Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-09-14
Doddridge County Correspondence.
WEST UNION, Sept. 8, 1858.

DEAR- CoOPEH AFTER the ordinary
salutation of ''How dye do''-which you
are at liberty to answer either by pri-
vate epistle or editorially. 1 shall. in
compliance with promise to you made,
proceed to give you, and through you the
readers of your paper few items of bod
bridge county news.
The lands of Doddridge county are
much better calculated for agricultural
purposes than many persons have, here
tofore, seen fit to admit. The surface of
the country is uneven, it is true, but the
soil is sufficiently rich to justify the labor
of the husbandman. During the summer
l have conversed with several intelligent
farmers from the east and north, who all
express but one opinion, and that is, all
that is wanted TO make the lands of this
county produce well. is systematic me-
thod of cultivation. We have the soil, but
we want the men to work it. A score or
two of practical farmers from '' Yankee
land" if distributed among the several
neighborhoods of our county, would, it is
believed, soon revolutionize the habits of
the entire farming community, and pro
duce corresponding change in the face
of nature. This is what will be done as
sure as water runs down stream. Our
farmers must be walked up-they must
learn the value of their lands, and the pro-
per Ineuuer or working them before they
will begin in good earnest to advance to
that future destiny which awaits them
We have large amount of wild lands
which will, in less than twenty years be
reduced to high state of cultivation,
and tend greatly to beautify the face of
nature.
That portion of the North Western
Va. Railroad which passes through our
county, is progressing tolerably WE'LL
The Messrs. Hitchcocks are contractors
on several heavy sections lying east and
west of town. They are now working
all the hands they can procure. These
gentlemen have capital and energy-they
only lack laborers.
The Tunnel, 1 miles west of this
place, is being worked energctically by
the contractors, Messrs. Lennon and Dunn.
The length of this tannell is about 1880
feet. about 1000 feet of the heading Of
which is opened. AS some of your read
ers may not be familiar with the term
"headin =" as here used, 1 will illustrate:
The height of the tunnell is 10 feet, lis
width l6 feet. Eight feet of the top OF
the tunnell is first opened by means OF
numerous small blasts, and at heavier ex-
pense than the ordinary method. This
opening. which prepares the way fol-
blasting the remaining ten feet is called
"the heading" With the exception OF
about ninety feet from the eastern portal
the tunuelling has all been done from the
) two shafts. The hands working from
shaft No. 1, and those at the eastern por,
tai will meet about the goth inst. The
entire heading will be opened about the
middle of February.
This road, from Three Fork TO Par,
kersburg, is being constructed on bold
route arising from the fact that tht
shortest practicable distance and smalles
grade has been sought. By increasing
both the distance and the grade the worl
would have been much lighter, and it.
completion much easier. AS an evidence
, of the fact, that the shortest PRACTICABLE,
: route has been found, two facts may b.
submitted. The first is that while on tn,
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad the curve.
are 600 feet raIiuus, on this line the limi
Is 1000 feet radius. The other fact is
that the difference in distance between
this road and the North Western Turn
pike, running from and to the same poin
is less than one mile. To the eve of
traveller passing through the rugged
!; country along this line. this result mus
be looked upon as wonderful feat il
engineering.
We have. residing in our town one Di
vision and two resident engines, Messrs
Hoskinson, Quincy, and Gettings, SON o
the doctor, formerly of your town
These gentlemen and their assistants ar
doing good service for the company
They work hard and constantly, day an.
night, when not absent on business.
am pleased to learn too that the Board O
Directors have done this corps ampl,
+ justice They are all young men, though
well educated, and possessed of gooc
common sense and gentlemanly habits
Men of this class ,v;Il