Tag Archives: sheep

Guyandotte River Navigation (1848)

24 Sunday May 2020

Posted by in Coal, Guyandotte River, Timber

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The following petition is imperfectly transcribed and will be corrected at a later date:

A Petition of Citizens of Logan County praying for the appropriation of money to clear out the obstruction in the navigation of the Guyandotte River (July 17, 1848)

Petition to the Senate and House of Representatives of the Virginia Legislature by the “citizens of the County of Logan” who “represent to your body that they live in a County of Boundless resources of wealth, with a soil adapted to the growth and culture of all most all the substantial ___ of Life. The Indian corn, Rye, oats, Tobacco, hemp, Flax, potatoes, cabbages, carrots, pumpkins are grown as well perhaps in this county as any other region in the commonwealth whilst there is no county can exceed it on firsts: Particularly Peaches by planting on the North Hill Sides they never fail to yield their fruits and the peaches often measure from 2 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter, it is believed also that the ___ would grow well and by proper and well directed enterprize and industry ___ may yet be made in our County to gladden the Hearts of the Citizens and strangers. That your Humble body may have some Idea of the Rich character of our County. They respectfully State as cattle can be gotten of the county, better than almost anything else, in which they could spend their capital or employ their time, that many cattle are annually raisen and drove from the County. That these vast herds of cattle live through the winter without being far from the Produce of the farm with the exception of a few days of Heavy snow and __ rains from the rich character of our hills fine grapes will soon upon them it is believed that no portion of the world would be better adapted to the growing of sheep as not much attention hath yet been paid to the growing of sheep there is no fine Breeds in the county yet our sheep are large and very thrifty. There is perhaps no county that can boast of finer growth of timber which now is and must continue to be in great demand upon the Ohio river and we have no doubt our County abounds with valuable minerals of many descriptions. There is every portion of in the county Rich and deep veins of Bituminous coal and several Banks of the Canal Coal have been found and doubtless the county is filled with it, this Coal above if it could be gotten to market would bring in a great resource of wealth.”

“Yet all of these vast resources are locked and remain valueless for the want of outlet or the means of getting them to market and the necessaries of Life brought to the county for Sale owing to the obstruction of the navigation of the Guyandotte river, and taxed something like one cent on the Pound, this on ___ coffee, nails, Tobacco &c, operates verry __ the Guyandotte River is here. Great chance of communication–the articles of salt may be brought across the county from Kanawha But almost everything else must and __ be Brought up the river and there is no other Possible __ of getting out with our lumber and coal and wool and other products.”

The petition hopes the “Honorable Body” will “appropriate a sufficient sum of money together with what may be raised By individuals to remove the obstructions of the navigation of said river By the ___ upheavals and the Flat Boat and Rafts Downwards at the proper stages of the tide.”

Some signatures of interest to me (there were many others):

Ralf Lucas

Burbus Toney

Henry Conley

Corbon Bryant

Squire Toney

Francis Browning

James Bailey

William E. Browning

Andrew Elkins

H.S. Dingess

William Farley

Henderson Dingess

Jefferson Thompson

William Toney

David Dingess

Source: Library of Virginia, General Assembly Legislative Petitions, Logan County, Reel 111,” located at the WV State Archives.

Lincoln County, WV: After Oil and Gas (1922)

23 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by in Hamlin

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From the Lincoln Republican of Hamlin, WV, comes this submission by three Carroll High School students about what Lincoln County might do when oil and gas is exhausted in the future.

AFTER OIL AND GAS, THEN WHAT?

If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county what suggestions have you along the line of agriculture for keeping up and increasing the wealth of the county and maintaining the population of Hamlin?

Three Carroll High School pupils in a recent examination in Agriculture gave the following answers:

If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county, and it is supposed that it will, the people could make just as much money at other things if they would only think so. For instance, Lincoln county has been declared by the best educated men in the State to be the best fruit growing county in West Virginia. The people of Lincoln county can make as much money growing fruit as the people of Ohio, and many a farmer in Ohio has grown rich just by growing fruit. I do not mean out close to Columbus, but down near Kenova, in the hilly section. These hills of Lincoln county can be cleared and the men who are now making $2500 a year working in the oil and gas business can make that much and more growing fruit. Of course he has to go about it in the right manner. If they do it as it should be done they would be busy every day in the year.

Dairying is another thing that has been discussed by educated men for Lincoln county. They say now that we are getting the hard road we can take all our milk and butter to Huntington and receive good prices for it. Improved cattle can be turned out on these hills and if cared for in the proper way a man can make as much money working at it as he can working in the oil and gas business.

IDA HAGER.

If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county, I think dairying would help increase the wealth of the county and also help maintain the population of Hamlin. Dairying would pay in this county because so many people do not own cows and would buy all their milk and butter from the dairy. The cows could be pastured in the summer, and this would cause the people to improve their farms; and again, we are getting the hard road, and the dairy products could very easily be taken to market, if the dairy man could not sell all his products at home.

Fruit raising would also help Lincoln county. These hill-sides could be converted into profitable and beautiful fruit farms. I don’t think another town in the U.S. of its size uses so much fruit as Hamlin, and all this fruit must be shipped in from other places when it could be raised very easily at home. The people would improve their farms, and the washed and gullied hills would be made of some use, whereas they are of none. The only thing needed to make both dairying and fruit raising profitable is some one to start and boost the business.

EDNA HAGER.

If oil and gas were to become exhausted in Lincoln county, I would suggest agriculture on a scientific basis to keep the population and increase the wealth. If I see right, Lincoln county has some of the best land for orchards in the eastern part of the United States. What cannot be used for orchards can be used for sheep. With the proper care, orchards of great value and producing ability can soon be started in Lincoln county. Most of the soil, or sub soil, is clay and usually is deep and well watered. The change in temperature is usually gradual and not much risk or danger would be run in loosing from frosts or freezing. Again, we can not find a better sheep raising county in the east than Lincoln county. Sheep would surely prosper in Lincoln county. The land is somewhat run down and this would soon build it back again and restore Lincoln county’s virgin soils. This is the only way I can possibly see to keep Lincoln on her feet.

HUGH HAINOR

Perhaps it is well that some people are thinking along this line. It might be dded also that one way of keeping up the population and welfare of the county is to build up at the County seat the best school possible. In doing this everyone can help. We should have a large number of county teachers in the High School for the spring months. Everyone should be interested in livening teachers up to this opportunity of better preparation. We shall be in the new building then and the new building is fine. It might be of interest to note in closing that the Board of Education and the faculty are considering the establishment of a Five Week’s Summer Training School for teachers, and are discussing the matter with State authorities and with the County Superintendent.

HOMER STILES,

Prin. Carroll High School

Source: Lincoln Republican (Hamlin, WV), 02 February 1922.