The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-17
jackson County-Chanres for the nette

jackson County, hanyes for the Better,
We had call yesterday from our genial
friend, Col. Hassler, Sheriff Of Jackson
county, who has come up to pay over his
first insiallments Of revenue into the State
treasury. The Colonel reports good pro-
gress in collecting taxes this year. The
people as rule are in a better shape to
pay. He also reports rising scale
Of values in Jackson There has been a
very considerable immigration into the
county in the last few years-much Of it
from Ohio Ohio farmers have sold out
their high priced lands at home and crossed
over and invested in the cheaper lands Of
Jackson. This is in accordance with the
good advice given them by the Ohio State
Journal some time age-viz-not to 60
4 West, but to 80 to the virginias, where the
land is as cheap as in the West, the
climate much better, and the future Just as
well assured. The census shows that
jackson county came up very fast in
population from 1870 to 1880. Her popu-
latien in the former year was only 10000,
whereas in 1880 it was 16,3l9-an increase
otabout60 per cent. This is much above
8 the average OF the state--at least so per
cent aboyei it. Col. Hassier informs us that
the advent Of the new railroad from Par
kersburg toPt. Pleasant, passing through
forty miles Of Jackson, is looked forward
towith great interest by the people. Esti-
mating it alta cost Of only $4,000 per mile,
there will be an expenditure OF about $780,
900 iortheroad in that county, much ofitiOr
labor, stone, ties and miscellaneous out
lays. The farmers have mostly given
the right Of way, fully nine-tenths
OF them, and they arc anxious to
see the locomotive coming among them.
There is q project to build q connecting
link from Ripley, the county seat, down
the Mill Greek valley to the main line oithe
road. This link will be necessity, as it
will make Ripley source Of supply for u
Considerable part Of the country naturally
tributary to it, In the matter Of coal alone
twill be almost invaluable to the people.
Coal in the winter time, when the roads are
bad, gets up to So and 40 cents per bushel
ut the county seat and even when the
roads arc good 1t costs cents per bushel to
haulit from the river. The railroad is ex.
pected to change all this, as there is an
abuadanceo Of cheap coal in Mason county
that the road will carry to market at rea,
sonabie rates.
While jackson is only an average county
insize, having an area Of 400 square miles,
yet she already has over forty inhabitants
10 the square mile, which is over so per
cent above the average Of tho State, the
average ctthesateboinE only twenty.six to
the square mile. When we consider that
this advance has been gained by virtue
alone Of her natural resources, and without
artificial development OF any kind, 1t is
easy to see that the county has u great
future before it, and we do not wonder that
tits attracting the attention Of the Ohio
farmers.
The statistics Of the County show that 1t
has not gained much from foreign immi.
grafton. The figures Of 1880 show but 800
persons Of foreign birth in the county
only about one-seyenth as many as the ad-
Joining county Of Kanawha: only about
one.eleventh as many as another adjoin.
ing county. Wood and only about one
seventh of still another adjoining county,
Mason.
The statistics Of 1880 show that in cereal
production Jackson Is forging ahead In
wealth as in population. She raised nearly
hall a million bushels Of corn and 1885
bushels Of wheat She Is also becoming
one Of the important sheep counties OF the
strtc, and already has prominent county
association otwool growers. The prospects
are that by the census Of 1880 she will
probably be the most important sheep
county in the State outside OF the Pan
handle,
We are glad tosee our Ohio neishbors,
who arc seized with an idea OF emigrating
from their own State, turning their atten-
ton to the Territory OF West Virginia.
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