Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1881-08-06
A BIG ENTERPRISE.

sources Of West Virginia, and which
will give wonderful impetus to its
onward march to prosperity and
greatness, is the West Virginia and
Pittsburg Railroad, now under pro-
cess of construction. The inception
and organization of this vast enter
Prise is due to the far-sightedness
and business enterprise of Senator
II. G. Davis, who is the President of
the road, with Hon. S. B. Elkins, OF
New York, Vice President.
A party of gentlemen, consisting
Of Senator Davis, Camden, Bayard,
Hon. S. B. Elkins, Maj. Shaw, Sec
retaIy Windcm, T. E. Sickles and
Lewis Baker, editor of the Wheeling
Register, recently made a trip on
horseback from Deer Park to White
Sulphur Springs, along the proposed
line Of this road. They were out
nine days, and the result of their
observations were highly satisfac-
tory. From an interesting account
Of the journey, published in the
Register, we make the following ex-
tracts:
This new road will leave the b. &
o. road at point one mile west of
Piedmont and run up the north bank
of the Potomac River in a south
easterly direction until it reaches
the intersection of Stony River,
distance Of twenty-five miles. This
much has been determined upon,
and the work on the first twelve
miles, to Elk Garden, is well ad-
vanced. Early in September that
portion of the road will be opened
for the transportation of coal, which
is here found in what is known as
the big Vein" This is the cele-
brated coal known as the George
Creek Vein," fourteen feet in thick
ness. 1t is free from sulphur, and is
the best coal in America for steam
and smithing purposes. Here this
company owns over one thousand
acres of coal lands which are supe-
rior to the lands On George Greek,
which sell and from one thousand to
fifteen hundred dollars per acre. In
addition to the fourteen-foot vein,
there are other veins aggregating
forty feet of coal in thickness.
Works for mining and shipping coal
will be in readiness for operations by
the time the road is opened in Sep
TENDER. For thirty miles up the
Potomac the company owns valua-
BILE coal lands, and in all it owns
twenty-five thousand acres in coal
and timber lands, upon portion of
which iron ore is found. From the
mouth of Stony River two routes
will be surveyed, one up the latter
stream to pass in the mountains
across to the headwaters of Red
Creek, and the other up the Potomac
to its head, thence across a low sum-
nit to the waters of the Black Fork
of Cheat River. These two routes
may come together at point near
where Red Creek empties into Black
Fork. After drinking tin cup of
cold water each at the Fairfax Stone
as sort of tribute to the memory
of MY Lord Fairfax who is said
to have planted the stone there near.
y ~ NNiAA VI N6O wv w do HIODdDl1
done about eighty-four years ago, in
fact), our party struck over on Glade
Run, which empties into Black Fork,
thence to Big Run, and thence we
bore around at the foot of the noun
tains on the eastern border of the
"Land of Canaan" On the evening
of the second day we reached point
near Dry Fork, below the intersec-
ton OF Red Creek-having travelled
a full day and half by what had
been almost exactly described as
'impassable paths through impene-
trable forests" During all that
long time of wandering we saw no
human being save those composing
our party, no road, no house, no
field, no evidence of existence OF
either man or beast. There were no
paths, for there were no animals to
beat them-not even a bird, or
squirrel, or other living thing was
seen. One night we camped in this
solenan forest with the stiffness of
death about us. With aromatic pine
boughs for beds, saddles for pillows
and the exhilerating mountain air
filling our lungs the party slept the
sleep only vouchsafed to the pure in
conscience.
Almost all the east portion of
Tucker county is rich in soil, and
lies we'll for cultivation. The upper
part, or what is known to the old
citizens as Canada, would be ex.
tremely productive If brought under
cultivation, and its timber can
scarcely be surpassed. Wild cherry
trees of wondrous size, pines, both
hemlock and spruce, OF great value,
White Ash from three to four feet
over and towering to the clouds, are