Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-07-09
EIsCKLLANY.
VIRGINIA sCENERY-NEw RIVER.
Frea The Eaaa,sAa Basarr.

VIRGINIA SCENERY-NEw RIVER.
Frs~ Ae Eaaa,sAa BGuner.
No region Of country abounds more
in grand and magnificent natural see
merry, than that bordering upon the wa
tiers Of the Kanawha- These splendid
exhibitions Of nature, hitherto known
to but few, will be made accessible 10
all, by the contemplated improvement,
uniting the waters Of the James and
kanawha rivers The course and d.
rection Of this improvement, circum-
scribed as It necessarily must be, by
the rugged and mountainous character
Of the country, which intervenes be-
tween the valleys Of the James and
Kanawha, will have to seek the level
formed by the water courses; and tina,
afforded by New River will, as We con-
fidenuy believe, necessarily have to be-
adopted. Should this be the case. and
the rail road completed, stretching
along this deeply indented valley, what
grand, what magnificent views would
here be presented to the eye of the
traveller.
II is almost certain that the rail road
will haTe to pass down the valley of the
New River from a point, as high al
least as the mouth OF the GreenbrieI
nver. From this point to the grea;
falls Of the Kanawha, is a distance OF
sixty eight miles, and in this distance
there is descent, in the natural bed OF
the river, Of 743 feet, or nearly III fee,
TO the mile. The width of the stream
IS by no means uniform. In several
places, the bed of the river is narrowed
down to thirty feet OF less. by burly
cliffs or towering mountains; and in
others, the water Is permitted to expand
over bed of a hundred feet or more
In general. however, the actual bed OF
the stream, is no more than from thirty
TO fifty feet IN width. Down this mar.
row channel, = large volume Of water
is precipitated with amazing velocity
now urged against one, and then against
another rocky projection which oppo.
SEES ITS course, until the angry element
is covered with a sparkling foam.-
Scarce a mile Of this distance but en-.
braces scenery which, in other and
more accessible situations, would rem.
der them places Of resort for the admi.
rers Of the grand and beautiful.
One object, from its peculiar subj.
nifty, deserves more particular notice
We have reference TO the cliff vel
known a. MarShaPs Pillar, or ths
Hawks nest. This cliff is situated
about eight miles above the junction o.
Gauly and New Rivers, at a point o.
the river where il nearly approaches to
the turnpike, and is readily reached
from It by a winding path. On ap-
preaching the verge Of the cliff, the
prospect which opens upon the eve, !.
enchanting. In front rises the noun.
tain. upon the opposite side Of the
stream, lofty, even among its fellows
clad in everlasting green. and appear,
seated upon a pedestal Of rock, a thou.
sand feet in height. On your Iefl
there Is an uninterrupted view Of the
nver for several miles, where the agi.
tased water may be seen daShing aIona
with startling rspidity over is rocky
bed, with the spray rising and bursting
upon ITS dark bosom. The stream !,
here narrow, and Is the eve follows IL
path IN the distance. the green hills
which constitute is banks. appear ora.
dually 70 approach each other, until the
torrent, which flows in grandeur be-
meath your feet, seems diminished Il
the meress riil. On your n-ht, the tor
rent Is seen rcoeding. until shut from
view BY projection q the mountain
/ Reaching the verge q the cliff. ths
scene y most grand and imposing
You stand upon a rock. apparent,
perpendicular. nsing from the water
edge 10 a height of q thousand or tae'g,
hundred feet. A shrub. here an,
there. appears on the summit. a. !
we're. q mark the sterilrfy 1t the spos
Below, flows the river. giving forth IN,
sound a many waters" The senses
the mind, the feelings, are awed by N,
grandeur q the scene. and led involun
tanly 30 do homage 10 the great Firs
Cause az all thing.
From Msrshai's Pillar 10 the iunc
ton q Gsuly and New River. the en-
tire distance Is characterized by scene
ry grotesque. beautiful and sublime.
Should thie picturesque region eve
Be rendered accessible 10 the traveller
We have no hesitasiOa IN saying that 4
vii b. move admired than any other ir
ihe Union. and wiii BE- visited bv ANA.
lteuFs from every dime