The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-16
GheQjttetligenrer:
FROM wETzEL COUNTY.

The Village Of Pine Grore and Vicinity
Some Rough Country and S0me Roupl
People - Things mirroring in 1Kttie
Since Cleaning out CsrtGiS 0taraets1S-
Lamtatabb Want Sf Rdusgtion - 4
Model democratic Rlemcnt-1he Lam
titles the BaRs Of Htt'eES Prosperity.
PINE GRovR, WETzEI Co., !
April 10, 1874. I
A ride up the Big Fishing Creek valley
disclOses many objects Of Interest 70 The
traveller On either side rises the high
peaked hills, giving romantic appear
anCe to the surrounding country; these
hills break the monotony By their many
shapes and forms, and cause fresh exCla,
nations Of delight as each new scene
bursts upon the vision. AS the eye restR
on the oak clad hills, interspersed with
the evergreen pine, tho hills In some
places Ct0wding down to the creeks
edge, and again, receeding from the
stream, disclosing valleys carpeted with
green, and dotted with farm houses sur.
rounded with the usual conyeniences that
so TO make farm lifc enjoyable. II you
want to see the country, though, Il is nee.
eSSary 10 leave the creek and climb the
highest peak. l have stood on a ridge
above the village Of Pine Grove and
locked down on the sceneGt my feet,
wishing Tor the artists skill to transfer it
70 canvas; the creek, looking down the
South fork, up the North fork, and down
the main stream, as q silver thread run
ming three ways, the village at, my feet,
the green meadows, the surrounding hills,
covered with their Variegated foliage, the
sun sinking in the West, its Last rays
throwing a halo Of glory over the scene,
My description does not do II Justice.
1t must DO seen to be appreciated. Our
scenery is picturesque In the true sense of
that word. lla
THE CHARACTER OF THE LAND.
This Is u rough country, though no
rongheF than some other parts Of our
beautiful mountain State,and not as rough
rs some have seen, Judge our hills
will compare lavorRbly IN regard 10
height, steepness and general appearance
with the hills that environ your own CITY,
Our hill land ia the richest, though as
yet comparatively untouched. Its, the
best for wheat, and snme oil it has pro-
duced 90 bushels OF corn to the acre.
The settlements have been principally
along the creek and the large runs, but
settlers arc beginning to be forced by ne
cessity to tho hills. -s
We bave come good farms along the
cFeeki as good as you will find in Mar
shsIl county, except the Grave Creek bot.
toms, or In Ohio county, except the Short
O!Cek country; for instance, the Lantz
tsfm, containing 1900 acres-about 200
acres bottom land-under good state oil
cultivation, with practical, large heart.
ed farmer controlling affairs. AS farm,
there are few better in the State.
This IS an excellent fruit country.
Trees need very little attention, and yield
bountitully every year.
POOR FARM BUILDINGS.
am sorry cannot speak Of tho i'm
proVements in farm buildings as I would
like. Yet there is this excuse: the land
difficulties have retarded improvements;
but as these are nearly all settled, we may
reasonably look for better things In Wet
zsl county.
There are rough people also here,
though, thanks to the Redmen, not so
many now, and those who arc left arc
Kept in wholesome subsection by the pun.
ishmCnt oil the law. This country, like
all new countries-those that settle slow
ly-has in time past been cursed by set
Of desperadoes.
ALAw ABIDING PEOPLE.
am satisfied no people would have
stood them as long as the citizens Of Wet.
eel county and | argue that this is a proof
OF the Iaw.abiding principle in the breasts
o! these people, or they would have risen
long ago and rid the country of those
who were too lazy to work and none too
good to steal; but when they did rise they
made quick work OF it and it has proved
agreat blessing, as the county Is settling
up rapidly since these men have been
driven out. We have some as good Citi-
zens as any county can boast.
THE COUNTY FILLING Up FAST.
Our settlements arc scattered but the
county Is filling up very fast, more so
than the neighboring counties, from the
lsct that we have the greatest room to
Improve and with this influx VIC look Tor
q bright future, trusting that brazen faced
leWdness, soul destroying blasphemy,
and God deiyiug Sabbath. breaking will |
disappear before tho onward march Of
civilization.
Our school advantages arc not what
they should be, the houses being so far
apart and some children having to go
from five to seven miles to school; but
when we remember the surprising ad-
Vancss since the introduction Of the free
school system, we thank God for the past
and take courage orthe future. Nor are
Tue schools appreciated as they should be,
though this will not surprise any one
when they learn that two.thirds Of the
Southern party Of this county arc desti-
lutte oil the common rudiments oil learning.
oh thou dohbly cursed slave system that
Kept the whites intellectually chained
that they might help to bind tho blacks In
letters. We are still suffering from the
iOul effects ofslavery.
ELEVEN PEOPLE WHO MADE THEIR MARK.
For fear some may think l am exag-
gerGting, l will say 1t became necessary
mol long ago for me to draw up an article
OF agreement, the signatures to which
were the names Of eleven grown persons,
and in signing all made their marx.
lhese naturally oppose the schools be.
cause they know not the benefits they con.
ler' Others who know little Of the ad.
Vantages OF education cannot do too
much Tor the cause, and l may safely say
the schools are slowly but surely winning
their way; and the time Is not lar distant |,
when we will be able to boast Of our ac-
quiEements, as with shame we now con-
less our ignorance
OVERWHELMINGLY DEMOCRATIC.
As you arc aware, this county is over
Whemingly Democratic. This is a cir
cumstanco not so much 10 DO deplored as |