The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-25
THE REPUBLIC.
Correspondence Of lIs baltimore Sun
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Extension.
Opening FestiUGI Of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road JVsst Of Cumberland.

CUMBERLAND, July %, 1851.
| After stroling through the city at an early
hour this morning, and viewing its fine sights,
| the depot bell announced the readiness of the
special train to convey the president and Direc-
tors and their guests over the new section of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, extending from
Cumberland up high into the Alegany noun
tains; and the President and guests, including
| citizens of Cumberland, 10 the number of one
hundred and fifty, were soon seated, in the cars
and moving at a steady rate through the city.
On reaching the vladuct. which spans the lower
part Of the city and Wils's creek, an opportu-
tunity was afforded of viewing the noble struc-
ture, and Benjamin Latrobe, esq, the chief en-
gineer, being present, he furnished US with many
interesting particulars in connexion with it. The
viaduct consists of thirteen heavy brick arches
built entirely with cement which is found in
abundance in WILLIS mountain, near the city, and
furnished at the low price Of seventeen cents per
bashel. which Mr. Latrobe considers fully equal to
the best northern cement 1t certainly resisted the
blade of knife firmly as granite. The arches
are each of fifty feet span and about 30 feet high
containing, in all, million and half hard burnt
brick. The timber for the tracks on il have all
been kyanized, and, TO look at this immense struc-
ture, it would scarcely be believed that the entire
cost of it's erection will but slightly exceed SO 600
After leaving Cumberland, the road passes
| through series OF mountain gorges, diverging
from the extensive range of Wils's mountain, but
soon enters what Is called the "Four Mile Bottom %
/ with range Of fesds of finely cultivated land; but
4 here, elsewhere throughout the whole route the
corn and oats have not obtained half the growth
that the period Of the season requires for good
| crop, many broad fields of corn being in assel at
the height of five feet. The drought here has been
| excessive, the water in the Potomac, along the
side of which the road still runs, being scarcely
more than is often to be found in gutter on some
| OF the main streets of Baltimore.
| The scenery in this region is grand beyond the
| conception OF all who have not passed through it,,
and 1t would be futile to attempt to describe it, On
every part OF the road you to be shut in by
valley that has no outlet, the mountains towering
on every side, apparently before and behind to the
height OF thousand feet. The road, however,
winds through the gorges OF the mountain, with
Knobly mountain to the left, occasionally opening
on broad valley Of table land susceptible of the
! highest state of cultivation.
| Passing on, come to immense mountain,
called Fort Hill, about five miles in length, and
| on putting 1t behind Us, we came suddenly out on
one OF the finest specimens of table land, called
" Black Oak Bottom" that probably be found
this side OF the Ohio river II is the farm of Colo
mel Mccarthy, containing six hundred acres, all of
| which 10 planted in oats and corn and, although
IN fine state of cultivation, is stunted by the
drought as not to promise more than a half crop.
short distance beyond Black Oak Bottom the
road passes, by bridge, to an island in the Poto
mac, and again back to the Maryland shore, and
at distance OF twenty one miles from Cumberland
crosses the Potomac to the Virginia shore, over O
| bridge of most novel construction and singular
beauty, OF Two spurs, each measuring one hundred
and fifty feet, designed, as were all the immense
structures on the road, by Mr.. Latrobe the chief
| engineer. There are two massive stone abut-
ments and one pier and the bridge hangs on u
net OF work, different in its structure, aud appa
rently durable as the everlasting hills by which
it ia surrounded. 1t has two tracks and Is rooted
with sheet-iron, and, although Of great siren 9Th
has light and airy aspect, and its architecture is
admirable. The train of fine cars, and one of Ross
Winans's magnificent coal burning locomotives
No. H." were passed over it, in view of the
pany, and not the slightest perceptible yielding to
the immense weight could be observed.
After passing this interesting point of the road
we entered the borders of old Virginia, and soon
crossed strong and durable iron bridge, thrown
over New creek. The next point of interest is the
Paddytown Station, at which large station house
and other buildings are being erected. This will
be the station for all the travel and trade to and
from Hardy and Hampshire, and indeed all the
range of Northwestern Virginia counties and at
no distant day will become point of great bust
ness. Two miles furthsr brought us to Thunder
Hill, one of tho bold juls Of Davis mountain, the
scenery around which is awfuiiy grand.
Westernpork, a sturdy hat mountain town, the
whole population of which, numbering about one
tundred. had turned out to welcome u.s. next came
in view, and has all the appearances of quite
Gent settlement. Here the whole party landed,
and, after spending time in conversation
with the mountaineers poor lrishman was OBJ
served with his left arm broken and his right hand
crushed, having been thus injured about two weeks
| previous. Although taken care of by the compa-
| ny, his sorrowful countcnance excited the sympa-
thy of the company, and subscription started
| for him on the spot and quite respectable sum
raised, which seemed TO take quite load from the
heart of the unfortunate fellow. Taking the cars
| again, were in few minutes at the Piedmont
station, which comprises piece of table land of
about six acres, which the company are LAYING
their tracks and water pipes preparatory to the
| of a dem nj NO
and large workshops, which cannot fail to cause
quite large town TO be located in this mountain
region in the course of few years. Here will
be kept all the extra locomotive power required to
ascend the steep grades the summit of the Allie
gany mountains, which will be reached at point
eighteen miles distant, over a continuous grade
commencing at 80 feet to the mile, then so feet
and reaching TO 10 feet grade to the mile in
parts of the ascent.
From Piedmont we proceeded in the cars I'D the
four miles of heavy grade just described, at the
rate of four miles an hour, Mr.. Winanss noble en-
CINE No. II drawing the five up with the great
est ease, and an abundance of steam to spare
Here we entered on scene of busting activity at
the mouth of Everetts tunnel, being the present
terminus of the road, where about one hundred
men are ct work, under the energetic direction of
Mr. Roseby Carr, who is pushing the road west
ward with rapidity that is almost unparalleled
considering the heavy character of the work.
Everetts tunnel ID only about three hundred
feet in length exclusive of the deep-cut on either
side, and passes through spur of the mountain
that towers at least one hundred feet above its
roof, which is about thirty feet high The tunnel is
about twenty feet wide, and the ceiling is of inn
mense blocks Of stone, which look as if placed
there by the hand of man. After spending about
an hour at this portion of the road, scaling the
mountain heights for better sig of the surround
ing scenery, and viewing Mr.. Carrs domestic
arrang ements for the boarding and lodging of his
large forces the company prepared to return to
Piedmont He has train of ten burden cars, fit
ted up with sleeping, eating and cooking depart
ments, which he moves along the road, keeping al
ways at the head of the line, making steady pro.
gress from day to day
THE DINNER AT PIEDMONT.
At this magnificent basin in the mountains,
calfed,s Piedmont station, with the rocks piled
thousands OF feet oter heads every side, we
found the most extensive arrangements made for
our reception and entertainment on our return
from the tunnel. At central point the American
flag waved Tramc building, about sixty feet
square, within whrh found Mr.. Guy and his
assistants Just finishing the spreading and setting
out of as fine DINER could have been desired
even in Baltimore the tables being even decorated
with beautiful boudlets, which the younger portion
of the party presdved for their lady friends in
Cumberland, and almost breaking under the |
weight of ediblesl Suffice 1t to say that every |
dainty of the season was served up in magnificent |