Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-03-21
WEST VIRGINIA'S FORESTS
Boundless Stores Of Natural Wealth
Which Are Yet Untouched.
WILDE CHANGED BYRAILROADS
Which Are Now Being Built Already the
Forests Present Scene Of Unpre-
cedented Activity.
"a S. Morton, in Manufacturer Record

"a S. Morton, in Manufacturers Record
have inst returned from a trip
through tIie vast forests Of West Nir-
rinia the great lumber producing sec
zion Of the present aud Of the future
4 section now opening 70 commerce its
boandless stores Of natural wealth.
This country lies along and beyond
The deep narrow valley Of the Green
brier river and it's tributaries from
Ronceverte. on the Chesapeake q Ohio
Railway. to the h%eadwaters OF the
stream by that name. stretching about
100 miles to the north.
From Ronceverte through the coun-
Ties of Greenbrier and P~ooahontas the
G%Treenbrier river has threaded its way
Eiemmed in by high mountain ranges
mat parallel its course, the narrow
valley breaking away here and there
INTO level lands. At other points deep
narrow ravines pierce the valley aud
run back into the mountains sides and
out into the plateau country that
spreads back from the rest OF the
mountains on either sides. 1t is up
this narrow trough and along the
banks of this river that within the
past eighteen months the Chesapeake
aud Ohio Railway has laid it's tracks
and within the year completed a line
TO Dublin.
AIx... IL. a,,4sra rCrfn IN o1tnngf n N.
Broken stretch of virgin forest, as yet
almost untouched by the woodman's
axe. covers the tops and face of the
mountains. 1t was to develop the great
natural wealth of this section that the
Chesapeake and Ohio people built
their line. and now, together with the
West Virginia Central and the Green
Brier. Monongahela and PittsbuIg
railways. already building to form a
junction with the Chesapeake and
Ohio at Durbin every requirement of
a rapidly growing section will be met.
At this early date the course of de-
velopinent has been wonderful. Vast.
tracts of lumber have been bought.
logging camps. planning mills u saw
mills without number are in full OPP
grafton 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, store and neat new residen-
ees, while along the line sprung up
within the year thrifty villages and
Incorporated towns where money seems
plentiful and employment abundant at
good wages. No a~ble-bodied men
wanting work need be idle. The spirit
Of tn country. too. is in keeping with
what is being accomplished, for every
one speaks of prosperity and of the
numerous industrial plants already
established or secured. Indeed, it
seems difficult to see what untoward
circumstances could check the march
of progress in this favored land. With
amule railway facilities and an mex
haustible supply of raw material on
hand, even the pessimist is forced to
keep silence
AS to the localities along the rout
where the various timbers most
abound find them p~rettv~eveulv dis
tributed and u liformly easy Of access.
Nevertheless. certain valuable timber
is more or less localized. For instance,
from Renlck, in the northern end of
Greeabrier county, to near Glover
Lick. in P~ocahontas, "a distance of
about 30 miles. the white oak seems
10 abound in greater quantities than
either of the hard woods, and is being
gotten out and shipped in great GUAM
titles. especially rs il is found low on
fae mountain slopes, and is the more
easy of access. while on higher ground
in the same localities the red oak is
found ia abundance. There also abound
here. and rs far up as Cass, chestnut
and chestnut oak. especially the form
er, "A condition most favorable to the
establishment of the extract of fannie
acid industry. In the manufacture of
this extract not only the bark. but the
wood of the chestnut Is used, and with
4 can be utilized the smaller timber
aud the trimmings from the trunk of
she chestnut oak while the large logs
nay be sawed into an excellent and
marketable product. There is also
amid these woods a liberal mixture of
Eastwood.
From Cass on up the river to Dur