The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-13
FAIRMONT.
How IL conid be aade summer Re
sort-Gencrai Notes and Gossip.

How IL C0ufd be Made n Summer Re,
sort-Gencral Notes and Gossip.
Special Correspondence otths blieltgenesr.
FArRMoSr, August ll.-lf the proper ei.
forts were properly made Fairmont would
ere long become noted summer resort, as
the location is healthial and picturesque.
The drives about ii are numerous and at
tractive, and it contains, or rather its VISA
Wis Palatine does, q number Of medicinal
springs. 1t is well known to the people
who have resided here for some time, that
to these waters not few cures are directly
traceable. Governor Pierpont, has Just
purchased a house and lot in Palatine.
On the lot is valuable spring, which is
said 10 be one OF the best in the place. A
little enterprise would build hotel and
fill 1t with guests. Palatine carries on con-
siderable manufacturing, Two excel
lent potteries are here, that OF /.
NJ. Harden & Co., making the stoneware,
and Ritchie & Hamiton's, a very superior
article oil Rockingham ware. Both these
potteries, as well as the somewhat extens-
I've Marion Foundry and Machine works,
find their business injured and kept back
by the unfair discrimination OF the B. & O.
road. tsi
Farmers hereabonts claim that this un-
just and inexplicable action on the part OF
the B. & 0. is very damaging to them. The
B. & o. charges S55 for car load Of cattle
from Fairmont to Baltimore. The same
road hauls similar car load from Chicago
to Baltimore for $50. Nor is this all. The
Fairmont car is often side-tracked to allow
the Chicago car to pass, and arrive in mar.
ket hours in advance OF Marion county
stock.
AN OLD TEIEGRApnRR.
One Of the oldest telegraph operators in
the country resides at Fairmont. Mr.. d
X. Walker commenced to learn the bust.
ness in Wheeling in 1852, working first as
an independent operator in St. Clairsyille,
Ohio. What wonderful changes he has
seen in telegraphy. In his time the insula-
tors on the poles have changed from great
iron knobs, with ash filling, to when was
attached hook to hold the wire, to the
improved bell shaped glass insulator Of to-
day. Then the wires run at all sorts Of
angles in order that certain trees along the
route might be reached. Some times the
wire was half mile from the track. Mr..
Walker was al one time train dispatcher
for the B. & 0. and worked also in Texas.
He Is very intelligent gentleman and a
good talker. .-
OLD LAND MARKS. -Ht
What a wonderful story these Fairmont
hills could tell If they had tongues to speak.
The story Of q forgotten and unknown
race. Over these hills in the days long ago
they hunted the wild deer. Along these
valleys lovers walked, and the old, old
story was as sweet as 1t % to-day in silken
bowers. There were graves there as well
now and death was as relentless as he is
to-day.
But the race is gone, and We only know
them by their works. Over the river,
several feet below the surface are the re.
mains Of an old macadanized road. It
appear to have been about eight feet wide,
made Of crushed sandstone, evidently
burned. The road extends up aud down
the river for seven or eight miles. Several
spots are evidently the remains OF funeral
pyres. Pieces Of bones and utensils, badly
oharred have been found. Fairmont is an
interesting town. euIIr.