The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-10-04
ELKINS, W. VA.
ONE OF THE STATES THRIVING
TOWNSHIPS.


PRESENT PROMISING OUTLOOK.
ELKrNs, w. Va. Oct. 4.-There has
been d great deal Of writing concern
/ ing the town Of Elkins, which had its
birth in the year 1889. Many have
been the predictions concerning its flu
ture, some encouraging, others dispar-
aging. Indeed its life at times did
seem precairous. The town rs origin
ally laid out in lao blocks was very
soon sold and building begun, as also
upon the Graham and Davis, the
Weese, and the Hinkle additions.
The seasons being very wet, the land
fiat, there being no streets thrown up,
drainage being, in consequence bad,
there prevailed in 1890, a bilious typho-
malarial fever, which caused many
deaths, and produced the impression
that the town must necessarily be very
unhealthful, and in consequence great
| " impeded It's growth. But she has
overcame all this, and the people have
begun to realize that this town is not
the den Of death, :" as fondly charged
by those envious, but one OF the most
beautiful town sites in West Virginia.
We have natural drainage, which BY
a little artificial aid can be made per-
feet.
We have now Il moral, law-abiding
class Of industrious citizens which will
challenge comparison with any new
town. A good mark of thetown is the
fact that a professional loafer'' is not
to he found. There is work forall and
the people will not tolerate such class.
As to our beauty of location, none
need be informed who have ever wit
messed her beautiful mountain ranges
WSfh their summits capped with the
perpetual green Of the pine forests,
with the lower ranges are now decked
with the golden red Of the autumnal
beach and maple, or silver tint Of the
elm and popular in the spring, while
the quiet valley Of the Tygarts lies
calmly between with its silvery, SER
pentine stream LAYING its fertile banks.
Well might the Hon. Joha G. Blanch-
Lard exclaim, when he assembled the hill
a,upon which Secretary Elkin's lovely
lmansion stadds This is the Eden
of the United States. | have travelled
from Maine TO California; from the
Gulf to the Lakes, and this is the pref
| test view have ever SEEM
| Elkins has now a population of about
1900. We have two churches COM
pleted, Presbyterian and Baptist, and
a NJ. Z. church under way; one Ma
tional Bank, in the best bank build
ling in the State; two weekly newspa-
pers; nine general stores; two hard
ware stores two furniture stores, three
millinery stores, one undertaken, one
drug store, one jewelry store, three
real estate agents, and six doctors who
have great deal of leisure time.
This is the home OF Secretary Of
War Elkins, and Ex-senator II. G..
Davis will soon have completed the
best residence in the State, while r.
C. Kerene is erecting one almost as
elegant, while Ex-Governor Campbell,
of Ohio, and Hon. John G. Blanchard,
in Michigan, are contemplating build
ing in the near future. The machine
shops and the round house of the West
Virginia Central and Pittsburg rail-
road are located here and the extern
sion Of the road south from this place
is a matter of the near future.
There has been no boom like some Of
our neighboring towns in this and adj
joining States, which have been fol-
lowed by collapse which causes finan-
cial crisis and business depression. but
we witness with pleasure greater
number Of buildings in course of cree
ton in town than ever before 1T one
time. A county roads is being locat-
ed from Roaring creek TO connect with
Davis avenue as it is extended south
beyond the river, thus making that
the most desirable business street in
the future.
It is also expected that . good coun-
try road will be opened up from this
future metropolis Of central West vlr-
ginia, to the grazing and lumber re-
gions Of the famous Dry Fork country.
Then with this country to feed and the
vast coal underlying our mountains,