Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-09-27
Correspondence.

ysitisgs by the ,rdy-Trips 10 the Vest
Crossing the AHcghany Mountains-PHs-
Jrgh-Co Beds-The Coal 7rade-OI
from the Earth, etc.
FRIEND SAWYER Il am again, as perhaps
you know, in the West, just in the edge of
it, write this from Brownylc in Fayette
Co, Pa. 1t is located on the MononEahcla
river, some 60 miles above Pittsburg, where
it unitcs with the Alcghany to form the
Ohio river. 1t is no mean town somewhat
larger | reckon, than Ellsworth. Steam
boats run daily between this and PIttsburs,
and the national road from Washington to
the " far West" passes through it. crossing
the Monongahell at this point, and going di-
rectly hence to " hccling, Va, where it
crosses the Ohio.
On the morning of Aug. 18th, took the
cars at the Quaker city to cross the noun.
t.ins to this western payt Of the Keystone
State was reminded that this was the
fourth time (at lc.st) that had crossed
these :. cloud capped hills"
My first trip was in a stage coach, and a
tedious ono it was, But at that time there
was no other way, or no better way Of do
ing it. 1t WAS about the year lSi4 in the
month Of April. | was my first trip to
the West. In company with many others,
wc took the cars at Philadelphia, aud by
them were taken to Chambersburg, which
was then the terminus oftho X. X. 1t is
near the foot of the mountains. There we
took the coach over the mountains, and on
to Piitsburg, 10 miles. We were very
much crowded. Travelled slow, and had no
rest nor sleep for the whole distance, save
what we could get in the coach.
Ny next trip was some ten years after,
and made by means Of, or over the - Port
are Railroad, as il was called. The cars
were taken over the mountains by means OF
inclined pliucs, drawn up on one side,
and let down on the other by stationary
engine ON the summit OF tile mountain
THIS, though u somewhat sllw progress, was
vast improvement on the stage coach.
But this did not meet the wishes OF this
:. fast age it Was not to the mark in tins
time Of improvements. Modern engineering
could do better than that, and 50 at 1t they
went. and soon had a double iron track over
and through the Allcghany Mountains on
level ground, or nearly 50.
Nv last two triIs were over this road
The first from west, eastward. the last from
east, westward. The road crosses the
Schuylkill river, near Philadelphia, and pro-
cecds westward till it falls into the valley Of
the Susauchanna river Following this river
it passes through Harrisburg, the capital ot
the State, crosses the river and continues
alon, the south aud western side OF it until
il comes to the mouth Of the Juniata river,
tri''seA'r1oi the Susquehansss,shich comes
dow ssa the mountains.
sacy Of this river, (the Juniata1
me ssmu, y near to its bank, the Il. K.
Ma assinG ipreS.e one side to the 9th
IN nsnr, sSn. bisg~s6 or very near its
s.sr its mouth the Juniata Is no IN
~ kp@wi strcam--as llrgc perhaps as the
oAA but as we follow it up, in It's
YC~Kgs among the huge mountains
N9fifs N i, seems to have cut It's way,
W. 10 nd lessuntl it dwindlts into
crop (NkA '@fs
NM IA as We pass up through
!, Ga 2ls. tain gorses, that the way
2 sa.4t.... DAD; solpiely impassable-com-
y~AA Il suddenly we turn 4
ssf ~ tsheS Sblufi, mountain high,
2 - vsaous a an pNgs the road and the
;,;l.,, 1eh US ,la,1, ln@' iSarIps srirhS
IN through mountains. or
.Hon .i:,s Fir bleak and almost per-
= s,1--'-sfdes; now in the bright sun
SHINE and surrounded by yerdant fields in
the mountain glens, and then in midnight
darkness passing through some sterile noun
tain top, we make our way upward and on
ward at a rapid rate, dragged by the iron
borse. till we come to the last tunnel thro
the summit of the hills This is some" hat
ioug--I have not been informed how long.
The first time passed it held my watch
in lluu anu lllEhtu iiluC w 'NtN 80
passing through it was, think,3 II min
utes.
The descent on the western side is much
the same as the ascent on the eastern. Both
are picturesque in high degree and unite
the beautiful with the sublime to no ordina-
5y.c4tent, \"
How TO BEcoAEA MARKsMAN. \ Mary
land writer asserts that twenty years ex-
perience and observation have taught HIM
that any person may become good shot
by observing the following directions -
Allow the rifle to hang in the hands IN an
easy manner declined in an angle of about
forty degrees then raise it steadily but
quickly IL line with the object, the eye
ranging carefully oyer the sights and at
the instant the object aimed at Is covered,
touch the trigger. He says -" ! md
there is moment in which the gun Is per
fectly still-that is. tho instant the up
:. AI