Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-01-16

I residences and finely cultivated farms strike youi
eye ct every moment. Thrifty vilsges, with .
population varying from 200 TO 1000 persons. ar
rest the progress Of the hoat and the attention o.
K the traveller every few miles. Countless numbers
Of coal pits with their horizontal shafts, piercing
the steep embankments. and short Rail Reads and
small rail cars 10 deposit their burdens in the
boats. are met with every turn of The rivef.--
lronforges ani faraaces-.teatn -four and saw mills
arc constantly throwing W their sable columns
of coal smoke II evidence OF the progressive march
/ OF Manufacturing IaAusuy. Coal is here the uni
verssl fuel snd steam from coal the universal mo
I, tive power in machinery. Who can set bounds to
the mineral treasures and exhaus'ess resources Of
this great commonwealth From Brownsville to
Pitt.barg, the river hill, one continued mass
Of cosl--sueicient Of itself supply the demands
of the world. And yet, this is but a small segmsn,
Of that extraordinary deposit which extends through
I larger portions Of Pennsylvania, Virginia. Mary.
! land, Ohio. Kentucky, Indiana. ard to Il-
nois Professor Lye in one OF his recent lee
tGres in London, has presented some striking facts
10 connection with the extent and magnitude Of the
( coal fields OF this country. which looked upon as
exaggerated until witnessed myself, what have
seen upon this trip. It's eheapness is remarkable.
The Captain informed me that his supplies OF coal
delivered in the boat at 2 Id cents per BUSH
ell, and that its to the iron manufactures on
the spot did not exceed ga Of cent per bushel.
The great competition OF the trade upon this
river has caused spirit Of accommodation in the
Boats which, however annoying to the traveller in
the eager pursuit of bis journey, must be greatly
convenient to tho farmer on its banks. They will
stop any point, upon signal given, Tor single
passenger, and | have known them to stop for a
frkin OF lard barrel OF flour, and single ssugh
tered hog. This, however, 10 not the case with
the regular passenger packets.
In consequence Of the frequent stop?ages upon
our route we did not reach Plttsburg until o'clock
in the evening. The approach to that City after
dark from the South, is in the highest degree pic
iuresque md stalking On either side OF the river,
for mile, its banks are Illuminated by the
blazing 6les of us numerous furnaces and forges-
the glare Of which is reflected in hundred places
from the polished surface of the Monong and
exhibit dim and shsdowy outline of the surround.
ing scenery. Thee. you approach still nearer
the heart OF the City, its brilliant gas lights make
every object visible, upon the water. and impari
an aspect almost Of enehaniment TO the view.
shall not attempt to give YOU any description
of Pltisbnrg. | have not time. The fret glance
nj the place, is sufficient to satisfy you that you
have entered the Valley of the Mississippi
where steam has conquered and civilisea wilder
world and where steamboats, The universal
vehicles OF travel and commerce. Forty hsndsome-
ly constructed boats lying opposite 10 the
pubic landing. The regularity with which they
were all ranged side BY side--their number-heir
variegated cooring-lhe endless array Of iron
chin.nies puffing out their smoke aad steam, pre-
-enied striking and characteristic scene. Upon
the decks Of some we're ploughs Wagons &c for
the Arkansas and Texas country; upos others,
iron, hardware crockery ware. &C., ali destined
penetrate in few days the various commercial
arteries OF this great and worderu Val ey.
Pittshutg contains bloomeries making 9 500
tons of wroue ht iron, and consuming &c 81 tons
Of fuel; 25 furnaces. which, with their bioomerie,,
employ 658 hands, Population of the City proper.
about IS 600 with all its suburbs and Dependant
cies, about 60,000
| visited the market and found il well attended
and bountitully supplied with meats, vegetables.
fruits and FISH. ! was particularly struck with the
variety and excellence OF Its apples. amongst which
we're the Bell-lower, the Russell, the Gieen!ng,
the Penick Sc &c.
Plu-burg and ii. vicinity ia rich in historical re-
co objections, and endeavoured, during the SHIRT
time was there, TO explore The former sites OF
Forts Du QIesne and Pitt The only remains OF
that thrilling and bloody page of our early history
| is a magazine originally built outside the
ditch of the Fort. All the Others have persisted
under the tread of Commercial Improvements -
We are people, too much absurbed with the pre-
sent and the future, TO preserve with any care the
relics of the past.
This City is beautifully situated the Delta
/ formed by the confluence OF the Allegheny and
! Monongahea rivers, and where the Two united
streams constitute the Ohio--tia belle reciere, ,
as the French so justly termed it. | have heard
its situation very often compared TO that Of Lyons
in France-at the junction of the Rhine and Soane
| and certainly nothing could well exceed it in
romantic beauty and picturesque ef-ct.
! | passed many thriving and Auur.hing villages
and towns the Ohio River between PitIsburg
and this place-~hich give strong evidence of the
growing destinies and onward prosperity of this
Country, but they have been so often described az
to render any notice of them, unnecessary here.
! will besfow passing remark on the village OF
! Economy, belonging TO that Singular society, the
RaPpssts and the land adjacent thereto. 1t is the
most perfect model of agricultural improvement nj
which have seen in the Western country. The
land in cultivation is aboui . 900 acres-subdivld
cd with great regularity into small feds-all en-
closed with post and plank fencing, and exhibiting
in every of H. the skill and attention of It's in
dusrious proprietors. | needed no guide to in
| form me where their estate commenced and where
it terminated 1t showed too plainly for ITSELF
It green spot in desert of siothful and Gaze
| less hbsbandry.
We arrived in this City this morning a, 3 o'clock.
Distance from Pitshure, 466 miles. Fare, includ-
ing meals and lodging, Sc.
| Excuse this hssty letter. When | reach the
tropical regions, and can find more leisure, | will
endeayour 10 write something more worthy of PEI
rusal.