Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-31
Special to the Register.

Special to the Register.
Romney, W. Va, March 30.-The fact
has come to light during the past three
or four days that the terrible cold
weather of February has played havoc
with the fruit industry, not only here,
but all over the country, SO far as the
peach business is concerned. The AL
legheny Orchard Company, OF this
place, has been a heavy loser, their
orchard here being practically de-
stroyed. Mr.. C. P. Miller began an in
vestigation of the condition of the
orchard east of town a few days ago,
and made the startling discovery that
the trees were practically all dead.
This orchard was just at its height,
hardly in its prime, with an annex OF
some ten thousand trees just reaching
the bearing stage. Its value before the
freeze was at least twenty thousand
dollars. There is practically nothing
Of value left but the land if the trees
are dead, as supposed at present.
Monday Nj. Miller went TO the
Spring Gap Orchard, which has in it
from thirty to forty thousand trees.
He made a hasty examination OF
block of ten thousand trees and found
them to be in about the same condi-
ton as the Romney orchard. He then
went on to the Paw Paw orchard,
where he made thorough eXamina-
ton. He reports it practically unhurt.
Some of their trees are frozen back,
but he thinks none are killed. He also
seemed more encouraged on the condi-
ton of the Spring Gap orchard, as the
younger trees do not seem to be so
badly damaged.
He stated that it was impossible to
tell just at this time the extent OF the
damage, nor could it be told until
there comes a week Of warm weather.
While hoping the damage is not SO
bad as first reported, he is very fear
full that the worst expectations Will be
realized.
Mr.. l. H. c. Pancake, president OF
the company, confirmed the views ex-
pressed by Mr. Miller regarding the
loss of the company's trees. He stated
further that this seemed to be the fate
of many Of the large orchards in the
country; that it was reported two mil
lion trees were dead in the State OF
Missouri alone. While realizing the
immense loss his company has incur
red, Mr.. Pancake intimated that they
were not discouraged, but would go
ahead with the business. While he has
no figures, yet the company's loss can
hot be less than $4,000.
In another year or two this COM
pany would have had the largest peach
plant east of the Rocky Mountains.
The loss is not only blow to the COM
pany, the principal part Of the stock OF
which is held by Mr.. Pancake and G..
P. and H. w. Miller, but it is calam-
ity to the communities in which their
large orchards are situate. They had
more than one hundred men employed
steadily and during the fruit season
three or four times that number.
Orchards of individuals throughout
the county have not been heard from,
but there is every reason to believe
that the result is much the same, I'M
less it is where the orchards are pro-
tected. James w. Thompson, of Jer-
sey Mountain, stated Monday that he
lost some fifty dollars worth of young
trees that he purchased last fall. Take
it all in all, the loss will doubtless
reach away up into the thousands to
the people of this county and beside
that it will be a great backset to the
fruit industry, which was being rap
idly developed by the people of the
western and eastern end OF this county.