Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1906-09-07
Among the Hills

DR.. Il II Fleming, pastor OF west
minister church, who has been
spending his vacation in West Vir-
ginia and in Highland county, Va,
will return to the city shortly. He
writes from Wier, Va, the follow
ing charming letter, describing the
pleasant conditions with which he
is surrounded, and which will be
read with interest by many:
One scarcely expects to find books
among the products Of this rapidly
developing county. In Marlinton
a remarkable book was published a
few Years ago. 1t is a history of
Pocahontas county. by Rev. W. L.
Price, D D. The author was born
near whtre the printing press
stood, and is now spending his de-
clininine years in useful labors.
The paper was furnished by the
West Virginia Pulp and Paper Co.
from wood grown in the county.
The Price Brothers. SONS Of the
author, printed and published the
book. The railroad is built close
to the Greenbrier river. At nearly
every station from Marlinton to
Durbin, the junction with the Coal
and Iron road, there is a lumber
plant. At Barlow, the Stanton
and Parkersburg turnpike is reach
ed. Here | turned eastward by
stage over one Of the best noun
tain roads ever constructed in the
Virginias. Colonel Crozet, who
came to Virginia after the down.
fall of Napoleon5was the engineer.
The road is triumph of skill. Save
in few places where Colonel Gre
eel ged his fondness for beau
tifnl curves, it is a model. In 81
Mcclellan attempted to make it the
line of his advance into the heart
of Virginia. AtICamp Barlow, on
the Green brier his forces were re-
pulsed.
On fair summer day ride over
the Allegheny from the headwaters
of the Ohio to the Springs, which
form the Potomac and the James
is charming. With an ascent so
gradual as to be scarcely percepti-
BILE, with views of the valley of the
Greenbrier and the great Cheat
Mountain beyond, WEAKNESS is for
gotten. And when the summit is
reached the road winds over pla-
teau from which there is an out
look northward to the Spruce
Mountain in Pendleton county, the
top of which is four thousand,
eight hundred feet above the sea.
Breathing the clean air, the
traveller throws dull care away and
gives himself up to the enjoyment
of the sublimity of the scene.
Passing from West Virginia into
Virginia. he catches glimpse If
the blue grass region of Highland
county, and says: Surely this is
the garden Of the gods!" Stretch
ing toward the north is the Valley
of Crabbottom, bounded by ridge
through which TIM South branch,
bursting all barriers ripples its
away.
Southwark are the fertile lands
which are watered by the head
springs Of the James. Pastures Of
the richest blue grass in which
herds of fine cattle are grazing.
Trees haye been left here and there
in groves for the winters fire; or
singly because too beautiful for the
woodman's axe. Here are acres in
to which pillow has never entered.
Meadows that have yielded rich re.
suits to the mowers scythe for a
hundred years.
| sit in the shadow of the great
is used advisedlY, for
a few moments ago | measured
one. 1t is nearly nine feet in cir
conference; on my right, a few
minutes walk. there are seventy i
almost as large.
But the railroads coming to spoil
my Eden. Only yesterday through
the rain came a corps of negineers.
The evil eye of huge corporation !
has fallen upon this fair land
said a passenger traveller a few
days ago: II have seen three con-
but have never looked up.
on more beautiful valley than 4
this" 3
What dissertation to spoil this !
happy valley. Here is a contented 9
people. They live in peace and !
plenty. The discoveries at the >
packing houses in Chicago have not +
essened the demand for the cattle =
hat grow here. In the pasture be- (
ore me the Herefords of the finest =
train, beau Donalds," "Wiltons." :
Actors" are cropping the luscious .
,lue grass. What need they of (
he snorting of the iron horse to \
quicken their pace toward the clear q,
water and shade where they will h h
lie down to chew the cud of coll :,
eminent. h,
If, however, he will come, | hope Sc So
e will be prohibited stopping in %
lis valley. 1t will be enough to .,
dilute its sweet, wholesome air ~
18th his foul belchings and then :"
aoC ouiok1y RI p1oooc w h ORC ho ia