The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-02-23
The Valley Of the soush Branch.
MooRFFIprD w Va Jan. 2I,

Leaving the cars of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad at New Creek Station, you
are conveyed by a comfortable country
coach over the mountains some thirty
eight miles to this beautiful and pictur-
ssque valley. The town from which ]
write (the county seat of Hardy is
about six miles above the last point OF
descent from the mountains, where the
road reaches the level plain. To the
stranger who is for the first time ushered
into this modern paradise, the scene
which suddenly breaks upon his view is
so emblaZoned, on every side and in
every direction, with beauty, that
amazement, rather than admiration, is
the first impulse with which his mind
is filled, and it almost requires an etfert
TO bring himself to a full realization
of the truth of what he beholds-
have seen many countries famed
for beauty of. scenery, but 1 have
never yet seen anything that could even
approach this splendid valley. Struck
with its incompatible beauty, / have
I'been at some pains TO learn something
of its history and moro substantial quail
tiles. The lands are generally owned
by the descendants of its original SET
tiers, and have been longin cultivation,
it is said, with little or no detriment to
their fertility. The farms range from
200 to 400 acres of level bottom, with
large portions of upland and mountain
range. The valley extends distance
of go or so miles in a southwesterly di-
rection from where the South Branch
empties into the Potoma river, and the
level bottom lands are from one to
three miles in width, for some 40 miles
from its mouth. The farms run in a
transverse direction from the mountain
so that each farm contains portion of
bottom proper as we'll as upland and
mountain. The river alternates from
one side of the valley, to the other,
which, with the numerous small streams
emptying in it from the mountain sides,
affords the greatest abundance of pure
water for stock at all times. Upon the
rich bottom lands, which lie as level as
floor, corn is chiefly raised-the great
staple of the country or rather of the
immediate valley, and it is here produc-
ed in greater proportion per acre than
anywhere else on the continent-of this
there is no question. The soil from
which these large crops are raised is q
black alluvial, brought down from the
tops and sides of the mountains upon
both sides Of the valley, which original
ly composed the bottom of lake, or
chain of lakes, which formerly existed
here. The draining of these lakes has
been caused by the breaking of the bar
riers by which they were confined, and
their contents have escaped through the
several gaps which are now seen in the
mountains, leaving the broad expanse
of the lands dry, and the river and the
rich soil as heritage. This soil is in
exhaustibl0, being from two to six feet
in depth, and requires no other refresh
ment but rest to keep up it's full quota
of production.
The bush, or second bottom lanas, are
of different character, and produce
small grain and grass abundantly;
wheat is raised here of fine quality.
Tho land is a mixture of sand and clay,
and by the application of manure it
is easily brought into fine tilth and
great productiveness. The mountain
lands produce wheat of the very high
est quality, and there are many farms
opened thereon but these lands are
chiefly used as ranges for stock, and
reserved for timber, fuel, &c, in which
they abound. -
Nature has provided this favored val
lev with lands favorable to the growth
of almost every ything which is necessary
to the comfort or use Of its inhabitants.
Corn, wheat, grass, vegetables and
every kind of fruit flourish in high de-
gree. Much attention has been given
of late years to the introduction and
culture of fruit; young orchards of the
choicest kinds of fruit have been plant
ed, and many of them are Just coming
into bearing. The grape is being ex-
tensively planted with view of max
ing wine. Several gentlemen of large
means and enterprise have started vine
yards, having made themselves thor
oughly acquainted with the whole pro-
cess of the manufacture of wine, and
others are contemplating similar opera
tions.
There is one dra yback on this other
wise perfect county-whiCh is hanging
as a milestone about its neCk-the lack
of railroad transportation to market.
For lack of this, the vast produce of
this valley has 70 make its way on foot
and in common road wagons, over cOun-
try roads and across mountains, dis
tance of 20 to 60 miles, to reach railroad
transportation. In consequence of this,
but half or less, Of the product of this
valley, or of what il is capable of pro-
ducing, is realized. More than double
the quantity of corn, wheat, rye, oats,
hay, potatoes, &c, could and would be
raised, if there were proper facilities
for getting them to market. Besides,
this county abounds in iron, coal, lead +,
timber, and other natural productions
of incalculable value, which now lie
undeveloped for need of the means of
transportation; and all this vast wealth
must remain dead letter and useless,
until railroad facilities shall make it
available in adding to the wealth of
this interesting valley.
The people here ha y at length, how
ever, awakened from their lethargy,
and are now taking vigorous. steps to
secure this great desideratum to their
future prosperity, and are inaugurating
means to CONSTRUCT branch railroad to
connect with the Baltimore and Ohio
road at some convenient point on the
latter, and to traverse the valley from
its mouth to the head waters of the
South Branch, thus reaching into that
portion of the county where lie3ts un-
developed resources, at the same tine
that it acts as a conduit for its agriCul-
tural productions and stock,
That once accomplished, there is in
my opinion no other county which
could offer so great chance to the en-
terprising agrIculturist to make money
or more delightful place in which
to live. This valley contains a people
of substantial Observation-Disclosures,
wealthy in estate, and of stern morality.
For forty miles of its length it is set
tied by substantial farmers, and their
farms are generally provided with good
dwellings and all necessary adjuncts to
the farm. The town Of Moorefeld, situ-
ated near its centre, contains about six
hundred inhabitants and is provided
| with fine court house, hotel, churches,
stores, and numerous fine dwellings, and
is in every respect one of the most pleas
ant villages to be found in any country.
ISAAC u. MASH.