West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-11-11
BIRDS CREEK
Dr., Rattlehead Writes Entertatningly
OF Sylvan Retreat.
TOWN TALKS OF INCORPORATION
Comment on Current Doines, PolIti-
cal and OthervvIse-S News
OF n Local Mature.
BuDs CRrrK, Nov. q

Editor Argus:
l have lately changed my scene OF OPP
Grafton and am now holding forth in this
community where taught school lust
thirty-threc years ago when took pleas
ure in communicating tho local news of
this community. When | first came
among the citizens Of Birds Creek thirty
throc years ago / found them happy,
Interesting, hospitablc people, ever ready
and willing TO assist in making the path
way of life pleasant and profitable To any
one who may locate in this beautiful val
ley for either pleasure or profit
The lapse of time-almost third Of "A
ccntury-has not faded from our memory,
and II my pen productions do not 20 TO
dill up the contents OF the DEVILS waste
basket will esteem it pleasure DR.. Rat
tlehead's gleanings may be found among
the columns of TuE ARGUS, one of the
best newspapers within the state. SO
sayeth the Morgantown New Dominion.
and your writes thinks that n copy of il
should be read by every reading family in
the county.
Birds Creck-where is Birds Creek We
find it 10y looking ON the map Of Preston
county located at the junction Of the Tun-
melton and Ices ferry pike with that of
the Kingwood-Newburg pike. The town
is situated upon both sides Of a beautiful,
clear, crystalline stream which flows
south distance of three or four miles
forming one of the branches of the mighty
Three Fork-just the ancient city Youbc-
dam. The valley of this stream is dotted
with farms and beautiful hills with pic
turcsquc scenery, creating one OF the most
inspiring panoramas for rabbit hunting i'm
the county. Why, our preacher shot four
just last week.
Mount Pleasant il the largest city within
the basin OF this vallcy-one church, one
schoolhouse, one store, one gristmill, one
steam sawmill, and many coal banks
The town il not yet incorporated, but the
veteran Henry Shafler, who il now i'm his
SOth year, should be made the first mayor.
jess McGinnis, younger man by 90 years,
whose blood is permeated with ancient
southern arlstocracy, will run much laster
lie II sound both of body and limb and
he wants the office, while Uncle Henry
limbs for years, hence the election is CON
coded 10 his honor, Mayor Jess McGinnis.
Houbedam is the next most impor-
tant town in this valley. But the friends
oil McGinnis are impcrialists and favor
making the Hon. Hiram G.. Burk chief of
police. They are sure of victory, Mr..
Burk ~ the leading stock raiser and agri-
culturist in this beautiful valley. He has
been tried and not found wanting. lie
has been leader in politics for years;
road overseer; takes the lead i'm singing
IN all OF our public institutions, and at
the present time is commissioner OF schools.
The election ~ sure thing il Isaac Cas-
sadly and David Bolyard don't spoil the
slate. They want toincludc the new court
house.
Your writer finds many of our citizens
opposed to the plan of bonding the county
Tor new courthouse at Kingwood. We
don know whether 10 is on account Of
the board OF education Of Kingwood dis
trlct or not; some seem TO think that the
schoolhouses in Kingwood district should
have attention. Some Of them are not Gt
10 stable calves in, not 90 say ANYTHING
about innocent little children that have
10 be educated for the future enioyments
OF 500, 900 or $3.50 900 courthouse for a
dozen or more people TO transact the
business OF the county. II Is deplorabe
fact that some Of the schoolhouses have
not been painted either internal or ex-
ernal for twenty, twenty-five, or thirty
years, or, TO be plain, since they were
first built. No washpan; no towel: no
paint on the outside or inside; the black
board Of rough oak ceiling painted with
common house paint; the walls so black
that on dark day the children can scarce
ly see each other, Is it any wonder the
students of our high schools, colleges. and
universities wear glasses by hundreds and
thousands, caused by the neglect Of rural
Official supervision Of the common schools.
which are the feeders Of all higher educa-
tional institutions
Personally, We are IN favor Of any lc-
glhmate expenditure for public purposes.
but first we are i'm favor Of meeting the
needs Of our common schools, which are
The bulwark Of all intelligent public in
stitutions.