Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-09-27
TABLE LAND GROUP.

TABLE LAND GROUP.
The Virginia portion OF this group, TO
be considered in this report, consists OF
the counties Oi Highland, Bath and Al
leghauv, watcred by head branches OF
the James river. The West Virginia
portion embraces the counties Of PEN
dleton, Tucker, Grant, Hardy, Ran
du'ph. Webster, Nicholas, POcahOntaS
AMI Grcenbrier. These counties IN
either State are popularity designated as
the mountain counties, more on account
OF alttu lie than ruggedncss OF surface:
The soil of this group, though subject
10 the usual variations from difference
OF composition, altitude on exposure, Is
of iair average fertility, rich clay loam
with occasional Strea6S of limestone pre-
dominating. Thin sandy patches and
wet gl1des are extremely rare. and the
general quality of the soil Is established
by the obvious thrift and comfort of the
original settlers. These lands, under
ANYTHING but scientific culture, produce
remuncrativc crops OF corn, wheat rye,
oats, buUkWhedt, sorghum, potatoes, tur-
nips, tobacco, flax, hemp, all varic-
ties of field and garden vcgcta-
bles Of this latitude, luXuriant crops
of timothy, clover amt blu. GRASS, hardly
second % the Kentucky variety. APP
pies and peaches Weld well, and owing
10 later blooming than I'm the lower
country are seldom njpprJ by spring
frOsts. The grape ilDurlSh"~ in any soil
and exposure at an altitude not exceed
ing 900 feet. Except i'm tho oldest SIT
Elements, and for garden and root crops
i'm long tI.lel soil, manure is seldom
USED. the customary rotation by grazing
being sufficient To- preserve the soil IN a
vigorous condition.
The TmL,r.-ThOuSlnis of acres of
this group are still covered with timber
almost unsurpassed on the continent Tor
size and quality. IL consists mainly of
white oak red, black and chestnut oak,
hickory, poplar, ash, sugar and black
maple, beech, gum, sycamore, elm, Gu
cumber magnolia, linden locust, buck
eve, birch, white and yellow pine, view
pine, hemlOck, spruce, white and black
walnut and wild cherry, besides other
species OF no commercial value. These
species are disseminated nearly through
the whole group in proportions varying
with elevation, soil and exposure.
Observation-Disclosures coal in Access
siblr veins from . To % feet in
thickness and OF excellent quality
pervades the greater portion OF the
counties of Randolph, Nicholas and
Webster in West Nirgn Iron ore Is
found on both sides OF the mountains
but il is most abundant and profitable
on the Virginia side, notably in Ale
ghany county, where it has been eN-
teuSivelv worked Tor number OF years
past. This brief mention OF the mineral
resources of this group may give some
Idea of its capacity for future industrial
development.
IrreszbiErJ-At prcScntthiS mountain
group can only be reached in a direct
manner the Chesapeake and Ohio
railroad, which, coming from the east,
approaches Highland county within a
lew miles and after trJvrr~.us Bath
from north % south, crosses Allegheny
auj Grceubrier nearly from east to west.
Among the other railroads chartered
some years ago, with more or less pros
Vcrt ut ultimate construction. are: LIST.
The Pittsburgh, Virginia and Charleston
railroad, located from Pittsburgh via
M1ruutOwn, ". Va. up the MOuon-
cJhe,d river, amt, either ly it's Cheat or
TygUrt Valley fork, mp Ia the head of
Grrcnhricr river; then down Green
brirr river, crossing the ChcSa-
peakc amt Ohio railroad and
the Allegheny mountains near
White sulphur Springs; thence south
ward % Charleston, :. G. 2l The
South Branch Potomac X. r., a narrow
gauge located from Grcen Spring depot.
on the B. * %. L. r., cas-, of Cumbrr-
land, up the South Branch via R1mnev,
20 which point il Is graded. 10 the head
of CireenQrier river, and down that river
10 the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.
unless the road previously mentioned is
first constructed. 81. The Potomac and
Ohio Railroad, another narrow gauge
starting from tide water at Quantjco, Nir-
GINA, and passing through Harrison
burg, in the Virginia Valley. crosses the
Alleghenies 10 the head of Elk and Gau-
lev rivers, in or near Webster county,
West Virginia; thence follows Elk river
10 its mouth al Charleston on the Kama
wha river and Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad.
This road is now under partial con-
struction and sill be largely aided to-
wards completion by subscriptions from
counties along the line.
The Chesapeake and Ohio X. r.,
which o,iveS the most direct accpSs In