Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-07-17
OPENING OF THE BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAIL
ROAD FROM CUMBERLAND TO FAIRMoNT.

ron county, Virginia, to which place the great line
of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad has been com
pleted This being the first train making the full
trip. the company determined to give the occasion a
| holyday character, and invited large number of
| gentlemen, citizens of Maryland and adjoining
States to witness the trumphs achieved in the
plishmen of this mighty not TO say unparalleled work
The gentlemen thus invited the Governor and State
officers of Maryland the Board of Public Works, officers
of other companies president and directors of the Sus
quehanna Railroad Company, the Mayor and City Coun-
ellis of Baltimore members of the public press the Drec
tors of the Company, and others Arrangements the
most ample and liberal were made for the comfort and
qualification of the party, and they carried out to
the letter.
Leaving Baltimore at clock Monday morning the
party arrived at Martnsburg about one where they par
took of sumptuous dinner spread by the hospitality Of
the company Before and after dinner the guests and
citizens Of Marnsburg envened by the sweet and
stirring strains of the Baltimore Independent Blues
Band under the dictatorship of Professor HoLLASD,
whose services engaged for the trip
On arriving at Cumberland the train was welcomed by
the firing of and other exhibitions Of popular
thusasm Here the party remained for the night cared
for by the company in the best STYLE through the
sonal attentions of WIN. McKIM, CHARLES NJ KEYsER,
At o'clock Tuesday morning the excursion train
rolled off on the track west of Cumberland passing
the fine bridge vaduct built by the company at that
place. and entered the narrow, but verdant rich
and highly beautiful Valley Of the Potomac, fanked
the right and left by elevated and compacty wooded
ranges Of the great Appalachian chanhat the right
having the specific names Of Fort Hill and Dams Noun
tain and the left the Knobly Mountain. At the pre-
of the year journey through this valley
teens with interest to the lover of nature both in its
savage and mlder features the clear and sparkling
Potomac nged with the richest verdure and most luxu
RANT foliage, having for its right bank during long dis
lance wall of perpendicular rock from whose every
vice springs tree shrub On the left spreads away
an enameled carpeting Of rich meadow and pasture
grounds very level interpreted with fields of and
wheat promising abundant harvest Along this part
of the road which has general southwestery direction
besides the wooded mountains on each hand the traveller
brings into view distant elevated mountain points beau
tfuly dyersifyng the The railroad itself is
object of interest from its obviously solid and excellent
construction, admitting very high rate Of speed
After travelling with the raj ty of the arrow twenty
miles along this charming valley, the train brings up
at point where the road the Potomac river by
means of covered bridge constructed by the company
and enters the State of Virginia: At this point the
pany have established water station and depot This
will be of the spots that in time to come will be the
home of considerable population and trade With the
new and incomparably improved circumstances in which
this district of country has been placed by the railroad it
must that forests will be felled and cleared swampy
tracts often the richest spots be drained and cultivation
multiply its products swell the tributes the increased
populations of seaboard cities and towns Some mile
and half further arrive at Paddytown, place
not appropriately named if take into consideration
laru tho
hernia bear in the population of the place Pad
Uptown has look and being surrounded with level
space capable of high cultivation, set in the midst of
forestclad mountains of exceeding majesty and beauty
might be expected become amongst the favored
spots along the track Of this great thoroughfare The
grasses and green crops growing around Paddyown
very rich and exuberant showing superior soil The
valley growing be quite between Paddytown
and Piedmont miles further on the road often
edges pretty closely to the river which here having lost
the breadth and majesty that belong to it in its lower
course and become mountain stream still amply
pensaes for the change in its sparkling purity and
busy gurgng, forcing you the irresistible conclusion
that is and must be the home of that prince of fresh
water gallants, the trout.
In day few imaginative pleasures can excel the
dervabe from ideal corporal lave amidst
those mped pools and rapids and transparent
ly breaking the rocky bottom with about noise
enough to insist your not forgetting if you could be
disposed survey the inviting before you At
many spots along these five miles there materials
put the poetic lover Of nature into thrill of enthusiastic
delight.
Piedmont, the foot Of he Mountain is very much il
not altogether result Of the enterprise of the Baltimore
| and Ohio Railroad Company. 1t contains good many
buildings and some stores and has level space left for
good many more. Its principal feature is poygona
brick structure with iron roof Of somewhat oriental
style Of architecture, built by the company within year
past and intended engine house. It is deemed by
the knowing in such matters quite plus ultra in its
way Besides this there edfce of the same family
appearance, but very much smaller, which is water
house, standing podestly behind its imposing rea
tive The watef raised into it from the river by hy-
draulc water-rams worked by the river ITSELF
rather ungracous would think whereby the Potomac
is made to effect its loss But man is tyrant that
only yrannes nature but makes her the nstru-
ment Of her own undong Piedmont is seen by this to
be designed of the principal working stations of the
company The coal trade Of this the richest part Of the
great Cumberland coal basin will concentrate here Al
ready have the Phenix Company opened mine just across
the river and are far towards the completion of the
road and bridge for connection with the railroad Of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company The Homecoming
Railroad, from q valley running up northwest is alst
nearly finished and win cross the fat at Piedmont Il
connect with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in front
the great engine house The Homecoming road will brn
down from the coal and iron mines Of the Georges Cree
Company their valuable products, which, by of tn
Il great railroad will be sent speedy to market.