American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-02-26
Correspondence Of tho American Onion"

teresting to your readers. With your
permission, l will place my jottings be-
fore them:
Let us then, kind reader, take seat
in the magnificent cars Of thc Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad, and enjoy
tho luxury Of a ride over this great
natloEal iron way. In boldncss of
engineering skill, and grandeur Of
scenery, his route stands pre-cminent;
and is lasting monument to the gen.
ius and enterprise, both of its officers
and stockholders. After rapid but
safe and delightful ride over the noun
tains, the first point We reach that de-
mands especial notice is Grafton, loca-
ted at the mouth of Three Forks creek.
Here quite Il respectable town has
grown up within the. last three years,
and is the point at which the n. W. Va.
Railroad intcrsects the Baltimore road.
Very extensive machine shops and en-
CINE houses, belonging to both roads,
have been erected i'll this place, and a
population numbering several hun
dred, finds constant and profitable en-.
ployment in the working of tho before
mentioned roads.
Sir should we forget to mention
the fact that at Grafton, the traveller
will find what Isl great rarity in these
days, on all our railroads lines, viz:
q good eating house.
The Railroad company deserves the
thanks of the travelling public for
their efforts in this respect, and here
we have fine first class hotel, erect
ed at a cost of several thousand dol
rs,-furnishcd with all the latest and
most approved appliances, --attended
by active and polite servants, and pre-
sided over by hostess, whose skill in
her department, is felt and acknowledge
ed by all who choose this route between
the East and West But we must not
larry. Our journey is toward the set
ting sun. and we are limited in time, as
this n. ". Va. Railroad is 4 compare
lively nca0 one, and through region
not very widely known; and has been
styled the underground railway, let
US resume our journey on it.
A shrill neigh from our iron horse
admonlshcs us that lie is growing res
tive, and is anxious to be of upon his
course. With another ear-dcafcning
shrek or two, and with two or three
carriages, well filled with passengers
attached to him, he bounds out of the
depot a: a furious rate. Away we 90
across bridges, over heavy cmbank'
ments, OUcr and Hnder mountains.
skirting along the sides of others at
dizzy height, while far below us stream
muvmorg on its course towards the
greater waters. We fly past the 'be-
ginnings of numerous villages with the
wings Of the wind, stopping occasion
ally only, to rcplcnish our stock Of
provender for our tireless stecd Clarks-
burg, the home of several of Virgina's
eminent jurists, the seat Of a fourishing
academy az well as the place in which
the Federal Court, for the Western
District of Virginia, holds its semi an
ucl sessions, over which Judge Brock.
cnborough presidcs with go much abil-
ity, is soon passed, and VIC still urge
our way westward. Away and away
we go-nOw plunging into n cavern,
dark, damp, and noisome-now holding
our way through long and deep cut
tings, whose ragged and jagged sides
arc in fearful proximity with our train,
and present many objects Of interest to
the geological observer, and now NOV
ing on the "cvon tenor Of our way"
across some beautiful valley, whose
lowing herds and well stored barns at
test its fertility.
But whistle more shrill. more pro
tractcd and more dcafening than all
its predecessors, announces the fact
that VIC arc nearing some point of in.
terest, and but q few minutes elapsc
before our gallant stccd promptly bears
his precious burden Of humanity into
tho depot at Parkersburg, in safcty..-
After short delay in which baggage
masters and Porters seemed to have it
all their own way, we embark on board
the good steamer "John Buck" And
now while our stern wheeler, is urg-
ing her way against the rapid current
of the ala belle Rivicrre" let us re-
turn and 'particularize' the more inter
estIng objects on our journey.
After leaving Piedmont, we enter
upon the arduous task of ascending the
Allcghcnics. For 1G miles we cling to
the mountain side, yet rising at the
rate of 1lG feet per mile. Having
reached Altamont, 1920 feet above
| tide water, and the highest point on
! the route, VIC strike out boldly into
thosn great nat.nral mcdows, familiar.