Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-08-18
WHEE
THE INT,ELLTGENCER.
EFIP on 'he Beltll.ore and ohlo Rn,lrend
CHEAT RIVER, ALLEeHANy suxMlr, x1Nawoop
TUNNEL, ETC, ETC

.
CHEAT RIVER, ALLEeHANy su1xIr, x1Nawoop
TUNNEL, ETC., ETC.
IDIEwILD, August, 1859.
De0r 4a0TTfs:-Io get back to the halfway
mouse between Baltimore and Wheeling.
After the delicious late breakfast upon front
ana VenIson, at Oakland, we were introduced
almost Immediately to the beautiful river upon
which are strung the perils of their local poetry
and assocIation-the Youghiogheny-a difficult
name, which l only remember because it trhvmes
with mahogany, and that chances to be the col.
or OF the water in the next stream beyond
One OF the unexplained natural curiosities of
Virginia, you know, In the translucent mahop-
any tint of the Cheat River-not satisfactorily
accounted for, should think, by the usual
theory, that hemlocks, black spruce and Laurel.
are the prevailing growths where it rises. In
case OF any future American mythology. forsce
that this Cheat River, of tint unexplainabIe
will be the shrine of the deity of the dyed
boards, now so numerous-"B Bachelors Hair
dye, +" of course; in that case, taking the more
poetic name of holy-water of the Cheat Or
las it is the color of many bright brown
cheekO perhaps the mulatto population may
take it for their sympathizing Jordan. 1t is
interesting, IL, in new country, to see what is
likely to be TRADITIONAL
As close INTERVENING of mechanic marvels
with picturesque scenery, suppose the next
twenty mile stretch of Runs and Rivers better
worth pedestrian excursion than any equal
distance in the world. Wonders follow upon
wonders, beauties upon beauties, till, il the
bewilderment of accumulated sights one feels
that the eye-appetite has its limit. 1t is sur
felt of human marvels of contrivance and of
oewitchng surprises of Nature. For a month
of Epicurean enjoyment, l should say, there
could be few better plans than to take KNAPP
sack in your baggage and make Oakland q
centre of excursion; rambling the valleys and
faLi tho
1t is so enjoyable to see scenery from a lettering
walA-though, for me, it would be still better
If there were horse under me to do the walk
ing. Alas for the cumbrousness of stable and
fodder! Improvements in pocket pistols, am
sorry to see, show no likelihood of pocket
Colt, portable and producible at pleasure.
But the parts of our trip which most won.
dered are, after all, the most difficult of des-
criptlon. The nero measurements in figures
to those who have seen some of the achieve
ments of the road-is poetry enough. To des-
cribe in words the viaduct of Tray Run, for in
stance, is like striving to picture the effect of
great anthem by musical notes written on paper
My friend Prescott Smith has more hardihood
than Though in reading his audacious at
tempt, (Which believe will quote) pray do
him the justice to ponder we'll the sublmities of
his arithmetic! Thus diScourses the handsome
fellow, when recording the trib of the Foreign
Ministers and magnates; over the same route,
year or more ago.
"The engineering difficulties overcome in the
part of the road within the first few miles west
of Cheat River bridge, must have been appal-
ling; but for US the rough places had been made
smooth as the prairie levels. After crossing
the river itself at Rowlesburg, the next point
was to ascend along its bank the Cheat River
Hill. The ravine at Kyer's Run, mile from
the bridge, seventy-six feet deep, was crossed
by solid enbankment. Them after bold cut
tug along the steep rocky hillside, we reached
Buckeye Hollow, which is one hundred and
eight feet below the road level, and finally came
to Tray Run, which we crossed at q height of
hundred and fifty feet Gb0ue its original Bad
6yG splendid Vidduct, sic hundred feet long,
founded on n massive base of masonry piled
upon the solid rock below. These viaducts are
iron-designed by Mr. Albert Fink, one of Mr..
Latrobe's assistants--and are exceedingly
graceful, as well as very substantial structures.
When we reached the west end of the great
Tray Run Viaduct the cars halted, and the com
pany alighted for better view Of the works.
a walk of few feet brought US to the brow of
the Precipice overlooking the river, nearly three
hundred feet below.
'The view from the spot, both of the scenery
and tho grand structure which so splendidlv
spanned the immense mountain raVine was truly
inspiring. From our great elevation the stream
appeared to be almost beneath our feet an illu.
sion promptly dispelled when the strongest and
llongest-armed among US failed to throw stone
far enough to crop it in its bed With the en-.
tire train full of guests, the band also alightcd
here, and, taking position near the cliff struck
up the popular air of, Love Not in sweet har-
monY with the emotions inspired by the scene.
The sun had just retired behind the distant
mountain top at the head of the valley, casting
heightened shadow over the place. and leaving
us alone in the grand and stnpendous solitude,
all things combining to impress us deeply with
the influence of the solemn poetry Of Nature.
whose 8Gnctun1 sanctOrun we seemed to have
invaded. The shrill note of the steam whistle
recalled US to the realities of our position, and
we reluctantly resumed our seats to be whirled
along on our westward journey"
Under the widest Of mountains, little be.
yond the immortalized cranberries we came to
the blasted hole which cost million OF dollars
"a hole principally blasted out with powder.
that is to say for that enterprising sum. This
marvel of labor which, one would think, might
surprise even mountain with the inevitableness
of human penetration, is called ''Kingwood Tun-
mel" and, exclusive of its approach cuts, is four
thousand one hundred feet in length. For nv
self, cannot get famiarized to the "internal
Improvement" of coming to high hill and go.
ing straight through it, instead Of the old fash
iOned WaV of nm one side and 6oy, +bo o+Lo,.