Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-05-22
LETTER FROM LEErowN.
May 10, 1875

May 10, 1875.
Our friends. Messrs. Hoge and Seek,
man, are again at work mending the
public highways, devotiug their atten-
tion mainly to the Improvement Of the
rounty Turnpike which passes through
Leetown, forming the Main street OF
our village. They have just completed
new culvert over the run which passess
or ratber flows past the southern end of
our village. In taking up the old cul-
vert they uncovered some old tencc-ralls
which had been used to corduroy" the
road before the turnpike vas built.
They were in tolerable state of preser-
walton, after laying in the mud forty.
five or fifty years. MIR. Meredith Helm
says the pike was finished in 1926, but
others say that it was not completed
until four or five years later. Can you
set the matter right, by giving us the
exact date of the completion of the road
under consideration ! We will he thank
ful for the information.
In excavating for the culvert rock
was dug out, which was very light for
its-bulk, and which, when broken, was
found to be of a dark gay color, quite
porous, almost like fine sponge in that
particular, and il was also greasy to the
sight and touch. Mr.. s, gave a frag-
ment to me, which / have shown TO
several persons bnt no one has yet
named it for me. The stone is certainly
a curiosity.
l visited Smithfeld few days ago,
and noticed many marks of improve
meDt in that town. Quite number of
new buildings have been repaired and
renovated, and also noticed that one
dwelling had received bright tin root,
which / had not noticed before Indeed
the town looks better now than it has
looked for five or six years. The mer-
chants of the place have received their
"new goods" for the spring and sum-
mer trade, aud they report that they are
doing fair business, despite the hard
times.
Mr.. George w. Smith, an old resi-
dept Of Smithtield. but who has recent
ly resided in Maryland, has within
couple of mouths returned to bis native
place, and opened saddlers shop on
Main street. / have heard him spoken
OF as one of the best workmep in his
line of business, to be found in the
state. During my trip observed some
fields of wheat that look right prums-
ing, and | was told that hence to Sum
nit Point the wheat looked yet more
promising. In the vicinity of Smith
field the prospect for wheat is better
than it is in this neighborhood. | also
learned that Messrs George w. Ander-
sou and John +. Shaul had both dis
covered fine specimens vf iron ore on
their farms, which are situated one
mile, and oue-and-a-half miles, respec-
lively, south OF Snithfcld The ore is
said 10 exist in large quantities.
l rode TO Gerardstown about n week
ago, aud l noticed that the wheat fields
in that part of Berkeley look very bad;
indeed some fields scarcely show any
wheat at all Lsasing out the wheat
crop, that Deigiroorhood presents quite
thrifty appearance though the villa
gers complain Of ''dull times" called
on J. b. Morgan, Esq, Of the "7fm's"
and found him As genial and pleasant
as ever. He says that ''it is right hard
work to find local items enough to '.fill
up the paper but it is still harder 10
find wherewithall to fill my pocket"
The Good Templars ofLeetown have
chosen the following officers for the
present term: Jas. w. Willis, w. e.
T.; BENZ. NJ. Seckman, w. V. T.; John
J. Watson, X. s.; Joseph Wageley, +.
s.; Charles NJ. Watson, T.; Jas. T. Lit
Teton, g.; Snoden II. Watson, d.; Jno.
Dorsey, l. G.; Thomas L. Roberts, o.
g.; Daniel w. Hannah, ID. NJ; George
Hogue, A. S.; d. Il. Thornburg, X. II.
s.; J. I. Campbell, L. II. s.; Henry s.
League, Lodge Deputy. The las! named
gentleman has been appointed ono OF
the delegates from the Grand Lodge vi
West Virginia, L o. G. T., to the Eight
National Temperance Convention, which
is TO meet in Chicago, on the first OF
June, next.
The Public School at the "Gridiron
Academy" closed on the 23d ult., and
the Kerneysville School one week later.
/ believe there was no public exercises
at the close of the latter; at the former
there was partial examination of the
scholars, witnessed by few spectators
aud three prizes were awarded for er-
ceilence in spelling during the term; the
FIRST to Charles J. Custer; second TO
Everett b. Baldwin, and third 10 Chas.
u. Jones. At the close of the exercises
the teacher, Ii. G. Evans, made short
speech in behalf of Free Schools. The
spectators appeared well satisfied with
the progress Of the pupils Of the school.
| understand that Mr.. L. K. Scott
was very successful with the Kerneys-
vile school, during the term just closed;
he is now teaching private school
there, and Miss Mary 5. Evans has
similar school at tie "Gridiron Acadc-
my" each having thirteen scholars. Tine
cilizens of this part Of the county are
getting deeply interested in the cause
of popular education.
believe there is nothing new con-
cerning the Agricultural College.
The spelling fever has struck Hor-
aces Gap; a spellingelass meets weekly |
at that place, and they are making some
progress, / believe, though they don't |
often have spectators at their meetings,
t,o;.,<, ax,.Jua, 20 IN that r,afficnlar