Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1908-09-18
IN THE HIGHLANDS


ing several weeks in Highland coun-
ty and the mountain sections OF
West Virginia adjacent, writes the
following interesting account OF
that fair and fertile country, which
is sequel to a former letter pub
lished few weeks ago:
"Above Marlinton the valley is
narrow. The mountains, like SEN
tinels, guard the winding stream.
At every station there is evidence
of new life that is pulsing IN this
new, yet old, country. Cas- is
the seat of one of thelargest lumber
mills in the State. From the sum-
nit of Cheat mountain the logs are
brought by rail. At Durbin, where
the east and west branches Of the
Greenbrier mingle their waters, the
Coal and Iron road goes on to Elk
ms and to the great centres OF in
dustry. My route was eastward
Leaving the railroad at Barlow,
where a thriving village occupies
the spot where the cannon OF the
Federal belched forth their iron
hail during the battle of Greenbrier
river, a comfortable stage with an
accommodating driver brought me
across the huge Allegheny.
1t is interesting to note that the
name and fame of Colonel Crozet is
connected with the fine road known
in former days as the Staunton and
Parkersburg Turnpike, and also
with the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railroad, the present great thor
oughfare to the West. AS one
climbs the mountain at an easy
grade, he is full of admiration for
the genius and skill of this great
engineer. After fifty years of use
the road is smooth, we'll drained
and serviceable.
Vistas of scenery as grand as
any in the land burst upon the
view. On the broad top near where
now stands a pretty church, a bat
tie was fought. Here General Ed
ward johnson won immortal fame.
For many miles the road winds
through farms and over ridges
where the hemlock, with its dark
foliage, casts it's shadows. Just
over the way is seen the puff of
smoke which indicates the course
of the railroad which is hauling
away these monarchs of the forest.
There is no better time to come
in view of the, blue grass valley OF
Crabbottom, in Highland county,
than late in the summer afternoon.
The sun seems to linger on the
mountain top. Dark shadows are
beginning to creep across the val
ley. The herds of fine battle are
lazily cropping the luscious blue
grass. The sweet odors from fresh
" mown meadows fill the dustless
air. Ten miles or more to the east
the valley smiles peacefully. The
springs which form the south branch
of the Potomac gush sparkling from
the hills. And as far on the right
are the streams which are to lose
their sparkle in the muddy waters
of the James. Nesting in happy
seclusion are the white farm houses
all the more picturesque because of
the grassy lawns which are about
them.
1t is said that the blue grass
which has made Kentucky famous
came from Highland county; that
a traveller over the western trail in
early days stopped to eat his lunch
in Crabbottom; seeing how eagerly
his horse ate the grass, he put in
his saddle bags piece of turf and
carried it to his home in Kentucky.
I am told that the grass crop which
is the main one here, was never so
abundant as it is this year; that
cattle were never finer. | looked
at field of Herefords yesterday;
COWS with beautiful calves. These
COWS will weigh from / 500 to 1000
pounds.
From the farm, 1.-THE Naples"
where I write. some cattle went
away to market a few days ago
which averaged nearly ,400pounds.
And they never ate pound Of
grain! Since the southeast storm,
the fringe Of which touched this
high land, the nights have been
cool. The days are warm; just
warm enough. In the shade of a
great maple this letter is written.
Reluctantly l must turn my face
away in a few days. But when |
think of Lynchburg and the friends
whom l love there, there is no re-
gret-Lynchburg News.
How TO GET STRONG
P. J. DAILY, of 1247 w. Congress
St., Chicago, tells of way to be-
come strong: He says: "My moth
er, who is old and was very feeble,
is deriving so much benefit from
Electric Bitters, that 1 feel it's my
duty to tell those who need tonic
and STRENGTHENING medicine about
it. In my mothers case marked
gain in flesh has resulted, insomnia
has been overcome, and she is