Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-25
ITALY.

eoIf int, the midst of the combatants, sword IN
hand, and thus prevented the grievous conseguen
ces which might have resulted.
->-a~--<----.....n-
Uestern Wagons. Few Of our eastern Peo'
ME who have no. travelled to the west, have any
conce ptiun of the vast amount OF transportation.
east and west from The cities Of Philadelphia and
Baltimore to The cities Of Pittsburg and Wheel.
ing on the Ohio distance OF 500 miles by land.
The wagons which are constantly employed 10
this trade, have the capacity OF one story
building 90 feet long by to feet wide. These
house agons are covered with canvass, aud are
drawn, MANY OF them by five stout horses, but
the greater part Of them by six or eight. Their
loads vary from sixty to lightly cwt. and they
travel from Is to % miles day, making trip
from Philadelphia to Pittsburg AMI back again in
about so or SIS days. Several thousand wagons
are constantly employed in this business. They
90 in SQUADS Of half dozen to thirty IN string.
and keep company the whole distance. They
have their regular "wagon taverns," as they
are called, to stay at over night. and we have
seen over fifty Of these teams meet at one place
for rest,
The drivers carrya mattress aud blanket,
and after they have fed themselves and their
horses, and drank their usual pota,ion OF wins
key they spread the mattress upon the hoor OF the
bar room and lie down to rest-this IS the only
bed on which many Of them sleep from one years
end to another-they do not undress, except
merely to take of their coats, ADD do not perhaps
change any part OF their clothing from one end
of their journey to the other.
In the morning they feel and card their horses,
and as soon as they breakfast and harness, they
start on their Journey and do not stop to feed them
thoir hpy ha rIy m a
end Of their DAYS route. They eat but two re-
gular meals a day, for each of which they pay %
cents; their horses are fed with oats altogether,
winch they purchase of the tavern keeper, at a
few cents advance on the original cost. The
FIRST cost of their meals is more than the tavern
keeper receives; SO that the only profit the ia
werner gets from his customers is that which
arises from the sale OF "hiskey, and the manure
made in his yard These teams do not see the
inside of a barn or shed perhaps during their
lives. At night the harness is taken OH and
laid upon a pole running across the axle-trees.
and sticking out behind the wagon; the horses
are then tied 70 different parts of the wagon. aud
fed from provender troughs which are carried for
the Journey, and let the weather be what II NAV,
the poor beasts must stand in the open air at the
mercy of the elements. We have often asked
the WAGNER why he did not put his horses into
the stable during the storm; and have as often
received for reply, "that they do better by
standing out;" and as proof of the truth of this
assertion, We do not remember of ever having
seen what is usually denominated poor horse
among the many thousands which have come un.
der our observation.
Many persons have made independent fortunes
IN this business of teamins. We have known
some young men to begin as drivers al eight and
ten dollars month, and after lew years labor,
be the owner of dozen teams-when they get
thus wealthy, they ride upon horseback, and &C.
company their teams all in a string, from the
Ohio to the Delaware, and purchase -four and
whiskey. and sell them on their own account to
the merchants and tavern keepers On the route.
Col. James Reside, the present great Mail
Contractor, was formerly thus employed, and
owes his success in a measure to his enterprise
while teaming from Baltimore to Wheeling on
the great National Road through Cumberland,
Maryland, his former residence. From com.
mon western teamster, .4dmirdl Reside has ii.
sen to be the most extensive Mail Contractor in
the United States, and is at present the right
hand man of General Jackson, and worthy fel.
low, too, nearly six feet and quarter in height
The celebrated David Crockett, Of Tennessee,
at present Member Of Congress was formerly
wagner across the Allegheny MOUNTAINEERING d.
so made fortune, and is now reaping the plea.
sures of his industrious habits, in the character
Of most humorous politician.
The transportation Of goods by wagons from
the east to the vest is about drawing TO close.
The canals between Philadelphia and Pittsburg
are already completed. and the Portage Rail
Road across the Allegheny Mountains, to con-
meet the canals on each side, will be completed
early next season, whes, on this route, wagons