Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-03
WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


Cheat river views and passing through a series Of
stupenduous cuts, we again course a compare
lively somewhat less broken and glady country
until we reach Kingwood tunnel, and as we
are about to enter 1t, am forced to lay aside the
pencil for ths time being. The train has now
just emerged from 1t. Its length is seven-eighths
OF mile. On entering 1t, Its darkness of death
was but dimly relieved by the light of the cars
lamp, lit for that purpose. The air In IL was
perhaps ten degrees cooler than out of it, and the
passage through il was made in perhaps FIVE
minutes AS an engineering achievement, 1t
ranks deservedly the first In the world of modern
times Another short tunnel is soon afterwards
uaversed. Ii is cut through solid rock for the
most part, and thus presents natural cavern-like
appearance different from that of the interior of
the other tunnels previously traversed this morn
ing The density OF the foliage upon the noun
tain sides and the absence of clearings after eav-
ing this last mentioned tunnel obstru cts the views
for some miles. The run of the grade has changed.
ana we are now journeying not so swiftly the
mountains to Grafton. Deep rock cuts are fire.
quent. At Newburgh we pass through a snug
village In mountain gorge, with every sign of
thrifty business life about It, A stream Raccoon
creek, is close by our side on the south, and the
oeoouch OF coal mine with Its train-rail track
dOuDtlPsk
gives life to the village aforesaid, as well as to
ner-independence-close at hand, and per-
aaps larger. Journeying on for some miles further
west, with frequent crossings of the Raccoon,
nothing strikes me in the scenery as worth par
tieular description, though were it anywhere but
on this line Of so stupendous wonders and strik
ing sights, ii would doubtless soon become
famous The appearance of the country on both
sides OF the road continues much the same To
Grafton, though We pass Thornton, well built
village, the result of the erection of MANY saw
mills upon Three-forks creek, now a considerable
stream, the swollen waters Of which rush rapidIv
along The rail track, and at very near its level
we larry at Grafton for dnner-and capital
one mine host gave us, too. The host of rail-
road dining house who thus deals fairly bv his
guests on compulsion, we all are under the
penalty OF going hungry, fairly deserves canoni-
2auon. GRAFTON is the point of junction with the
virginia Northwestern railroad to Parkersburp
the Baltimore and Ohio railroads most important
western connection. Here they have extensive
machine shops and other paraphernalia and a con-
siderable inland town has sprung up in conse
quence OF Its business at this point, which, with
the coal trade centering here, is very great From
Ufdi'on west we keep among the mountain spurs.
descending them far more gradually than was our
ascent Of them from Piedmont to AItamont The
settlements for some miles west of Grafton arc
few, along the line of the railroad, unsubdued
nature being left for the most part entirely in
sway, apparently. At Grafton we struck the val
ley river, considerable one at its falls six miles
turther west. The scenery after passing the
natural dam at the head of the falls becomes more
picturesque, as the broad expanse of the RAPIDLY
rushing rtver below, opens wider expanses of
views. SHORTLY after passing Nuzum's Mills we
See PalPable proof that we have accomplished a
considerable descent from the Alleganies' sum-
mus In the taller and more vigorous corn planted
IN 'ne nluch wider and more frequent expanses of
'Peheo idhos successfully coming into view, and
orchards OF sturdy trees tell Of the much lopper
cultivation Of the region than few miles above
mile or two ere reaching Fairmont tbs
railroad crosses the Monongalia, just below the
valley rivers junction with II; the passage ac,os,
being made over light but very stauncb bridge
The Monongalia ION the southern bank of which
we enter Fairmont) is a noble stream indeed. an
parently as broad as the Potomac lust above the
~ ~ii" o''U Or 'iIo n"Uss sust,eusio. b.ias.-
Qor ordinary travel) stretches across the noble
river here, and is object OF great interest To the
traveller per rail through this old Virginia tovp
the chief importance Of which grows out of coal
mining operations in its vicinity. At Fatrnopt
we oade goodbye to our new but very agreeabl,
acquaintance, the Monongalia river, as our course
thence west lays up one Of its tributaries Buffalo
creek Tor some miles, and through rougher conn.
Wy man we nave travelled Of late. The sides of the
Sooh' however, become highly-cultivated
"', PHEASANT indeed to behold. On reaching
hdnhlngton, village, il miles west of Cumber
inhu' we seem TO have gotten fairly out of the
range OF tue Alleganies' spurs, around and among
haan
point From there west both sides of the railroad
seem to be cultivated for the most part eve, ~, q,
'ne peaks Of the still considerable mountain.
sklTtng the valley of very UNEQUAL width
At point on the road the train stonned 20 ma,
init the passengers to step into a large roadside
loS mouse, Inhabited by the family Of perhaps the
Oldest man living; Of course AN object of great
curiosity to the travelling public His age Is 100
years, ana mis- wife, two years his junior only,
uied on friday last. Though nearly blind. and
wi'hih tne last three weeks having lost much of
MS remaining strength, he converted with fai,
average Intelligence for superannuated pe,son
Up 70 month since, he never knew the time
~hen he could not get about conveniently-waIk-
ing oren, until them mile and back at a time
MS two-story cabin or log house was evidently
oullt when molestation by Indians was not unf,s.
quentiy the lot Of the settlers hereabout: fo, he
mas oeen sixty seven years resident west of the
Alieganies- AT his farm we are ON the waters a,
rishing creek, which we are to follow for mile.
crossing 1T In the first six miles nine times ana
uaVersins six tunnels In that distance: .o the
country here is evidently as rough as any on the
"hole route of the road, If its mountains are not
very s'uPendous. One Of the tunnels mentioned
above carrying US through underneath consid-
cradle mountain spur is apparently half mile in
Length, being next to Kingwood tunnel the
largest we have passed through to-day. ON tb,,
part OF the route the grades vary frequently and
suddenly; that one immediately up to the tunneII
refer to being ninety-feet up grade, while tia,
met on leaving 1t is as steep a down grade. On
toe whole, have travelled through little rougher
territory than this, to-day or ItIe territory nre.
sentina more difficulties of engineering in the
construction Of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
After tSaversing tunnel some thirty miles east
OF wheeling we suddenly came into a much
less broken, and much more generally cultivated
country, which soon brought us to the thrifty
village OF Cameron, passing point for the train.
going East and West, where we STONED Ave
minutes. The appearance of the farms aroma
it' covered with ripe and cut grain, varied IN.
scene agreeably, as / confess to have seen enouob
- In