Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-09-26
KEARNEYSVILLE.

Whilst on visit some months ago,
through Frederick County, Maryland,
we remarked in this correspondence
that said county was at least twenty
five wears ahead of ours. This we do
not take back, but in travelling lately
through our own county and part OF
Berkeley, we are proud to notice
spirit of Improvement and enterprise
that if continued will place us equal to
any othercounty in the United States.
The greatest portion of the land IN
West Va. is sand and shale. The
largest producing lands are always
limestone. Hence West Va. as a State
will never become noted for its agri-
culture. When the timber, with the
coal, iron and other products OF the
mine have become exhausted, the
majority of our counties will have to
depend on fruit culture and the rails
ing of stock. The farmer cannot de-
pend on agriculture in these counties.
Now Jefferson County is mostly lime
stone variety, and capable of produ-
cling more than any other in our little
Commonwealth. Looking at thesub-
ject in this manner we can easily see
that Jefferson County is destined to
be the richest in the State. Towards
this position among her sisters we
think that old Jefferson has begun to
march. AS stated above, we notice a
spirit of improvement and enterprise
never before equaled in the history of
the county. Some of these we will
note. First: The new plan adopted
by our County Court is giving us
excellent roads, and is developing a
spirit in each district that will make
the roads of this county equal to those
in Loudon, Va, or Frederick, Md.
Again we note the improvement in
fencing. The old-time warm fence is
fast disappearing before the board
fence, the barbed wire and the hedge.
Just here we would say that as our
timber becomes scarce the farmer
must look for substitute. Many OBJ
ject to the wire fence, hence we be-
lieve that the hedge is the coming
fence, and the time will come when as
in England, it will be our chief re-
lance. 1t is cheaper and more lasting
and exceedingly ornamental. Millions
Of dollars are annually spent in the
United States for fences. 1t is heavy
drain on the farmer, and must have
its end. Again we notice a steady
improvement in our buildings and
their surroundings. Handsome resi-
dences, commodious barns, beautiful
lawns, decorated with all varieties of
shade-trees large orchards, and beau
tiful gardens mark the homesteads of
most of our farmers. We note also,
that our lands are gradually raising
in their producing qualities. This is
brought about by thorough system
of husbandry. We are rotating our
crops more we are using more lime,
more barnyard manure, we buy the
best commercial fertilizers without
stint. In other words, we aim to give
our lands more than we take away.
We feed them we'll and they feed us
well. We therefore predict for this
county, a happy and prosperous flu
ture. A new era is dawning upon us,
caused bynative thrift, enterprise and
pluck.
A suit between Il. Homsher and
James Comfy, was tried before Justice
Rentch and jury ofslx men, in Shep-
herdstown on Monday last. George
Baylor attorney for the former and
Geo. M. Beethoven for the latter.
The suit concerned the house lately
erected by Mr.. Homsher, of which
Mr.. Comfy was the contractor. The
latter gentleman claimed balance due
him yet on settlement, and hence the
dispute. Thejury decided in favor of
Comfy and gave him verdict ofS167.
1t is said that Homsher will take an
appeal.
Henry Rogers, our best looking
young man, is about to leave US. He
has formed co-partnership with
Joseph Bender, of Sharpsburg, Md,
and the new firm will embark in that
place, in the hardware and carriage
business. We wish them good.luck in
their undertaking. Henry is a first
class workman and deserves success.
Sept. oath, 1885. MARY BEAU.