Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1894-04-21

point of vantage Here it is that
the waters of the Potomac and those
of the Shenandoah, forcing way
through the mountain. meet to mingle
their currents and pursue together
their course towards the ocean, for
we are looking at Harpers Ferry,
where, until recently stood old John
Browns fort, not far from the boulder
called Jefferson rock, whence that
statesman once gazed on landscape
so lovely that he pronounced trip
across the Atlantic not too hard a
task in order to see its beauty.
Nor has the history of Martinsburg
herself lacked touch of romance.
Founded more than one hundred
years ago, the early settlers had no
easy time to make their homes; the
country was wild and rough, ground
had to be cleared and houses built,
while the fear OF an Inc ian onslaught
was never absent. The remembrance
OF the tribes who inhabited this
region still fingers in the names OF
some of the creeks and rivers, as the
Opequon and the Tusearora, and on
the banks of the latter stands the lit
tie old church where the settlers came
to worship, carrying their prayer
books in one hand, but in the otheI
sword.
However, having survived the vi
cissitudes incidental to all pioneer
towns, Martinsburg grew aud flourish
ed until the time of the Civil War.
Situated on the Valley turnpike, in
the direct line of march of both armies
and numbering both Confederates and
Unionists among her inhabitants, the
town suffered severely on all sides;bnt
many sun has risen and set since
the last roar OF artillery echoed
through the valley, and the sword
and spear have long since been beat
en- into the pruning-hook and pillow.
share. In few places is the ground
better adapted for agricultural pur-
poses than in this section and the
farmer would indeed be hard to please
who would not appreciate the pros.
perity and plenty yielded to her Ill.
lers by Mother Earth Field after field
stretches on all sides, the golden
wheat contrasting with the fresh
green OF corn; yonder, under the shade
Of trees, the cattle have come to
quench their thirst at the pond; and
from the orchard, with its trees laden
with fruit, comes the cheerful hum OF
the bees.
But it is not merely as an agricul-
tural center that Martinsburg claims
our attention The advantages o.
her situation as commercial town at
once attracts us. On the direct line
Of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, be-
tween New York and the West. and
only two hours distant from the CAPT
tai of the United States, her facilities
for both freight and passenger traffic
are almost unbounded. The Cumber-
land Valley Railroad, especially since
the extension to Winchester has been
opened, affords direct and speedy
communication between Virginia and
Pennsylvania and connections, via
either this road or the Baltimore &.
Ohio, Is easily made with the South
ern lines.
In the mountains around are indi.
cations Of great mineral wealth, as
yet undeveloped through lack OF cap
ital. Martinsburg's proximity to the
mountains would cause the difficulties
of transit to be reduced TO a minimum
while eastern and western markets
would both be open to her products
As manufacturing center. Mar
tinsburg is surely and swiftly ''forg-
ing ahead" Like all valley towns.
she underwent the "boom" excite
ment, but happily for her. the pro
motors Of tie scheme, the Martins
burg Mining. Manufacturing and
Improvement Company were men Of
philanthropic and patriotic sentiment
who had the best interests oftheir city
at heart. Streets were graded, lots
sold both for business and residence
purposes, sites granted to manufac
turers; within the last three years one
electric-light plant has been started
and run successfully, an electric street
railway has been laid, hosiery mill
and two wooden mills, making AIN az.
gregate of five new industries, are al
providing employment for hundreds
Of hands and a large dyeing establish
ment in connection with one Of Ii,
wooden mills IS also in process Of ercc
ton. Besides all this. the railroad.
| Including the repair shops the Bal
timore & Ohio Railroad). the immcns,
Hannisville whisky distiliery, a,
well as other enterprises, furnish wori
to many more.
| With her grain elevators -four mill
and well-stockel stores. Martinsburs
is self supporting, yet there is abund
ant opening for business men in boil
wholesale and retail lines. for the towi
improves steadily, houses are in con
slant demand and with its growtl
new fields daily open up to enterprise
and capital.
As place of residence, Martinsburg
possesses special attractions; viewes
from both a sanitary and sccis
standpoint. In the first place. the wa
ter supply is pure and abundant, TIL
Location very healthy and the cliniat
fairly equable. The town is very pic