Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-18
FROM WESTON TO SUTTON.


Incidents OF the Trip---Appear-
ance OF the Country---Great
improvements longth the Route
Unsettled Titles.
J Correspondence OF the Register
SUrroS, w. Va, Nov. 10.
After an absence of seven years am
again in in this beautiful town--the
county seat OF Braxton country-and to
note the improvements along the near
route, which is SO miles from Weston to
this place, and also note the almost re-
building OF Sutton within the space OF
my last visit, is the object of this letter.
Leaving Weston by the Weston and
Gauley bridge turnpike, we travel six
miles up Rush Run, through well i'm
proved section, the lands well set in
blue grass, good dwellings and large
hotel, until we get to its head, where We
leave the pike and take the ridge or near
road to the Little Kanawha river. For
near eight miles on high ridge
we travel, from which We can
see the mountains and improvements
miles away. Along the road to the left
are the waters of the Sand Fork OF the
Little Kanawha, on which is the Irish
settlement. The great improvement
made by these settlers within the last
10 years is immense. The tall forests
have given way TO their industry and
the lands to-day are fenced, and the
fields have Just yielded up their rich har-
vests. Corn shocks dot the hillsides
and hill tops Tor miles-green grass now
and then running up to the very tops OF
the highest points tell OF the rich soil so
peculiar to the county. The fertility OF
the mountain lands is the popularity OF
the land in Lewis county-neat and
white farm houses, schOsl houses and
church, can be seen in the distance,
all of which gives a perspective that
is rarely surpassed in any country.
Passing on to Oil Greek, thence over 10
the Little Kanawha river, and crossing
this beautiful clear stream, We pass the
old Ben Conrad property on which Is a
corn field of 80 acres of as good corn rs
grows. Mr.. I.aban Currence owns this
property now, and owns perhaps the
finest body OF land OH BraSton county,
living along the river. At "Big Run"
we again strike the pike, thirteen miles
from Sutton. This run used to be the
hardest part of BraxtOn, but new set
tiers are rapidly filling up the lands,
andgreatimprovementsa are here noticed.
Passing to Salt Lick bridge, we are struck
with the thrift of little town which
has recently sprung up a store, steam
saw and grist mill, black smith shop and
nice houses, mark the character OF its
citizens. Thence along "O'Brian's
Fork" the farms have been greatly beau
tilted, clean fields and new dwellings
nicely painted all along the road to SUIT
ton--denote the thrift and energy
of the people who have
so recently bcautitied the county.
Sutton, "the loveliest village of the
plain" was, with the exception OF three
houYs, entirely destroyed by both armies
during the war. But she has, like the
"Phenix," risen beautified from lts
ashes--and to-day she blooms forth,
with new and nicely painted houses,
and paved streets, more beautiful than
ever. Most OF these improvements
have taken place within the last seven
wears, and now near one hundred white
houses dot the plain, where but three
survived the war. The lovely and beau
tiful Elk river courses through the town.
It's waters are rs clear as crystal, and as
pure as the mountains from which 1t
ilows-tilled with the choicest fish,
which can be taken with the hook and
whenever the weather and water Ii
clear. They can be killed when the wa
ter is ten feet deep in great numbers
and there is no more engaging sport
than 'gigging" in the Elk-with now
and then a "ducking' tn break the
monotony. The wire suspension
bridge spans the river at Sutton. 1t il
about | 200 feet long and is a most beau
tiful structure, and it has recently been
newly painted, and gives a peculiar
finishing touch to the town. From it
You can see the bed OF the river three
hundred feet either way, and the fish
sporting in the beautiful stream. Flat
boats 100 feet long, laden with lumber,
can be fioated to Charleston. Canoes
made out of single tree GO feet long
are used to transport goods from Charles
ton.
The projected railroad from Charles
ton, and to which the county OF BraxtOn
has recently voted 81 800, is said to have
broken earth and commenced working.
lit is ever finished, it will give an I'M
petus to BraXton never before known,
and it will become one of the best coun-
ties in the State.
II il were not for the disturbed land
titles in this county, settlers would flock
in. We noticed one crowd OF six per-
sons who were looking for land, but the
recent decision in the Supreme Court
throws a chill over all titles, and must
greatly retard the prosperity OF West
Virginia. The mere idea that although
man who has been in actual possession
OF land Tor - years can only hold what
he had fenced IN % years ago, opens the
door to every land shark who can buy
a shadow of a title,-and worse still,
valuable papers were purlOined during
the trial which was OF vital interest In
another point of law which alone gave
the settler chance for his hard earn
inys and rights. Could not the Legisla-
ture Of West Virginia pass some law to
permanently settle these old titles?
Could they not, il nothing else, make
the State line an imaginary fence and
thereby teaa, ~ The .Sdte and fence out
the ShyIOcks? That is il the fence
question" is to enter into the fine points
OF the already mysterious land laws,
and which SO effectually destroy the
prosperity oil West Virginia:
TpLyIIyP