Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-02-05
Shanghai.

we have had within The recollec-
ton ot cur several almanac max
ers. The severe weather Of this
winter has produced rice UeTSa
slate of affairs in The valley. Corn
husking and potato digging will
be done in sIriBg months instead
of fall as usual, but this change is
of minor importance when COM
pared with others which have
taken plsce viz: The old gentle
men gallanting, sleighing and es-
corting the young ladies, and we
are told that some Of them have
actually been whispering loves
softest notes in the ears of sweet
sixteens, while the young men
poor toys-have TO go alone or
freight their sleighs with old
grandmothers.
There has been almost an en-
tire suspension of business in tne
valley this winter. The lumber,
bark and sumac trade have suffer
ed In consequence of the severe
weather, but our mill men are
anxiously awaiting the first breath
OF spring, when they will put on
steam and endeavor to make up
for time lost. IF Back Creek Val
ley does not furnish tho citizens of
Berkeley with all tho lum Der they
need, it is certainly not because OF
the scarcity of timber or the lack
of mills to put it in shape. We
can at this moment count ten mills
within radius of six miles, stu
ated az follows: Kitchen & Hill,
Shanghai, sumac bark and saw
mill; Costlin's, miles from Shang-
hal; Slonaker, 2 miles from Shang-
hal; Joseph Kitchen, Jones'
Spring; John Snyder, one mile
from Jones Spring, 2 mills; Shrimp,
2 miles from Jones' Spring; Erect,
4 miles from Jones' Spring; NJ. S.
Grantham, the oldest established
mill in the valley, is undergoing
repairs preparatory to moving to a
new site, az to the place we are not
advised. We give this list as an
item of interest to those desiring
to purchase lumber. Joseph G..
Kitchen is at this time filling a
large bill to be shipped to Harris
burg for car-bullding.
We understand the iron for the
bridge to be put across Back Creek
is being put upon the banks, and
in q short time the bridge will be
completed. If those persons who
were warm in denouncing the
County Court for granting the
order for this bridge, would have
visited the stream aud crossed its
fording during the present winter,
bearing in mind al the same time
the number of business men living
in the valley, who transact the
greater part of their business in
Martinsburg, also the large amount
OF produce taken from the valley
to Martinsburg as place OF mar
ket, and knowing that this had 10
be done frequently at the risk of
life and property, or 60 ten or
twelve miles out of the way to
avoid this danger, they would
have repsnted and been willing
for better judgment to have taken
the place of sectional prejudice and
selfish pecuniary interest.
We were shown few days ago
a commission, signed by Governor
Mathews, making our friend, Jas.
w. Robinson, a notary public for
Berkeley county. Such commits
sion could not have been placed in
more competent hands; besides it
will be a matter of convenience to
many of our citizens. Mr.. r. can
survey their lands, write their
deeds, and take acknowledge
ments of the same, thereby saving
great trouble usually attending
the conveyance of property.
There is already considerable
speculation with regard to who
shall be made sheriff in 1884.
While we regard the suggestion of
any one as premature, yet as
others are naming their man. here
goes for ours. Col. John @. A.
Nadenbousch has been of more
value to Martinsburg and Berke-
ley county than any other man,
and has received less. In all of the
enterprises looking to the advance
ment of the town, he has been in
the frontlrank. The enterprises in
which he has engaged individu-
ally has been entirely in the inter-
est of the county. He has given
employment to more mechanics
and laborers than any four indi-
viduals in the county. There is
not stick of timber in the Han
nisville distilery or the Grand
Central Hotel that could be pro-
cured in the county. which was
not purchased of Berkeley county
men; in short he has been the cor
ner-stOne of Martinsburg, and he