The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-26

the old Cum berland and Clafksharg road crosses,
the first wagon road Of the country sfter the
pack horse had given place to the wheeled vehi-
Gle.
All the way up savage river and Crabtree
creek, IL miles to this point, the road 10 hung
upon the rugged and uncultivated mountain
side-but from Swanton to the AltamOnt SUM-
init, or 4 miles, it ascends along the fiat bot
tom Of beautiful valley Of gentle slopes, pass
ing one or two pretty farms.
"Altamont," the eliminating point OF the line,
at height OF 3 626 feet above Underwater at Bal
timore-the dividing ridge between the Poto-
mac and Ohio waters-is passed by long open
cut of upwards of 80 feet in depth. The Great
Backbone mountain, now passed, towers up on
the left hand and is seen at every opening in
that direction.
The "Glades," which reach from "Altamonp
to "Cranberry summit"-l9 miles-the "Glades"
are beautiful, natural meadows, lying along the
upper waters of the Youghiogeny river, and its
numerous tributaries, divided by ridges gener-
ally ofmoderate elevation and gentle slope, with
fine ranges of mountains in the back ground.
The glades have numerous arms which make
charming expansions Of their valleys, and afford
beautiful vistas in many directions. Their
verdure ia peculiarly bright and fresh and the
streams Altering them are of singular clearness
and purity, and abound in fine brook trout. The
forest foliage was at this date (June 22) still
/ imperfectly developed, giving an idea of the
lateness of the spring in this high country.
Numerous herds of young cattle were OBJ
served feeding on these natural pastures, here
and there house, at long intervals, breaking
the monotony Of the scene. slight rain fell
as we passed the gaoes, very usual thing at
all times in this high latitude.
At half past | l o'clock We reached the Oak
lands. Il beautiful little village "a miles west of
Cumberland. 1t is newly laid out, and already
shows a respectable number of good frame
houses From this pont,a magnificent view of
the glades in rear, and the far off noun
tains. was obtained All the people of this see
ton of the country appeared to have turned out
to greet US, and Oaklands never presented Il
livelier scene. The Blues band gave them sam
pies of their fine music, much to their delight.
Away off on mountain slope, at a "clearing,"
several females were seen waving their hand
kerchefs, and our party gave them cheers, which
may have been dimly heard in the distance We
! left Oaklands with hearty reciprocal cheers.
| Flags were displayed here az Mt other places on
the route.
The crossing of the great Youghiogeny river
by a viaduct Of timber and iron-a single arch of
100 feet span resting on stone abutments The
site of this fine structure is wild; the river run
ming here ia a woody gorge
The crossing of the Maryland and Virginia
boundary linc---6O miles from Cumberland.
The falls Of Snowy Creek, where the road,
after skirting beautiful glade, enters a savage
looking pass through deep forest of hemlocks
and laurel thickets, the stream dashng over
large rocks and washing the side of the road
but few feet below its level.
| 20 50 u,bo
branches come together, making broad valley
west of the pass just described
The Cranberry Swamp Summit, (63i miles
from Cumberland at the head of Snowy Creek,
falling into the Youghiogeny, also of Salt Lick
Creek emptying into Cheat river. A village
shows its beginnings here. The ground on the
margin of the road is flat, Gas it's name imports,)
yet its elevation above tide water is 1850 feet
and but rs feet lower than Altamont Summit.
The descent, of IL miles, to Cheat river, pre-
sentinga rapid succession of very heavy excava-
ton and emb nkment and two tunnel, viz: the
Mcclure tunnel of 500, and the Rodemer Iun-
mel of 400 feet in length, secured by heavy tim
bers preparatory TO arching with brick. There
il also o 10 and iron viaduct over Salt Lick
Creek 500 feet span and SO feet high. The last
passes through dense forest of fir trees
Cheat river, a dark rapid mountain river whose
|
ing it is said, to its rising in forests of laurel and
black spruce OH the highest mountain levels OF
that country. This stream is cross ed by via
duet consisting Of two arches 1870 and 100 feet
span of timber and iron on stone abutments
aud pier. The masonry, built from quarry
close at hand, is remarkably substantial and well
looking.
| The ascent of the Cheat river hill This is
| decidedly the most imposing section of the
| whole lne--the difficulties encountered in the
| four miles west of the crossing of the river be-
| ing quite appaliny-the road winding up the
slope of Laurel hill and it's spurs with the river
and on the right hand, first comes the ravine of
| Kyers run 76 feet deep, by solid embank
ment-then, after bold cutting along steep, rocky
hill side, it reaches Buckeye hollow the depth
of which is lO8 feet below the level and 400
feet across at that level-some more sGe cutting
in rock ensues, and the passage of two or three
coves in the the hill side when we come to
STRAY rum and cross it $50 feet above its
original bed by line 600 feet long at the road
level Both these deep chasms have solid walls
Of masonry built across them, the foundations Of
which are on the solid rock 100 and 1870 feet re
snectively below the road height These walls
have been brought, at Buckeye hollow, to with
in as feet, and at Tray rum 50 feet of the grade,
and the track is for the present carried over them
by substantial frame of timber securely footed
upon the walls and bolted and braced in every
way conductive to strength and safety. They
have been tested now by five months constant
use with the heaviest engines and trains. They
are, however to be replaced by the time the
road is opened to Wheeling, by a cast iron via
duet, of which the plan was exhibited to us, and
which presents a most substantial appearance.
4 After passing these two tremendous clefts in
the mountain side the road winds along pre-.
cipitous slope with heavy cutting, filling and
walling, to" Buckhorn branch" wide ard deep
cove on the western flank of the mountain. This
is crossed by solid embankment retaining wall
80 feet high at its most elevated point. Some
half mile further, after more heavy cuts and fills,
the road at length leaves the decvity of tho
river which, where we see it for the last time
lays 500 feet below us, and turns westward
through low gap, which admits it, by mode
rate cutting, followed soon, however, by a deep