The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-06-04
nIoNoNGALIA COUNTY.

Morrantown, county seat; formed October, 1777S,
from Augusta county; named for the river
MOnonglhelH Indian name for "Rovef OF Cav
ing or Crumbllng BanEs.)
AscsSc4 value Of real and personal property,
SS,l6J COL.
County TAX on slOp cents
NAoNoSGALIAC COUNTY Is one OF the most pros
III porous In the State. The Monongahela river
travorscs II IL direction little east TO north.
Cheat rIveT and DecEer'S creek como in on the
southeast. while Dunkard and Dig Indian creeks
Join the river from the west, and great mum:
Dor Of lesser streams furnish an abundant and
never failing supply OF water. Tho surface IL
rolling and hilly, without being abrupt, for ths
most part, and Is mountainous only in the ex-
tremc eastern border.
The soil on the west side OF the river Il mainly
rich allGYlal In the valleys and bottoms, and
composed OF limestone, and loan with sub:
stratum OF clay, on tho higher ground. Much oil
tho most productive and best grazing lands nrc
found OIL the hills. blue grass Is indigenous TO
the greater part Of the county.
Five vieins or seams OF bituminouS coal, all OF
commercial value, with number OF smaller
ones, present their Out-crop along the valley Of
the MonongRhela from the State line 10 the
Marion county line. a distance OF about twenty
miles. They vary In thickness from fvo TO
eleven feet Of good merchantablc coal. and arc
perfectly free from ash, sulphur and slate part
ings
number OF points in this coal field. OIL Is now
being produced IN paying quantities.
Limestone for farm ana mechanical use
aboundS in nearly every phrt OF the county,
Fire clAys of various qualities, suitable for paw
Ing and iirc brick. thing and terra Gotta work,
abound on the cast side Of the river. Gins sand
on the Gust side Of the river, and building stone
Of hne grey aud blue sandstone everywhere
abound.
The iron ores Of this county have been success
fully used In the six blast furnaces, operated
here many years ago, but abandoned for want oil
transportation facilities,
Transportation Is furnished by tho Mononga'
hela river which Is made nayigablo by locks
aud dams from Pittsburgh to MorgRntown, aud
by tho FHirinont, Morgantown 4 Pittsburgh rail
road. The extension Of the FRlrnc0t, Morgan
town & Pittsburgh railroad uNrthward twenty
two miles 10 connect with the baltimore & Ohio
system IN Pennsylvania, has already been begun
by the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company.
Will be built from ClArksburg via Fatrmont
down tho valley Of the MOnongahelR to the state
line, where II Is proposed to connect with the
Pennsylvania railroad system.
Over one hundred primary schools exist In the
rural parts Of the county, with a graded school
at MoIantown. A female seminary and tho
State University offer opportunities OF the most
advanced character.
The building OF tho Fairmont MorgantoWn &
Pittsburgh railroad has greatly, increased the
value and selling price OF coal lands, aud in .
lesser degree farm lands and town lots.
Cheap fuel local, coke aud ghS), pure water In
abundance, healthy climate, river and rail- trans
PortatiQn in competition, low prices for lands
and light taxes, with cheap raw material, tSuch
as wool, timber, ore FIRE clay, glass sand and tan
bark, At hand, aud with good agricultural
community TO draw upon for food supplies,
mark this county rs one OF the very best In the
union for manufacturing enterprises.