Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-15
NOTES ON CRAIG COUNTY,
IN BLUEGRASS REGION
One OF Smallest, but Among Richest
OF Southwest Virginia Sub
'&s divisions.
HORSES, CATTLE AND SHEEP

I HORSES, CATTLE AND SHEEP
Land Where the Mutton-Lov;ng Cur
i Dog Is Unknown-Armics OF Tur-
keys Shipped Every Year-Iron
and Other Minerals.
Away off on the slope OF the Ale
Ehany Mountains, damned up against
Z the West Virginia State line. lies the
& County OF Craig. just exactly why
strips OF Ro,etourt. Roanoke and Giles
Counties, with slice of Monroe
\ County. which was then in Virginia,
should have been taken to form an
other small county history does not
tell US, but in the year 1850 that was
what was done. and the baby was chris
tened Craig. in honor OF n statesman Of
Sc olden time.
= Craig is one OF the smallest of the
Southwest Virginia counties. but in
mineral timbcrS. productive lands.
water powers. etc. il is one OF the
richest in the State, oI would be II
its natural resources were properly
utilized. The lands are fertile. OF lime
stone formation and vary from light
sandy to clay, and are peculiarly
adapted to the growth of rich grasses.
Accordingly we find in Craig a pas
toral people who from time immemorial
have made the raising of live stock
their leading industry. They raise fine
horses, hiEh-grade cattle. largely OF
the Shorthorn variety. and sheep world
without end The people are not both
cred with the shcep-killinG dog in
CraiG because they do not allow that
animal to prosper there. They have
no more law on the subject than have
the people of Chesterfield or Prince Ed
ward County. but they have breech-
loading shotguns and they know where
to buy arsenic in any quantities need
ed; hence they look after the cur dog
problem without ever consulting the
Acts OF Assembly. The result Is they
raise sheep for the outside markets
and at the same time they ship to the
markets some of the finest beef cattle
that goes from any bluegrass region
on the map. Many of the farmers OF
the county make a speciality OF rails
ing fine work horses, and the Craig
County animals have an enviable repu-
tation in the markets where such horses
are bought and sold.
WHERE THE BLUE GRASS
GROWS TO PERFECTION
The surface of the county is to a
considerable extent rugged and noun
famous. but there are some rs rich
and fertile valleys as are to be found
anywhere in the country. The Sinking
Y Creek valley, twenty miles long and
from four to five miles wide, is per-
haps the richest blue grass land on the
American continent. 1t may be said
to be literally covered with bSle
grass sward and the people claim that
there they have the finest stock raising
layout to be seen anywhere in or out
OF the State The people do not confine
themselves to stock raising, but they
grow on these rich lands corn. wheat,
oats. potatoes. all of the vegetables.
a nd IN, faof hat
be grown anywhere else in Virginia
Naturally, too. the people give much
attention to poultry raising, and in the
matter OF raising turkeys for shipment
to the large markets OF the Eastern
-Section of the country they vie with
the good people Of Highland and Bath
Every year at the proper season great
droves of fat turkeys are driven to the
I shipping points and shipped to Wash
I ington, Baltimore, Richmond and other
markets. The Craig County turkeys
< are also known in the Cincinnati and
Chicago markets.
MILLIONS OF WEALTH IN
s-sn MINERALS AND TIMBERS
1.-THE minerals consist mainly of iron.
manganese and slate, and there are in
dieations of silver. The various iron
( ores yield from 40 10 GO per cent OF
> IRON, the average being fully so per
cent. The supply OF manganese is said
~
4 quality. but none of the mineral de-
posts have yet been developed on any
thing Hike large scale, although the
resources OF the county in this respect
have. been we'll known for more than
hundred years and for that length OF
time iron furnaces Of the primitive
models have been operated in the
county For Q.re a;number OF years
past iron ore has. been hauled to the
railways and shipped to out-of-St
furnaces. as well as TO those operating
within Virginia When the railway
4 lines shall be extended and branches
. built to connect with the main lines
] furnaces and other iron works Will dot
theAmap of Craig County. and they will
fn6 the raw materia! required in great
abundance for many years 10 come
The timbers OF Craig. Ike those Of
its neighboring hilly counties. are
noted for their fine quality. Large por-
tions Of the county arc covered with
original forests of OAK. hickory. ash.
walnut. maple, sycamore. beech. wild
cherry. poplar and pine. Numerous
sawmills are in operation in the coun-
ty, but because OF the lack Of sufficient
transportation facilities there are no
very large wood working plants. The
sugar maple. which grows extensively
in the county. produces the very finest
kind OF syrup and maple sugar, and
considerable quantities of both are
shipped 10 outside markets. Here is
another industry that will become i'm
pnense when better transportation IA
& oilities shall be provided.
RAILWAY FACILITIES RATHER
LIMITED AT present
Craig County has long been kind
or paradise for the huntsman. All Of
the huntable animals from the SOUR.
rel to the black bear to be found
In -numbers sufficient TO keep the lovers
e or, that kind OF sport busy, an6 wild
(. turkeys. quail, pheasant and smaller
birds are as thick the most exacting
sportsman could wish.
From Eagle Mountain in Botetourt
County. on it's James River Division.
the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
operates a branch line to Sew Castle
the county seat Of Craig, and that is
8 AL of the railway facilities the county
I enjoys at present, bu: when we cease
to. hear OF wars and ruInors OF wars