South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1876-01-21

Gus. two-silths rolling hills. and one-iiith
lowiands, lying along the several streams
traversipg it from southwest 30 north
east, and which give origin and name 10
at least three important valleys. The
most eastern of these is the Lost River
or Capon Valley, about 90 miles long
and with average width of 20 ~ miles.
1t is principally adapted TO grass and
small grains, and larger fruits. is LOO
feet above the level of the sea, and is
we'll walcred. The rocks are principal
lv, sandstone, slate, and conglomerate
About SO miles from its source Lost RI
yer plunges under the base of Sandy
Ridge, and having tunneled its PASSAGE
for about ) miles, reappears on the same
side. and is thence called Great Capon
River--traversing Hardy. Hampshire. &
Morgan counties, and emptying into the
Potomac above Hancock; and the VAL
lev from this point is also called Capon
Valley. Parallel. to it. is the famous
South Branch Valley. extending through
Pendletou, Grant, Hardy. and H;mp-
shire. 1t is section of surprising
beauty and fertility. In length it is q.
bout l20 miles. and in width from four
to twelve 1t is about COO feet lower
than Lost River Valley, and consequent
" warmer. The bottom lands are won
derfully adapted TO the growth of corn,
large areas having been planted TO it,
for generations without rotation and
without apparent diminution of crops.
The hills Oh either side are we'll suited
TO grass, small grains and fruits.
Patterson's Creek Valley, traversiuo
4 f.., .,,1 = L., ~,
~ miles, and in width from four 10 nine.
1t is adapted 10 grains, but especially
to grazing purposes.
The tributaries of these streams. OF
course form smaller valleys, such rs the
South Fork and North Fork Valleys in
Pendleton county, Mill Creek and Lu-
nev's Creek in -ant, MIL Greek and
Little Capon in Hampshire, all mainly
grazing sections. Special mention should
be made ofthe northwestern section OF
Grant county. drained by North Braach,
Stony Biver, Difficult Run and Abra-
hams Creek, rs OF great value for gra-
zng purposes, bat especially for its i'm
menSely valuable coal basin.
All these streams arc we'll stocked
with fish, Trout, Black bass, &c, and.
except n part of Great Capon, have
along their banks wagon roads, which
might be classcd from fair 10 excellent
Each county has also greater or less
numbel Of roads running cast aud west,
prominent among whcl, are the Win
and Winchester Pike, and Nlsfsi, Rs,-
er road.
The Scutll Brapch and Great Capon
are navigable for batteaux about four
months in the year, the former to Moore
field. the latter for about 90 miles. In
the mountains the prevailing rocks are
Slate, Sandstone, of good building quail
! ity. and Limestone with q LIGHT. loamv
/ soil averaging from to inches in
| depth. In the hills the conglomerate
! takes the place of limestone. The soil
! is slate or clay. and has q depth of 5 10
! 10 inches, specially adapted to grass,
small grain and fruits. No rocks crop
out in the bottom lands, where the soil
/ is q black or sandy loan from 8 10 i
| feet deep, producing immense yields OF
corn, without rotation or fertilizer, also
/ Of wheat. potatoes and hay. In the ND.
/ lands the rotation Of crops is corn. wheat
/ clover and occasionally rye or buck.
wheat; average yield in bottom lands
! is. Of Corn, 80 bushels, Wheat 90, Oats
40, Potatoes 100. and Hay tons. On
! uplands, Corn -. Wheat II. Oats %.
/ Buckwheat %. No manures are used
on the bottoms, except that the corn.
hay. &c, are fed TO cattle on the fields
| in succession. Barnyard manure is used
to some extent on the uplands. but no
artificial fertilizers are employed.
The principal stock is Cattle. Horses.
and Hogs and q few Sheep. Cattle are
orazed on the uplands or mountains
| during Summer and fed corn in Winter.
The District probably sends 10 market
every year 10000 head. averaging about
/ 1850 lbs. or these the lightest find
I market in Baltimore and PHILADELPHIA.
+ the heaviest in New York. The home
| price is - cents per ID. gross. No Corn
: is sent 10 market. but is sold at home
for 80 cts. per bushcl
Wheat brings 81 25. Oats IS cents.
/ Rye Is cents. Buckwheat go cents.
/ Chickens per dozen, 50 80. Ducks S..
/ Geese 8 cents per h.. Turkeys 0 cents.
/ Butter 20, and Eggs 10 cents per doz..
All these find market chiefly in Cumber.
land & the mining regions thcreabouts.
When rented for money rental. The
lands rate about rs follows: Bottom
lands, for corn 10 10 $12-good upiands
/ Sj-grazing lands from 81 to Sc per
acre. Lands are also rented on The
shares; renter paying from 10 oftbe
crop. IN many places they are also
cultivated by the acre.
The bottom lands sell for 500 per
acre and upwards, clay and hin land
from s. 70 $50. Timber lands from 80
cents 70 $40 per acre. There is no fix.
cd price for mineral lands. Of which
there arc large areas. and which must
have cheaper transportation in order to
be developed.
Throughout this whole region there
il n decided scarcity or honest. reliable
labor both in the fields and Houses
Wages for The former are from SIP TO
So per month and boarded-for the