The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-12-29
THE WORLDS PRIZE.
ANOTHER COMPETITOR Discusses TIE
RESOURCES OF MAR.
TINSBuRG.

HOUMAN6 CITY ON SOLID FL
NANclAL basis THAT
HAS COME no
STAY.
Until 1882 that part Of Virginia "
ing west Of the Alleghanies was inhab-
tied by the red man Of the forest only.
No pale face had penetrated its wooded
domain, Or trayersed its beautiful and
picturesque valleys. But soon the
torch Of civilization, with its onward
stride, saw in both hill and dale future
prosperity for coming generations; and
what was then considered desert
waste has been made to blossom like
the rose. This section since 1868 has
been known as West Virginia, and
while not as prominent IS MANY Of the
| old pioneers On our maps, has made
such gigantic strides that she has
claimed the admiration Of all her com
panions Of the sisterhood. In the
northeastern part Of this our little
mountain State, known as the Eastern
i pan handle, is situated the city Of
Martinsburg. ''the Queen Of the Shen-
landoah, nestled between the two great
mountains. The climate attains that
medium between the rgor Of the north
and the eternal summer Of the south,
which makes It both healthy and in
vigorating.
In former times Martinsburg took no
part in the systematic advertising
which has SO hastened the progress Of
other cities. Little was heard Of the
relative advantages Of Martinsburg as
compared with her neighbors. Her
resources, improvements, wealth, in
dustries, population, position, climate,
capabilities Or opportunities were not
dilated upon.
Some three Or four years ago there
was a sudden change in this respect.
Aspiration for the material advance
ment Of the city seemed to seize all
classes, and more particularly tho
younger blood Of the community, and
from that hour dawned d new era. The
spirit Of enterprise has hourly grown
stronger as il has materialized III new
railroad lines, new buildings, public
and private, new factories, rapid
transit, electric lines, sewers and inn
proved lighting Of our city and private
residences.
There is always certain proportion
of our national population which ii
constantly On the alert for some new
place of abode, 81 . place 81 section ID
which to embark in some business en-
terprise, or make an investment Of
surplus means. These various classes
of our people have been the means Of
rapidly and grandly developing our
country. This has been accomplished
BY successive stages, and just as the
means for settling and developing =
new State and new cities have-so
greatly improved with each decade, 50
grand young cities have sprung into
being, each succeeding one following
at qnickening intervals in the wake Of
its last and most brilliant predecessor,
Martinsburg may congratulate herself
that she has so well avoided disastrous
reaction, which would have been the
unavoidable result had speculation be-
come rife, and run rampant as it has
done in many so-called boom towns,
but such has not been the case. She
has already without any furry Drip
pie Of excitement quietly and unosten-
tatiously developed into that stage Of
permanent and energetic Improvement
Of the city as q whole and ii its minute
and individual detail, which gives to
every piece Of property fixed and
permanent value, which win steadily
increase as the city itself grows and
establishes her indisputable sway over
her much older neighbors. Her march
Of progress, her population, her growth
as railway, commercial, manpfactur-
ling. and social center, her increased
real estate values and activity win be
more steady, more constant and more
rapid, than will any similar distin-
gushing features in any other city IN
| the Shenandoah or Cumberland Val
lleys.
There is a good and steady demand
for residences, and business blocks,
wholesale and retail buildings and fac
tories, at such figuresas will secure for
| investors good returns on their money.