The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-09-18
IN WEST VIRGINIA.
A Trip Through Berkeley County
and What it Contains.
by staff Corr spcndent

MAgTINsBURG, Sept II, 1896.
While Martinsburg and the entire Cum
berland Valley is making poor progress
along commercial lines it is a great grain
producing country, and Martinsburg Is
tho centre of the most extensive section In
West Virginia.
The Shenandoah Valley has long been
famous rs u wheat growing territory. In
early days it was truly the granary of Vir-
ginia. From it the large cities to tie
Ea st of us drew their supplies. II n crop
failed In it, the price of grain and -four
was expected to rise rapidly In this Sec
ton. During the war it fed the armies of
che Confederate States; and in conse-
quence Its fields were wasted and its mills
destroyed by Sberidan's army, as u war
measure In order that the army Of North
crn Virginia might be crippled for food.
An old pamphlet, published in 1910, dcs-
criptive Of Berkeley County, gives the
number OF grist and Touring mills in
operation ut that date as fifty. Previous
to the establishment of railroads, and the
application of steam, they were scattered
along every stream where sufficient water
power could be found, and continued in
full operation throughout the year. Long
trains ofwagons conveyed the grain and
the flour outwards to the markets, or to
the canals for shipment abroad.
The Valley has only width of 20
miles, hemmed in by the Bluc Ridge and
North Mountains, with Martnsburg, sit
uated near its centre, as the metropolis Of
the northern end. The soil is undcrlald
with lime stone which crops out at an
angle OF forty five degrees on the average;
and the action of frost and the elements
on these rocks keeps up its productive ca
pacity The county of Berkeley, of
which Martinsburg Is the county seat,
contains about $4,000 acres, more than
half the area of ancient Attica, tho
greater part OF which Is lha KIND OF lanu
already described.
Finer nor moro fertile farms than these
can not be found outside Of the Shcnnn-
doah and the Cumberland Valleys. With.
In the past IF cen years, in consequence OF
cheaponed railway and ocean freight rates
depr.ving the farmers of MI geographical
advantage, the profit from wheat growing
alone has greatly lesscnnd. Competition
of the Northwest, Of India, Russia and
South America, together with IA cheapened
co, OF production has greatly reduced tho
pri % of this article, and has tended to
BRING the price OF land and product to n
general level the world over; yet notwith-
standing this fact the production hlS prob.
ably doubled and the yield per acre largely
increased within the last twenty years.
The wheat cyu Rcd from Berkeley county
l., TO II the best statistics altaiauble, be.
Iieypt to exceed iOjOO) bushels, Il year,
while that used for local con sumption and
seed and ground into lluur is fully half as
muCi more. The production OF corn IS
even greater but the expert is much moro
limited, the chief part being fed to stock.
Only one county in the State produces
more largely.
This product goes into the business Of
the community which supports Martins
burg; indeed the greater part of it is han
died at Martinsburg. In handling and
shipping this grain and in converting ii to
its various Uses, employment is furnished
to many men, making II ono Of the chief
Industries of the city. Five grain eleva-
tors and n dozen Touring mills are re-
luircd for the purpose. 80 much for the
milling Industries.
ITS HEALTHY CLIMATE AND WATER.
The city of MartinsbIrg, however
''ancent,' is a pleasant place to live in.
The climate has been described 80 often us
the best in the world that | need merely
allude to it-Spared alike THIS exceeding
heat Of summer and tho cold winter, sit
uated high enough to be free from fog and
malerla, the climate Of no place is more
healthful. The winters, while open are
cold and snowy enough to give tone and
yigur to the constitution. The summers,
while hot enough to rlpcn any KIND Of
grain, or grow any sort Of Vegetables, are
not so warm AS to br rnGrvatng. The
mountain rangos to the east and west
secure The Shenandoah Valley from
cyclones.
Marttnsyurgoniana pride themselves on
their water | asked II resident
what could have originally caused the Sc
lection o,Martnahurg Il; the site for city.
1t had, at the time it was founded, no
waterway, no coal, gold, or silver mines,
or oil we'll and Of course railways had not
yet been invented. The answer was, its
excellent supply of water Never failing
springs Of limestone water, clear as crystal
and us Swre; ANA pure rs the air OF asiI lnS
morning, ,yllsh from the rocks and furnish
quantities sufficient to supply large cities,
and these have Dcsn utilized as a suutce
from watch wl'er is pumped throughout
The city.
The water works are what Is known as
the H0llcy system, and were established
In 1915 The cost, which wa, $4,000, was
provided for by an issue Of bond, for that
amount Ihr pump station and power
house are situated ON Tla arUra CIvgh
at the eastern sii0 OF the cay, ard the
water i, forced direct FROM the station
through The mains ana pipe, to ali tuIls
OF the city without the intervention 81 a
distributing Reservoir. The station Is CON
nuCtuu by pipes with several 3pliL4> stu
ated in that locality. and II, the water is
carried dt!ect from the springs to .hr con.
sunc,, 1t Is At MI tIints IIrsh uhH pune,
never staguaIt, AI4d AWAY huHltLi"l.
Indeed, 10 ep!lm.iv pt uoott,c, such a.
typhuil iryC., OF utAc! Walrr-btIue DIS.
ease has prevailed Ia the town -luce lhe
establishment Ut The Jstelu, and no sin.
gle cas- OF uIi. dsta-e h., ,veI Lccr. tr"c.
cd 10 lDi- part If thv water sulrly
Well, hay tuA you much about the
town, hicH hay, dn.' iibuI as hr3L2 u'.t
OF CIV ,.Aa, luI. 81 wall .ay down my pen
Gil uE;it lrrt.ro from Auueta'n's EaEue
grUuul.