Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-27
SOUTHERN TIMBER
IN CONSIDERABLE
DEMAND
RAILROADS ARE BEING EXTEND
ED INTO VIRGIN FORESTS OF
WEST VIReINIA-WoRK
is PLENTIFUL.

BALTIMORE, Oct 25-Typical of what
may be termed pioneer development work
in many parts Of the south is the activi-
ty in railroad extension into the virgin
forests of West Virginia centering in Po-
cahontas county. This activity is due
principally to the large timber resources
and already the advance has been wonder
full Describing it, a correspondent OF
The Manufacturers Record says:
Vast tracts Of timber, logging camps.
planning mills and sawmills are in fun
operation. turning out millions Of feet
Of lumber that find ready market at good
prices in all the cities of the east and
north. Nearly every station has its saw
mill. stores and neat. new residences,
while along the line have sprung up within
the year thrifty villages and Incorporated
towns where money seems plentiful and
employment abundant at good wages. No
able bodied man who wants work need be
idle.
Certain valuable timber is more or less
localized. From Renick in Grenbrier coun-
ty to near Glover Lick in Pocahontas,
distance OF about IS miles, the white oak
seems to abound in greater quantities than
other hard woods. It IS found low on the
mountain slopes. while on higher ground
In the same locality the red oak is found
IN abundance. There also abounds here
and as far up as Cass chestnut and chest
nut oak with a liberal mixture OF bass
wood. From Cass up the river to Durbin
the higher attitudes are covered with
hemlock in great abundance and with
spruce still higher. Think Of a spruce
forest stretching in length As miles and
in average breadth seven miles and stand
ing so dense that IL appears vast mass
OF dark green waving tops, as far as the
eye can reach. Pocahontas county alone
has forests that cover 90 per cent of its
entire area and this area Is 3 TO 20 miles"
Through these timers is being pushed
an ever increasing network OF railways.
short lines or tramways connecting the
various logging camps with the main
lines OF railway and in the towns have
been established tahneries and other in
dustries directly or Indirectly dependent
upon lumber.
To get capital to come south was for a
long time a difficult matter. 1t was
more difficult TO induce a movement Of
settlers in that direction. But preceded
by manifestations quite similar TO those
accompanying the people of the west fifty
and sixty years ago. the southwark move
ment Is now in full swing and the seed
sowing OF many years is beginning to
make rich harvests. Reviewing the earlier
stages and the experiences of earlier mi
grants TO the south. Mr.. n. v. Richards
OF the Southern railway, who has been
dCANe IN cuAINaIn8 southern 1mmigra-
ton. is quoted in this weeks issue Of The
Manufacturers Record as follows:
Pioneers they certainly were, and very
generally in the same financial condition
of the pioneers who made possible the Gre
alton OF the mighty west. Some of them
succeeded and some failed. but back in
the north and west whence they came
the failures were promptly widely herald
ed. while not so much was heard about
the successes. After a while, though, the
story Of the men who had come south
often with no capital, but brains and
Drawn. was told at home. at first with
some skepticism, since there was still a
dissemination to believe that any good
could come out of the south. But now
these reports are being everywhere ac-
cepted. Men are saying that II John Doe
could go south and succeed surely we can
do so. But IL is not alone farmers who
are moving this way in great numbers
Timber buyers. lumber operators, pleas
ure seekers who have a competence and
who want now TO make a permanent home
in a section having such a genial climate
as that Of much of the south, and many
others are moving this way"