Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1857-12-04
western virginia.


health, tried stockraising in Canada. but
finding that the climate was not suitable
for that purpose, had his attention turned
to Virginia land having had his attention
turned to Virginia for that purpose. he
furnishes the New York Tribune an inter-
esting letter Of the various localities he
visited. We take the following extract
from his letter. which is written from
Clarksburg. and dated October /:
Called at No. 229.. Broadway. where I
got FIRST class ticket for Clarksburg, Va.
which can be had for 5000 Ca second
class can be had for So. SOY the time to
this point being 20 hours. leaving at A.
M. There was nothing worthy OF notice
on my journey, only that the scenery was
very grand and imposing between Balti>
timore and Grafton. Clarksburg is the
county town Of Harrison it has num-
Der of good buildings, but rather scatter
ed T; it has population of about 1000.
But there does not appear to be much do
ing in the way of business. yet the peo-
pie seem to be thriving and we'll off.
There is rather more stir just now on ac-
cuunt of the Assizes being held. I find
their Judge Camden. is much respect
ed. by all parties on account of his abili>
ties, and strict impartiality in administer.
ing justice. Coal is here in great abun-
dance, being delivered for three or four
cents per bushel. The country around is
very fertile. although billy. Corn grows
at the very tops eleven and twelve feet
high. Wheat and potatoes grow magni6-
Gently. took stage to Weston, the coun-
ty town of Lewis, distant "a miles, by a
good macadamized road it is an exceed
ingly neat. thriving little place: 1t has a
saw and grist mill, three good hotels, four
churches, weekly newspaper, a well
conducted seminary. branch of one of
the Virginia banks (specie paying at
that) daily mail, with abundance OF
good coal, as well as SPLENDID crops OF
all kinds, which make living very cheap.
paid Is cents meal and they were as
good as any ordinary man could wish, and
well served up. The same for my bed.
1t is easy accounting for this, when they
have corn at 25 cents, wheat at 60 cents,
chickens at 10 cents piece, turkies from
80 to 40 cents, and other things in proper
ton. found these prices generally all
over the country. The houses are chief
ly frame. the timber principally used be-
ing poplar and white oak. which sells for
ten and twelve dollars per 1000 feet. The
country is here, as it is all the way, ye-
ry billy, but fertile. eminently adapted for
grazing on account OF the fine grass that
grows on the hills. and the mildness OF
the Winters. was told that in ordinary
mild winters they need not feed their
sheep more than two weeks, their net cat
tie being fed once day for about four
months. The next place worthy of notice
is Bull Town, on account of salt works
which have been established here for or
ty years. The water is found $50 feet
below the surface. They make just now
about thirty bushels every twenty>four
hours, which is sold as fast as made for
rs cents per bushel but with little
more energy and improved machinery
they could make 100 bushels. The lit
tie Kanawha passes here; it is beauti'
full clear stream with plenty of fine fish in
it. There are two saw mills and grist
mill near this place. About FIVE miles
from this stopped at Col. Squires' for
the night, He is an old veteran of 70
years of age. and had been 60 years
where he is. I was told all the way along
that the country was very healthy, fever
and ague being hardly ever known, but
this vigorous old gentleman and his fami-
ly are living witnesses of that. He has
II children they are all married, and
have children, and the first death thai
has occurred in his family was last year,
when his sons wife died in childbed.
found several cases quite as remarkable
l started the next morning for Sutton, the
county town of Braxton. 1t is quite {
small place. but increasing. as l saw sew
eral frame houses going up. The Ell
passes here-it is beautiful, cleal
stream. with water enough the most par
of the year for rafting timber to the Ohio
River, which is from 80 to 100 miles
All along its banks. camel coal is founc
in great abundance, which is being exten
sively manufactured into oil. saw {
field of Chineee sugar cane, all the stalk
varying from 12 to / 5 feet high also {
splendid field OF corn beside it and as ,
proof of the richness of the soil. l was tolt
that there had been corn growing on thu
same place for the last twenty Ave years
without being manfred. l found the coun
try quite equal, and in some respects, SUI
perior to what was represented to me BY
Mr.. Underwood. Why this country is no
teeming with inhabitants would be hare
matter to explain for in point Of soil. eli
mate and mineral wealth it certainly has
few equals. There is a great disposition
to e'come industrious settlers throughout
the whole country. They are actually il
starvation for mechanics. such as black
smiths, wagonmakers, joiners and sucl
like. In view of the general distress like
ly to be felt among such men this winter
in New York and elsewhere, it would BIZ
we'll for them to go there at once, where
land can be had cheap, as we'll as plenty
of employment at remunerating prices.