The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1860-08-16

worthier of attention than the region b
tween the slopes Of the western glade
land to the mountain exit at Kingwood.
1t is "ll absolute mountain, absolute for
est, absolute solitude. In winter it is
the very soul of desolation, when the
trees are iced, like huge stalactites, from
top to bottom. and the ravincs among the
cliffs blocked with drifted snow. But
| in spring or summer il presents splendid
bits OF forest scenery. The g(ens are
/ narrow, and there are few distant pros
poets hu. there is everywhere the same
ragged bloom the same overarching
hemlocks and frs-the same torrent roar.
foaming over rocky beds the same frin-
ging Of thick caved laurcl-the same
| oozy plashas of ,~oras,, 'u'A "i>'' a"'h
vcgetatiou-the same black mountain
facc-thc same absence Of people aud
farms-the same sense Of absolute soil.
tude.
But in Tyga.t's Valley, tho landscape
sottens and becomes more human, with
. the marks of agriculture and habi cation,
and the road seems to bound along more
g.yly, as if exulting in its release from
the mountain. The river winds gently
through rounder aud lower hills and
broader meadows. broken only by the
Falls" which, in few steep pitches,
tumble seventy feet in the distance of a
mile. Not far from this point, Tysart
River and the West Fork unite to form
the Monongahela, which, a quarter Of
mile below the junction, is crossed by an
iron viaduct of ESQ feet long-the iarg.
est iron bridge in America, and due to
the engineering skill of Mr. Fink.
In these central soliiudes every thing
seems to be the property Of the wilder
ness-a wilderness incapable Of yielding
to any mastery but that Of an engineer !;
and it may fairly becon matter of nn-
'ional pride, that scientific men were
found in our country bold enough to ven.
ture on grades BY which any mountain
may be passed. Where ground was wan
ted, Nature seemed to have scooped it
away; where it was not wanted, Nature
seemed to have stacked it up for future
purposes There are considerable diff.
cultics between Baltimore and Cumber-
land yet, in a country which rises only
G39 feet above tide in 10 miles, road
may be constructed by ordinary perse.
verance and skin. But they who desire
to understand the power Of science in
conquering nature by steam and iron,
must climb and cross the Alleghanies be-
tween Piedmont and Kinewood. The
success of this, the most difficult portion
of the enterprise. is due to the engineer
ing Of Mr.. Latrobe, and the financial en-.
erey of Mr.. Swami.
As the pioneer Of such internal i'm.
provemen's in the Union, it has been
the school for subsequent railways, and
deserves the gratitude Of scientific men
for the true principles Of location and
construction. The bridging and tunnel
ing along the whole ronte, amount to
about fire and Il quarter miles; the labor.
ers and employees form almost five regi.
ments in number; and, when we take in.
to consideration the depots, tanks, en-
gines, rails, station houses, and innumer-
able cars for freight and travel. as we'll
as the two lines Of telegraph wires, be-
longing exclusively to the Company,
which keep every portion in communica,
ton and successful operation throughout
the line, one no l,nger wonders that
twenty fvr millions we're expended on
the structure, but is only surprised that
the people Of a small. single State could
accomplish so colossal an enterprise