The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-31
MEsr YIRGINIA TIMsER.
Tho Splendid Trees of the nanawha Re-
EIOn-A GrOHIng Industry.

Ion HFDAluk AuunhtFss
conspoadeaos Northwestern Lumbeuaa".
For three weeks 1 have been stopping Of
at various stations along the line Of tn
Chesapeake & Ohio railway, selecting
those points from whence lumber is mos
generally shipped. am so delighted will
the natural features OF the country that
can hardly curb my admiration sufficiently
to place my thoughts in words and contin'
myself to the lumber interests.
will now tell your readers something
about the timber production | found aloni
the eastern end Of this railroad as 1t enter
West Virginia. That Is the best place L
secure oak, and at almost every station
mills are cutting out bill stuff, most o
which is sent 10 New York and Philadel
phia, and thence to British and Spanist
ports. 1t would surprise eastern buyers
especially Boston men, to see the quality
oithe oak that is shipped on these foreign
order; aud it is loaded on the cars right
from the saw. Hound plenty OF ash at va
rious stations, but a large portion OF it was
badly manufactured. The chief fault was
II was cut too thin. When it should have
been plump inch, it was in some cases moi
over seven.eighths, and proportionately on
the other thicknesses. ! found more or
less walnut all along the line, but as a rule,
It was not such as eastern buyers would
want. 1t was cut mostly from small logs
aud by inexperienced mill men. It is, in
many instances, most unsuitable lumber.
| found that all the good-sized walnut logs
are being picked up and sent to eastern
ports for export, which, for some time, has
been the most profitable way to handle
walnut.
Along the western end OF the railroad, as
It nears the Elk and Big Sandy rivers, the
large growth is poplar, and it fnds ready
sale at Cincinnati and other points along
the Ohio river, being shipped thence in
barges. 1t ia manufactured into boardsan
plank, while the small stutfand pieces are,
in many instances, cut into bed Stats, and
laths, aud small dimension stock. At sew.
eral OF the stations are mills that are run
directly in the interest Of Boston parties,
or by men who originally came from
Massachusetts,; and they informed me that
most Of their cut was shipped to that mar
ket, the market and inspection being in
every way satisfactory. l made inquiry as
regards freight accommodation, and l
found the agents Of the Chesapeake & Ohio
railway a very accommodating set OF men,
while the general freight agent, Mr.. B. S.
Fitch, at Richmond, Va, is n OF those
men with whom it is a pleasure to do BUSH
ness. Rates are made by this road, either
all rail, or by rail to Richmond, and thence
by sailing vessel 10 New York, Providence
or Boston. Mr.. w. S. Upshur has charge
OF this shipping department, and rates are
made 10 cover both rail and water charges.
The territory between Ashland, KY, and
Ky, is in many places heavily
wooded, and is slowly being opened up,
and fine hardwoods are cut. Mr.. B. 5.
Fitch informed me that his road was soon
commence forwarding lumber by way Of
rail 10 Newport News, Va, thence by steam.
trs to New York aud Boston. Between the
timberand mineral productions, the Chesa-
peake & Ohio railway will have plenty OF
to carry for years TO come, and the
unusually beautiful scenery along the line
must attract many travellers in search OF re.
and with q desire to view the
wonderful and grand works OF nature.
Such scenery as is to be observed at Hawks
Nest aud Kanawha Falls is not surpassed
even in far-away Switzerland, yet how
comparatively few have enjoyed it. A
will stand by his fiag and his own
home, but he goes clean back on the beau.
tiful and wonderful In his own land, land
sails the ocean blue" to wear himself out
and spend his shekels in a foreign country,
which repays him by sending back a half
thousand paupsrS, for him to lend a hand
to support, and | am very certain West
Virginia wants none oil this class to stop
her boundaries. What she wants is
live, energetic men, OF perseverance and
to open up her lands and send her
minerals and timber where they will be
sure to find a ready market; and speaking
for my native state, Massachusetts, 1 firmly
believe she will At any time prove herself
ready and willing to consume and pay for
her share OF that production, for Massachu-
men and capital are now well sprink.
led throughout the State, and their mum.
Der is daily increasing, aud those who re-
main at home are in many ways helpingto
convert into cash that which nature has so
bestowed upon West Virginia,