The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1882-09-09


cEs-SULPHUR SPRINGs-THE Pro
% PIE, THEIR HABITS AND ADJUSTMENTS
The VISITORS AND THEIR PAS
TINES.
WEBSTER SPRINGS, Aug. 90, 1882
The County of Webster was formed
out of portions of Randolph, Braxton
and Nicholas counties in 1860, with
an area of 273,000 acres, but at the
last session of the Legislature a small
tract of about 5000 acres taken from
the counties of Nicholas and Green
brier was added to it making its
present area something over 100000
acres-cons iderably larger than Mon
ongalia. Years ago much of this
part OF Virginia was only known to
old hunters, and the only practicable
use made of these densely wooded
valleys and mountains was for the
hunting of deer. elk and other game
which were found here in great
abundance. Ever since the forma-
ton of this wild and sparsely settled
country into county, the work Of
clearing away the dense forest has
has gone forward gradually, and for
a country containing as much wealth
in timber, mineral and grass rs Web
ster and it's surrounding counties
contain the development has been
painfully slow. OF course during
the war every work Of improvement
was stopped, If it was not entirely
destroyed; the McGlaughlin Salt
works at Addison were entirely de-
stroyed, and the fine turnpike pro
jected through the county and par
TALLY constructed was abandoned and
allowed to grow up in bushes.
1t was long time before the peo-
pie got over the dissipation and de-
moralization Of the war; But very
small portion of the county is cleared,
not more than one-twenty fifth part
to the best of our information.
The resources of the "lndependent
State of Webster" consist largely
in her almost unlimited amount of
fine timber, such as oak, poplar. wal
nut, ycw, pine and chesnut the trees
are magnificent, the superior of which
are not to be found this side of the
big trees of California. Our inform
alton is not accurate as to the min
eral resources Of the county, however
there is some coal, but the veins are
mostly small and medium in quality.
Of limestone there are unlimited
quantities, of varying quality. One
other source of wealth the natives
have, had almost forgotten, namely
ginseng.
The surface the county is terribly
rough, full of high hills, here called
mountains, the only level portion of
the county, except the narrow val
leys and small strips along the tops
of. the mountains, is that region called
the glades, the soil of which is liter
ally worthless. A great deal of the
mountain country has an excellent
limestone soil, limestone Astounding
to the very tops of the mountains.
Everywhere cleared spot was to be
seen on the mountain, there was ex-
cellent grass growing-blue grass
and timothy. The people are SOW
ing plenty of timothy, as soon as
they clear spot not larger than a
garden. Judging from appearances,
the people are poor farmers, scarcely
raising enough grain for home con-
sumption. Their corn crop is puny
and appears as if it had not been
half cultivated. There are number
of things obstructing the develop
lnent of this as it were virgin coun-
try. Much of her land is owned by
spectators, in large tracts, who are
holding it for the fortune that is in
the timber, and will not sell it in
small tracts to settlers. She suffers
much from poor roads. BY and by
when the timber of the county is con-
verted into money, when "two blades
of grass are made to grow where
none grew before, and then with good
roads, churches and school houses
and thousands of cattle on her thou
sand hills, Webster will take re-
spectacle place among her sister
counties.
| THE POPULATION
of the county does not number ovel
1000. A great deal of this is compar
itively worthless as far the develop
ment of the county is concerned, be-
ing far removed from the example O
the best portions of our own State
never hearing the shrill whistle o
the locomotive, and on account o
being thinly settled, having but lit
tie social friction among themselves
the whole county is pervaded with Q
moral, intellectual and social inertia
The more thriftless class of the PEG
pie raise a patch of corn, spending
the rest of their time hunting an(
"sanging." The better class are en-
gagged in farming and grazing. II
the main the people are as kind ant
obliging as can be found any where
A great deal of whisky is consumed
here and / must say / have neve
seen as peacable and quiet DRUM
men before. There were only eigh
men staggering drunk at one tim
and / did not even hear loud talking
no quarreling or fighting. OF cour
/ speak only for this particular oc
casion.
The people are many wears benin,