The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1911-08-19
RICH SOURl OF
WEST VIRGINIA COUNTIES

county. These estimates are now
ever, considered very low by men liy,
ing in this part Of the State who are
familiar with the extent and scope Of
the standing timber, This extensive
supply of virgin timber could be taken
advantage Of by many different kinds
of Woodworking plants, suitable 1oca-
lions for which are available at vari-
GUS points.
This section has grown TO be quite
an important cattle-raislng one, too.
Conditions are splendid for this, and
the natural grasses are such that the
cattle fatten quickly and keep in ex-
cellent condition even when shipped
great distances. Consequently, they
are in great demand for export.
Up to May, 1910, this section Of
West Virginia had been without rail-
road facilities with the exception of
16-mile branch line of the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, which extends from
Green Spring, Is miles east Of Cum
berland, 10 Romney, the county-seat
of Hampshire county. In May, 1910,
the Hampshire Southern Railroad, IS.
tending from Romney to Moorefeld,
the county-seat of Hardy county, and
on to Petersburg, the county-seat of
Grant county, was placed in opera;
ton, thus not only providing railroad
facilities for these two additional
counties, but also throwing them open
for greater development. Pendleton
county is still without any railroad IA
lcilities, but as 1t contains the same
class of agricultural and fruit-groYiillg
lands, has practically the same topog;
raphy, the same climatic and other
features as the other counties, like
wise very large amount Of virgin
timber and iron ore, 1t cannot be long
before the railroad must be extended
into it also.
This section of West Virginia con
ststs of a series of broad valleys con
nected together by narrow gorges'
The Romney Valley, which Is the first
one entered, is about 16 miles lPag
land one and one-half miles wide. Aft!
i err passing through gorge six miles
long as the lower end Of this valley
1.-The Moorefeld Valley in Hardy coun'
Ity reached, this being about IL miles
long and two miles wide. From this
another gorge leads to the Petersburg
valley, which is about nine miles long
land one and one-half miles wide, and
extending from this valley to the north
lis Luney's Creek Valley which is
about 10 miles long and one and one
half miles wide. These valleys are
exceedingly fertile, and afford excel
lent farming lands, while the noun
tains on each side are dotted here and
there with peach and apple orchards
4 When 1t was demonstrated that the
mountain tops we're especially well
Ilatted for fruit growing, numerous com.
panies were formed to plant orchards
The lands at the top Of the mountains
we're mostly cut.over timber lands,
and we're, bought quite cheap, but 1t
was necessary to remove all remain
Ling timber and other growth and prop
A erly prepare the lands for fruit-grow
ing purposes. The top surface o
these lands are covered with disinte
grated ebert rock in sizes ranging u
to three inches in diameter. This
rock covers the surface to a depth Of
Iron four to six inches, while below
lis found an accumulation Of humus
which has been formed from the deaf
leaves of many years before, This
not only causes the soil to be very
rich and fertile, but when rains oc
cur the water percolates through the
rock and then through the humus
thus preventing any washing away
and allowing the water to BIO gradual.
ly absorbed by the land.
Moreover, the altitude places these
frult-growlng lands above the frosl
line, and provides good exposure ant
4 splendid air drainage, all Of which
combine to make this section an idea
frult-growing one. Some otNthe orch
ards have been established on the tot
Of the mountains for 10 years and 9th
ers have been there for q shorter pc
Rod, but, none have ever experienced
Z crop failure, which Is one Of inc
strongest recommendations Of these
Hands for fruit growing, as It means
regular crops and aSdepenaable IN
leone.
: WHEN Inc, first orchards were estab