Thursday, April 27, 1899
Last Friday, a boy fishing for trout found an old millstone almost buried in the bed of a small stream on the headwaters of Tygart’s Valley River. The site of an old mill and mill dam was discovered a half mile above. The mill stone was perfect and about ten inches thick by about two and a half feet in diameter.
– – –
Some of the farmers in Arbovale have abandoned making sugar until after corn-planting. George Kerr has made 65 gallons of molasses, and James Sutton has made 260 pounds of sugar and 10 or 15 gallons of molasses. He will finish out 300 pounds after corn planting.
Our Delegation at Moundsville
Sheriff Hill has returned from Moundsville Penitential Institute where he matriculated Jim Lewis. He saw the Pocahontas collegians. Alex Armstrong is a favorite with every one and stands well. He is a carpenter by trade. The officials seemed anxious that he should be pardoned. He is leading an exemplary life. He invented a computing scale which a prominent man in Moundsville has taken up and patented for a half interest. It is said to be bringing him money. Rev. Ratcliff, who had a penchant for other people’s horses is serving a most enjoyable term. His side whiskers are preserved in all their pristine beauty. His work is to keep the chapel clean. He has an opportunity of preaching whenever he feels so inclined and to a congregation that cannot get away. Wilfong looks sour. His work is to fold up clothing. Elmer Jackson is in the whip department. Ervine Houdyschell has recently graduated.
BAD NEWS
The latest is that, owing to the opposition developed by the town of Hinton, the big pulp mill will be built at Covington, instead of on the Greenbrier. This causes the State to lose a gigantic enterprise, and Hinton, having tried to raise the devil, in succeeding, stands frightened at the apparition.
The first five miles of the railroad is let to Lane Bros., of Ohio, and they have men at work. The pulp mill at Covington gives the railroad a longer haul.
THE PASSING OF THE COVERED WAGON
“The Greenbrier Valley Railroad will be built through a section of West Virginia, which is practically destitute of transportation facilities.” Manufacturer’s Record.
What of the covered wagon?
They seem to regard the wagon and team of little or no account, but it has done wonders in carrying freight into Pocahontas. It has been slow and expensive, but no one can say it has not been effective. The goods might get damaged by water in the fords; the rain might leak through a defective wagon cover; the goods get rubbed in the hauling; the wagon stuck in a mud hole; a wheel crushed down by the weight of the load; a horse gets sick or dies; or the wagon and team go over the side of the road down a precipitous mountainside; but all these years, the mountain schoo-ners have been trailing over our long roads supplying a numerous people with all the luxuries and necessities of modern times.
It would be hard to find a community of people who live better or more comfortably than the people of this county.
They have good stores, well-built houses, nicely furnished, and the latest and best farm machinery. Great quantities of salt and commercial fertilizers are imported. We export livestock which is driven out with less drift than if carried on the train, and timber which has been floated away by the river…
And as long as they compute the strength of the locomotive by comparing it with the power of a horse, and we have thousands of horses and experienced wagoneers, please do not say that we are practically destitute of transportations facilities.
MARRIED
Miss Effie F. Barlow, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Barlow, was married to Mr. Joel E. Peck Wednesday, April 19, at 8:30 a.m. The attendants were Miss Lena Moore and Mr. Adam Baxter and the ceremony was read by Rev. J. H. Dills. A sumptuous breakfast was then served in the old-time generous way, and after the meal special thanks were offered to the Giver of all good. In a short while, the bridal party started for the home of Mr. D. A. Peck.
This was a proper marriage, Miss Barlow is a popular, practical, Christian lady. Mr. Peck is one of our best young men. He is all that the word Christian gentleman implies. He has kept himself unspotted from the world, and it is safe to predict for him a useful and prosperous life. May their union be blessed.
