National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-19
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.



WINCHESTER, VA, Nov. l7-This valley is
historic ground. Every inch Of It's soil has
felt the tread OF stranger feet. "Grm visaged
war" marshaled thousands Of armed mon,
who blvouackod on It's fertile fields, marched
over Its many highways qucnched their thirst
from It's cooling waters, and enjoyed the hos
pitalty of It's people children yet unborn
win listen to recitals OF heroic deeds performed
within It's borders. Its famo is known through.
out the nation, and Is whispered from ocean
TO ocean, from the st. Lawrence to the Gulf.
It's sons inhabit every state In the union Its
products seek market at eyory port.
Tho Blue Ridge mountains separate this
valley from "ruckahoe," or east Virginia, and
the North mountain Is the line between tho
lower valley and West Virginia. The counties
which form the shenandoah valley are Rock
bridge. Augusta Rockingham, Shenandoah,
Page, Warren, Clarke, aud Frederick In Wiz
glniu, and Jefferson, Berkeley, and Morgan in
West. Virginia. The Shenandoah river rises
in ROokbrldgc county, and flows due north
through tho other counties named, except
Berkeley and Morgan, which lie west of Jefer-
son, and arc washed by the Potomac rlvct,
which forms a junction with the Shenandoah
at Harpers Ferry.
Page county, through which tho south
branch of tho Shenandoah flows, is separated
rom tho main valley by tho MassnnuttUn
mountain, which extends north and south
through the counties of Rockingham aud
same river rises in Rockingham In what Is
known as Brooks" gap OF the North noun
taln, and iiows due east across the valley
until y touches the MaSGnutton mountain at
the village of Mount Jackson; thence due
north, hugging the mountain to the village OF
Strasburg, where the mountain abruptly ends
Thence due east till II forms a junction with
inc main river near Front Royal In Warren
county; thence duo north along tho buse oil
tue Blue Ridge until II omptics into the PotO
mac; The valley, rom the Potomac to the
headwaters of the james river, in Rockbrdge
Is about 100 miles in length and from 10 to y
| miles in width, The soil Is very productive
and generally under n high state ofCultivatlon
the people are thrifty and industrious and
| represent nearly every civilized nation on the
globe, though its early settlers were in Rock
bridge and Augusta of Scotch-Irlsh descent
while Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Pagt
| were settled mostly by Germans, known n
mo "Old Pennsylvania Dutch" and Frederick
CLARK, and Warren mostly by English. Th'
mountains abound In iron ore Of the fines
| quality, and many blast furnaces are busil!
| At work, giving employment to thousands o
laborers. Coal, copper ore, and other min
erals are found in large quantities, but have a
| yet remained undeveloped.
Manulactories are Bpringing up in ever,
| county, but most OF them being as yet In thei
| tariff,
The farmers, In addition to grain growing
give much attention to improved stock, suct
| us horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep. Dealen
| from Pennsylvania and Maryland, Richmond
Va, and Washington, d. c., In great number
visit the different county seats, on county cour
days, for tho purpose of purchasing horses
In Harrisonburg, the county seat of Rocking
ham, from 800 to 400 horses change hand
every month.
Dairy farming is also receiving attention
the products of the dairy finding a read
market ut rcmuncrative prices both in Balti
more and Washington d. c. The hay crop l
generally very heavy, but much Of i Is waste
Tor the want OF proper shelter. Hundreds c
acres remain uncut because of tho heav
treights and want of proper facilities for pu
ting II in marketable condition. Tho Bait
more and Ohio Railroad Valley branch tray
orses tho Valley from north to south, runnln
M far as Lexington. The Shenandoah Vale
railroad passes up the south branch Of til
Shenandoah river through the counties {
Page, Rockingham, Augusta, and Rockbridg,
| DURKEE's SALAD DRESSING AND COLD MEA
SAUCE Is made from the freshest, purest, an
choicest condiments obtainablc. In using Il
waste, labor, anxiety, and disappointment ar