapes, small fruits and vegetables for
the nearby markets of Richmond and
Petersburg. and also for other mar
kets. shipping being facilitated by
james river and many railroads.
This county is wei adapted to the
growth of fruits. beautiful vineyards
and orchards being established; we'll
known and successful nurseries are to
Ire lpIiiN Htdi fh1hAQAttiaH pti ioaLittr~
ham Ridge.
Mineral advantages of the county:
Its principal minerals are coal. ochre,
friedrich clay, venetian red. mari
and granite Its coal mines are said
to he inexhaustible although they
have been mined number of years.
Most important minerals are found at
Midlothian. Glover Hill. Black
Heath and Winterpock. Il h e
last named being at present
lin full operation. The coal fields run
entirely across the county with an
average width of six to eight miles.
There are thought to he several thous-
ands OF acres of undeveloped coal
lands still in the county. On many
of the farms bordering the James and
Appomattox rivers immense beds of
mari are to be found Granite is ex-
tensively quarried, the supply being
unlimited and the quality unsurpass-
ed.
Varied Industries.
The industries and enterprises Of
Chesterfield are many. At Bailsboro
are located a large steam tannery and
sumac mills; Bon Air has two large
brick factories. and at Matoaea are
located cotton factories, Ettrick boasts
of several factories. notably a silk
factory. which employs several hum
dred operatives. A very large and