Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-09
VALLEY OF VIRGINIA
LATE HAPPENINGS IN THE WIN
CHESTER SECTION.
Mystery Over Railroad Charter
Mining Investigations-A Fash
ionable Wedding.
Special Correspondence of The Star.


somewhat mystified in regard to the an
nouncement that charter has been grant
ed by the state corporation commission to
the Northern Railroad of Virginia, the in
corporators of which are not locally known.
The charter was granted a few days ago,
and it was announced that the capital
stock ranged from 5000 to $4,000, which
can be increased il necessary, and that
Berryville, Clarke county, Is to be the prin-
cipal office. Baltimore capitalists and other
Marylanders are said to be behind the mat
ter A report has been published that the
Wabash railroad Is interested, while an
other asserts that the promoters hope to
sell their right Of way (which was surveyed
and obtained several years ago. to the Win
chester and Washington City Railway Com
pany, the new electric line which is to be
constructed between this city and the ma
tional capital. as the route practically de-
cided upon by the latter Is almost parallel
to that of the newly chartered company.
1t is officially stated that the Northern
railroads route Is to begin at Winchester
and extend through Clarke, Loudoun, Fair
fax and Alexandria county or city to
point opposite Washington or Georgetown.
Local f1nanciers say they have no informa-
ton as to the Intentions Of the promoters.
For several weeks past a mining expert
has been making quiet investigations IN
the Blue Ridge mountains in Clarke coun-
ty, Va, with particular reference to iron
ore, and property owners in that section
are waiting with eager interest the result
of his labors. It Is understood that the
expert investigator is employed by the
was recently chartered under the laws OF
New Jersey, and in which, it is said, Wash
ington capital Is interested.
Mrs. Otie Joy wager. the woman VINO
nv
mysteriously disappearing from her home
at Cross Keys, Rockingham county, Va,
and who was found mentally weak near
Philadelphia, has just filed suit for par
wager, in the Harrisonburg court. Mr.:
wager, who is a prominent resident OF
Rockingham county. is charged with de-
sertion, although he is living In the same
house he and his wife have occupied for the
past twenty years. Mrs. wager recently
disappeared again, and has been located IN
North Carolina. 1t is not thought that
she will be successful In obtaining de-
cree against her husband. and that she will
have to be treated for insanity.
The most attractive card that has been
prepared in many years has just issued FOR
the fall meet Of the famous Blue Ridge
Hunt Club which Is to be held on the his
toric old Garter Hall" estate, near Mill
wood, Clarke county, on Saturday after
noon, September 10 In addition to FOX
hunting and regular horse show events.
some gymkhana races have been arranged
and preparations are being made to enter
tain a large gathering at the clubhouse IN
Millwood many Of the guests being wash
ingtonians now soJourning In tnat arlsto-
cratic section of Virginia.
George w. Hartman has entered suit for
absolute divorce from his wife, Mrs. Mar
tina j. Hartman, to whom he was married
in Funkstown, Md, in 1858. but for more
than twenty years they have not lived to-
gether although occupying the same house.
They have not spoken to each other in
that time, though often eating at the same
table. They have six grown children.
State Superintendent ]. D. Eggleston. IT.,
Of the. department of public instruction.
has let it be known that there Is a scarcity
schools as principals, and attributes the
scarcity to the fact that sufficient salaries
are not allowed by law SO as to obtain the
desired results. although the last legisla-
than any Of its predecessors. Since Mr..
Eggleston came into once, however, there
has been a great educational wave through
out Virginia, and 1t is freely predicted that
the next legislature will have to take a
more serious and business-like considera-
ton Of school matters than heretofore.
The demand for high schools. as provided
for by the new law. has been surprising to
the school authorities.
The congregation of the Presbyterian
Church at Buena Vista, Va, has extended
a unanimous call to Rev. James A. Nc
Clure, who has been pastor Of the Front
Vista church offers salary Of $50 year
and a manse.
Upon reading in the papers that a num-
Der of people living in Denver and other
Colorado cities had received handsome
sums of money from the estate of the late
Baron Fisher of Holland, Mrs. Phoebe
Rossiter Of Wisconsin has come, to the
conclusive evidence that she Is a near de-
scendant Of the rich baron who came to
this country about century ago. stopped
to Washington and finally to the Shenan-
doah valley. There are many Fishers In
this section, but very few. II any, have
taken the time to. inquire about the Baron
Fisher fortune in Holland Announcement
was made recently. however. in a Denver
paper, Of persons there who had received
large sums from the Fisher estate.
After much persuasion, which threatened
to develop into lawsuit. Maj. Robert W.
Hunter Of Winchester. secretary of Virginia
military records. has finally succeeded in
from ]. c. Wrenn. relic dealer
of Richmond. the originals of 153 muster
rolls of the confederate army, the compil-
ing of which as completely as possible was
recently authorized by the Virginia legis-
lature. The War Department. having the
to that department Of the fed
eral government. copies of which were
made by cledks. an dthe originals are now
purchased from Mr.. Wrenn by Gov. Swan
son.
Although several reports have been pub
lished in papers to the effect that Tom
Preston, the Pittsburg negro. who shot and
killed Michael D. Custy Of Winchester,
while the latter was managing the Windsor
Hotel bar at Bedford City, Va, last week.
had been captured, first by the bloodhounds
of Hurricane Branch and later by Bald
win detective at Clifton Forge, 1t is stated
today that the negro is still at large and
that it is generally believed that Preston
succeeded in escaping on u fast freight
train at North Carolina.
For the annual Winchester fair the Shen-
andoah Valley Agricultural Society, under
whose auspices 1t is held. has add
ed a horse show feature, which It is
thought Will be profitable drawing card
for the numerous other features, $1,000
having been appropriated for horse show
prizes. Larger purses than ever before
will be given in the racing events which
are attended by many Washington turf
men. The fair Is to be held October 1919
on the society's grounds in North Winches
ter. for which preparations are now being
made by the fair authorities.
The rainfall in Winchester for the months
Of July and August was greater than at
any time since 1873, as local records do
not antedate that period. During July the
fall was rs inches, while in August 1t was
IA BIG inches Fire company engines have