Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1910-08-12
THE OLD TIME COACH
A Morning Pide In The MOun-
tains OF West Virginia
IN ALLEGANY MOUNTAINS
The North Western Pike Or Old National
Road 0nce The Only Highway

In the two hundred and twenty
eight miles from Annapolis to Bur-
lington, in Mineral county, in West
Virginia, there are none more inter-
esting than the thirteen that are by
way of the old-time coach. had Sc
cured a seat by. the driver of the coach
that | might obtain information of
things and places of interest as we
passed on the way.
1t was z 80 a. m, on August 3,
when, as we turned out of Keyser,
the loose reins and the cracking whip
were given the two horses of the
coach, and we dashed ahead at live
| ly pace that was unabated for full
five miles until the stage struck the
/ foot of knobly Mountain and, tn e Gus
tom of the country began, the giving
/ to the horses all the time they re-
| quired, with several rests, to reach
the top the range.
The ride from Keyser until we
turned southwark to cut through the
gap, was between the New Creek and
the Allegany Mountains. We were
at the very base of the New Creek
Range, and, two or three miles away.
stretched the Alleganies, reaching,
along this line of hills, Its "pinnacle"
in this section, few miles westward
where this tall summit rises to 3, 3l5
feet, and gives a most extensive view
of mountains and intervening plains.
| New Creek, a beautiful little
stream. in its meanderings and its
once clear waters, now ruined by the
overflow from neighboring tannery,
which no amount of public opposition
has so far rebated, runs along the
| base of the mountains, and fine farms
and cultivated fields, beautiful homes,
meet the eye on the long lap up the
New Creek Valley, as side by side
for score of miles the two ranges
of mountains hem in this lovely and
lourishing valley.
The coach had been going along
about a mile, when the driver turned
to me and asked: Are you law
yer or a preacher. " Having estab-
lished to him my professional identity
he replied sententiously Il can
tell EN-" | inquired why he had put
the calling of the clergyman and the
occupation of the counsellor togeth-
er, but no amount of cross-examina-
tion could bring from him the reason
for placing the clergy and lawyer
the same species.
AS we rode slowly up Knobly
Mountain my friendly guide said,
as he pointed near and far away ::
This is forty-seven thousand
/ ,l Tbara fbau mara
in interminable rows, several of
them stretched off for three miles
along the mountain side.
The trees will not be allowed to
bear until they are six years old,
and then, in the language of one of
my ellow-travelers, there will be
work for some people. That is, in
pulling, packing, boxing or bar
relling and hauling to the railroad
stations. Besides, this prospect IF
work for the neighborhood and re-
muneration to the owners the estab-
lishment of this great orchard ~by a
company of men, has raised the
price of mountain land in this section
from So to $50 an acre.
After seven miles of driving Ridge
Vile, in Mineral county, w. Va, is
reached This is a picturesque little
village, located in vale, surrounded
by ridges and mountains, with the
Christian church dominating on high
hill in a scenic complement, the
little settlement One ancient hos.
telry, of the many along this road,
The North Wes tern Pike" or ole
National Road, when it was the only
highway to the West, remains. An
other tavern, located at the end of the
village, last Christmas saw its dying
days. Fire destroyed it just eight
days after it had become tenantless
but with two days of grace to save
the owner, and give him his insur
ance-since, after ten days vacancy
no insurance may be collected.
With rush we pass the edge O.
the Vanmira Camp, Southern Meth
odists, which begins on the 18th, ant
in five minutes are in Burlington;
fiourishing hamlet of several stores
mill, church, a postoffice, hote
and a number of beautiful homes
located in the midst of the fertli
plains of Patterson Greek Valley,
stream famous for bass and which /
fished all the season by fisherme
a from far and near, and many a fin
: catch is reported as the neighbors, q
. the end of the day, on their ampl
porches, at the evening hours. a
their eyes sweep the periphery Q
= their beautiful mountain scenery
discuss the doings of the da
: amongst themselves, the prospect
a of the weather and the probabilitie
p of the coming camp. Z. S. K.
) Burlington, w. Va, Aug. II, 191C