Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-12-18


prospecting of this section and in the
securing of options on the land. 1t is
cafe to say that these men would
scarcely spend such vast amount Of
money If they did not believe that
there was an opportunity for making
money out of the proposition.
The parties interested in the devel-
opment, have been approached time
and again concerning their investiga-
tons, but have persistently refused
to divulge any of their plans, or TO
give out any information that would
give an idea of what they expect to
do in the future. 1t was learned re-
Gently, from one who knows and is in
| thosough touch with all that has been
going on in that section, that within
the next few weeks there would prob-
ably be something doing which would
show to the people of Berkeley county
that their dreams of a coal mine, with
unlimited fuel for manufacturing pu--
poses in the vicinity of Martinsburg,
would be realized
Coming at the time when the de-
velopment OF the county's other natur-
al resources, the great advance in
fruit growing, and the probable intro
duction of natural gas, is bound TO
make this community one of the ricn-
est and greatest manufacturing cen
ers of this state.
While the accuracy of these rumors
is not vouched fer, The Evening
World is of the opinion that there is
more truth than fiction in the reports
| that are now in circulation. Those
who have kept a constant watch on
these developments have been salts
fed for quite awhile that only time
is required in which to develop what
we have long been desiring. The pos
sibilities which present themselves 10
the optimist are so great that the fu-
ture of this community appears bright
er than it has at any time during the
past decade.
Some of the possibilities OF the fu-
ture are the establishment here of
glass works, because of the proximity
of the finest glass sand that is known
today, coupled with the introduction
Of natural gas, which seems to be as.
sured within the next few months;
the opening OF the vast area of the
finest high-grade limestone in the
world, which, when considered with
Southern railroad, which will bring
almost to our door iron ore from yet
undeveloped field. All this, with our
closeness to seaboard, where the
product of the ore mines of Cuba are
dumped, and our facilities for secur-
ing coal in unlimited quantities, makes
ii possible that in the not far dis
tant future we will see to the south of
the city smoke rising from the mouths
Of large furnaces, which will turn ont
the finest steel that can possibly be
manufactured.
Jones & Laughlin, who are the
largest independent iron manufacture
ers in the United States, are opening
up their quarries east of the city, and
will consume all of the stone they
quarry either in the shape of lime or
ffuxing rock, will have for their com
petitors within a few miles another
large corporation, which it is under
stood Is backed by the United States
Steel Trust. These latter have al
ready spent hundreds Of thousands of
dollars preparing their property for
operation. This company will install |
the latest improved machinery. The
process which they will use for get |
ting out stone will be that OF the fam
GUS wizard Edison. The machinery
for this process is manufactured and
controlled by the Westinghouse Elec-