Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-04-04
Il D~ESrIrUTION
In the Central Counties of West Virginia.
Editor eJ hs Register.

In the Central Counties of West Virginia.
Editor q ths Register.
BRAxroS. c. H., W. Va, March So
Much has been said through the columns OF
the newspapers about restitution IN GER
tain counties in the central portions OF West
Virginia IN which is included the county OF
BIaxton that such a statement with so little
foundation in truth should have been so
widely circulated and so generally believed
stems to the intelligent portion Of this
county quite remarkable, and it is due to
the people here, as well as those abroad who
is ready TO lend us their sympathy, and their
assistance if needed, and who desire to
know the truth, that this false impression
should b. eorrected. Ii is true that this is
what is called By the people a hard year,
grain. particularly corn, is scarce and bran
3 high price, aud rough teed is also scarce,
but since | came to this county fifteen
years Q | have known it q half dozen
different seasons to be as high and scarce,
and two or three springs within that time |
have known grain, both wheat and corn to
command greater prices than 1t does at this
time. Owing to the great drouth last sun.
mer corn crops were very much shortened,
but We harvested an excellent crop
of whest and | think IT
quite sufficient when distrib-
uted 10 furnish breaistuf for the county,
but il that should turn out not to be the
case flour can be brought here from Wes-
ton, W. Va, at moderate cost. The great
est drawback to the people Of this county Is
the want Of a proper circulating medium.
Money is quite as scarce in this county as
it has been at II time since the late war.
This, too, is mainly attributable to the dry
weather last summer and fall, there having
been no sufficient water in the streams tor
nearly a year, until last winter to carry
away the timber prepared in this county tor
market, this industry being one OF the Chief
sources Of revenue to the county. Stock
cattle, which is also another source of reye-
nue. to the county, did not command re-
muneratiye prices and consequently were
not shipped to any considerable extent, but
while o is scarce and grain and feed
is also scarce, l have failed, after careful
inquiry about the condition of the various
sections Of the county. to find any actual
suffering OF the citizens OF any section TOR
van Of something to eat. Bacon IS plentl'
luA III NCu auu LWCANC ~ ~ PONAN. 49,
is in this county, as in almost all eommuni-
ties an improyident class of people who live
from hand to mouth and who never think
about providing for future contingencies,
tha. may in some instances find it difficult
to procure sufficient ~sustenance for them
selves and families, but no great suffering
will Re felt ever by that class and in this
county that class Of people is not large.
Much the greater portion Of our citizens
are thrifty, industrious farmers and usually
live comfortably. A few cattle have died
from starvation and others are threatened
with the same fate if we do not soon witness
the incoming of spring, but the number is
not much in excess of what die from the
same cause ALMOST every spring. Some
persons will find it difficult to procure sufh-
cient meat and bread to maize them COM
Portable, but when the hard season is past
| don't think any one can truthiully say
that any citizen Of this county has persisted,
CT even greatly suffered for want Of the
necessities of life. +. j. BRAXrER.