The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-11-06
WEST VA. CENTRAL R. R.
The Wild and Picturesque
Scenery Along Its Route,
FROM cUMBERLANDTo ELKlNS
BY pn IuteIllgencer Correspondent
What Capital and Enterprise
Has Done for tho state-The
Rapid Growth of EIkins.
sp.ciaI Core,DOnda,c. Of lAe Inlelllqaletr.

7 NNfNNNAHftHANfNsH
ELKISs, W. Va, Nov 2,-To the
many who traverse our Mountain State,
seldom II ever leaving the main line Of
the Baltimore & Ohio, as well as to the
many who stay at home and never travel
at all, 1t is a story frpught with constant
surprises to learn Of the wonderful
development which railroad enterprise
has wrought in the past few years. to
hear Of the magnificent mountain seem
ery-unsxcelled aHywhere-whIch has
not yet been rayed over by the magazine
writer, or sung oil by the poet, aud 10 be
told also OF the diScomforls and ineon'
conyenienCes which the traveller in West
Virginia puts up with in less than .
days journey from all the luxuries and
comforts OF lie, US represented by pATloT
and dining cars and frst-class hotel ac'
commodations,
The new road OF the West Virginia
Central Company, from Cumberland 10
ElkinH, w. Va, has opened up terri
tory unsurpassed In natural beauty IN
the State, has given an impetus to the
country through which 1t passes, which
Is observable In ev4ry. mile OF the road.
l left Cumberland, Nd, on = gloomy,
wet morning last week on trip 70 the
present terminus Of the road at Elklns,
w, Va. There had been heavy rains for
several days previous, and the Potomac
river, which we crossed and recrossed
some half dozen times in the first ten
miles, was swollen to almost flood pro
portions. AT different places where we
crossed the river the rufus OF q bridge
lying by the bank, or u gang OF men en-
ployed In repairing damages caused by
high water, proved they mad already had
experience with one great enemy to rail-
reading In West Virginia, namely, high
water.
WILD, PICTURESQUE SCENERY.
AS fur as Piedmont the road runs
parallel with the Baltimore & Ohio, but
at that point II turns off aud cutters
country formerly almost unknown aud
inaccessible. From this point the
scenery became wilder and more savage.
Tho trees, stripped Of their summer YER
dure, stood like grim sentlnels on the
mountain sides, rising above our heads
untilthey were lost to sight on the noun
tain top among the low hanging clouds.
AT the foot Of the narrow valley through |
which We were passing ran q turbulent
mountain stream. AT different points
as we passed were to be seen saw mills,
stationed on its banks, whose small force
OF men would stop to look up and wave
their hands as tho train passed, the only
break OF the monotOny Of their day,
Most OF the towns along the road are
new, the railroad operations having
given them birth and built them up, and
Us you get further from Piedmont and
further mp In the mountains these small
towns become more numerous. In the
older towns the new part Is very notice
able, the houses aud stores having usual.
ly more pretensions TO both style and
comfort.
Az German is located the large tannery
works oil j. g. Hoffman 4 Son, OF
Wheeling. At that place, stretched
along the hill side, are some ten or
twelve comfortable, Ioomy-looking
houses In course Of construction, intend.
ed to accommodate the increased pOpu-
lation employed in the tanncry.
At Bayard, where We begin to ascend
the mountain side, are tho extensive
lumber works Of W. A. Barrett, Jr.1,&
Co., OF Philadelphia. From this point
TO Fairfax the road climbs steadily up
the mountain.
AuoNn ruv c,nrnu