V4** P 232 •C8 N5 Copy J §3^M&i^^« vm VI VIRGI 07 ' - ^VX^-i r.'2*M 1 fNFORMATION concerning formation, description, min- ■*■ eral and agricultural resources, educational advantages, streams and water power, timber lands, mineral springs, re- sorts and other natural advantages. :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: For further infor- mation, address :: a F TRAD] New Castle, Virginia eaeaaaaa Fa CRAIG COUNTY' COURT HOUSE CRAIG COUNTY, VIRGINIA CRAIG COUNTY was formed in the year 1 85 1 from parts of the counties of Botetourt, Roanoke, Giles, and Monroe (the last named now a county of West Virginia), and is situated in the south- western section of the State. It is 240 miles west of the City of Richmond, and 325 miles west of Hampton Roads, and has an area of 256,266 acres. The population in 1900 was, white 4,032, colored 261, total 4,293. The general topography of the county is that of mountain and valley, the most charm- ing combination that nature can bestow upon man for vigor and health. The mountains are rich in minerals and are clothed with forests of timber of original growth; the valleys are fertile and produce abundantly grains, grasses, and fruits of vari- ous kinds. These valleys are well drained by streams of pure water, the principal ones are Craig's Creek, John's Creek, Sinking Creek, Potts Creek and their tributaries, all of which are well supplied with mountain trout and black bass. The climate of this section is mild and healthful. The principal industries are agriculture, stock-raising, poultry raising, fruit growing, mining and lumbering. New Castle, with an altitude of eighteen hundred feet, is the county seat, and is situ- ated at the terminus of the Craig Valley Branch of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, and is twenty-seven miles from Eagle Moun- Craifr tain on the James River Division of the Ches- Counip apeake & Ohio Railway, ninety-three miles Qtrginta from Lynchburg and forty-five miles from Clifton Forge. The Norfolk & Western Railway Company have at this time several miles of road under construction, which pene- trate some of the best mineral and timber lands in the county. Other large timber and mineral developments are being prepared for immedi- ate operation in other sections of the county. ASSESSED VALUES 1906. Lands $837,137.60 PERSONAL PROPERTY 1294 Horses, Mules, &c 55,810.00 4054 Cattle 51,134.00 3364 Sheep 7,011.00 1514 Hogs. 3,349.00 Other Personal Property 148,046.67 Railroad, Telegraph and Telephone Lines 69,959.50 Total $ 1,172.447.77 MINERAL RESOURCES. Craig County is situated in the very heart of what is known as the Onskany Iron Ore Field of Appalachian Virginia, and her ores are found chiefly on Craig's Creek, John's Creek, Potts Creek, and Sinking Creek, and their respective tributaries, and they extend the entire length of the county — a distance of about thirty miles. The Onskany is the great ore-bearing formation, and they largely con- sist of what is known as brown hematite or hydrated oxide of iron; the seams of these valuable ores are persistent and regular, and their continuity, thickness and uniformity of quality and quantity are not questioned; in fact, they have been abundantly tested and demonstrated by years of the most active ope- ration by the Low Moor Iron Company, of Virginia, The Alleghany Ore & Iron Com- pany, and others, and the modern methods of mining have fully developed their immense value. The yield of metallic iron varies or ranges from forty to sixty per cent., rarely falling as low as the minimum percentage just named. Owing to the peculiar location of these ores, mining is inexpensive and water for wash- ing purposes, where washing is necessary, abounds almost everywhere, with abundance of limestone for fluxing; timber for mining purposes is also found in large quantities near by, consequently, mining may be conducted with profitable results during almost any period of depression in the iron market. Mining in this field, comparatively speaking, is in its in- fancy, and it may be truthfully stated that the ore supply of this county has, as yet, scarcely been touched. MANGANESE. Manganese in large quantities is found in various parts of the county, and it has been thoroughly tested and proven. LIMESTONE. Limestone of remarkable purity is found in inexhaustible quantities, averaging ninety- eight per cent, of carbonate of lime. SLATE. Large quantities of slate may be found in different sections of the county, all of which Craig; Countp 0trg;inta is well suited for all purposes for which orna- mental slates are used. BUILDING STONE, SAND, MARBLE, ETC. Building stone, sand silicate, potter's clay, and vanagated marble not unlike the noted Tennessee marble, may be found at various points. SOAPSTONE. Valuable beds of soapstone are found in the upper Sinking Creek Valley. MINERAL SPRINGS AND RESORTS. Craig County, possessed as she is with such a variety of minerals, is, therefore, rich in min- eral springs, pleasure and health resorts. The picturesqueness of the scenery is unsurpassed, the mountain air pure and invigorating, the cli- mate ideal and the medicinal properties of the various mineral springs that have undergone development are of unquestioned value to those seeking health and rest. First in point of importance, we mention Craig Healing Springs, which are located twelve miles west of New Castle, the county seat of Craig, and surrounded as they are by scenery of imposing grandeur. The curative power of these waters for all skin, stomach, liver and kidney diseases, as has been hundreds of times demonstrated on those seeking relief, is something bordering on the miraculous. Many years ago the pioneer settlers had dis- covered the beneficial effects of these waters, but it took the magic touch of capital to pre- pare them for the hundreds and thousands of Criug Countp ©tririnia 5H0RTHORN CATTLE BEING PREPAR-ED FOR_> EXPORT MARKETS ON CRAIG COUNTY BLUE GRASS people from all sections of the country who crowd its commodious buildings seeking rest and a return of health. Caldwell Healing Springs, located in the western suburbs of the town of New Castle, has recently sprung into importance and many improvements have been added. The waters have proven efficacious in numerous cases of stomach, blood and cutaneous troubles. The many testimonials from parties cured and ben- efited speak well for this new resort. We might also add that there are a num- ber of springs partially developed in different parts of the county where a limited number of guests are entertained, the most important are The Blue Healing, located a few miles west of Craig Healing, and especially recom- mended for rheumatism, Minadoka Springs, a few miles south of New Castle, has had sev- eral successful seasons, Webbs Springs, twelve Craig; miles south of New Castle, also has a local Count? reputation for curing stomach and liver dis- Biiffinia eases. Other undeveloped springs are Craig Alum, Ripleys and Curative Chalybeate. Bel Air Hotel, located in the town of New Castle, is one of the most commodious and well-appointed hotels in Southwest Vir- ginia, equipped with all modern conveniences, overlooking the town, with two gigantic moun- tain peaks rising precipitously from the plateau below, forming a picturesque background. For a number of years this building has been filled both from Northern and Southern cities. Bel Air as well as Craig Healing Springs is at present owned by Laing Brothers. AGRICULTURAL. The farming section of the county consists MEADOW CREEK FALLS, ONE-HALF MILE FROM NEW CASTLE of four valleys principally, with various smaller vales. The soil generally is of black and sandy loam with clay bottom, and produces well throughout the county, and unusually well in the greater portion. Sinking Creek Valley being very much elevated and also a limestone region accounts for its wonderful productive- ness and especially its vast areas of fine blue- grass. Craig's Creek and John's Creek Val- leys are not as well adapted to grazing as Sinking Creek, but are heavy producers of wheat and corn. Lower Craig's Creek, the valley lying northeast of New Castle, is well adapted to all crops, more especially corn, wheat, and grass. There is no section better suited to trucking than the last-mentioned val- ley, as melons, strawberries and other small fruits grow to perfection. Craig also has a reputation for producing fine horses, cattle and sheep. Spring lambs raised on our bluegrass Craig; go on the New York and Chicago markets Countp vieing with any produced in the country. Many Sirgtnu of our cattle are exported to England and other countries. Large numbers of draft, driv- ing and saddle horses are bred and furnished to near-by towns and cities at handsome prices. The county is also well adapted to fruit and poultry raising. The turkeys alone, shipped from the county during the season of 1906 amounted to something near thirty thousand dollars. Fruits of all kinds, especially apples, grapes, pears and peaches, may be grown with considerable profit on the slopes adjacent to the several valleys. WATER POWER. Along with the many other undeveloped resources of the county, none are more prom- ising or abundant than the magnificent water supply. Three large mountain streams fed by springs and flowing for many miles at last con- verge into one very large stream near the town of New Castle, where excellent manufacturing sites may be had. All three of these streams as they approach the town on different sides are very rapid. Meadow Creek which dashes down the side of the mountain by rapids and leaps has a descent of over five hundred feet; according to volume it rivals the Niagara or Colorado Canon, both in its resource and beauty. John's Creek pours its large volume of water through a narrow gorge in the moun- tain over rapids falling one hundred and fifty feet and more, giving a splendid water power adjacent to the town. The waters of Craig's Creek, if properly harnessed, would afford power for innumerable enterprises close by the Chesapeake & Ohio depot. Barber's Creek is a very rapid stream and is in close proximity to the iron ore section, this alone makes it val- uable for ore-washing purposes. On account of these mountain streams be- ing fed by springs the flow is uniform even dur- ing the dryest weather. EDUCATIONAL. Craig being one of the newer formed coun- ties, located in the southwestern portion of the State where the mineral and timber interests have been but slightly developed, the county for this reason has a small school population, but regardless of this fact, no section has made more rapid progress during the past few years educationally. Improvements are especially very noticeable in reference to public school Craig; Cotintp Virginia ""1 5TEAM jHOVEL Al WORK IN OPf N CI IT AT nkT'^NY, CP.AIG COUNTY, VA buildings. The rural districts are supplied with commodious houses nicely painted and equipped with modern furniture and at all points in the county where practicable consoli- dated schools are conducted. Two public High Schools, one located at New Castle, the county seat, the other in the western section of the county, are open to all pupils free of tuition, provided they are pre- pared to take up the high school work. These buildings are new and have many modern ar- rangements, both being watered from large mountain springs, and equipped with boarding departments, where students are enabled to ob- tain good board and rooms at about $8.00 per month. A music department, libraries and much valuable apparati are owned and operated in connection with the schools. The principals in charge are from the best colleges and univer- sities, and the assistants are all instructors of experience. The session is eight months, and after a pupil has completed the full High School course, he should then readily make his A. B. degree in one year's work at college. CHURCHES AND ROADS. The county is supplied with elegant churches convenient to all communities, where regular services are held by a majority of the leading denominations. During the past few years a campaign for better roads has been in- stituted and much permanent work is being done. BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES. We know of no place offering the natural Countp Uirjpnia '5 Craig: advantages to those seeking locations for the County following enterprises named below than New Uirstima Castle, Virginia, the county seat of Craig. Furniture Manufactories, Woollen Mills, Brick Plant, Wood Working Plant, Steam Tannery, Iron Furnace, Steel Plant, Electric Plant. The location is ideal for other enterprises, but considering the magnificent water power, fine brick clay, and the town's close proximity to inexhaustible beds of iron ore and untouched forests of oak, pine and other valuable timbers, we are confident the above-named enterprises if properly conducted would net the owners handsome profits. Manufactured products may be shipped via Chesapeake & Ohio Rail- way, which offers to shippers all the advan- tages of a low-grade route to Lynchburg, Richmond, Newport News and Norfolk, it is also the shortest and most direct route to Cincinnati and the entire West. Connections are made with the Norfolk & Western, Balti- more & Ohio, Southern and other roads less than one hundred miles from this place. A branch line of railroad with this town as its destination is now being constructed from a point on the Norfolk & Western near Roan- oke, Virginia, and we feel confident the town will have the advantage of direct outlets to two trunk lines in the near future. Any inquiries addressed to the BOARD OF TRADE, NEW CASTLE, VIR- GINIA, will be immediately answered and the desired information given. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 014 443 770 6 £