The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-10-26

otS'ASN W W khO StiAihCll
system OF railways in West Virginia is
one OF tho most resourccful in tho
world. Until recently it has been for
the most part inaccessible. 1t is re-
gion rich in coal and timber, and 80
soon as tho timber IL cut blue grass
grows as in Central kentucky. Indeed,
this is the country to which Governor
Fleming referred when no said in n
public address that there was q larger
blue grass region in West Virginia than
in Kentucky.
By reference to the map tho reader
will observe 4 line OF rail from Pitts
burg to Uniontown, which is owned by
the Baltimore & Ohio Co. From Union
town, Pa. to Morgantown, w. Va, is
shown missing link OF about twenty
five miles in the Baltimore & 0hios
lines to Pittsburg, which, however, is
now under contract, ard when COM
plcted will connect Pittsburg by the
Baltimore * 0hio's lines with the West
Virginia roads. From Morgantown the
Baltimore & Ohio has in operation \
line to Fairmont, and at Fairmont be-
gins the Camden system OF West Vir-
glnia. The first section OF the system
is known as tho MononGaLcla River
Railroad. and runs up the west fork OF
that stream thiTty-thrcc miles to Clarks-
burg, where it joins tho West Virginia
& Pittsburg, which thence goes on to
meet the Chesapeake & Ohio on the
Greenbricr river. But the West Vir-
ginia & Pittsburg forks at Weston, one
branch going up by way OF Buckhan-
non into mighty forrest, which it pen
e.ratcs us far as place called Pickens,
in Randolph county. For convenience
let us call this the Buckhannon river
branch.
1t will be good plan to consider the
different sections OF the system one at q
time; so we must 60 back to Fairmont
and begin with the NIonongahcla River
railroad, which opens to the world 4
field OF coking, gas and fuel coal that
las no superior in the United States.
The feature OF the field is the great
Pittsburg seam, which by reason Of its
extent, its uniformity, its thickness, the
facility with which it may be mined.
The face OF the vein is exposed above
water level, with good drainage, con-
tinuously from one end OF tho road
to the other. At Monongah, five
miles above Fairmont, the Monongah
Coal and Coke Co. has in operation one
oil the largest and most complete plants
to be found in any coal region. It has
5een pronounced by Pennsylvania OPP
orators to be model plant. Here the
coal is mined by machinery, the motive
power being electricity, by which also
the mines are lighted up. Here $50
coke ovens with lurid light dispcl nights
gloom from the bluegrass carpets
which cover Monongahela's hills and
slopes. This plant has capacity to
mine 5000 tons OF coal day, and may
be duplicated profitably every mile or
two along the line
AT Clarksburg we strike the next link
i'll the chain, called by name which
soon or late will probably be applied to
all the lire from Pittsburgh TO the great
iron ore fields OF Potts creek in old Vir-
ginia; that is to say, the West Virginia
4 Pittsburgh Railroad. eThis road, like
the Monongahela River line, continues
up the west fork to Weston, where it
branches. The town OF Weston is the
county seat OF Lewis comfy, and is IN
old-fashioned place OF some thrift and
much ante-beilt,m reputation. 1t is the
site OF . fine hospital for the insane,
built OF blue sandstone, which was be.
gun with appropriations from the State
OF Virginia before the war Going up
tho BuckEannon River branch we soon
come to the fast-growing town OF that
name, tho county seat OF Upshur coun-
ty, which has several large educational
institutions. 1t is destined to become q
manufacturing point OF considerable
importance, for above it extends mag
niGcant timber country, where hard
woods abound, and which, as one may
sec by travelling up the railroad,
is being rapidly developed, there
being at Alexander a lumber
mill which cost 100000. AT Newton,
which is forty-two miles above Wes-
ton and only &c miles above Buckhan-
non, begins an almost unbroken forest,
which extends to Elk river, q distance
OF IS miles. Coal veins OF fine qaulity
are found along the line above Buck
harmon to Pickcns, nine miles above
Newton, where this branch will have its
terminus, but whence timber roads will
reach out in various directions. Near
Pickens, which is on the divide between
the waters OF the Buckhannon and
Tygart's Valley rivers on the north and
the Elk and Holly on tho south, one
may stand at the foot OF wild-cherry
tree five feet in diameter and towering
so feet before the first limb appears, on
IN elevation called turkey Bone" and
behold stretching southwark house
less, roadlcss, almost painless forest OF
at least $4,000 acres, which has never
touched by the woodlands axe. There
is enough timber in the territory tribut-
airy to this branch OF the West Virginia
d Pittsburgh TO insure an enormous
traffic to the road for at least genera
ton. So much for the Buckhannon RIVER
branch.
Now, comm. back to Weston, We will
go up the main line, which, when it
connects with the Chesapeake & Ohio
at Marlinton heretofore called Martins
Bottom), on tho Grecnbrier river, will
form portion OF q great north and
south trunk line which will bring Pitts
burgh 200 miles closer to the mineral
regions OF Virginia than by any exist
ing route. A ride OF forty miles through
fairly improved country, whose little
farms are like islands in an ocean OF
timber, brings US to BraSton Court
house, or Sutton, on Elk river, bcauti-
full, clear, cold mountain stream with
an average width OF 800 feet, and which
is SO free from rocks and other obstruc-
tons as to form q natural iloat-road for
the timber region above OF moro than