Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-05-12
WEST VA. RESOURCES.
STATE EXHIBIT BY COUNTIES.

BERKELEY COUNTY, Rich Agri-
cultural Section Openings for Farming
and Manufacturers. MARTINsBURG
County Seat, March, 1888. AS
an agricultural county, Berkeley
ranks among the best in the State.
The soils are loans and clay, greater
portion of the county forming a part
of the Great Valley of Virginia.
Martinsburg, one of the chief cities
of the State, is centrally located for a
vast surrounding country, when Is
tributary to it in every way. Ii Is
the business as well as the social CEN
tire of the valley, the county seat, the
shipping point, and the transfer sta
ton in travel, going in every direc-
ton. The cities of the east and north
are within three and six hours travel
by direct and through fast line trains,
and Pittsburgh and the west are near
neighborhoods, in communication by
daily express and fast freight. The
inducements to manufactures and
wholesale establishments are timber,
coal, shipping facilities, comparative
cheapness and abundance of labor,
and low cost of living.
INCREASE IN POPULATION.
| Since 1865, the population of the
county has doubled itself, and Mar
tinsburg has sprung up to 5000 popu.
lation. Railroads have been built,
shops opened giving employment to
hundreds of mechanics, tiremen, en-
gineers, conductors and other hands !;
| the distillery has spread out its bull
dings, railroads are planned to Win
chester and the coal and timber depots
of the mountains; telephone lines
erected, warehouses established, retail
buildings, hotels, livery and exchange
stables, and all the commodities pro-
yided for carrying on the increase in
business traffic.
The Hannis distillery at Martins
burg is the largest in the State, and its
product is we'll and favorably known
outside its borders, exporting to Eu-
rope. 1t has a mash capacity of 720
bushels per day. 1t affords the farmers
of the surrounding country a fine
market for their grain. It also furn-
ishes feed for 200 head of cattle and
5000 hogs. There are number of
grist mills, saw-mills and cooperage
establishments.
LAND VALUATION AND TAXATION.
The county was organized in 1772,
and at present contains population
of 5000. The total assessed valuation
is S7,000,000. The total rate of tax
alton is Sl.20 per 500. There are 35
churches in the county, representing
the Presbyterian, Episcopal, Luther
an, Methodist, United Brethren, Bap-
fist, Reformed and Catholic.
There are n schools and 100 teachers,
with an attendance of about 1900 pu-
pills. There are three newspapers
published at the county-seat. Two
banking Institutions, the National and
Peoples, the former having 100000
capital and the latter $4,000, are 10.
Gated at Martinsburg.
There are two existing railroads in
the county, the Baltimore & Ohio
Railroad and Cumberland Valley.
The Cumberland Valley is projected
to Winchester, Va, taking a souther-
ly direction through the Shenandoah
waterways are the Potomac River,
/ Tuscarora, Opequon, Mill and Back
Creeks, which furnish excellent water
power. There are 40 miles of turnpike
and numerous other roads in the coun-
ty.
Sheep raising is carried on to con-
sideral extent, and has proved to be
very profitable. The wool product OF
last year amounted to $4,000 pounds,
an increase of 5000 pounds over the
previous year. Large numbers oil
horses and cattle are raised for the
eastern market.
MINERALS.
There are several veins ofcoal in the
county which are now in process oil
development. Several beds of iron
ore have been worked profitably
There is but one extensive coal oper.
ator in the county, st. John Shepherd,
operating mine ten miles west oil
1 Martinsburg. The county is exceed.
ingly rich in limestone, being found
in inexhaustible quantities, and ana
lying ninety-nine per cent. pure
lime.
Fire clay is found in many localities.
Also potter's clay, which is utilized
for the manufacture of earthenware.
| TIMBER.
The forests contain all the different
kinds of oak, which grow to perfec.
ton. Also, ash, hickory, walnut (ol
very fine quality, maple, yellow pine,
sycamore, locust, cedar and chestnut.
A large amount of tanbark is shipped
from the county to distant points.
Two tanneries are in successful oper.
alton in the county, both having O
monthly output of six hundred hides,
the Gerardstown Tanning Company,
and r. IIuber's Martinsburg tannery.
Two brick-making works are located
at Martinsburg. The Baker Bros,
at Martinsburg. QUARRY an excellent