Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-09-19
Notes by the Wayside,

NOEt4 ESoSSAn HfHnCh We WAN
to see If we could look upon the 'benevo-
len. face Of dollar or Ga pleasure
we had almost despaired Of enjoying in this
locality. Our route lay through Highland,
Pocahontss, Randolph, Epshur, Lewis and
Braxton, il all Of which counties we had
more or less business, and in which we were
shout as successful as printers generally are
who go money hunting, We collected about.
enough to pay expenses. Such are the
beauties Of the credit system, tist wish i
considerable debt due us in both sections of
the State, sufficient amount cannot be had
10 meet the ordinary demands Of living and
Office expenses, and we do hope that this in
timation will induce many to dc justice to
Us in this particular
The rapid growth and clearing up Of the
counary through which We passed, is the
frst thing that will strike tue attention Of
the traveller In the county of Highland
the advances in Improvement are rapid
that beautiful slope of country around the
aourishing little village of Mcdowell, the
residence of our respected friend, Col Geo.
W. Hull, bears ample testimony to the in
dustry Of the people-within ashort distance
of the village very handsome brick church
has been erected, at once an heaor and a
credit to the intelligence and Eberality of
the nclghborhood. Mr.. Felix Hull is also
having erected fue brick dwelling in Nc
Dcwell, while other improvements of less
note are being made. Off into the interior
Of this noble little county, as far MS the eya can
reach from the plain below or the height a.
bove, farms are spreading out and aea., farz.
houses erected. Monterey, the coauty seat
is q fourislling little village, with two no
tells, an excellent academy, church, seye-
raj stores, besides various mechanic shops,
and private dwellings.
In Pocahontas, particularly that portion
Of it lying on Greenbrier River, the lands
are exceedingly fertile, and in high state
of cultivation-the growing crops of corn
promised a most abundant yield, though
some fears were entertained that an early
frost might check the growth. On one field
of about twenty acres, we inquired the num-
Der of shocks Of oats thereon, as they SEEM
ed SO numerous, and were informed Coo
this would be regarded a good yield in the
Valley-we observed, however, in another
portion Of this county several fields of oats
jet quite green, and which we thought the
frost might reap before the sower. Leay-
ing Greenbrier River. you soon begin to
ascend the everlasting Cheat and slowly
wind ynnr way mp to its craggy summit
On either hand the scenery is grand beyond
description and can but impress one with
the power and wisdom Of the Divine krchi-
tect--the interminabie forest with its lofty
growth of timber whose tops seem to pcne-
tgate the clouds is an object of wonder. while
the deep and frightful chasms a Thousand
feet below your elevation ell the mind With
ave. The poet must have had some such
scene in contemplation when he said
"In those deep sotudes and awful cells,
Where heavenly, pensive Melancholy d.e,is,
And everlasting silence reigns'"
For certainly no human foot has ever trod
these wilds--only the scream of the panthe.
reverbcrates through this dreary solitude. az
he roams gloomily along in quest Of prey.
while the hooting of the owl is returned in
hollow echoes as he shoots across the gloom
as if to avoid its~loneliness. Still it is worth
the trip to cross Cheat Mountain-at this
late season blackberries were in abundance
and We ate plentifully OF them on its very
top-but one could not afford to go so far tc
gather this wild fruit-though the traveller
would be amply repaid in the grandeur. and
sublimity of the scenery. At the foot Of
Cheat Mountain you enter Tygar.'s Valley
most lovely and inviting country. Of some
miles in extent, and if one is not reminded
of the Happy Valley" described in Rassc-
las, he is at least impressed with the idea
that Happiness may be found here, because
Of the appearance of neatness, comfort and
plenty everywhere to be seen. This Valley
is in the county Of Randolph, and extends
from the foot Of Cheat Mountain beyond
Beverly, in length, we suppose, some 80
miles.
The lands around Beverly are Of good
quality and in a good state of cultivation
indeed. the county of Randolph seems to be
improving as rapidly as the neighbouring
counties--farms being laid out in every drec-
ton. A few miles beyond Beverly, our old
friend. Sam Crane, ESQ, the mem her elect
to the Legislature. and who cnse spoke of
'ainging the Allegheny into the Potomac
with his teeth" if his distriea didn't give a
Democratic majority, is openiag.vp q very
fine farm, on which he has erected fac
Saw Mil, which, however. had sustained
some damage from recent heavy rainss
Buckhannon, the cosnty seat Of Upshur
which was nearly destroyed by fire about
two years ago, has risen like phoenix from,
its ashes. and now presents scene of indus