Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-06-06
naitorial Correspondence.
CUMBERLAND, Mp

that the whole line Of the route, from the time We
eft Beuwod on the Ohio till We reached this place.
was one continuous succession Of wild mountain see
merry, the like Of which scarcely be found on this
continent would give you some idea Of the grandeur
Of the scene that before our eyes during the en-
tire day aud the difficulties overcome and immense
amount Of herruean work done to create an artificial
highway over the barrier Of Nature that separates
the Atlantic slvre from that Of the valley Of the Mis-
sissippi. is truly astonishing, But, TO commence
where eit of in my last. must 80 back to eoum'
bus and IN following my travels Of tie past Two
days, will try Gnd give our reaaersa faint idsa Of
what saw, but will not attempt more than passing
glance, for my feeble pen Is too Insignificant TO do
anything like Justice 10 the boldly sublime grandeur
Of the scene laid out bSfore I'D, Well, left colum-
bus on Monday afternoon at o'clock, by the Central
Ohio Railroad, for Benwood, the western terminus Of
the Baltimore s Ohio Railroad. Passing over hne
country rich in agricultural wealth, the first place
Of any note we came TO. was Newark, town OF con-
siderable size thence to GAINESVILLE quite large place.
containing many hne brick and stone buildings, but
presenting dngy. dirty appearance. the natural
consequence where the principal fuel used Is btumn-
Gus coal We next passed Cambridge, place Of
some Importance and sire. From Cambridge to Bel
lair. we Travelled after night. md OF course could
not see what was to DO seen." laid over at Bel
lair en- the Ohio riveroppcste the terminus OF the
Baltimore & Ohio Road. until yesterday morning. in
order 10 take daylight, view Of tho Western Division
of that celebrated highway Belair is a small place,
containing a good hotel-the Belmont House-and
noticeable only as the terminus Of the Central Ohio
Road. Il, however, contains some twelve or fifteen
hundred Inhabitants AMI sus,airs triweekly news
paper.
Yesterday morning. at 10 o'clock, took the train
coming east On the boat coming across the river, |
was kindly furnished by attache of the railroad
company with little poke; guide-book Of tho dis
tances and notable places along this road, together
with n pamphlet giving Z" memoranda concerning
Baltimore City and its surroundings" dedicated to
the Western Editors" These two little books will
enable one to visit the Monumental City and see all
its beauties and works Of art with the least possible
trouble. The first point on the road that attracted
our attention, was the great Indian Mound, miles
from Benwood It is place Of considerable notorie-
ty, aud is visited by great many people. We next
came to Board Tree Tunnel nearly half mile long.
through the mountain. This hill formerly cross
ed by zig-zsg railroad, with seven Us, until the
tunnel was completed. At Fairmont. ~ miles from
Benwood, is beautiful suspension bridge, crossing
Tygart's Valley River, tributary of the Mononga-
hea. This place is also large engine station Of the
company, where are to be found extensive machine
shops and other apurtcnanccs Of the road. We next
crossed the Monongahela river, on iron bridge,
| n I;,.io laIn III
where in this vicinity, also the Guide Book tells OF
place called Texas" but VIC passed it without my
being aware of it. The Falls of the Valley River,
n little further on are also worthy Of note and
must not forget to mention tho ccntenarian neury
Church, who resides little further back Tie is said
. 90 he 40 yuara cll md hts vito LOG years ror-
trait Of them together with their history, waa pub
iished i'll lT,rpcr's Monthly, about year ago They
haze resided this place somcs&ty odd years, aud
are objects Of aoudor aud olty ali tbs passcu-
gers who travel on this road. A Grafton, about 100
miles from Wheeling, "e took dinuer This Is the
point of junction Of the y ". Virginia Railroad, 10
Paracgs5urg and the end Of the Sd or Mountain Di-
vision of the road. We found fine hotel her., and
got really luxurious dinner, with every thing that
could tempt the appetite, served up in the best posi-
bic manner. About l3 miles further on, VIC passed
through the great Haywood Tunnel, nearly II mile
long, hut solid,y arched with stone and iron. This
tunnel alone cost the company about million dollars
During the time were passing through, everything
was as black as midnight and the feeble, sickly glare
of the lamps that we're lighted in the car, seemed but
as beacon to show the mpenetrable darkness which
prevailed. These tunnels are noticeable features On
this road. There are no less than II of them be-
tween Baltimore and Wheeling, the aggregate length
of which, is 694 feet all solidy arched with sone
iron or brick. As Willis says I" Think what neck
lace it is-fourteen mountains strung On single
railroad like string of pearls for one Goddess of
Liberty" We now approached and passed through
the & Cheat River Region where the most stupen-
dous engineering to be found along the whole line Of
the road, may be found, and where some of the heav
lest grading has been done. To sn eye unaccustom-
ed to scientific engineering, the obstacles to the bull
ding of railroad to be met with in this region,
would seem an impossible barrier but the determine
ed energy of the company and the scientific skill of
the engineer have overcome all these obstacles, and
the work stands as monument Of art to the genius
of the projectors of this magnificent undertaking.
The view from the great Tray Run Viaduct, both of
the scenery and the noble structure which grandly
and splenddly spans the immense mountain ravine,
is really sublime. The vaduc itself is 600 feet long
and $50 feet above the original bed of the Rum and
is founded q" massive base of masonry, piled up
on the solid rock below This whole region requires
to be seen to be properly appreciated. The noble
grandeur every hand, for miles aud miles, it seems
to me must surpass anything to be witnessed any
where else on this continent, and may compare favor
ably $50 says a celebrated histerianl with the
tans of Scotland, or the passes of the Apprentices
have dyet rather longer on this portion of the road