USA > Virginia > Albemarle County > Albemarle County > Albemarle County (Virginia) A hand book giving a description of its topography, climate, geology, minerals, fruits, plants, history, educational, agricultural and manufacturing advantages, and inducements the county offers the industrious and intelligent farmer and manufacturer > Part 9
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ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
would be untrue to themselves if they could not boast of su- periority in all respects over their fellows whose lot is cast amid more unfavorable surroundings. And these are cited therefore as some of the reasons why we claim superiority over other communities for our laboring classes, and not only do these things awaken becoming sentiments of pride, but they are looked upon as advantages enabling us to outstrip other communities in the race of material progress, and to acquire an eminence which cannot be attained by other places, on which providence and the acts of man have been less favorable in bestowing their blessings.
The questions as to available raw material and labor being provided for the next important inquiry is as to facilities for motive power and in this respect Charlottesville takes rank with the most favored communities. Our situation is near the large and productive coal fields of West Virginia, so that this fuel is easily available in large quantities and at small cost.
The superiority of our gas works has directed public atten- tion somewhat in the line of using gas engines. At $1.50 per 1,000 feet, the cost of motive power, would be less than ten cents per hour, per horse power. This is the rate at which gas is sold to the consumers for illumination, to manufactures a more reduced cost could even now be guaranteed, and with any reasonable prospect of a demand such as would justify the production of a lower grade of gas for manufacturing pur- pose, greater reduction in price could be secured.
The rapid development of the powers of electricity has been thought by some to justify the belief that by its applica- tion there will be wrought many revolutions still more start- ling than those which are already known-its use and economy for motive power is already well established, and our Electric Light Company are urging its adoption for manufacturing purposes. The proposition is already under consideration to apply it to the street car line, as well as for other purposes, and the adoption of electric motors is a project which is liable to be attended by rapid development and greatly encourage manufacturing enterprises. These sources of motive power,
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ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
with the exception of cheap coal and wood, are mainly artificial, and such as other communities can compete in to some extent, but even in the matter of gas and electricity the question of cheap coal is an element of greatest importance, and one which enables us to have the advantage of other places where coal is more expensive.
But passing from the artificial to the natural source of mo- tive power, it is seen that our city is again blessed with an abundant advantage in this respect. Available water power is indeed a great criterion by which to determine as to the probable success of manufacturing undertakings-for not only does it, by being directly applied, furnish the cheapest source of power yet discovered, but also, by competing with other sources of power it causes their cost to be reduced. In an un- dulating country, such as ours, the course of the streams must in many places be interspersed with falls and rapids. The Rivanna River runs near the limits of the city for several miles, at distances varying from half a mile upwards. It is this stream that furnishes the power for the Charlottesville Woolen Mills (one of the most successful woolen mills in the country).
For several miles the river and the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio railway take a parallel course, and at a point where the two diverge, some three and a half miles from Charlottes- ville, is the site of an old cotton mill, which in ante bellum times was successfully operated. The power at this point can nowhere be surpassed. It was formerly utilized by Thomas Jefferson, whose genius was not only philosophical but also extremely practical, and he recognized it as a situation valua- ble for industrial developments. The location still has the name with many of " Jefferson's old mill." This power which is now owned by J. Massie Smith, Esq., was surveyed in 1874 by an eminent hydraulic engineer, and its value cannot be illustrated better than by an extract from his report :
" This property, located upon both sides of the Rivanna river, commands the water right of the entire stream. The water flows directly from the pond into the canal on north side of the river, with a cross section of twenty feet at bottom,
£
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ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
thirty-two feet at water's surface and four feet deep. Having a grade of one foot to the mile from pond to the mills, the water slopes of the canal in cross section are one and a half to one. The difference of level between the surface of the water in Shadwell pond and surface of tail water at the mills is twenty and a half feet; deducting the draw at forebays and the grade from dam to mills leaves a head and fall of nineteen and a half feet for turbine wheel, and nineteen fee for overshot. The capacity of the canal is 400 horse power, and this susceptible of being increased to any extent commensurate with the heaviest demand. The amount of water afforded by the river is abundant also to furnish a like supply to a canal on south side of river with same fall as that obtained on north side."
Further up the stream in an opposite direction from the city, are other falls capable of furnishing an almost equal amount of power-notably among them is " Hotopp's rapids,' at a distance of two and a half miles from the depot ; in fact, the whole course of the river for many miles affords desirable mill sites, the only requisite being that the upper dams should be far enough removed from the lower to avoid the " back water," but no other points are specifically mentioned because we are now considering only such as are tributary and easily available to Charlottesville.
Moore's creek, which empties into the Rivanna near the Woolen Mills, has its course for several miles at a distance from half a mile to a mile from the city. At some points it is already occupied by mills. Only one location will now be mentioned as possessing many preëminent advantages. On the road to "Monticello," at a point about half a mile from the depot in Charlottesville, there could be built a factory which would have the advantages of vicinity to the city and easy access over a macadamized road. The dam could be con- structed at a point where the banks are high and steep, being no more than twenty feet apart, and then gradually widen out, making a natural bank for the confinement of a great body of . water. The elevation above the mill site is so great that almost any amount of power which may be desired could be obtained.
Cochran's Mill, Sinclair's Mill, Hartman's Mill and Maury's Mill, where the power is already occupied, will not be mentioned more specifically than to state that they are situated from one
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to two miles from Charlottesville, respectively, and that their power is capable of being very much developed.
In this feature of the subject there remains but one more point to be mentioned. Among the material advantages of our city our system of water works is unsurpassed. The reservoir, covering thirty acres, is situated six miles from the city in the Ragged Mountains ; contains 194,000,000 gallons, and is supplied by two streams of considerable size. The en- gineer who superintended its construction calculated that if these streams could be diverted and not a drop added to the supply of water it would take upwards of twelve months to run it dry. It is 156 feet from the bottom to the highest point of town, and the pressure in the city ranges from 75 to 90 pounds to the square inch. Comment on these facts is needless to show the amount of power which can be evolved by means of "water motors," some of them are already in operation, and the many advantages they possess are too ob- vious for detailed mention. Our excellent railroad facilities are elaborated in another part of this book, and need not be further mentioned here.
Thus many of the advantages for material progress which Charlottesville possesses have been detailed ; there are others which space forbids us to mention. Nature has done its part well for us-the retarding influences of former institutions have passed away, old prejudices have been numbered with the things of the past; in the swing of the pendulum of time the progress and development of the resources of the South have been behind, the limit, however, has been reached and the movement now is forward and onward; the old South is recorded in history, the new South is a thing of the present and the future ; its progress and advancement are inevitable, all the favorable elements concur, the unfavorable have ceased to exist. History is said to repeat itself and this maxim is as true as history itself. In the past record of our country the tide of emigration was turned towards our beau- tiful and productive Southland. Instinctively almost its advan- tages were known and the whole course of progress, develop-
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ment and improvement was in this direction, and especially towards Virginia. Circumstances, which no longer exist, however, concurred to turn the tide and the "Great West" came into notice-the Great West, with its snow storms and its blizzards, its freezing winters and oppressive summers, where the struggle for existence is made harder than should be by the opposition of the elements! These things have had their effect and now the eyes of many are turned with longing anticipation of removal to the South. The West, the East, the North vie with each other in their efforts for enlighten- ment and information. All that is needed is that they should know the facts, and they are rapidly learning them. The de- sire of human nature to combine the most comforts and greatest happiness and contentment while fighting out the stern battle of life, is irresistible. With us the elements of this combination exists in their most perfect degree. We offer these inducements, and will say that we need immigra- tion, our farms are too large, our population is too sparse, our resources are as yet undeveloped. There is room and abun- dance for all, we want new ideas of progress to encourage us in our developments, new capital, new industries ; and all may be assured that they will find a welcome, what is known as " a real old Virginia welcome."
COME AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES. WE CORDIALLY INVITE YOUR PERSONAL INSPECTION.
D. Harmon, Jr.
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ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
Scottsville Township.
HE large township of Scottsville occupies the southern portion of the county of Albemarle and reaches from the banks of the James river to within a short distance of Charlottesville.
The town of Scottsville is situated on the north bank of the James, and whilst it is in the county of Albemarle, it is on the borders of Fluvanna, and Buckingham is on the other side of the river, both of these counties contributing to the trade of Scottsville.
The Richmond and Alleghany railroad passes through the southern part of the county for over twelve miles, and takes the place of the old James river and Kanawha canal. The train service is very good, there being three passenger trains each way during the day, Scottsville is the starting point for the local traffic on the line and thus obtains greater accommo- dation than any place further from Richmond.
The picturesque character of the country is well known, comprising mountain as well as river scenery, being in what is called the Midland section of the State, and it is much re- sorted to in summer by city people for its pleasant breezes and cool shades as well as its convenient distance from Rich- mond, only seventy-nine miles.
Scottsville is situated in the centre of a district noted for many fine farms, its uplands and especially its river low grounds being unsurpassd in fertility by any in the world. All ordi- nary farm crops are produced with excellent success, grand crops of corn and tobacco, as well as timothy and clover, and grape-growing and orcharding have taken permanent hold in the district. The whole country is well watered, there being actually a spring in every field, and visitors rarely fail to notice the brightness and purity of the water. There are in Scotts- ville good graded and other schools, six churches, with several
,
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ALBEMARLE COUNTY.
more in the country near-grain and grist mills, banking house, and all the facilities of a country town, including four mails in and the same number out each day, two being to Richmond morning and evening, one westward and one ser- vice north daily via North Garden, on the Virginia Midland railroad.
For a considerable period before the opening of the Chesa- peake and Ohio railroad, Scottsville possessed a large trade and was the shipping point on the old canal for all produce grown this side of the mountains as far back even as Staun- ton, and many will remember seeing wagon trains a mile long laden with wheat, corn or tobacco, and other produce destined for Richmond, and which rarely turned homeward until a goodly supply of groceries and dry goods had been bought in the then prosperous Scottsville. Her woolen mills pro- duced goods of well known excellent quality, and the Confed- erate soldiers were largely supplied with clothing from its looms, but Sheridan in a raid laid waste the town and gave it a blow from which it is only now promising to recover.
THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY FAIR was organized in Scotts- ville in the year 1883, and it has each year ever since been a great source of pleasure and profit to thousands of the people for miles around. Although the usual attractions of horse racing, games, music and public speaking have annually formed part of its programme, the fair has depended mainly for its success upon its exhibition of horses, cattle, sheep, poultry, fruit, vegetables, farm produce, ladies' work, both fancy and domestic, manufactures and other things usually forming part of this kind of enterprise. Under the stimulus of premiums offered by the association 100 to 103 bushels of corn have been raised per acre, and 35 to 37 bushels of wheat.
Each year there has been a marked improvement in the farm produce exhibited, and the greatly superior quality of the corn shown last year bears ample testimony to the great benefit which is being wrought by the fair.
J. L. Moon, of Scottsville, real estate agent, will cheerfully answer any information in regard to lands in this section.
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Moral Agencies.
E HAVE invited attention to our climate, soils, mine- rals, manufacturing opportunities, &c. These advan- tages represent the strictly business features of life in Albemarle. There is another feature, perhaps the most im- portant of all, to which the reader of this book of sketches is pointed-our settled society, our excellent schools, and our churches of every denomination, embracing all the faiths of devout Jew or religious Gentile. These churches are large, and to them and our Y. M. C. As. is due a large measure of the correct morality which distinguishes our citizens. Besides, there are five Masonic lodges, one chapter of Royal Arch Ma- sons, one commandery of Knights Templar, one Odd Fellows' lodge, several lodges of Good Templars, Knights of Honor, Legion of Honor, Royal Arcanum, and numerous other soci- eties. In short, the intending settler may be sure that when he comes to Albemarle he will not find himself in a wilderness or his lot cast among unrefined or irreligious people ; nor will he be compelled to wait for the country to grow up.
L. J. BLAKE'S,
INSURANCE AGENT,
CHARLOTTESVILLE, - VA_ - -REPRESENTS THE BEST ---
LIFE, FIRE, AND ACCIDENT COMPANIES.
VIRGINIA PIEDMONT REAL ESTATE AGENCY CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA. J. W. DOLIN, Prop'r.
Office Near the City Postoffice.
SEND FOR DOLIN'S LAND ADVERTISER!
This Agency was established in 1870. The proprietor is a native of Albe- marle county, and thirty-five years a resident of Charlottesville, Va., the capital city of the county, and seat of the University of Virginia. He has sold a large quantity of real estate ; has surveyed much of the land in his hands for sale, and by strict business integrity has given satisfaction to both buyer and seller ; is thoroughly posted in the values of lands.
Attention is called to brief descriptions, with prices of a few
ALBEMARLE AND OTHER FARMS FOR SALE.
No. 69 .- Farm of 300 acres, of which about 75 acres are woodland ; 31/2 miles from city, one mile of railroad station, has a large brick dwelling with 12 rooms, all necessary out-houses, large apple orchard, 30 acres rich bottom land, finely watered by a creek and several branches, spring of the best freestone water. Price, $25 per acre, in payments.
No. 186 .- Farm of 263 acres of which about 60 acres are woodland ; 4 miles of the city, has a good brick dwelling with 7 rooms, and numerous out- houses, fine apple orchard, large vineyard of best varieties of grapes, farm well- watered by a creek and numerous branches, everything in good order. Price, $6,000.
No. 302 .- Excellent farm of 460 acres, of which 160 acres in timber, 50 in creek flats, 50 acres in meadow, 250 acres down in grass, is finely watered by never failing branches, is 1 1/2 miles to railroad station, several churches from 1 1/2 to 4 miles ; has a frame dwelling, with brick basement, containing 7 rooms, barn, stable and other out house, all in first-rate order. Price, $10,000, on terms to suit the buyer.
No. 304 .- A desirable farm of 300 acres, of which 25 acres are well tim- bered, 50 acres creek flats; all the land lies nearly level, is 21/2 miles of town and railroad station, 100 acres down in grass, well-watered and fenced, fine or- chard of apple, peach, pear, 2,500 grape vines, with other fruits; post office, school and mill 1/2 mile; has a comfortable frame dwelling, with 6 rooms above and two in basement, has numerous out-houses, pump of best water. Price, $6,000.
No. 227 .- Farm of 261 acres, of which 60 acres are woodland; land lies nearly level, is 4 miles of town and railroad station, has an excellent frame dwell- ing with 8 rooms above and 2 in basement, has some out houses, good orchard, pump of fine free-stone water. Price, $7 per acre.
No. 333 .- Farm of 143 acres, of which about 50 acres are timberland, is half a mile of railroad station, most of the cleared land lies nearly level, is well- watered by branches; has a plain but comfortable dwelling with 5 rooms, with the usual out-houses, a fair orchard, land weil adapte: to strawberries, grapes, and other fruits. Price, $1,60c.
No. 331 .- Store Stand-is 10 miles from the city, has II acres of productive land, store house and dwelling combined, kitchen, stable, ice-house, &c. Or-
chard, fine freestone water; also a frame dwelling with 5 rooms, school-house and office in the yard ; and is a voting precinct of the county ; is a fine stand for business. Price, $2,200; 1/2 cash, the balance in one, two and three years. This is one of the best business stands in the county.
No. 316 .- Sınall farm of 891/2 acres, with a sufficiency of woodland ; is 1 14 miles of railroad station, has a frame dwelling with 6 rooms, stable, corn·house, and other outhouses ; orchard of excellent fruit. Price, $1,800.
No. 323 .- Farm of 214 acres, of which 40 acres are well-timbered, 4 miles of the city, and 1 1/2 miles of railroad station ; has a frame dwelling with 9 rooms, all necessary out-building, in fair condition, has an orchard of apples, and other fruits, and a vineyard of several acres ; is well-watered by numerous branches, a spring of the best water near the house. Price $20 per acre.
No. 328 .- Suburban farm of 60 acres, one-half mile of town, 10 acres creek flats, 8 acres down in meadow, 20 acres in grass ; most of the place is in fruit- about 1,000 apple, peach and plumb trees, 6 acres in vineyard. I acre in raspber- ries, 1/2 acre in strawberries, frame dwelling with 4 rooms, necessary outhouses. Average corn crop, 40 bushels ; of hay, 1 1/2 tons. Price, $3,300 ; half cash.
No. 330 .- Is an excellent dwelling nearly new, with store room and bakery attached, is situated in a thriving Valley town, is a fine stand for a confectioner. Price, $3,500, part cash, balance in one and two years.
No. 308 .- " Idlewilde," farm of 258 acres, 33 acres woodland, is fine lime- stone land, lies gently rolling, is well watered, 8 miles of Staunton city and 2 miles of railroad station, 60 acres down in grass, school and other conveniences near, has a brick dwelling with 9 rooms, water piped from spring, has all neces- sary outhouses, orchard. Price, $32 per acre; terms, $2,000 cash, and the bal- ance in three or four years.
No. 211 .-- " Belle View," farm of 365 acres, of which 100 acres are wood- land, 35 acres creek flats, land lies gently rolling, finely watered by two creeks and several never failing branches, a large part of the farm down in grass, is pro- ductive land, has a large frame dwelling with 12 rooms, is beautifully situated, all necessary outhouses, 16 acres in orchard, fine freestone water, is two miles of town and railroad station. Price, $6,500.
No. 132 .- Farm of 191 9-10 acres on York River, five miles of Williams- burg on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, has a large dwelling with 12 or more rooms, barn and other outhouses, on an elevated site overlooking the river which is 5 miles wide, has an oyster front on a creek which bounds the farm on one side, the location very healthy, place is suitable for early vegetables and fruits. Price, only $3,000.
No. 277 .- Farm of 220 acres, of which 70 acres are woodland, situated near Manassas, and about one hour's run of Washington city, 2 miles of railroad sta- tion, has a frame dwelling with 7 rooms, barn, stable and other outhouses, fair orchard, land lies gently rolling, is well watered. Price, $4,000 in payments, or $3,500 all cash, or will exchange for good city or town property.
No. 338 .- Farm of 520 acres, with an abundance of timber land, is situated 5 miles of railroad station, and 6 miles of town, is good land, finely watered by a bold creek and several spring branches, has a good dwelling with all necessary out buildings, good orchard. Price, $7,000, one third cash and the balance in one, two and three years.
No. 339 .- Is Texas land. 7 sections or 4.480 acres in Pan Handle, located in two counties and in three pieces, one county having a population of 2,000, and the other between 2,500 and 3,000. and rapidly filling up. The land is of the best quality. These counties, this year, made an average of 33 bus. wheat to the acre of superior quality. This land can be bought at $1.50 per acre and in pay - ments. Two railways pass within a few miles. This is said to be a great bargain.
For further particulars apply to
J. W. DOLIN, Charlottesville. Va.
Chesapeake and Ohio Route.
-THE ONLY DIRECT LINE TO-
Lexington, Louisville, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Chicago, Kansas City, and the West and Southwest. -WITH-
SOLID TRAINS PULLMAN BUFFET SLEEPING CARS
-TO-
CINCINNATI and LOUISVILLE.
Connect in same depot for points west, nortwest and south- west. No other route in America offers the same facilities and advantages.
THE BEST TRAIN SERVICE-NEW AND ELEGANT SLEEPING CARS. THE BEST ACCOMMODATIONS AND THE CLOSEST CONNECTION.
For further information, or for guide books, &c., call at near- est Chesapeake and Ohio ticket office, or address
H. W. FULLER, General Passenger Agent,
Louisville, Ky.
SHADWELL FACTORY PROPERTY FOR SALE .- This valuable water power has attached to it 75 acres of land. Five buildings now on place. C. & (). depot and post-office on the property. Valuable sand deposit. Will sell as a whole or water power and land for building separately. For full particulars address
(See engineer's report, p. 104).
J. MASSIE SMITH. Shadwell, Va.
W. G. MERRICK, GLENDOWER, VIRGINIA,
Agent for the JAMES RIVER VALLEY IMMIGRA- TION SOCIETY, will be glad to open correspondence with intending settlers in Albemarle.
H. B. MICHIE.
M. M. DUPRE.
THE
CHARLOTTESVILLE CHRONICLE !
THE BEST FAMILY PAPER IN VIRGINIA.
THE BEST MEDIUM OF ADVERTISING IN THE PIEDMONT REGION, GOING AMONGST THE BEST AND THRIFTIEST CLASSES OF THE PEOPLE.
TERMS, $2 PER ANNUM
SEND FOR SPECIMEN COPY. ADDRESS :
H. B. MICHIE & CO.,
PUBLISHERS, Charlottesville, Va.
IT PAYS
TO ADVERTISE IN The Jeffersonian, CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA.
THE OLDEST AND LEADING PAPER IN THE COUNTY !!
THE JEFFERSONIAN
Is Familiar to Everybody in Piedmont Virginia. Its Circulation Exceeds that of Any Other Albemarle Newspaper.
Only $1 a Year, When Paid in Advance.
JAMES BLAKEY, Publisher.
THE JEFFERSONIAN
BOOK AND JOB OFFICE
Prints in the Best Style
ALL CLASSES OF BOOK WORK, STATIONERY, BUSINESS CARDS, &c. &c.
We do the Fine Printing for the Community. School Catalogues and Magazines a Specialty.
Blanks for Clerks of Courts, Commissioners, Justices, &c., always on hand. Will meet all. Lists and discount some.
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