American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1857-07-31
Correspondence of the Messenger & Recorder.
THE PROSPECTS Of fR0ANE COUNTY.

.
THE PROSPECTS ofR0ANE COUNTY,
l have been convcrsant with the af-
fairs of the territory which now forms
the County of Roane, for the last five
years and having been requested by
many of my friends, who have desire
to change locations, to give them infor-
nation concerning the prospects of the
F., new, county, the quality and prices of
the land, &C., therefore publicly COM
municate to those who have made the
enquiries, and all others whom it NAV
concern, what little information 1 am
capable of giving. That section of
country was improved but little until
within the last ten years. 1t was set.
tied by adventurous huntsmen in an
early day of the history of our country;
some from Harrison county, and others
from the banks of the Ohio river, who
sold farms (now worth 500 an acre)
for gun and dog. Completely G.
quipped, they ascended the tributary
streams of the Ohio in quest of game;
settled down at the heads of those trib-
'utaries, with the consoing reflection
that the refincments of civilization
would never again disturb them. Some
two years since | conyersed with one
OF the first settlers in that county. 1t
was said from the best authority that
could be obtained that he was then l12
years old. He located, some 80 years
since, where the county seat of Roane
is now situated. The old man would
shed tears Of JOY when he would revert
I back to those happy days when, with
out any difficulty, a bear or deer could
be procured before breakfast; when
there was no law, but every body did
as they wished to be done by. When
they killed game and divided it among
their neighbors. He remarked that
such process as law to obtain debt
1 was never heard of; but men paid their
4 debts whenever it suited their convent.
y ence. But now, said he, " the whole
world is in confusion, and the study is
y how to make money and oppress their
B neighbors."
q This old pioneer of Spring Creek has
since been consigned to his long home.
The crystal stream that flows below him
still looks and sparkles as it did eighty
years ago. The flowers of Spring, and
the songs of the feathered choir, are as
natural, perhaps, as ever. The seasons
nchange and re'chanGe, with all their
former regularity, but the marks of
Improvement and civilization are max
ing every year visible changes in tho
face of the country, and soon it will
rank among the foremost counties in
Western Virginia.
This county has been kept back, not
because the soil is not of a good quail
ity, but from the fact of the unsettled
state of the titles formerly. Large
4 surveys of land were made there in an
early day, and they were made to clash
with each other; perhaps two or three
owners to one tract. These difficulties
were never settled until recently, by
an act Of the Legislature, the matter
has been so adjusted as to render most
OF the titles good Since that, the
country has been filing up with indus
trlous, pcrsevering citizens, and now
the county of Roam; contains between
300 and 1000 voters. The soil is very
tertlle, producing in abundance all
kinds OF grain. Some of it is noun
famous, yet most IF it is susceptible of
cultivation. Thousands of acres yet
remain in state of nafure. with soil
as good as any that Virginia affords.
1t is true, there are not the conye.
niences we have in older settled coun-
ties, such as mills, roads, &C.; but these
objections will be temporary. They
are fnst being obyiated already. There
ls one steam mill in tho county, and
soon another, which is now in contem-
plation, will be erected. There is one
thing the people can boast Of, that the
climate is salubrious and as free from
malignant diseases as any other coun-
Try III the world. Good water is gen
oraiIy prevalent, and in abundance
throughout the county.
have travelled through most Of the
Western States and Territories have
seen families on the praries, surround,
cd with tho beauties Of nature |; flowers
OF every hue, and the tall grass, famed
by the gentle brcozcs, presented the
appearance of beautiful ocean gently
agitatca. These looked grand and sub.
iimc; but again, in many places, the