Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-22
.sREAT HIDDEN WEALTH
in COUNTY OF PATRICK
hands That Lie Above Frost Line
r. Produce Unfailingly Very
Finest OF Fruits.
gHE HOME OF oRcHARDIsTs
Superior Iron Hidden in Mountain
: Sides Awaiting Capital Necessary
for Vast Dcvclopment-Stua Is
Live Town-Dream OF the Natives.

I u
K ePatrick County is bounded on the
foIth by Franklin County. on the cas-,
W Henry, on the south by the coun-
les Of Stokes and Surry, in MN arc
ina and the west by Floyd and
Arroll Counties, the Blue Ridge Noun
Z Sins separating it from those two
4 ounties. The county contains an area
{, II 40 square miles. and it has popu-
alton of something like 1900.
THE soil varies from sandy to red
pam, and all OF il is rich and very
Productive. In the south and east parts
Inc tobacco grows to perfection; in
he western part the grasses grow
4 nxuriantly to the delight OF stock
aiSers, and all over the county the
Isople grow corn, oats, wheat and rye
: n.great abundance. and they grow all
y u, these things without using OF fer
tlizers to any extent. All Of the veg
tables grow well in Patrick. and no.
Sherc in the State or on the earth can
NE find better apples and peaches.
WHERE FROST NEVER
I. DISTURBS THE FRUIT BLOSSOMS
The lands, the most of them above
o the demands OF the orchardist, and
We raising OF apples and peaches. espe-
daily apples, is rapidly becoming the
ounty's greatest industry. There are
ARTS OF the fruit belt where the frost
lever disturbs the blossoms and where
1ne trees never fail to bear This of
tsef Is big asset. Since the compile
hon- OF the railroad from Danville to
Stnart, thus anording quick trans
.ortation, the people near Stuart have
ttHen much attention to orcharding,
md orchardists from other sections
ave gone into Patrick, bought lands
ind planted immense apple orchards.
Sow the county ships every year great
Quantities of fruit. and the canning
business has become something worth
Chile.
-However, this business may be said
10 be yet in its infancy. There are
thousands OF acres OF land Just as good
Is that which has been utilized by the
srchardists that can be utilized in the
fame way and fortunes made in the
truit-growfnE, business. and these lands
re cheap. too They can be bought
or less money than can similar lands
IN any part of tho fruit-Erowing re-
EIons OF Virginia that are blessed with
as good transportation facilities.
There is an apple tree in Patrick
County that has become famous 1t is
sIown to be more than seventy-five
fears old. and 1t has never failed to
bring Its annual crop of splendid APP
ples. 1t has been known to bear as
many as 40 bushels of good apples
and every year from 100 to 135 bushels
Ire gathered from IL. 1t is known as
HE Handy apple tree, and every year
many people visit the old monarch OF
ehe orchard. admire its beauty and rest
Hnder the shade of it's outrageous
Collage. and. incidentally. pluck some
IT its delicious fruit. Several hundred
thousand dollars are now invested in
me orchardinE Industry in the county,
and ali OF the investors whose orchards
are old enough 10 yield are making
money. The time is coming when many
more hundreds OF thousands of dollars
wil be invested in the same way in
the County of Patrick
BEST MINERAL DEPOSITS AND
.-.. HARDWOOD TIMER
Another coming industry. or indus
tries, for this county is the develop
nept OF it's mineral wealth. The known
minerals are magnetic and nemetite
Tap, Manganese and lead. The iron is
n-Superior quality and can be found
h,uplimited tAaniuy. 1T was work ed
tor great advantage by the Confederate
government in 1851 Go, but very little
work OF that kind has been attempted
sipce that time. The neglect OF this
source OF wealth is mainly due to the
Hfk Of sufficient transportation facili-
aer. Other minerals are TO be found
tn.extensive quarries OF building stone
ind SOAP stone. The Patrick County
!,
found anywhere in Virginia. but the
pparries have not been developed 10
any great extent. only TO meet the
EexY limited local demand
~ The timbers OF the county are oak,
poplar. walnut pine. maple. ash, hick-
prX chestnut. beech, cherry, sycamore
and other hardwoods. Vast quanti-
Tics OF walnut timber has been cut in
parts OF the county since the railway
Was built to Stuart, the county seat,
and much OF il was shipped TO England
and to Germany. The supply of walnut
has been greatly curtailed in the last
quarter OF century. but the supply
off, oak. hickory and yellow poplar
especially Of oak. is practically mex
hauetible.
COUNTY SEAT NAMED FOR
-. GREAT CAVALRY HERO
The county is we'll watered by the
Dan. Little Dan, Mayo, Ararat and
Smith Rivers and their numerous tribu-
taEles. and in this county there is vast
water power going TO waste, enough
tos-move the machinery for hundreds
pfs manufacturing enterprises In yari-
oISs parts Of the county these water
powers are utilized to a limited ex.
tent, numerous small saw mills and
fodring mills being located on the
stfeams.
Patrick was the native County OF
General Jeb Stuart and the county
seat, once known simply as the court
hDNse, was named Stuart in his honor.
Since II has had railway facilities the
TOWN has grown wonderfully and has
become quite a business center IL
haHs several manufacturing enterprises.
all-the necessary banking facilities,
numerous wholesale and retail stores, a
good newspaper. a good hotel and quite
sa~number Of houses that give special
attention TO the fruit shipping business
n-the proper seasons The population
OF the town is something over 700
and the people pride themselves on the
high moral standard of the community.
.ttsrchurches and good schools Twenty
FrnUss from Stuart are the famous PIN