Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-06-15
THE WEST VIRGINIA CENTRAL.
Lost veek the REG1sTER smoke O

country. We are sorry we maven
the space and the information to do
Justice to the subjective can simply
advise those of our readers who have
opportunity to take the trip for them
selves. From Shepherdstown to Cum
berland over picturesque B. & 0. is a
pleasant ride along the Potomac, wind
ing between the mountains almost the
entire way. At Cumberland the
West Virginia Central Railroad be-
gins, and 10 miles distant, on the
western slope of the Alleganies, is
Elkins, practically the terminus Of the
road, though it extends westward
eighteen miles further, through Bever-
" TO Huttonsville, where it now ends.
1t must have taken a deal of nerve
and energy to project this road through
those dense forests and into the heart
of those mighty mountains. And yet,
though it seemed such tremendous
task after all the Potomac led the way
gently and easily. The road follows
the North Branch Of the Potomac from
Cumberland to its headwaters, passing
within quarter of a mile of the ia
nous Fairfax Stone that marked the
western limits of the spendid estate Of
Lord Fairfax, and where begins the
tiny stream that becomes the noble Po-
tomac and empties into the Atlantic
four hundred miles away. Passing
the divide, the streams flow westward,
the Blackwater changing into the
Cheat river, the Cheat into the Mo-
nongahela, the Monongahela into the
Ohio, the Ohio into the Mississippi
the laurel washing waters from the
mountain ranges finally being absorbed
by the salty pillows Of the Gulf Of
Mexico. There are few sights more
beautiful than the Blackwater as it
leaps and plunges in the terrible gor-
ges far, far below the railroad that
clings to the mountain above it.
The stations and the towns along
this road were named for the friends
and associates OF Senator Davis-Bay-
ard, German, Hendricks, Harrison,
Parsons, Brett, Kerens, and so on
and the greatest Of these are Davis
and Elkins. Lumber and coal, Of
course, are the basis Of business along
the railway. Great sawmills are at
most of the stations, and immense
tanneries make market for the bark.
Coal is mined in enormous quantities,
enough, it would appear, to supply a
universe, yet more mines are being
opened, and the capacity Of the coke
works are being enlarged, 1t will be
many year until the mountains are
stripped of their timber, while genera
tions yet unborn may dig in vain at
its inexhaustible coal.
The largest town in this section is
Davis, where there is a population Of
about 5000. We were sorry we did
not have a chance to visit this place,
where one Of the largest sawmills in
West Virginia is located. Elkins is
place only about ten years old, and
has population Of some 1000. 1t is
a thriving town, with some handsome,
substantial buildings. Here are the
offices of the railroad company and
the repair and construction shops. 1t
has a hrst-rate hotel-the Hotel Ran
dolph-which is conducted, by the
way, by a former Jefferson county
man, Mr.. John Wilson. Here are the
homes-or, rather, palaces-of three
millionaires, Senator Stephen B. Ell
kins, ex-senator Henry G. Davis and
Richard Kerens, of st. Louis. These
splendid houses are on an imposing
hill overlooking the town and the
Tygart's Valley. They are handsome
as art and good taste could desire
them and as comfortable as wealth
can make them. And yet they are
long ways from-well, say-Shep-
herdstown.
This part of the country is "new"
that is, its industries have only been
developed within the past ten or TWEEN
ty years, and yet it was penetrated
by the early settlers nearly hundred
and fifty years ago. We think it was
in 1854 that Tygart and Foiles set
tied in the valley which now bears
their name, near what is now Hut
louisville, and a fort for protection
against the Indians was built where
Beverly now stands. We believe its
ruins may still be seen. Beverly is,
therefore, one Of the oldest towns in
the State. 1t is located on one Of the
great pixies that was an early highway
between the West and the East. 1t
will be well remembered here by many
of our Confederate veterans, num-
Der of whom were there during the
war. One bitterly cold morning they
ran the Yankees out OF the place ana
captured lot of commissary stores,
including supply of excellent liquor
that soon warmed up things wonder
fully. The battle of Rich Mountain
was fought near this place.
As before remarked, we should like
to describe this wonderful country as
it deserves to be. 1t is interesting in
the extreme, and reveals the natural
wealth of West Virginia as no other
section does. Its people are progress
i've, generous and hospitable, and are
proud of showing their industries to
strangers. To General Manager c..
L. Brett and Assistant W. H. Bower,
Of the West Virginia Central Railroad,
we are indebted for many courtesies.
There is more Catarrh in this section
Of the country than all other diseases
put together, and until the last few years