Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1852-08-12
a TRIP WESTWARD.

I'VE have had within The last few days, OF seeing
for onrself this triumph Of enterprise and aEt oFer
all the barriers Of nature, we formed no adequate
conception Of tie grandeur Of the design or the
difficulties of lis completion.
Through the kind intervention Of our friend |
Mr.. SAMUEL. CAMERON, the Land Agent Of the |
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company, we, To-
gether with cur neInhbor of the = Free Pfess.''
were given carie.bldflc, and passel scett-free
ia matter Of paramount consider-tioD1 from Har
pefs.Ferry TO the Ohio River leaving the point
Of orr embarkation (HarPe. Ferry al II 4 NJ,
the iron horse glided smoothly along over his
now old beaten TREK to Cumberland, 10 about
Jour hours. az lich point passengers fram The
East dine This 100 miles presents bu, little Of Z
lnteTssi and the, points even of any general i'm
pr. .ance are TOO familiar 10 our readers to need
any special reference. As soon as possible, din
ner must be deyoured and the shrlll whistle 81
the locomotive quick announces that the '.car OF
empire" moves westward, hos Comfortably
seated, we bid adieu TO the " Mountain City" its
majestic bills, its rocks upon rocks piled moun-
tain high and with lightning speed pass through
beautiful valley in our approach 70 the hist
chain OF the Atlerhanes- The Railroad Bridge
a, Cumberland is matter Of attraction, being
beautiful structure Of brick work. From Cum
berland to Piedmont, % miles, the scenery isfe.
uaikably piciuresque-perhap muclasso as
upon any other section of The read ofeimilar
I length, For thei6rst % miles, 10 The mouth Of
New Creek, the knobiy mountains bound the
| valley Of the north tranch o. the Potomac on the
/ lef. hand going west, and Wills and Dams noun,
tains on the tight-lhence to Piedmont the river
/ lies in the gap whctEit has cut through the lat
/ ter mountain. As We were unable however,
in The hurried trip which we were max ne, TO
| note down with any degree Of accuracy many.
points Of attraction on The route Of the road,
TO obtain such statistical facts as would properly
set forth the stuPendous. character Of the work
we present the following summary Of some Of
/ the points bt interest as noted By anoh her, assur
inc our readers taatin even this, The haltiis not
| told: 4
The crossing Of te Potomac from the Maryland to the
Virginia shore. 81 miles from Cumberland where the
railroad, after passing through long and deep excara
ton spans the river by bridge of TIMBER and iron
stone abutments ard picr The view at this point,
both up and down the riycr Is very fac
We come<tp Piedmont, a Hat Of limited extent
opposite hesmall hut ancient village of Wcscmport
), the mouth Of Georges Creek. Here the company
point, las it, name expresses 10 surmoaat the great
s.amit dividing tho eastern aud western waters There
I! already erected lrge and handsome engine house d
circular FORM the walls Of brick and the ropi q IRONS up
on new design, cambining lightness with strength and
! perfectly fire proof
AYest Of Piedmont the road ascends II miles BY i
grade, Of which miles is at the rate Of ll6 feet per
] mile to tha g Aitamont' Summit.
4 Between Piedmont and Altamont may ncsce the
mac river where the road recrosscs into Maryland 1t
is substantial and handsome structure and elevated 50
feet above the water.
The cabins Of the workmcn in this primitive country
arccf the rudcst possible construction Some Of them
being piles of sticks and mud with barrel for
their chimney Oae of these about three miles from Ey
erctts tunnel, apparently about fifteen By twenty feet,
which stands hg up on the side Of Of these grand
hills was pointed to us as the residence Of Hon Frank
Thomas. Of Frederick MIR T. has been lining in tho
cabin about Is mouths He has cleared small portion
Of the land about NJ and labors hard with his own hands,
visiting Frederick occasionally on business
Here the rSad winds gradually up the mountain sidc,
feet above the water
Nothing can exceed the beauty and grandeur of lthc
immense hills this point Some Of them reach alt-
tude Of than Thousand feet-thcir broad sides
covered with the rich green foliage of the season
Among the points Of interest may be mentioned the
mouth Of Crabtree creek, where the road the
flank Of the Back Bone mountan-from this point. the
view on Savage river TO the NORTH and Srabiree creek
TO the southwest Is magnificent the latter presenting
vista tcycral miles up deep gorge gradually grow
ing Rarrower-the former birds eye view Of a deep
winding through bounded by menntain ridges 't Fcal
Poi,' NY odu Is huhs upon inc rugged and
49,. ~ lp.psaih out from oWantoh 10 the
.ta seb uree or lour miles, II ascends along
- l ~ peautiiai Faiiey oil gentle slopes, pas
9'I & SIt,S = ~ P H. itnrtns
4 ~ Iuliia.ihg POINT OF me Inc, at
~ E,o@g lsfl auofe uae wafer 81 Baitimorc-thc
i me rptotnac and ONO waters tls
rh 60 R I. GUT q o. " iset IA depth
~, M lstt - III 'II.l. now passed, lowers up
,;o : -s' u y oFh y every opening IN mat d.
IT, ~, !,
:. g. h VIZ" =. to lTach from - Aitamont 70
sol -. - .9"iilit' mites Inc @iades are beau
~, lu = ylhy along the upper waters OF
- Ici any us numerous Tributaries, d.
- ffus gsnsraly o. moderate elevation and gen
ronI r. ~ rl a'e ise u mountains IN me back
s.; ." na'e inihef SVs arms winch MIKE
p'u4s1ls rom their valleys, and AFFORD beau
~. ristIs = .I airectqhs Ihcir 'erdqre Is pecui
r '' e anu .ne streams watering them are
go, e'ti0ss h purify ana AROUND IN INC brook
uoT ~. ro
- i"'u GUT anu showing respectable number Of
/ III IA - onas;,a r. i, /. -. wat.
o.is u ihe great ooSalogehy river by wa
ivy; y ioeI ana IRON single arch OF lSo lsct span
NS ~ on etoAe 'aOutihsues'
he sIosshg o. '9e and Virginia boundary
my ~ y 5 1870 ,o. s - :I
I y 70 = me- 70 ohea. river presenting a.
t nd t y ~ ana emeank
I anu tMo tunnels, Ne inc Mcclure tnnnel Of 300,
aa .e shee ci . i0o Icel "a ehgth, secured by
,rhy nADS,s Psspa".ols 70 aEcnllg WIN Drick:-
49, - t ieo 9tohe anu roh Flaaact ever SAT- LICK
,hro,sh - 49, ft ~ ~ g. - n'su' ne iasl passes
ISbsat -; 49, : 49, - 100,
ters are Of cnrors 49, cnl4 h a. =, Sose wa
- lie risny II foyasts III Ia,, 80, II ~, = y sau'
highest mSantan levels Of thar ,r "a .Ge
crose3 II, ,.,atlhc, cS - 5 y" ise ~ v
feet snan af tnbr AMI rn ~ 10y anu lou
pier The masoary--bult from qnarv close Il hand
The ascent Of the Cheat river h-whch is decidedly
the mos; imposing section OF the whole liaethe difficult
ties encountered the four miles west Of the crossing
the river being gate appainghe read winding I'M The
slope Of Laurel hsll and spurs with the rycr9aad m
the right hand first the rayine Of Kver's run rs
feet deep, by solid emhankmrn-thcn after cutting
along steep, rocky hill Sides 1T reaches Buckeye bo
Ian tlta1 tbEss4 f. ~