The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-06-12
Correspondence Of The Cecil Wing.
LETTER FROM THE WEST.


Election in Vlrg,nia-E Extension of the
b. 8. O. Rnilroad-Prices of Land
Freshets in The WeSt-.4merican inter-
eSts, SC.
PAhKERsBuRG, Va, May %, '52.
MEssRs. EplToRs:-Owing to the So
|iciiation of friends, desiring to be inform
ed of my observations made in touring
through different sections of the country,
have concluded, in order to save time
in complying with their requests, to tres
pass a little on your columns.
! Having passed through Pittsburgh,
! Pa, Wheeling, Va, | am now in Park
ershurg;-and yesterday had an oppor-
tunity of seeing an election held in the
"Old Dominion, (which was the first
under the new Constitution. They
elect, as in Maryland, nearly all their
officers by vote Of the people, but they
do not vote by ballot as in Maryland,
but ripa roce. The voters name is an
nounced, ticket handed to an officer;
when sheriff or deputy calls out who for
Judge &C., who is answered by the Off
Ger held n the ticket All thenames being
read, the question is asked, sis that you,
vote I" There seemed to be - or ii
clerks, we supposed one for each office
for which there were candidates. The
process of voting was slow, but as soon
as the election was closed, by footing up
the votes the result was at once ascer-
tanned. Tickets were not preserved.
The people of Parkersburg are very
sanguine in reference to the proposed
branch of Bait * Ohio r. K. being made
to that point. Their anticipations being
SO great that they are at a loss how
large price to place on property. We
were informed that town lot near the
Court House, little over 40 feet by
70 would bring $4,000. The very high
prices asked for lots has prevented
capitalists from locating. Timbered
land, sell from 81 to SIS, but not.
withstandlng those low prices,-propri.
etors of saw mills inform me that it was
cheaper for them to buy logs at the
prices they usually sold for, than to pur.
chase lana and get timber off.
The high freshets carried away most
of the mills, along the Ohio, and the
river at some points was 60 feet above
low water mark. Most of the towns
along its banks had water in the houses
from l to 4 feet in lower story, and some
small houses in the less elevated loca.
ton were covered to the root. Boats
were in great requlsition. The liability
OF what are termed the "bottom lands"-
which are the most beautiful and pro.
ductive | ever saw-to be overlooked
appears to be great draw back along
many OF the western streams. The
western portion of Va, is mostly hiliy;
such portions can be bought low. Per-
sons not afraid of hard work, and willing
to endure privations are the ones suita.
Bile for settlers. 1t is considered very
healthy. Numerous curiosites IN the
way of springs abound. A we'll about
7 miles from Parkersburg, is gaining
considerable notoriety, in curing dispep-
tics.
In conversing with some wool grow
ers from Ohio, who had been procuring
some improved breed of sheep, we were
informed, that gentleman from Wash.
ington county, Pa, received a premium
at the "World's Fair" for the finest wool
exhibited. If this be true, which we
have have no reason to doubt, why do
we 60 to France and England for fine
wooden goods? Are the Yankees really
inferior woskmenl This subject to
some of your readers might have caused
query, had they not already been in