Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-11-17
NoRMAs MrELrs, ESQ LA pursuance y

ley. on The 10th Of August last, for the aUp- |
per Valley" on trip Of pleasure and cuEiosi-
y, as well as observation. Travelling over
our Berkeley pike was far from agreeable,
owing mainly to the ucwness of the road. the
rough and careless manner in which the stones
are broken, and lastly, t. It's uarrowness.
wnicn renders the passing and re-passing Of
carriages both difficult and uncomfo,table
These inconveniencies however, vii, % .0ms.
what remedied BY the wear and ssre Il lin.
and travel Near the Frederick line ~.
pike ceases. when we were thrown upon |
pretty clever specimen Of Virginia dirt road
more frequently stone and rock than anything
else, over which VIC tumbled distance Of s
or 8 miles to Winchester, where we arrived
just in time for sumptuous dinner at Tay-
lors. A thirty mile ride, under such circum-
stances, you can easily imagine whettad the
appetite considerably, and prepared US to do
full justice to the sasory dishes and delicate
dainties so abundantly and elegantly present
ed at this plendid house. Our arrival here
was greeted by several Berkeley friends with
whom we passed some pleasant moments
when we again took up the line Of march over
better road. passing through section Of
country remarkable for beauty and fertility,
to Strasburg point on the Manassas Gap
Rail Road, circumstance to which it owes
its only Importance. The country surropd-
ing this village is various lin places broken,
billy, and less inviting to the eye of the farmer
than almost any other portion Of Shenandoah
County We reached this village late in the
evening Of the day ofour departure, and OBJ
tanned accommodations at tho only Inn the
place affords, but cannot recommend it, cspe
cially for lodging purposes, as the scarcity Of
room Or some other cause brings you in con
tact with strange bed fellows, whose restless
habits, untiring industry. and slceplcss yigi
lance joined to the finest and most env;able
social qualities. drive sleep from the weary
eye lid and keep the whole frame in some
thing like perpetual motion, For more sat
istactory information on this point the cur
ious reader is referred to Mr.. d., who enjoy
ed more Of their intimacy aud delightful So
cicty than the rest of the company. and of
course is better acquainted with their virtues
and merits
August 18th we ar SC early. and without
breakfast, resumed and continued our jour-
ney through rough. broken. and rather un-
slightly country, until we approached the
"Steenburg Bottoms on the Shenandoah,
which are by far the most beautiful low
grounds we had ever seen. Much Of tLem
was covered with the most uxuriant growth
of corn, and an average yield Of so bushels
per acre would be reasonable estimate Of
their product this season They are in the
highest degree fertile in every species Of grain,
an6 prove not less adapted to wheat Tan
corn. and producing the most astonishing
yield of hay generally two crops per season
- high ricks of which stand in every drec-
ton over the extensive fields. TO the eye of
person accustomed to our harder and rough
er and less prolific soils, these bottoms pre-
sent sight well calculated to arouse his envy
and cupidity. and make him Sigh for bet
ter lot" They are 50 highly priced that
500 per acre could not purchase them
Formerly this cutirc body Of land bclopgtd to
"Stecnborge. the great cattle drover;" but
latterly they have been divided and subdivi-
dcd, until the original 1900 acre tract is cut
into number of farms They are near two
miles wide where the pike crosses, which we
supposed to be their greatest breadth After
leaving them, the country resumes its general
upland character. We reached Woodstock
about 10 o'clock---eat hearty breakfast
took hasty glance at the town. which is
quite ancient, dilapidated and unintercsting,
the Court House and Jail are plain. substan-
tial structures. and the private buildings gen.
orally frame. very few brick. After leaving
'h'' 'o"" ehO Soo"siJ o"u iaiWiuS fupiuty
improve. every thing begins to brighten. aud
at New Market, very beautiful village, not
far from the Rockingham line, the landscape
is enchanting the lands fertile and finely
cultivated Welay in this village over night.
and had the qualification of meeting with L.
G. Esq Of Berkeley, who, with his family,
was on his way to Rockingham.
August 18th, left this place late in the
morning and proceeding rapidly on through
a delightful country. arrived at Harrisonburg
in the evening of the same day. The Court
was in session here. and the town alive with
busy and busting people. Like its neighbor,
Woodstock. this town. with the exception of
a few buildings, is an old, indifferent looking
place, and presents an unpleasant contrast to
the rich. smooth and beautiful country by
which it is IN every direction surrounded -