Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-25
SMALL COUNTY OF CRAIG,
A LAND OF GOOD THINGS
Where Turkey Gobblcrs Strut-Fat
Cattle and Fine Horses Grow OH
Native Blue Grass.
TIMBER AND MINERAL WEALTH
Pastoral People Who Make Money il
Old-Fnshtoncd Wny-Erom Nat
ural Pastures to Butcher Shop.
Iron Ore and Manganese.

Iron Ore and Manganese.
One of tho best Virginia counties to
live in is Craig, away up on the West
Virginia line" said Il Richmond man
who has recently made Il business trip
to that county. Continuing, this COM
mcrcial tourist told the industrial editor
; that he never in all of his life ran up
with 4 happier or more contcntod pco-
pie. Said he: They make a living so
easy raising high class stock. cattle.
hogs, sheep and turkeys. never in all
my days saw so many Young turkeys
or so many old turkey hens setting on
eggs ia bring forth more young terS
| was told that turkeys are a great
money crop in Craig. and that at the
proper season thousands of them are
shipped TO the large markets in the
East and North. where they bring prices
that admit OF n most satisfactory profit
10 tho growers of tho birds. However
the people do not depend entirely upon
turkeys, cattle and good work horses
for money crops. The farmers in the
valleys grow all the grains. all the
grasses. all the vegetables and a great
deal OF superior fruit"
II is true. as the gentleman SAYS that
craig is good county To live In. and
the day is coming when il will he ass
famous for it's many Industries. its
vast mining operations and It's mcrcan-
turkeys. good horses and fat cattle
craig is one Of the smaller counties
or the southwest section of Virginia
containing only $50 square miles OF
mountain and valley that were sliced
OF from Botetourt. Roanoke and Giles
counties. in Virginia and the County
of Monroe. which is now West Vir-
Sina territory. The slicinc off tool,
place about siNty-iivc years ago, when
Monroc was in Virginia
blue GRASS. FAT CATTLE
AND TURKEY GOEBLEl,S
The lands of Craig arc fertile. vary
ING from light sandy to clay. of lime
stone formation, and they arc especially
adapted TO the growth of rich grasses
Ihat is why the traveller from Rich
mohd quoted above. found "a pastoral
people. making an easy living and :,
srea' uca OF money raising horses
rat cattle, hogs and turkeys. For nun,
ncrS OF Years. until tho railroads came
INTO the county--and the iron manga,
hcse ana slate deposits were found ia
pe about as easily worked as thc
iarmS-thc raising of live stock was
me reading industry. This industry
mas In no wise been neglected. sir,,
IN" coming of the iron horse and thc
mineral dcVelopmcnts. ON The con
'raFF. II is growing every wear ami
annually the people ship to tho cos,crn
markets. larg" numbers of fine horscs
''' norm cattle and Sheen
ana OF course, very many of tho no
i"rc -mcntioncd turkeys Much of IN.
surface OF the county is. of course
rugged, the northwest border whnro
me Allcghany Mountains separate +,
from Monroe County, w Va bniur
especially so: hut there are rich val
ieNs' which challenge comparison win
we iandS OF any county in this ar any
other state. Sinking Creek y,lIny
which is n bit over twentvmiles To-,
ana from four TO five miles in widtI
Is perhaps the richest grass-produrinr
iahd III Virginia. The valley is nr
limestone formation. and is coyoro5
with magnificent blue grass sw,rd
ana AS stock-raisinr section /, con-
not ne beaten anywhere in tho whole
country. From this rich valley ia,
'h'tie ar" driven In herds to the rniI
way shipping points. and thence rail
roaded I" tho export markets and ,bcir
ohl! iced for fat;cning. ready FOR ,ha
rhEHSh and other foreign butchers hns
ncch the blue grass. q: course 49,,
%! Inc people OF Craig eyer soud on,
OF the county 10 buy hay. nor do tbn,
=" 10 other markets for corn whoa
oats. fruits or vegetables of any Li,,
oh The contrary every farmer I'm tbo
county makes enough Of these tbinms
Tor nome use and some TO sell I'm ,ho
outside markets 80 '"'