Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-04-28
WEST VA. RESOURCES.
STATE EXHIBIT BY COUNTIES.

BOONE CoUNTY.-MADIsoN, .(c0na-
tn seat March, l88S.-BoOnec county
was organized in 1917. The popula-
ton is 5000. The total assessed valu-
alton Is 1862, 433, and the total rate of
taxation is 81 so on the 500 valuation.
There are two Methodist and two
Baptist churches in the county. There
are 81 schools with 81 teachers and an
attendance of $50 pupils. There is
one newspaper published in the coun-
ty, the Weekly Coat RiUer Record.
There are no existing railroads, but
three are projected. The Norfolk &
Western enters county in the south,
running down Little Coal river to ST.
Alban, in Kanawha County, crossing
the entire length of the county, dis
Boone County railroad takes the same
route to Wyoming County. The
Kentucky IL Tennessee road runs the
width of the county from north to
south, crossing the line of the Norfolk
& Western at Madison, and passing
into Logan County and thence into
Kentucky.
The waterways are Big and Little
Coal rivers and their tributaries. They
are utilized for floating logs and tim
Der. The fall of these rivers makes a
valuable water power. There are no
turnpikes in the county, but there are
numerous dirt roads, the principal
one running from Brownstown, in
Kanawha County, through Boone into
Logan County. The soil, which is
sandy or clay loan. is very fer
tile in the valleys and the fats on the
mountains, adapted to farming, graz
ing and fruit growing. The land has
not been used for grazing, but all
kinds of grasses thrive. Fruit pro-
duces an abundant yield and fruit
growing is the principal industry.
Some horses, sheep, cattle and hogs
are raised, generally scrub stock, little
attention being paid as yet to breed
ing or raising blooded stock, except
hogs. Sheep and horse breeding, how.
ever, would be more profitable en-
terprise.
There is an abundance of camel
coal of all kinds, Splint and common
bituminous. Some of the veins are
from IS inches to IA feet in thickness.
Several veins of camel are found from
Is inches to feet in thickness. Seams
of workable size are found in the hills
above water level. Iron is found in
good quantity, consisting of black
band. gray and red hematite ores.
There is small quantity of limestone
in the county. There is an abundance
of fire clay of good quality almost
throughout the county. The timber
consists of poplar, ash, walnut, hick-
Dry, maple, beech, birch, buckeye,
pine, hemlock, sycamore, black, red
and white oak, locust, cherry and
chestnut. The trees attain a large
growth. About twenty-five men are
engaged in timber cutting, employing
800 laborers. Sand for building pur-
poses is found in abundance, and of
good quality.
The value of the farm products last
year was S215, 200, and live stock $780,
600. The wool product amounted to
81 800.
Numerous grist and saw mills are
operated in different parts of the
county. There is one tannery estab-
lishment, the yearly out put ofwhich
amounts to about $4,000. There is also
one pottery in operation.
The market value ofimproved farm
land is fifty dollars per acre, average
ten dollars and lowest three dollars.
Unimproved land fit for farming or
grazing can be purchased for five dol
lars; average four dollars, and selling
as low as one dollar and fifty cents.
About one-twelfth of the land is clear
ed. The eleven-twelfth uncleared aver
age four dollars per acre. The owners
generally are willing to sell part of
their holdings. The prices are advanc-
ing on account of the projected rail.
roads and timber lands. The project
ed railroads have enhanced the value
of timber and coal lands two-fold.