American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1858-05-07
Correspondence Of the -sner.eao Union. !"
MoRRIsrowN. O., Apra e5. $50


give you sketch of passing events
and to open up correspondence with
friends Of days .'lang syne."
Ohio is one of the foremost States in
all this Union, and in saying this l
mean no truthless disparagemcnt to
the position or claims of the "Old Do.
minion." Ohio has been blessed with,
and is now beginning to reap the fruits
of wise, legislation. Prudent forecast
and an enlightened enterprise have
laid broad and deep for her founda-
ton upon which to rear splendid SUI
perstructure. In all the elements of
wealth she abounds within herself, and
industry and enterprise have taken
hold OF these elements and made them
resources of permanent prosperity.
The great interests Of Agriculture, Ed
ucation, the Mechanic Arts, sound Mo.
rality, &c., are subservcd by wise and
wholesome statutory protection and
encouragement. Her broad valleys &
fat hills clothed with pienty-her Dis.
trict Schoolhouses as monuments to her
liberality and zeal in disseminating
light and knowledge-her well.to.do
and contented population, pursuing
their requited branches of industry
and her wholesome laws for the sup
preston of Intemperance-all present
themes for praiseworthy comment to
the sojourner or the contemplated cit
izen. But of these things more anon,
perhaps.
Morristown in pleasant village,
situate on the National Road, 20 miles
west of Wheeling, 10 west of St. Glars
vile, our County Seat, and % east of
Cambridge. 1t contains population
of some 500 inhabitants; has three
churches, viz: Presbyterian, Methodist
and Regular Baptist 2 school houses,
in which school is held nine months in
the year, at least, free to all who wish
to send their children to school to com.
petent teachers; two excellent Hotels,
conducted on strictly temperance prin-
cIples, tor, be it known, we have not a
hquor-selling house, or doggory, in our
corporation, nor would the citizens here
tolerate one longer than "a hours at
the farthest; a strong and influential
Division of the Sons, and flourish
ing Union of the Daughters of Ten
perance, each holding interesting week
ly meetings; large and growing Ma
sonic Lodge; wealthy and prosper
GUS Odd Fellows Lodge; and female
benevolent association for Missionary
purposes. We have some eight stores,
i of dry goods, 2 groceries, one drug
and shoe store, all doing considerable
and paying business, besides the usual
compliment of NJ. DIS, Justices of the
Peace, Blacksmiths, Cobblers, Sad.
dlers, Carpenters, Cabinet Makers, etc.
In addition to all these, we have
magnificent Steam Mill, putting away,
right in town, the best in the county,
turning out splendid flour in abundance
and supplying q large section of the
contiguous country.
Our town is situated three miles from
Belmont, formerly called Uffington) on
the Central Ohio Railroad. This is
quite Aourishing little village. The
older part of the town, up from the r.
Road, it is true, looks little dilapida.
ted, and bears the marks of honorable
age, and legitimate decay, but as you
approach the Railroad, you note pro-
gressive thrift, superinduced by the bus
mess and capital invited thither by the
Railroad. AS market and Depot,
Belmont is doing an excellent business
and wears brisk and lively air. Com
modious and costly Mills, Stores, &C.,
have sprung up at the depot, and the
surrounding environ is dotted by cost
ly, beautiful and convenient dwellings.
Two trains of passenger Gals pass Bel
mont daily each way, East and West,
and tonnage trains, of huge length and
heavily freighted with the rich products
of the west or the staple commodities
of the East, pass by at all hours, for
their destination. The opening Spring
trade makes things look much brisker
than they have done while crushed in
the embrace of the financial revulsion.
The shadow of that "panic" yet fingers
upon the surface Of traffic, but we hope
! the cloud may erelong break and dis.
! perse, ant let the sunshine full upon
us once more-even "sc mote it be-"
and that right speedily.
Many might suppose, as I had, that
the near proximity Of the railroad to
our place, (Morristown) would have de-
capitated business here almost entirely.
But while it has had the effect to les.
sen our business, and restrict our trade
to some extent, there is still n good
business left us, and L believe that our
town, within three miles of the railroad
does more business than Morgantown,
twenty miles from railroad depot, and
twclvo rniloa frn,, Sl, III, ,yotor rpL.