Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1870-05-03
a Dav in West Virginia.


BE. Sheetz, Esq. the editor of the Lees
burg Mirror, in giving an account of his late
! visit to Jefferson, says =
A day or Two spent in West Virginia last
week, revealed decided spirit of public im-
provemcnt in the localities visited. Harper's
Ferry is still terribly mutilated, but there are
signs of conyalesence. and when her ancient
hills, that once gave echoe to the hammer and
the frog, shall reverberate with. the music of
a thousand spindles her day of deliyerance
may be assured. Charlestown, the gem of
one of the finest and loveliest agricultural re-
gions in the State, bears the scars of war, hut
throughout her borders the hand of industry
is busily engnged 10 clearing away the debris
of once peaceful homes, preparatory to build
ing up their waste places. The ruins of her
dismantled public buildings still rear their
gloomy walls in hideous mockery over the
miserable selfishness and political rancor that
prompted the selections of another spot for
the dispensing of law and justice. But Not
withstanding this, there is energy and pluck
in the old town yet. which has developed it
self, especially in the southeastern suberbs.-
Since the close of the war new streets have
been opened aud the locality from which
John Browns soul went marching on" has
been completely rsetaniorphQsed, aud what
year or two back was but grazing ground
for the village cows is now oderous with the
perfume of The flower and the shrub, amid
which not less than twenty-five or thirty state
ly mansions rear their imposing fronts, the
aboaes Of elegance and comfort. The num-
Der of these will be AIDED to the present sum
msr, and for some of which ground is already
broken. Why can't our people do likewise
H., - 81, Il q
the present and the future. Why can't We
huve new lie, new energy, new streets. new
houses, with increased population and in
creased wealth. Charlestown possesses no Pc
cuIiar advantages that should thus stimulate
her growth, beyond the industry and enter
prise of her public-spirited citizens. And
yet she is enlarging her borders. her people
are sanguine and hopeful, looking forward
with confidence and calm cnmposure, to the
day which they say is not far distant, when
the seat of Justice will again be established
in their midst, where it rightIully belongs,
aud the old town arise, Phoenix-like, from
the ashes of material FIRE with which she has
been so sorely scorchcd. We sincerely trust
their expectations may meet with speedy re-
aliZation. At Hall town. four miles distant;
from Charestown, is the Paper mill of 1lessrs.
Eyester & Strider. which has heretofore been
noticed in these columns. 1t is an extensive
establishment. and is driving lucrative trade.
The paper turned out from this NliIi is made
exclusively of Straw. The process of its
manufacture is truly wonderful, and marks
another step in the progress of science. ~
few years ago we would have deemed it in
credible that straw could ever be converted
into an article of such commercial value as
paper, and vet at this one mill, we see about
eight tons Of it consumed every twenty -four
hours, yielding about seven tons of heavy
brown, ;;paper, Of which one firm alone in
Philadelp hiareceivcs one hundred tons month
ly. The prqprietors are thorough going busi-
ness men, and deserve much credit for the
crsy with which they have prosecuted their
undertaking. They propose in short time
to erect additional buildings for the better ac
commodation Of their rapidly increasing
trade They lave iRYeatcd in their enterprise
over $1,000 aud we were glad to learn that
they arc already renping the reward due to
their .2p;crprtsc.