Connecticut western news., 1872-11-15
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SALISBURY. CONN. Friday Morning, Nov. 15, 1872.
Huntington, West Virginia.

bury, 1 promised, rather inconsiderately perhaps, to inform my friends respecting this place, but being unable to do so by let ter, take this means of informing your readers generally of what there is of inter est us far as have learned, and perhaps 1 could in no better way than to begin with its origin.
 After the consolidation of the Virginia Central and the Coyington & Ohio railroads ot Eastern Virginia, it became necessary to seek an outlet and form another of those grand trunk lines to the great west. After encountering innumerable difficulties, such as are to be met with only in crossing the wild and rugged Alleghany, spanning deep and dark chasms, (across which We are to shake hands, the Ohio river was reached at this point. No sooner were the surveys made ani the route pronounced feasible, than the great Central Land company was formed with c. P. Huntington at it's head. Secret agents were employed to go among the unsuspecting farmers and buy up all the land on this bottom with d view of fo o'ming great town. We'll, tne plan sue. ceeded. The farmers, not suspectng what war in the wind, parted with their broad acres which really were not of us much val ue, siuce the loss of their peculiar institu- tlon,' and not till the bargains were con- pleted did the people know what great city was to arise upon these cornfields And this is how it originated.
 LOCATION.
 Huntington, named after It's great foun- der, c. P. Huntington, is situated on the south bank of the Ohio river l5O miles above Cincinnati is to be l6O miles below Huntington, which is at present the termi- nus of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad. It has frontage on the river of oyer four miles and one mile in width, reaching back to the highlands and embraces some of the finest and richest bottom lands in the Ohio valley. It is now little more than year since they commenced laying out the town and grading streets. It is beautifully laid into avenues running parallel with the riv- CT, and streets running at right angles, and each one numbered from l upwards. The blocks were laid out into building plats from 30x160 to 60x2O0 according to loca- tion. The company have been to great la- bor and expense in grading the streets, lay ing plank walks, etc., and making every thing as comfortable and convenient as possible, and the surrounding country has seemed to appreciate their efforts, for with in the space of one year, there has arisen on the spot that was once cursed with the galling letters of the slave, population of 2,500 souls. Where once was heard the crack of the slave drivers lash the thud of heavy hoe; and where the wall of bondmen nightly ascending to God, is now heard no more forever, but instead, the ring ot the hammer, the clang of machin- cry, and the hum of busy voices, proclaim the light of another day. The location of this place seems to have been wisely chos- en, backed as it is by the most extensive and richest fields of iron and coal that have yet been discovered, and this being the most natural outlet, all can see at once that eventually this must and will become the first city in the Ohio valley. The c. & o. R. k. company are already prepared to ex- tend their lines from this place to Lexing- ton' Ky, and also across the river into Ohio, thereby connecting with all points north, south and west. And this is how it is located.
 ITS PEOPLE.
 The population is mixture of Virginians and Northrners. with a slight preponder- ance in favor of the former. We meet men from nearly all of the New England states; even the wood chopper from "way down in Maine" has heard of this "Eldora. do on the bottoms," and come down to Whlttle out his fortune, and in nine cases out of ten he will do it. There are but few Of the F. F. V's. left, not being able to en- dure the contaminating presence of the "mudsills, they have sought more con genieI cline; gone further toward Jeff dom. notice an almost total absence of foreigners; not having seen but one Irish man since left Toledo, Ohio. There are none employed on the river ts, nor in the hotels, nor have I yet see but one here, and but three "Deutcht ,rs". but in their stead is the impossible darkey. He IS met with morning, noon and night. when not seen he is heard, and when nei- tner seen nor heard, there are other delicate organs that detect his presence They are m the boats, depots aud cars, hotels and dwellings,; they wash, cook and serve i; they grade streets, dig t2ilches, build rail roads; ln fact he seems to be about the only one here that peri orrs manual labor It seems to be the peculiar province of the white man here to ct1mmsnd, and the black to execute. They seem the natural ser wants and we'll do they fill the place. And this IS how it is with the people.
 ITS BUSINESS.
 Business is claimed now to be q little dull. There is considerable building going on put ot the cheapest kind. The great feature or the place is the c, & O. R. R. Aocomo'lVe and repair shop now being To ca'eo nere' Their works are very exten s,Ve CO .ering an area of over seventy acres NV xt ia importance is the Ensign Manurs Go. MT. Ely Ensign, late of t1e Barnun Richardson Co.,, Conn.,, manager. Th company have Underground and are nov erecting very extensive buildings for th manufacture of car wheels, and car cast ings. They will commence operation with capacity of seventy wheels day with from five to eight tons of soft cas1 ings. Their buildings will be so construct ed that with very littleo utlay they can dor ble ther capacity, and when completed wi cover nearly seven acres of ground. Man ufscturers have not located here as yet any great extent. with the exception of tw sash and blind factories, Q few wagon