USA > Virginia > Halifax County > Halifax County > Halifax County, Virginia: a handbook prepared under the direction of the Board of supervisors > Part 2
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*A reminder came, March 28, 1907 -- in the shape of another fire, in- surance 8400,000. The financial solidity of South Boston has been tested within the ten months. This greater fire has also been accepted as matter of fact, as only incidental to the growth of the town.
21
HALIFAX COUNTY
South Boston has as handsome private residences and as substantial and commodious churches as any Virginia city of twice or three times its size, and all the Protestant denominations are represented. A large new hotel, thoroughly equipped, will soon be ready for business. The Opera House, which is a part of the Masonic Temple, is a handsome hall with a seating capacity of 600."*
As supplementary to the very adequate summary of the larger activities of South Boston given above, there should be mentioned the Boston Brick Company, brick and cement block manufacturers; the J. A. Mebane Company, Inc., manufacturers of electrical supplies; and the South Boston Ice Company, Inc.t
The fraternal orders represented at South Boston, all of which are in flourishing condition, are as follows: Junior Order United American Mechanics (for information apply to A. H. Vaughan); Independent Order of Odd Fellows (for information apply to A. P. Gilbert); and two lodges of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, viz: South Boston Lodge No. 91, and Shepherd Lodge No. 99. South Boston Lodge No. 91 owns the handsome Masonic Temple prop- erty, on the third floor of which are the halls where all the fraternal orders meet.
The five banks which are at once the symptom and the guarantee of the prosperity of this town are- - Planters and Merchants Bank, (Henry Easley, President); Bank of South Boston, (Joseph Stebbins, President) ; South Boston Savings Bank, (Henry Easley, President); First National Bank, (R. H. Edmondson, President): Boston
* Frank S. Wood-on: Richmond Times Dispatch, Oct. 7, 1996.
¡ The real estate firm of W. D. Hill & Co. should not be over- looked. Within ten years this firm has settled in Halifax County between 200 and 250 families from the West and the Northwest.
22
HALIFAX COUNTY
National Bank, (J. J. Lawson, President). [For Bank Statistics, see Sec. XI.]
In short, South Boston is a striking example of "that realization by the people of the entire South, bankers, merchants and farmers, of the power of co-operation in the proper handling and marketing of the two great staples of the South. Such co-operation has brought about a community of interest which is destined to exert a very great influence upon the entire business interests of the South and of that portion of the business world which is in any way dependent upon these staples or upon the general prosperity of the South."*
* * *
HOUSTON .-- Five miles north of South Boston is Hous- ton, the county seat, which dates from the eightheenth century. Population at present 800. The residence street of Houston is one of the most beautiful streets in Virginia, and like several of the streets of South Boston only needs a more efficient macadamizing to make it thoroughly satisfactory. Where roads are so good during the greater part of the year it is difficult to remember, when they are good, that there comes a short season when they grow bad. The county and circuit court house at Houston is a fine old building in the classic style. It stands in a square about which are ranged, after the accepted fashion of other days, county officers' and lawyers' sanc- tums. The courthouse is equipped with one of the safest and most commodious records depositories to be found in Virginia. It is a matter to be devoutly thankful for that when county records are going up in flames elsewhere, these valuable documents (containing data since the establishment of the county one hundred and fifty-four
* Manufacturer's Record Dec. 31, 1905.
23
HALIFAX COUNTY
years gone by) are placed beyond the reach of the vandal fire. Houston has its electric plant and two banks, those other beacons of light. There are at Houston a brick yard of good capacity, a flour mill, two corn mills. two hotels, two hardware stores, two drug stores, three dry goods stores, and four groceries (one wholesale). Houston has long been known as a centre of culture and refinement. The town has six churches and a high school. Plans are being drawn for the erection there of a steam drying house under the auspices of the Bright Tobacco Protective Asso- ciation of Virginia .*
VIRGILINA .- Take the train at Houston, transfer at Deniston, go east three stations, and so reach the town of Virgilina, aptly named as being a line town. The contrast is striking. You have come from an atmosphere of the courts, where precedent rules. In Virgilina they think of making precedents. The town has a touch of the metropolitan. Things are doing. The town is neither old nor large, but it looks to a future which science and capital are going to make bright. Virgilina is the centre of the Virgilina Belt which has been made known to the min- ing world through engineering and mining journals, expert reports, etc., as a field of great opportunities, especially in copper. Outside the coal areas, there is probably no region in Virginia the name of which is more familiar to the realm of the high finance. Moreover, Virgilina is a tobacco market. Its two warehouses sell between a million and a million and a half pounds of tobacco a year. The town has a bank, seven com- mercial establishments, two hotels, two schools, and three churches. Grass does well in this district and as many as fifty head of cattle a year are marketed by one of
*President, Halifax Division, T. E. Dickerson, Meadsville.
HALIFAX COUNTY
the more progressive farmers of that interesting border country. Near Virgilina is found perhaps the largest commercial orchard in the county (the Elliott Orchards and Vineyards.) Here is a large acreage in pears and vines. The Virgilina Belt (Red Bank District) is a mining country but it is not necessary to sink shafts there, or any where else in the county in order to get money. Sink the plowshare ten inches deep and good returns come up. .* *
CLOVER .- The town of Clover lies in the Roanoke Dis- trict on the Southern Railway, six miles from the eastern boundary of the county. The tobacco sales at Clover approximate 1,250,000 pounds. The Bank of Clover, although organized but seventeen months, shows deposits of $20,000.00 . It was near by this town that the farmer made $426 in tobacco on four arres of land which the other man refused to buy for that price. Clover has five churches, two warehouses, seven commercial establish- ments, (not including a drug store) a hotel and a graded school.
Scottsburg, between Clover and South Boston, although not yet a town is an important market village. Scottsburg has three warehouses for the sale of tobacco (and much tobacco is sold), a bank, two churches, a high school, and five commercial establishments.
Halifax is an agricultural county and one of the best. Its commercial life is also very active.
VI.
THE BUSINESS OF THE COUNTRY.
"While it is true that the industrial development of the South is going forward with amazing rapidity, it is never- theless true that, by virtue of the extent of the agricultural
25
HALIFAX COUNTY
interests of the South, agriculture is yet the foundation of the business of that section. A change from poverty to prosperity of the farmers, and a change from land without a selling value to land in demand at an advance of 50to 150 per cent over the nominal price of one or two years ago is the most far-reaching development in Southern ad- vancement of the last quarter of a century. It is far- reaching in many ways. It means that within the last year or two (1903-1905) Southern farm properties have increased not less than $1,000,000,000 in value probably at least $1,500,000,000." That is true, and Halifax county has had its part in this general advancement. More of our farmers than at any time previous are realiz- ing that the farmer must succeed who practices persistent plowing and cultivation of the land throughout the year (possible with us); and that this method will not injure the crop-producing capacity of the land. Steady improve- ment will be the result. In our climate if a farmer only plows and breaks his land deeply and finely, he is bound to get the results, more particularly if he uses his brains as well as his muscle, finds out all that his land is capable of doing and makes it do it. Progress means nothing more than keeping alive and carrying out intelligently ideas that come from observation and reading. It is not every- where that plowing can be done throughout the year. That is not all. We can raise hogs at three cents a pound or less, and cattle at a figure as low in proportion. We have the advantages. Nature is all on our side if we only manage her. These things, taken together with the possi- bilities from our tobacco lands, make of us an exceptional region. There can be no doubt about that.
One hardware and implement company in South Boston says: "We figure that our trade in improved farm implements, etc., has increased in the last four or five
26
HALIFAX COUNTY
years at least 100 per cent. The farmers are all buying improved tools and of a better quality than they have ever done before." Another firm says: " We sell two and three times as much machinery and five times as much wire (at least one half of it woven) as we did four years ago. The carload lot is our unit now. And as for build- ing material, nails, iron, etc., we can scarcely get enough." The traveller by road has ample evidence of these state- ments as he goes through the county. The old fence is going down everywhere and the improved fence is going up, the use of which is really an additional capitalization of the farm far in excess of the actual outlay. One sees machinery and wire fencing on exhibit at the country store and the stock looks fresh because it is often turned over. There are probably thirty grain mills in the county today, as any mill operator will tell you if you ask him. And there are certainly more than twenty sawmills in Halifax county. An average of about four grain mills and three sawmill to the district.
The country merchant is a very important factor in the business of the country. His place of business is the local news exchange and that of itself entitles him to the warm affections of the community. Any social centre in the country, if good will and good morals prevail there, is worth all it costs. But the country merchant needs no defence. His position is secure as one of the most useful of citizens. His store is a focus of information as well as of gossip. His business, if he uses his opportunities, may redound greatly to the benefit of his neighborhood as well as to his own legitimate profit. He may frequently offer fresh meats for sale. He may take orders for the handsome clothes advertised in the magazines. He may even keep magazines -- a well chosen stock -- and set up something of a book stall. He may and does become an agent for
27
HALIFAX COUNTY
farm machinery and a buyer of eggs for shipment. From sixty to ninety dozen eggs are shipped several times a week from country stores in the county of Halifax. There are considerably more than a hundred country merchants in the county of Halifax. The claim of completeness is not made for the list given below. These names were secured from two wholesale dealers in the town of South Boston, and in conjunction with a list of farmers (Sec. X.) will be useful to the intending settler. Who knows more about the significant facts in regard to a neighborhood than the busiest men in the neighborhood? The list follows:
S. F. Adams, Turbeville; W. O. Atkins, Black Walnut ; W. J. Anderson & Son, Loftis; J. H. Boyd & Son, Jones; Blane and Bass, Alton; W. W .. Blane, Alton; J. I. Bray, Nathalie; Hubert Blane, Mayo; W. M. Bates, Republican Grove; E. L. Blackwell, Mt. Carmel; C. C. Bass, Basses; J. G. Bates, Republican Grove; W. B. Cumby, Mountain Road; Chaffin Bros., Clay's Mill; Crenshaw Bros., Hous- ton, R. F. D .; E. H. Cruse & Son, Bayonne; T. B. Clai- bourne, Wolf Trap; F. W. Chancy, Sutherlin; W. W. Crenshaw, Stebbins; J. W. Canada, Lennig; C. C. Chaney, Birch; E. L. Canada, Cross Roads; H. C. Cotes & Son, Houston, R. F. D .; Chaney & Owen, Paces; R. C. Carring- ton, Mt. Laurel; Crutchfield Bros., Mayo; N. G. Davis & Co., Stovall; Henry G. Daniels, Barksdale; C. R. L. Gravitt, Black Walnut; J. E. Green & Son, Mt. Laurel; C. E. Guthrie, Nathalie, R. F. D .; J. W. Glass, Vernon Hill, R. F. D .; R. C. Hill, Lennig; E. O. Hubbard, Leda; R. A. Henderson, High Point; J. IT. Haynes & Son, Elmo; G. T. Holland, Hermosa; J. M. Irby, Vernon Hill; Jen- nings Bros., Cody; J. H. Jordan & Co., Republican Grove; J. M. Lacy, Scottsburg; J. T. Lacks, Noland; N. B. Lacks, Cross Roads; R. L. Lacy & Co., Scottsburg; S. A. Lacks, Lennig; Le Prad Bros. & Co., Stovall; J. E. Mitchell,
28
HALIFAX COUNTY
Alchie; B. S. McCraw, Nathalie; J. W. MeDowell, Loftis; G. B. Martin, Carrington; Mickle & Co., Nathalie; D. E. Moorefield, News Ferry; A. E. Newhill & Co., Lennig; W. J. Pierce, News Ferry; Powell Bros., Plato; W. H. Powell, Terrell; J. H. Puryear, Denniston; W. L. Ray, Meadsville; J. E. Redd, Sutherlin; J. E. Ragland, Hyco; C. J. Robertson, Christie; R. L. Roarkes, Nathalie, R. F. D .; W. R. Roarkes, Noland; T. C. Rodden, Roddens; Stebbins & Hankins, Ingram; J. J. Salmon, Mt. Laurel; Short & Yates, Nathalie; Tate & Carr, Republican Grove; Trayn- ham Bros., Black Walnut; Traynham Bros. & Thompson, Harmony; Tune & Henderson, Vernon Hill; M. F. Willard. Moffett's; W. W. Weatherford, Houston, R. F. D .; E. Y. Wimbish & Co., Nathalie; E. B. Wimbish, Paces; J. P. Wilkins & Co., Mt. Carmel; G. D. Wilbourn, Houston. R. F. D .; Wirt Wilbourn, Clarkton; Wilkins Bros. Co., Turbeville.
The country merchant, naturally, could not live without the farmer. At this point it will be understood why the banks of Halifax county show $1,360,000 in deposits.
VII. CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
Education is not second to commerce in the life of a people, if for no other reason than because education advances commerce. But it is certainly true that with any people the chronological sequence stands: Agriculture, Commerce, Education. Therefore it is not suprising that in a county such as Halifax, where both agriculture and commerce flourish, the county's receipts for schools should figure well up in the list (9th) among the 100 counties of Virginia, for the year ending September 30, 1906. The following is a statement from the Superintendent of Public
29
HALIFAX COUNTY
Schools, who for more than twenty years has given his time and his energies to the upbuilding of the system under his care-
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS OF HALIFAX COUNTY.
High Schools-3. One at Houston, one at Scottsburg, and one at South Boston. Besides these, there is a first class incorporated High School at Cluster Springs* (Black Walnut District), not under State control. Also, there is one colored High School at Houston under church con- trol; and one independent colored High School at Meadsville.
Graded Schools-White, 13. Colored, 15.
TEACHERS --- High, Graded, and Common Schools.
White-130. Colored-76.
PUPILS-High, Graded, and Common Schools.
White-3552 Colored -- 3033.1
Outline of what is now on foot-1st. Consolidation of the schools. At a recent meeting in the Birch Creek
*Cluster Springs has been an educational centre for this region for many years. There was a well-known school here before the war. Halifax County is within only a few hours' distance of the University of Virginia, the State Female Normal School, the Vir- ginia Polytechnic Institute. Besides these State institutions the lead- ing denominational colleges are very accessible.
¡In this connection it is important to observe the figures for the assessed valuation of property in Halifax County, Auditor's Report, year ending Sept. 30, 1906. Realty -- white, $3, 455,001; colored, $255,239; Personalty-white, $2,010,923; colored, $157,340.
30
HALIFAX COUNTY
District it was decided that six schools be put into one building by the Ist of October. Other districts are asking for consolidation. By means of consolidation and trans- portation the methods of teaching will be vastly improved.
2d. We are looking to local taxation and loans from the State Literary Fund at 4 per cent to enlarge, repair, and equip our school buildings and grounds.
3d. We are inviting distinguished educators to put before our people the great importance of improving the rural schools.
Lastly. The clerk of South Boston's Schools, in his last. monthly report, stated that the High School building at that place would be renewed or greatly enlarged by the opening of the next school term. (Bonds in the amount of $20,000 have been authorized for immediate issuance.)
The people are begininng to show that they are willing to submit to such an increase in the school tax as will be for the best advantage of our school system. [For further School Statistics, see See XI.]
The Churches of the county are numerous and faithfully administered. Six denominations are represented-the Baptist, the Methodist, the Presbyterian, the Episcopal, the Christian, and the Mennonite. What has been said of a neighboring county is equally true of Halifax- "The Sabbath is universally observed, and the people almost without exception attend upon the ordinances of divine worship. It is due to the colored people to say that, while their religious instruction was not neglected before the war, nearly all the churches owned by them have been built since they were emancipated, and mainly out of their own resources." [For Church Statisties, see Sec XI.]
31
HALIFAX COUNTY
VIII.
MINERALS AND MINERAL WATERS.
Halifax county lies in the great Virginia area of crystal- line rocks in which are found many of the most important minerals and ore deposits in the state. Halifax forms one of the most interesting sections of this area, particu- larly in regard to copper and gold. There should be good opportunities for the mining and manufacturing of kaolin in the eastern part of the county. On Buffalo Creek, in the northwestern angle of the county, a valuable light colored trap occurs. . This is a gneiss formation and makes an excellent building stone. Iron is found in the northern part of the county, about Brookneal. There are slate deposits near Christie, in the southern part of the county.
The Virgilina Copper Belt, of which half lies in Halifax county, has recently been described as "a district of unu- sual advantages, whose opportunities are neglected."* The writer, an expert, continues: "Copper properties never had a better opportunity than the present one for profit- able operation. With the present demand for copper, the Virgilina district deserves serious consideration as a potential source of the metal. Its ores are rich and abund- ant, admirably suited for concentration, and some of them self-fluxing, and they lie only 160 miles by rail from a copper smelter on Atlantic tidewater. A hundred camps in the Southwest are mining ore not half so rich, and are paying smelting charges in no way less onerous, while their output has to travel 2,000 miles to market." The accompanying sketch map shows the lay of the land.
#Edward K. Judd: Engineering and Mining Journal, Dec. 1, 1906 See also: 1. Copper Bearing Rocks of Virgilina Copper District, Thomas L. Watson; Ball. Geological Society of America, xiil pp. 353-376, 1902; 2. Virginia Copper Deposits, W. H. Weed and T. L Watson. [ Eco- nomie Geology, I, No. 4, 1906.]
32
HALIFAX COUNTY
0
1
2
MILES
Rice
High Hill Mine
Pourlad
I
Halifax Copper Company
Pandora
HALIFAX
, Howard
Moroyy
Вгоч. Gold Branch
1
Mother
Gold Mine
Esther Max
Seaboard
Mine
CO1
QNT
Y
R
2 Anaconda
Tu
Virgilioa
SPATE BOUNDARY
TO NORFOLK
159 MILES
33
HALIFAX COUNTY
Of these mines the High Hill property is operated by the Virginia Copper Company of Virgilina and 136 Liberty St., New York. The company is about to install a reduc- tion plant. The process is one devised especially for the treatment of these ores. The plant will have a capacity of 200 tons.
An official of the Seaboard Mine states: "The Sea- board Copper Co., is an Incorporated Company under the laws of the State of New Jersey, capital stock $300,000 shares at $1.00 par value. The property owned by this Company consists of 155 acres of mineral lands in Halifax County, Va. The underground development work con- sists of three shafts 115 ft., 120 ft., and 260 ft. deep respec- tively. Levels aggregating 350 feet have been driven from these shafts opening up a valuable body of copper ore. The mine is well equipped with the best of mining machin- ery suitable for working the property to a depth of 500 feet. During the present year a Concentration plant to handle 50 tons of material per 24 hours is to be installed, a large part of this machinery already being on the grounds. The railroad is only three miles distant and this property should be making regular shipments to a smelter by July Ist next."
The Goldbank Mine, (Inc.), which began work three years ago, owns 178 acres, has gone 156 feet and deeper, runs ten stamps and will shortly add ten more to the plant, works twenty-five hands, and has milled already a large amount of paying ore. The expense of working totals not more than $5.00 per ton, and the ore will average $10- $15 per ton -- amalgamation process. On the same vein as the Goldbank Mine, Howard Bros. and Luce, of Buffalo, have begun operations. A third gold mine, not now in
34
HALIFAX COUNTY
operation, is the Gills Mountain Mine, about two miles from the Goldbank.
It is interesting to note that in the latest report of the Auditor of Virginia Halifax County stands ahead of such counties as Augusta, Montgomery, Bedford, and Smyth in the assessed valuation of mineral properties.
* * *
As has been stated, the Buffalo Lithia Springs are three miles from the eastern boundary of the county of Halifax. Halifax, that is to say, lies within the Lithia Water Belt. No doubt an analysis of many unanalyzed springs of the county would show therapeutic proportions of the lithium carbonates. The Wolf Trap Well (Roanoke District) is seventy-four and one-half feet deep. The water has an extensive sale. Its composition is shown by the following analysis, by Prof. M. B. Hardin:
One United States gallon of 231 cubic inches contains:
Sodium Carbonate.
0.24027
grains.
Lithium Carbonate
0.01726
¥
Ammonium Carbonate
0.00128
Calcium Carbonate.
7.41222 66
Magnesium Carbonate.
5.09221 66
Strontium Carbonate.
0.384S9
Iron Carbonate
0.00007 6.
Manganese Carbonate
0.0131
Copper Carbonate
0.001234
Sodium Chloride
2.62956
=
Sodium Bromide
0.00630
6.
Sodium Iodide.
0.00065 ..
Sodium Nitrate
2.62518
Potassium Sulphate.
0.06356
66
Sodium Sulphate
0.06007
:6
Aluminum Phosphate
0.04432
Silica
2.01780
Barium Carbonate.
trace
Zine Carbonate.
trace
١
1676539 HALIFAX COUNTY - 35
Magnesium Borate.
trace
Calcium Floride
trace
Titanic Oxide.
trace
Organic Matter (yielding ammonia).
trace
Total 20.66836 grains
Carbon Dioxide associated with the above carbonates
in the so-called bi-carbonates
6.06682
GASES.
Carbon Dioxide, free.
12.38 cubic inches
Nitrogen
3.60
1.70
66 16
Oxygen
Total. 17.68 ¥
The waters of the Cluster Springs (Black Walnut dis- trict) have been known locally for years. These springs are literally clustered and several of them are valuable. The Calcic-Lithia spring is of a class "in repute in the treatment of certain disorders of the bladder, and of some varieties of chronic dyspepsia." The Sulphur spring is valuable medicinally. An analysis of the Cluster springs Lithia Water is given, made by Prof. J. W. Mallett, M. D., Ph. D., LL. D., F. R. S., University of Virginia.
COMPOSITION-Parts per Million.
Potassium
1.132
Sodium
9.185
Lithium.
.045
Calcium
4.529
Magnesium
5.074
Aluminum.
.110
Iron .
.494
Manganese
.034
Chlorine.
5.106
Flourine.
Trace
Radicle of Sulphuric Acid.
2.056
Radicle of Phosphoric Acid
.639
36
HALIFAX COUNTY
Radicle of Nitric Acid.
Distinct Trace
Radicle of Carbonic Acid
27.296
Radicle of Meta-Silicic Acid. 67.938
Hydrogen Meta-Silicic Acid.
1.786
Hydroxal Alum. Hydroxide. .206
Organic Matter. Total. 125.930
Minute Trace
GASES :- Cubic centimeters per liter (at O' C. and 760 mm.) Oxy- gen, 4.14; Nitrogen, 10.31; Carbon Dyoxide, 16.57.
So useful a neighbor as the Buffalo Lithia should not be undescribed. This is one of the best known mineral waters in the United States, and has a very large sale in this country and abroad. The water is of great medicinal value, and is regarded almost as a specific in the treat- ment of uric acid diathesis, gout, and rheumatism. It is also used with great benefit in cases of renal calculus, stone in the bladder, and in nervous and intestinal disor- ders.
Residents in Halifax county have been known to say that no medicines are needed there. A slight exaggera- tion perhaps. Certainly, if abundant and pure water was ever an absolute preventive anywhere, there should be no sickness here. Man is mortal, but he has as fair a - chance for a long life in this region as in any on the top side of the globe.
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