The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-03-16
KANAwHA LANDS AND MINERALs.
Inducements for Emigration to West
Virginia.
Coal and Agricultural anhs OF Choice
Character.

To the Editor of the Pittsburgh Commercial:
1 noticed in the New York Tribune,
of February 23d, brief article calling
the attention of emigrants and coal
men to West Virginia. Mr.. Greeley is
constantly urging the superintendent
population of Eastern cities, towns and
rural districts to emigrate to the West,
and thousands now thank him for his
advice, which took them to new homes,
where they have quickly obtained not
only competence, but many OF them
wealth. He has directed attention
mainly to the fertile lands OF Iowa,
Missouri, Kansas and other OF the
Western States and Territories. The
article referred to above, sets forth
strongly some OF the advantages of
West Virginia,
1 have often wondered that more at
tention has not been directed to this
new and inviting State. Its location in
the very center ofthe Union and OF pop
ulation, makes it peculiarly attractive
to those especially, who are aVerse to
pioneer life. A large portion of the
lands are rich and productive. The
bottom lands on the rivers and creeks
are unsurpassed in fertility, while the
table lands, much of which are covered
with valuable timber, are also very fer
tile, and adapted to the production of
most kinds of grain and fruits OF every
kind, while large portions are peculiar
ly suited to grape growing and sheep
and stock raising.
have recently been through much of
the State, and found the large non
resident land owners were dividing
their lands and offering them for sale
in farms to suit purchasers, and was
surprised to find that on many OF these
farms there were cabins, more or less
and land cleared and in
cultivation, varying in quantity from
a few acres up to twenty, fifty, or even
more acres. thus furnishing purchasers
u home at once.
But to me the greatest and most at
traclive feature of the country is its
vast mineral resources, especially in coal
and iron. The coal is of the very best
quality, large deposits OF it being cam
7lcL and the veins of unusual thickness,
varying from three to fourteen feet, and
most of it near navigable streams. The
Great <anawha is navigable for steam
ers all the year, for a distance of some
eighty miles from its junction with the
Ohio At Point Pleasant, and I learned
that coal can be taken down this river
and forwarded to Cincinnati and other
markets, when the Ohio will not per-
NIT shipping from Pittsburgh. Why
men, even with moderate
capital, do not embark in the coal bust
ness on this river is surprising, and can
be accounted for only from the fact that
they have never examined the advan-
tages here held out. Coal lands on the
Great Kanawha and its tributaries,
equal in quality 10 any near Pittsburgh,
can be bought for one. quarter, and l
understand in many cases for even one.
tenth the sum asked for Pittsburgh coal
lands, while the great markets are some
twO hundred mics nearer, and the naVi-
CATION much more reliable.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad,
which is n continuation of the Virginia
Central Railroad, beginning at tide
water below Richmond and terminal
ing at the mouth of the Big Sandy, a
distance of four hundred and twenty
miles, and crossing the whole of West
Virginia, will soon be completed. This
being the nearest and the best route AS
to grades and curVatures, from all the
great centers of trade in the west, must
be the great hOrOM0h(uTc of the country,
and will add vastly to the wealth of the
new State. The most acceptable and
valuable coal lands. and the largest and
most desirable body OF farming lands
which l saw in my travels through the
Stale were in Putnam county, some
thirty or forty miles from the Ohio, and
on the great Kanawha. Here / learned
that some four or five thousand acres
of superior CCal land and some seventy
five thousand acres of farming lands
had been carefully surveyed, divided
and mapped in parcels and farms of
size. noticed few days
since an item in the Pittsburgh Dis
patch that there would DO a large emf
grafton this spring from Pittsburgh to
Virginia, kentucky and Georgia. If
and coal men will take my
advice they will visit the great Kama
wha Valley before deciding as to their
ultimate destination, and if they do
they will probably look no further.
NJ r.