Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-08-22
For the HERALD.
Letter from West virginia
FROST, PoCAHoNTAs Co. W. VA. |
Anoust 1th 1883. \

II.
August 4th. 1883.
Thinking that few lines from this
portion of W. Va. would be OF interest
TO your many intelligent readers, / will
try 10 write a partial description OF this
most excellent county.
Pocahontas has for its Eastern
boundary, Highland aud Bath, West
Greenbrier, North, RandC lph and Pen
dleton; and South Allegheny. Hunters
vile, the County seat is situated on
Knapps Creek a tributary of Greenbner
river, it is pleasant county town and
place of considerable business. 1t
con ;ains the Court House and Co. Jail,
two stores, churches and some other
buildings of note. Pocahonias has
been blessed with f7st class county
paper since Nav last, for the first time
IN its history. 1t is edited by Messrs.
Garfield aud Marshall and has started
with circulation of 600 aud bids fair
10 reach a circulation of 1000 by the end
of the year. The county has voting
population Of about 1000, politics are
principally Democratic. This the third
Congressional District has a majority
of about $500, last May Mr.. Srugder
oat ran Col. Brown 1000 votes, both
from Kauawha county, the Col. being
the Republican candidate from this dis
trlct.
A finer season was never known by
any lnhabitant of this country than the
one We are new enjoying. We had a
long cold sprlug, frost falling up to the
latter part Of MAY, although as cold
and frosty ss it was, it did little or no
damage, nippng few OF the earlier
vegetables. Wheat has been harvest
ed and has proven TO be very bounti-
lul lDdeed. Cora, oats aud buckwheat
all promise an abundant yield, and as
for grass and hay this county is without
parallel, this is just the finest county
for grass, timber and good water on the
face of this Terrestrial Globe. Poca
hontas county is finely timbered with
almost all kinds Of timber, consisting OF
the various kinds of oaks. the different
species OF pines, walnut, cherry, hick'
ory, beech, maple. sugar, birch and
many other kinds too tedious to men,
| tlon. 1t is also blessed with an abun-
dance of good water consisting in num-
erous and ripping streams and
rivers OF bright sparkling water. Plenty
oil fish abound in the creeks and rivers
wild game abound in great numbers,
such as deer, foxes some few wolves
and plenty Of pheasants aud wild tur-
keys.
In regard 10 the mineral resources oil
this county, they are rich. p. H. Sy-
mons a noted Geologlst OF Europe says
the Lond IN Mining Journal, the coal
measures OF w. Va. cover nearly TO-
OOC so. miles, by the crossings OF the
streams. the coal seams crop out on
the hill sides high above the water,
and railroad leyels 10 favorable posi-
tions 10 lie worked 10 advantage. The
cost OF opening mines are small, it Is
remarkable for lis great purity and
fieeness from sulphur and earthly mat
ters. The laud is naturally richer than
in England and the climate better ant
every crop grown there can be cult
waited here, and some special ones be-
sides, trust, says he, these lines may
interest some, who have not before
thought OF Ibis exceedingly rich anc
beautiful State. Land can be puichas
ed from sl.0O up to $40 per acre, ac
cording to location and improvement
There is no place within nv knowledge
that a man with a small amount o.
capital can do as well as here in Poca-
honlas county. There is less poor ant
IMPOVERISHED land here than anywhere
have been farming 10 SIX different
counties and find this TO be IN the leac
of any, and not excluding the Valley
of Virginia nor East Va. A man COM
ing 10 this county can suit himself, lei
him be ever 80 hard 10 please, If be de-
slres all timbe lands, be can have it
from 81 10 IS per acre, and if he de-
sires il partially improved with house
and garden, from s8 10 $40 will buy it,
and if he is a man OF fancy and caplla
he again can be satisfied. The people
are very enthusiastic here, about the
extension of the Richmond and ALE
phany Railroad being made through
our county. The rout has been sur
yeyed, the surveying began in Apri
and it was completed on the 18th D
june the right Of way has been obtain
ed from the citizens all along the roui,
aud operations in this county will be-
GIN at an early day. Ere. long The ror
horse will come booming through Po
cahontas making the bills reverberate
with its grating sound. This extension
will commence at Clifton Forge by way
of the Gauly river distance Of abou
60 miles, that will open up our fertIk
valley and place US in direct commY
cation with the outside world.
The wool crop is estimated thl
at eco, 900 and il could easily
three times that amount.
Was sorry 10 learn throug
umns OF the HERALD, the
Moses Walton, one of She|
most valuable and esteem
was truly elated upon
) grand results Of the Democ
over Bossism at the last eled
a few more such yiciq
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