Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1859-03-12
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For the Register.
PALMYRA, Mo-, Feb. "a, 1859.

our city was quite asiir bv the arrival OF
the frs, train of cars through from 81. Jo-
seph, bringing The glad tidings Of the
completion of the Hannibal and ST. Jo-
seph Railroad. Since then trains have
been passing over the road regularly,
crowded with passengers. The advania-
ges of this route to the public is very
great. BY way of reducing the fare and
shortening the distance 10 the "Far West
and the newly discovered EIdorado. On
the 22nd inst, an excursion train passed
up the road bound for ST. Joseph, the
western terminus, taking aboard all those
having complimentary tickets, to join in a
grand celebration given in honor OF the
opening of this route.
Pixies Peak, the land of gold, is the
all absorbing topic Of conversation and
speculation. The gold fever prevails 10
an alarming extent. A great many are
going from this city and county. Some
Of our citizens are making preparations TO
take out saw mills and different kinds Of
machinery suitable for that country.
There has been several trains of wagons
from Illinois. passed through our town en-
route for Pixies Peak. They are the
first that have gone from this part of the
country. Some Of our wise men seem TO
think they have started TOO early. About
the last of March and HE first of April
there will be a perfect rush from this and
the adjoining counties. | have sold sew
ersl lots of -four already TO be shipped TO
Pixies Peak. | took trip OF a hundred
miles, a few days since, and the farther |
travelled west the greater the excitement.
You may depend, the gold fever will car
ry off thousands from This State. and II
gold does exist in anything like the guam
titles represented, there will be more
money afoat in the Mississippi valley
next summer, than was ever known be-
fore. OF course we are Ill preparing TO
do double the amount ofbuslness this sea-
son than any other season before. There
are several large companies preparing to
carry passengers and baggage through
from 81. Joseph and o.her points on the
road, for about one half the cost OF buy
ing team and Wagon, or packing across
on mule back. Tie distance is about
seven hundred miles from here 10 the gold
diggings.
The prospect Of our coming wheat crop
is rather gloomy-we have had scarcely
any snow, and il is believed that the
whea, on the fla, prairies is entirely Kill
led bv the almost continued freezing and
ihawing. In the timber land wheat looks
well, and if the remainder Of the winter Is
favorable i, will probably make fair
crop. Some of our farmers, When the
fall wheat is killed, intend TO drill spring
wheat. Spring wheat does pretty well,
consequently when fall wheat fails, we
can resor, 10 spring wheat. | understand
The fall wheat crop, in Illinois, in the
neighborhood Of Quincy and Alton, will
be an entire failure. The anticipated
failure or short crop has caused wheat 10
advance 25 cents per bushel. The stock
of old wheat is pretty we'll used up.
On last Tuesday night last FIVE Jail
birds took their flight for parts unknown,
by saving out the window and letting
themselves down 10 the ground by means
of a rope made out of blankets and other
bed clothing. Two of the five were white
men, who were confined for small offen-
ces. Two were gentlemen Of color,
bound for the south, valued al $4,000 a
piece. The fifth was an old free colored
"Gemmun," who was trying to abolition
Use Marion county. But being found out
by some of The white folks 10 possess so
much knowledge of the laws Of the State,
supposed the best place for him would be
the seat Of government, Jefferson city,
where he would have gone undoubtedly
for term of years, had he not taken ad-
vantage Of the underground railroad.
Slave property is ,olerabv uncertain, par
ticularly along the Mississippi river.
There has been number of slaves left
this county within the last couple oil
years, and when they do 60 they are sell
dom heard from afterwards. ! don't be-
lieve the colored people arc as happy here
as they are in old Virginia. For this
reason they are generally az well fec and
have the best Of clothing, and don't work
half SO hard. But the free negroes ale al
lowed 100 much privilege, and also dar-
kies from Illinois mixing in with The
slaves, these things have a tendency 10
create rebellious spirit in the mind OF
the slave and the first thing you know lie
is off. But one thing certain We don't
miss them, we have plenty left, and they
don't deprecia,e in value. they are now
selling a, the rate of from $1,000 TO sl5,-
90. There is now a bill pending before
our lenislatnre relaiiYe 10 emanclpatlng