Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-09-06
FRon WEST VIRGINIA
Interesting Vacation Notes From
DR. r II Fleming

sands of dollars every year III the
improvement Of the public schools;
An institute for the instruction OF
the teachers is held during the va
cation season in every county. AT
tendance on the part Of those IN
tending to teach is compulsory.
There is a per diem allowance from
the school fund to pay the expers-
es of the teacher. The University
of the State furnishes instructors.
At Marlinton this year Professors
Hodges and Barbe Of the Universe
ty, and Mr.. Burns, principal OF the
Marlinton High School, conducted
and institute in very satisfactory
manner. For five days lectures
were given on all matters affecting
the schools, methods of work in
the schoolroom were illustrated.
The evening were used for address
es. Prof. Hohenshall, of DAYTON,
Va. Hon. D. L. Barlow, Of Poca-
hontas county, Prof. W. 7. Barbee,
of Morgantown. and Rev. DIR. h.
II. Fleming, Of L,nchburg, Va,
had the privilege Of speaking to
the assembly.
The people are interested in edu-
cational topics, and the teachers
are stimulated to seek to do their
best work. Judge Bennett, OF the
Circuit Court, thought it worth
while to spend an afternoon with
the teachers.
From Marlinton northward. one
passes the large tannery, Campbell.
| t,wn lumber mill, the large plant
at Cass, where the West Virginia
Spruce & Leather Company has
headquarters. The Valley becomes
narrow, until at Durbin, where the
east and west branches of the
Greenbrier unite. Here the busy
town of Durbin spreads across the
plain. Here is the junction OF the
coal and iron part of the Wabash
system. with the Chesapeake y
Ohio. My route was up the east
branch to the terminus OF the
Chesapeake & Ohio at Winterburn.
Here are two towns which have
sprung up as it were in day. Dun
levie and Winterburn. each with It's
large lumber mill, and each with
it's own railway extending into the
heart Of the Alleghanies.
By the courtesy of the manager
l was permitted to cross the sur
NIT into Highland county, Va, on
the lum Der train. There is We |
constructed roadbed, as carefully
laid and graded as any of the raj
roads of the county. 1t was a rare
experience to ride through the
beautiful woods. On every side
the ruthless axe had laid low tue
monarch hemlock. Thousands IT
logs ready for transportation to
the mills were scattered OH hillside
and valley. Flower and shrub
have been kissed1nto being by the
entering sunshine. The air was
redolent with the sweet odor OF The
wounded trees. Up, up, higher up
climbs the tiain until the waters OF
the Ohio are lrtt behind and the
clear, sparkling springs of the To-
tomac are reached. 1t was a glor-
ious morning. The sun never
shone brighter, the skies were new
er so blue, all nature seemed vocal,
and yet the only sound was the
breathing Of the engine, and the
click of the wheels.
1t was with the desire to b. alone
to feel rather than to attempt ex-
preston that babe the trainmen
good, honest felow-good bye
The remainder of the journey was
made behind a splendid par OF
horses and with the most compan.
liable of men. What a contrast,
leaving the woods for the open
country of the famous Crabbottom
Valley. At "a turn in the road it
burst upon my vision, a smiling
landscape. The freshly shorn
meadows, the herds of cattle quiet
ly grazing. The heecy clouds lin
gered as if they loved to cast their
filmly shadow over this fairest spot
of earth. One needs Isaiah vision
and also his pen to tell of the
GLORIOUS beauty, which is on the
head of the fat valley"
| am told that never hasa there
been known a more abundant crop |
of grass than that which has been
shorn from the meadows, or still
covers the pastures in which the
Dprhams and the Herefords Craze.
Already many have found a mar
ket at good prices. What succulent
grass this must be from which the
finest cattle are made without a
pound Of grain!-Lynchburg Eva } /
News.