Excerpt from Alleghany County, Virginia: Its Resources and Industries

Lleghany county, on the western border of Virginia, with a mean length of twenty-six miles, a mean breadth of twenty miles, and an area of acres, is the center of a rich agricultural and industrial district and combines with its many natural advantages of location and fertility of soil a vast territory of mineral wealth which alone would establish for it a position of impor tance. The county lies at the base of the Alleghany Mountains, from which it derives its name, and the mean altitude exceeds two thousand feet. well watered by the headwaters of James River, the county is fertile and abounds in all the products of farm and field. Chief among the agricultural products are com, oats, and wheat, in addition to the dairy, orchard and garden products. Live stock raising forms an important industry, thousands of cattle finding pasture in the highlands, -which abound in bluegrass. After a recent investigation of the subject'of fruit culture in Alleghany County, Professor Alwood, formerly of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, gave it as his opinion that What is known as the Falling Springs Valley of the county produces a-variety of Pippins which compare most favorably with the noted Albemarle variety. The cultiva tion of fruit is engaging the attention of residents throughout the county, and is proving a paying investment. For the farm and garden product's a ready market is created by the manufacturing industries which cover the county. There has been an appreciable increase in the cultivation of cab bage and Irish potatoes, which grow to immense proportions and are of a specially rich flavor. Seldom is found such pleasant blending of agricultural wealth and untold mineral deposits, nor can any locality excel Alleghany County in the excellence of bountiful water power which only awaits the command of genius and capital to utilize it to commercial advantage. The histo; rian Martin recognized this when, in 1836, after a visit to this region, he stated: The country abounds in all the products of the earth, and the mountains abound in iron, and present sufficient water power to force any quantity of machinery. Of special merit is the water power in Dunlap's Creek, a mile west of Covington, Jackson's River throughout its entire course through the county, and Smith's Creek, in the eastern extremity of the county In natural scenery the county abounds, the term perfect sublimity being employed by a noted writer in 'describing the passage of Jackson's River through White's Mountain, between Clifton Forge and Iron Gate.

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