West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-07-27

Some cattle and sheep are changing
hands at reduced figures.
Respectfully yours,
HAMPTON.
NOTES FROM TRAVELLER.
Editor Argus
A short time since made "A journey
through several of the counties of Yves
tern Maryland and West Virginia, ex-
tending my trip as far westward as Pres
ton county. Onmy route passed thro'
a portion of the far>famod Shenandoah,
Green Spring and South Branch Valleys.
Along tho eastern end of my route the
wheat crCp was mostly harvested, much
of 1t st'll standing in tho fields in shocks.
and was reported To be very good As
advanced l found the crop still standing
but ripe for the harvest" All along
my route l found il very heavy; but nos
where was il equal TO that which wit
messed in the southern part of Preston
county. whore ii WAS immense. Along
the pike leading from Cranberry SUM
init To Aurora | saw a number of fields
which are worthy of particular mention
One of them was on the farm of MIR Ben
Shafier; one on the farm of Mr.. Forman
whore | counted one hundred and two
large shocks on piece of ground that
would not have measured much more
than an acre; one On the farm of Mr..
Lloyd Lantz, and one on the farm of
Samuel Wotring, Esq, at Old Town.
This field lays rs level rs a barn floor,
and casting our eyes over il AZ we passed
along every straw seemed To bo of an
equal length. (Just hero. 10y way of pa
renthesis, / would say that was inform
ed that the owner of this beautiful farm
is one of Prostons most valued citizens.
of kind and noble nature. honest, con-
scientious. sociable, industrious, gcner-
Gus, Intelligent, u staunch Democrat, an
onIcrprising carpenter and n bache lor,
and one who was mover Tilted at that.
The great surprise is that some one II
your many beautiful and refined young
ladies did not capture him long ago.
Really it seems altogether wrong for so
worthy a man To he living on such farm
without wiie).
In this section found the com rnther
short for the lateness of tho season, but
| can say, for the encouragement of your
Preston farmers, that it was fully equal
to, or rather better than what | saw all
along my route. Cats and grass were
much better than ! saw elsewhere. All
this, l was told, was due to tho free use
of lime. Many of the finest crops OF
grain are now, by the use Of this valued
restorer of the soil, raised on old fields
which few years since were consider cd
worn out and worthless even for pas
ture. This is notably 80 of tho fine wheat
field spokoD of on tho farm OF Mr.. Wot-
ring. This field was cleared some co,
perhaps So years ago. Limo stone IL
found i'm this section i'm incxhaustibla
quantities. It is easily reached and as
wood is so plentiful and cheap the cost
Of burning limo is very light. Lands
here are choap, especially woods land,
Thousands OF &C res which arc Offering
their virgin soil 20 the hardy and indus
trious farmer. promising him rich res
ward FOR his labor.
Buckwheat, rye, oats and grass grow
here in unusual luxuriancc. The coun-
try is exceedingly well adapted to the
raising Of cattle. sheep and other live
stock. The community is fast improv-
ing in all desired respects. All around
arc evidences of il. New farms are be-
ing opened and old ones improved. Old
log huts are fast giving place 10 substan-
tial and roomy frame houses of modern
design. Old stables are tumbled down
and large iarns erected i'm their stead.
Under your excellent school ~ stem
there is no lack of opportunity for the
young TO acquire good, sold education
and the parents are not too slow 10 see
that these opportunities are embraced.
7 he population, in point Of intelligence,
honesty, sobriety and sterling worth,
will compare, most favorably, with that
of any other community
With all this, and much more, said in
praise Of Preston county (and as much,
doubtless, might be said of other por-
tons of West Virginia. is It not shame
that so many of our young men (some>
times married men with families) leave
their native state and 20 West where
tbcy ma, Wheu 100 lhie, that thelr cOn1
dition is no better than 1t would have
been had they remained with you and
worked with the same will. They leave
only because Of theiHrestless aud dissat-
isned dispositions and bees use they lack
that determination ofwill and fxedness
Of purpose which are everywhere and
under all circumstances 40 essential to
success,
Having no other interest in this matter
than natural desire 10 see my fellow
man pleasantly and prosporously situa.
ted i'm this life I can honestly say that
I know Of no place that is more likely TO
insure these than the community Of
which have been writing.
TRAVELLER.
.