The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-05-20
FROM Ell
TO NJ lARI.IN TON
FARM oNTER ENJOYS THE
RAILROADS AND MOUNTAINS
IN RANDOLPH AND PoCA-
HONTAS, AND WRITES
a LETTER ABOUT
THEM.
Editors West virginian.

10 ldt1N1tlSs
the head waters of the Tygart'ss Val
ley river. and the terminus OF the
West Virginia Central and Pittsburg
Railroad. which now belongs to the.
Wabash system. E1kins. although one
OF our youngest cities, has many in
dustries and Institutions which would
do honor to our best cities. 1t has
practically made itself in the past ten
years, and from present indications
will grow much more rapidly in the
future than it has in the past. for
many of it's Institutions are not yet
In operation, notably the Davis-Eiktns
College, which will open it's doors to
students next autumn. 1t also bids
fair to become an important railroad
center. One OF the branches which
is likely to prove most important is
the Coal and Iron road, which ex-
tends through one of the richest coal
and timber sections in the State.
This road measures forty-seven miles
from ElI,ins to Dunbar, where it con-
meets with the C. & o. The road
bed is as yet inadequate as the road
has been in operation only year,
and any one contemplating trip over
the same would do well to victual
himself with two or three days
ratiors, as q layout in the mountains
is not improbable The Coal and Iron
road is constructed over and through
the highest points in West Virginia.
The scenery is grand-wiiG ana free.
Here the principal rivers of our State
take their source. namely, the Green
pntnrJ1S(
Tygart's Valley, Elk and Cheat. We
believe it is we'll styled the birth
Mace OF rivers" This is the place
where the sportsman comes TO find
the bear and the deer gambling be-
meath the s"aying heInlock and
rlstiing through the laurel, while the
fish sport and play in the sparkling
streams coursing on their way to the
sea. Many portable sawmilis are
stationed along this line, only one or
two of any size. The yard laborers
are colored men. The managers CLAIM
they cannot secure white labor. After
measuring several miles through this
unbroilen forest we can occasionally
get q glimpse of a dwelling situated
far up on the mountain top, where
be seen looking down in awestricken
wonder upon the iron steed Kissing
and beiching forth fire and smoke as
he doubles around the curves ct
amid all this mountain fastness, WIG
and picturesque scenery, where ages
have passed away in quiet and Soli-
tude, we read on a little paddle tackled
to a shanty the word saloon which
reminds one of Mephisto on the
RrocHet where his demons punished
his victims with never ending tortues
At length we arrive at Durbin- we
look in vain for the town, FOR there
is none. II you are not very partlc-
ular, you can get your dinner here
You are now at the place where mans
better half does not blush to pass the
malt and gilt-edged wine across the
board to make glad the heart of man,
and to raise the dropping spirits OF
her lolling customers. May Time
hasten the day when revel1nS BacchuS
may be downed to rise no more, ana
his haunts and ways be- obliteratea
from the memory of man. AT Dur
bin we take the c. & o. for hlarllnto-l,
which is forty miles away. We noFT
PASS along the bank of the GreenbrlGF
river which at this point is not uucl
larger than an ordinary creek ~
erythins goes well until we feel on"-
selves bum ping on the ties and sec
our coach rearing on end, but do nc
become alarmed rs the coach is oI:!5
OFT the track again. and will REQUIRE
layout OF only four hours. -
length we are righted once more, ard
as the country is not very Impressive
shall. hurry on to Afariinton, for no
doubt the reaaer III any there be who
have followed thus far) is becoming
anxious to arrive at that niucil-tal ilet+-
OF mace, where Jacob Marlin rearea
his cabin IL f.49, which. formed the
first settlement, in the Green5rier Val
ley, and from which the town derives
its name Here we are: A lutte
town scattered promiscuously owe
about 100 ocres OF the Grecnbrier Val
ley. We did not say great heavens,
as Bayt.rd Taylor said when he STOOD
upon the verge OF the Eternal CITY,
Rome, for the first time, but inquired
for a hotel. We shall not attempt to
show you about the town, as we feel
too amaturis,, but viii simply call