Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1883-02-03
On the Wing.
RAMBLEs THROUGH OHIO AND
WEST VIRGINIA.

WEST VIRGINIA.
Special Correspondence Independent.
PARKERsBURG, Jan. 80, 'S3.
In my letter to you from Dayton
I promised to let you hear from
me in your next Issue, which
promise like many others, was
made only to be broken. My time
has been so divided up between
different points that | scarcely
have had time to write anything
except private correspondence,and
this hasty imperfect scrawl would
never be penned, was il not to cor
rect statement which appeared
in the Register, Of the Goth, In
which the writer Of this was made
to assume the position of Greaco-
Roman wrestler, but we will reach
this subject by and by; have
something more to say of the pros
perity of Dayton and Montgomery
county. When we was in Dayton
in 1878 our friend OILS s. Hooper,
Esq, was employed by the Amer
lean Express Company. This time
we found him in the Courthouse
filling the important position Of
Assistant Treasurer of Montgom-
cry county, position with plenty
of hard word and good pay.
Through the kindness of friend
Hooper we were shown some of
the inside workings of the Office.
The different levies are numerous,
ten to twelve in number, and Of
ten involving intrincate factions
in some of the lesser levies, such
as IA, $40 and ITO, which GER
tainly takes much time to make
the calculations. The tax bills are
made out in halves, with stub at
tached for reference. Having the
bill gives the pave opportunity OF
paying half of his taxes in the fall
aud the remainder in the spring.
Besides the Treasurer and Mr..
Hooper there is employed two
clerks, and Mr.. Hooper informed
me that during the winter months
the average collections made by
each of them was about $40 90 per
day. There Is perfect swarm Of
people in the Office paying taxes
during The hours set apart for that
purpose. What a contrast between
this and some other places that l
might name. For the year 1881
the duplicate list of Montgomery
county was over one million dol
lars, and out of this great sum of
taxes less than SIG, 900 Is reported
on the delinquent list. There Is
not many places that make so
creditable showing. / was glad
to find friend Hooper SO comforta-
bly, provided for, and he has our
best wishes for continued success.
He desires me through this article
to present regards to his Martins
burg relatives and friends.
Since / last visited the Soldiers
Home at Dayton there has been
many marked improvements in
the way of buildings, fences. etc.
The following facts gathered at the
Home may be OF interest The
grounds contain 1000 acres; the
Of inmates near 1000.
number on roll 5000, number SICK
in hospital $50, number of deaths
in December. "a; number drawing
1900. To feed this army
it requires 16 barrels of flour every
16 bushels Of potatoes
every meal, 470 pounds butter per
day, 800 pounds sugar daily, 125
pounds coffee for each meal. 1000
pounds meat each day, 2S4 gallons
milk per day. To make one pot |
pie It takes 40 sheep, 3 barrels
-four and 16 bushels potatoes. This
may seem enormous to some, but
it Is fact. There is quite family
to feed, and the children are OF |
large growth, and when this i'm.
mense pot-pie Is dished up and all
Of them served there il but little
eft for the cooks.
Bidding Dayton and friends good
bye we sauntered to the depot to
take train for Urbana over the G.
g. @. and 1. G. II. n. Exactly on
lime the train steamed out of the
station, creaking and squeaking
with the sudden rigor of the at
which was filled with
,umulus clouds of steam and
smoke, that enveloped the coache,
and painted the windows with
Fr0st pictures. The cars were cold,
and the passengers crowded
around each other to absorb calor-
C or preserve the amount on hand.
But the discomfort was of short
two hours run and we
espied the beautiful, the aesthetic
and some what aristOcratic town of
Urbana. Although Ia winter !