The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-04-06
A Visit to Central West Virginia.
To the Editor Of The Republican.


To the Editor of The Republican.
A few rambling thoughts from my
inexperienced pen may not be unin-
teresting to some of the many readers
of YOUR valuable journal, so | venture
to send YOU brief sketch of nv re-
cent visit to the mountain State of
West Virginia. Being a native of
that State you will pardon me for
taking a kindly interest in its devel-
opment.
Leaving Oakland on train 30 the
18th inst, my first stop was at Graf
ton which is thriving city of eight
or ten thousand inhabitants ,and is
the capital of Taylor county and is a
~ good location for business
as some other places. Real estate
here has advanced about 100 per
cent In the last few years. Near this
city is where the writer was born.
His father, Jacob Moon and his SON
in-law, A. W. Shaw, lately deceased,
were the first settlers of Grafton.
The following dav left here over
the G. & b. railroad, passing through
Philippi, very pretty town and the
county seat of Barbour county, thence
on to Tvgarts Junction there | chang
ed cars. This is new road just open
for transportation. 1t was noon when
l arrived at BuckhannOn. Here |
found very beautiful and growing
town destined to become a city of
considerable prominence. This is
the capital of Upshur county. 1t
contains large tannery, several glass
factories and other enterprises, but
alas! for the thirsty ones there are no
saloon. The Wesleyan University
of West Virginia is located here. A
number of Garrett countians have
been educated here. had the pleas
ure of meeting the following persons
from our beloved county and state of
Maryland, viz: Messrs. Geo. n.
Steyer, Luke and Timothy Moon, of
District No. 8; Wallace and Lee Ma
son, of Oakland; and J. H. Cuppett
and Gilbert B. Moon of District No. 6.
These young gentlemen are pursuing
their studies enthusiastically and are
making a splendid record. The de-
struction by fire of the main building
recently was serious loss, but it has
progress of the school. The authori-
Ties are preparing to erect new
building Immediately which will be
much larger and more convenient
than the old one. There are about
500 students attending the univer-
sity.
After a pleasant stay here of two
days departed for Weston which is
only 16 miles distant. We are now
near the geographical center of the
state. To MANY this is an ideal city
for both residential and business pur-
poses. 1t is situated in the Mononga-
hela Valley right in the heart of great
T nd seemingly unlimited fields of
N,~,.turaI gas. oil, and coal which are
exceedingly cheap to the consumers.
Weston is the county seat of Lewis
county and has many business enter
prises and we judge Others will soon
follow because of the liberal induce
ments. Note this: Free sites are
offered.to manufacturing plants, and
natural gas can be secured for factor
ing purpose at Scents per thousand
cubic feet. Among the prominent
buildings is the West Virginia Hospi
tai for the Insane which is said to be
the largest stone building of its kind
in the United States. After limit
ed time here we took the train for
Clarksburg on our circuitous route
home, we spent only a few hours in
this flourishing little city which is
the capital of Harrison county.
Mr. f. d. Brooke, formerly of Gar
rett county, resides here. He is an
up-to- date business man and is pros
pering in his artistic profession, The
court house and jail are fine, substan-
tial buildings, and here they seen to
have need of them, for on recent
Sabbath day four murders were COM
mitted. Electric street cars are found
here, the first we had seen in the
State; however franchises are being
granted for "a regular net work of
electric car lines connecting Grafton,
Morgantown, Fairmont, Clarksburg,
Weston, Buckhannon and other
places. West Virginia is great state,
and increasingly so, but Marylanders
excel by far.
GEO. W. Moon.
Greatly Reduced One Way COlonist