The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1865-10-05

tftltis ~ SttH IItVIdlly, ana Wltn SCNcIlty
OF truth, be said to be unsurpassed, if
equalled, i'll the United States, as a farm
ing region in which to make homes of
comfort, opulence, and refinement.
This district is a little more than three
thousand seven hundred square miles in
extent, and is bounded on the east by
the Shenandoah, and on the north and
northwest by the Potomac and its north
branch. The eastern front ridge of the
Alleghanies is near the western bound
airy; Hampshire, Hardy, and Pendle
ton are intersected by parallel ridges and
valleys of the Allegheny range; the
Branch mountain range extends in a
similar direction, and the North noun
tain forms the eastern boundary of Har-
dy county.
Pendleton, the most southerly of these
counties, is very mountainous, has a
mean elevation of 1000 feet above the
sea level. North mountain is on it's
southeastern boundary, and Jackson
mountain intersects it. The north and
south forks of the south branch of the
Potomac, and the south branch itself,
drain this county, and afford some fine
alluvial soil for corn and wheat and the
most luXuriant pasturage. The noun
tains are covered with the densest tim
Der.
Besides the north and south branches,
this section is drained by the Cacapon
and the Lost river. The Opequon forms
the southeastern boundary OF Berkeley
county. Lost river is one of the Won
ders Of nature. After eoursing through
a fertile valley for twenty-five miles, it
breaks through the Lost River noun
tain and bursts the barriers of Timber
ridge, and then encounters a new obsta-
Gle in Sandy ridge, which it passes by
curious piece of fluvial strategy, mining
its way among the loose rocks of theun-
DERIVING strata, but loses itself in its SUBJ
terranean meanderings of three miles,
coming to the light again rather in The
capacity of strong springs, than the DOW
erful current of a river which has lost its
way, to become anew the sources of
considerable stream-the Cacapon.
Ice mountain, in Hampshire, 26 miles
northwest from Winchester, is another
natural curiosity worthy of mention.
At the western base of the mountain,
which is here some 700 feet high and very
precipitous, is an area of 100 yards in
length, and Il breadth of 80 feet up the
mountain side, covered withloose rocks,
under which, at all seasons of the year,
blocks of ice of several pounds weight
may be found. Snakes passing over the
rocks stiffen and die, and flies perish in
are preserved here almost indefinitely.
At the base of this bed of ice flows forth
Il spring of intensely cold water; and
vet these rocks are exposed to the rays
of the sun after 9 O'Clock in the MORN
ing.
The hanging rocks near Romney, 400
feet high, are notable curiOsitieS
In Morgan county, two and a half
miles from ST.. Johns run, on the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad, and thirty-six
miles from Winchester, are the Berke-
ley Mineral springs, much frequented,
as they have been since the days of 1776,
when Generals Washington and Gates,
and Charles Carroll, of Carrolitoi,, attest
ed their virtues, and built cottages there
for SUMMER residence. Twelve hun
dred gallons per minute are said to flow
through the bath rooms of the present
establishment. The baths are much cell
ebrated from their character and guam
tity and agreeable temperature, (740,
and the scenery around is highly pic
turesque; The Maryland Gazette, in,
1884, said of it: ''In Berkeley county
ing-rooms, are nearly completed. An
assembly room and theatre are also con-
structed for the innocent and rational
amusements of the polite who assemble
there" Near these springs isa fountain
of chalybeate waters, which stimulate
like strong tea.
In Hampshire county are the medici-
nal waters known to travellers as the
Capon springs, four miles from the Ca
capon river, on the west side of the
North Mountain. The s5hannondale
springs, near the Shenandoah river, a
few miles above Harper's Ferry, have
been celebrated for their efficacy in scor-
butte affections. Several ebbing and
flowing springs exist in this region, and
a subterranean river, an affiuent OF the
Shenandoah, is said to furnish a winter
resort for millions ofthe finny tribe, null
titudes being caught in fall and spring
as they enter and return.
The valley is mainly OF 4 limestone
formation, with some sandstone and
patches OF red and black slate. The
Opequon runs through Il narrow strip OF
slate soil, of inferior fertility to the fine
limestone region on either side Of it, in
Jefferson and Berkeley. These counties,
it has been said, "contain a greater por-
i;n,, :, f,r+:Jo J,OL, thay, onN 1tbpr cnp-