Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-09-05
ABOUT MARTINsBURG.

lengthy and interesting letter
written from this place and pub
lished in the Wheeling Register,
under ole of August 26. The let
ter is from the grac full and pro-
life pen of 0 S. Long, ESQ late
editor of the Register:
''But l wanted to speak Of Martins
burg There is no other town 10 the
State that has grown 50 rapidly and sub
stantially since the war as this. In fact.
Martinssurger alpost fesspts the use
Of the word t,,Tn, as applied to the
place IL his residence, aud insists that
City Is The proper term, and that it
be spoiled with a capital G. 1t has out
grown the childish names Of village ard
town, and like budding miss of seven
teen or thereabouts, Insists on assuming
airs Of importance, aud looking down on
her more tardy municipal sisters in other
portions Of the State. With her present
population Of more than six thousand,
Martnsburg already ranks as the third
plac9 in size in West Virginia, and, If
the present ratio Of growth should con-
tinue a little Wills longer, she will pass
Parkersburg, and take her place rs sec
ond only to Wheeling in population and
commercial importance.
The close Of the war (the era from
which everything in Vest Virginia is
now da'ed,) found Martinsburg a slrug-
Cling town of perhaps two thousand in
habitants. The people were, however,
thrifty and eat :. prising; they worked
bard to make fortunes for themselves,
and they invited others to come in and
help them. The soil of Berkeley county
produced enough to feed hundred thou
sand people, and every body was welcome
to earn his share of the product. A num-
Der of Germans were attracted here by
the fertility of the soil and the prospect
for improvement; the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad Company located here one of
their largest shops, and Martinsburg
soon come to be looked upon throughout
all this region as a thriving, industrious
and enterprising place. The city is sit
uated on ridge or rather several ridges
Of limestone, which is SO thinly covered
with soil that the sharp and ragged
edge" las Beecher would say) protrudes
in almost every citizens back yard. The
trenches for the gas and water pipes flor
Martinsburg has botn) have been cut
through solid limestone, and all the
streets have the Appearance of being
newly Macadamized. Dig where you
will. blue limestone turns up, and on
some Of the streets it has onty been
necessary to smooth the surface, the
solid rock furnishing the requisite bed.
| Here and there where the limestone
lodges stand up, as they often do, totally
destitute Of soil, they have been white
washed and made to serve as ornaments
rather than blemishos oil the private
grounds in which they rear their heads.
The limestone is the most striking fea-
ture in the eye of a stranger.
When the general confagration is over
Martinsburg may be relied upon to
furnish enough lime to whitewash all
West Virginia, and spread it on reason
ably thisk.
The water works, of which every en-
terprising Martinsburger is bound to
speak with pride. are constructed upon
- the Holly SYSTEM" and embody all the
latest improvements. The machinery is
very handsome and powerful and is very
carefully tended.
The water supply is drawn from two
large and unfailing springs which, il is
estimated, will furnish abundant water
for twculy thousand people, ard the
Tnscarora creek furnishes the power that
drives the works. The pipes are fsheet
ircp laid in beds Of cemeLt and are
said 10 be stronger and more dura-
bic than those Of cast iron The whole
works, including pipes and all, cost the
very moderate sum of 800 900, and are
operated ct an annual expense Of S 900.
The force is sufficient to throw us many
s,relms as may lie desired ,vrr the roof
Of IKE hiSi',i taIiding IL he city and,
by an iugeiit' ar a,doulatl, arrangement,
the suppl, . ls-,,isi,d u, liz demand,
The lil"s tug Kept constantly iuii.
Tie w.j,r works were or, c,p.l during
the nayoray o. Major A T.. Sl,uit, Of
TIC Berkeley House, well known to many
of tic readers OF the Register as for u
long time popular conductor on the b.
! & q. Railroad. To his enterprise aud
energy ofsach vide awake citizens as the
Faulkncrs aud others, and by the active
Cooperation Of lie DAILY INDEPENDENT
the progress and Improvement Of Mar
tinsburg are largely due.
Messrs. Logan & Wisner publish daily
a very newsy add readable paper which
exerts an excellent Influence in aid of
every important scheme Of municipal
good The only topic on which it is not
Il daentad nfirpIv reliable rplas az A. 6ebin N