Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-06-30


ssto the south-west. is magnificent latter
Epresestisg vista Of several miles up deep
sssgprge gradually growing narrower--the for \
%irer birds eve view Of deep winding
6froug bounded by mountain ridges Of great
elevation
a Three miles up Crab-trce Creek is cut
3l0S feet deep through rocky spur Of the
mountain.
\ Ali the way up Savage river ard Crabtree
SCreek, II miles the road is hung upon the
rugged and uncultivated mountain side--but
7 from Swanton to the Altamous Summit, 3 or
miles, it ascends along the fat bottom Of
a beautiful valley Of gentle slopes passing
Zone or two pretty farms.
4 "Altamont" the eliminating point Of the
Nine, at height Of 2.G25 feet above tide wa.
+ ter at BALTIMORE The dividing between
3the Potrmac and Ohio waters is passed by a
Hong open cut Of upwards Of 80 feet IN depth
The Great Back Bone mountain, now pass.
ed, towers up on the left hand and is seen
At every opening in that direction.
The "Glades," which reach from "Alta
4mont" to Cranberry Summit. - miles -
4The Glades are beautiful, natural meadows,
5lying along the upper waters Of the Youghi
Sogeny river,
This is fine grazing country and celebra-
&ted for its Butter.
The forest foliage was not developed giving
anidea ofthe late spring in this high country
The village of Oakland, GA miles from
4Cumberland.) nwely land out and showing a
respectable number Of frame houses.
A short distance from Oakland we cross
Ethe great Youghiogcny river by a viaduct Of
atimber and iron--a single arch of $50 feet
Hspan resting on stone abutments. The site
: of this fine structure is wild I; the river run
|&ning here in woody gorge.
The crossing Of the Maryland and Virginia
boundary lne--60 miles from Cumberland
Tho Cranberry Swamp Rummit, (63s
= milcs from Cumberland.) at the bead of Snow,
aCrcck. falling into the Youghiogcny, also oil
3Salt Lick creek emptying into Cheat rive.
! A village shows its beginnings here.
4 The descent of IL miles, to Cheat river
Hpresentng rapid succession Of very heavy
Excavations and embankment and two tun.
Hnels viz: the McGuire tunnel of 500. an(
Etlc Rolcmer tunnel Of 400 feet in laGgth
Asecarcd by heavy timbers preparatory to ar
ksching with brick There is also a stone and
Eiron yiaduct over Salt Lick creek so feet spar
ard 80 feet high
Cheat river, dark rapid mountain rive
Whose waters are Of a curious "affec colore'
khue. owing it is said, to its rising II. forc-.
s&of laurel ard black spruce on tie lighcs
= mountain levels Of that country This stran
bis crossed by viaduct consisting of twt
|sarchcs $50 and 80 feet span Of timber ant
ssnsiron on stone abutments and pier
n We next pass some tremendous cliffs il
k,thc mountain side, the read winds along
apreciptous slope with heavy cutting, fllin,
Esand wallng Tine road at length leavec th,
y riYer which when we soc for the last time lay
$500 feet below us Here, at so miles from
we enter thu great western cca
Hfeld having passed out of Cumberland felt
Iss1at 35 miles from that place
81 Dccending somewhat from Cass;dy's ridge am
s3passng by high embankment over the Brush,
ssFofk of Prnglcs run, the line reaches tb
s7Kingwooa tunnel Of 100 feet in length the long
Fsest finished tunnel in America 1t is though
aeompact slate rock oVerlaid in part BY good lime
n ono roof and ,or the rest gifts length it is ben
%sHppor'e lby timbcring preliminary TO brick arch
E4flL- ihtItiFc tNV i'tE VNts ~ cibu ttf.
Estho tunnel IL was worked from the two ends, an
sSGrom three shafts IS AMI 20 feet square and IS
Effect deep The greatesf height of the ridge owe
Ia he tunnel is 220 feet. he inc employed on til
tsvorll was about two yeaYs and eight months, an
Elthc number OF cubic yards removed from the tnri
kanel was about 90 geo together with about llo,o0
Hyqrds ofearth and rock on side OF he tunnel. max
E M some eco 900 yards in all The tunnel hi
ssbeen named from Kingwcoi, the county seat 0
Eapreston county, Va, which stands few miles Of
Eson the same ridge
~ Because Of +falln in the tunnel we were no
"a ,hle to pass though The train was taken over III
Esridge mp a grade OF over 500 feet to the mile,
u We now pass along the valleys Of Rae
aon and Three Forks creek 10 Tygarts vale
Eriver where the Rail,oad 10 Parkershurg vii
Edivulgc from chat to y feeling l0l miller iron
1his point is 105 miles frot
fredericksburg aud 90 from Itheelnig Tw
n miles further on is the village Of Fetterna
"a A mile and half above Fairnount til
MTygarts Valley liver and the Vest Fork riv
Eser unite to form the Monongahela the frs
Ebeing the larger Of the two continents
a A quarter Of mile below their junctio
Mthe railroad crosses the Monongahela upon
Mviaduct $50 feet long and 80 feet above 10,
fywater surface
N We arrived at Paramount about Q o'cloc
Hand were received by an immense crowd wit
= every demonstration ofjoy that it was pos
siblc for the people to manifest Farmou
His the county seat of Marion county, an
Palatine, OIL the opposite side of the river
s,mako together populons and nourishin
Hplacc beautifully situated on the banks Q
ssthis noble stream which is navigabe f.
tesmboats from Pittsbarg at certain stage
gof the wafer.
N Immediately upon our arrival. our compa
My. with large numScr Of the citizens Q
@Fairmount and the neighbo;ing towns sa
Blown to most sumptuous dinner furnishe
Eby the Rail Road Company, and got up u
b der tho supervision of Guy, the celebrate,
z caterer, of Baltimore. Dinner being fin
Eshed, then came ''feast Of reason an,