USA > Virginia > City of Staunton > City of Staunton > Staunton, Virginia : its past, present and future > Part 2
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ANALYSES.
FIRE CREEK COAL AND COKE CO.
NEW RIVER COKE COMPANY.
OF COAL.
OF COKE.
Water,
.735
Water,
.105
Volatile Matter,
22.425
Volatile Matter, .492
Fixed Carbon, .
75.499
Fixed Carbon, . 91.940
Sulphur, .
.536
Sulphur, . .538
Sulphur,
.498
Sulphur, .569
Ash,
.805
Ash,
6.928
100.000
100.000
Coke, per cent., 76.84.
Phosphorus, .008 per cent.
The above analysis represents a coal of remarkable purity. I was a little surprised at the low ash in the coal, but duplicate tests were made with great care.
Coke, per cent., 72.69.
ANDREW S. McCREATH.
Water, . .668
Water, . .290
Volatile Matter, 26.642
Volatile Matter, . .140
Fixed Carbon,
70.657
Fixed Carbon, 96.141
Aslı,
1.535
Ash, . 2.860
100.000
100.000
OF COAL.
OF COKE.
ANDREW S. MCCREATH.
The analysis of the coke of the New River Coke Company was made by the Lowmoor Iron Company, and shows a remarkably low percentage of ash, being made from run of mine coal, whereas the Fire Creek analysis of coke was made entirely of slack, which accounts for the increased percentage of ash.
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South Place
COKE OVENS. PLANT HALF MILE LONG. PROPERTY NEW RIVER COKE COMPANY, CAPERTON, WEST VA. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
VIEW OF MINING TOWN OF CAPERTON, WEST VA., ON NEW RIVER. COAL ELEVATOR AND INCLINE. PROPERTY NEW RIVER COKE COMPANY. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
The Fire Creek Coal and Coke Compa- ny is the pioneer in this region. Its com- merce now extends from New England to Mexico, and its product has, perhaps, done more than that of any other company to at- tract the attention of the world to this vast and wonderful coal region.
To the seeker for pleasure, the antiqua- rian and the scholar, no less than to the practical man of affairs, Staunton furnishes attractions scarcely to be found elsewhere in America. Within a radius of a hundred miles, presidents, senators, ministers pleni- potentiary, judges, governors of many States, orators, writers, pioneer heroes and colonial and revolutionary statesmen have had their homes and lived and wrought out their life work. The residences of Jefferson, of Mad- ison and Monroe, of James Barbour, Gover- nor and Minister to England; of William C. Rives, Senator, and Minister to France; of Hugh Nelson of Belvoir, Minister to Spain; of William Wirt, the author of the "British south Pul CON.Y. Spy," and Attorney General of the United VIEW OF MINING TOWN, CAPERTON, WEST VA., SHOWING COAL TIPPLES NEW RIVER COKE COMPANY, CAPERTON, WEST VA. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA. States; of James Waddell, the famous blind preacher, celebrated by Wirt in the "Spy;" of Thomas W. Gilmer, Governor of Virginia; of Merriweather Lewis, the
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explorer of the great Northwest; of Andrew Stevenson, Minister to England; of John W. Stevenson, Senator from Kentucky; of Dabney Carr, the friend of Wirt and of Jefferson; of Sam Houston, the great Texan soldier and pa- triot; of Governor McDowell; of Alexander H. H. Stuart, Secretary of the Interior under Fillmore; of John Lewis, the pioneer; of "Hon- est" John Letcher, the war Governor of Vir- ginia ; of Private Joe Fifer, the Governor of Illi- nois, and a host of others scarcely less distin- guished, were situated in the county of Augusta or the adjoining counties of Albemarle and Rockbridge; while from the border county of Rockingham, went westward in his young man- hood the father of Abraham Lincoln.
It is a land rich in historic incident ex- tending from the colonial days, when Governor Spottswood led his Knights of the Golden South Rul CON.Y. Horseshoe across the Blue Ridge mountains in search of it, down through a later day that con- VIEW OF COKE OVENS IN THE DISTANCE AND PART OF MINING TOWN, CAPERTON, WEST VA., ON NEW RIVER. PROPERTY OF THE NEW RIVER COKE COMPANY. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA. nects it with the Indian warfare of Cornstalk and the renegade Simon Girty, until at last it gains renewed interest and fresh consecration to men of the North and South alike from the battle fields of Port Re- public and Cross Keys, where the blue and the gray met in deadly conflict, with Shields and Fremont and Jackson at the front.
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SHOWING ELEVATOR AND LOCOMOTIVE HOUSE
MINES AND TOP COAL TIPPLE.
D
STORE HOUSE AND OFFICES.
TRESTLE BRIDGE CONNECTING MINES OVER MARTIN'S BROOK.
VIEWS ON THE PROPERTY OF THE NEW RIVER COKE COMPANY, CAPERTON, WEST VIRGINIA.
HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
It is a new country with an old age. It has the buoyancy of youth with the wisdom of gray hairs. It is a land with an historic past, whose future gives promise of a far greater though a more peaceful history.
The educational and religious advantages of Staun- ton are of the most ample and generous character. It is the seat of the State Institution for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb and the Blind, a commodious and imposing structure, equipped and provided for in the most liberal manner by the State government, situated in the midst of grounds which for natural beauty are un- surpassed any-where, and attended by the deaf mutes and the blind children from all sections of the com- monwealth. Rference has already been made to the easy accessibility of Staunton to the three great educa- tional institutions of the South for young men-the University of Virginia, Washington and Lee, and the Virginia Military Institute, each within an hour's ride by rail. Staunton itself might be appropriately called a woman's university, as Cambridge and Oxford, in ENGINES AND DYNAMOS GENERATING POWER TO OPERATE MINING MACHINES AND MOTOR, THURMOND COAL CO., THURMOND, WEST VA. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA. England, are universities for men, if we might compare the various female seminaries here located to the dif- ferent colleges in the English university towns which go to make up the whole university.
There are in Staunton five high grade colleges for the education of young women, each possessing its own buildings, equipments, grounds and faculty, and each attended by students from every section of the United States. They are among the most thorough and successful institutions of learning in the country, and are as follows: The Augusta Female Seminary, the Virginia Female Institute, the Wesleyan Female Institute, the Staunton Female Seminary and the Roman Catholic School for Young Ladies and Girls.
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1212289
South Pub Con Y
VIEW OF NEW RIVER AND LOUP CREEK BRII GE FROM TOP COAL TIPPLE, THURMOND MINES, SHOWING CORING COAL FIELD AS FAR AS EYE CAN SEE AND EXTENDING MILES BEYOND. THURMOND COAL CO. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
For boys and young men there is an ably conducted military academy, with a hundred and fifty pupils ; a largely attended and successful private classical school, and Dunsmore's Business College, which is one of the best and most prosperous in the South.
In addition to these private schools are the free public schools of Staunton, organized in 1870, contem- poraneously with the adoption of the public school sys- em in Virginia, and to-day possessing a reputation for efficiency second to none anywhere. In their inception these public schools were largely aided by the Peabody Educational Fund, whose general agent was Dr. Barnas Sears, an eminent citizen of Massachusetts, who made his home in Staunton after becoming the agent of this great charity, and spent his latter years in his cottage on what is now known as Sears Hill, one of the most picturesque spots within the city limits. There are sep- arate public schools for whites and blacks, conducted in handsome buildings belonging to the city.
Religious denominations as follows, have churches in Staunton: The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, the Protestant Episcopalians, the Presbyterians, the Baptists, the Lutherans, the Congregation of United Brethren, the Roman Catholics and the Hebrews. The seating capacity of the churches for white aggregates 5000, and the cost of the buildings nearly $200,000. The four colored churches have a seating capacity for
South Pis Co
N.y.
VIEW TAKEN FROM C. & O. RY. TRACK, SHOWING NEW RIVER AND COAL TIPPLES, INCLINE AND MINES. THURMOND COAL CO., THURMOND, WEST VA. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
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LOWER COAL TIPPLE, POCKETS AND TRESTLE.
UPPER COAL TIPPLE.
MAIN ENTRY THURMOND MINES, ELECTRIC MOTOR AND TROLLY LINE.
South Pat Copy
NEW RIVER, SHOWING INCLINE AND TIPPLE.
VIEWS ON THE PROPERTY OF THE THURMOND COAL CO., ON C. & O. RY., THURMOND, WEST VA. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
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South Pub CONY
VIEW OF FIRE CREEK COKE OVENS, COAL TIPPLE AND MINING VILLAGE, LOOKING UP NEW RIVER, WEST VA. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
over 3000 and cost about $70,000. The congregations of the white churches aggregate 4000 members and of the colored churches 2000. All of these religious denomina- tions occupy houses of worship more or less commodious and attractive in appearance, and all are well sustained and attended. It has been said of Staunton by one of the most eminent divines of the country that "nowhere is there a more generous provision for the ordinances of the Gospel."
The history of the Episcopal church in Staunton goes back to colonial days when an established church was part of the machinery of civil government. One of the city's most attractive local features is the extensive property of this church, consisting of about two acres in the heart of Staunton, forming a separate and distinct square. The church in the centre, the chapel and rectory towards the southeast and southwest respectively, and around them tall trees thickly clustered, present a beautiful picture, and it is pronounced by many to be the most attractive, and complete church property in the South.
(The accompanying illustration shows the church as it was before its recent enlargement.)
VIEW INCLINE PLANE AND UPPER TIPPLE, SHOW - ING CONGLOMERATE SAND STONE CLIFFS. WORKS FIRE CREEK COAL AND COKE CO. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
The present church, which has been twice enlarged in recent years, was originally built from plans from which the English Episcopal church at Jerusalem was constructed. It is one of the largest Episcopal churches if not the largest in Virginia, measuring inside, not including vestibule, 107 x 72 feet. A spacious chancel, formed by a series of arches of uncovered pressed brick-organ, and
Sove
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robing-room to the right and left-broad isles, and pews placed in amphitheatre shape, graceful columns forming the nave, are the main features of the interior, and all so happily constructed that ordinary tones of voice are heard dis- tinctly in every part of the building, and this too without the use of the old sounding- board, or any such device, which, strange as it seems to us at the present day, our fore- fathers deemed essential in the old church, although only about one-sixth or seventh the size of the present one. The mention of the sounding- board recalls other innova- tions, which have been made in the customs of most of our churches in their interior ar- rangements ; for with the ban- ishment of the sounding- board, there went also the clerk's platform, as well as all that was above it, the minis-
VIEW OF FIRE CREEK COAL MINES AND COKE OVENS, FIRE CREEK COAL & COKE CO, HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
ter's reading desk, and still above that the pulpit, sufficiently high for the parson to observe easily what was going on in all the pews; although the square, omnibus-like seats were built with such lofty sides that all view of one's neigh- bor was wholly precluded, and might, therefore have excused, but did not, a departure from the old synagogue fashion of having all the women on one side, and the men on the other of the church.
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Soul Of
LOCOMOTIVE WITH TRAIN OF EMPTY CARS GOING INTO MINES OF THE FIRE CREEK COAL AND COKE CO., FIRE CREEK, WEST VA. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
Sov
An especial historical interest belongs to this church property, on the part of the citizen, as well as the churchman, because it was here in colonial times, in the gloomiest days of the Revolutionary War, that the gen- eral assembly of Virginia held their sessions, having been driven, first from Richmond, and then from Charlottesville, by Tarleton, Cornwallis's active cavalry leader. It was within the walls of the old churchi that Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, the mover of the Declaration of Independence, and others conferred together as to the best measures to be adopted in that darkest hour of the struggle for independ- ence.
Among the legislative acts done by them was suspending redemption of the old issue of Continental money, and enacting that it should cease to be a legal tender.
It may not be uninteresting to recall that it was here in Staunton, that Thomas COKE OVENS AND COAL TIPPLE, FIRE CREEK COAL AND COKE CO., FIRE CREEK, ON NEW RIVER, C. & O. RY. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA. Jefferson, the framer of the Declaration of Independence, sought to establish a few years later the chief emporium of an " infant industry " inaugurated by him- self-the manufacture of nails. It is claimed that the first cut nail ever made in the United States was made in Staunt- ton. Here also, many years after that the same useful metal, found in such rich abundance in our hills, was used for
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South Pub CONY
LOOKING UP NEW RIVER FROM TOP COAL TIPPLE. CENTRAL, ECHO AND THURMOND MINES IN THE DISTANCE. FIRE CREEK COAL AND COKE CO., FIRE CREEK, WEST VA. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
19:
South AuceNy
STORE HOUSE AND OFFICES.
READY TO GO INTO MINES.
South Palco.
LOCOMOTIVE STARTING UP GRADE WITH TRAIN OF EMPTY CARS.
TRAIN OF CARS WITH COAL COMING OUT OF MINE.
VIEWS ON THE PROPERTY OF THE FIRE CREEK COAL AND COKE COMPANY, FIRE CREEK, WEST VIRGINIA. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA.
an instrument that has played a more conspicuous part in modern warfare than ought else besides-the breech-load- ing and repeating rifle-which was invented by a citizen of Staunton, and became the model of the celebrated Spencer rifle, and in fact the pattern of all other repeating guns. It would seem only in accord- ance with an "eternal fitness of things," that such like in- GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS OF ST. FRANCIS CHURCH AND PARISH SCHOOL, SHOWING PRIESTS' RESI- DENCE IN THE REAR. dustries, hav- ing wandered far and wide, should with the added experience of years, return here with the feeling that " there is no place like home."
The strongest religious denomination in Staunton, perhaps, are the Presbyterians, who have two handsome church buildings, the First and Second Presbyterian Churches; though other denominations are scarcely less vigorous and powerful. The history of Presbyterianism in Augusta RESIDENCE G. H. CAPERTON, JR., MANAGER FIRE CREEK COAL AND COKE CO. HOME OFFICE, STAUNTON, VA. county and Staunton forms an important chapter in that of this great de- nomination in Virginia and the South, and the congregations of the Old Stone Church and of Tinkling Spring es- pecially have been ministered to by men whose names stand high on the roll of Presbyterian divines.
In this connection it is proper to speak of the Young Men's Christian Association of Staunton, a large and influ-
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ential organization, doing great good, and owning a magnificent building and hall in the heart of the city on its principal business street, and which is generously equipped with a fine library, gymnasium, ten-pin alley and lecture hall.
The secret societies of the country are well represented in Staunton. The Masons, Pythians, Odd Fellows, Red Men, Good Templars, and other similar organizations all have their lodges, and many of these societies are wealthy and own handsome properties. This is notably the case with the Masonic fraternity who have a fine hall and propose erecting a still handsomer one at an early date. They own some of the most desirable business property in the city.
Mention has been already made of one of the State in- stitutions, located at this point, namely, that for the deaf and dumb and the blind. Here, too, on the eastern suburbs of the city are situated in beautiful grounds, ornamented by the hand of the landscape gardener, the buildings of tlie largest of the State's three great asylums for the insane. Since its establishment in 1828 Virginia has expended large sums in making this, which is one of the oldest, one of the very best hospitals of its kind in this country. Its reputa- tion for the successful treatment of its inmates, its noble buildings and ample and handsome grounds are worthy objects of local pride. These two State institutions circu-
South Fub Cony
RESIDENCE JAMES H. BLACKLEY.
late in the community between $150,000 and $200,000 per annum.
The local newspapers of Staunton are the Spectator, the Vindicator, the Valley Virginian and the Argus, each a well-
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First Presbyterian Church
Second Presby Rian Church
South Pub. Co N.Y.
Lutheran Church
conducted weekly with a good circulation. In addition are published the Railway Advertiser, for gratuitous distribu- tion on the trains ; the daily Real Estate Record, which gives an account of all real estate transactions in the Valley of Virginia ; and the Goodson Gazette, published weekly by the deaf mutes at the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institution. It is more than probable that the publication of a daily newspaper will be begun at Staunton at an early date.
PH TROUT!
The banking and financial facilities of the city are a healthy indi- cation of its business push and prosperity. There are two National banks in successful operation, three building and loan companies, and a large annuity company. All of these institutions are well conducted and prosperous. The National Valley Bank has a paid up capital of $200,000 and a surplus fund of over $200,000. Its stock commands a large premium and is regarded as a fine in- vestment. It has paid a ten per cent. dividend annually since its organ- ization. The Augusta National Bank was or- ganized at a later date, viz., in 1875, and has a paid up capital of The combined deposits of
$100,000 and a surplus of over $30,000. these two banks aggregate a million and a half dollars. Few institu- tions can show more successful histories, or stand better in the financial world.
The building and loan companies are the Staunton Perpetual, with
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RESIDENCE OF WOF SUMMERSON
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH AND GROUNDS
CHAPEL
South Pub. Co. N.
RESTONY
RECTORY
a paid up capital of $110,000; the Augusta Perpetual, with a paid up capital of about $60,000, and the Virginia Land and Loan Company, recently organized but doing a large business. The banks, building associations, and the Mutual Annuity Company, a large corporation, MUTUAL ANNUITY CO. combining the feat- ures of a loan com- pany and an insur- ance company, con- stitute the promi- nent financial insti- tutions of Staunton. It is probable that a Savings Bank will be inaugurated in Staunton at an early date.
INTERIOR VIEW OF THE OFFICE OF THE MUTUAL ANNUITY COMPANY.
Within the past fifteen years Staunton has become a southern Hartford in the num- ber and success of her Insurance companies. The oldest of these companies is the Valley Mutual Life Association, and the others in the order of their foundation are the Staunton Life Association, the Inter-States Life Association and the Equity Life Association. Residence These companies have paid out between two and three million ARISTA HOGE dollars to policy holders in the last few years. All of them are substantial enterprises, enjoying a high degree of prosperity and managed by the best business men of the community.
The hotels of Staunton are the Virginia, the Kalorama, the Mozart, and the Hoover House. The Hotel
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6
Southern Methodist Church.
CHURCH of THE United Brethren.
Baptist Church.
Altemonte, of modern fashion, designed by one of the most promising young architects of the North, will be constructed at an early day at a cost of one hundred thousand dollars, by the Staunton Development Com- pany. It will contain one hundred and twenty rooms, and par- lors; will be reached by the city street car line to the door, and will be furnished with electric lights, bells, hydraulic elevator, suites of handsome apartments and all modern conveniences. It will stand on a lofty eminence in the midst of a beautiful park of from ten to fifteen acres, with a lake of water, and, commanding a range of the Blue Ridge mountains for hundreds of miles, will at the same time com- prehend within its magnificent panorama the headwaters of the four rivers that go to form the river Shen- andoah. Residence of
ODERT W BURKE
There are a number of boarding houses in the city with prices to meet the wants of guests, Residence Of CAPT CHARLES A HOLT. and many find it (very agreeable to so- journ here -among others those of the North in winter and those from the South in summer ; while others come to remain longer and avail themselves of the educational advantages here offered for their children.
On the northwestern suburbs of the city is Gypsy Hill Park, reached by the street railway, and affording a place of rest and rec-
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STAUNTON DEVELOPMENT
WOODLAND AP
AP
COMPANY
RUSTIC BRIDGE Har Fi Visio PARK
RUSTIC BRIDGE and DRIVEWAY. In upper part of The PARK.
MAAP OF GYPSY HILL PARK AND FAIR GROUNDS STAVATON.VA:";
FAIR
VILLE Avě
GROUNDS
STAVNTON DEVELOPMENT
=
10
Daugupch (un)
- PUMP HOUSE
South Pub.Co.N.
RACE TRACK, LAKE AND FAIR GROUNDS IN STAUNTON, VA.
reation in the summer, while in the winter its drives and walks give ample opportunity for enjoyment to the pedes- trian, the rider and the driver. In this park are a number of magnificent springs, the property of the city, which fur- nish the water to the reservoir whence it is piped all over the city. The pump-house, a handsome building situated among well-kept grounds, in the midst of a grove of fine trees, stands near the entrance to Gypsy Hill Park; while on a lofty eminence a short distance away to the south is the reservoir, equal to supplying a city of thirty thousand inhabi- tants, and sending its contents by force of natural gravity into the city witlı such momentum as to obviate the necessity of fire engines in throwing the water over the highest houses.
ARQUIS
In this connection it may be well to state that Staunton lias a well drilled and disci- plined paid fire depart- ment, and a system of electric fire alarms, so that an outbreak of fire GEN. ROLLER AND MR. PARTLOW. in any part of the city is amply guarded against. Near the pump-house, at the entrance of the park, stood for many years a historic mansion, recently torn down. This was what was known as the Spring Farm House, and was built during the Revolutionary war by some of the Hessian prisoners captured at the battle of Trenton.
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=
Adjoining Gypsy Hill Park the Baldwin District Fair representing twelve or fifteen adjoining counties, owns extensive and beautiful grounds, improved with buildings, a race-track, boating lake, etc., making them a favorite place of resort. Its annual exhibition in the autumn brings together a fine exhibit of the products of the Shenandoalı Valley and Pied- mont Virginia, and large numbers of people from all parts of the State.
A staunch and well-drilled military company exists in Staunton in the Staunton Artillery, and the famous Stonewall Brigade Band, a superior body of musicians, which was organized in 1855, and followed the immediate fortunes of the Confederate General Stonewall Jackson during the entire civil war, still preserves its organization. To illustrate the healing influences of time, it may be pertinent to For Residenceof TRASFORMANO state here that the present leader of this historic organization, many of whose living members faced death with Jackson in his valley campaigns, is a gentleman "of the other side," a native Ohioan and an adopted Virginian.
Residence of CAPT T (MORTON
The government of Staunton resembles very nearly the town government of New England, which is regarded by municipal juris- prudents as the most representative democratic government in the world. That is to say, the government of the city is devolved upon a council of twelve citizens, chosen directly from the body of the com- munity by their fellow citizens, and directly responsible to them at the
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YMCA
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION BUILDING.
EY BANK
1880
TOMBURKE
NATIONAL VALLEY BANK.
LOAN
VIRGINIA LAND AND LOAN COMPANY
VIRGINIA LAND
Bush National Bank.
end of every two years for their administration of public affairs. The city, in addition to its electric fire alarm sys- tem that has been mentioned, is lit by the Thomson-Houston arc light, owned by the corporation of Staunton and run by the pump-liouse engine. This system has been in operation several years and gives eminent satisfaction.
The police department of the city consists of a chief and a number of subordinate officers elected by and directly responsible to the coun- cil. The streets of Staunton are well-paved, and its principal thorough- fares are traversed for five miles and a half by a street railway that gives satisfactory service at a fare of five cents.
The city lias its Chamber of Commerce, which meets monthly, a united body of its representative business men, organized for tlie pur- pose of advancing the material interests of the community.
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