Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-22


ing-Anival at Wheelng--lts communication
with Eastern States-Departure for Frederick
.-Country travelled over--Enter the Allegha-
nies-Cross the Momtains-Arrival at Hassrs-
town-Wagons and horses eather--Freder-
ick-Arrval at Baltimore-The City-Visit to
Mr.. Belzouver's farm.
JUNr, 1s4l.
PITTSBURGH in Pennsylvania contains about
10000 inhabitants II stands at the point of
junction of the Allegheny and Mopongahela
rivers, here forming, by their union, the great
but unrnffled Ohio, which runs course of a.
bout 1900 miles TO join the Mississippi. and is
said TO be one of the most beautiful rivers in
the world.
From the number of large iron foundries at
Pittsburgh, it ranks as the Birmingham of the
States. Il furnishes grea. proportion Of the
steamboat machinery used in America, and
trades with the southern and western States by
means of sieam-vessels, of which | counted
thirty of large dimensions. lying at the differ
ent wharves along the banks of The river. The
town seems busy and furnishing, but is rem
dered disagreeabie by the smoke of its numer-
Gus furnaces.
Thinking had had enough Of the American
stage, proposed going to Wheeling by water.
the distance by that conveyance being ninety
FIVE miles, which is forty miles more than the
distance by land, but after having had my lug
gage put on board steamer, found there
was from the present shallowness of the water,
great difficulty in getting down the river, and
that might be stuck fast in the chanael for
some days. | therefore had my luggage dis
embarked, and on the 18th Of June once more
placed myself in the stage, expecting certainly
no greater enjoyment than had already expe-
ri in e;u,tlar l.,,; al
was most agreeably disappointed
After leaving Pittsburgh a few miles,,
found the country altogether change its char
acier; the road riacadamized and sound; the
country open; the fields large and we'll cnltiva-
ted. and completely cleared of the stumps
which INSTRUCTED and greatly dis6gured almost
every field had hitherto seen. In short, l was
now, comparatively speaking, in AN old coun-
try.
The crops consisted OF wheat and Indian
corn, with occasionally patches of oats and
rye. Barley appears to be little known as
crop in the States, al least had not yet seen
single field of il; nor, although | understand
beans, peas, and also tiruips. are cultivated
in some places, have | observed any Of these
grown by farmers. Indian corn seems to be
the great staple. and TO come in place Of our
fellow or cleaning crops, for which purpose, as
! have already observed, il seems, in one res
pect, well calculated. Red clover is cutiva.
extensively, and, as in other places, ploughed
in as manure for wheat.
The stock saw here is of better descrip-
ton than in any of The places previously visit
ed by me, and still by no means frst-rale, nor
at all like what should be found in such coun-
try. Although was told this is considered a
sheep country, the few sheep saw in it were
miserable animals.
Such continued to be the character of the
country all the way 10 Wheeling, and in oilany
places il was truly beautiful.
About eleven O'Clock AM. arrived at Whee-
ling, small town on the Ohio possessing
some iron fouutrles, but deriving its chief i'm
portance from being the grea. outlet from New
York. Philadelphia. Baltimore, Washington,
and other places eastward to New Orleans and
| the great southern and western States.
The communication from those cities is
maintained. first by the several lines Of railroad
emerging from them, TO Frederick, in Mary
land, and from thence. by what is called "the
great national road" across the Allegheny
mountains. TO Wheeling. From the latter
! town to New Orleans, the distance is abont
| 1000 miles, down the Ohio. and Mississippi,
and tits accomplished by steamboats, in an in
credibly. shor, time;
Al. one P. NJ. left Wheeling by stage---to
| which | had become somewhat reconsideration
Frederick, distance 224 miles.
For the first forty or fifty miles, the country
was in some degree open and cultivated; but
after tina. we got into the forest, and gradually
into the depths Vt the Allegheny mountains.
The road was still sound and good, but the hills
may without exsggeraiion be described as ire
mendous. the ascents not only being excessive
ly steep, but continuing SO for many miles on.
end.
Notwithstanding their great elevation, these
mountains are clothed TO the top with fine Tim
be-, occasionally interspersed with patches of
| cleared land; and as in this quarter immense
, tracts, formerly Congress land, are now the
property of individuals, cultivation will doubt
less be rapidly extended.
II, for the difficulty Of the ascents betw cen
Erie and Pittsburgh. the traveller is recon-
psnsed by the views from their SUBMITS. much
greater must be his qualification on accomplish
ing the more toilsome task Of surmoan.iDg the
klleghanies. Placed there on a ridge Of the
earth, upheayed hundreds of yards above the
general surface, and extending 10 nearly. 1000
miles in length. and from 100 TO 200 miles 10
breadth. he experiences an exultation of mind
BETTING the contemplation" Of The bouDdess
regions encompassing hin---but yesterday com.
posing inhospitable Eilds, peoPled by ruthless
savsges--to-day possessed by an enlightened
and powerful nation. under whom majestic riv-
ers. vending their far journeys among Primevsl
forests, nave become subservieni to the purpO-
ses Of wide-spresding commerce, while every
where appear splendid cities. handsome towns,
and cultivated fields, with all that for utility