The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-02-17
OUR wETzEL co., CoRREsPoN.
" DENCE.
Reasons Why Alphabetically DIspos.
ed People should Emigrate to Wet.
eel Instead Of Going West.
PINE GROVE, WErzE1 Co., W. VA, !
~ FehrnarY Il 1874

Editors lntelllgencer.
This is country. but little known to
the general public except from the highly
colored reports Of disappointed fishermen
or from Others having about the same
chance as they had Of examining the
country.
] thought brief description OF these
hills'by denizen would be interesting to
the readers Of the 1NTR1IIGRNCER.
For some reason, while the neighboring
counties have been settled to a consider
able extent, we remain with our great
water power almost unused, our coal
waiting the miners pick, our iron ore still
in the hills, and our giant forests to a con.
siderable extent untouched by the wood.
mans axe.
1t seems strange that men would so
anxieusly desire TO go West, brave the
dangers incident to that country and cli-
mate when there are SO many splendid
chances nearer home.
Let me state the case fairly: A man, saw
in the city Of Wheeling, determines 10 turn
his attention to agricultural pursuits. He
disposes Of his effects, goes West, and set
ties in any Of the States or Territories.
Himself and family must become accli-
mated, and very often there Is great
shaking before that Is accomplished; then
the house must be built, generally with
much labor and at considerable expense:
then in the spring, II on the prairie, the
sod must be broken at considerable out
lay with no prospect of raising ANYTHING
but little fodder, with here and there q
little ear Of soft corn, familiarity termed
"sod corn" nothing to live on but his pre-.
Ylous earnings until the following harvest,
alter being in the country from year and
o hall TO two years. No wonder so many
become discouraged and return TO West
Virginia, poorer in tnis worlds goods,
but with rich experience.
How much better would it be to call
on some real estate agent in the city (Nr,
PETERSON or VIM. Y. Hogue, both having
land here and find out price, terms, etc,
and then visit the land and make your SO.
lection. Hin the woods you canbuild a
cabin in few weeks with all the neces-
sary material scattered over your land;
bring your family out before the cold
weather sets in, commence clearing your
land, finding ready market for all your
timber such as slaves, shingle cuts, and
saw logs clear out the under6rush, scratch
the surface with shovel plow, and with
proper amount of labor raise enough to
support your family during the ensuing
year. l. s'H H85e
ERASED last year on about two acres of
land, first planting put in with the shovel
plow, and afterwards worked with the
hoe, fifty bushels Of corn, twenty bushels
OF potatoes, three bushels of buckwheat,
and pumpkins almost innumerable.
! am satisfied any one with prudence.
industry and economy could, in q few
years, take his position among the indie
pendent farmers Of our land.
But perhaps you will say, LAND Is dearP
A gentleman offered me his outlaying
land, somewhere in the neighborhood Of
$50 acres, for $1,000.
There are quite q number Of questions
as to the character Of the country, state
OF society, and the reason why the coun-
try has not been settled, all OF which l
propose answering in, future letter.
V,D.M. i