Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-23
many GOOD THINGS FOUND
IN ROCkBR|DGE COUNTY.
Mountain Scenery, Natures Curiosi-
ties, Fertile Lands, Busy and
Industrial People.
A COUNTY NAMED FOR A BRIDGE
Splendid Farming Region and Stock
Raising Country - Manufacturing
4 Enterprises Numerous, and Room
for Many More.

Virginia has county that was
named for a bridge. However. that
Is not in this case an insignificant
thing to honor by calling large and
rich county for 1t, because 1T was the
great Natural Bridge from which
Rockbridge County took it's name. 1t
was away back yonder in ITS. when
tho county was made up OF territory
taken from Augusta and Botetourt
Counties to form n new Virginia sub
division, and name 1t in honor OF the
famous natural wonder
Tho population OF Rockbridge Is
$4,000 or more. and it Is one OF the
most hourishing of the Virginia coun-
ties, having many natural advantages.
and wide-awaNe population to
utilize them and get all that is COM
ing out Of them. The climate is some
what variable, though very hcalthful;
tho scenery is magnificent. the trans.
portation facilities are all that could
be asked. the educationa facilities arc
superior. the lands are fine. the timber
supply is abundant. the mineral de-
posits arc varied and plentiful. and
tho natural result Of all OF these ad-
vantaEes is that for the past two de-
cades great impetus has been given
to the agricultural. commercial and
industrial advancement of the county
by the infu1 OF capital and enterprise,
which is shown in the growth of its
towns and the springins up Of many
manufacturing plants along the rail-
way lines.
MUCH GOOD TIMBER AND
VARIED MINERAL RESOURCES
Tho county is abundantly wntered
by James River through its southern
section and North River in the central
portion and their many tributaries
All of these afford excellent water
powers. many of which are utilized,
some on a large scale. The timbers
are oak, pine, poplar, walnut. hickory,
chestnut. ETC.. and all OF them are
abundant, though the many sawmills
and woodworking establishments have
for the past few years been eating
into them very rapidly.
The mineral resources OF Rockbridge
are very extensive. and constitute ono
OF its greatest sources OF wealth and
Importance. It's various mineral de-
posts include iron ore, in large guam
ttty and exceptionally fine quality;
tin ore. manganese. barytes. kaolin.
gypsum. marble OF superior quality,
and limestone. from which Is produced
a superior hydraulic cement which
has high reputation and a large de-
mand. Several of these have been de-
veloped. and are being successfully
worked. Tho mineral waters are also
numerous and OF wide celebrity, en-
b{acinE tho Rockbridge Alum. Jordan
Alum. Cold Sulphur. Wilson's White
Sulphur and RockbrdGe Baths. all
plates Of popular resort for health and
Measure.
a
IND. FINE AGRICULTURAL LAND
The scenery in many portions OF
RpekPridge is very grand and pic
tuSfsque. and tho county contains sew
eCat points OF great interest to the
traveler and pleasure seeker. or
c6afse. in this connection the Natural
Bridge must be mentioned. but it is
hardly necessary. every reader of
thfS' paper knows OF that great won
dSr' bridge across a raging creek,
wffch was not made with human
hands. 21s feet high. used re- a bridge
on an ordinary country road. and. az
Henry Clay said of It. makes two
mountains one" Other interesting
points ASfe Balcony Falls. on James
River and Goshen Pass. on North
River.
Tho surface OF the county Is rolling.
anu in sot'e parts mountainous. The
soil is chiefly limestone Is very fer
tiie and highly improved. Rockbridge
Is a rich agricultural and pastoral
county, producing fine crops Of all
the grains and all the cultivated
grasses Fruits OF all kinds are grown
IN abundance. Farm da!ryinE and
poultry raising have become great In
dustries. and there is not better
stock-raising county In the Stat.
There is fine opening here for stock
men. for in RockbridGe they can raise
all breeds OF cattle. the best of horses.
and as for sheep and hogs. they could
oe made a most profitable industry.
thousands Of them are raised now,
but there is opportunity for the indus
Try to be immensely increased
TRANSPoRTATIoN FACILITIES
AND FINE BUSINESS TOWNS
The railroads passing through the
county are the Shenandoah va,1.v
division of the Norfolk and Western
the James River division and Lex,np.
TON branch Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio and the Valley division of the
batlmore and Ohio. They afford am
PIE transportation facilities
Lexington. tho county sea, J.. at,
uated on the North River. near IN.
center OF the county. right in ,ho
heart of one OF the finest agriculture,
and most fertile sections OF yirr,n,.
Lexington is known all over the world
as great educational center, being
the seat OF the Virginia Military In
stitute and the Washington and Loo
University. 1t is also known to every
schooiboy. who has gone far in his
tory. as the home Of Stonewau jackson
In the years before the War Between
the States. and the home OF Robert
r.. Lee in the years after that war. and
az the burial place of both of these
noted Confederate chicftains
The town has about 1000 inhabi,a,t..
Is one OF the best business ccn.ers In
the state; has banks. newspapers. pri.
Vate and public schools of superior
oroer' many churches; all kinds OF
business enterprise: weli-paved str.s,.