The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-04-07
Notes OF TraVeI-COuntry Crops,
&c, &C.


&c, &C.
WAsHTxoroN, Fsyette CO., o., March 20.
Mr.. EDITOR :-Having taken the cars at
Rnvenna with view of making a tour
through the southern part of the State,
thought few notes Of observation would
not be without some interest to your readers.
The frat stopping place was Steubenvlls, q
dourlshing town on the Ohio river, contain
Ing population of about 5000, surrounded
by good agricultural county. Hero we found
D. B. Reed, of Rootstown, who has accom-
panied US thus far. From thiI place to
GAINESVILLE, BY the Ohio Central, we passed
through fine country for grain, and were
Informed that the prospect for wheat was
never more Aattering. Evansville contains
q population of about 2.oO0. 1t Is located
at the head Of what Is known as the Musk
Inghum improvement and is accessible by
steamboats,, which run regularly between
here and Parkersburg, Va. There are three
tAhSa vi nulIOuu ulhoIRInB Nv" 'hS PA"SNb
the Ohio Central, the Cincinnati, Whining
ton g. Zanesville, and the Steubenville &
Indiana. There are also many large and
fiourishing manufacturing establishments,
which speak we'll for the enterprise OF its
inhabitants. From this place we took pas
sage on a steamer for Marietta, distance
Of about 80 miles, by the river. This is the
most billy portion of the State, though there
are many good farms on the banks of the
river. The manufacture of salt constitutes
quite an item Of export from this section
The water is obtained at q depth Of about
1000 feet and Is III per cent. Coal is used
for fuel and Ia found in abundance In the i'm
mediate vicinity.
Our next stop was at Marietta, the 6rEt
settled town In the State. 1t contains q
population of about 5000. The real estate is
held by few individuals, which has much
retarded its growth Ond prosperity. One OF
the first settlers is still living and engaged
III oSufC uuelHecc' A1o IulOiMeu HO AHoN
for Elk years after arriving here, which was
In 1890, he lived within the walls of the
Fort. After spending day in this place,
we took passage on the steamer "Liberty,"
for Portsmouth, and can say in truth that we
Jared sumpluously; the polite and attentive
officers who seemed desircus Of the comfort
and safety Of the passengers, made the day
pass very ugrceably. On our passage down
we passed the flourishing town OF Pomeroy,
which extends along the bank Of the river
about seven miles. Here are located the
largest Salt Worke in the State, which with
two large Iron Furnaces, Foundries, &C.,
give employment to between four and five
thousand men. Between this and Portsmouth
is the town OF Ironton, which employ large
number OF men in the manufacture Of Iron.
After passage Of 23 hours, we arrived at
Portsmouth. This city is situated at the
terminus OF the Ohio Canal, and boasts of q
population of $4,000 inhabitants. one large
Iron Works, and in the immediate vicinity
are two Dislileries, which consume 5000
bushels Of grain daily-and in the business
part of the city, upon every third building, is
emblazoned in large letters "Old Bourbon
Whisky, Wholesale and Retail" After
spending day a. the "Bggs House." kept
by MessrS. Montgomery & Sons, which for
high prices and poor fare, has no equal this
side of Pixies Peak, we left on the morn
Ing train, for Jackson. Moro anon.
PORTAGE.