Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1903-10-29
A Visit TO Bakert0n.

The editor of the REGISTER spent
last Friday at the busy village of Ba'
kerton, in this county, where the
Standard Stone and Lime Company
Of Washington, of which the Messrs.
Baker are the moving spirits, has its
extensive plant. Starting some if
teen years ago with a couple Of kilns
and a limited number of hands, the
industry has been so capably man
aged and so wisely developed that
there are now between 800 and 400
men regularly employed and the week
ly output of lime is something like
$4,000 bushels from the eighteen
kilns that are kept in constant opera
ton. The lime is OF the best quality,
and there is always demand for it
from this and adjoining States.
Three great quarries are operated,
the original quarry from which the
limestone was first taken and two 9th
ers on the land the company bought
few years ago from Dennis NJ. Dan
iels. Steam drills bite their way into
the rock and make the holes into
which dynamite or powder is packed,
and then at the sound of the warning
whistle when the men quit work the
stone is torn from the beds where
ages ago it wae formed. The stone is
loaded in the quarries on trucks, which
are drawn by wire cables to the kllus.
Wood has been used almost exclu-
sively for burning the lime at this
plant, but owing to its growing scare
ity and its cost, experiments have re-
Gently been made by which it is hoped
that coal can be made to serve for
fuel Blowers have been attached to
some of the kilns, and they make a
fire that seems hot enough for any
purpose. Colored men do most OF
the work about the kilns, while the
quarrymen are nearly all white men.
The men make good wages and seem
to be very well satisfied with their
work.
A considerable quantity of the lime
is shipped in barrels, and a large force
of hands is kept busy in the cooper
shop making barrels. Many of the
young men Of the neighborhOod find
profitable employment in this part Of
the works.
D. Raleigh Houser has been the SUI
perintendent of the works for a num-
Der of years. He recently sent in his
resignation, and Harry L. Marshall
was appointed in his place temporari-
ly. But Mr.. Houser had been so long
at the works, and was so thoroughly
conversant with every detail of the
business, that the company has in
duced him to take his old place again,
and he will be found at his old post
again when he has had a little rest.
Mr.. Houser is respected by the men
and his ability is recognized by his
employers. Genial VIM. H. Link is
one of the foremen, and is kept busy
looking after his part of the work.
A branch of the B & 0. Railroad
connects Bakerton with the main line
at Engle's Station, and an engine is
kept busy most of the time handling
the cars. The branch is about three
miles long, and extends to the Vir-
GINA Ore Bank, near by. The peo-
pie there are interested in the new
line of the B. & O. by way Of Shep-
herd8town, which will give them still
better facilities.
Bakerton has grown to be quite a
village, and there are some very nice
homes there. A neat little church,
built by the Southern Methodists
gives the people the benefit of rehg.
ious services. There are two good
stores there, that of Millard & Engle
and that of J. Strider Moler, the lat
ter being managed by Reynolds Moler
The editor enjoyed a good dinner
with his friends Mr.. and Mrs. Vim. j.
Moler, whose farm adjoins the village
and was glad to renew old acquaint,
ances. A day was too short to take
in the ueigbborhood as we had hoped
and we mean to make another visit
soon.