The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-11-21

nothing Of the circumstances of the case. The
body lay IN the road ali day and night before an
inquest WAS held over Il The unfortunate IA An
has left widow and several children. The ann.
posed murderer has abscsnded, and q reward has
been offered by Governor Wise for his apprehen-
sion. PrT
coRREsPosDENcE OF THE DISPATCH
RITcHTE COUNTY, November ID, 1856.
While You have many correspondents in other
sections OF the State, It s but seldom that End
letter from this part OF the Northwest.
Perhaps no one leaves Richmond for this quarter
without taking the circuitous route by way of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad NV purpose was %
go to Wheeling and descend the Ohio to Ravens.
wood, and enter the Northwest in this way Bnt
while on the cars yesterday, with ticket for
Wheeling in my pocket learned to nv great
regret that there was no water in the O6ioenot
enough at least to float the smallest boat ON the
western waters. 1t seems that the tremendous
floods of rain which visited Richmond and its
vicinity on the 80 and 4th instants, did not extend
over the State, as was supposed by many per.
sons
Finding it impossible to descend the Ohm
remembered having seen it announced more Than
once in your paper. that there was line of sta ee,
running to Parkersburg, in connection with the
unfinished branch of the Baltimore and Wheeling
Road Upon making inquiries on the cars yester
day, this report was confirmed and concluded.
upon consultation with friend to be put Down at
Grafton Station, ninety nine miles this side of
Wheeling. and endure a stage for fifty miles. the
distance from West Union to Parkersburo At II
o'clock P. NJ we were put down at Grafton. or the
Parkersburg Junction, as it is called
This said Grafton is, by the way one of the
newest towns have ever seen. Most of the houses
are not yet built, though from the amount of
building materials over which stumbled, I think
1t fair to presume will be finished some of these
days There are one or two large machine shops
in process of erection; one fiae hotel built of
best Baltimore brick, besides numberIess smaller
private establishments The hotel is being built
by the Company, and was informed that q rent
of 81 800 had been already refused Seeing by
the moonlight such prospect for town, began
to think OF speculation, and inquired the price of
land per acre There are really very few good
sites for building in the town. The valley through
which the road passes at this point is very narrow
and the surrounding bills quite high and steep: 1
say began to think of making my fortune in a
few years But Judge my surprise when in reply
to the inquiry above mentioned, was informed
that the lots were not in acre, but quarter acre
sections and that these ranged from 800 to $500
each This land, q few years ago would have been
gladly sold for $3 per acre. Such is the wondrous
Transforming influence of railroads While speak
ing of the enhanced valuc of land in this quarter
WAS shown farm on the road in Taylor county
of 700 acres, with a small house upon it, worth
suppose $500 at the Utmost, for which $l4 600 had
been recently refused must confess felt some
thanks for this greatly enhanced value of the
property of my fellow citizens were due not to
Virginia, but to her less powerful but more enter
prising sister
You have, know, warred long and hard for a
more generous policy upon our part, and hope
you have not striven in vain When q man
speaks here of Richmond he must say "Richmond
Ha }" but no such affix is needed to locate Balti
more. Indeed one can scarcely help feeling that
he must be in Maryland. and not in Virginia. But
IN Croffn Afforr II
fore large coal fire in the midst of the goods
was shown to a room of by TO- with two beds
in it, one feather and the other straw. Choosing
the latter, slept soundly till 5, when 1 was sum
moned to breakfast, and very good one too
faretfor lodgings l2 cts, and breakfast 25 cents
While taking breakfast, was disturbed by the
cries of little boy in an adjacent room, suffer.
ing from inhammatory rheumatism, and was for
chilly reminded of the fact that in this life there is
no position, no condition, however peculiar and
isolated, where mankind can escape from suffering
and death.
The cars left Grafton at o'clock, and "
surprised to find one coach very well filed with
passengers. i had expected to have the car
almost to myself. This Is an accommodation train
its main object is to carry iron and stones to the
workmens on the road One coach Is attached for
the way travel This road, as yet, passes through
Taylor and part of Doddridge only; and l was
surprised to see its effects upon the country
already lAlmost all the land on the road is cleared
up. The land is hilly, but very good; it produces
fine wheat, and will indeed produce almost any.
thing. The hills are cultivated generally to the
top.
The road is well made, and must have been very
expensive There are numerous heavy cuts, and
in the 60 miles travelled there are or very con.
siderable tunnels. / don't think have ever ira
yelled in this country over GO miles of expensive
a road. They are laying the road at the rate of .
mile day. and it will be finished to Parkersburg
hx fho az nf a n
of the water in the Ohio, it would be now finished
The company had commenced laying the iron at
both ends but had to stop at the Western terminus
for want of iron.
On arriving At West Union, the present termi.
nus of the road, we at once sought for some con-
veyauce to take us to Parkersburg, but finding
but one vehicle in the town. and that the price de-
manded for its three days to be almost as much
as it was worth, bona fde, we concluded we would
90 TO dinner and ruminate over our difficulties
there. But while discussing with much energy
very capital forty cents dinner, we were informed
that the iron train would 60 on IL miles beyond
West Union, and that we had better 60 as far As
possible by the cars, and take our chances Tor
private conveyance further on. Some ten OF us
soon piled ours elves and baggage hurredy upon the
iron train, properly so called. The engineer had
the good manners and COED sense to push US rather
than pull US, and hence we we're not - black q ne
was when we got to the end Of the line we all
had, however, the full benefit of pure mountain
air, as we were pushed along those twelve miles
Seated upon kegs of nails and surrounded by sides
of fresh beef &C., we felt if we we're really pio
neers in railroad travel
Just before we reached the terminus OF the road,
we discovered what seemed to be = long train OF
passenger cars; but upon coming nearer, we iound
that they were the work shops, Offices and sleepmg
and dining saloons Of the workmen. These curious
structures are larger than the ordinary coacnes,
are built in cottage STYLE with Gothic WINDOWS,
with table and rude berth, for an hundred men
The Office of the Engineeris well carpeted ana Is
really comfortable. Above the top OF the front
car If may 90 call IT, is seen floating IN the breeze
the star spangled banner always feel strangely
when come suddenly upon the stars and stripes
and today my heart swelled with emotions OK
pride or patriotism. saw II once ~ Unexpectedly
In distant country, and with my hat of and my
heart fall, 81 thanked God and took courage
The triumphs of mechanics are a. glorious e. those
of arms. Her trophies are far more benehcent
and enduring looked upon our tag at the head
of this pioneer train, and loved to LOOK at T..
felt that could that man who bore II aloft with his
giant arms in its helpless infancy, have seen Il
here in these wds, bis heart would re dice ard be
glad Day after day does this glorious hsg pene-
trats dseper and deeper into these western wilds
Would TO God thai tie holy zeai and patriotism OF
ifs earliest defenders might sipk deeper aad oseper
into every American heart
But, Mr.. Editor. had no idea OF r,oraiizins.
assure you, and viii row bring my lors letter 70 q