The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-10-09
Editorial Correspondence
HOMES FOR THE POOR.


virgiUia-some Interesting Facts
and Figures About the Cost of I'm
proving Wild Lands-A Starving
LabOrer I'm the City Can Find indie
psndence In the Couniry-Remedy
for Hard Times.
DUNMoRE, w. VA, Oct. 2, 1877.
l promised in my last communication
to say something relative to the advan-
tages offered to men of small means in
this section. have spoken CT the gel-
eral character of the land, OF its surface,
of its adaptsbility to grasses and grain,
snd of the climate. 1t is hardly neres-
sary to stop to speak of the improved
lands at this point, as the new settler
would want to purchase land in the
woods, so that all the capital he would
need for its improvement would be bis
own labor. There are vast bodies of will
lands in this section; it has been estimated
that there are 100000 acres in Pocahontas
county alone. This land is worth from
81 to So per acre, the price depending
upon the quality and location Of the
land. 1t is covered with growth OF
fine timber, but timber not hard to re-
move. The principal growth on the
best lands Is the sugar maple, beech and
white lynn, with ssprinkling of hickory,
ash and chetnut. The hemlock and
spruce, or as it is called, the "yew" in this
locsiity, grow abundantly in some locali-
ties. The spruce or yew lands are not
so valuable rs the others. Yet they set
well in grass. In the neighbo-hood of
Dunmore and Greenb bank is to be found
a fae quality of white pine timber, pro-
nounced equal in quality and size to the
white pine rowing on the Susquehanns
and Allegheny in the western portions
OF Pennsylvania and New York.
The white pine timer has been bought
I'D by Northern lumber companies, some
OF whom are engaged IN getting it out by
floating the logs down the Greenbrler TO
he railroad at Ronceverte and thence
shipping it to the Eastern markets; while
others are holding their purchases with q
view OF profit in the enhanced value OF
their timber rs the country is being de.
veloped, or with view OF operating IN
the lumber trade in the future. Lum-
bering will be an important business
here at no distant pay and will give en-
ploymeLt to large number OF iaborers.
But leaving that for the future to work
out, return to subject of more practl-
cal value for the present.
PROVIDING A HOME.
The poor map, with his scant capital
desires TO invest it where be can provide
ii home and supplies tor the present, with
the prospect of his lands increasing IN
value, so that he may leave his family
provided with competency when ne
dies. A man so situated Will want TO
know something about the cost OF land
what it will cost him to erect buildings,
10 clear out the land and stock 1t.
We will take 100 acres Us the basis OF
q calculation, leaving the amount to be
increased or diminished according to the
means OF the purchaser. We will take
il for granted that he wants the best
wild land, and is willing TO pay the high
est price Tor the best. Therefore he needs
three hundred dollars TO make his pur
chase-thls may be made in install
ments, but we fix it at cash basis. DE
will want house the next thing. Inc
material tor building is on the land. lie
can cut his logs and new them, can
make his shingles, limestone Is abundant
from which to burn lime TO make mortar
sandstone for building his chimneys l:
also convenient, and the only outlay Of
money necessary will be for the sawed
lumber for floors, doors, sash and
ceiling, and his hardware bills. The
total cost OF comfortable log house, SAY
"a hv Is feet and two stories high, in.
cludirg his own labor, will not ex2eec
$3.50. His stsblng and other out build
! inrs will not cost him more than sl5C
additional. Ii will be remembered tina
the principal part OF this work can b
done by himself and will require no &C
tusl outlay of money, but in making th'
calculation Am allowing him cast
valuation for his own services.
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