Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-01-14
Fran he National lateliigsneer.
THE CHEAT RIVER, VIRGINIA.

In Hurpere flagaZiuc ioF De'o'"o9'
there is a very interesting article on the
subject of the scenery oflhis river. The
sketches are by first rale artists, and
the description, if the same hand. that
10 Yields the pen with as much skill as
the pencil. Few imagined that 40 had
near uu SO great wonder of nature as
the falls of tho Black Fork Of Cheat
River, which descend five or six hun.
dred feet in q number Of successive
leans, and are as great curiosity as the
falls Of Tequendama, in South Amcri'
ca. The whole of the Allegheny range
TO Georgia, contains remarkable scene.
~ and no mountains afford finer sub.
i.cts for the tourist aud artist. Corres
DO Sierra, called tho Cherokee country,
!, the Tuscany OF America! There is a
very remarkable fall in Harbersham
COUNT, which believe has mover been
described.
The country on the Cheat river,
which contains the Falls Of Black Fork
;s almost a wiIlerness.--Thers is dis
uict of OF least forty miles by twenty in
Randolph county. Inhabited only by
hears, deer aud other wild aaimals,-
| | AMI informed i, belongs 10 the Ran
dolph family, and may shortly be bro''
into market by sale for taxes. A por'
Of it is beautiful country, formed by
the streams which descend the slopes
of the Allegheny mountains to the river
The magnificent timber, chiefly white
oak, so important ia western steamboat
building, comes directly from the Cheat
river. /, ubuunds in coal and iron ore
The Monongahela ut Morganlown, d.
vides the liver which retains the name,
coming from tho South the other, the
Cheat, which is the main stem. retains
the general course, passing through q
.ingularly picturesque mountain re-
rinn, YET with much fertile land well a
daptei to cultivation. The character
offs picturesque is well known here
Two Of our native artists, McClurg aud
Wall, made an excursion there last sum
mcr, for the purpose of sketching. The
frs, is an historical painter, who has the
best opportunities for study in Europe.
in cultiya,ing his eminent talents. Mr.
| Wall is exclusively devoted to land
.capc painting, and will say withou,
hesitation. that in representing Amer
can scencry lie has no superior, ii he has
an equal in the United States. From
sketches taken by him last summer, he
has executed several exquisite views or
the Cheut riverand neighboIins streams
| cannot but feel regret that he is no
better known out of his own village
One Of his own pictures, if exhibited ii
New York and Philadelphia, woul'
produce o sensation. He has taken ;
high rank among American artists, ane
all,hat is wanting to cause his talents t'
be every where appreciated, as they arr
here, is to see his pictures and compare
them with those Of other artists.
| am OF course partial to my owl
country; yet, after seeing many othe
lands, ! think this region round thu
head Of, Ohio one Of the most dcsir
able and beautiful on the globe. Ii
picturesque beauty it cannot be surpas
sed; and where is there one superior t
it in health, minerals, agricultural nd
vantages. and in its clima'el Its valley
and bill tops are equally fertile, and wa
tered every where byriyulets Il streams
| believe it is the best watered counlr,
in the world; and in state of nature
when covered with its magnificent for
ests Of oak, walnut. hickory, sugar tree
covering the whole surface--aboundin
with every species Of game aud fish
it mus, have been delightful sbod
for tho hunter. remember, when
boy, tina, deer and wild turkeys were s
abundant that they were hardly ranke
among articles Of food. and were cate
on accoun. of tho comparative scarci'
of pork and beet. Eut things are wol
dcrfu!ly changed. At this time q vii
turkey is curiosity; and we have ven
son brough, to US FIVE hundred miles b
railway frnm Illinois and Michigan
with frosh fish every day from the lake
and oysters in the shell from Baltimor'
, And yet like the memory Of the oil
lines better than our present advant'
ges, which others will regard as an an
pie compensation.
HIS. BRECKENRIDGE.