West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1894-03-15
KINGWooD, w. Va. THURSDAY MARCH Is. 1894

MAIN roaus ieadlng into Northwes.
tern Virginia, aud many other
roads banched of from them.
One, IN particular, | will mention
here. Just east OF Carmel road
started south and passed centrally
through Aurora. from which point
for more than mile it is the pres
ent county road; thence by Stem
pies Ridge to the head of Mill
Run, and down that stream to
Cheat river, twhere st. George now
is). This road led to the Morse
Shoe Settlement on Cheat.
1t was over those old roads that
the hardy pioneers trod as they
wended their way into the interior
OF the State to clear ont its fertile
valleys and rich hills, that have
been immortalized in the famous
song, and to seek homes for them
selves and lands and wealth for
their descendants. There are many
old persons yet living who will re-
member the long tandems of pack
horses every autumn that would
travel over the old Clorksburg road.
laden with linen. ginseng and pol
try, going to Winchester TO trade
for salt and iron. They came from
Harrison, Lewis. jackson and Ran.
dolph countics--in fact, these
counties comprised nearly oil OF
what is now the central part OF the
State.
Over those old roads the Repre-
sentativcs Of the people had to
travel on horseback via Moorelicld
and Stannton to Richmond to as
sist in making laws for the people,
and over those old roads the goods
had to be hanled to Morgantown,
Clarksburg and Beverly. And IL
was over those old roads that many
cmigrants passed to help settlenp
the great territory west Of the Ohio
river, from which sprang those four
powerful and influential States
Ohio. Michigan, Indiana aud Hi.
nois. And it was over those old
roads, but few traces OF which can
be distinguished after leaving the
mountains. that the mails were
carried. 1t is probable that con.
tractors we're not SO anxious as
now to secure mail routes.
Let us now, on Imagination. fol-
low one of those postmen, say from
Winchester into the interior. 1t is
true, his horses possessed finer
stride, and could endure more than
the horses of this day, bnt the dis
tance was long and the roads were
rough, and in many places steep.
lie straps his mail sacks Oh one
horse and rides the other; he carries
his great cont 1--WE call il overcoat
now) with him, and besides this,
his bugle horn. 1t may be beau
tiful spring or summer morning,
the air is full Of fragrance, the
birds sing or either hand, he passes
fine farms in the lowlands, and ex.
periences no trouble in crossing the
rivers; he ascends the Alleghanics
and his path is rough and steep,
and across it stalks tile great lub.
berly bear, or the nimblc deers may
run in droyes, be sees countless
numbers Of wild turkeys, and pleas
ants and partridges abound by the
score, every stream is full OF the
fnny tribe--aIl these things invite
him to stop, but nc must hurry on
now he nears Postonice. The
Postmaster Is farmer, and to no.
tify him 20 be ready to attend to
bis mail, he winds his bugle horn,
the shrll clear notos echo and re.
echo through the hills for many
miles. After his mail Is changed.
he starts again. But IT is a long
way 10 the end Ct his route, and
fine weather cunt always last. Dark
clouds now begin to appear, and
the rolling thunder indicates a
storm; he must press on; the ram
pours in torrents, the forest bends
before the force Of the WIND, and
he cheers himself that at his stop.
ping place that night he will feel
safe and forget the tumult Of tho
elements. lie desceDds the noun.
tain into some valley, where he Is
to cross river, and just beyond
he will stop for rest. But 10 ! and