Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-02

skErcHRs or suxxSR faAvxL.


top ridge-the apology for road being shock
ingly broken-brought me to the banks of Snowy
Creek, famous trout stream. Albeit but for nv
experience in earlier life in traversing prairie.
covered with tough grasses waist high, and
swamPs knee deep with water, and spongy sur
lace SOIL my expedition Of the day would have
paid no dividend whatever The stream is a
swim one and the trout evidently abundant; but
II any OF the Stars city readers hereafter essay to
hsh 1t, advise them by ell means not to venture
The task in Patent leather Congress shoes, as
foolishly did this morning. But to come armed
with sharp Ratchet to make alder-bush bridges
In an instant, and to open, as occasion NAV re-
quire, space in the overhanging dense shrub
foliage, through or over which to throw the rod ,
line and bait into the pools Of the stream which
the trout use. Though muddied amazingly and
tattercd not inconsiderably, managed to secure
string Of twenty beauties In about three hours
after first unwindng the reel, fishing (traversing)
up the waters for distance Of about half a mile.
dlned, by-the-by, at the farmhouse Of very
Intelligent and clever mountaineer, David Free
land by name, who had resided on the bank of
snowy creek for twenty years, until he has a
large, cleared farm and very comfortable man.
sion, to which now and then summer boarders
from the cities resort, who are fond of exercise
with the rod and line. Disciples Of old Izaak
Walton and families cottoning to substantial
country living, while away to escape such a state
OF the thermometer as now prevails in Washing
ton, Will md him worth cultivating thus re-
turn my thanks for his frank and unexpected
courtesy and hospitality. From him | learned
much concerning .the agricultural capabilities
and methods and modes Of his native glades re-
gion. While it is difficult for the farmer in them
to realize half fair remuneration in raising corn
rye, oats, and buckwheat flourish here astonisb
lngiy, and potatoes yield between three and four
hundred bushels to the acre Wheat has rarely
been sown here, this year paying far better than
ever before-from twelve TO fifteen bushels TO the
acre. For summer grazing Of horned stock, the
glades are unsurpassed the world over the Weld
OF timothy, red-top, and clover being enormous.
without fertilization. These grasses spread into
the hmoeTed lands around the open fields very
quickly, where the cattle carry the seed in grazing
I'm TIE range" Sleighing is not unfreouentIy
good here Tor i've consecutive months in tue wear:
and II rarely happens that any month passes with
out experiencing (here palpable and visible frost
The mercury in the thermometer here hoyers at
about 20 degrees Fahrenheit through the sum-
mer, except when Jack Frost sends il down occa
sionally for a single night
am now writing in an unpretending but coI,l-
Portable country tavern, at Portland, late Gran
berry Summit, upon the head waters of the Mo.
nongalia river. From the brow of the hill ms,
south Of the railroad here, one enjoys a mapnif.
cent view of the valley Of the Salt Lick, noun
ain glade of exceedingly picturesque proportions
That hill would make grand location. indeed
for mountaintop resort for folks from the cities
who must fee TO some such refuge i'm July and
August, to escape feeling In those months like
Iuckless ours compelled TO trot around with sba
king sides and swollen tongue hanging out. Az
yet there seems TO be no admixture of any descrin
zion OF foreign society-either native or other
wise-among the population here all being ID
Plrently rough and hearty mountaineers. Tim
ber-gettng Is the employment of those too Door To
live altogether by farming-pipe slaves, locust
pins for ship building, tanners bark and hoop
poles being the articles they send to market
l hese are shipped In very large Quantities from
this station; making trade Of no little profit to
the region, the results Of which appear to be care
fully husbanded and devoted to the Improvement
Of homesteads springing up in the glades and
mountain sides and tops on all hands around.
The time approaches for the arrival of tie ac-
commodation train going west-at so a. m. (of
Monday morning)-so must close my portfolio.
and prepare to be off
Immediately on leaving Cranberry Summit we
entered upon portion of the road embracing
extensive rock cuts, and heavy entertainments
over short but deep gulehes or gorges, and there
fore exhibiting many fine panoramas of noun
tain scenery A fine tunnel, too, was close at
hand The country on both sides of the road
though OF course mountainous, appears to be fast
coming into cultivation; and the varied crop.
upon it-dead ripe rye, oats just showing dis
position TO head, buckwbeat beginning 10 bloom
ana sombre-headed timothy felds-form charm
Ing contrasts with the rich hues Of the surround
Ing foliage The grade rapidly descends, and
tunnels are frequently traversed; all thoroughly
wsled and arched overhead with brick. In
nothing is the superiority Of the construction of
this great work more conspicuous than in the
substantial manner in which accidents from fall.
Ing in Of its tunnels are guarded against by mean.
of solid masonry
In half dozen miles from Cranberry Summit
We strike the salt Lick, (head waters OF the
Cheat river,) and coursing along down by its
side, the mountains again rear their heads some
hundreds Of feet above the level of the rail track
to grow higher as we descend lower
from the regions of the clouds Less SIGNS Of
cultivation are now around US, the country being
Tar more broken than upon the glades proper
region, which we left a short time since The
FIR tree Of the far North is common here. and n,
drapery Of dark green foliage and its graceful
proportions are exquisite additions to the beauty
OF the momentarily changing pictures fitting
before my eyes.
For two miles ere reaching Rowlesburs. where
we strike the Cheat river for the arst time. LOOK
ing from the hindmost cars back window. have
exquisite views, The Salt Lick runs along. lean
ing over rocks and loose stones at but liuIe
below the level OF the rail track at its side shsrp
mountain tops forming the immediats back ground
Of both. The number Of curves here almost cheat,
the observer into the belief that be has been
journeying under the mountain tops, instead Of
around them. Cheat river is crossed for the first
time here, over a substantial covered bridge
Shortly after leaving Rowlesburg we are fairly
In the magnificent Cheat river scenery; view Of
which, from about mile from RowIesburp. Is
worth the trouble and cost of journey OF tbou-
sands Of miles. Last night 1t rained heavily
and Cheatriver is consequently swollen.
adding to the pictures even more effect than
usual The train stopped for a few moments at
the celebrated high tressel work, having an alti.
tude Of more than 200 feet above its base in a,
deep gulch below. The passengers left the car.
and studied for a minute the combined wonder.