Environmental and Economic Impact of the Timber Industry in Pocahontas County

 

Environmental and Economic Impact of the Timber Industry in Pocahontas County

 

The timber industry significantly altered the landscape and economy of Pocahontas County. Brush Run, for example, served as a main transportation route for the industry. Various lumber companies, including the C. & O. Railway, used Brush Run to transport lumber from the area between 1901 and 1926

 

. This period marked a large-scale removal of virgin forests from Deer Creek and North Fork. The large-scale removal of trees, particularly the white pine, impacted the local climate. Before the removal, early and late killing frosts made farming difficult for settlers. However, these extreme frosts became less common after the removal of the trees

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The timber industry also spurred the development of infrastructure:

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The Warn Lumber Company built a railroad through Stony Run, a branch of Galford's Creek

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This railroad crossed the Allegheny Mountain at the head of Stony Run to reach the timber-rich areas in the south. This endeavor, however, proved costly, and the project was eventually abandoned

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The provided text does not offer a complete picture of the economic benefits or consequences of the timber industry in Pocahontas County. While it mentions the presence of lumber companies and their activities, it does not discuss the economic impact on the county's residents or its long-term effects. For a comprehensive understanding of this aspect, further research is recommended.

 

The text mainly focuses on the historical context of the timber industry's influence on Pocahontas County, particularly its role in the clearing of virgin forests and its impact on local place names. It also describes the geographical features of the region and how these features influenced the timber industry's operations.

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 The author, Roscoe W. Brown, meticulously documents the lengths, elevations, and drainage areas of each waterway, highlighting their significance in the context of the region's history. Local stories and folklore about early settlers, interactions with Native Americans, and even hidden treasures are interwoven throughout, demonstrating how these natural features shaped the development and cultural identity of Pocahontas County.