Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-06-02
tut llI1 IITItII8tf
Notessof trip ON the Packet Courier,
from wheeling to Grave Creek.
TnuRspaY, Nav 26. fS5s

For more than three days there has been a cold
wind from the North, Slightly by West, blowing at
intervals with real wintry herceness and closing
bya,chilling, drizzling rain like the gloomy Mo-
5yember rains of the Pacific coast Early this
morning Spring has asserted her dominion in ear
nest, and thes sun shines out gloomily the breeze
is balmy as tina, of an Italian Summer. vegeta-
ton is treshened by the recent showers, and The
hills and valleys have smiling, lovely appear
ance. The river glances in the sunbeams, and
then Just enough light feecy clouds flying through
the sky, to make the deep blue of the dome above
looksweetand peaceful rs the far-of heaven IT
images.
Precisely at 10 'clock, with promphtnde nn-
usualswith onr Western packet steamers, thellast
bell is sounded, the lines are loosened from the
shore, the planks drawn in, and the yillainous
shrll steam hstle rolls outfits demonli like shout,
are of. Passing gracefully through the chute
of Wheeling Island Bar, we soon leave the
diamond shaped point of the Island in our rear.
: Centre Wheeling and South Wheeling are passed
so rapidly, that we have not time. even five were
desirable to do so to note the varied and interest,"
ing improvements, which have procured for them
T. in their wrestling for advancement, change OF
their respective names. .s -. / "a
!. site .Benwood and Bell Air. Benwood is a town.
not yet a twelse-month old, which has been call
edinto existence by the removal of the extensive
iron and nail mills formerly located at the site OF
the Western Depot ofthe Baltimore aud Ohio rail-
road. The mill, with many changes 'front.' con-
dition in which twas at the time OF its removal
with varied additions and important improvements.
Is now in full blast. Numerous columns of thick
black smoke ascend from its stacks and chimneys,
mingled with Jets of escaping steam. Buildings
for dwellings and business houses have gone up
with wonderful speed, so that there is gathered
around these works quite small village already.
Such rapid Improvements are going on between
South Wheeling and this point, that Bensood
will shortly take its position as aSouthern suburb
ofthe Bridge City. The name was given to the
place in honor of Benjamin M,Mechen, Esq, the
former the land, and of the Oldest
and the most generally beloved citizens of this
vicinity The name pretty, and the place itself
possesses important natural advantages, andis not
destitute of pleasant scenic charms. Bell Air,
ON the Ohio shore, looks quiet and dreamy, as il
awaiting the rush of crowds destined to swarm
streets and alleys where dog-fennel and James
town weeds now hold supreme dominion. When
the locomotive whistle is heard on the eastern end
of the Central Ohio railroad, Bell Air will be nc
,unimportant point. Here we the beautiful
M'Mechen farm stretching for miles along the Viz,
ginia shore. and reaching far back into the ryel
hills. Now we have before us Pultney7 Bottom.
more lovely spot cannot be found among all the
beautiful valleys of the far famed Ohio. Now the
boat rushes by the romantic narrows opposite
Pultney Bottom. Near the foot of the naTows we
look in vain for the Rock which years ago wasin.
vested with such singular legendary interest
"Kate's Rock with its numerous quaint inscnp
tons and its storied memories, is among the oblit-
Grated way marks of the beautiful Ohio. Th,
quarter with his crow-bars, drills, sledges, wedge.
and blasting powder, has torn the ancient mass L
fragments, and the available paris are now shorr
oftheir romantic associations, and form constitu
ent portions of the abutments, parapets and archie
of railroad bridges in tins neighborhood.
The river bottom widens out again as we ap
proacn The valleys of Little andBig Grave Creeks
And now the FLATS are in full view, where car
be found greater natural beauty than exists in thes.
celebrated levels? There is here an available are,
| for building purposes of superior advantages
What fine expanse ofihigh, dry and fertile lands
What gentle slopes. What lovely knobs. How
convenient and easy the natural gradesl The tai
hills about the flats form beautiful semi-circle
and resemble, at the Spring time of the year, an
emerald wall embracing the lovely valley. The
two towns. Moundsyille and Elizabethtown seemtC
have but slight afinites for each other, and alto
gether they present struggling, disconnected ap.
pearance. Midway between them stands the Gel.
ebrated Indian Mound. This is the highest an.
Gent monument yet found in the valley Of the
tc-f,
suggestive of the vanity of earthly distinctions
The events it was intended to commemorate
or the persons it was designed to glorify- CEN
turies since faded from the recollection of man, OIL
been blotted from the worlds history. Islt moi
in wretched taste to attempt modern addition to
tbs wonderful achievement of an ancient and I'M
known face? The decaYing fragments of citcu-
lar framework on the top of the mound, seem a
shameful Dissertation of this great monument Of
buried ages. Dillie's Bottom, on the Ohio side is
beautiful pleace, and the view of it from the
Mound, as the river sweeps its circling waters
around it, is really enchanting. Alter contempla4
ting for some time with great delight the extended
and agreeable prospect from the Graye-C Creek
Mound, we moved 10 the vicinity of the Railroad
Station in time to see the Eastern train of cans
come in. While crossing The unfinished bridge
east Of the station. the piercing signal was heard
and the locomotive at a high rate of speed soon
passed under the; bridge. Being cnriousto know
whatlength Of time would be requisite for this
stoppage, a watch was held and the time accurately
noted from the moment the cars stopped until they
started again. Thewhole business at the station
was completed, and the cars were off again for
Wheeling, in precisely one minute of time. This
is, perhaps striking example of the truth of3the
remark nov SO frequently made that towns and
villages enjoy but advantages from railroads
merely passing through them-and that only those
places which become points Of; termini, can be ma
terially benefited by those wonderful improve
ments There have been, however. marked inn
proyements in Elizabethtowna and Moundsyille in
the course the past year. Properly is Of reader