Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-09-01
Near Huntington, w. Va.
Eds. Independent


every member of the family with the
greatest interest. 1t is like the face
of an old familiar friend and links
us to our old home and friends, by
keeping fresh in our minds the fon.
dest.recollections. We are domiciled
for the present about three miles
from the city, at point environed
by numerous hills and where the
music of the whippoorwill blends
sweetly with the croakings of the
frogs, and many birds of song.
Huntington has been described SO
often that it is useless for me to at
tempt giving description in detail /;
but brief mention of it may not be
improper. 1t seems to me to have
been somewhat spasmodic in its
growth, but at the present time is
making rapid strides toward a full
and permanent growth. From fifty
to seventy five buildings are now in
process of erection or completion,
many of them fine, substantial
brick. Lots are high, selling from
$3.50 up, but are sold upon accom-
modating terms. The shops of the
G. Dc O. r. r and the Ensign Car
works give employment to many
hands, the pay roll aggregating about
$40, 900 month /; and from the con-
templated additional enterprise it
will not be surprising if it is doubled
in short time. The town has been
laid off to hold at least a hundred
thousand people and not be croweed.
The avenues and streets are very
wide, the former 100 feet the latter
so feet, with alleys of 40 feet. Bus
mess of every kind seems brisk !; dry
goods stores are thick, many of
them equalling those in your city;
with innumerable groceries. Three
large shoe stores, las many drug stores,
three or four large lumber yards
and planning mills. Prohibition
does not seem to prohibit here as
there are not less than twenty saloons
but then to correct that evil we have
five newspapers and ten churches.
The hotel accommodations, whilst
very good, do not equal our st. Clair
or Continental, by any means. The
schools are in flourishing condition.
The State Normal School is doing
we'll, under the supervision of Prof.
b. FL. Thackston, Principal, and the
outlook for the coming year is very
encouraging. The city public
schools are under the control of the
council. They have one building,
with eight rooms, and one withfour.
These schools are presided over by
Prof. Kellog, formerly of st.
Louis The society is good. The
people are warm hearted and gener-
Gus; full Of energy but with all cul.
tured and refined. The Republi-
cans have control of the municipal
offices of the city, but L do not
know that it is really a republican
city. AS to the country around here,
whilst it is as yet purely an agricul-
tural country there is very little
wheat raised. Tobacco, corn and
fruit seems to be the leading crops.
Lumber of every description is in
great demand and forms one of the
leading industries. The mineral
wealth though presumably great, is,
as yet, undevel0ped.
spent last week in Mason county
took in the Institute, formed the
acquaintanc of some very pleasant
gentlemen, and had a good time
generally. The Institute was under
the supervision of Prof. Wade and
Smart, and was largely attended.
The enrolment and constant attend
ance numbered 81 ladies and 70
gentleman; nearly all of when are
needed in Mason county, as they
employ 1877 teachers. The appear
ance of the teachers showed them to
10 above the average; the ladies
quite as pretty as our Berkeley
ladies, and the gentlemen full of in
telligence and vim. They are firm
and decided in their convictions and
ready to defend them whenever
necessary as the resolutions passed
at the close of the proceedings plain
ly showed. Mason county has big
river front; fifty miles on the Ohio,
and the Kanawha runs through the
Gently. 1t is a rich and fertile
country, full enterprise and thrift.
Point Pleasant, the country seat,
situated at the junction of the Ohio
and Kanawha rivers, is neat and
attractive little place. The Ohio
Central railroad crosses the river at
than point, giving the county fine
advantages. The Ohio river will
soon be spanned by fine, substan-
tial iron bridge which is now near
its completion. The Point" is a
place of historic interest, having
been the scene of many conflicts with