The republic., 1851-01-02
Western Virginia.
FAIRMoST, MARION County, VA,
DECEMBER 27, 1850.


The resources and natural wealth of Northwest
Virginia, and particularly that portion of the same
on the Monongahela river and its tributaries, not
being well understood by persons generally at the
North and East who desire to seek new homes, a
place invest their surplus capital with profit and
safety, have concluded that il might not be un-
profitable TO give brief sketch OF parts OF the
with which am most familiar, will commence
with Marion county.
This county formed, in the winter OF 1912,
out of parts of the counties of Monongaa and Har
rison; it contains OF about four hundred and
thirty square miles. and u population Of ten thou
sand five hundred, The soil is generally rich and
productive. The face OF the country may be said
TO be beautifully broken. There are no mountains,
and but few of the hills steep as to be unit
for all agricultural purposes; the valleys are no.
very wide, but are producive-st they are not so
fertile the hills, which are rich to their very
submits. The soil is generally OF clay and lime
stone In the hills in many places there are large
quantities of iron ore, and in almost every instance
where iron is found. there are inexhaustible
fields of excellent bitumnous COAL the strata OF
which from four TO nine feet thick. The prin-
cpe forest timber is poplar oak sugar tree beech,
hickory, and dogwood. White oak timber is very
abundant, and is said by those who have used it
not to be surpassed for constructing steamboats,.
Near the centre of this country, at the junction
of the West Fork and Tigerts Valley rivers, is the
| source of the Monongahela river, one of the most
beautiful rivers in Virginia. This river its source
about three hundred and Atty feet wide and, from
| its source runs north, through Marion and Monon-
gala couuties into the State of Pennsy vania, to
Piusburg, where it unites with the Allegany river
| in forming the Ohio river. Fairmont the county
| town of Marion county, contains population Of
| one thousand souls, and is situated on the west
bank OF the river about mile from its source.
Steamboats, frequently navigate the river far up
| as Fairmont With an expenditure of a few thou
sand doilars in the construction of locks and dams
in Stacking the river from the Pennsylvania line to
| Fairmont, il would be naygablc all times for
| steamboats,. \ year since the Legislature OF
Virginia passed act of incorporation for the i'm
| provenent of the river appropriating three ffths
Of the stock necessary for the purpose out Of the
public treasury, and the river will, without doubt,
| be Stacked within two or three years.
The Baltimore and Ohio railroad passes through
Marion county from east to west distance Of some
thirty five miles, crossing the hionongahela river
near Fairnont, and runs through Farmont. This
railroad is now III process of construction With
| the river Stacked far Farmont, there will
be direct ton for all purposes Of ira
vel and commerce. between Pttsburg and Bati-
more Faismont, being the point OF connexion Of
the Two great improvements, will soon become
considerable city. There five turnpike roads.
of respectable length, made and in process of
struction, chiefly State account, which connect
at Fairmont
In 1910 the average assessed value of the lands il
Marion county 81 50 per acre; and in $3.50 it
$ - 50 per acre showing increase in the value
of real estate of four hundred per cent. The
| land titles generally settled
The water power, for propeing all kinds of ma
chnery, which is furnished by the Monongahela
and its tributaries in Marion county, is not exceed
in the world On the east side of the river, imme-
diatey opposite Fairmont, is Palatine town
which contains population Of six hundred. The
last named town is growing rapidly in population
and wealth, and is destined To be, III few years q
place of ordinary size or business. At these
towns the facilities for manuiac turing are not ex-
cellcd any where, either by water steam power
good article of btuminous coal exists in fields
on both sides of the river, commencing in the
towns.
There has been considerable emigration to Ma
rion COZ within the last five years, and it is in
creasing confidently believe that this county
will be among the most oopulous and wealthy
counties III Virginia.
Having given brief historical and geogra phcal
view of Marion county. viii speak OF the poll
tics OF her citizens and other matters connected
Herewith. The Democratic party has majority of
some three hundred and fifty votes, but the member
of Congress from this district, Colonel r. S. HAY
MoNp, has different occasions been elected TO the
House Of Delegates by large marjorities, and at the
last congressional election he received majority of
eighty three votes over his competitor Every
voter in the county far have heard are in
favor OF the late Compromise measures passed by
Congress, and opposed dissolution of the Union
,,,a fern, I
known to be in favor of accession disunon could
command a corporals guard Tor any purpose But
the people expect that the Fugitive Slave Law will
be faithfully executed in the Northern States
There il, perhaps no part of the United States
in which there is healthier state of feeling on
on the aubJcct OF slavery than in most of the
ties composing Northwest Virginia The citizens
do not partake IN any respect OF that blind anati-
cism which has different occasions shook the
Union from its centre To circumference-they
abominate it as being poisonous to the vitas of
liberty and good government. There are bat few
slaves here, probably not sixty five in the
county, and not twelve free negroes. 1t is
thing to slave or free negro here. Alb
stractly the people have particular affection for
slavery, but they law loving and law abiding
population and they hold the Constitution of the
United States on that subject, as we'll as every
particular prejudice against slavery as it exists,
nor shareholders in the Southern States under all
the circumstances under which slavery exists.
They regard slavery as unavoidable, and hold all
persons who seek to interfere with the rights of
property of slaves, against the provisions of the
Constitution and laws being traitors to the per
petuity of the Union.
lmust add, however, that am fearful if the Con-
vention which is to assemble in few days to
amend our State constitution, adopts the mixed ba-
els in representation against the known will of West
Virginia, that a different state of feeling will be
thereby produced on the subject of slavery. If
East Virgnans shall deem it necessary for the safe
ty OF slave property TO- deprive Western whitemen
oil Just political equality, hatred to slavery and
shareholders will most certainly generate and grow
in the minds of the people Whenever they become
satisfied that slave property is the chief engine
Mhich canses ihcir nnlitical