The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-01-01
THE WORLDS PRIZE.
ANOTHER COMPETITOR DISCUSSES THE
RESOURCES OF MAR
TINSDrRG.
A BOOMING CRY on A SOLID III
NANcIAL BASIS THAT
HAS COME TO
Ga.v


tied by the red man Of the forest only.
No pale face had penetrated It's wooded
domain, or traversed its beautiful and
picturesque valleys. But soon the
torch of civilization, with its onward
stride, saw in both bill and dale future
prosperity for coming generations; and
what was then considered a 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 as 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
pan handle, is situated the city Of
Martinsburg. fthe Queen of the Shen-
andoah, y nestled between the two great
mountains. The climate attains that
medium between the rlgor of the north
and the eternal summer Of the south,
which makes it both healthy and in
MIGRATING.
In former times Martinsburg took no
part in the systematic advertising
which has so fastened 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 We're not
dilated upon.
Some three or four years ago there
was sudden change in this respect
Aspiration for the material advance
ment Of the city seemed to seize all
classes, and mere particularly the
younger blood Of the community, and
from that hour dawned % new era. The
spirit of enterprise has hourly grown
stronger as it has materialized in new
railroad lines, new buildings, public
and private, new factories, rapid
transit, electric lines, sewers and I'M
proved lighting Of our city and private
residences.
There is ALWAYS certain proportion
of our national population which is
constantly on the alert for some new
place Of abode, or place or section in
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 a
new State and new cities have so
greatly improved with each decade, so
grand young cities have sprung into
being, each succeeding one following
at quiekening 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 "boomn towns,
but such has not been the case She
has already without any furry or rip
pie of excitement quietly and unosten-
tatiously developed into that stage of
permanent and energetic improvement
of the city as whole and in its minute
and individual detail, which gives to
every piece of property a fixed and
permanent value, which will 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 a railway, commercial. manufactul.
ing and social center, her increased
real estate values and activity will be
more steady, more constant and more
rapid, than will any similar distin-
gushing features in any other city in
the Shenandoah OF Cumberland Val
leys.
There is a good and steady demand
for residences, and business blocks
wholesale and retail buildings and fac
tories, at such figuresas viii secure fol
investors good returns on their money.
The city contains 5000 inhabitants
and has all the modern improvements
of the larger and much older cities
Splendid trees line either side of the
street, and with the fruit and shade
trees of the grounds, fairly embowel
the city in the leafy season. The
marked attention given to lawns and
flower gardens is the subject of uni
versal admiration.
There is no city more amply assured
Of a limitless watersupply than tours, y
as the water is drawn from two never
failing springs and forced through the
city by the Holly system, in sufficient
quantity for population Of 10000.
The fire department is highly credi-
10 VI n 10 +bo ai+,- and 4ho 1oe.coc q ~, las,e