The Kenosha telegraph and tribune. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1859-1860, 1860-05-17
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
BALTIMORE, May 8, 1861

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
BALTIMORE, May 8, 1860,
My last was dated at Wheeling, Va; the re
gion through which the Baltimore 81 Ohio rail
road passes from Wheeling to this place, has Of
ten been described by the most graphic delinea
tors of cenery, and it would be folly to attemp
any improvement on what has been said. Som
of the finest views with which many of the mag
azines have been embellished, have been drawn
from the mountain scenery along this road
The views at many points for wildness and sub
Unity, equal anything elsewhere in North Amer
lea, and are said to be unsurpassed in Switzer
land.
After leaving Wheeling, the road plunges in
to the mountain gorges, following deep aud sin
uous ravines. The hills seem thrown together
with abrupt Examinations, ard the narrow ravineS
cross each other at all conceivable angles. The
road winds among the projecting cliffs, and
where the curvature required is too great, it is
deep cut through the rocks, or constructed on
high entertainments where the obstruction is too
formidable to be overcome, the road is tunneled
through the rocky spurs of the hills There are
several of these tunnels, occurring on the route
of one hundred and fifty miles ofthe road beyond
Wheeling; one of which is 4, 100 feet in length,
and requir ed nearly four and a half years labor
to excavate the rock and complete the arching
The cost Of this tunnel was a million of dollars.
After following along the beds of the dashing
streams for over one hundred miles, the road ap.
proaches that portion of country called the
"Cheat River Valley; here it commences an
ascending grade along the steep mountain sides,
cinging to the craggy cliffs, midway as it We're,
between heaven and earth AT several points
where it was found impossible to get a sufficient
foothold for laying the rail track, by excavating
and building foundation of stone a truss work
of iron supplies a bed whereon to lay the track
Wood appears not to have been relied upon in
constructing the main portion of the bridges and
viaducts iron and stone are the chief materials
One of these viaducts of iron, crosses mountain
gorge, one hundred and fifty feet above the bed
o f foaming stream below. At another point
where the cars halt to give the passengers an OPP
portunity to look over the brow of a precipice
more than three hundred feet above the river
which flows at its base, while ON the opposite
side of the cars, wall of craggy rocks, towers
to still giddy height above. A view of train
of cars on these mountain sides from the valley
below, it Is said, looks very much like so many
bird cages suspended from wall Every va.
riety of mountain scenery is presented from
these heights-exciting emotions of sublimity
aw G and terror.
One hundred and ffty-six miles from Wheel
ing, at station called Altamont, the highest
elevation of the Baltimore and Ohio road il
reached being 2 200 feet above the level of the
ocean; the highest point traversed by any Rail
road in the United States, and higher than an,
in Europe with one exception the road cross
ing portion of the Alps to Trieste. In passing
over the road from Wheeling to Cumberland
distance Of two hundred miles, mostly within The
limits of the State of Virginia, there is scarcely
any opportunity offered for seeing the country
There i. said to be much fine agricultural land
on both sides a short distance from the road bu
it is entirely shut out of sight nearly the entir,
distance above named. From Cumberland tt
Baltimore, distance of one hundred and eight,
miles, the road runs much the larger part of thu
way, within the State of Maryland; it is, mos
of the distan ce, good agricultural and grain.
country the chieffarming product being winte
wheat. The wheat fields, with few exceptions
look exceedingly well in the vicinity of Balti
more some rye is grown, which is now headed
out. The farming region, especially within
few miles of Baltimore, has remarkably pleas
ing aspect tbs lands being highly cultivated
the farm houses and their surroundings, display
ing wealth and good taste.
OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST.
There are several points of interest along tn
Baltimore and Ohio road, deserving of mention
) few of these may be noticed
THE OLD MAN OF THE HILLS.
About sixty miles beyond Wheeling in deem
wild ravne, close by the railroad, there lives al
old man whose age is now 100 years, his wifi
I07, and a daughter living at home whose ace i,
I so years. The train stops here to crafty tn
passengers with look at this aged family
Their residence is a two story building built O
logs, agsinst the hill side, with sort of verard
in front. On this platform the old patriarch wa
seen seated in a chair, while his wife and daugh
ter stood erect by the railing. The daughte
conyersed freely, but the more ancient pair coul
not well be made to hear what was said to them
The history of this old couple, of a long pas
generation, is somewhat interesting more thar
eighty years ago, he came among these hills t.
reside, then far away from civilization and whit
settlements, and here he has remained ever since
Harpers Magazine, q Think for May or jun
of last year, has a sketch of his life and draw
. ing of his residence
CUMBERLAND CITY.
The city of Cumberland on the Maryland sid
OF the Potomac, is one of the favorite stoppi nc
places for refreshment and rest on this route o
travel. Cumberland is city of some six thou
sand inhabitants; its history is connected witt
the American Revolution, and is a place otter
visited by Gen. Washington, in early times TIL,