The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1889-06-27
A Visit to Ohio.

| description OF the latter city.
Lancaster is 81 miles south Of COlum-
bus on the Hooking Valley r. r., and
situated in lovely valley at the foot of
the surrounding hills. Immediately ad-
ioing the city are the Fair grounds. They
contain SO acres and all III all they cannot
b.. surpassed in this country. On the
south OF these grounds is Mt. Pleasant, a
huge, perpendicular hill of solid rock,
about 200 feet in height. The view of the
town and valley from this natural tower
Is indescribabiy lovely and impressive.
This city has "a population of about 12.-
| coo people, with newspapers, churches,
and magnificent public school buildings,
equipments and lawns that put to shame
al similar attempts in the Old Domin -
lOE.
A recently discol cred natural gas well at
lancaster occupies the minds of many
capitalists and others at present Find
lays great gas boom, it seems to the
writer, should be lasting warning to all
small investors to take hold slowly. The
gas Of Ohio is conceded TO be not so valu-
able as that of Pennsylvania: the odor is
said TO be very disagreeable and the light
made not SO brilliant. 'The Old Man
Himself" well is veritable gusher-the
biggest gas well ON the earth.
Biologists have always denied the pos
sibilJy of gas in that section. but Mr..
Mithotf. an old manufacturer of LancaS.
ter, could not be discouraged by the ad-
verse opinions of these learned scientists.
HI had an idea of his own and what is still
more valuable to business men, will of
his own. lie felt that they were mis-
taken. and at large expense he began TO
Old Man HIMSELF is nothing more nor
lras than what judgment. backed up by
II e. ..sinaion and pushed by energy will
do III almost any channel of business. To
one not used to it. it is really refreshing
to sit 10y the warmth of a natural gas fire
it is clearly, cheap and devoid OF work.
A great number of West Va. people are
making Investments in Lancaster real
estate. 1t will take outside blood to de-
velDp the il advantages and resources. The
old residents are noe Offering any spec ial
Inducements TO parties to Locate plants
theIe and without diversified industrial
enterprises they cannot multiply and live.
TIE histories of towns attest the truth of
this statement To advertise cheap gas
willnot deceive people long. Louisville
fran hat t,l..p M hoe f..:ta no hoc
opened the eyes of the business world on
this point. The cheapness of gas to the
manufacturer is a mythe-unless he con-
trolls The gas well in fee simple. The price.
as at present supplied. is scarcely less than
coal. So fractional is the saving that the
manufacturer is not justified to pull up
his plant and go there for the small heneit
he is to get hy the change. But Lancaster
should build up in population and in
wealth. Cheap gas will never do it: only
brains, energy and money judiciOusly,
freely aud continuously. used will accom-
plish it.
| am grateful to Mr. Isaac Claypool, of
Hooker's Is miles north of Lancaster) for
many hospitaities. Mr.. CIaypool is the
fortunate owner of 600 acres of the best
farming lands | have ever seen. His farm
is just undulating enough to give perfect
drainage. 1t is III elegant condition, has
uDtsiling water supply. fine timber and
comfortable Old Virginia improvements.
While there is no large river near. there
is something that reminds one forcibly of
the late Maj 7, K. Miller's home near
Elkton. your State. Mr.. Claypool and his
wife aid accomplished daughter, Miss
Ada, know how to make strangers feel
Ike life is all sunshine. Eastern Virginia
hospitality is proverbial and widely known
as the ends of the earth, and while | do
not disparage the hospitality of my native
State, must say that it cannot surpass
what | enjoyed in the borders of Ohio
l have had beth and think know.
Mr.. Claypool has all his married children !
settled round about him and they are doing |
well LII fact they are doing too well to
get hem TO think of going anywht re else
not even to Florence. He lives in the
old homestead. Jacob Claypool, his father,
moved to Ohio FROM Hardy county then |
Vnglnia) in 1872. His wife was daugh
er Of Michael Baker of Brock S Cap He |
purchased the farm on which his youngest |
son, Isaac now resides in 1910 at rs 90 per |
acre. This purchase included land which |
was then covered with water. The lake |
was oul, a few hundred yalds wide, but |
Ii any miles i'll length. After the cOnstruc-
tion OF the great OHIO canal from Cleve-
lard on the Lakes to Portsmouth on the |
ONO River. it was found expedient to |
build branch canal (lhe IockiIg) from
NtisoIyille, Athens county, to intersect |
The Ohio canal in Fairfield county. This
gave al outlet for the coal and iron North |
and South But lalterly. the completion
of the Hooking Valley Railroad has SUI
persedtd the canal as a means of tranSpor-
taton. The canal was located on the water
way or lake, and besides it's value for trans
port purposes. it was a source of incredi-
bic wealth to this section -, eclaimirg Vi st /
acres of The most productive farming lands,
and SubotiE uIing health fOI death breeding !
malaria. These lands take readily in blue
grass which affords valuable lasturage |
Tor many months III the year No where |
in these united States-the country of |
b BEAUTIFUL BONES and magnificent farms-
can one find more pert ct farms and farm |