Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-09-06
For the Spectator

| III not, you cauuOL III lIudSiudtiou c'e' P's'e'~
the pleasures to be derived, at this or later
period in the fall, in taking such jsunt. With
vehicle of some light kind, pair OF horses,
pleasant companion or two, that have eyes for
the beautiful in nature, and with short stages
you are insured treat, such as will seldom be
found in the same length Of time spent at any
watering place or other point where crowds do
coneregste. The ride across the North Noun
tain. Shenandoah, Shaw's Ridge and Bull Pas.
ture mountains, to the pretty village OF Nc
Dowell. whose tasty residences reflect the rays
of the setting sun, and make part OF beautiful
picture-has been enjoyed by most OF your read.
ers too often to require description. From
thence, up the opening in Jack mountain, made
| by the passage of Grab Run, you pass many in
terestiDg views, and at the end OF ten miles, see
the county seat of Highland county, spreading
ont along the foot of the next mountain. From
Monterey, six miles take you over Hevener's
mountain by an easy grade and regale you with
most lovely glimpses into the pretty vallies on
either side-but especially that of Grab Bottom.
Adverse as the season has been, first with
| biting frost, aud then drouth-yet In spite OF
both, this lovely valley smiles upon you IN It's
rich emerald hue for miles, and might lead you
in imagination at least to think it Rasselas'
Happy Valley. Middle mountain Of short extent,
brings you 10 the head Of Back Creek-here q
very narrow Yalley-snd the loot OF the Allie
ghany.
The peculiarites of q ride across the Allegha-
nv at this point, here present themselves, par
tally, at the very threshold. refer to the for
rests of the yew tree and the spruce or hemlock.
The "Yew" is species of pine, found at this
point ant in Cheat mountain on this route. In
greater Quantities than at any other crossing OF
these mountains that have auy knowledge OF.
| Its beautiful smooth looking trunk, OF almost
| uniform thickness for fifty to seventy-hye feet
with scarcely limb-causes you to feel regret
that its forests cannot be transported tolthe
seaboard, as masts and spars tor the Ievtdti'ans
of the deep. Besides these majestic trees ana
IN lovely contrast are the beautiful shru0s-the
variety uf flowers and the innumerable species
of lichens and mosses-that literally carpet the
roots OF the trees and hide the earth. lmmedl-
ately as you ascend the mountain, your eye 10
greeted with the comforts Ut well arranged
farm and you are at loss which most to admire
the intrepidity of the hardy pioneer Mr. WillIong
| 10 setting down years ago, III the midst OIL this
dense iorest-or the beauty OF the green neids
now Just shorn of the crop Of hsy-aDd con-
trasting with the sweet scented and wide spread.
ing acres of buckwheat. This crop thanks to q
/
che loss sustained by the injury to the corn by
| Irost in June. The enterprisiDg pioneers thro'
the Allegheny are rapidly developing the i'm
neuse resources Of this great range in its capac-
ty to sustain nyrisds OF CATTLE sheep aud horses.
| Wherever the timber is teed and the sun has
access, beautiful carpet OF the best grapes inn
mediately spring up.
Some ifteen or more miles bring you TO the
Greenbrier River, where yon find comfortable
| entertainment at either Andrew lager's, Geo.
Berner's or Mrs. Slayin's. This valley is narrow
and it may be colder than those We have crossed.
After crossing the south fork OF Greenbrier Xiv.
| er you commence the ascent OF that nOndescrpt
of mountains s-"Cheat." When boy, the wri-
ter crossed this mountain by the path way which
was the pioneer of the present beautifully graded
road Many OF your readers will doubtless re-
member the piquant description given by the
| late @. Specie ID. ID. who in company with Rev.
WIN. Calhoun aud others made trip across it
some thirty years since, To meeting OF Pres.
bytery, think somewhere in Randolph. / can
enter heartily into that description from my
recollection of it ss il then was found. It's dense
forests through which the suns rays scarcely
ever penetrate made up Of the yew, the spruce
and hemlock and especially the balsam fir give
it particular character. Here the lichens and
uosses from increased dsmpness and it may be
elevation, are found in greater protusion. The
placid and beautiful stream taking its name from
the mountain aud running along It's top IL
! peculiar characteristic. It's waters are OF the
colour OF those OF the Dismal Swamp, and de-
rived from the same cause. Much OF the soil is
limestone and of fine adaptation to grass. Grand
aud peculiar is the scenery and the alternating
of clouds and sun shine on its heavy sides are
L ~;
energetic amateur artist carry his instruments
with him and photograph the many beautiful
scenes on tlis route, his fortune would be in
sured. The pretty valley OF the Tygart's Valley
River strikes the traveller with more interest
after emerging from the sombre shades of Cheat.
At the village of Hattonsyille handsome A
cademy greets your eye. and gives evidence OF
increasing interest on the subject OF education.
rhe town of Beverly seems unchanged since the
writer first passed through 1t. The country in-
| terlnediste between that and BuckhaDnon was
almost al unbroken forest at thessame date but
aow presents to the eye many comfortable
uolnestesds with indications Of thrift On the part
| OF their occupants.
But it is of the county OF Upshur, Messrs. Ed.
tors, that take much pleasure in speaking in
connection with the Improvement OF all this re-
| gion. Some eleven years ago think II Was, the
writer rendered an humble aid in the formation
of the county. The population has increased
| rapidly and Is of an excellent character A year
or two since by formal vote msJority vi soine
| three hundred or more decided that no ardent
.pirits should be sold within the limits of the
comfy. and at this time 1t is said but one mag
strate is found III favor Of licensing the traffic.
Their county Jail has had but two criminals as
tenants in o space Of six years. doubt If any
other county in the Commonwealth Can say as
much. The town of Buckhsnnon is a pretty
| lace, containing four neat churches-Fresbyte.
rian. Baptist and Metbodist-North and South.
IL suffered heavy loss by fire some years since,
tron the effects Of which it has hardly recover
G. At q late meeting OF the fresoytery oil
| Lexington, which met there on the 18th Instant,
large number Of strangers coDgregsted, aud
| the good people OF the town and vicinity COW
cred themselves with honor, in their exceeding
kindness aud hospitality, and caused the most
pleasant impressions to DO carried away by tho
many that enjoyed it. A more agreeable aud
pleasant society cannot be found anywhe thail
theirs, and is graced by large proportion Of
refined and beautiful ladies. Much OF their pop.
| uIation has come from Albemarle and other
eastern counties, as also from Augusta. The
hands are opening up rapidly and the produc-
lions increasing that will bear transportation by
railroad such as wheat, tobacco, &c. Those
who are skeptical on the subject of turnpikes
and their benefits in opening up new country,
| have only to see this country noW, and contrast
its condition with what it was before the OPEN
ing of the Staunton and Psrkersburg road-to
say nothing of the other roads intersecting it at
| various points. 'Tis source of qualification to
the writer to know that bis acquaintance with
this country, has several times enabled him to
extend some aid in the praiseworthy dVtection
OF turnpike improvement. The State has been