Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-11-14
For THE HERALD
ATRIP TO WAYNE COUNTY.

Mr.. EDITOR According to promise
made you herewith submit a condensed
sketch of my travels recently through
some oil the mountains of West Virginia.
Leaving our beautiful city Oct. 90. on
Train No. 3, we arrived in Parkersburg
on time with not blot to mar the pleas
nre of the trip Having but ten minutes
before the departure of the train on the
.. Il. r. r, / was disappointed. In
meeting with some very warm friends.
we succeeded in boarding one of the lin
tied trains ON the o. Il. X. r. which runs
TO Huntington in hours and 10 minutes,
Il distance of 1874 miles. The locals on
the Is. & o. will excel this record every
day. Arriving at Huntington l found
the same marked spirit of improvement
rs seen in our city. They have sickened
at the sight of muddy streets 8 out of 12
months and are paving their streets with
brick some are doubtful about their re-
naming where placed. but are of the
opinion in wet seasons they will sink. if
successful they will have the prettiest
streets in w. Va. There was universal
complaint among the merchants of dull
times and scarcity of money there was
Il Tumor current that the Ensign Gas
Works we've going to close down on &C
count of no orders for manufacture.
Here | will add. that any desiring to Wis
it Huntington will find at the St. Mich
olas Hotel on Third Avenue all the ac-
commodation the weary traveller is look
ing for: good, substantial meals, kind.
attentive walters elegant. large, airy
rooms, with first class bedding, all under
the management and ownership of A. NJ.
Thompson, Esq, who aims at all times TO
make your stay pleasant one. On the
morning of 2Sth. we left Huntington for
Wayne Court House. a distance of %
miles the transportation between these
two points is to say the least. ridiculous
Such as ordinary spring wagons with
neither lap blanket. side or top shelter
but the charges are far beyond he aver
age, Wayne Court House has popula-
ton of 500 souls and with the exception
of a new court house under erection is
completely dead SO far as employment is
concerned and if immense hills are a
benefit. Providence has certainly smiled
on this particular point. Local option
also predominates. so that the inner spir-
IL cannot be raised by the application of
an outward one without a physician s
permit. From this point we travelled
about 10 miles further through noun
tains and ravines. to hamlet known as
East Lynn, situated on the south bank of
Twelve Pole Creek. a stream of vast i'm
poytance as tributary in floating logs to
larger rivers. From this point | travel
ed several miles in different directions
with new sights looming up continually.
The timber in thickness and height is
immense, and is composed chiefly of oak
hickory, poplar and beech, the hills are
underlaid with bituminous coal. iron ore
nd -. e
out at the base of the mountains are very
peiceptible, and can be obtained in many
places without excavation of earth or
rock. The inhabitants are not really
aware of the hidden wealth surrounding
them. 10 nearly every instance oxen
aud sleds are used as horses and wagons
are useless there. We had the pleasure
of witnessing the manufacture of Sorg-
ham Syrup the sugar cane is stripped of
its blades, then the stalk is run through
II cIusher. separating the juice from the
stalk, the JUICE Is then put in an evap-
crater where it is boiled, skinned and
5 rained, all of which requires only few
minutes. The yield is about 200 gallons
per acre, for which is received 80 cents
per gallon. 1t is q noticeable fact that
the Young ladies take the wool from the
sheep. card and spin 1t, and in many in
stances make IL INTO material for wearing ap-
parei with apparent ease and little expense
on the 30 ul oct. 1t was my privilege to at
tend the funeral of a little child. 1t was solemn
Hud sad 10 see those hardy moUntaineers
winding their way over mountain slopes and
rtvlnes, II distance of three miles where a
number OF friends had gathered. 10 witness
iHe burial OF t.ts little one, whose mother had
been called to the realms above long before IL
could lisp the name OF mother. After due
preparation the friends sang some beautiful
anthems aiIer which one of the number made
some very feeling and appropriate remarks,
also reading The 4Jh Chap. OF hebrews. When
the I'D was removed from the coffin The aged
grant parents and relatives knelt around
their dear departed, with a man station of
Intense grief. am sure there were none who
dlu not weep yet they do not weep as those
who have no hope. From what | observed
Iney were christian people and manifested
such a spirit. Ia conclusion 1 viii say was
very agreeahly surprised at the manners and
customs of these people. They are not of the
ruughand lliiterate element, but just the re-
verse. nearly all are educated and are KIM
ana generous people ana are principally mem
ners OF the CImphelllte persuasion, they are
undoubtedly strict attendants 10 church and
SabOHl school. Ihere are also numerous
public school buildings, but unfortunately for
these people theiI school only exists four
months during The year, and these being win
Ter months The SIN all children came attend
curing Indictment weather. The pay of teach
cT Is 30 pc month"; which is not sufficient en-
c'artgem ,nt to practical teacher, with the
amount of labor assigned TO them
1 pom inquiry learn that timber land not
culled can be purchased at s. per acre, While
with the timber alone there would be an i'm
mense amount of money, outside of the min
eiai deposited in the earth to induce one to
invest. II transportation was convenient Mr.
Editor, though have tried to be brief fear
my spOndeuce is too long and not desir.
lnS 70 be an imposition Will CLOSE although
lbe half has not been related,
Nov. ., 1891. a. T. RUssLER.